North and West Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Peter Fix Assistant Professor, SNRAS Lois Dalle-Molle Research Coordinator, NPS

o CESU  What is it?  Why is it? o National Network  Regions, Universities, Agencies o NWA CESU  Agencies  University and Partners o Benefits – (what’s in it for you?) o How does it work?

Government/university partnerships based on university campuses, organized into a national network Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units

Legislative Direction oIn 1998 P.L (§203) authorized and directed the Secretary of the Interior “to enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including but not limited to land grant schools, in partnership with other federal and state agencies, to establish cooperative study units to conduct multi- disciplinary research…”. oThus, a network of Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units was developed.

CESU Mission A network of cooperative research units established to provide research technical assistance education To resource and environmental managers federal land management environmental and research agencies potential partners

 cooperative Multiple Federal agencies and universities are among the partners in this program. Each CESU involves several agencies and several universities and partners.  ecosystem studies involves disciplines needed to address resource issues and interdisciplinary problem solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context biological sciences physical sciences social sciences cultural sciences  resources encompass natural and cultural resources.

Participating Agencies  US Fish & Wildlife Service  US Geological Survey  Bureau of Land Management  Bureau of Reclamation  National Park Service  Agricultural Research Service  USDA Forest Service  Natural Resources Conservation Service  National Marine Fisheries Service  Department of Defense  Department of Energy  Environmental Protection Agency  National Aeronautics & Space Administration  other agencies to be added in the future

First Inventory of CESU Projects

Key Elements of Each CESU  host university  multiple federal agencies  partner institutions (at least 1 minority institution)  role and mission statement  managers committee  strategic plan and annual work plans  agencies provides research needs  university provides research expertise

Basic Strategy for CESUs  universities provide space, faculty expertise, students and educational services  agencies provide scientists, project funds  individual scientists supervised by their participating agency  oversight of support, project funds by participating agency  agencies and universities collaborate on projects  network led by national CESU Council

Federal Agency research needs Universities research expertise CESU Facilitates collaborative projects

Benefits to Agencies  broadened scope of scientific services  multidisciplinary problem-solving at several ecological scales  increased collaboration among federal agencies, universities and scientists  increased research, technical assistance and education for resource managers  access to new technology

Benefits to Agencies (continued)  increased diversity of scientists, disciplines and institutions  professional development opportunities for agency scientists and employees  improved collaboration between natural and cultural resource managers  reduced costs through collaborative research, technical assistance and education  expanded constituency for federal science

The “real deal” Bureaucracy 101…

Benefits to Universities  increased collaboration among faculty, students and agency scientists  augmented faculty for teaching and graduate student supervision  increased opportunity for multi-agency research projects and continuing education  increased opportunity for faculty to provide technical assistance to agencies

Benefits to Universities (continued)  increased opportunities for graduate student research, participation in federal projects, internships and employment  consistent and comprehensive cooperative agreements that maximize opportunities for federally-sponsored research  increased role in establishing research agendas of participating agencies

The “real deal” from the university perspective

A blanket Interagency Memorandum of Understanding was created by the national CESU Council. Based on biogeographic regions, 12 CESU units were established in first “round”. The North and West Alaska CESU added in second round of competition. Where do we fit?

We competed to host the NWACESU. Joint venture agreement is in now in place. Individual projects, that meet the NWACESU criteria, are modifications to the joint venture agreement. Where do we fit?

North and West Alaska CESU Mission statement The North and West Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (NWACESU) seeks to provide cooperative technical assistance related to natural and cultural resource decision making focused on north and west Alaska through partnerships, education, research and knowledge of biological, physical, social and cultural aspects of relevant ecosystems among NWACESU members and the national CESU network.

North and West Alaska CESU oUniversity Partners  University of Alaska Fairbanks – host  University of Alaska Anchorage  University of Alaska Southeast  University of New Hampshire  Alaska Sealife Center

University of Alaska Anchorage

oAgency Partners  National Park Service  Bureau of Land Management  US Forest Service  USGS – Biological Resources Division

What does it all mean? oThese four agencies, in this CESU, will be better able to work with the University partners of the CESU to accomplish research on their lands. oRemember what you learned in Bureaucracy 101…  Ecosystem emphasis  Cooperative planning of projects  More responsive collaboration  Better science for managers

Who are the Agencies – and where are the lands? NWA CESU

National Park Service oDenali National Park oGates of the Arctic National Park oYukon Charley National oCape Krusenstern national Monument oNoatak National Preserve oKobuk Valley National Park oBering Land Bridge National Preserve oAleutian World War II National Historic Site

Denali National Park wildlife – natural resources scenery wilderness visitors subsistence Access I&M

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve wilderness natural, cultural resources subsistence access

Yukon Charley National Preserve subsistence natural resources historical resources recreation

Kobuk Valley National Park natural resources cultural resources recreation subsistence

Noatak National Preserve natural and cultural resources subsistence and sport hunting access for nearby development

Cape Krusenstern National Monument cultural resources coastal threats nearby mineral development

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve limited access cultural uses, hot springs subsistence beach erosion

Aleutian World War II Historic Area Japanese Attack on Dutch Harbor! June 3, 1942 Affiliated Area – NPS and Onalashka Corporation Historical resources Tourism Cultural affiliation

Bureau of Land Management

86 million acres Cadastral survey Wildland Fire management Conveyance management Energy and solid minerals Resources, lands, planning

Bureau of Land Management

US Forest Service Watershed Health and Restoration Sustainable Forest Management National Forest Road System Recreation

USGS - BRD Provide biological information and research findings to resource managers, policymakers, and the public to support sound management of biological resources and ecosystems in Alaska.

Where are we now? We’re OPEN for business… o Implementing specific procedures  Agency work/task orders  Accounting procedures (somebody needs to get paid)  Criteria for projects o Great new web pages ( thanks to Steve) o Looking for input and comments