# Presentation: 800919

## Slide 1

**Notes:**
Title Slide
Welcome, I will share with you some of the most recent efforts to move forward on Gulf hypoxia including the release of the 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan, research and modeling in the Gulf, and on-the-ground activities that are progressive and innovative, and get to the solution of reducing Gulf hypoxia – reducing nutrient pollution in the Mississippi River Basin.

## A large area of low oxygen that cannot sustain marine life.
Hypoxia is a worldwide problem but is found in the Gulf of Mexico and is a result of nutrients, originating from the great productivity of Middle American cities, farms, and industries, that travel down the Mississippi River.
Hypoxia forms in the Gulf during periods in the summer off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas and threatens to change the biology of the region. 

- Hypoxia is a worldwide problem but is found in the Gulf of Mexico and is a result of nutrients, originating from the great productivity of Middle American cities, farms, and industries, that travel down the Mississippi River.
- Hypoxia forms in the Gulf during periods in the summer off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas and threatens to change the biology of the region.

**What is hypoxia?**

**Notes:**
What is hypoxia? 
First, I’ll start with briefly explaining what causes hypoxia, a large area of low oxygen that cannot sustain marine life.
Hypoxic zones are created when excess nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, cause extensive growths of algae that deplete the oxygen in the water when they die, sink to the bottom, and decompose.
It’s a worldwide problem.  In the United States, the largest hypoxic zone is found in the Gulf of Mexico and is a result of nutrients, originating from the great productivity of Middle American cities, farms, and industries that travel down the Mississippi River.
Hypoxia forms in the Gulf during periods in the summer off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas and threatens to change the biology of the region. 

## Hypoxic Zones are Spreading

**Hypoxic Zones are Spreading**

**Diaz & Rosenberg,***** Science*****, 2008**** **

**Notes:**
Hypoxic Zones are Spreading
This is an international issue - hypoxic zones are spreading across the world and have consequences for marine ecosystems.
A recent study in Science (Diaz, R. & Rosenberg, R. Spreading Dead Zones and the Consequences for Marine Ecosystems. Science. Aug. 2008, v.321, 926-929) finds that hypoxic zones have now been reported from more than 400 systems, affecting a total area of more than 245,000 square kilometers.*

* Note: 168 of the 405 are reported in the US, but:    
The data table lists a number of smaller watersheds contained in larger waterbodies, e.g., Chester River, Choptank River, Patuxent River, St. Leonard Creek, as well as the Chesapeake main stem.  Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds and Puget Sound also contain a number of sub-embayments.  
While the headline reads "Dead Zones", the biota may be stressed, but still present.  The data table refers to hypoxic areas with the following definitions:
Episodic: events occurring at irregular intervals >1 year
Periodic: several to many events per year lasting from hours to weeks, also includes daily hypoxia
Seasonal: yearly events related mostly to summer or autumn seasons
Persistent: year-round or near year-round hypoxia.
We have a long history of estuarine research in the US, so we are likely to see US waters as over-reported compared to other areas of the world outside Europe.

## Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin 

**Notes:**
MARB
The actions in the 2008 Action Plan and its roadmap, the Annual Operating Plan, are targeted at reducing this problem, specifically in the Gulf of Mexico, an area at the base of the Mississippi River Basin which is comprised of 31 states and represents 41% of the contiguous US.   

## Nutrient Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico

**(A) Total Nitrogen**

**(B) Total Phosphorus**

**Alexander, et al, *****Environ. Sci. Tech.*****,***** *****2008**

**Nutrient Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico**

**Notes:**
Nutrient Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico 
Getting to the source of the problem in the Gulf, in 2008, scientists at USGS completed a study that was published in Environmental Science and Technology using SPARROW modeling to identify nutrient delivery to the Gulf.  The dark red areas show those watersheds that deliver the highest loads of nutrients to the Gulf of Mexico.

## Slide 6

**Notes:**
Sources 
USGS found that agriculture is the predominant source of the nitrogen and phosphorus that cause the hypoxic zone in the Gulf. Moreover, the scientists reported that 9 states - Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi - account for 75 percent of the nitrogen and phosphorus delivery to the Gulf.
This graph depicts the composition of sources - corn and soybean crops being the major contributor to nitrogen delivery and pasture and range contributing to the phosphorous delivery.

## Sub-basin Nitrogen Contribution

**Sub-basin Nitrogen Contribution**

**Notes:**
Sub-basin Nitrogen Contribution 
Looking further, the data indicates that the top two nitrogen contributors in the MARB are the Ohio/Tennessee and the Upper Mississippi basin. 

## Sub-basin Phosphorus Contribution

**Sub-basin Phosphorus Contribution**

**Notes:**
Sub-basin Phosphorus Contribution 
The same holds true for phosphorus contribution.

## Challenges Associated with Gulf Hypoxia 

- Mapping efforts in 2008 delivered a sobering statistic - the 20,720 square kilometer area ranks as the 2nd largest hypoxic zone since measurements began in 1985
- Nonpoint sources of nutrients are a major cause of hypoxia in the Gulf
- Nonpoint source reduction programs emphasize voluntary actions

- Bottom-Water Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations for July, 2008
*LUMCON *

**Notes:**
Challenges Associated with Gulf Hypoxia 
Mapping efforts in 2008 delivered a sobering statistic - the 20,720 square kilometer area ranks as the 2nd largest hypoxic zone since measurements began in 1985.  This is the 2nd on record this year despite the Hurricane Dolly breaking it up.  Researcher Dr. Nancy Rabalais who leads the annual monitoring effort, noted that winds and waves caused reaeration of the zone.  Had the cruise been a few days earlier the measured extent would have been substantially larger.
One major challenge associated with this complex issue is that nonpoint sources of nutrients are primary cause of hypoxia in the Gulf and nonpoint source reduction programs emphasize voluntary actions.

## Size of the Gulf Hypoxic Zone (1985-2008) 

**Notes:**
Size of the Gulf Hypoxic Zone
This bar graph shows 2008 in relation to previous measurements.  The graph shows considerable annual variability that corresponds to the flow of the Mississippi River.  Because of this variability, we use a 5-year running average to measure progress, shown by the yellow horizontal line.  The goal is to reduce the size of the zone to 5,000 km2 by 2015.  As you can see, we face a big challenge in achieving this goal. (see Goals slide)

## 

Comprised of:
Federal Agencies (EPA, NOAA, USDA, USACE, DOI)
States represented by Agriculture or Environment Departments (AR, IL, IA, LA, MN, MS, MO, OH, TN, WI)
Addresses:
Complex science and policy issues surrounding Gulf Hypoxia 
Collaborative actions to improve water quality

***Comprised of:***
- Federal Agencies (EPA, NOAA, USDA, USACE, DOI)
- States represented by Agriculture or Environment Departments (AR, IL, IA, LA, MN, MS, MO, OH, TN, WI)
***Addresses:***
- Complex science and policy issues surrounding Gulf Hypoxia
- Collaborative actions to improve water quality

**Notes:**
Task Force
The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force was established in 1997 to understand the causes and effects of eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico and coordinate activities to reduce the size, severity, and duration of hypoxia.
Since then the Task Force has published the 2001 Action Plan, performed a reassessment of the science, called for an expert EPA Science Advisory Board Panel report, and most recently released the 2008 Action Plan.
The Task Force includes both federal and state agencies.  Federal agencies include those with responsibilities over activities in the Mississippi River and its basin, the Louisiana coastline, and the Gulf of Mexico.  The primary Federal agencies include EPA, NOAA, USDA, USACE, and DOI.  Ten states along the Mississippi River or major tributaries also participate on the Task Force. 
Any environmental issue that covers the immense size and scope of the Mississippi River Basin and hypoxia in the Gulf is bound to be laden with obstacles - the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin represents 41% of the contiguous US, 31 States, and diverse stakeholders.
Despite limited resources to address an increasing problem, the Task Force and its member Federal and State agencies have made progress through actions and programs that achieve direct reductions in nutrients throughout the Mississippi River Basin. 

## 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan &                    FY 2008 Annual Operating Plan 

**2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan &                    FY 2008 Annual Operating Plan **

**Notes:**
Title Slide, 2008 Action Plan and Annual Operating Plan
The 2008 Action Plan includes 11 key actions and critical needs to complete and implement nitrogen and phosphorus reduction strategies, promote effective conservation practices and management practices, track progress, reduce existing scientific uncertainties, and promote effective communications to increase awareness of Gulf hypoxia.
Achieving this will require strong partnerships and commitment to reduce nutrients into the Gulf which we have already seen among our state and federal members.  
Enhancing predictive models, assessing how hypoxia affects commercially and ecologically important species in the Gulf, providing agricultural assistance to farmers, and supporting states to develop water quality standards are just some of the diverse efforts of the Task Force partnerships. 

## Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008

- Final product of 4-year reassessment of the 2001 Action Plan
- 4 science symposia (2005-2006)
- EPA SAB Hypoxia Advisory Panel Report, December 2007
- 6 Task Force Meetings
- Over 750 public comments

**Notes:**
Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 
In accordance with Action 11 of the 2001 Action Plan and in keeping with the adaptive management framework set forth in the 2001 Action Plan, the Task Force, in 2004, began a comprehensive reassessment of the science and policy surrounding Hypoxia.
Based on the products of the reassessment – 4 science symposia, the SAB Hypoxia Advisory Panel Report, 6 meetings of the Task Force, and the consideration of over 750 public comments –  this 2008 Action Plan reflects the Task Force’s efforts to track progress, update the science, and adapt actions to improve the effectiveness of the efforts throughout the Basin. 
Building on the 2001 Action Plan, the 2008 Action Plan “lays out specific steps that need to be accomplished to reach the long-term goals.  It also continues the Task Force’s commitment to an adaptive management approach to reduce the size and impact of the Gulf hypoxic zone and improve water quality in the Basin.  This adaptive management approach involves continual feedback between the interpretation of new information and improved management actions and is the key to targeting actions within watersheds where they will be most effective.” (p.4)

## 2008 Action Plan Goals

**Coastal Goal**: Strive to reduce or make significant progress towards reducing the five-year running average areal extent of the hypoxic zone to less than 5,000 square kilometers by the year 2015
**Within Basin Goal**: To restore and protect the waters of the 31 States and Tribal lands within the Basin through implementation of nutrient and sediment reduction actions
**Quality of Life Goal**: To improve the communities of the MARB, in particular the agriculture, fisheries, and recreation sectors, through a cooperative, incentive-based approach

**Notes:**
Goals
The Task Force has revised and reaffirmed the three goals that conform to these principles and will
provide the overall measure of the results of the plan:
Coastal Goal: Subject to the availability of additional resources, we strive to reduce or
make significant progress toward reducing the five-year running average areal extent of
the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone to less than 5,000 square kilometers by the year 2015
through implementation of specific, practical, and cost-effective voluntary actions by all
Federal agencies, States, and Tribes, and address all categories of sources and removals
within the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin to reduce the annual discharge of nitrogen
and phosphorus into the Gulf.*
Within Basin Goal: To restore and protect the waters of the 31 States and Tribal lands
within the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin through implementation of nutrient and
sediment reduction actions to protect public health and aquatic life as well as reduce
negative impacts of water pollution on the Gulf of Mexico.
Quality of Life Goal: To improve the communities and economic conditions across the
Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin, in particular the agriculture, fisheries and recreation
sectors, through improved public and private land management and a cooperative,
incentive-based approach.

* The Task Force understands the difficulty of meeting the 2015 goal so is therefore including a revision that takes into account the uncertainty of the task but attempts to maintain momentum and progress achieved to date. As such, at this time, the Task Force accepts the advice of EPA’s Science Advisory Board on this topic...”The 5,000 km2 target remains a reasonable endpoint for continued use in an adaptive management context; however, it may no longer be possible to achieve this goal by 2015...it is even more important to proceed in a directionally correct fashion to manage factors affecting hypoxia than to wait for greater precision in setting the goal for the size of the zone. Much can be learned by implementing management plans, documenting practices, and measuring their effects with appropriate monitoring programs.” (EPA Science Advisory Board 2008, 2).

## 6 Major Policy Themes

**Acknowledge the social, political and economic changes and links to emerging issues and policies.**
**Ensure greater specificity and accountability and tie to funding strategies.**
**Track program and environmental progress.**
**Adapt to new scientific findings.**
**Maximize opportunities for stakeholder involvement.**
**Reexamine roles and responsibilities of Task Force partners.**

**Notes:**
Six Major Policy Themes 
Six major policy themes provided direction for the reassessment.  These themes address needed improvements to the 2001 Action Plan within the adaptive management framework and include (pp. 4-5): 
Acknowledgement that the social, political and economic landscape is constantly changing and this, in turn, drives emerging issues and new policies.
We saw a need for greater specificity and accountability that are tied to funding strategies. 
There are hundreds of state, local and federal programs that affect water quality in the Basin and hypoxia in the Gulf.  We looked for, and continue to look for, ways to better track program and environmental progress. 
The science that informed the 2001 Action Plan was based on information up through the mid-1990s, so we sought to adapt to new scientific findings. 
Throughout the process, we looked for opportunities to broaden stakeholder involvement. 
Reexamine roles and responsibilities of Task Force partners. 

## Encourage actions that are voluntary, incentive-based, practical and cost-effective;
Utilize existing programs, including existing state and federal regulatory mechanisms;
Follow adaptive management;
Identify additional funding needs and sources during the annual agency budget processes; 
Identify opportunities for, and potential barriers to, innovative and market-based solutions; and,
Provide measurable outcomes as outlined in the three goals and strategies.

**Utilize existing programs, including existing state and federal regulatory mechanisms;**
**Follow adaptive management;**
**Identify additional funding needs and sources during the annual agency budget processes; **
***Identify opportunities for, and potential barriers to, innovative and market-based solutions; and,***
**Provide measurable outcomes as outlined in the three goals and strategies.**

**6 Guiding Principles**

**Notes:**
Six Guiding Principles 
Throughout the process of the reassessment, the Task Force was guided by six, overarching principles as guidance to reach the three major goals of this plan (p.8).  Most of the principles were carried over from the 2001 Action Plan: 
Encourage actions that are voluntary, incentive-based, practical and cost-effective;
Utilize existing programs, including existing state and federal regulatory mechanisms;
Follow adaptive management;
Identify additional funding needs and sources during the annual agency budget processes; 
Identify opportunities for, and potential barriers to, innovative and market-based solutions; and,
Provide measurable outcomes as outlined below in the three goals and strategies.

NOTE: new language in italics

## Improvements in the 2008 Action Plan

**Includes an action framework that increases accountability and specificity**
**Shifts the lead for nutrient reduction strategies to the states and adds complementary Federal Strategy**
**Includes conclusions from major science reassessment**
**Includes communication/outreach plan to engage stakeholders**
**Annual Operating Plan and Annual Report provide mechanisms for maintaining and tracking progress between reassessments**

**Notes:**
Improvements in the 2008 Action Plan 
Taking cues from the policy themes agreed on by the Task Force in January 2007, the 2008 Action Plan has added specificity and accountability to the actions in the Plan.  This does not mean we are moving to a more rigid “one-size-fits-all” prescription, but rather we are looking for increased specificity in the implementation actions to be pursued while maintaining the flexibility to adjust to more efficient and effective actions if warranted. The specificity in actions will improve the Task Force’s ability to identify metrics that can be used to quantitatively track progress.
You will see this in the Next Steps: Getting Results section of the Plan (starting on p.34); we have assigned Leads to each action.  We have also included a “Why do this?” and a “How do we do this?” – descriptions for each action that briefly:
    - Explain the problem and outline some of the results we can expect to see, 
    - Provide a “Roadmap” for moving forward in the “How do we do this?” section,
    - And finally, list some details on the critical needs that will be required to achieve each action.
The Plan also shifts the lead for nutrient reduction strategies to the states and adds complementary Federal nutrient reduction strategies as an additional nutrient reduction activity.  State and Federal nutrient reduction actions will be addressed in more detail later in the presentation.
Much of the reassessment focused on updating the science.  We conducted four science symposia focused on specific scientific developments surrounding Gulf hypoxia and nutrient sources, fate, and transport in the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin.  We produced two major technical reports (the MMR and MART reports), and we requested EPA’s Science Advisory Board to provide independent advice on scientific advancements.  The Action Plan reflects a synthesis of ALL of the science updates, and the TF has worked diligently to ensure that the “Conclusions from the Reassessment” (starting on page 21) in the 2008 Action Plan are accurate in terms of the science.
Improved outreach and education are integral to a successful Action Plan.  Action 10 (p.56) in the Plan describes the need for a Strategic Communications Plan that will guide the effective communication of TF messages to the public – (1) reaching a wide range of stakeholders, (2) providing information on the progress of Interagency and State efforts to reduce the size of the hypoxic zone, and (3) offering information on effective conservation practices and updates on the science surrounding hypoxia. 
Two new tools have also been included to improve the Task Force’s ability to measure and track progress and to report to our stakeholders - the Annual Operating Plan and the Annual Report.
Annual Operating Plans will provide short-term roadmaps to maintaining forward progress. Each Operating Plan will be a compilation of actions that the various state and federal members of the Task Force have planned to undertake to implement the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008.  Each item in the Operating Plan specifically implements one of the eleven actions in the 2008 Action Plan. The Operating Plans will include, where known, funding levels and specific milestones for the current fiscal year.  The plans will also identify critical needs for the next fiscal year to acknowledge and analyze barriers to progress and to assist in state and federal planning and funding. The addition of Annual Operating Plans underscores the Task Forces recognition of the need for “concrete interim steps” towards accomplishing the significant changes necessary to reduce the size of the Dead Zone.
An Annual Report (Action #7, page 50) will be published concurrently with each Operating Plan.  The Annual Report will provide updates on interim progress between reassessments so that we can continue to assess our progress, modify our actions accordingly, and use the information to further engage our stakeholders.      
The greater specificity and accountability in these two tools will benefit both loading reduction and speed up the development of effective hypoxia reduction actions.  Greater specificity will also aid in developing a much more strategic approach to funding by clearly identifying links to existing sources of funding and identifying gaps that could serve as justification for new funding. 

## Next Steps: Getting ResultsActions 1-3

- Actions are the “heart” of the plan
- Three “Actions to Accelerate the Reduction of Nitrogen and Phosphorus” will have the most direct effect on the size of the zone
- Focus on State nutrient strategies
- Introduce complementary Federal strategies
- Utilize existing programs to enhance protection of Gulf and local water quality

**Notes:**
Next Steps: Getting Results, Actions 1-3
The second section of the Action Plan “Next Steps: Getting Results” is the real “Heart of the Action Plan”, especially Actions 1, 2 and 3 (starting on p. 28).  It contains the eleven actions that will drive the process until the next reassessment.  The Task Force focused on the concept of adaptive management highlighted in the 2001 Action Plan, and these actions reflect changes to the content and intent of some of the original 11 actions from the 2001 Plan, plus new actions that fill existing gaps in our strategy.
One major change is that GHAP 2008 shifts the lead for nutrient reduction strategies to the states:  “The States are uniquely qualified to identify the key stakeholders within their states who can influence opinion and support needed changes in practices and programs. State agencies have established relationships with their constituents, whether agricultural producers or regulated entities such as wastewater facilities.”   
The 2008 Action Plan also includes a complementary Action #2 to “Complete and implement comprehensive nitrogen and phosphorus reduction strategies for appropriate basin-wide programs and projects.” 
Federal agencies have significant programs and projects that affect water quality in the Gulf and locally throughout the Basin. Broad federal strategies are needed to establish a context and approach that will guide and coordinate the actions of regional, state and local partners.  These strategies could include programs to identify effective nutrient reduction approaches, including streamlining regulatory requirements, utilizing innovative funding mechanisms, and implementing best management practices. These federal, basin-level strategies will help set a framework for individual state action and support collaborative efforts for program planning and implementation.
Action #3 calls for State and Federal partners to utilize existing federal and state water quality, water management, and conservation programs. One guiding principle of this plan is that when establishing priorities for watershed restoration, States, Tribes, and Federal agencies within the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin will consider the potential for benefits to the Gulf of Mexico.  This principle is the basis for Action #3.  It is designed for those programs whose primary intent is not to mitigate hypoxia.  By incorporating considerations of additional benefits to local water quality or to the Gulf of Mexico, program directors can generate "win-win" outcomes where they meet their program goals and improve water quality downstream and in the Gulf.

## Actions 4-11

- Actions to Advance the Science, Track Progress, and Raise Awareness
- Build on the adaptive management approach
*“**continual feedback between the interpretation of new information and improved management actions” (2001 Action Plan)*
- Emphasize tracking progress, filling the still existing gaps in the science, and engaging our stakeholders

**Notes:**
Actions 4-11 
Actions 4-11 – the actions to Advance the Science, Track Progress, and Raise Awareness (beginning on page 42 of the 2008 GHAP) – continue to build on the adaptive management approach of “continual feedback between the interpretation of new information and improved management actions.”
These actions emphasize filling the still existing gaps in the science, including gaps in the science surrounding nutrient source, fate and transport, and linkages between nutrient loads and the size and severity of the hypoxic zone. 
They also include actions that:
   - Better track and report on results
   - Integrate and consolidate monitoring data
   - Further develop cost-effective and efficient conservation and management practices for various agricultural production systems, and deliver them to farmers and ranchers in the MARB, and
   - Provide mechanisms that engage the many stakeholders that are concerned with hypoxia, and water quality in the MARB. 

## Moving Forward: Implementation

- State nitrogen and phosphorus reduction strategies
- Federal nitrogen and phosphorus reduction strategies
- Annual Operating Plans
- Annual Report

**Notes:**
Moving Forward: Implementation 
The publication of the 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan in June 2008 is the final milestone in the reassessment process – a rigorous process that began almost 4 years ago.  It has shaped new and improved partnerships.  It has generated a greater understanding of the science surrounding hypoxia. And, it has produced a renewed commitment and strong momentum to keep moving forward to achieve the goals of the Plan – to reduce the size of the hypoxic zone and improve water quality throughout the Mississippi River Basin while maintaining economic and cultural viability across the Basin.  While the release of the 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan is a laudable milestone, there is still much work to be done.
The key to success lies in maintaining the momentum we have gained and pushing forward to fully implement the Plan – particularly in developing and implementing both State and Federal nitrogen and phosphorus reduction strategies – strategies that, if implemented, will have a direct impact on nitrogen and phosphorus loads in the River and in the Gulf.  
Also critical to our success will be developing and implementing Annual Operating Plans.  Each Operating Plan will outline and document the interim steps for each action in the Plan, track the progress of the Task Force partners’ efforts, and will allow the TF partners to systematically identify gaps and critical needs in their respective strategies and actions.    
The production of an Annual Report will measure the results of our efforts, providing increased accountability and communication to members of the Task Force and all of our stakeholders.  We will continue to rely on our stakeholders to be our partners and our critics, to voice your concerns and provide your opinions, and to help us by learning about hypoxia, its impacts on the Gulf, and determining how we can solve this national problem by collaborating, cooperating and practicing good stewardship of our natural resources together. 

## Purpose and drivers of Annual Operating Plan (AOP)
FY 2008 AOP Content and description
Preparation of 2009 Operating Plan
Hypoxia Action Plan Annual Report

- FY 2008 AOP Content and description
- Preparation of 2009 Operating Plan
- Hypoxia Action Plan Annual Report

**Annual Operating Plan Overview**

**Notes:**
Annual Operating Plan Overview 
Purpose and drivers of Annual Operating Plan (AOP)
FY 2008 AOP Content and description
Preparation of 2009 Operating Plan
Hypoxia Action Plan Annual Report

## Purpose and Drivers

- Short-term “roadmaps” to achieve the broader goals of the plan
- Recognizes need for “interim steps” to accomplish significant change
- Specifically implements each action in the plan
- Identifies critical needs and allows for strategic planning and funding

**Notes:**
Purpose and Drivers 
One of the major improvements of the 2008 GHAP is the inclusion of five Annual Operating Plans, one for each year through the next reassessment – they are valuable tools that will provide short-term roadmaps to maintaining forward progress towards the goals of the Action Plan.
The addition of Annual Operating Plans underscores the Task Forces recognition and response to our stakeholders appeal for the need for a timeline and “concrete interim steps” towards accomplishing the significant changes necessary to reduce the size of the Dead Zone.
Each item the Operating Plan specifically implements one of the eleven actions in the 2008 Action Plan. Inclusion of an item in the Operating plan means that the state or federal agency that is listed as the “Lead” on that particular item, has planned to fund that activity for that fiscal year. 
The difference between the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan and the Annual Operating Plan is that the Actions in the Action Plan have been agreed upon by the Task Force as the basis for an overarching strategy that will reduce hypoxia in the Gulf and improve water quality throughout the Basin.  In consideration of the different priorities and strategies of each state and Federal agency in implementing the Hypoxia Action Plan - the actions in each annual Operating Plan are not reached by consensus of the Task Force, but rather represent the cumulative efforts that are proposed and funded by each individual agency, to implement the 11 Actions in the Action Plan. 
The Operating Plans will include, where known, funding levels and specific milestones for the current fiscal year.  The plans will also identify critical needs for the next fiscal year to acknowledge and analyze barriers to progress and to assist in state and federal planning and funding. 
The Annual Operating Plans are really the meat of what we’ll do each year to carry out the broader goals of the Plan – intended to increase specificity and accountability as the driving force behind a successful implementation.  We all have recognized that we need better follow-up to get the support and action we need to address hypoxia.
It also provides the basis for the annual reports, to address the Task Force's need to track and evaluate our progress.  The creation and release of the Operating Plan is tied into the annual reporting cycle, the two documents work together.

## FY 2008 Operating Plan Content

- Summary of Expected Results
- Coordinating Committee Action Lead
- Implementation Plan
- Lead Agency
- FY 2008 Actions
- Milestones
- FY 2008 Funding
- Critical Needs

**Notes:**
FY 2008 Operating Plan Content 
For each fiscal year the Operating Plan lists the Action from the Action Plan, along with a summary of the expected results from that year, the Coordinating Committee Lead and the fiscal year “Implementation Plan” for that year. 
The summary lists the results that are expected for that fiscal year and may also list some of the gaps and/or critical needs.
The Coordinating Committee Action Lead is the Coordinating Committee agency and state that is responsible for coordination of that activity.  As I discussed before, the actions will be implemented by their respective agencies, the CC Action leads are responsible for coordinating the process, reporting on progress and tracking results for the TF.
In the Implementation plan (the table contained in the Operation Plan) – the Lead agency is the agency that has committed to each action for that fiscal year.
Accordingly, the actions, milestones and funding columns represent a brief workplan provided by each agency for each task.
Finally the Critical needs column will identify what is necessary to continue to implement the action in the next fiscal year.  These needs may include data, budgetary needs, additional staff, or regulatory authority as appropriate.  
The Critical needs section will be an excellent tool for maintaining progress and strategically identifying gaps in the strategies, needs for funding, and when to modify our actions to continue to make progress towards the goals.

## Operating Plan Appendix

- What is being done currently?
- Advances Coastal, Within Basin and Quality of Life Goal
- Partial list of ongoing nutrient reduction activities that complement 11 actions in Action Plan
- Dynamic “living document”

**Notes:**
Operating Plan Appendix 
One of the keys to the success of implementing the Plan is to determine first what is being done currently by the Task Force partners that can aid in achieving each specific action in the 2008 Action Plan. 
The Appendix provides an overview of ongoing activities that will result in improvements to state and local water quality and the reduction and mitigation of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, and complement the listed actions in the Annual Operating Plan.  These activities were provided by the States and Federal agencies as a means of highlighting the important efforts that currently exist to improve water quality in the Basin and to combat the impacts of hypoxia.  
The Appendix is by no means a comprehensive list, and will change as projects are completed, new projects are proposed and funded, and as items are incorporated into the state and federal nutrient reduction strategies as they are developed.

## FY 2009 Operating Plan

- FY 2009 Operating Plan due in October 2008
- Intent is that Critical Needs will migrate to fill the “Actions” column in future years
- Aid in maintaining progress and identifying funding needs
- Ties in with Annual Report

**Notes:**
FY 2009 Operating Plan 
The FY 2008 Operating Plan is a notable achievement for the Task Force.  It lists over 40 pages of planned and ongoing activities that will:
   - Reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads to surface waters throughout the Basin and eventually to the Gulf
   - Advance the adaptive management approach and periodically reassesses the state of the science
   - Keep track of progress of both environmental measures and programmatic actions, and
   - Seek to continually engage involved stakeholders in order to maximize results 
The FY 2008 Operating Plan was released with the 2008 Action Plan.  Future Operating Plans will be released in the Fall of each year, concurrent with the start of the Federal fiscal year. The FY 2009 Operating Plan will be released in October 2008.
The design of the Operating Plan is such that the critical needs column of the prior year’s Operating Plan should be able to be migrated to the current “Actions” column.  When this cannot happen it will send a message to the Task Force that we are not maintaining the progress we expected to make and allow the Task Force to consider adapting the strategy and agencies to further consider policy and program options.
Starting in the Fall of 2010, progress on each Annual Operating Plan along with progress on a set of environmental and economic indicators will be disseminated to our stakeholders each year in the Gulf Hypoxia Annual Report.

## Annual Report

- Purpose: to track progress and evaluate results
- Benefits
- Advance adaptive management process
- Evaluate programs and management efforts
- Aid in targeting future actions
- Inform stakeholders
- Content
- Snapshot of a consistent set of indicators
- Progress on each of the 11 Actions
- Next Steps

**Notes:**
Annual Report 
Serious gaps in our ability to track and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and management efforts and their interactions in reducing the hypoxic zone have limited our ability to move forward on achieving the goals of the 2001 Action Plan. 
While the inclusion of an operating plan addresses the need for more specificity in implementation actions and will assist in tracking results, the Annual Report is an additional and necessary tool to improve our understanding of the effectiveness of our efforts to date to better design and target them for the future.
Action #7 in the Action plan reads: “Track interim progress on the actions to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus by producing an annual report on federal and state program nutrient reduction activities and results.”
Some of the Benefits of producing an Annual Report include:
   - Advancing adaptive management process by allowing TF to track progress toward environmental goals and highlight significant programmatic accomplishments on each action
   - Aiding in evaluating effectiveness of programs and management efforts
   - Assisting in targeting of future actions, and 
   - Maximizing opportunities for stakeholder involvement
The Content in the Annual Report will include 1-2 page snapshot of a consistent set of indicators and a changing set of highlighted state, federal or TF accomplishments that are appropriate for each year and are a result of progress on each of the 11 actions in the Action Plan. (see optional text below)
We are still in the process of developing the framework, and determining the indicators.  The first report will be published in October 2009 – concurrently with the FY 2010 Operating Plan, and annually thereafter.
Optional:  Some indicators we are considering include: (select which you may want to mention)
- Number of States with completed N & P Reduction Strategies
- Number of Federal programs with nitrogen and phosphorus strategies completed
- Reduction in discharges of nitrogen and phosphorus for sub-basins, and Mississippi/Atchafalaya Gulf discharges
- Changes in basin waters impaired by nutrients (303d)
- Number of municipal stormwater programs approved
- Reductions from revised point source permits
- TMDLs established to reflect downstream effects
- Revised WQ Nutrient Standards to reflect downstream effects
- Percent population served by secondary/advanced wastewater treatment
- Producers implementing nutrient management plans and the number of acres affected
- Vegetative or forested buffers established along rivers and streams of priority watersheds
- Producer/acres enrolled in SRP and WRP
- Number and percent of wetland acres restored, enhanced or created
- Acres in conservation tillage
- Changes in the size of the Gulf hypoxic zone and five year running average
- Bottom-dwelling communities in the current hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf return to a diversity and abundance characteristic of non-hypoxic conditions
- Normal migratory patterns of key Gulf species are restored.

**Notes:**
Concluding Slide 
Thank you for joining us as we move forward on Gulf hypoxia.
Questions?  

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For more information 
or to read the Action Plan visit:  www.epa.gov/msbasin

For hard copies email:
ow-hypoxia@epa.gov 

**For more information **
**or to read the Action Plan visit:**** ** www.epa.gov/msbasin
**For hard copies email**:
- ow-hypoxia@epa.gov

**Notes:**
Contact Info 
Please visit our website to learn more about the Task Force or to read the Action Plan.  Hard copies can be requested through the email address ow-hypoxia@epa.gov.