Seattle Aquarium Harbor Seal Capital Project

16 Pages·2012·2.79 MB·English

Seattle Aquarium
Harbor Seal
Capital Project
THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM:
HELPING OUR REGION
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE
The Puget Sound region is in an era of astounding growth.
Between 1970 and 2000, the area’s population increased by
1.3 million people. The Puget Sound Regional Council predicts
that it will increase by another 1.7 million people by 2020.
As our population grows, so does As our human population has marine environment. We recognize
its impact on the local environment. grown, our animal population has the importance of addressing
More than 10,000 streams and declined. Due to environmental negative environmental impacts
rivers drain into Puget Sound. issues such as climate change, and species decline. With a deep
With them they carry a dismaying toxic contamination and nearshore sense of urgency, we undertake
variety of pollutants—waste from habitat changes, many of the the task of engaging the interest
failing septic tanks, common species that live in and around of millions of people throughout
household chemicals, by-products our local waters have experienced our region, providing them with
of agricultural and industrial population reductions over the the information they need to
activities, and more. The impacts past 40 years: forage fish, salmon, understand the impact of their
of our growing population don’t bottom fish, marine birds and choices and everyday behaviors
stop there: fully one third of the orcas, to name a few. on our beloved Puget Sound.
Puget Sound shoreline has been We must encourage the public
modified by some form of human This is a critical time for the Seattle to make the essential changes
development such as dredging, Aquarium to affirm its position that will help preserve the Sound,
filling and over-water structures. as a regional leader, educating the oceans beyond, and our own
the public and inspiring a new quality of life—for generations
generation of stewards for our to come.
2
NOW MORE THAN EVER:
UNIQUELY POSITIONED FOR
LEADERSHIP AND GROWTH
For 35 years, the Seattle Aquarium With ever-deepening commitment,
has been a vital local landmark we step into our future and
dedicated to educating people of pursue our next set of goals:
all ages about the wonders of sea to dramatically increase our
life in Puget Sound and the world’s impact, double our footprint,
big ocean. Recent years have seen grow attendance from 800,000
…double our a rapid acceleration of our growth to 1.5 million and be recognized
and reach. In 2007, we completed globally for our leadership in
footprint, grow
a $42 million expansion of Pier 59, marine education. As the City of
attendance… resulting in our largest attendance Seattle moves forward with plans
year ever and an $1.75 million to replace the seawall, remove
be recognized
increase in revenue. In 2010, we the Alaskan Way Viaduct and
globally for our made a successful transition from reshape the waterfront into a new,
city to nonprofit management. dynamic civic heart for the city, the
leadership…
Through it all, we continued to future we envision for the Seattle
develop and expand our public Aquarium is within our reach. Our
education and conservation 20-year strategic plan aligns our
programs within our facility and aspirations with specific actions,
in the communities beyond. driven by our mission: Inspiring
Conservation of our Marine
Environment.
Seattle Aquarium 3
THE NEXT STEP: A NEW HOME
FOR OUR HARBOR SEALS
Harbor seals are familiar animals Beyond their charming appearance By presenting these charismatic
to many of us in the Puget Sound and playful demeanor, harbor animals at the Seattle Aquarium
region. We see their heads pop out seals are also barometers of the in engaging and educational
of the water while we walk along health of Puget Sound. They are ways, we offer visitors a
the shore, cross the Sound by ferry, sentinels of the well-being of their compelling narrative that builds
or sit in a waterfront restaurant. nearshore marine ecosystems, a empathy for harbor seals and
Graceful in water, harbor seals living interface between humanity develops knowledge about the
effortlessly captivate us with faces and the ocean. The reason for consequences of human actions
dominated by gentle eyes, droopy this is found in their diet: harbor on harbor seals in the wild. In the
whiskers and alluring grins. seals are opportunistic feeders. minds of our visitors, our much-
They consume sole, flounder, loved seals Barney and Q, come
sculpin, cod, herring, octopus and to represent every seal in Puget
squid—all links in a food chain Sound. In the larger picture, they
that is increasingly vulnerable to come to represent animal life
pollution, development and other throughout our oceans. Through
human activities. Because harbor that lens of understanding,
seals do not migrate, samples from the value and importance of
their tissue provide an accurate our harbor seal exhibit grows
measurement of toxic pollutants exponentially.
in Puget Sound.
4 Seattle Aquarium
Harbor seals
are sentinels of the
well-being of their
ecosystems—
a living interface
between humanity
and the ocean.
Seattle Aquarium 5
FUNDING:
CITY AND
PRIVATE
Our funding model is
a combination of City
dollars and private
philanthropy. The total
project cost is $6.5
million, including $3.5
million from the City and
$3 million from private
philanthropy. This public/
private partnership
maximizes our ability to
achieve the following
three important goals:
1 Dramatically increase
visitor access to the harbor
seals through a physical
transformation of the exhibit
(private dollars)
2 Make substantial The first stage of the project Once the pier is stable, we will
improvements in the harbor will entail stabilizing Pier 60 by turn our attention to the harbor
seal habitat and our ability replacing the decayed wood seal exhibit itself. We will start by
to care for these animals pilings with concrete, steel- transforming what was originally
(private dollars) wrapped pilings. Next, we will a salmon holding tank by adding
3 Assure the structural integrity install concrete aprons around 2-1/2 feet of water depth and
what will become the new harbor replacing the current rusty
of Pier 60, where the harbor
seal exhibit, similar to the surround chain link fence with a modern
seal exhibit is located
(city dollars) of Pier 59 that was completed in acrylic surround. This will allow
our 2007 expansion. visitors to get much closer to the
exhibit, literally coming “nose-
to-nose” with the animals for a
more intimate and memorable
experience. At the same time, we
will add tiered seating around the
exhibit to accommodate up to
100 guests (approximately three
classrooms), allowing visitors to
comfortably gather and enjoy
presentations by the Aquarium’s
harbor seal experts.
6 Seattle Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium 7
Our harbor seals connect
with our visitors.
8 Seattle Aquarium
When we care about
something, we want to
care for it.
Seattle Aquarium 9
While we are making the exhibit Finally, by renovating the harbor
more accessible and enjoyable seal exhibit, we will be in a position
for visitors, we will also institute to expand our current collection
changes that will make the seals from two animals to three or four.
more comfortable and allow for As a result, the Seattle Aquarium
better animal care. The new exhibit will be able to institute a harbor
will offer increased dry “haul-out” seal research breeding program,
space where the seals can rest and further establish our marine
and warm themselves. Our current mammal expertise.
antiquated crane-and-hoist system
will be replaced with an animal-
friendly door and crate system,
which will foster safer animal
movement between exhibits
… we will institute
and our Animal Care Center.
This project includes the launch changes that will
of $250,000 endowment to
make the seals more
sustain the care and feeding
of our beloved marine mammal comfortable and
collection in perpetuity.
allow for better
animal care.
10 Seattle Aquarium