Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Southeast Alaska Network Vital Signs Monitoring Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Sitka National Historical Park

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

We face tough challenges The world is not only more complex than we understand, it’s more complex than we can understand. J. B. S. Haldane …preserve [dynamic systems] unimpaired… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

What do Vital Sign Monitoring Data Provide? Context and perspective; range of variation Trend detection Covariate and response variables; not subject to crisis of the day Raise flags, temper reactions, tell stories Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

What SEAN is not built to do… Research: Investigate causal relationships –The “how” and “why” questions Assess value: –Management significance –Identify thresholds for management response –Define a desired condition or state Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

What SEAN is built to do… Answer questions: –What? Where? When? How much change? What direction? What magnitude? What range? And answer them with scientific rigor –Embrace uncertainty –Refining understanding over the long term Work with park managers to understand context for change Provide data on select ecosystem elements that represent covariates and response variables Analyze, report, deliver data Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Key Principles Be relevant to the Parks Do a few things well Focus. Design elegantly. Work efficiently. Scope for the optimum; design for reality. Build a program that is longer-lived than our careers, larger than ourselves Must be sustainable More than philosophy – major implications for program structure

Do you remember how we got here? Selection and Identification of SEAN Vital Signs Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Vital Sign Identification Process 1.Scoping Workshops –Marine, Freshwater, Terrestrial –Build conceptual models

Terrestrial plant succession following glacial recession… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Influences on Marine Systems… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Primary succession in streams… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Marine-derived nutrients… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Intertidal zone… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Everything should be made as simple as possible. But not one bit simpler. -Einstein Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

SEAN Holistic Model: Drivers of Change Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Marine EnvironmentsFreshwater Environments Terrestrial Environments Ungulates Breeding Landbird Populations Streamflow Macroinvertebrates and Algae Freshwater Water Quality Salmonids Humpback Whales Marine Predators Forage Fishes Harbor Seals Killer Whales Steller Sea Lions Kittlitz’s Murrelets Phenology Western Toads Wetland Communities Intertidal Communities Landcover and Landform Bald Eagles Bears Biodiversity Pests and Diseases Plant Communities

Vital Sign Selection Process 1.Scoping Workshops –Marine, Freshwater, Terrestrial –Build conceptual models, incorporate into Phase I Report 2.Use conceptual models to identify candidate Vital Signs 3.Rate and rank based on ecological and management significance criteria 4.Adjust the ranking based on professional judgment Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Vital Sign Selection Process Core Program 6 6 Secondary Program Optimum overlaid with Reality Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Core and Secondary Programs Core Program –SEAN will initiate, develop, implement, and directly fund –Full, formal monitoring protocols Secondary –Parks lead and fund –Parks would likely continue to monitor with or without the I&M Program –SEAN will contribute data management and data delivery support as time and resources allow Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program NPS Photo

SEAN Core Program Core Program 1.Airborne Contaminants 2.Marine Predators 3.Weather and Climate 4.Streamflow 5.Freshwater Water Quality 6.Oceanography 7.Marine Contaminants 8.Freshwater Contaminants 9.Intertidal Communities 10.Landform and Landcover 11.Kittlitz’s Murrelets 12.Glacial Dynamics (extent) Secondary Program 1.Freshwater Macroinverts, Algae 2.Invasive and Exotic Plants 3.Western Toads 4.Humpback Whales 5.Human Use and Mode of Access 6.Underwater Sound Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Vital Signs Relation to Conceptual Models

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Marine EnvironmentsFreshwater Environments Terrestrial Environments Ungulates Breeding Landbird Populations Streamflow Macroinvertebrates and Algae Freshwater Water Quality Salmonids Humpback Whales Marine Predators Forage Fishes Harbor Seals Killer Whales Steller Sea Lions Kittlitz’s Murrelets Phenology Western Toads Wetland Communities Intertidal Communities Landcover and Landform Bald Eagles Bears Biodiversity Pests and Diseases Plant Communities

SEAN Core Program Airborne Contaminants Freshwater Water Quality Freshwater Contaminants Glacial Dynamics Intertidal Communities Kittlitz’s Murrelets Marine Contaminants Marine Predators Oceanography Streamflow Weather and Climate Landform and Landcover Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Vital Signs Relation to Conceptual Models

Data Management Tenets Single Authoritative Source Concept Web-based delivery Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program NPS Photo:Moynahan

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Design: Operation:

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program How the work is getting done Blurring the lines between Parks and SEAN Project Leaders, Park Leads Cooperators and Partners CESU, IAs Mussel Watch, NWS, WRCC, NODC Contractors

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Network Structure Program Manager Park Staff Technical Committee Chiefs of Resources Board of Directors SEAN Staff Data Manager Ecologist (Editor) (Term Biotech) (Sci Comm Specialist) SEAN Staff Data Manager Ecologist (Editor) (Term Biotech) (Sci Comm Specialist)

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Program Structure – SEAN Hub SEAN Project Leader Sergeant SEAN Project Leader Sergeant KLGO Park Lead Wilbarger KLGO Park Lead Wilbarger GLBA Park Lead Soiseth/Murdoch GLBA Park Lead Soiseth/Murdoch SITK Park Lead Smith SITK Park Lead Smith SEAN Data Manager Johnson SEAN Data Manager Johnson SEAN Program Mgr Moynahan SEAN Program Mgr Moynahan Validation, Certification Maintenance, Calibration, Data Collection Data flow, training, supplies Admin, budget, reporting Freshwater Quality

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Program Structure – Park Lead Project/Park Leader Sharman Field Ops, Analysis, Reporting Project/Park Leader Sharman Field Ops, Analysis, Reporting SEAN Data Steward Sergeant SEAN Data Steward Sergeant SEAN Data Manager Johnson Standard graphics, tables SEAN Data Manager Johnson Standard graphics, tables SEAN Program Mgr Moynahan SEAN Program Mgr Moynahan Validation, Certification Admin, budget, reporting Validation, Certification Basic data processing Oceanography

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Program Structure – Partner SEAN Project Leader Sergeant SEAN Project Leader Sergeant KLGO Park Lead Wilbarger KLGO Park Lead Wilbarger GLBA Park Lead Sharman GLBA Park Lead Sharman SITK Park Lead Smith SITK Park Lead Smith NOAA Mussel Watch Program Reporting, web delivery NOAA Mussel Watch Program Reporting, web delivery SEAN Program Mgr Moynahan SEAN Program Mgr Moynahan Annual Funding Agreement Sample Collection Sample Delivery NOAA Contracted Lab Data Marine Contaminants

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Budget $505,000 Vital Signs Funding $39,800 WRD Funding (1.66 ATB) $544,800

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Budget

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Budget

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Budget

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program COLA to Locality Pay Transition began in FY10, complete of FY13 Cost-to-program increases Upshot: personnel costs increase ~20-25% Protocol development costs >> operation

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Are SEAN commitments sustainable? Yes, with vigilance Real personnel cost impacts SEAN staff are fully booked VS programs and DM commitments are brutally focused NPS Photo:Moynahan

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve NPS Photo: Moynahan

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park NPS Photo

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 Sitka National Historical Park NPS Photo

Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009 SEAN Three happy guys with beards couldn’t be wrong