Measuring Outcomes of Land habitat in different ways. Outcome - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Preliminary Report Regulations and acquisitions protect Measuring Outcomes of Land habitat in different ways. Outcome information for both is limited, and Acquisitions and Regulations can be improved. December 2017 Rachel Murata | Suzanna Pratt | Eric Thomas 1 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Washington Wildlife and Recreation 6 Acquisition Program (RCO) Salmon Recovery Funding Board (RCO) Programs Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Program (PSP, RCO) Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (PSP, RCO, WDFW) State Parks and Recreation Commission Trust Land Transfer program and other DNR expenditures Other programs that expand outdoor recreation 2 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

7 Regulatory Growth management regulations regarding critical areas (Commerce) Programs Wetland restrictions (Ecology) Shoreline management rules (Ecology) Forest practices regulation (DNR) Hydraulic Project Approval program (WDFW) Clean Water Act (Ecology) Flood plain management (Ecology) 3 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Focus on habitat in six counties Okanogan Jefferson King Kittitas Asotin Clark 4 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Key findings Regulations and acquisitions protect habitat in different 1 ways. Outcome information can be improved through 2 statutory direction, agency planning and investments in monitoring. Land stewardship plans do not include measurable 3 outcomes. 5 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Choose one break slide option and use throughout presentation. Please use a high quality image relating to your study, or work with admin to find a neutral image. Examples: Q:\Computer 1. Regulation and - IT\Graphics\Photos acquisition protect habitat in different ways 6 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Regulation or acquisition? Depends on goals May be for reasons other than Habitat habitat protection Edge buffer Usable Some species Habitat Level of protection avoid habitat • General or targeted protection? edges, reducing amount of • Restrict or prevent development? usable habitat. Species’ habitat requirements • How much habitat does it need to live (home range)? • Does species avoid edge of habitat? 7 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Different patterns of protected areas for regulations and acquisitions named in study and six counties Regulation Creates narrow bands • of protection Can be large gaps in • areas protected Acquisition Can create more contiguous • protection 8 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Mapping analysis takeaways Conservation goals New effort to map Analysis does not should determine where regulations evaluate outcomes approach apply of protected area • Species needs • Complements existing • Approaches are not conservation mutually exclusive planning tools • Other conservation tools available 9 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Choose one break slide option and use throughout presentation. Please use a high quality image relating to your study, or work 2. Outcome information can with admin to find a neutral image. Examples: Q:\Computer be improved through - IT\Graphics\Photos statutory direction, and agency planning and investments in monitoring. 10 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Outcomes indicate how effective the program or project is in meeting its goals Output Outcome Action • Grant compliance • Change in species • Grants issued population • Funding provided • Acres acquired • Maintain or • Projects • Applications improve habitat completed approved quality 11 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Programs measuring outcomes share three traits Legal requirement to monitor outcome measures Clear monitoring plan with goals, desired outcomes, and metrics Dedicated resources for monitoring 12 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Outcomes measured for five programs Three salmon recovery acquisition programs : Three funded monitoring strategies: project effectiveness, population trends, and species level data. Forest practices regulations : DNR has an adaptive management program to ensure effective implementation and adjustments to rules. Clean Water Act regulations : Ecology has a long-term strategy for monitoring and analyzing water quality data. 13 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Outcome measures for acquisition programs required by statute, but not developed Except for three salmon recovery programs, outcomes (how well programs work) not measured Actions Outputs Outcomes Not available Statute requires OFM and RCO to use outcome-focused performance measures for grant programs 14 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Legislative Auditor Recommendation #1 OFM and RCO should develop and submit a joint plan to the Legislature detailing the actions, costs, and timelines needed to comply with statutes that direct them to measure performance. 15 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Local governments implement state regulations • Local work varies widely • Some effectiveness studies • No comprehensive monitoring 16 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Local approaches vary There is no Legal No statutory systematic requirement requirement approach to Clear Guidance exists; some monitoring statewide jurisdictions monitor plan outcome Local jurisdictions Dedicated measurement. report limited capacity resources 17 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Legislative Auditor Recommendation #2 If the Legislature wants reliable information about the outcomes of regulatory programs implemented at the local level, it should require that state agencies work with local governments to develop outcome-focused performance measures. 18 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Choose one break slide option and use throughout presentation. Please use a high quality image relating to your study, or work with admin to find a neutral image. Examples: Q:\Computer 3. Land stewardship plans - IT\Graphics\Photos do not include measurable outcomes. 19 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Agency management plans include stewardship activities Stewardship: activities that maintain or improve the quality of habitat and recreation resources. Habitat Fence repair Weed control restoration Infrastructure Recreational Forest thinning maintenance development 20 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Plans vary in completeness, contents, updates 20% of Natural Areas have plans. • DNR No updates since funding eliminated in 2009. • State 80% of State Parks have plans. • Parks Currently writing plans for all parks. • 100% of Wildlife Areas have plans. • WDFW Updates every 2 years, currently rewriting all plans. • None of the plans include measureable stewardship outcomes 21 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Hypothetical example: forest management Current condition Desired condition • High tree density • Lower tree density • Insect infestation • No insect infestation • Trees of similar age • Variable tree age • Low plant species diversity • High plant species diversity Actions, resources, funding F D D C B A A 22 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Legislative Auditor Recommendation #3 DNR, WDFW, and State Parks should provide the Legislature with a plan detailing the resources necessary to report stewardship needs. 23 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017

Key findings Regulations and acquisitions protect habitat in different ways Outcome information can be improved Land stewardship plans do not include measurable outcomes 24 Preliminary Report: Measuring Outcomes of Land Acquisition and Regulation December 2017