In 2009, we successfully completed a fourth year of protocol development and field sampling for the Southwest Alaska Network's (SWAN) Nearshore Vital Signs monitoring program in accordance with standard operating procedures set forth for each of six vital signs (marine intertidal invertebrates, kelp and seagrass, marine water chemistry and quality, marine birds, black oystercatcher, and sea otter). Soft sediment intertidal invertebrate sampling and skiff-based marine bird surveys were implemented for the first time in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (LACL) in 2009.