For generations, the Quileute Tribe and Quinault Indian Nation have thrived along the remote Pacific coast of Washington. Historically, both Indigenous communities have relied on their deep maritime knowledge to safely navigate, fish, and coexist with the region's powerful waters. Climate change, however, has made ocean conditions more unpredictable along the Quileute and Quinault’s shores, posing new threats to safety and economic stability.
To combat these threats, both communities seek access to real-time ocean data that can inform better decision-making at sea. To this aim, the Quileute and Quinault partnered with the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) and Backyard Buoys to strategically deploy Spotter Platforms along their coastlines. The communities use Spotter to access real-time wave, wind (derived), sea surface temperature, and barometric pressure data. These critical insights, paired with local Indigenous knowledge, help the Quileute and Quinault protect coastal infrastructure and ensure safe fishing, harvesting, and recreational activity.
The Quileute and Quinault live along the rugged Pacific coastline of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The Quileute are centered in La Push, where the Quillayute River meets the sea, while the Quinault are located further south in Taholah at the mouth of the Quinault River. Both communities are small and extremely remote.
“There is one road in and one road out,” said Joe Schumacker, Marine Resources Scientist for the Quinault Indian Nation.
The Quileute and Quinault rely heavily on the ocean — fishing and coastal harvesting are central to their cultural identity and economic survival. Offshore fishing and shoreline harvesting yield halibut, sablefish, razor clams, mussels, sea urchins, and other shellfish.
The harbors in La Push and Taholah lie behind protective barriers to create a buffer between the communities and the sea. While the barriers offer refuge for vessels, they also create dangerous blind spots for departing fishermen, who cannot assess conditions until they are fully exposed to the open ocean. As captains exit the harbor, their boats are thrust into the Pacific; if conditions are worse than expected, a routine voyage can quickly turn dangerous.
“Our fishermen will travel hours north to begin laying traps for Dungeness crab or hours west to lay long lines for halibut and sablefish,” said Schumacker. “Those trips carry a lot of peril with them.”
Climate change has added to this peril, bringing more frequent and extreme weather to the region and more unpredictability to daily life for the Quileute and Quinault. In November 2024, the communities experienced a bomb cyclone with 70+ foot waves that breached the sea walls in both La Push and Taholah. The storm grounded boats for many days and forced the relocation of homes and schools to higher ground.
“During extreme flooding events, people have been seen on canoes and kayaks trying to get out down the street,” said Schumacker.
Historically, the Quileute and Quinault have lacked access to the ocean data they need to effectively monitor offshore conditions and prepare for extreme weather. Existing data sources are prohibitively expensive, do not transmit observations in real-time, or are deployed over 30 miles offshore, too far away from the communities to provide relevant information.
“Without real-time wave data, unpredictable waters make every journey a gamble,” said Jennifer Hagen, Staff Marine Policy Advisor and Marine Biologist for the Quileute Tribe.
The Quileute and Quinault, in collaboration with NANOOS, partnered with Backyard Buoys to help address their critical data needs. Backyard Buoys enables Indigenous and coastal communities in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the Pacific Islands to gather and use wave data that complements local Indigenous knowledge and enhances their blue economy and hazard protection. The initiative provides Indigenous communities with Spotter Platforms, which the communities deploy, steward, and use to access real-time marine weather data along their coastlines.
In May 2023, the Quileute deployed their first Spotter buoy approximately two miles off the coast of La Push. The deployment site was selected with strategic input from the community to ensure that the Spotter would gather useful wave data for Quileute fishermen navigating the challenging Quillayute River mouth.
Today, Spotter provides Quileute fishermen with essential observations of wave spectra, wind (derived), sea surface temperature, and barometric pressure, helping them make go/no-go decisions before launching their vessels. The fishermen can access Spotter data in real time via the Backyard Buoys mobile app, which is connected to the Spotter API.
"Having a more robust dataset helps us understand what story [the ocean] is telling us," said Hagen.
The Quinault deployed their own Spotter in October 2023. Like the Quileute, the Quinault use real-time observations from Spotter to inform safe fishing and maritime navigation; shellfish harvesters, for example, use wave data to ensure safer trips, while traditional canoe paddlers plan races more effectively. Spotter observations also help the community anticipate storm surge during extreme weather and protect coastal infrastructure.
"Until now, we have never had a lot of data assets out here on our coast," said Schumacker. "This information is going to be really critical to mitigate the impacts that occur from extreme weather events."
Spotter’s deployability, data accessibility, and durability have proven incredibly valuable for the Quileute and Quinault. The communities can rapidly deploy Spotter in harsh and remote offshore environments, instantly view data transmitted via satellite, and minimize time spent on hardware maintenance.
“[Spotters] give us data, and more data gives us more ability,” said Schumacker.
The Quileute Tribe and Quinault Indian Nation are pioneering a new approach to ocean monitoring for Indigenous and coastal communities. Through Backyard Buoys, each community has overcome historical data barriers, demonstrated the power of pairing local Indigenous knowledge with innovative ocean technology, and collected real-time data to enhance coastal resilience. As more communities across the Pacific Northwest, Pacific Islands, and Alaska follow suit, they will build a global monitoring network of Spotters, ensuring access to the data they need to stay resilient on the front lines of climate change.
To learn more about the Quileute, Quinault, and the other Indigenous and coastal communities involved in the Backyard Buoys program, visit the Backyard Buoys website.
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