Management Plan Review

An aerial view of the Olympic Coast, including undeveloped coastal forests, sandy beaches, rocky offshore islands and seastacks, and vast ocean views.

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is revising the management plan for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The present plan was issued in 2011.

Over the last decade, the sanctuary's natural and cultural resources and environmental conditions have changed, creating new challenges for protecting resources and facilitating compatible use. At the same time, new tools for effective management have emerged, driven by scientific advances, technological innovation, and new partnerships. An evaluation of requirements and approaches, both current and future, ensure that we and our partners are making the most effective use of programmatic resources.

Public engagement is central to NOAA's community-based approach to managing sanctuaries. NOAA solicits public input at multiple stages throughout the revision process.

Current status

In March 2022, NOAA published the 2008-2019 Condition Report for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. A sanctuary condition report is a tool NOAA uses to assess the status and trends of national marine sanctuary resources and will help inform the management plan revision.

How to get involved and stay informed

Keep up to date on the management plan revision process, ask questions, and receive notifications when there are opportunities for public comment by requesting to be on the project's email list. Send a note to olympiccoast.mpr@noaa.gov.

For more information please see our FAQs page.

You may also attend public meetings of the Sanctuary Advisory Council, at which updating the management plan will be a regular topic of discussion throughout the revision process. Request to be notified about advisory council meetings by emailing Chris.ButlerMinor@noaa.gov.

Reports and Documents

Supporting Documents

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary has a trust responsibility with four sovereign tribal governments, the Hoh, Makah, and Quileute tribes and Quinault Indian Nation, and will be engaging with each of these Coastal Treaty Tribes throughout the Management Plan Review process either through government-to-government consultation or the Intergovernmental Policy Council, or both.

Management Plan Review Process

Sanctuary condition report released
March 2022

Public scoping period and scoping meetings
January 30 - April 3, 2023

Public comment

Current Step

Develop draft management plan and environmental review documents

Release draft management plan and environmental assessment

Public review and comment on draft documents

Public comment

Prepare final management plan and environmental review documents

Publish final management plan and environmental review documents