Estuaries play a vital role in the ecological and economic health of coastal counties and states in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Through a pilot project, NANOOS is exploring strategies for the systematic development and integration of monitoring and modeling systems for PNW estuaries. The goal is that all PNW estuaries will eventually be served by such systems.

Integral to the evolving NANOOS pilot project is the integration and expansion of several existing non-federal observation networks in Oregon and Washington. Various levels of integration are being considered and implemented, including:

• An interactive portal (the NANOOS Pilot Project Interactive Map) for all data in the PNW coastal margin.
• Inclusion of data from NANOOS partners in federal data distribution systems.
• Definition of common quality control and display standards across NANOOS sub-systems.

Also integral to the NANOOS pilot project is a PNW-wide forecasting system for estuarine circulation. This forecasting system is being developed by expanding the CORIE modeling infrastructure for the Columbia River. In addition to the Columbia River, forecasts are currently being developed for Nehalem River, Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay, Siletz Bay, Depoe Bay, Yaquina Bay, Alsea Bay, Siulaw River, Coos Bay, Humbolt Bay and (as a demonstration of national portability) Tampa Bay, Fl. While the degree of reliability is variable from estuary to estuary, all forecasts are "research and training" grade, and no forecast is considered suitable for operational use. Forecasted quantities are water levels, velocities, salinity and temperature.