The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Habitat Conservation and Restoration Priority Issue Team: A Regional Approach to Sustainable Natural Communities

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1 The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Habitat Conservation and Restoration Priority Issue Team: A Regional Approach to Sustainable Natural Communities James W. Pahl, Ph.D., HCRT Co-Chair Presentation to the 2010 Restore America s Estuaries Conference Working Across Agency Lines to Implement Coastal Habitat Restoration Tuesday, 16 November 2010

2 Governors Action Plan 1 Signed June 2006 Covered Five priority issues identified Teams mirrored priority issues Environmental Education Identification and Characterization of Gulf Habitats Reducing Nutrient Inputs to Coastal Ecosystems Water Quality for Healthy Beaches and Shellfish Beds Wetland and Coastal Conservation and Restoration Early split of Coastal Community Resilience issues into new team Each state given lead of a Priority Issue Team GAP1 largely a discovery phase

3 Signed June 2009 Covers Six priority issues identified Governors Action Plan 2 Teams mirror priority issues Coastal Community Resilience Ecosystem Integration and Assessment Environmental Education Reducing Nutrient Inputs to Coastal Ecosystems Water Quality for Healthy Beaches and Shellfish Beds Wetland and Coastal Conservation and Restoration GAP2 is an implementation phase

4 HCRT Steering Committee State Leads Shelley Alexander: Florida DEP Tom Calnan: Texas GLO Gregory DuCote: Louisiana DNR Carl Ferraro: Alabama DCNR Cherie O Brien: Texas PWD George Ramseur: Mississippi DMR James Pahl, Ph.D.: Louisiana OCPR Randy Runnels, Ph.D.: Florida DEP Barbara Viskup: Mississippi DEQ Federal Co-Facilitators Drew Puffer: EPA Heather Young: NOAA Team Coordinator Gulf of Mexico Foundation Quenton Dokken, Ph.D. Ryan Fikes Suraida Nañez-James Bobbi Reed Mikell Smith

5 Summary of HCRT Priorities from Governors Action Plan II Engage non-participating relevant US stakeholders and coordinate specific issues with representatives from the Gulf Mexican States. Address specific public policy issues impeding habitat conservation and restoration. Identify and resolve specific scientific and technical issues so that conservation and restoration of Gulf habitats are more successful. Develop and implement the Gulf Regional Sediment Management Master Plan (GRSMMP) to more effectively use dredged material and other sediment resources for restoration projects. Monitor a Gulf-wide inventory of distribution, gain, and loss of coastal habitats and measure the ecosystem services they provide.

6 Climate Change Science and Policy Sea-level Rise Sea-level rise Affecting Marsh Model (SLAMM) Runs and Conservation Planning Data Platform Development ; Sonia Nejera, TNC-Texas SLAMM Analyses for Gulf of Mexico National Wildlife Refuges ; Jonathan Clough, Warren-Pinnacle Consulting SLAMM Runs for Gulf of Mexico National Estuary Programs ; Laura Geselbracht, TNC-Florida (EPA Gulf of Mexico Program Funding)

7 SLAMM Output: Grand Bay NERR & Petit Bois Island, MS Initial Condition A1B-Max, (0.69 m) 2100

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9 TNC Texas: SLAMM Planned (CCR and HCRT) National Wildlife Refuge: SLAMM Revised Planned

10 Coastal Conservation Planning Data Platform Vacant parcels upslope of marshes

11 Climate Change Science and Policy Sea-level Rise Sea-level rise Affecting Marsh Model (SLAMM) Runs and Conservation Planning Data Platform Development SLAMM Analyses for GOM National Wildlife Refuges SLAMM Runs for Gulf of Mexico National Estuary Programs Technical subgroup working session on SLR modeling data and technology held 3-4 November 2010, St. Petersburg, FL Participation in closing plenary of the Harte Research Institute s International Conference on Sea Level Rise in the Gulf of Mexico, Management Strategies for Sea-Level Rise in the Gulf Region

12 Climate Change Science and Policy Sea-level Rise Sea-level rise Affecting Marsh Model (SLAMM) Runs and Conservation Planning Data Platform Development SLAMM Analyses for GOM National Wildlife Refuges SLAMM Runs for Gulf of Mexico National Estuary Programs Technical subgroup working session on SLR modeling data and technology, held 3-4 November 2010, St. Petersburg, FL Participation in closing plenary of the Harte Research Institute s International Conference on Sea Level Rise in the Gulf of Mexico, Management Strategies for Sea-Level Rise in the Gulf Region Freshwater Inflows Develop strategy based on outcomes of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department s Freshwater Inflows: 2010 and Beyond Conference held in Corpus Christi, Texas, 8-10 February 2010 Assessment & Prioritization of Ecosystems Affected by Altered Freshwater Inflows ; Paul Montagna, Harte Research Institute (EPA Gulf of Mexico Program) Working with NOAA to develop Habitat in a Changing Climate Conference

13 For More Information See poster PP1 for more information The Habitat Conservation and Restoration Team (HCRT): Building Partnerships for a Healthier Gulf of Mexico, Ryan Fikes, Gulf of Mexico Foundation See also

14 Thanks for your time and attention!