# Presentation: 066999

## Sea GrantSouth Atlantic Regional Research Project (SARRP)

**Christine Laporte**, Program Coordinator
**Merryl Alber**
- Georgia Coastal Research Council
- Dept. of Marine Sciences
- University of Georgia, Athens GA
- claporte@uga.edu
- http://www.gcrc.uga.edu/sarrp_temporary

## Sea Grant Planning Project Regions

## Slide 3

## Population Growth (2000-2005)

- Numeric Change

- Percent Change

- US Census Bureau

- US Census Bureau

## South Atlantic Team: Organizing Committee

**South Atlantic Team: ****Organizing Committee**

- _2006 Sea Grant Directors_
- NC: Ron Hodson
- SC:  Rick Devoe
- GA: Mac Rawson
- FL: Jim Cato

- _Current Sea Grant Directors_
- NC: Michael Voiland
- SC: Rick Devoe
- GA: Chuck Hopkinson
- FL:  Karl Havens (Interim)

- _And:_
**GCRC**: Merryl Alber, Christine Laporte
**Sea Grant**:  Communication Directors,
- Extension Directors, Education Directors

## GCRC accomplishes this by 
Facilitating Interactions
Synthesizing Technical Information
Conducting Research
Communicating Results

- Facilitating Interactions
- Synthesizing Technical Information
- Conducting Research
- Communicating Results

- http://www.gcrc.uga.edu

*Goals: To provide mechanisms for improved scientific exchange and to promote the incorporation of best-available scientific information into resource management .*

**Notes:**
The Georgia Coastal Research Council (GCRC) is a project modeled after the National Research Council, but it’s focused on coastal resource issues at the State level.  It was started in 2002 and is funded through both the Coastal Incentive Grant Program of the Georgia Coastal Management Program and Georgia Sea Grant (both of which are NOAA funds), as well as some funding through the GCE LTER project (NSF).  It’s housed here at UGA in the dept. of Marine Sciences.  Here is the logo, and all of what I’m going to say is on their web site.

## South Atlantic Regional Research Project (SARRP) Process

- Inventory existing research plans and documents
- Identify top research needs
- Select priority issues
- Develop action plan
- Promote coordination, collaboration and resource sharing
- 6.   Ongoing education and outreach

## Step 1: National/International Research Plans and Documents(excerpt)

- 	Coastal Ocean Plan/ORPPIS
- 	Pew Report
- 	National Sea Grant Strategic Plan
- 	National Ocean Service Strategic Plan
- 	NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
- 	EPA Strategic Plan
- 	NMFS Strategic Plan
- 	National Weather Service Strategic Plan
- 	Nat’l Governors Association on Coastal Planning & Policy
- 	Army Corps. of Engineers Civil Works Plan
- 	Dept. of Defense Naval Oceanographic Office Strategic Plan
- 	UN Atlas of the Oceans
- 	USGS Florida Science Center plan
- 	Environment Canada

## Step 1: Regional scale Research Plans and Documents (excerpt)

- Southeast
- 	South Atlantic and Caribbean Regional Marine Research Plan
- 	NC, SC, GA, FL Sea Grant Documents
- 	State Coastal Management Programs
- 	Coastal Services Center Plan
- 	South Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council
- 	Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region
- 	EPA Strategic Plan, Region IV
- 	Natl. Park Service Coastal Southeast watershed reports
- Other Regions
- 	West Coast Governors Agreement
- 	Gulf of Maine Council
- 	Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Plan
- 	Gulf of Mexico Alliance – Gulf Action Plan

## DPSIR Framework

**Drivers**

**Pressures**

**State**

**Impacts**

**Response**

- http://lead.virtualcenter.org/en/dec/toolbox/FAO/Main1/annex1.htm

**Step**** ****1**

## DPSIR Example 1

**Drivers**
**Development**
**(impervious surface)**

**Pressures**
**Nonpoint pollution**
**(runoff)**

**State**
**Increased nutrients, contaminants**

**Impacts**
**Algal blooms**
**Contaminated seafood**

**Response**
**Stormwater BMPs**
**Seafood advisories**

**Step**** ****1**

## DPSIR Example 2

**Drivers**
**Overcapitalization**

**Pressures**
**Overfishing**

**State**
**Reduced fish population**

**Impacts**
**Fisheries Decline**

**Response**
**MPAs**
**Ecosystem based management**

**Step**** ****1**

## Human population growth, e.g., coastal development, seasonal and vacation use

Watershed activities, e.g., urbanization and other land use changes , operation of dams, emissions from industry, waste from power plants, effluent from sewage treatment plants, septic tanks

Direct alteration of coastal habitat, e.g., construction of docks and marinas, dredging (dredge and fill), trawling, building seawalls, jetties, etc., Impoundments

Marine activities, e.g., ecotourism, recreation, fishing, shell fishing, aquaculture, shipping activity (operation of ports, ballast water management), military operations, offshore oil and gas development, extraction

Climate, e.g., precipitation, temperature, storm events, sea level , wind stress, decadal indices and other long-term forcing

Physical Setting, e.g., bathymetry, wave environment

**Watershed activities**, e.g., urbanization and other land use changes , operation of dams, emissions from industry, waste from power plants, effluent from sewage treatment plants, septic tanks
**Direct alteration of coastal habitat**, e.g., construction of docks and marinas, dredging (dredge and fill), trawling, building seawalls, jetties, etc., Impoundments
**Marine activities**, e.g., ecotourism, recreation, fishing, shell fishing, aquaculture, shipping activity (operation of ports, ballast water management), military operations, offshore oil and gas development, extraction
**Climate**, e.g., precipitation, temperature, storm events, sea level , wind stress, decadal indices and other long-term forcing
**Physical Setting**, e.g., bathymetry, wave environment

**Drivers**

**Step**** ****1**

## Point source pollution 

Non-point source pollution, including atmospheric deposition

Changes in freshwater inflow

Habitat loss, fragmentation

Changes in hydrography, bathymetry

Introduction of invasive species

Acoustic effects

Overfishing, bycatch

Climate effects

**Non-point source pollution, including atmospheric deposition**
**Changes in freshwater inflow**
**Habitat loss, fragmentation**
**Changes in hydrography, bathymetry**
**Introduction of invasive species**
**Acoustic effects**
**Overfishing, bycatch**
**Climate effects**

**Pressures**

**Step**** ****1**

## 
Physical characteristics, e.g. water circulation patterns , residence time, sediment transport, rate of erosion, extent and location of habitat (wetlands, coral reefs, hard bottoms, salinity zones, etc.)

Water, sediment quality, e.g. salinity, suspended sediment, dissolved oxygen (hypoxia), nutrient concentrations, contaminant concentrations (metals, toxins, pharmaceuticals, plastics), coliforms, pathogens, pH , radioactivity, marine debris

Biological components, e.g. amount and distribution of primary producers, amount and distribution of secondary producers, food web interactions, species diversity , presence of invasive species, contaminant concentrations in organisms

**Physical characteristics**, e.g. water circulation patterns , residence time, sediment transport, rate of erosion, extent and location of habitat (wetlands, coral reefs, hard bottoms, salinity zones, etc.)
**Water, sediment quality**, e.g. salinity, suspended sediment, dissolved oxygen (hypoxia), nutrient concentrations, contaminant concentrations (metals, toxins, pharmaceuticals, plastics), coliforms, pathogens, pH , radioactivity, marine debris
**Biological components**, e.g. amount and distribution of primary producers, amount and distribution of secondary producers, food web interactions, species diversity , presence of invasive species, contaminant concentrations in organisms

**Step 1**

## 
Habitat loss and degradation, e.g., wetland loss, coral bleaching, seagrass dieoff, marsh dieback, alteration of physical setting (e.g. interruption of sand budget)

Eutrophication symptoms, e.g., decrease in submerged aquatic vegetation, increase in harmful algal blooms, high chlorophyll concentrations, fish kills

Effects on fisheries, e.g., decreased fish catch, increased disease of fish, aquaculture species, Disruption of food web due to invasive species

Effects on human health and quality of life, e.g., Contaminated fish and shellfish, Beach closures

Effects on Valued Species, e.g., Endangered,  Threatened and Species of Concern (i.e. sea turtles, right whales), Culturally or commercially valued species (i.e. crabs, shrimp, shellfish, seagrass, coral, finfish)

**Habitat loss and degradation,**** **e.g.,** **wetland loss, coral bleaching, seagrass dieoff, marsh dieback, alteration of physical setting (e.g. interruption of sand budget)
**Eutrophication symptoms**, e.g.,** **decrease in submerged aquatic vegetation, increase in harmful algal blooms, high chlorophyll concentrations, fish kills
**Effects on fisheries**, e.g.,** **decreased fish catch, increased disease of fish, aquaculture species, Disruption of food web due to invasive species
**Effects on human health and quality of life**, e.g., Contaminated fish and shellfish, Beach closures
**Effects on Valued Species,** e.g., Endangered,  Threatened and Species of Concern (i.e. sea turtles, right whales), Culturally or commercially valued species (i.e. crabs, shrimp, shellfish, seagrass, coral, finfish)

**Impacts**

**Step 1**

## 
Point source pollution control, e.g. NPDES permits, secondary wastewater treatment

Stormwater management strategies, e.g. buffers, impoundments, retention ponds, constructed wetlands

Habitat mitigation and restoration, e.g. beach renourishment, wetland mitigation and restoration

Fisheries management, e.g. fisheries regulations, Marine Protected Areas, ecosystem-based management 

Eutrophication mitigation, e.g. targets to decrease nutrient loads, best management practices in watershed

**Point source pollution control**, e.g. NPDES permits, secondary wastewater treatment
**Stormwater management strategies**, e.g. buffers, impoundments, retention ponds, constructed wetlands
**Habitat mitigation and restoration**, e.g. beach renourishment, wetland mitigation and restoration
**Fisheries management**, e.g. fisheries regulations, Marine Protected Areas, ecosystem-based management
**Eutrophication mitigation**, e.g. targets to decrease nutrient loads, best management practices in watershed

**Responses**

**Step 1**

## Step 2: Identify top research issues/needsRegional Advisory Group 

_**Federal Agencies**_
**National Sea Grant**
**NOAA- SECART**
**SAFMC*** *
**EPA Region IV**
**Dept. of Defense SERPPAS**
**US Army Corps of Engineers**
**National Park Service Region IV**
**US Fish and Wildlife Service Region IV**
**USGS** **NEERS**
**DHS (FEMA) Region IV**
**USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service**
_**State Agencies**_
**NCDENR, SCDNR and SCDHEC, GADNR and GADCA, FLDEP and FFWC**
_**Academic and Other **_
**SAML**
**SECOORA**

## Regional Advisory Group Considerations

- Align with other research efforts
- National (ORPP)
- Other SG Regional Research Plans
- Foster partnerships/synergy with other programs in the region, incl. NOAA Regional Team
- Scope- Create a well-defined niche

**Step 2**

## Step 3: Select priority issuesStakeholders

- Resource Practitioners
- Government officials
- Industry
- NGOs
- Scientists
- Community members

## Public Perceptions and Coastal Issues – Pop Quiz 

- “Woman dies after eating Raw Oysters in Atlanta”
- “Beaches Take Turn for Worse Last year”
- “Whale Fears silence US Navy Sonar”

**Step 3**

## Step 4:  Develop action planStrategy Teams  SECOR (Southeast Coastal Ocean Research)

- Develop DPSIR model for issue
- Consider the role of human actions
- Identify gaps
- Describe status and trends
- Identify factors that affect susceptibility
- Evaluate future risk/vulnerability
***Strategy Teams – resource practitioners, researchers, others with expertise***

## Future Work

- Step 5: 	Promote coordination, collaboration and resource 	sharing
- South Atlantic Regional Research Council (future coordination mechanism, GCRC model)
- Step 6: 	Ongoing education and outreach
- Sea Grant Communication Directors, Extension Directors and Education Directors

## Information

- South Atlantic Regional Research Project
- _[http://](http://www.gcrc.uga.edu/sarrp_temporary.htm)__[www.gcrc.uga.edu/sarrp_temporary.htm](http://www.gcrc.uga.edu/sarrp_temporary.htm)_
- Christine Laporte
- _[claporte@uga.edu](mailto:claporte@uga.edu)_
- 706-542-1283