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To: Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Ron Wyden, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-2), Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-4), Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-5), Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-6)
I write to you in support of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS). I write in part as a retired oceanographer, but mostly as a citizen with deep interest in the sustainable use of Oregon’s and Earth’s resources.
The FY 2025 proposed President’s Budget for IOOS is $10 million, a reduction of more than 76% from FY 2023 and 2024 enacted levels ($42.5 million), and less than any funding level since the program’s inception in the 2008 federal budget. I ask that you correct these dramatic and unjustifiable cuts. Specifically, I ask that you return (at a minimum) the IOOS funding to its 2023/2024 levels corrected for inflation.
While an active researcher, I served as the Director of the first ever NSF Science and Technology Center headquartered in Oregon: The Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction (CMOP), led by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) with Oregon State University and University of Washington as major partners. At OHSU, I also served as the Chair of the Department of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems and the Director of the Institute of Environmental Health—both foundational units for the current OHSU/PSU School of Public Health.
Much of my research was focused on estuarine and coastal regions—which I viewed as essential to the Blue Economy and to Earth’s sustainability. In the 90’s, I led the creation of one of the earliest estuarine observation and prediction systems, in our case focused on the Columbia River. Together with a similarly pioneering system for Tampa Bay, we were the two pilot projects selected by NOAA to assess the feasibility and potential impact of what became IOOS. We were also a founding partner of the IOOS’ Northwest Association for Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS).
Through our observations and retrospective and predictive modeling, we served the Columbia River region as an objective mediator and provider of oceanographic information—informing and facilitating consensus on major projects such as the Columbia River Channel Deepening, the Columbia River Treaty Review, and multiple other aspects of the balance among hydropower management, navigation, flood protection, and Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Upon my retirement, with the full support of the OHSU Administration, we transferred all our observation and modeling infrastructure (including sensors, models, key staff and NANOOS support) to the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC). With this transfer, CRITFC now independently runs a leading-edge observation and modeling system, unparalleled in the region and among tribal organizations anywhere. With that infrastructure and continuing NANOOS support, CRITFC is in position to distinctively inform thinking, planning and action on the Columbia River that is critical to salmon recovery and to a sustainable, balanced management of the natural and man-made resources of the basin—now and under changing climate and regional development needs.
I share all this to make a point. What was a dream in the mid 90’s (observations, modeling, and science in support of integrated management of rivers, estuaries, and coasts) is now a (very) hard-earned reality. A reality that Congress played an integral part in making possible, through its continued support. A reality that benefits us all and is essential for our future and that of our grandkids and beyond. That reality was made possible nationally by IOOS—and in our region, specifically by NANOOS.
The continued support of IOOS is critical for Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, the country and globally. You will certainly hear this from the NANOOS strong network of regional stakeholders: Without IOOS, the ability to build informed consensus and solutions on critical issues—cutting across ESA, salmon recovery, hydropower management, ecosystem restoration, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and so much more—will be catastrophically disabled.
Please do not allow that to happen. IOOS cannot be sustained without continued support. A break or significant reduction in the funding levels will imply drastic, in some cases irreparable, losses in infrastructure (equipment, data, expertise, stakeholder confidence, and so much more).
In retirement, I am no longer involved with IOOS or NANOOS. But, as a citizen, a father, and a grandfather, IOOS and NANOOS continue to be critical to me—and, more importantly, to the welfare, quality of life, and sustainability of the region and its many natural and human communities, now and for generations to come.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance in your efforts to return IOOS funding to (at a minimum) the 2023/2024 levels corrected for inflation.
Respectfully,
Antonio Baptista, PhD
Professor Emeritus, OHSU
Former Director (2006-2017), NSF Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction
Outside the box 