Gulf of Maine Council’s EcoSystem Indicator Partnership June 2012

In Response To User Needs – Changes to the Indicator Reporting Tool Revised to use Google map platform Faster graphing Revise “add chart” portion Remove confusing key map function Set up downloadable data function Organize layers better Create more information button Produce easy to use metadata table

About EcoSystem Indicator Partnership (ESIP) Suite of 7 indicators: – Aquatic Habitats: extent of eelgrass, extent of salt marsh, location of tidal restriction – Climate Change: sea level change, precipitation trends & anomalies, air temperature trends & anomalies – Coastal Development: Point sources, population density, employment density, impervious surface – Contaminants: sediment triad, shellfish sanitation, Gulfwatch/musselwatch – Eutrophication: Nitrogen loading, secchi depth, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll A – Aquaculture: acres of permitted aquaculture, economic value of aquaculture – Fisheries: how much coastal economy based on jobs, dominant species metric (how dominate landed value – 80% ME is lobster), population of species, species diversity

Putting the focus on our States and Provinces

Massachusetts  Massachusetts is represented in seven of the seven subcommittees. Programs included: Massachusetts Audubon, Mass. CZM, Mass DMR, Massachusetts Water Resources Association, MIT Sea Grant, Woods Hole Group, Salem Sound Coast Watch.  Massachusetts’ data are included in the fact sheets for each of the following indicators: economic value of aquaculture, acres of permitted aquaculture, sea level, air temperature trends, precipitation trends, extent of salt marsh, extent of eelgrass, tidal barriers (pretty spotty), nitrogen loading, phosphorus loading, chlorophyll a, and water clarity.

New Hampshire  New Hampshire is represented in five of the seven ESIP subcommittees. Although no members are part of the aquaculture or fisheries subcommittee, data is included in all analysis and federal partners provided input.  New Hampshire’s data are included in the fact sheets for each of the following indicators: economic value of aquaculture, acres of permitted aquaculture, sea level, air temperature trends, precipitation trends, extent of salt marsh, extent of eelgrass, tidal barriers, nitrogen loading, phosphorus loading, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, and water clarity.

Maine  Maine is represented in seven of the seven ESIP subcommittees. Programs included: Harpswell town planner, University of New England, Bowdoin College, Maine DEP, Wells NERR, Maine Aquaculture Association, and Wells NERR.  Maine’s data are included in the fact sheets for each of the following indicators: economic value of aquaculture, acres of permitted aquaculture, sea level, air temperature trends, precipitation trends, extent of salt marsh (needs to be updated), extent of eelgrass, tidal barriers (very spotty), nitrogen loading, phosphorus loading, disssolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, and water clarity.

New Brunswick  New Brunswick is represented in seven of the seven ESIP subcommittees. Programs included: NB Environment, University of New Brunswick, University of New Brunswick, and St. Andrews Biological Station.  New Brunswick’s data are included in the fact sheets for each of the following indicators: economic value of aquaculture, acres of permitted aquaculture, sea level, air temperature trends, precipitation trends, extent of salt marsh, and tidal barriers. Although no eutrophication data was available for analysis, a focus box on the Bay of Fundy was included in the Eutrophication Fact Sheet. Freshwater data associated with St. John watershed does not meet salinity criteria. Eastern Charlotte has asked for meeting to build monitoring network.

Nova Scotia  Nova Scotia is represented in six of the seven ESIP subcommittees. Although no members are part of the aquaculture, data is included in all analysis and federal partners provided input.  Nova Scotia’s data are included in the fact sheets for each of the following indicators: economic value of aquaculture, acres of permitted aquaculture, sea level, air temperature trends, precipitation trends, extent of salt marsh, and tidal barriers. Although no eutrophication data was available for analysis, a focus box on the Bay of Fundy was included in the Eutrophication Fact Sheet. Annapolis River monitors fresh water, which does not match salinity criteria.

Jurisdictional Input What are the benefits to your organizations to having states and provinces highlighted? Is there a similar need for Federal entities? What is your preference: Use words or logos?

Finishing Tier 1 Indicators Contaminants Fact Sheet Fisheries Fact Sheet Coastal Development Fact Sheet Release Fall 2012 Release Winter Release Spring 2013

ESIP’s Eutrophication Fact Sheet Released May 2012 Indicators: Nitrogen loading, phosphorus loading, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, and water clarity.

What’s Next? Continued revisions to webtools based on feedback, evaluation tasks, journal entries, and contaminants fact sheet.

Need ESIP Journal submissions: Short: Three or four paragraphs Timely: About what is happening now About you: Improve visibility of ESIP network member’s activities Select a month: Easy rotational schedule if each organization submits once a year. Exploring the erodibility of sediments and the effect on the distribution of harmful algal cysts in the Gulf of Maine Bradford Butman and Patrick Dickhudt U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Woods Hole, MA Bruce Keafer Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole, MA