Ecosystem Approach to Management for the Northern Gulf of

Ecosystem Approach to Management for the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Funded by NOAA

The NGI Ecosystem Team

1

Adapted from Levin et al (2008)

NGI IEA/EAM Context

2

Adaptive Ecosystem Approach to Management (EAM)

with Embedded 5- Step Integrated Ecosystem

Assessment (IEA) Process

3

NGI IEA/EAM Context


Adaptive Ecosystem Approach to Management (EAM)

NGI IEA/EAM Context

=

=

Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) Framework

4


• Began the process of generating an IEA for the GOM in FY09.

• Accomplishments: • Identify IEA Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts, and Responses

for four representative systems in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

• Identify the similarities and differences in Drivers and Pressures among the systems.

• Examine the effects of scale

• Provide a Risk Assessment Framework

• Produce a Sulis Informatics Services prototype

5

Prior Work at NGI

6

Four Initial Systems

PRESSURES

DRIVERS

Hydrologic Modifications Climate Human-Related Processes

Exploration

&

navigation

canals

Flood levee &

dam

construction

Freshwater

diversion

Sea Level

Rise/

Subsidence

Extreme

Weather

Events

Variability Local

Population

Size

Trade/

Industry

Socio-

Political-

Educational

Perceptions

Tourism/

Recreation

Altered riverine

input

B

M

G

B

M

P

G

B

G

B

M

G

M M

Altered internal

wetland

connectivity

B B B

M

G

B

M

G

M

G

B

M

M

Increased

nutrients (point

and non-point)

B M

G

B

P

M

G

B

P

M

G

P

M

G

B

M

G

Increased

pollution (point

and non-point)

G B

G

B

P

M

G

B

P

M

B

M

B

P

M

Increased

dredging

B

G

M M P

M

B

M

M B

M

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Example Drivers and Pressures

• Hydrologic Modifications Exploration and Navigation Canals Levee and Dam Construction Freshwater Diversion

• Climate Sea Level Rise/Subsidence Extreme Weather Events Climate Variability

• Human Local Population Size Trade/Industry Socio Tourism/Recreation

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Summary Drivers

• Human dominate Drivers, with Local Population Size and Tourism/Recreation cited for all three systems

• Five Pressures manifest those drivers: Increased Urban/Coastal Development

Increased Fishing Effort

Increased Boat Traffic

Increased Nutrients

Increased Pollution

Photo courtesy of NMFS

9

Summary Pressures

Scaling Down in Barataria

Sw

am

p

Fre

sh

In

term

edia

te

Bra

ckis

h

Sa

lt

Sw

am

p

Fre

sh

In

term

edia

te

Bra

ckis

h

Sa

lt

Sw

am

p

Fre

sh

In

term

edia

te

Bra

ckis

h

Sa

lt

Altered riverine input

Altered internal wetland

connectivity

Increased point and non-point

nutrients

Increased point and non-point

pollutants

Increased dredging

Increased fishing effort

Increased boat traffic (wakes,

grounding, anchoring)

Non-indigenous species

introduction

Altered coastal biodiversity

Increased urban/coast

development

Increased logging

Redistribution of marsh &

barrier island sediment

Decreased land elevation

Drivers: Hydrologic Modifications

Pre

ssu

res

Freshwater diversionFlood levee & dam

construction

Exploration &

navigation canalsPressures

10

Tem

pera

ture

(C

elc

ius)

lagoonsBay

30

29

28

27

26

25

24

23

Water temperature in Perdido Bay and its surrounding lagoons

• States and Impacts Scale-dependent

– Smaller spatial extent = faster temporal response

– Nutrients and DOC highest in Lagoons

• Drivers and Pressures independent of scale

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Scaling Up in Perdido

DPSIR Example Barataria - Human Drivers Increased nutrient and pollutant Pressures

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Driver Pressure(s) State Variable(s) Impact Response

Sw

am

p

Fre

sh

Inte

rmed

iate

Bra

ckis

h

Sa

lt

Human related: Local

population size

Increased point an non-

point nutrients

Nutrient concentrations

(on ground sample

collection)

Eutrophication of coastal

water bodies, increased

vegetation stress, change in

habitat type

Wastewater treatment,

outreach and education

regarding proper disposal


population size


point pollutants

Target pollutant (i.e.

mercury) concentrations

(on ground sample

collection)

Increased stress on habitats

and/or organisms,

commercial and/or

recreational organisms no

longer safe for

consumption





population size

Increased fishing effort Fisheries Catch data (on

ground sample collection)

Decrease in or loss of

fishery.

Size and/or catch limits, set

harvest seasons.


population size

Increased boat traffic:

wakes, grounding,

anchor scars

Bottom damage survey,

bank erosion and/or

channel widening survey

(on ground or possibly

through remote sensing)

Loss and/or damage of

wetland habitat (channel

edge, channel or bay

bottom) and associated

ecological services

Vessel speed limits (no

wake zones), Boater

education, Bank line

protection, mitigation by

creation of new habitat


population size


introduction

Species inventory (on

ground samples)

Change/loss of native

species and associated

ecological services

Outreach and education

regarding transport of non-

indigenous species,

eradication programs


population size

Altered coastal

biodiversity

Habitat area (remote

sensing) Species type and

abundance (on ground

surveys)

Change/loss of habitat and

native species with loss of

associated ecological

services

Habitat creation and

restoration (marsh, oyster

reefs, coastal ridges,

barrier islands)


population size

Increased Urban/coast

development

Population in the coastal

zone, (from census data

base) acres of developed

land in the coastal zone

(maps from permits,

Modification (possibly loss)

of wetland habitat and


services.

Zoning to limit

development in coastal

zone, public outreach and

education, mitigation by


Human related: Trade /

industry


point nutrients


(on ground sample

collection)




habitat type

Regulation of overboard or

industrial dumping,



industry


point pollutants



(on ground sample

collection)


and/or organisms,

commercial and/or


longer safe for


industrial dumping,



industry

Increased dredging:

direct loss of habitat

Area of wetland habitat

(on ground measurement

and/or remote sensing)

Loss of wetland habitat

and associated ecological

services

Regulation of dredging

activity, mitigation by



industry




fishery.


harvest seasons.


industry


wakes, grounding,

anchor scars


bank erosion and/or








ecological services


wake zones), Boater





industry


introduction


ground samples)



ecological services



indigenous species,



industry

Altered coastal

biodiversity




surveys)




services




barrier islands)

Driver Pressure(s) State Variable(s) Impact Response

Sw

amp

Fre

sh

Inte

rmed

iate

Bra

ckis

h

Sal

t


population size


point nutrients


(on ground sample

collection)




habitat type





population size


point pollutants



(on ground sample

collection)


and/or organisms,

commercial and/or


longer safe for

consumption





population size




fishery.


harvest seasons.


population size


wakes, grounding,

anchor scars


bank erosion and/or








ecological services


wake zones), Boater





population size


introduction


ground samples)



ecological services



indigenous species,



population size

Altered coastal

biodiversity




surveys)




services




barrier islands)


population size

Increased Urban/coast

development

Population in the coastal

zone, (from census data

base) acres of developed

land in the coastal zone

(maps from permits,

Modification (possibly loss)

of wetland habitat and


services.

Zoning to limit

development in coastal

zone, public outreach and

education, mitigation by



industry


point nutrients


(on ground sample

collection)




habitat type


industrial dumping,



industry


point pollutants



(on ground sample

collection)


and/or organisms,

commercial and/or


longer safe for


industrial dumping,



industry

Increased dredging:

direct loss of habitat

Area of wetland habitat

(on ground measurement

and/or remote sensing)

Loss of wetland habitat

and associated ecological

services

Regulation of dredging

activity, mitigation by



industry




fishery.


harvest seasons.


industry


wakes, grounding,

anchor scars


bank erosion and/or








ecological services


wake zones), Boater





industry


introduction


ground samples)



ecological services



indigenous species,



industry

Altered coastal

biodiversity




surveys)




services




barrier islands)

Consequences of Event

Pro

ba

bil

ity

of

Ev

en

t

High Risk

Moderate Risk

Low Risk Low

H

igh

M

ed

ium

Small Moderate Large

Risk = Event Probability & Consequences

Community Models

Risk Assessment

DPSER

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Sulis Informatics Services

Data Discovery, Details, and Mapping

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Sulis Informatics Services

1. Fill remaining data gaps.

2. Complete Sulis Informatics Services prototypes

– Perdido

– South Florida

3. Begin integration of the individual IEA into a Gulf

of Mexico EAM Combine with South Fla.

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Future IEA/EAM Efforts

John Harding, NGI

Becky Alee, NOAA

Bill McAnally, MSU

Christine Carollo, HRI

David Yoskowitz, HRI

Eric Chassignet, FSU

Erick Swenson, LSU

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NGI Ecosystem Team

Felicia Coleman, FSU

John Cartwright, MSU

Julien Lartique, NOAA

Just Cebrian, DISL

Rich Fulford, EPA

Susan Welsh, LSU

Scott Milroy, USM

Funding and Direction: Buck Sutter, Miles Croom, Chris Kelble

Bill McAnally

[email protected]

John Harding

[email protected]

19

Contact Infromation

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Ecosystem Approach to Management for the Northern Gulf of