Task Force Discussion Assessing and Communicating System-wide Indicators February 28, 2008
Purpose � The Task Force will report on the status of the System-wide Indicators included in the 2006 Strategy for the first time in the 2008 Biennial Report. � A recommended approach for communicating the status of the System- wide Indicators in the Biennial Report will be presented for discussion and guidance.
Background
REPORTING SYSTEM-WIDE INDICATORS � Every two years the Task Force prepares: � A Strategic plan that includes strategic goals, system-wide indicators and also outlines how restoration will occur � A Biennial Report that describes restoration activities and progress to include the status of the System-wide Indicators
� In 2004 the Task Force directed the SCG to develop a small set of System-wide Indicators for Restoration (scientifically based, independently reviewed, open and transparent process with public participation) � The SCG developed (in close coordination with RECOVER) a robust process to identify indicators using criteria established in the literature � Ecological Indicators (Goal 1 & 2) � Indicators of Compatibility (Goal 3) � Indicator Report and independent review report are available at: www.sfrestore.org � These indicators are included in the Task Force 2006 Strategic Plan
System-wide Indicators Periphyton-Epiphyton 1. Fish 2. Roseate Spoonbills 3. Wood stork & White Ibis 4. Oysters 5. Juvenile Pink Shrimp 6. Florida Bay Algal Blooms 7. Florida Bay Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) 8. Lake Okeechobee Littoral Zone 9. Crocodilians (Alligators & Crocodiles) 10. Exotic Plants 11. Water Volume 12. Salinity Intrusion in the Biscayne Aquifer 13. Flood Protection – C-111 Basin 14.
How we got there
Four Step Process The SCG did a thorough review of the scientific 1. literature on indicators, their use and applications Based on the literature the SCG developed 2. guidelines to evaluate relevant indicators for Everglades Ecosystem applicability, and their individual and collective value and coverage of Everglades’ “Features” (i.e. ecosystem Regions, Characteristics, Trophic Interactions, and Functions) Using the guidelines the SCG evaluated south 3. Florida and other national restoration programs for indicators for possible application to the Task Force suite of system-wide indicators Recommended System-wide suite of indicators for 4. the 2006 Strategy
Selection Guidelines 1. Is the indicator relevant to the ecosystem and does it respond to variability at a scale that makes it applicable to the entire system or an important portion of it? 2. Is the indicator feasible to implement (i.e. is someone already doing it?) 3. Is the indicator sensitive to system drivers? 4. Is the indicator interpretable in a “common” language? 5. Are there situations where an “optimistic” trend in the indicator might suggest a “pessimistic” restoration trend? 6. Are there situations where a “pessimistic” trend in the indicator may be unrelated to restoration? 7. Is the indicator scientifically defensible? 8. Can clear measurable targets be established for the indicator to allow for evaluation of success? 9. Does the indicator have enough specificity to be able to be used to correct or redirect restoration actions? 10. Does the suite of indicators cover the critical range of ecosystem “features” including processes and structures?
Everglades Ecosystem “Features” � Landscape Characteristics � Physical Properties Hydro-patterns Water Quality, Depth, Duration, � � Timing Vegetation Pattern/Patchiness � Water Management Productivity � � Exotics Native Biodiversity � � Salinity Oligotrophy � � Nutrients “Prinstineness” � � Contaminants “Intactness” � � � Ecological Regions Trophic Balance � i.e. Modules & “un-modulated” Habitat Balance � � areas � Trophic Constituents – � Temporal Scales Biodiversity Indicators that respond rapidly Primary Producers � � to environmental changes Primary Consumers � Indicators that respond more � Secondary & Tertiary � slowly to environmental Consumers changes
How Indicators Apply System-wide � The System-wide Ecological Indicators are populations or communities of organisms � Indicators need to “cover” as many Everglades “Features” as possible to be considered System-wide � The indicators should cover both the spatial and temporal aspects of the Everglades
“System-wide” (a spatial and temporal context) Periphyton responds to environmental drivers very rapidly at both small and large spatial scales Crocodilians respond more slowly to environmental drivers and at larger spatial scales
System-wide Indicators Communicating Assessing and
8 Essentials Scientific Consensus on Ecosystem Structure & Function – 1. CEMS Indicators (e.g. fish) with metrics for Ecosystem Structure or 2. Function (Environmental Conditions) Species whose status is indicative of larger functional groups 1. Species whose status reflects status of key habitats 2. Species that serve as an “early warning sign” of anticipated 3. stressors Baselines (reference periods) to establish points of comparison 3. Monitoring Program to collect the data for assessments 4. Performance Measures (e.g. bluefin kilifish per unit area) using 5. metrics to compare interim and end point results with desired outcomes Targets for indicators (e.g. bluefin kilifish per unit area relative to 6. water depth) to set interim or end points against which to measure trends Assessments to analyze the data and evaluate the progress and 7. results Communication Tools to inform, advise and educate the 8. restoration community
Communicating the Status of the System-wide Indicators Linking Complex Data Analyses to the Stoplights
Science Report TIER ONE provides direct and transparent links from the data to the stoplights OUR GOAL IS TO: • Develop Stoplights that are empirically based • Develop performance measures that are dynamic & reflect natural variation • Distinguish between natural and management effects on targets where possible 8 0.06 7 Chl a TP 0.05 TIER THREE TIER TWO 6 BMB Total Phosphorous (ppm) 0.04 8.0 Chlorophyll a (ppb) 5 7.0 4 0.03 6.0 5.0 3 0.02 ppb ppb 4.0 2 3.0 0.01 1 2.0 1.0 0 0.00 Jan-90 Jul-90 Jan-91 Jul-91 Jan-92 Jul-92 Jan-93 Jul-93 Jan-94 Jul-94 Jan-95 Jul-95 Jan-96 Jul-96 Jan-97 Jul-97 Jan-98 Jul-98 Jan-99 Jul-99 Jan-00 Jul-00 Jan-01 Jul-01 Jan-02 Jul-02 Jan-03 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 0.0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Science Report Chlorophyll a (ppb) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jan-90 Jul-90 Jan-91 Jul-91 Tier 3. Detailed data, theory, and analyses Tier 2. Summary graphics and data charts Tier 1. Stoplight Reports Tier Three Jan-92 Jul-92 Tier Three Chl a Jan-93 Jul-93 Jan-94 Jul-94 TP Jan-95 Jul-95 Jan-96 Jul-96 Jan-97 Jul-97 Jan-98 Jul-98 Jan-99 Jul-99 Jan-00 Jul-00 Jan-01 Jul-01 Jan-02 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 Jul-02 Jan-03 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04 1991 Jan-05 Jul-05 Tier Two 1992 Jan-06 Jul-06 1993 Tier Two 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 1994 Total Phosphorous (ppm) 1995 1996 1997 BMB 1998 1999 2000 the Stoplights Linking data to 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Tier One Tier One Task Force Biennial Report
TASK FORCE BIENNIAL REPORT – SYSTEM-WIDE INDICATOR TWO PARTS PART TWO INDIVIDUAL INDICATOR STOPLIGHT REPORTS PART ONE INDICATOR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Task Force Biennial Report Reports are all using the same science Partnerships CERP System Status Report Agencies South Florida Environmental Report
NEXT STEPS
TIME LINE � May 2008 � First draft science indicator report � July 2008 � Final science indicator report � Incorporation of science report findings into TF Biennial Report � September 2008 � Final draft Biennial Report presented to Task Force
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS JOURNAL SPECIAL SPECIAL Indicators for Indicators for Indicators for EVERGLADES EVERGLADES Everglades Restoration Everglades Restoration Everglades Restoration INDICATOR ISSUE INDICATOR ISSUE � Publication date Sept-Oct 2008
Questions or Comments Marsha Bansee mbansee@sfrestore.org 305-348-6746
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