# Presentation: 715811

## State of the Gulf Of Mexico Summit

- VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr.
- Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
- NOAA Administrator
- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit
- March 28, 2006

- Integrating Observations to Sustain Healthy and Resilient Coasts in the Gulf of Mexico Region

## Presentation Outline

- The Gulf of Mexico’s Importance to the Nation
- Ocean Action Plan Charge
- Integrated Ocean Observing Systems
- Using Ocean Observations to Address Coastal Hazards and Other Public Health Issues
- Working Together: The Gulf of Mexico Alliance

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

## Importance of the Gulf of Mexico to the Nation

- Economic importance
- 25% of domestic commercial fishing revenue
- $20 billion in tourism
- 7 of the 10 largest U.S. ports
- 30% of nation’s oil
- Cultural importance
- Unique cultural centers, such as New Orleans, threatened during and after Hurricane Katrina
- Loss of coastal wetlands in Louisiana threatens traditional way of life along the bayou
- Environmental importance
- Nearly 50% of U.S. coastal wetlands
- Highlighted by the 2005 hurricane season

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
In the wake of the devastating 2005 hurricane season, we all witnessed firsthand the importance of the Gulf of Mexico to the United States.
Economic Importance:
Fisheries:  Gulf accounts for 25% of domestic commercial fishing revenue
Gulf tourism:  $20 billion industry (annually)
Ports:  7 out of 10 of the leading ports in the nation are located in the Gulf (by waterborne tonnage)
Drilling and production facilities in the region supply about 30 percent of our nation’s oil and about 20 percent of our natural gas, making the Gulf critical to our national security and economy.
Cultural importance:  Unique cultural centers, such as New Orleans, threatened during and after Hurricane Katrina. Loss of coastal wetlands in Louisiana threatens traditional way of life along the bayou
Environmental importance:  Gulf is home to nearly 50% of the nation’s coastal wetlands

TRANSITION TO NEXT SLIDE ON OBSERVING SYSTEMS:
These few simple statistics demonstrate the tremendous value of the Gulf to the Nation--- but the region faces many challenges due to pressures such as population growth, coastal development, climate change, pollution, and---as we were reminded so dramatically last summer--- natural hazards.  
In 2004 the Bush Administration recognized the importance of the Gulf of Mexico region in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan.  

## U.S. Ocean Action Plan Charge

- Support a Regional Partnership in the Gulf of Mexico
- Explore partnership opportunities for key priorities in the Gulf of Mexico with regional representatives in spring of 2005
- Based on Gulf of Mexico Alliance’s key priorities in the region, with particular emphasis on:
- Public health: Water quality for shellfish beds and beaches in Gulf of Mexico
- Use of a regional ocean observing system to provide a real-time alert system for beach and shellfish bed closings

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
The Plan-submitted to to Congress in response to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommendations emphasized the value in supporting a regional partnership with the Gulf States.

The U.S. Ocean Action Plan outlines the near-term and longer-term actions that protect our ocean and marine resources.   The U.S. Ocean Action Plan 1) summarizes the Administration’s ongoing actions to advance ocean policy as the Commission deliberated; 2) identifies additional near-term actions that provide direction for ocean policy; 3) outlines comprehensive, long-term actions for the future; and 4) improves governance between Federal, state, local and tribal authorities

## Act Locally

- Model Regionally

- Observe Globally

- Act Globally

- Model Regionally

- Observe Locally

**Notes:**
[NOAA GOES satellite imagery;experimental GOES fog image]

This slide shows a continuum from global to local and back again...the scale at which partnerships between academic scientists, communities, and NOAA are necessary for development of the system.

--bringing together all the systems we have into one global network that will monitor changes in the oceans, the atmosphere and everything in between;

--allowing collection of data at all scales that will drive the models that will help us understand and forecast the interactions of ocean, atmosphere, and land.

## Benefits of Integrated Earth Observation Systems

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
Comprehensive and integrated observations are at the heart of improving our understanding and ability to take an ecosystem based approach to manage a region as complex as the Gulf of Mexico.

Ocean observations – both satellite and in situ - have been at the heart of NOAA’s mission for more than 30 years. In fact, environmental information is our primary reason for existence.  NOAA depends on observing systems for virtually every activity it does - from fundamental research to long range operational forecasting and day-to-day regulatory decisions.  

It is estimated that over 30 percent of the United States Gross Domestic Product depends on weather and climate products and services, so it goes without saying that we, as a country, are big believers in the value of Earth observations.  

An observing system is important to managing our ocean and coastal resources for several reasons. Monitoring is an essential component of NOAA’s ecosystem program.  An increased ability to monitor an ecosystem will improve understanding and enable effective management of resources. 

Integrated Earth Observations and products are used for:
Detecting and forecasting oceanic components of climate variability 
Facilitating safe and efficient marine operations 
Ensuring national security 
Managing resources for sustainable use 
Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems 
Mitigating natural hazards 
Ensuring public health 

TRANSITION:
It has been estimated that an information from integrated ocean observing systems in the Gulf of Mexico could potentially yield over $100 million in annual economic benefits across 11 major Gulf economic sectors.

Graphic:  Full suite of monitoring systems and effective data management systems are needed to reap the benefits of ocean observations.

## Regional Observations in the Gulf of Mexico

- Gulf Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) is the Gulf’s regional association
- Existing observation systems (federal, state, academic and private) are the initial building blocks, such as:
- National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON)
- Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network (TCOON)
- Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS)

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
IOOS in Gulf of Mexico is coordinated through the Gulf Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS).  
GCOOS is working to establish a data and information management system that is  
Part of a national system; integrated with other regional coastal observing systems
Coordinated with observing system elements in Mexico and Cuba
Integrated with the global observing system module

Many existing observing systems have been used as initial building blocks as shown in graphic.

Shown in the graphic: 
 Federal and State Observing Systems in the Gulf of Mexico, including 
National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON)
Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network (TCOON)
Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS)
TRANSITION TO NEXT SLIDE:
These observing systems are supported by local, state, and federal government, private industry, NGOs, and academia and prove critical in providing information to local, state, and federal decision-makers prior to, during, and after coastal hazards such as hurricanes.

Source of information and graphic: Personal communication between Christy Loper, NOAA and Worth Nowlin, Director of GCOOS, March 20, 2006 and PPT by Nowlin, February 2006

## Role of Ocean Observations in Hurricane Preparation and Response

- Hurricane forecasts
- Damage assessment and aerial photography
- Navigation Response Teams
- Oil spill/hazardous material response
- Water quality sampling
- Debris surveying and removal

- August 31, 2005 provided by NOAA

- Levee break

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
As Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita bore down on the Gulf Coast in 2005, NOAA provided accurate forecasts of the track of the hurricanes.

Thirty-two tide stations operated by NOAA’s National Water Level Observation Network along the Gulf Coast disseminated storm tide conditions in real and near real-time as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita approached and made landfall. These stations were supplemented by thirty-one partner stations operated to NWLON standards, doubling the storm tide observing capacity in the Gulf, and demonstrating the value of an Integrated Ocean Observing System.

In the wake of the hurricanes, NOAA deployed its resources, including response teams, hydrographic survey vessels, and state-of-the-art technologies, as part of a large scale federally-coordinated response effort.

NOAA conducted damage assessment flights, collecting over 8300 images, covering 1600 miles of linear flight lines. The images captured include the coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, including the ports of Mobile, Pascagoula, Gulfport, New Orleans, and Port Fourchon.

NOAA Navigation Response Teams directly contributed to relief efforts and the resumption of maritime commerce.  NOAA NRTs provided critical information, supporting Coast Guard efforts to rapidly assess and reopen waterways, which allowed maritime-based relief efforts into impacted communities. 

The Houston/Galveston PORTS® provided important navigational information following Rita required by ship masters and pilots to avoid collisions and groundings.

NOAA provided invaluable scientific support to the our Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency and the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, Florida, and Texas in their response efforts. 

NOAA Restoration Teams worked with state and federal partners to assess the impacts to natural resources and to plan for restoration, within the context of the broader recovery efforts

Finally, one thing we were very proud of is how we worked with our state, local, and federal partners to monitor the ecosystem in the area, collecting water quality and tissue samples from fish and bivalves.  This monitoring allowed the Gulf fisheries to be reopened as quickly as possible after the hurricanes, while still ensuring public heath. Reopening of the fisheries was an important step in rebuilding the Gulf coast economy. 

TRANSITION:
Ocean observations can also be used to address longer term pubic health issues in the Gulf of Mexico...

## Gulf of Mexico Public Health and Safety 

- Improve storm surge forecasting
- Improve harmful algal bloom detection and prediction
- Address mercury contamination

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**

Major NOAA investments in the Gulf of Mexico include three projects to address public health concerns.
First: Storm Surge Partnership Project- $3.7 million pilot to improve storm surge forecasting, focused on the Pensacola, Florida area.
Harmful algal bloom- $2.0 million partnership project to improve detection and prediction of harmful algal blooms in Florida and Texas
Mercury- Proposed NOAA project in 2008

TRANSITION:
To make all this work, local, states and feds have to work together to address problems.   Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast System

## Looking to the Future

- NOAA is committed to:
- Expand the observation network in the Gulf of Mexico
- Partner with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and support implementation of actions in the Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
NOAA is committed to expanding its observation activities in the Gulf of Mexico Region.  Expanding our observation ability and having the best technology, however, will not solve the problems unless we can effectively work together with the people who live and work in the Gulf region.  We understand that it is the states and local communities that set priorities for sustaining healthy and productive coasts, which is why NOAA is dedicated to supporting the Governors’ Action Plan through the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.   

NOAA is proud to support this state led initiative, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, and it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you a short video about the Alliance and the Gulf Region.

NOTE: Gulf of Mexico Alliance timeline
April 2004:  States form Gulf of Mexico Alliance Initiated by Florida Governor Jeb Bush in April 2004
December 2004:  Ocean Action Plan mandated federal action to complement state efforts
Spring 2005:  13 Federal agencies joined together to support states 
Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts to be presented today by Colleen Castille, Florida DEP Secretary

## Background Materials

## The Gulf of Mexico Alliance

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
The best technology and data management will not solve the problems unless people can work together. 

NOTE: Gulf of Mexico Alliance timeline
April 2004:  States form Gulf of Mexico Alliance Initiated by Florida Governor Jeb Bush in April 2004
December 2004:  Ocean Action Plan mandated federal action to complement state efforts
Spring 2005:  13 Federal agencies joined together to support states 
Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts to be presented today by Colleen Castille, Florida DEP Secretary

 Our next speaker is going to tell you about what I think is a truly exciting example of regional ocean governance that is going to involve all stakeholders in the Gulf:  state and local governments, private industry, academics, environmental NGOs, and local citizens.  

NOAA is proud to support this state led initiative, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, that is the focus of this afternoon’s session.  It gives me great pleasure to introduce Colleen Castille....[bio to be provided by HRI]

## Sustained Observing System for the Gulf of Mexico

- Observations and products for:
- Detecting and forecasting oceanic components of climate variability
- Facilitating safe and efficient marine operations
- Ensuring national security
- Managing resources for sustainable use
- Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems
- Mitigating natural hazards
- Ensuring public health

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
Photos in descending order from top to bottom:
Photo 1: NGS profiling evacuation routes using GPS
Photo 2: Example of a water level station. The station includes a data collection platform, acoustic sensor with a protective tube, satellite antenna, various meteorological sensors and a solar panel that keeps the station battery charged.
Photo 3:
Photo 4: Example of an Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC).  An ENC is a "smart chart" that provides more information than a paper chart and greater accuracy. 
Photo 5:

## Responding to State Leadership in the Gulf of Mexico

- Gulf of Mexico Alliance
- State-led
- Five state partnership between Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas
- State leadership recognized in U.S. Ocean Action Plan
- Partnership supported by 13 Federal agencies joined together to support states
- Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts
- State and local level—ground zero for Governors’ Action Plan implementation

- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit

**Notes:**
Gulf of Mexico Alliance timeline
April 2004:  States form Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Initiated by Florida Governor Jeb Bush in April 2004
December 2004:  Ocean Action Plan mandated federal action to complement state efforts
Spring 2005:  13 Federal agencies joined together to support states 
Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts to be presented today by Colleen Castille, Florida DEP Secretary