# Presentation: 668011

## Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator
Louisiana State University
January 22, 2008

- Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator
- Louisiana State University
- January 22, 2008

- Helping Build Coastal Resiliency for Louisiana

## Overview

- Introduction to NOAA
- Coastal Demographics
- Ocean Action Plan
- Gulf of Mexico Alliance
- Northern Gulf Institute
- Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)
- Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
- Hurricane Forecasting

- Geodetic Height Modernization in Louisiana
- Infusing Inundation Research into Community Planning
- Wetland Habitat Restoration
- Northern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia
- Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
- Aquaculture
- Marine Debris

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

## NOAA’s Vision & Mission

- Vision: An informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions.
- Mission: To understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
NOAA is an agency rooted in science that brings timely and relevant information to inform public debate and decision making. 
  NOAA’s vision is to inform society about the role that the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere play in the global ecosystem.  
NOAA’s mission is to ensure that the nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs are met through sound stewardship of coastal and marine resources.  

## NOAA Organization

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

- X

- R E G I O N A L   C O L L A B O R A T I O N

**From Stovepipes to ****Matrix Management**

**Notes:**
Although NOAA has individual line offices, functionally I have instituted a matrix management system to try and cut across line offices and integrate NOAA’s goals between line offices.  Cross-cutting issues cannot be addressed in stovepipes.  

We must use Matrix Management to integrate our products and services internally in order to meet the evolving environmental, social, and economic demands of the Nation. 

NOAA slowly moved from a stove-piped organization into a matrix management organization.  This provided the structure to allow cross-line office program planning and budgeting.      

One of the first changes to the existing structure was to establish a new line office called Program Planning and Integration (PPI).  

PPI acts as the glue between the line offices and functions to: 1) Develop and refine NOAA-wide Strategic Planning, 2) Evaluate operational and research performance, 3) Integrate programs within NOAA to be more efficient and effective, and 4) Integrate interagency and internal policy

In addition, four Goal Teams, aligned with NOAA’s strategic plan, were established (Ecosystem Management; Climate; Weather and Water; Commerce and Transportation)

Each goal team has a goal leader and works with teams, comprised of people from each line office.  These teams coordinate the planning and prioritization of  programs and projects for budgeting decisions. 

Finally, 12 Councils were established to be the focal point for considering agency-wide issues (e.g., planning, resource requirements, and policy) in various functional areas. 

They serve as a forum for reviewing issues, formulating decision briefings, and condensing complex issues and programs into understandable terms and recommendations for decisional presentations to the NEC and NEP.  

NOAA Councils
Program Management Council; International Affairs Council; Research Council; Education Council; CIO Council; Ocean Council; Safety Council; Human Capital Council; Observing Systems Council; CFO/CAO Council; Fleet Council; Minority Serving Institutions Council

## Coastal Demographics

- Risks to life, property, and coastal habitats only increase
- Coastal Population in 2003 = 153 M
- Coastal Population estimated for 2008 = 160 M
- 85% tourism located in coastal states
- Approx 89.3 million people / year vacation and recreate along U.S. coasts.
- Average Household spends $850/trip

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

- Figure: County Population Change (1970 – 2000) in 1000’s of people
- Red: coastal counties
- Green: non-coastal counties

**Notes:**
56.3% of U.S. National GDP contributed by coastal watershed counties (National Ocean Economics Program)
Economic losses from the 2005 hurricane season were $200 billion (costliest ever) 
Insured U.S. weather-related losses are growing 10x faster than premiums and growing industry trend of policy cancellations increases coastal community vulnerability 

From 1970 to 2000, population continued to grow in coastal counties.  Although population increase and coastal development give rise to numerous economic benefits, they also may
result in the loss of critical habitat, green space, and biodiversity. Public policymakers and coastal managers are confronted with the daily task of finding a balance between benefiting from economic growth and mitigating the effects of this growth on coastal environments. This task is becoming ever more challenging as the coastal population continues to grow in a limited space.

In 2000, of the 281 million people that lived in the U.S., more than 148 million people lived in coastal counties.  Coastal counties contain 53% of the nation’s population, yet, excluding
Alaska, only account for 17% of U.S. land area. 
From 2000 to 2015, coastal county population is expected to increase by 17 million people.
22 of the 25 most densely populated counties are coastal.
Coastal counties average 291 persons per square mile (not including Alaska), over five times greater than the population density of noncoastal counties.

Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction
Establishes a framework of priorities and desired outcomes to promote hazard resilient communities.
Implementation plans in development to address specific disaster related issues (e.g., hurricanes, coastal inundation).

How is NOAA addressing it?
Ocean Research Priority Plan “Forecasting the Response of Coastal Ecosystems to Persistent Forcing and Extreme Events” Near Term Opportunity Plan (FY08)
Supports end-to-end development and integration of observations, research, and forecast models into decision support tools to address the impacts of coastal storms on both the built and natural environment. Includes regionally based pilots.

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Second Implementation Conference 
Observations for coastal inundation identified as priority need. 

US Climate Change Science Program
FY2007 “Our Changing Planet” includes several goals in support of enhancing coastal community resilience.
Safe transportation theme supports hazard resilient coastal communities.

## Ocean Action Plan

- Administration’s Response to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
- U.S. Ocean Action Plan
- December 17, 2004
- Executive Order: Committee on Ocean Policy
- U.S. Ocean Action Plan
- NOAA’s FY 08 Request includes $123M in new increases ($107M enacted):
- Sustainable use of ocean resources ($25M request, $15.2M enacted)
- Protection and restoration of marine and coastal areas ($38M request, $30.8M enacted)
- Enhanced ocean science and research ($60M request, $61.2M enacted)

- 12/2004 President Bush Signs Executive Order: Committee on Ocean Policy

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
Ocean Action Plan
On December 17, 2004, President Bush submitted the “U.S. Ocean Action Plan” to Congress in response to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommendations.
The U.S. Ocean Action Plan:
· summarizes the Administration’s ongoing actions to advance ocean policy as the Commission deliberated;
· identifies additional near-term actions that provide direction for ocean policy;
· outlines comprehensive, long-term actions for the future; and
· improves governance between Federal, state, local and tribal authorities

In January 2007, the U.S. Ocean Action Plan Implementation Update was released.  Some highlights include:
Established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Papahanaumokuakea) Marine National Monument (June 2006) – at 137,792 square miles this is the largest marine conservation area in the world.
Held first National Conference on Ocean Literacy in Washington during Capital Hill Oceans Week (2006)
Successfully reauthorized the Magnuson-Stevens Act (2006)
Support Regional Partnerships (Gulf of Mexico, Northeast, West Coast)
Completed the first ever Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy (2006)
Enacted the Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act (2006)
NOAA released administration bills for Aquaculture, Corals, Hydrographic Services Act and later this summer the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

Support the President’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan ($123 million increases)
$38 million to protect and restore marine and coastal areas, 
$25 million to ensure sustainable use of ocean resources, and 
$60 million to advance ocean science and research ($9 million of this funding supports science infrastructure and is discussed under Critical Infrastructure Investments).

## NOAA Participation in Gulf of Mexico Alliance

- The Alliance is a partnership between the 5 gulf coast states and 13 federal agencies.
- NOAA and EPA are the federal co-chairs of the Alliance

- Priority Issue Areas
- Coastal community resilience
- Water quality for healthy beaches and shellfish beds
- Wetland and coastal conservation and restoration
- Environmental education
- Identification and characterization of Gulf habitats
- Reducing nutrient inputs to coastal ecosystems

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
The Gulf State Governors put forward 73 specific activities in their March 2006 Governors’ Action Plan related to the following Priority Issue Areas:  
Coastal community resilience
Water quality for healthy beaches and shellfish beds
Wetland and coastal conservation and restoration
Environmental education
Identification and characterization of Gulf habitats
Reducing nutrient inputs to coastal ecosystems

Results have exceeded expectations. 16 actions are complete, 50 are in progress and 7 are pending. 

In FY’08 NOAA received $4.8 M to implement activities in support of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance priority issue areas.  Most of these funds will be distributed through a competitive process ran by the Coastal Services Center (CSC).  (Letters of intent due Jan. 10th, internal review and selection, full proposals due Feb. 8).

Building upon the  success of the initial plan, the Alliance will expand the breadth and scope of their actions and release a second action plan for the gulf region in early 2009. 

The Alliance will also strengthen existing relationships with its state and federal partners and initiate new relationships with business, industry, NGOs and Universities, such as LSU. 

## Northern Gulf Institute

- Ecosystem Management  (DELTA – Ecosystem Forecasting System -LSU)
- Coastal Wetlands
- Fisheries Habitats
- Restoration Strategies
- Geospatial Data Integration & Visualization
- Geospatial Observations
- Improved Data Access
- Increased Use of Visualization Technology

- Climate Change & Variability
- Climate Assessment and Impact Models
- Coastal Hazards
- Integration of Watershed Information
- Public Health Stressors – LSU
- Estuarine and Coastal Models
- Biomass Production in Estuarine Ecosystems – LSU
- Materials Exchange – Marsh and Channel Along Estuarine Gradient -LSU

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi was established in October 2006 and is one of the newer NOAA Cooperative Institute.  The NGI is a consortium of universities led by Mississippi State University, in partnership with the University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, and Dauphin Island Sea Lab. 

The fundamental philosophy of the NGI is integration - integration of the land-coast-ocean-atmosphere continuum; integration of research to operations; and integration of individual academic institutional strengths into a holistic research and educational program specifically geared to the needs of Northern Gulf of Mexico users.

NGI research supports all five of NOAA’s Mission Goals

NGI research is driven by a basic central premise – that the significant value of Northern Gulf of Mexico social and economic resources, combined with a burgeoning coastal population and the continuing threats of onshore storms and inland flooding, require research results that help decision makers and management agencies better understand the linkages between ecosystems and human societies in order to reduce the vulnerability and enhance resiliency of these linked systems. 

The primary focus of these efforts will be in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, from the Sabine River on the west to the Suwanee River on the east.  However, a Basin-Scale of interest for the NGI encompasses the entire Gulf of Mexico coastal and ocean region, and conceptually at least extends as far inland as the Mississippi River drainage basin - more than 30 states and 40% of the US landmass. 
The Cooperative Institute builds upon the appropriate cooperative linkages of its members with the Gulf Coastal Ocean Observing System, large scale climate and weather processes (e.g., with NOAA's Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center), and to national and international level concerns with marine transportation, pelagic fisheries, energy development and national defense. 

LSU Foci:
DELTA- Ecosystem Forecast System - This project seeks to develop and apply a series of linked simulation models that will allow tracking the effects of pulsed freshwater inputs through hydrodynamics, biogeochemical cycling, primary production, zooplankton dynamics, fish growth, and water quality dynamics. Each of these models necessarily operate on temporal and spatial scales appropriate for their dynamics; common development of these models will enable them to share information and be linked via the predictions of one model being used as input values for another model. 

Public Health Stressors – Inputs of Mississippi River water change both hydrologic regime and nutrient loading to the Breton Sound and Barataria Bay estuaries. It is hypothesized that this bottom-up forcing changes in community structure and function of phytoplankton and microbial communities, creating fast turnover dynamics under nutrient-rich, fast flow-through systems. River inputs also flush marshes during flood events and likely result in a more complex mixed system in the open waters sampled during transect work. It is also hypothesized that the algal groups that will respond to eutrophication will differ between marine and fresh water systems.
Tropic Linkages and Biomass Production in Estuarine Ecosystems - The central tenet of this proposal is that wetlands and adjacent waters associated with deltas are pulse-regulated ecosystems. Different spatial and temporal scales and the pattern of pulsed freshwater inputs are critical parameters controlling nutrient cycling, productivity, residence time and export, and trophic structure. 
Materials Exchange Between the Marsh and Channel Along an Estuarine Gradient- The major scientific tasks of this project will be to: quantify material exchange of water and C, N, and P fluxes between the marsh and channel; assess the role plants have in carbon sequestration and marsh sustainability; and identify the major biogeochemical transformation processes responsible for C, N, and P cycling, and ultimately, long-term sustainability.

## Global Earth Observation System of Systems(GEOSS)

- Global Earth Observation System of Systems(GEOSS)

- 73 Members
- 52 International Organizations
- A distributed system of systems
- Improves coordination of strategies & observation systems
- Links all platforms: in situ, aircraft, & satellite networks
- Identifies gaps in our global capacity
- Facilitates exchange of data & information
- Improves decision-makers’ abilities to address pressing policy issues

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
Just as collaboration and integration is essential at the regional level, so too is it needed globally.  To this end, NOAA is at the forefront of establishing a global collaboration regime: the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).  
Underlying GEOSS is the recognition that new energy technologies and strategies require a comprehensive Earth observation system that is as integrated as planet it observes.  GEOSS is an end-to-end system of integrated technology; it will greatly enhance the value of our single-purpose systems by allowing them to work in concert.  73 countries, the European Commission (as the 73nd member), and 52 international organizations are currently on board. 

Specifically, GEOSS will...
Improve coordination of strategies and observation systems: The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is an international partnership of countries, academia, and organizations leading the worldwide effort to build GEOSS. 
Link all platforms (in situ, aircraft, and satellite networks):  There are currently thousands, if not millions, of observation points collecting data around the world and in the atmosphere.  Unfortunately, they largely operate independently of one another.  By fully networking and integrating this information we can advance our understanding of the Earth’s environment, thereby improving decision-makers’ abilities to address pressing policy issues.  
Identify gaps in our global capacity: GEOSS seeks to improve the coordination of observational systems and identify gaps in global capacity.
Facilitate exchange of information: GEOSS will be a collaboration of existing national, regional, and international systems to provide comprehensive, coordinated Earth observations from thousands of instruments worldwide, transforming the data they collect into vital information for society. 
Improve decision-makers’ abilities to address key policy issues: GEOSS will help participating nations produce and manage information in a way that benefits both the natural and human environment.

## Integrated Ocean Observing System(IOOS)

- Gulf of Mexico Observation Building Blocks
- LA-MS-AL (and Western FL)** **

- NOAA established an IOOS Program to lead and manage NOAA’s IOOS efforts and support collaboration with national and regional partners
- Completed NOAA IOOS Strategic Plan (FY10-14) and 5 interoperability tests to baseline data flows and conditions for 4 thematic areas.
- Implemented a merit based competition to support regional IOOS development (FY’07 & ’08)
- FY07 funding for the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) to develop a data portal to enable centralized access to Gulf-wide observations
- FY08 Funding Outlook:
- $26.3M allocated for IOOS

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a coordinated network of people and technology that work together to generate and disseminate continuous data on our coastal waters, Great Lakes, and oceans.  
IOOS is our nation’s ocean contribution to an international effort called the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which is designed to continuously and comprehensively monitor Earth and transmit observations globally.
NOAA is one of the world’s premier sources of coastal, oceans, and Great Lakes data.  NOAA’s IOOS Program consults with our federal, industry, State, and local partners to coordinate and integrate our data to meet a variety of information needs across the country.  
The power of IOOS is synergy.  Integrated data provide a broad and synoptic view of our coastal, Great Lakes and ocean environments.  By working together to integrate data we increase our knowledge of complex environmental phenomena which enables us to make better and smarter coastal and ocean related management decisions.  
NOAA is implementing IOOS in partnership with regional data and information providers to meet priority national and regional needs for coastal and ocean information.  
For example, the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) is one of our regional partners.  In FY07 NOAA funded GCOOS to begin developing a data system and portal that will enable access to Gulf-wide observations to improve our ability to detect, monitor and predict such things as Harmful Algal Blooms and Gulf of Mexico loop current events which impact the environment and economy (e.g., fisheries, tourism)
The FY 2008 President’s Budget request included $16.3M for IOOS.   This includes $14M in new funding and a $2.3M increase for existing systems.
$11.5M to develop the regional component of IOOS; 
$2.5M for IOOS data management and communications (DMAC);
$1.0M for meteorological sensors for the National Water Level Observation Network; and 
$1.3M for operations and maintenance of oceanographic sensors (National Data Buoy Center).
The FY08 appropriation included $26.3M for IOOS; No funding decisions have been made.  However, NOAA is committed to continued funding for the competitively selected FY07 multi-year projects at levels that will support successful outcomes and to funding regional associations which are critical to integrating existing regional observing capacity and identifying regional priorities for ocean and coastal information.  This will enhance the NOAA partnership network at the regional and local levels and augment federal observing capabilities to improve resolution.
This year’s appropriation directed NOAA to complete a 5 year implementation plan for IOOS.  This plan will focus on NOAA, regional & interagency contributions to achieve better detection and forecast capabilities in 1) Coastal Inundation; 2) HAB forecasting; 3) Integrated Ecosystem Assessments; and 4) in maximizing state and regional investments in High Frequency Radar (HFR) stations to deliver near real-time surface currents.  NOTE:  If data from existing radars were integrated and made available to the public, the total number of surface current measurements would increase from ~100-200 per hour from in situ methods (e.g., moored buoys) to ~60,000 HFR observations per hour.   This increased capacity would cost in excess of $10B if monitored using moored buoys alone. 
We are making real strides to form a program with a clear focus on IOOS implementation, working in partnership with our IOOS partners.

## Hurricane Forecasting 

- NOAA Hurricane Forecasting Improvement Project (HFIP)—Why now?
- NOAA reduced track errors by about 50% over the last 20 years, but* *little progress was made to reduce the intensity forecast error
- 2004 and 2005 Hurricane Seasons
- Recent reports and recommendations
- Some Things The HFIP Plan Includes:
- Develop a balanced and prioritized 10-year project plan building on recent reports and recommendations
- Specify stretch goals and metrics
- Reduce average track and intensity error at Days 1 – 5
- Optimize Observing Systems for Research and Operations (modeling and direct use by forecasters)
- Improved forecasts of intensity and track will support storm surge/inundation forecasts

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

- Satellite imagery of Hurricane Katrina 2005

- Sea Surface Temperature of Hurricane Rita 2005

**Notes:**
Why HFIP and WHY now?
Hurricanes pose a serious threat to the nations coastal communities (show graphic from 1851 to the present).  In addition, we have increasing population and construction growth along our coasts (Miami example), and a large volume of tourists during the hurricane season
NOAA’s forecasters have reduced  track errors by 50% over the last two decades, but little progress in intensity 
Let’s consider the following recent events...
	Katrina, $81B insured loses
	Wilma, $20B 

Socio-Economic Impacts as people move to the coasts

Reports --
NOAA Science Advisory Board Report
NOAA Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Report
National Science Board Findings
2004 and 2005 Hurricane Seasons

## Geodetic Height Modernization in Louisiana

- NOAA works closely with the LA Spatial Reference Center (LSRC), located at LSU.
- NOAA is adding continuously operating reference stations (CORS) & conducting two height modernization surveys to assist LSRC in supplementing LA’s geodetic infrastructure.
- NGS is currently working with LSRC to establish guidelines and procedures for verifying the elevations of benchmarks in areas of subsidence.
- Partnerships are vital to successful implementation --outreach/education/capacity building are key elements of the Height Modernization Program.

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has worked with the Louisiana Spatial Reference Center (LSRC) since 2002, providing nearly $3M in Height Modernization grants.

NGS has assisted the LSRC with supplementing Louisiana's geodetic infrastructure by adding continuously operating reference stations (CORS), and conducting two major Height Modernization surveys in the southern half of the state, the second of which was in partnership with FEMA.

Outreach/education/capacity building is a key part of the Height Modernization Program, and university partnerships like LSU are vital to successful implementation.

NGS is currently working with LSRC to establish guidelines and procedures for verifying the elevations of benchmarks in areas of subsidence.

LSRC hosts the National Geodetic Survey State Advisor to Louisiana, Denis Riordan.

## Infusing the Latest Inundation Research Into Community Planning

- NOAA investing in next generation tools to improve coastal resiliency:
- Investigating a dynamic storm surge inundation model as part of next generation hurricane prediction system.
- NOS Gulf of Mexico Partnership Project enhancing Gulf Coast resiliency through improved data, models, tools, and methodologies
- Developing GIS-enabled mapping to translate information to the public and decision makers about coastal flooding impacts

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

- Hurricane Isabel maximum surge and wind at landfall.

- SLOSH Model

- Extent of Flooding in E. New Orleans  post Hurricane Katrina

## NOAA Partnerships with FEMA & USACOE to support Gulf Communities

- NOAA supports FEMA on vertical referencing issues. NGS provided new height relationships for 352 benchmarks in LA and MS.
- NOAA & FEMA are developing an Inland flood mapping pilot for mapping NWS flood categories
- NOAA coordinates with FEMA & USACE to use NWS flood forecasts models into HURREVAC
- NGS works with USACE to update levee heights
- NOAA developed the Storm Surge Zone Re-mapping Tool in coordination with FEMA

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

- Significant inundation events ravage coastal communities

**Notes:**
NOS National Geodetic Survey provided information through the height modernization program on new height relationships for 352 benchmarks in LA and MS region, and NGS state advisors provided ground assistance by working with FEMA contractors, USGS, and USACE in the collection of high water marks to make sure correct vertical referencing occurred, especially for the greater New Orleans area.  NGS will incorporate standardized USACE and FEMA data into the National Spatial Reference System to make final adjustments.

NOAA Hydrology program, CSC, and FEMA have been engaged in an inland flood mapping pilot for mapping NWS flood categories (minor, moderate, and major) through the FEMA flood insurance study and mapping process.  The goal is to produce inundation maps showing aerial extent of flooding for NWS flood categories and how they relate to the FEMA 1% chance flood zones.  NOAA has engaged with the FEMA mitigation branch, Map Modernization program on this effort. 

NOAA, through the Coastal Storms Program and CSC, has been coordinating with FEMA and USACE to incorporate NWS flood forecast information and FEMA flood map data into HURREVAC (hurricane evacuation decision support tool).

NOAA provided the data for FEMA to produce the new base flood elevation map.  MS LIDAR (image)

Background: Description of Storm Surge Zone Re-mapping Tool:
The Storm Surge Zone Remapping Model, an ESRI ArcGIS Model Builder model, was created as part of the Comprehensive Hurricane Preparedness Study (CHPS) project by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center (CSC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IV, and the Chatham County (GA) Emergency Management Agency (CEMA). The model's purpose is to map storm surge inundation for an area using two primary inputs, 1.) a GIS version SLOSH model output Maximum of Maximums (MOM) for a Saffir-Simpson category and 2.) a digital elevation model (DEM) for an area. The output of the model is a polygon shapefile that represents the extent of potential worst-case inundation from a Saffir-Simpson category hurricane. The model's methodology is based on the University of Georgia (UGA), Information Technology Outreach Services methodology for mapping surge zones based on SLOSH MOMs. This methodology was used by UGA to map surge zones for the Georgia Hurricane Evacuation Study in 2000 and 2001 using the SLOSH MOMs and a 30 m DEM. 

## Habitat Restoration Contributing to Resilient Communities

- NOAA in partnership with the State of Louisiana conducts large-scale habitat restoration benefiting ecological and human communities.
- Restoration projects focus on barrier island restoration.
- Restores fish habitat
- Reduces storm impacts on inland communities.
- NOAA works with local scientists and engineers to monitor barrier island performance and optimize design.
- Currently 10 barrier island projects, benefiting several thousands of acres, have been completed or in design.

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
 NOAA in partnership with the State of Louisiana conducts large-scale habitat restoration benefiting ecological and human communities.
Restoration projects focus on barrier island restoration
Restores fish habitat 
Reduces storm impacts on inland communities.
NOAA works with local scientists and engineers to monitor barrier island performance and optimize design.
Currently 10 barrier island projects, benefiting several thousands of acres, have been completed or in design.

Top Photo:   Location of most of NOAA’s island projects and their proximity to New Orleans and some of the most heavily populated communities in coastal Louisiana.  
Bottom Photo:   Construction of the recently completed Pass Chaland island project in southeast Barataria Bay.  This 400-acre project is located near the point of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall, and is helping to reduce storm impacts to the hurricane protection levee and numerous petrochemical facilities in the bay. 

## Northern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia

- The hypoxic zone in the N. Gulf of Mexico’s threatens valuable fisheries and habitat
- Like most hypoxic zones, this is fueled by nutrient enrichment
- NOAA has supported hypoxia research since the late 1980s to document and quantify its causes and impacts
- NOAA is partnering with the Mississippi River / GoM Watershed Nutrient Task Force to address the need to implement measures to control nutrient runoff
- A revision of the 2001 Action Plan is pending and is expected to be completed by mid-year

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
NOS has made > $25M in long term research investments in studying Gulf of Mexico hypoxia, starting with the NECOP program from 1989-1996, and continuing today with the Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Research program, NGOMEX.  

Several of you in this room spearheaded this research (note: LSU = Gene Turner, Don Baltz, Dubravko Justic; LUMCON = Nancy Rabalais, Ed Chesney), which includes a long-term monitoring program and modeling efforts to assess the causes and impacts of the hypoxic zone.

This is critical research that resulted in advances in understanding the relationship between Mississippi River nutrient loading and the hypoxic zone, and led to formation of the Miss R/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force in 1997, the CENR state-of-knowledge reports in 2000 (Report on right), and the “Action Plan”, published in 2001 (Report on left), which described a national strategy to reduce hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The Action Plan is currently undergoing a reassessment as part of its adaptive management approach.  The 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan is targeted for completion by mid 2008, and will maintain the Coastal Goal to reduce the size of the hypoxic zone to 5,000 km2 by 2015.  Forecast models sponsored by NOAA have estimated that reductions in N and P loading of at least 45% would be required to meet the 5,000 km2 goal. 

This is a critical period for managing the hypoxic zone, and NOAA is helping to coordinate activities between the Gulf Alliance, Gulf of Mexico Coastal Observing System Regional Association (GCOOS), Northern Gulf Institute, EPA Gulf Program, and NOAA’s Regional Team to facilitate management policy progress for the northern Gulf ecosystem. 

## Harmful Algal Blooms(HABs)

- Harmful Algal Blooms are a major threat to resources, public health and the economy in the Gulf of Mexico
- Impacts include respiratory distress in humans, poisoning of shellfish, deaths of marine mammals, mass mortalities of fish and development of hypoxic zones
- NOAA, in collaboration with local agencies and research institutions provides:
- Research funding to develop ecological forecasting tools to predict HAB events and understand causes
- Operational forecasting capabilities to inform local agencies regarding the likelihood of beach and fishery impacts
- Operational and funding support for effective local response to severe bloom outbreaks

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

- HAB in Florida (Red Tide – Karenia brevis)

- Forecasting Blooms by Satellite

- Slocum Glider is a research tool has a brevebuster sensor that detects K.arenia brevis

- Electron Micrograph of Karenia brevis

**Notes:**
More Detail on NOAA’s Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) Forecasts (HAB Bulletin)

The Forecast system for Karenia brevis (locally referred to as red tides) provides operational support for alerting the local communities to potential threats to tourism and fisheries.

Local communities identified the need to identify locations where impacts from algae blooms might occur.  This also prevents issuing unnecessary warnings for long stretches of beach. 
The HAB forecast was developed in cooperation with state and county agencies, citizens groups, and tourism bureaus.  The Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) Bulletin is a tool that alerts subscribers to developing blooms and changes in the location and extent of existing blooms.
The forecasting system relies on satellite imagery, field observations, and buoy data to provide the large spatial scale and high frequency of observations required to assess bloom location and movements.
NOAA is working with research teams around the Gulf to improve our understanding of HAB events and how they impact ecological systems and human health.  
Description of new species and isolation of new bioactive compounds.  This research describes and isolate into culture new species of potential harmful algae and provides scientifically sound foundation for the detection and monitoring of these species and their associated toxins.
Development of molecular probes for rapid identification of HAB species. NOAA’s primary aim in this project is to produce species-specific molecular probes that can facilitate the efficient and reliable detection of various harmful algal bloom species in coastal waters of both the U.S. as well as other countries.
Identification of metabolites for positive confirmation of intoxication. Biomonitoring methods for toxins addresses this need through development of simple to use methods to rapidly test urine samples on site for toxins as well as methods to collect and analyze blood for toxin metabolites and proteome biomarkers.
Purification of new compounds for possible pharmaceutical usage. Any new bioactive compound isolated is screened against a host of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer compounds for possible pharmaceutical usage.

Top - This photo shows a classic “red tide” (although this one is brown in appearance) that occurs almost every summer along portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast
Middle- Satellite Image -  Example of HAB forecast.  Red area along Florida coast is a Karenia brevis bloom.
Lower left:  Electron micrograph of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis
Bottom right:  Slocum glider. Carries several sensors one of which, the “brevebuster”, indicates the likelihood of the presence of the HAB Karenia brevis

## NOAA’s Role in Developing Marine Aquaculture

- NOAA is focused on creating domestic seafood supply to meet the growing demand for all seafood products. Additional domestic aquaculture can be an effective option to:
-  reduce dependence on seafood imports
- provide jobs for coastal communities
- increase regional food supply and security
- Since 1998, NOAA has funded close to $100 million in National Marine Aquaculture Initiative, Sea Grant, and congressionally directed projects to support aquaculture research.
- Candidate species
- Health and Nutrition
- New Production Systems for Closed Recirculating and Offshore Facilities
- Ecosystem Monitoring and Management
- Louisiana Aquaculture Opportunities for Growth:
- Off bottom culture of oysters and expansion of traditional oyster culture
- Hatchery supply for marine finfish fingerlings and shellfish seed stock
- Production  of water filtration systems for hatchery and other equipment

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
NOAA is focused on creating domestic seafood supply to meet the growing demand for all seafood products. Additional domestic aquaculture can be an effective option to reduce dependence on seafood imports, provide jobs for coastal communities, and increase regional food supply and security.  NOAA has a strong mandate to enable additional marine aquaculture within the framework of its responsibilities to protect the marine environment. 

Since 1998, NOAA has funded close to $100 million in National Marine Aquaculture Initiative, Sea Grant, and congressionally directed projects to support aquaculture research:
Candidate species
Health and Nutrition
New Production Systems for closed recirculating and offshore facilities
Ecosystem Monitoring and Management

Louisiana is already a leader in U.S. Aquaculture Production.  Businesses, aquaculture experts, and farmers are evaluating opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico to host projects for expanded coastal production of shellfish and open ocean marine aquaculture of finfish and shellfish.  Louisiana aquaculture has many opportunities for growth, including:
Off bottom culture of oysters and expansion of traditional oyster culture
Hatchery supply for marine finfish fingerlings and shellfish seed stock
Production  of water filtration systems for hatchery and other equipment

NOAA will continue to work with partners in other government agencies, research institutions, and the aquaculture industry to address environmental issues associated with marine aquaculture. 

## NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Project

- NOAA surveyed and mapped
- 263 nmi2 in coastal Louisiana
- 174 nmi2 in Lake Borgne
- 89 nmi2 in West Plaquemine Parish
- Additional surveys and mapping are planned under a second supplemental

- Side-scan sonar located 775 items
-  50% of items are estimated to be less than 5 feet from water’s surface (pose a potential hazard to navigation and fishing activities)

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**	**

- http://gulfofmexico.marinedebris.noaa.gov

- NOAA OCS Multibeam Sonar Image, Plaquemines, LA

- First Supplemental Survey Areas in Louisiana

**Notes:**
NOAA’s GoM Marine Debris Mapping Project:  Since October 2006, NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey and Office of Response and Restoration have been engaged in a survey of marine debris of the coast of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and dissemination of survey information on a dedicated website.

To date, the marine debris gulf project team has mapped 263 square nautical miles of the near shore waters of Louisiana, 174 SNM in Lake Borgne, and 89 SNM in West Plaquemines Parish. A total of 775 items have been found by side scan survey. Of the items that have water clearance data, approximately 50% have an estimated clearance of less than 5 ft from the top of the debris item to the water surface. The large number of debris items near the water surface presents hazards to large and small vessels. 

About 93% of the marine debris hits in Louisiana survey areas have volume data. Of these, the majority (60 %) of the items fall in the medium size category (10 to 100 cubic feet), with 23% in the large volume category (over 100 cubic feet) and the remaining 17% are in the small size category (volume less than 10 cubic feet). 

Overall, the Gulf project team mapped 100% of the 740 square nautical miles surveyed in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Over 5,000 marine debris items have been found to date. Of these, about 90% have water clearance data, of which about 50% have an estimated clearance of less than 5 ft from the top of the debris item to the water surface.

Post-Katrina marine debris has damaged vessels and gear, and continue to pose a significant risk to fishing and boating activities. A second supplemental was awarded to NOAA to conduct survey and mapping of near-shore waters in Louisiana. Survey and mapping under the second supplemental are under preparation and planning, and are  schedule to begin in March 2008. 

## Questions?

- www.noaa.gov

## Backup Material

## Ocean Action Plan FY 2008 Budget Increases over FY 2007

| Ocean Science and Research | $60  | $61 |  | Protecting and Restoring Sensitive Marine and Coastal Areas | $38 | $31 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ocean Research Priorities Plan Implementation |  |  |  | Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument | $8.0 | $8.0 |
| Coastal Decision Support | $5.0 | $0 |  | Penobscot River Restoration | $10.0 | $10.0 |
| Develop sensors for rapid toxin detection (HABs) | $5.0 | $0 |  | Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation | $15.0 | $8.0 |
| Ocean Circulation and Climate | $5.0 | $3.0 |  | Gulf of Mexico Collaboration | $5.0 | $4.9 |
| Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystems | $5.0 | $1.1 |  |  |  |  |
| Integrated Ocean Observing System |  |  |  | Ensuring Sustainable Use of Ocean Resources | $25 | $15 |
| IOOS-Regional Observations | $11.5 | $26.4 |  | Magnuson Stevens Implementation |  |  |
| NOAA-Data management and coordination | $2.5 | $0 |  | Reauthorization—new requirements | $6.5 | $6.5 |
| IOOS-Weather sensors on NWLON stations | $1.0 | $1.0 |  | Klamath River Recovery | $3.0 | $0 |
| IOOS-Ocean sensors on NWS buoys | $1.4 | $1.4 |  | Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs) | $6.0 | $1.2 |
| Vessel Time and Equipment for Ocean Science |  |  |  | Observers and Training | $3.0 | $3.0 |
| O&M for Newer NOAA Fisheries Research Vessels | $4.6 | $4.6 |  | Survey and Monitoring Projects | $1.7 | $0.3 |
| OKEANOS EXPLORER O&M | $1.0 | $1.0 |  | Aquaculture | $3.0 | $2.4 |
| Additional support for vessel crews | $1.7 | $0.0 |  | Marine Mammals and Sound | $1.8 | $1.8 |
| Vessel Equipment and Technology Refresh | $1.0 | $1.0 |  |  |  |  |
| Autonomous Underwater Vehicles for Hydrographic Surveying | $0.7 | $0.7 |  | NOAA Total | $123 | $107 |
| Mapping the Extended Continental Shelf | $8.0 | $8.0 |  |  |  |  |
| Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Fisheries Research Grants (mandatory funds) | $3.5 | $7.6 |  |  |  |  |
| Right Whales Research | $2.0 | $2.0 |  |  |  |  |
| Ocean Health Initiative | $1.0 | $2.9 |  |  |  |  |
| International Polar Year—Marine survey in the Antarctic | $0.6 | $0.6 |  |  |  |  |

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

- President’s
- Request

- Enacted

- Key: green = enacted above President’ request
-         red = enacted below President’s request

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
Support the President’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan ($123 million increases)
$38 million to protect and restore marine and coastal areas, 
$25 million to ensure sustainable use of ocean resources, and 
$60 million to advance ocean science and research ($9 million of this funding supports science infrastructure and is discussed under Critical Infrastructure Investments).

There is an additional $20M for NSF/DOI to Support Implementation of Ocean Research Priorities Plan (President’s Total Investment of $143M)

## NOAA Funding Trends

- *In FY’03, the House did not report or pass an SJC appropriations bill. The House-Introduced bill total is used here.

- *

- ($ in Billions)

- Understanding NOAA's Role in Addressing Oceanic & Atmospheric Issues

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
For the past 3 years NOAA has been funded at $3.9 billion.
The President's FY 08 request for NOAA totaled $3.8 billion.
FY'08 House CJS Full Committee Mark
  Provides a total of $3.950 million, an increase of $135 million or 3.5% over the FY 08 President's Budget 
  The House fully funds the President's Request for climate observations and research, satellite acquisition, and weather warnings and forecasts. 
  The House included an additional $73.3 million in funding for global climate change efforts, fully funding the President's requested increases and providing increased funds as well. 
  The Mark provides the necessary funding for facility modernization projects such as the Pacific Regional Center and the Weather and Climate Prediction Center. 
  The Mark also provided full funding for NOAA's Program Support account, which includes our Aviation and Marine operations as well as vital operational support services. 
  The House also provided $23 million in funding to replace climate sensors on NPOESS.
However:  The Mark proposed $14.2 million in reductions to NOAA Fisheries, which may delay implementation of NOAA's Aquaculture initiative and other critical fisheries research initiatives. 
FY'08 Senate CJS Full Committee Mark
  Provides a total of $4.215 million, an increase of $497.5 million or 10.4% over the FY 2008 President's Budget. 
  The Senate fully supported the proposed initiatives for the President's Ocean Action Plan, including improvements in fisheries and coastal management. 
  The Senate also fully supported the President's requested increases for climate observations and research as well as weather warnings and forecasts. 
  The Mark also provides the necessary funding for a number facility modernization projects in NOAA including the Pacific Regional Center, Weather and Climate Prediction Center, and the La Jolla Fisheries Facility. 
However:   
The mark proposed reductions to the GOES-R satellite, which will impact NOAA's ability to deliver this critical weather satellite on time and could lead to gap in continuity for GOES. 
The Mark also proposed reductions to NOAA's Program Support Account, which will impact NOAA's ability to provide basic administrative logistical support to our field offices.

## NOAA’s FY08 Priorities

- Sustaining Critical Operations
- Improving Weather Warnings & Forecasts
- Enhancing Climate Monitoring and Research
- Investing in Critical Facilities
- Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan

- Carbon Tracker

- Phased Array Radar

- Satellite Ops. Facility

- UAS Technology

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
Sustainable Critical Operations ($51.5M)
People and infrastructure
Satellites and global operations

Improving Weather Warning and Forecasts ($39.4)
Tsunami buoys (final 10 DART Buoys)
Hurricane Intensity research
Hurricane buoys (15 weather buoys)
Wind profilers

Enhancing Climate Monitoring and Research 
NOAA spends a total of $240M on Climate Related Activities.  This represents an increase of $14M over our FY07 Request, and a decrease of $11M from the FY06 Enacted
National Integrated Drought Information System
Ocean Current Circulation
Climate Research Supercomputing
Water Vapor Process Research
TAO Array Refresh 

Investing in Critical Facilities
La Jolla Facility Design	$3.0
La Jolla Staff Relocation	$1.0
Pacific Regional Center	$20.3

Support the President’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan ($123 million increases)
$38 million to protect and restore marine and coastal areas, 
$25 million to ensure sustainable use of ocean resources, and 
$60 million to advance ocean science and research ($9 million of this funding supports science infrastructure and is discussed under Critical Infrastructure Investments).

## NOAA Workforce

- Of NOAA’s 12557 employees:
**	**8292 have Bachelor’s degrees
- 	3638 have Master’s degrees
- 	1047 have Ph.Ds.

- 58% of NOAA’s Workforce are in scientific and technical occupations

- During 2009—2012 approximately 50% of the retirement eligible employees will retire

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
NOAA’s best asset is its people.  

NOAA boasts a well-educated and diverse workforce.  It is important that we continue to attract bright young people to the agency. 

Total NOAA Employees: 12557
Total with Degrees: 8292
	BA: 4654	
	MA: 2591
	PH.D: 1047

Retirement
While it is true that not all NOAA employees eligible for retirement will indeed retire, the trends of the past five years indicate that, once employees are eligible to retire:

25% will retire in their first year of eligibility.
50% will retire by the end of the 3rd year.
70% will retire by the end of the 5th year.

This means that by 2012 approximately 50% of the Retirement eligible employees will be gone!

## Regional Collaboration 

- Framework

- National Priorities

- Regional Collaboration

- Improvements in...
- Services for the benefit of NOAA’s customers
- Value and productivity of partnerships
- Stakeholder relations and support
- Internal communications and efficiency across line offices and programs
- A more visible and valued NOAA
- One-NOAA participation in regional priorities

- Understanding NOAA's Role in Addressing Oceanic & Atmospheric Issues

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**

Mary Glackin introduced you to NOAA’s Regional Collaboration effort in March, and I would like to provide you with a brief update on the current status of this effort and some of the planned focus areas.
You’ll recall that the primary goal of Regional Collaboration is to improve services for the benefit of NOAA’s customers, 
and that we have initially identified four national-level priority areas which will benefit from regional implementation.  These national priorities are blended with an understanding of unique regional priorities that allows NOAA to be responsive to regional needs.
NOAA has also established an initial regional framework as an organizing principle for identifying Regional Teams and regional NOAA assets

While matrix management helped NOAA work across its various line offices to better achieve the agency missions and goals, it alone did not allow NOAA to efficiently respond to regional and local issues nor provide products and services tailored to respond to these issues.

To address such regional concerns and opportunities, we set out to establish a regional framework to address the following programmatic areas:  hazard resilient coastal communities, integrated ecosystem assessments, integrated water resource services; and outreach and communications.

Why Regional Collaboration:
NOAA’s strength and capacity derive from strong collaborative ties among its programs and with its partners and customers.
Through improved outreach and communications, NOAA can improve awareness and delivery of our services and also develop them from the bottom up to ensure they best serve the needs of the public. 
Regional Collaboration will improve our value to customers by identifying and applying NOAA’s full range of capabilities, within and across regions. It will also allow us to design the best solutions to address geographically specific problems.
It is at the regional scale that NOAA can blend the place-based needs of customers and partners with its priorities and responsibilities as a federal agency.

How will Regional Collaboration Work?
NOAA’s leadership is committed to Regional Collaboration as an approach to engaging partners and customers and delivering NOAA services. 
A senior leadership team has been established to guide the efforts of regional and priority area teams as they engage with external partners to develop and implement strategies that address the following priorities in the regions: hazard resilience coastal communities, integrated ecosystem assessments, and integrated water resource services. 
This effort will use existing authority and accountability structures and does not entail changes to NOAA’s organizational structure.
Achieving NOAA’s goals for regional collaboration will require a multi-year effort with regular evaluations and adjustments.

How Was the Regional Framework Designed?
A NOAA-wide working group developed the geographic framework above as an initial, flexible basis for regional collaboration. The objectives were to promote “oneNOAA” thinking, provide an organizing principle to encourage cross-NOAA integration, and provide focus for targeted, effective outreach.
It designed the regional framework with several explicit criteria in mind: public perception of regional identity, alignment with existing NOAA capabilities and with regional partners, ecosystem-related boundaries, federal and state jurisdictions, size-manageability of regions, and the geographic dimensions of the programmatic priority areas.

## Ecosystem Approaches to Management 

- NOAA - Helping Build Resilient Coastal Communities

**Notes:**
As you can tell from this picture, just in the Gulf of Mexico alone we have many different sectors using and competing for natural resources (oil/gas, fishing, tourism), as well as unique and vulnerable habitats or species that we are mandated to protect (marsh/estuaries, nurseries, coral reefs, marine mammals).
 No one agency alone has jurisdiction over all of these but yet interactions between them must be taken into account when making management decisions.  
Moving towards a governance system that begins to take all of this and the cumulative impacts of human activities on the Gulf is the essence of EAM. 

What is an Ecosystem?An ecosystem is a geographically specified system of organisms (including humans), the environment, and the processes that control its dynamics. 

What is an ecosystem approach to management?An ecosystem approach to management is geographically specified, adaptive, takes account of ecosystem knowledge and uncertainties, considers multiple external influences, and strives to balance diverse societal objectives. Implementation will need to be incremental and collaborative.

Seven Characteristics of Ecosystem Approaches to Management:
Geographically Specified – 8 Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), defined by scope of problem or mgmt. objective
Adaptive – routinely and systematically evaluate information, monitor results, alter mgmt. strategies to achieve desired ecosystem condition
Takes account of ecosystem knowledge and uncertainty – collect and integrate ecological and socio-economic information, ID uncertainties and gaps and incorporation into ecosystem mgmt. decisions
Considers multiple external influences – takes into account relevant ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting marine and coastal ecosystems
Strives to balance diverse social objectives – develop a fair and transparent process working with stakeholders and to ID and evaluate options and tradeoffs to arrive at solutions that maximize societal benefits for current and future generations.
6) Incremental – stepwise approach that includes a systematic process of monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation to achieve desired outcome.
7) Collaborative – work with a broad range of partners and stakeholders to pool resources and knowledge and share efforts to achieve mutual goals.