250 likes | 260 Views
SAV Workgroup Spring Meeting. March 31st, 2016 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Chesapeake Bay Program Office Joe Macknis Memorial Conference Room (Fish Shack) 410 Severn Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403 Conference Line: 866-299-3188 Code: 410-267-5731 Adobe Connect: https://epawebconferencing.acms.com/sav
E N D
SAV Workgroup Spring Meeting March 31st, 2016 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Chesapeake Bay Program Office Joe Macknis Memorial Conference Room (Fish Shack) 410 Severn Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403 Conference Line: 866-299-3188 Code: 410-267-5731 Adobe Connect:https://epawebconferencing.acms.com/sav (Note: Enter as Guest with your name and affiliation)
Agenda 10:00 am: Welcome and round table introductions 10:30 am: Workgroup business and open discussion 1. Since the last meeting….. Regime Change Management strategy 2-Year Work plan TS III (Lee Karrh, DNR) 2. Current and Future Business Charter review, Website development, Aerial Survey Workshop 12:00 pm: Working lunch (bring your own or order boxed lunch) 12:30 pm: Updates from group while eating 1:00 pm: 2015 Aerial SAV survey results (Dave Wilcox, VIMS) 1:30 pm: SAVEcosystem Service Value (Elliot Campbell, MD DNR) 2:00 pm: Chesapeake Bay Water Quality (Mark Trice, MD DNR) 2:30 pm: Break 3:00 pm: SAV and Climate Change (Tom Arnold, Dickinson College) 3:30 pm: SAV Reproduction and Persistence Strategies (Eric Bricker, UVA) 4:00 pm: Wrap-up and final business 4:30/5ish: Happy Hour at Boatyard Bar and Grill
Regime Change Chesapeake Bay Program Organizational Chart SAV Workgroup J. Brooke Landry, Chair (Habitat Assessment Specialist, Md DNR) Becky Golden, Vice-Chair (Project Manager, Habitat Monitoring & Assessment, Md DNR) Habitat Goal Implementation Team Christine Conn, Chair (Director, Integrated Policy and Review Unit, Md DNR) David Whitehurst, Vice-Chair (Director, Wildlife Resources Bureau, Va DGIF)
Management Strategy Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Outcome Achieve and sustain the ultimate outcome of 185,000 acres of SAV Bay‐wide necessary for a restored Bay. Progress toward this ultimate outcome will be measured against a target of 90,000 acres by 2017 and 130,000 acres by 2025.
Management Strategy • Four Management Approaches: • Restore Water Clarity • Protect Existing SAV • Restore SAV • Enhance Research, Citizen Involvement, and Education
2-Year Work plan Management Approach 1: Restore Water Clarity in the Chesapeake Bay Key Actions: 1.Continue work to achieve water clarity/SAV standards in areas designated for SAV use - see Water Quality GIT Workplan (Bay States: DC, DE, MD, NY, PA, VA, WV; Water Quality GIT). 2. Continue to improve the SAV component of shallow water model (Zimmerman, ODU)
2-Year Work plan Management Approach 2: Protect existing Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay Key Actions: 3. Evaluate and enhance current statutes and regulations that protect existing SAV in the Chesapeake Bay. (SAV Workgroup – not funded) 4. Monitor SAV throughout Chesapeake Bay a. Continue annual Bay-wide aerial SAV monitoring to ensure up to date data regarding the extent and recovery of SAV in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. (Orth, Wilcox, VIMS) b. Conduct SAV Aerial Survey workshop (SAV Workgroup, EPA) c. Continue long-term monitoring of SAV sites throughout the Bay MD DNR (Karrh, transects throughout Bay) VIMS (Orth, Richardson, transects in Va portion of Bay; Shields, York River) FWS (McGowan, Poplar harbor, Harbor Cove, Cabin Cove, Lowes Point, Front Creek, Back Creek, Tilghman Island) BaCO DEPS (Witcher, Baltimore County Waterways) d. Conduct and share information on site specific surveys performed to determine the existence and health of SAV on DoD installations. (Diebel, DoD) 5. Manage invasive species (both plant and animal) that are considered detrimental to existing SAV populations (ie. Trapa natans, Mute swan). (Md DNR, FWS, NPS, USGS, VaDGIF) 6. Work towards determining the economic value of SAV ecosystem services. (Wainger, UMCES; Kennedy, GMU; Campbell, Md DNR)
2-Year Work plan Management Approach 3: Restore Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay Key Actions: 7. Plant, at minimum, 20 acres of SAV seeds and propagules in appropriate high water quality/clarity areas each year until goal is reached. (Lewandowski, Md DNR; Orth, VIMS) 8. Look for opportunities to optimize conditions that would allow for the natural or assisted restoration of SAV when possible and appropriate in the course of completing other non-SAV specific projects. (Gomez, USACE)
2-Year Work plan Management Approach 4: Enhance Research, Citizen Involvement, and Education in the Chesapeake Bay watershed Key Actions: 9. Advance knowledge in the fields of SAV Biology, Ecology, and Genetics. A. Increase knowledge regarding the biology and ecology of SAV species throughout the Bay. (Kemp, Gurbisz, UMCES; Ailstock, Norman, AACC; Rybicki, USGS; Orth, Moore, Duffy, VIMS) B. Work towards determining connectivity among source beds that act as a source of seed/genetic material over varying spatial scales (Neel, UMD; Engelhart, UMD AL; Harris, UMCES) C. Further understanding of SAV reproduction and persistence strategies (Bricker, UVA).
2-Year Work plan Management Approach 4: Enhance Research, Citizen Involvement, and Education in the Chesapeake Bay watershed Key Actions: 10. Advance knowledge regarding the effects of human induced stressors on SAV, including those of Climate Change. A. Increase the understanding of SAV community dynamics and response to stressors. (Weller, Patrick, Hannam, Orth, Wilcox, SERC/VIMS; Kemp, Gurbisz, UMCES; Rybicki, USGS; Neel, UMD, Harris, UMCES) B. Determine the extent to which watershed land use impacts SAV survival and growth (Weller et al. SERC; Karrh et al, Md DNR) C. Determine the extent to which shoreline armoring influences existing SAV abundance and distribution (Weller et al. SERC; Karrh et al/Whitbeck Md DNR/USFWS) D. Identify and map propeller scars due to commercial fishing activities and map their recovery trajectories (Orth, VIMS) E. Determine the extent to which living shorelines impact SAV abundance and distribution (Karrh, Md DNR) F. Conduct climate impact workshop in conjunction with Bay Program Climate Change coordinator (SAV Workgroup, CBP Climate Coordinator, Sustainable fisheries GIT)
2-Year Work plan Management Approach 4: Enhance Research, Citizen Involvement, and Education in the Chesapeake Bay watershed Key Actions: 11. Advance knowledge of SAV restoration techniques. A. Work towards determining if success rate increases if a primary colonizing species is planted first, followed by a climax species (Ailstock, AACC; Kemp and Murray, UMCES). B. Attempt to identify the conditions under which planting multiple species in the same location are likely to increase the chances of population survival (Ailstock, AACC). C. Attempt to identify and select species with characteristics that maximize ecological function (Engelhart, UMCES –AL) D. Work towards determining the conditions under which planting multiple genotypes and locally adapted genotypes are likely to increase chances of population survival (Neel, UMD; Engelhart, UMCES-AL) E. Work towards determining at what density and spatial arrangement SAV should be planted to maximize growth and survival (Ailstock, Norman, AACC; Orth, VIMS, Moore, VIMS, Lewandowski, Md DNR) F. Continue SAV Modeling effort with implications for restoration and climate issues in general (Harris, UMCES-CBL)
2-Year Work plan Management Approach 4: Enhance Research, Citizen Involvement, and Education in the Chesapeake Bay watershed Key Actions: 12. Complete and publish the third Technical Synthesis of research regarding SAV in the Chesapeake Bay. This document will highlight everything that is known, to date, regarding SAV in the Chesapeake Bay (SAV Workgroup, multiple authors) 13. Develop a communication strategy that enhances the public's knowledge of and appreciation for SAV in the Chesapeake Bay, similar to the models used to advance oyster and other wildlife restoration efforts. (SAV Workgroup, not funded) 14. The Chesapeake Bay Commission will work collaboratively with the Bay Program partners to identify legislative, budgetary and policy needs to advance the goals of the Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. We will, in turn, pursue action within our member state General Assemblies and the United States Congress. See CBC Resolution #14-1 for additional information on the CBC’s participation in the management strategies. (Chesapeake Bay Commission)
2-Year Work plan Questions? Comments?
Workgroup to do list • Update the Charter? • Develop a website? • Workshops • SAV Aerial Survey Workshop • SAV Climate Change Workshop
SAV Workgroup Charter Mission Statement: The Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Workgroup serves the broader Bay community by guiding managers on the protection and restoration of SAV and providing technical expertise on issues impacting SAV in the Bay.
SAV Workgroup Charter Purpose The purpose of the Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Workgroup is to coordinate protection, restoration, monitoring and research efforts among the Chesapeake Bay Program partners.
SAV Workgroup Charter Responsibilities: a) The workgroup will contribute to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s goals by: Developing two-year milestones for workgroup goals Identifying existing partnerships and programs that can be dedicated to compliment federal programs already in place Identifying resources needed to reach goals Identifying and facilitating the growth of new partnerships and opportunities to accelerate accomplishments Identifying issues that are hampering progress and devising solutions. b) Identify research needs. c) Identify Bay Barometer indicators to accurately represent the status of SAV within the watershed.
SAV Workgroup Charter Operation Decision Making The chair will be responsible for representing the workgroup and submitting any requested items to Habitat GIT leadership. The workgroup will reach decisions through generating consensus. Consensus is defined as lack of objection. In the absence of consensus, decisions can be reached by a majority vote. The chair will solicit input and feedback from the members prior to making decisions on all substantive matters. In situations that require rapid response decision-making, the chair will make decisions and will inform members as soon as possible.
SAV Workgroup Charter Membership The structure of the SAV workgroup consists of a chair and a diverse membership encompassing government agencies, academic institutions and non-profit organizations. Add: Vice chair and secretary
Website Development We’d like to use the Bay Program workgroup space to create a website that might be more useful to our members and also contribute to key action 13 of the work plan. (13. Develop a communication strategy that enhances the public's knowledge of and appreciation for SAV in the Chesapeake Bay, similar to the models used to advance oyster and other wildlife restoration efforts.) …possibly a job for a secretary???
SAV Aerial Survey Workshop To evaluate the current SAV aerial survey/ground survey program design to ensure the full array of diverse user needs will be met well into the future, but through a streamlined survey design costing less per year than the current survey design. The objective of this workshop is to reach agreement on: 1. The full range of existing, intended and potential management, regulatory and research uses of the combined aerial and ground surveys’ data and products; 2. The exact survey design requirements of each of those management, regulatory and research uses; and 3. Re-designed, integrated SAV aerial and ground surveys which best address all or the majority of the higher priority management, regulatory and research uses and fully factors in realistic operational considerations.
SAV Climate Change Workshop The Climate Workgroup proposes a small workshop series, comprised of three one-day workshops (SAV, Oysters and Blue Crab) to be held in late-winter to spring of 2017, for the purposes of developing recommendations to guide adjustments of CBP monitoring plans and efforts to better anticipate, assess, and ultimately plan to address the factor of risk that climate change may have on the Partnership’s ability to attain Chesapeake Bay Agreement Goals and Outcomes.