Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades The Fifth Biennial Review: 2014 (2014) / Chapter Skim
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7 Use of Science in Decision Making
7 Use of Science in Decision Making
Pages 213-228
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From page 213... ...
SCIENCE COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT A comprehensive program of scientific research and systemwide monitoring helps ensure that the substantial investment in Everglades restoration is being directed effectively. Moreover, the concept of adaptive management depends on monitoring data to assess whether restoration goals and targets are being met and on lessons learned through scientific research to improve restoration outcomes.
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From page 214... ...
. Under RECOVER, a systemwide Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP)
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From page 215... ...
The Need for Stable Funding The most significant shortcoming with the MAP, however, is not necessarily with the plan itself, but with the implementation of the plan, because of substantial funding cuts that have occurred in the past few years and the overall funding structure. A dedicated, stable, and reliable funding source is essential to obtain the long-term systemwide monitoring data necessary to evaluate the success of restoration efforts.
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From page 216... ...
If funding cuts result in significant gaps in critical long-term monitoring data, important changes and patterns could be missed, and data collected prior to or after the gaps created by funding cuts could lose their value. Therefore, to ensure that existing monitoring is cost-effec tive and provides adequate support for CERP planning, adaptive management, and public communication, a comprehensive review of all monitoring programs that were considered in the original design of the MAP is needed, considering recent and projected reductions.
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From page 217... ...
Government Accountability Office (GAO, 2003) recommended improved science coordination, the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force's (Task Force's)
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From page 218... ...
It also appears that during the past few years, the number of SCG meetings has tapered off and the meetings have been focused more on providing restoration updates, rather than unique SCG initiatives. The extent to which recent budget cuts and the recent intense focus on the Central Everglades Planning Project has diverted attention from science coordination is unclear.
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From page 219... ...
A more detailed review of adaptive management progress in the context of the Central Everglades Planning Project is provided in Chapter 3.
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From page 220... ...
Additionally, adaptive management options are limited if they are not integrated into the project design from the outset -- the initial phases of the CERP did not explicitly integrate adaptive management into project implementation plans because it was not mandated. Hence, since 2009, adaptive management plans have become more integrated and sophisticated with time as guidance has been developed and refined, with the Central Everglades Planning Project adaptive management plan being the most complex and sophisticated to date (see Chapter 3)
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From page 221... ...
implementation strategy and some monitoring 2009 USACE HQ policy requiring adaptive management for ecosystem restoration projects; 2011 CERP Adaptive Management Integration Guide and 2011 CERP Memorandum Guide 56 released C-111 Spreader Canal Pilot project and Planning Noa Design and operational tests, project Chief's report (2011) , phasing operations Decompartmentalization Pilot project constructed Yes Decomp Physical Model adaptive of WCA-3 (2013)
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From page 222... ...
provide periodic assessments of monitoring data throughout the South Florida ecosystem to support adaptive management and improve CERP planning and implementation. The 2014 Draft SSR (RECOVER, 2014a)
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From page 223... ...
Similar synthesis of findings and recommendations are provided for the Greater Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, and Florida Bay. The 2014 Draft SSR also documents ecosystem improvements that can be quantitatively linked to CERP and non-CERP projects: • Hydrology improved due to the operational part of the Deering Estate Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands expedited project; • Picayune Strand showed higher water levels near the filled Prairie Canal (1 to 2 feet higher)
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From page 224... ...
goals and objectives." In Chapter 4, Systemwide Science, the draft SSR reflects a subject-matter focus that is quite similar to the focus of this NRC report, with extensive informa tion and discussion of climate change and invasive species, including a substan tial appendix devoted to invasive species. The draft SSR includes discussions of the implications for restoration of changing climate and rising sea level, and its discussions and analyses of invasive species include regional and systemwide status and trends.
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From page 225... ...
The science plan identified several key questions (Box 7-1) that need to be addressed to improve the understanding of various physical, chemical, and biological factors regulating the total phos horus concentration p in STA outflows and research and monitoring efforts to address them.
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From page 226... ...
For effective management of STAs, it is critical to understand the internal biogeochemical dynamics of biotic and abiotic transformations in water, soils, and periphyton that regulate low TP levels as proposed in the Science Plan. For the past two decades, state and federal agencies and universities have accu mulated a wealth of data on internal dynamics of microorganisms, periphyton, and vegetation (SAV and EAV)
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From page 227... ...
Given the substantial financial investment in Everglades restoration by both the state and the federal governments, a dedicated source of funding could provide ongoing long-term systemwide monitoring and assessment that is critical to meeting restoration objectives, ensuring that public resources are spent wisely, and adaptively managing restoration efforts.
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From page 228... ...
A particular strength of the document is its explanations of ecosystem trends and their causal mechanisms that lead to recommendations for possible changes in project design or operations to improve restoration outcomes. Implementation of the Restoration Strategies Science Plan to develop strat egies to meet STA discharge criteria is a high priority for Everglades restoration.
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