Coastal Water

For questions or to get involved

(360) 461-0799

Join Us & Donate

Spend your money on something that gives back. The Nearshore. As a small, place-based 501c3, the Coastal Watershed Institute (CWI) goal is to advance protection of intact and critical natural ecosystems of some of the most amazing places on earth, including the nearshore of the Elwha and Dungeness. We do this by linking senior scientists with college students—our next generation of scientists and managers—and local citizens to study, understand, and promote on the ground,  long-term, wise ecosystem management. Over our careers we’ve learned that *without exception* what is good for the environment is good for community. And that saving what we have is so much better for the ecosystem and economy-environmental capitol does in fact ‘pay off’. So we emphasize ecosystem habitat protection.

Coastal communities, which are growing rapidly, want to be wise stewards but needs the tools to do so. So CWI provides critical information on how our shorelines work, specific information on why what landowners do is SO important to beach function, and how we can live along and protect the critical nearshore functions. Our focus areas? Elwha and Dungeness drift cells. We provide this information largely thru donated time and resources-at VERY low cost. The trick is that preservation and restoration can take decades-and bureaucratic and political challenges (sometimes significant)  are long term problems  Our work focuses on  the best, not just the easiest, management actions and solutions. CWI doesn’t quit. We just work harder.

As the population of the Pacific Northwest grows, shoreline management actions, including poorly sited developments, new shoreline armoring, and Atlantic salmon net pens, continue to impact our coastal resources.  The need for CWI’s work is in this rural and sometimes extremely conservative region is greater than ever. As both community members and regional scientists, CWI is dedicated to making sure our wild natural ecosystems remain strong and an integral part of our society. You can have an on the ground direct impact to our work by contributing to fund student internships, travel, sampling and workshop costs, and mentor stipends.

If you’d like you can specify what you’d like funds to go to just drop us an email with your preference from below.

Aerial photos

Basic capacity

Support for scientific monitoring of the nearshore, including field equipment
Funds for college student stipends and mentors to guide them