This aerial imagery mosaic was collected on behalf of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) by NV5 as part of a program to map the annual extent of floating kelp canopies in Washington State. There are two species of floating kelp in Washington: bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana; found in all surveyed areas) and giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera; found along the Pacific coast and Strait of Juan de Fuca). Floating kelp forests provide essential habitat for many marine species and are culturally and economically significant in the Northeast Pacific and around the world. Areas surveyed with aerial imagery in 2024 include the US side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Northern Pacific Coast, Admiralty Inlet, North Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, Saratoga Passage and the Whidbey Island Basin, WA DNR managed Aquatic Reserves (Cherry Point AR, Cypress Island AR, and Smith & Minor Islands AR), and the Tacoma Narrows. Aerial surveys were conducted between August and September during low-tide, slack-current conditions identified by WA DNR as optimal for kelp forest monitoring. This imagery has four spectral bands (Band_1 = red, Band_2 = green, Band_3 = blue, Band_4 = near-infrared) plus an alpha channel (Band_5), and was collected at 6-inch spatial resolution. A full report summarizing collection methods can be found here. Floating kelp canopies can be readily visualized using an “NGB” band combination (near-infrared, green, blue) but can also be seen in many places with standard RGB imagery (red, green, blue). Floating kelp distribution data generated based on this imagery supports WA DNR's long-term kelp forest monitoring goals and mandate to ensure environmental protection of state-owned aquatic lands. Imagery from this project is publicly distributed in compressed (lossy) MrSID format for accessibility and efficient visualization, and is therefore not suitable for image classification and analysis. Please contact the WA DNR Nearshore Habitat Program about other data products that are available to be shared.

For more information and inquiries about products available at specific locations, please contact Danielle Claar, WA DNR, Nearshore Habitat Program at: danielle.claar@dnr.wa.gov or nearshore@dnr.wa.gov.