Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative Roger C. Helm, Senior Scientist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service November 13, 2014 Nov. 11, 2014

Mission: To initiate and sustain an integrative, holistic understanding of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and support, to the maximum extent practicable, restoration efforts and the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem, including its fish stocks, fishing industries, habitat, and wildlife through ecosystem research, observation, monitoring, and technology development. Staff & managers from all NOAA line offices plus USFWS developing the Program Actively engaging with stakeholders to raise awareness of Program and solicit input The science needs of stakeholders (which includes the Feds, States, and LCC partners) have been the driving force in the development of the Plan and will be the primary beneficiaries of the Program’s output The Science Plan builds on prior science and research needs identified for the region We continue to coordinate with ongoing Gulf science programs and with Deepwater Horizon-related science and restoration programs (e.g., NASs’ Gulf Research Program, The RESTORE Council, and the various affiliated University and NGO Gulf Research activities) NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program In a Nutshell

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Outline for Today’s Webinar Program Overview – Legislation and Requirements – Funding- small piece of a huge undetermined amount Coordination and Engagement – Lots to build upon and to build with Science Plan – What’s inside – Priority identification process – Long-term research priorities – Comment process Initial Federal Funding Opportunity Current and Future Activities Challenges and Opportunities Science Advisory Board

RESTORE Act of 2012 –Section 1604 authorizes the NOAA Administrator, in consultation with USFWS Director, to establish a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program (NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program) Administrator and Director shall consult with Gulf States Marine Fisheries Comm. & Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Priority shall be given to integrated, long-term projects that address management needs Funds may not be used for – any existing or planned research led by NOAA, – implementation or initiation of new NOAA regulations, and – development of or approval of a fisheries catch share program. Legislation and Requirements

*Supplemented by interest generated by the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (50% to Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, 25% to Science Program, 25% to Centers of Excellence) RESTORE Act Distribution of Clean Water Act Civil Penalties $1B Transocean settlement Civil Penalties 20% Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund 80% Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund 35% Equally distributed to 5 Gulf States (AL, FL, LA, MS, TX) 30%* Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council 30% Impact based distribution to 5 Gulf States (AL, FL, LA, MS, TX) 2.5%* Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program 2.5%* Centers of Excellence $800M $200M $280M$240M $20M

NFWF RESTORE Act Partnerships in the Gulf of Mexico (Funded by 80% of Civil Penalties) Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund 20% of Civil Penalties ACADEMIC 1603 RESTORE Council Members 1603(1) State Allocation & Expenditures 35% 1603(2) Council Establishment & Allocation 30% 1603(3) Oil Spill Restoration Impact Allocation 30% 1604 Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring & Technology Program 2.5% 1605 CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE 2.5% NGO Funded by Criminal Penalties FEDERAL & INTERNATIONAL Natural Resources Damage Assessment Trustee Council

Coordination Deepwater Horizon-related science and restoration initiatives including… – Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative – National Academy of Sciences Gulf Program – National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Natural Resources Damage Assessment – Other RESTORE Act programs Centers of Excellence (2.5% of Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund) Science and monitoring funded by states and Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council NOTE: Each program is independent, but determined to coordinate Existing federal and state research programs  LCC funded efforts

Coordination, Engagement, and Science Planning NOAA has conducted over 100 meetings seeking input from stakeholders including representatives from the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, universities, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The Ocean Conservancy The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Louisiana Comprehensive Master Plan The Program research priorities have and will continue to be informed by existing plans and activities addressing the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Sea Grant Research Plan Gulf Governors Action Plan Florida Ocean Council – Annual Science Research Plan

Science Plan: What’s Inside Science Plan lays out the path forward for the Program. Discusses the long-term priorities, the process by which those priorities were determined, and the sequencing of activities. Describes how the Program will be implemented and the partners with which we will leverage future opportunities. Program structure and administration –Program management –Approach to coordination –Program parameters –Eligibility for funding opportunities –Scientific integrity –Data and information sharing Program overview and priorities –Legislative requirements –Vision and mission –Geographic scope –Approach to engagement –Rationale and process for establishing priorities –Ten long-term priorities

Priority Identification Process Reviewed previously identified research priorities of various stakeholders Consolidated priorities Identified management needs associated with each priority Identified key activities and anticipated outputs and outcomes

Long-term Research Priorities Increase comprehensive understanding of Gulf ecosystem services, resilience and vulnerabilities of coupled social and ecological systems. Construct management-ready and accessible ecosystem models for the Gulf of Mexico. Improve forecasting, analysis and modeling of climate change and weather effects on the sustainability and resiliency of Gulf ecosystems. Increase comprehensive understanding of watershed, sediment, and nutrient flows and impacts on coastal ecology and habitats. Increase comprehensive understanding of coastal and living marine resources, food web dynamics, habitat utilization, protected areas, and carbon flow. 5 of 10

Analyze new and existing social and environmental data to develop long- term trend and variability information on the status and health of ecosystems, including humans. Develop, identify, and validate system-wide indicators of Gulf Coast environmental and socioeconomic conditions. Obtain information and develop decision support tools needed to monitor and adaptively manage habitat, living marine resources, and wildlife. Network and integrate existing and planned data/information from Gulf monitoring programs. Develop and implement advanced engineering, physical, chemical, biological, and socioeconomic technologies to improve monitoring. Long-term Research Priorities (con’t) 5 more of 10

Comment on the Science Plan find the plan at Comment on the Science Plan find the plan at By mail: Dr. Becky Allee NOAA OCM, Gulf of Mexico Division Bldg. 1100, Rm 232 Stennis Space Center, MS, Comments due December 15, 2014

Initial Federal Funding Opportunity Focuses on three short-term priorities: – Comprehensive inventory and assessment of existing Gulf ecosystem models – Identification of health/condition indicators of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and analysis of strengths and weaknesses and design/testing of additional indicators – Assessment of monitoring and observation needs and development of recommendations for a Gulf-wide network. Further refined by three topical areas: – Ecosystem and living marine resources management – Climate change and extreme weather impacts on sustainability of restoration – Integration of social/behavioral/economic science into restoration and management Total available funding is $2-2.5 million; projects completed in one to two years

Current Activities Science Plan (comment period ends 15 Dec 2014) Programmatic Environmental Assessment (~Jan plus comment period) Announce initial Federal Funding Opportunity (end of Nov 2014) Future Activities Science Plan (finalize Jan 2015) Programmatic Environmental Assessment (finalize ~Spring 2015) Award initial federal funding opportunity (~Spring 2015) Develop second federal funding opportunity (2015)

Challenges and Opportunities Funding uncertainties necessitate a tiered and iterative approach with a long-tem vision. Our Program is a science initiative within the RESTORE Act, not the science initiative for the RESTORE Act. Everyone recognizes the extraordinary opportunity we all have: – Huge dollars and an amazing number of Gulf-focused science and restoration efforts – Our country, the Gulf, and science all win if we share our wisdom and operate as an open book – Replication is FINE, Duplication is NOT Coordination is critical and must be continuous

NOAA Science Advisory Board Working Group Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science Program Advisory Working Group Role Provide independent guidance and review of the Science Program along with general programmatic advice and recommendations Provide a mechanism for formal coordination between the multiple organizations conducting Gulf of Mexico science connected to the Deepwater Horizon event Members Representatives of Gulf of Mexico Science Programs: Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas) Subject Matter Experts: physical, chemical, and biological oceanography; economics and social sciences; wetlands ecology; fisher, wildlife, and marine mammal ecology; ecosystem modeling; toxicology; developers of observing and monitoring systems; ecosystem management Ex-officio members: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program Bureau of Ocean Energy Management National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Working Group Members Subject Matter Experts Dr. Dwayne E. Porter, co-Chair University of South Carolina Dr. Robert Dickey, co-Chair The University of Texas at Austin Dr. Joseph N. Boyer Plymouth State University Dr. Christopher D’Elia Louisiana State University Dr. Richard E. Dodge Nova Southeastern University Dr. Yoko Furukawa Naval Research Laboratory Dr. Scott M. Glenn Rutgers University Dr. Thomas E. Miller Florida State University Dr. Thomas J. Miller University of Maryland Center for Enviro. Science Dr. Nancy N. Rabalais Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Dr. Christopher M. Reddy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Dr. Kurt E. Schnier University of California, Merced Dr. Christine C. Shepard The Nature Conservancy Dr. Pamela K. Yochem Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute Dr. Paul Zimba Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Representative Members Mr. Jeffrey Rester Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Dr. Carrie Simmons Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council *Representatives from the RESTORE Centers of Excellence are to be determined. Ex-officio Members Dr. Anthony Chatwin National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Dr. Pasquale F. Roscigno Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Dr. Maggie L. Walser National Academy of Sciences Dr. Charles A. Wilson Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative

Thank you for your time. Any questions? Website: restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov