Being Accountable/Communicating

Assessment Information to the Public in 2012

Update to the Management Board April 2012

Margaret Enloe, ACB CBPO and Nita Sylvester, EPA CBPO

Purpose of Briefing: Updates on…

• “State of the Program” package to be prepared for 2012 EC meeting;

• Indicators from the 2010 Bay Barometer that are changing or will no longer be used by GITs;

• New indicators that GITs plan to develop for public reporting.

Background

• Focus on release of info and data in timely, relevant, ongoing fashion (based on audience)

• Create communications tools and strategies that reflect what’s driving CBP

• Improved public recognition for CBP partnership’s work and expertise

• Improved clarity / differentiation of public vs. partner products

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

                         

PUBLIC AUDIENCE

Ongoing News Cycle Jan-Dec Calendar X X X X X X X X X X X  

Includes press releases, online news, videos, blogs, photo journals, press events                        

Wrap up / Summary                       X

                         

ENVIR STAKEHOLDERS / POLITICAL / INTERNAL AUDIENCES  

EC Report/State of the Program May - May Calendar           X            

                         

                         

Other Reports                        

UMCES Report Cards       X                

River report card     X   X X            

State of the Program Planning

• Focus for EC meeting: restoration progress• “State of the Program” package components:

– Restoration Progress• Measures of “accountability” to be primary focus • Need 2011 data for indicators by April 16th

– GIT Updates• Need new content by April 17th

– Health• Discuss/list most current indicators already released

Indicators for 2012Restoration and Protection Efforts

Reducing Pollution

• Reducing N Pollution

• Reducing P Pollution

• Reducing S Pollution

• Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades (new - supplemental)

Restoring Habitats

• Planting Bay Grasses (R)

• Restoring Wetlands (R)

• Wetlands Enhancement (R- supplemental)

• Reopening Fish Passage (R)

• Restoring Oyster Reefs

Managing Fisheries

• Blue Crab Fishery Management (R)

• Oyster Restoration (new – replacement)

Protecting Watersheds

• Planting Forest Buffers (R)

• Developing Watershed Management Plans

• Preserving Lands (R)

Fostering Stewardship

• Public Access Index

• Public Access Points (R)

• K-12 Education (R)

• PK-12 Environmental Literacy (new- supplemental)

• Citizen and Community Action

• Bold green: previously reported indicator updated in time for 2012 EC mtg • Green w/ “(R)”: previously reported indicator updated in time; will be revised in some way• Italicized green: NEW indicator, hopefully in time for 2012 EC mtg• Red w/ “(R)”: previously reported indicator will not be updated in time; will be revised in some way• Strikeout text: previously reported indicator will no longer be reported• Italicized red: NEW indicator, but not in time for 2012 EC mtg

Indicators for 2012Bay Health

Habitats & Lower Food Web

• Bay Grasses• Phytoplankton

TBD• Bottom

Habitat• Tidal Wetlands

TBD

Fish & Shellfish Abundance

• Blue Crabs (R)• Striped Bass (R)• American Shad

TBD• Menhaden (R)• Oyster Biomass• Oyster

Population (new – replacement)

Water Quality

• Dissolved Oxygen

• Water Clarity• Chlorophyll a• Chemical

Contaminants• WQ Standards

Attainment (new)

• Bold green: previously reported indicator updated in time for 2012 EC mtg • Green w/ “(R)”: previously reported indicator updated in time; will be revised in some way• Red : previously reported indicator will not be updated in time• Strikeout text: previously reported indicator will no longer be reported• Italicized red: NEW indicator, but not in time for 2012 EC mtg

Indicators for 2012Watershed Health

Health of Freshwater Streams

• Benthic IBI• Brook

Trout/Stream Health (new)

Flow Adjusted Pollution Trends

• Nitrogen - LT• Phosphorus - LT• Sediment - LT• N - ST and Yield

(R)• P - ST and Yield (R)• S - ST and Yield (R)

Land Cover

• Forest Cover (R)

• Bold green: previously reported indicator updated in time for 2012 EC mtg • Green w/ “(R)”: previously reported indicator updated in time; will be revised in some way• Italicized green: NEW indicator, hopefully in time for 2012 EC mtg• Red : previously reported indicator will not be updated in time• Red w/ “(R)”: previously reported indicator will not be updated in time; will be revised in some way

Indicators for 2012Factors Impacting Health

Pollutants

• Nitrogen• Phosphorus• Sediment

Land Use

• Population• Forest Cover

Natural Factors

• River Flow

• Bold green: previously reported indicator updated in time for 2012 EC mtg • Strikeout text: previously reported indicator will no longer be reported (in this category)