CBP Efforts to Identify Priority Areas and Enhance Monitoring in the Bay Watershed

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1 CBP Efforts to Identify Priority Areas and Enhance Monitoring in the Bay Watershed Scott Phillips, USGS Potomac Monitoring Forum U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

2 Outline Chesapeake Bay Program Action Plan Adaptive Management and Monitoring ID Priority Areas Monitor and Assess Change Needs and Opportunities

3 Restoration of the Nation s Largest Estuary Issues Fisheries, waterfowl, diversity Population growth Degraded ecosystem Chesapeake Bay Program Chesapeake 2000 Agreement $18-30 B restoration cost Slow improvement Accelerate implementation Science Restoration and protection Future approaches

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5 Chesapeake Action Plan Chesapeake 2000 Topics Living Resources Habitat Water Quality Sound Land Use Stewardship Tentative Priorities Oysters Striped Bass SAV Wetlands Wastewater Treatment Agricultural Lands Land Conservation Developing Lands Public Access Education - Interpretation Alosa sp. Fish Passage Developed Lands Watershed Planning General Communication Menhaden Air Deposition Citizen Outreach Blue Crab Shorelines & Streambanks Chemical Contaminants Identify Priority Areas and Enhance Assessment

6 Chesapeake Action Plan Adaptive management approach Emphasis on implementation Optimize resources Components Goals and Targets Implementation ID priority areas Monitoring and Assessment Implications and decision tools Adapt and improve strategies Science and monitoring

7 Goals and Targets Fish, Crabs, and Grasses Water-quality criteria Source: EPA Bay Grasses Habitat Shad, Herring, Perch and Rockfish Spawning Habitat Rockfish, Bluefish Menhaden Habitat Oyster, Crab, Croaker and Spot Habitat Summertime Crab Food Habitat

8 Goals and Targets Water Quality Tributary strategies N, P, and sediment allocations Habitats SAV Wetlands Fish passage and streams Land Use Resource lands

9 Implementation- ID Priority Areas Restoration and Protection Balance Priority LR areas LRSC Update Water Quality Source sectors Response Habitat Land Use Future growth

10 ID Priority Areas-Needs Needs Regional and local-scale information Different settings Environmental framework Land-use patterns Possibilities: Coordinate targeting opportunities Enhance models Establish demonstration sites Address multiple goals Different landscape settings Test tools and research

11 Monitor and Assess Change Existing Networks Estuary Watershed Applications: Document conditions Regional models Assess change Explain factors Needs: Multiple media Better explain change

12 Factors Affecting Water Quality Land Use Sources BMPs Hydrologic variability Landscape setting Loss rates Residence time Habitat Biological communities Response

13 Monitor and Assess Change Nest regional and local networks Establish demonstrationresearch sites Implementation and monitoring Long term Selected settings Multiple media Improve data to explain change

14 Implications and decision-support tools Synthesize findings and implications Indicators Reports Decision-support tools COAST State and local tools

15 USGS Topics Spatial processes affecting nutrients and sediment Focus management actions Assess and forecast change Effectiveness of actions Climate variability and change Population growth Factors affecting fish health and habitats Intersex characteristics Contaminants Synthesis and decision tools Adapt approaches for ecosystem management-coast

16 Summary Optimize resources Focus management actions Enhanced monitoring to assess change and effectiveness Forecasting Adapt strategies Challenges Targeting concerns Decision-making process Multiple partners and priorities Coordination and funding Population growth Engaging citizens

17 Closing thoughts.