Coastal Water

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What we do

Staff Experience

J. Anne Shaffer

  • Marine Biologist, Executive Director
  • PhD , Biology Department, University of Victoria, 2017
  • Masters of Arts, Marine Biology, Moss Landing Marine Lab 1986
  • Bachelors of Science, Zoology, San Francisco State University 1983

Fish Biologist, Habitat Biologist, Natural Resource Scientist, and Marine Biologist with the University of Washington, and Washington state Departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife, 1989-1991; 1993-2010. Policy representative and watershed coordinator, Quileute Tribe 1991-1993.

Memberships: Society of Conservation Biology, Society for Ecological Restoration, American Fisheries Society, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), Northwest Science Association, Estuarine Research Federation (ERF), Pacific Estuarine Research Society (PERS), Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), Northwest Algal Symposia Society. Past co-president, Olympic Peninsula Chapter, Association for Women in ScienceProfessional developments

Mentor and researcher, Western Washington University Elwha Research Consortium (ERC) National Science Foundation REU Program
Associate Faculty, Peninsula College, current

Professional Advancement/Accomplishments/Awards (Recent)
NOAA/AFS Nancy Foster Award (Awarded 2020)
American Fisheries Science Conservation Organization of the Year (CWI Awarded 2019)
Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Conservationist of the Year Award (CWI Awarded 2013, 2019)
Seattle Aquarium Conservation Research Science Award (Awarded 2019)
Environmental Law Institute (Science category): (Runner up 2017)

Select Publications

Shaffer, A., D. Parks, J. Michel, K. Simonsen, K Campbell, B. Oxborrow, J. Hall, and J. Weslowski, 2021. Restoration of Coastal Beach Forming Ecosystem Processes through Shoreline Armoring Removal of a Former Mine Site Increases Our Understanding of Coastal Resiliency and Large Scale Landslides Along the Northeast Pacific Coastline. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, pp.1-19.

Shaffer, J.A. 2021. Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV) and ectoparasites of young of the year juvenile herring, Clupea pallasii, of the Salish Sea. The Osprey. International Journal of Salmon and Steelhead Conservation.pp.17-21. https://issuu.com/theosprey/docs/the_osprey_january_2021

Shaffer, J. A. S. Munsch, and J. Cordell. 2020 Kelp Forest Zooplankton, Forage Fishes, and Juvenile Salmonids of the Northeast Pacif.ic Nearshore. Marine and Coastal Fisheries 12:4–20.

Shaffer, J.A., D. Parks, E. Schoen, and D. Beauchamp 2019. Kelp, forage fish, and salmon. Ecopic, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 17(5):258. https://rdcu.be/bFvTX

Shaffer, J.A., S. Munsch, and F. Juanes. 2018. Functional diversity responses of a nearshore fish community to restoration driven by large-scale dam removal. ECSS.

Lincoln, A.E., J.A. Shaffer, J.A. and TP Quinn 2018. Opportunistic use of estuarine habitat by juvenile bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus, from the Elwha River before, during, and after dam removal. Environmental Biology of Fishes, pp.1-11

Shaffer JA,F. Juanes F, T.P. Quinn, D. Parks D, T. McBride, J. Michel, C. Naumann, M. Hocking, and C. Byrnes 2017. Nearshore fish community responses to large scale dam removal: implications for watershed restoration and fish management. Aquatic Sciences1-8.

Rich, Samantha L., J.A. Shaffer, M.J. Fix, J. Dawson, 2014. Restoration considerations of large woody debris in the nearshore Elwha River, Olympic Peninsula. Ecological Restoration: 32(3).

Parks, D., A. Shaffer and D. Barry. 2013.. Drift cell sediment processes and ecological function for forage fish: Implications for ecological restoration in impaired Pacific Northwest marine ecosystems. Journal of Coastal Research. 29:4, 984-997.

Quinn, T, A. Shaffer, J. Brown, Chris Byrnes, N. Harris, and P. Crain In press. Juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, use of the Elwha River estuary prior to dam removal. Environmental Biology of Fishes.

Quinn, T, N. Harris, A. Shaffer, C. Byrnes, and P. Crain, 2013. Juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, in the Elwha River estuary prior to dam removal: Seasonal occupancy, size distribution, and comparison to nearby Salt Creek . Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.142(4): 1058-1066

Parks, D., A. Shaffer and D. Barry. 2013. Drift cell sediment processes and ecological function for forage fish: Implications for ecological restoration in impaired Pacific Northwest marine ecosystems. Journal of Marine Research. 29 (4): pp. 984 – 997.

Shaffer J.A., P. Crain, T. Kassler, D. Penttila, and D Barry. 2012. Geomorphic Habitat Type, Drift Cell, Forage Fish, and Juvenile Salmon: Are They Linked? Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering . A 1: 688-703

Shaffer, J.A., M. Beirne, T. Ritchie, R. Paradis, D. Barry, and P. Crain. 2009. Fish habitat use response to anthropogenic induced changes of physical processes in the Elwha estuary, Washington, USA. Hydrobiologia 636 179-190.

Shaffer, J.A., T. Ritchie, P. Crain, M. Beirne, and C. Lear. 2008 Nearshore function of the central Strait of Juan de Fuca for juvenile fish, including Puget Sound Chinook salmon. http://hws.ekosystem.us/SiteView.aspx?sid=180

Shaffer, J.A, P. Crain, B. Winter, M. McHenry, C. Lear and T. Randle. 2008. Nearshore Restoration of the Elwha River Through Removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams: An Overview. Northwest Science. 82:48-58.

Ward, L., P. Crain, B. Freymond, M. McHenry, D. Morrill, G. R. Pess, R. Peters, J. A. Shaffer, B. Winter, B. Wunderlich. 2008. Elwha River Fish Restoration Plan, developed pursuant to the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act, Public Law 102-495. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo., NMFS-NWFSC-90, 168 p

Norris, J, I. Fraser, A. Shaffer and C. Lear 2007. Eelgrass mapping of the Elwha Nearshore. In Proceedings, Puget Sound Georgia Basin Conference (Session 1e), Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Olympia Washington.

Shaffer, J.A., D. Penttila, M. McHenry and D. Vilella.2007. Observations of Eulachon, Thaleichthys pacificus, in the Elwha River, Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Northwest Science.81(1):76-81

Shaffer, J.A. 2004. Salmon in the Nearshore: What do we know and where do we go?’ A synthesis discussion concluding the all day special session entitled ‘Salmon in the Nearshore’ of the 2004 Pacific Estuarine Research Society (PERS). Available on line from the PERS webpage, http://www.pers-erf.org/SalmonNearshoreFinal.pdf

Shaffer, J.A. 2004. Preferential use of nearshore kelp habitats by juvenile salmon and forage fish. In T.W. Droscher and D.A. Fraser (eds). Proceedings of the 2003 Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference. http://www.psat.wa.gov/03_proceedings/start.html

Shaffer, J.A.2004. Water quality as a contemporary limiting factor to Olympia oyster (Ostreloa conchaphila) restoration in Washington state. In T.W. Droscher and D.A. Fraser (eds). Proceedings of the 2003 Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference. http://www.psat.wa.gov/03_proceedings/start.htm

Shaffer,J.A. 2002. Macroalgae blooms and nearshore habitat and resources of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. In: Proceeding, Puget Sound Research 2001. Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, Olympia, Washington. http://www.psat.wa.gov/01_proceedings/start.htm

Shaffer, J.A. 2000. Seasonal variation in understory kelp bed habitats of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Journal of Coastal Research. 16 (3) 768-775.

Shaffer, J.A. and C. Burge. 1999. Ulvoid mats and shellfish of the Strait of Juan de Fuca: a pilot study. Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association Bulletin. (32) 56-59.

Shaffer, J.A.1998. Kelp habitats of Inland Waters of Western Washington. Puget Sound Research 98. Puget Sound Watershed Action Team, Olympia, Washington.

Shaffer, J. A., D. Doty, R. Buckley and J. West 1995. Community Composition and Trophic Use of Drift Vegetation Habitat by Juvenile Splitnose Rockfish, Sebastes diploproa. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 123 (1-3).

Shaffer, J. A. and D. S. Parks 1994. Seasonal Variations in and Observations of Landslide Impacts on the Algal

Kristin Kirkman

  • Nearshore Field Biologist
  • Bachelors of Science, Biology (Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation), University of Washington, 2021

Department of Ecology Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) restoration crew assistant supervisor with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.