Table of Contents

Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................3

Goal 1. Conserve habitat to support healthy fish, wildlife, and plant populations and ecosystem functions 

in a changing climate. ...................................................................................................................................5

Goal 2. Manage species and habitats to protect ecosystem functions and provide sustainable cultural, 

subsistence, recreational, and commercial use in a changing climate.........................................................8

Goal 3. Enhance capacity for effective management in a changing climate. .............................................10

Goal 4. Support adaptive management in a changing climate through integrated observation and 

monitoring and use of decision support tools............................................................................................14

Goal 5. Increase knowledge and information on impacts and responses of fish, wildlife, and plants to a 

changing climate.........................................................................................................................................17

Goal 6. Increase awareness and motivate action to safeguard fish, wildlife, and plants in a changing 

climate.........................................................................................................................................................20

Goal 7. Reduce non-climate stressors to help fish, wildlife, plants, and ecosystems adapt to a changing 

climate.........................................................................................................................................................22

Summary and Recommendations...............................................................................................................25

Appendix 1. Projects Reported by Federal and State Agencies that Contribute to Implementation of the

National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy ...............................................................27

Appendix 2. List of acronyms......................................................................................................................68

Appendix 3: Members of the Joint Implementation Working Group.........................................................69
1

Executive Summary

The National, Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy (NFWPCAS or 

Strategy) outlines goals and strategies for the coordination and implementation of 

climate adaptation and resilience efforts related to fish, wildlife and plants. The Strategy

was published in 2013 and federal, state and tribal agencies have made progress in 

implementing actions called for in the Strategy. Review of progress is overseen and 

coordinated by the Joint Implementation Working Group (JIWG), a coordinating body of 

federal, state, and tribal agencies that provides a forum to help communicate and 

coordinate climate adaptation. More information on the Strategy and its implementation 

is available at http://www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov/.

This Next Steps report provides a sampling of the many ways in which federal, state,

and tribal agencies are undertaking climate adaptation and resilience efforts in FY 2015 

and 2016 to implement the recommendations of the Strategy.

Although not an exhaustive inventory of effort, the report reveals certain features of 

reported implementation activities.

 There is a large body of work to implement the Strategy in action or planned for 

FY 2015 and 2016 by a broad spectrum of federal, state, and tribal agencies (15

agencies reported a total of 232 projects). 

 Although some of this work is collaborative (36 of 232 projects), most actions are

driven by a single agency (196 of 232 projects).

 Work is ongoing or planned in each of the Strategy’s seven major goal areas, 

with the most extensive work in the areas of identifying and protecting 

conservation areas (Goal 1, 45 projects); enhancing management capacity to 

deal with climate change (Goal 3, 46 projects); and developing and utilizing new 

tools to enable adaptive management (Goal 4, 46 projects).

 Fewer projects, but still a significant number, were reported in the areas of 

increasing knowledge and information on climate change impacts on, and 

responses of fish, wildlife, and plants (Goal 5, 35 projects); reducing the impacts 

of current stressors (Goal 7, 30 projects): and updating current management 

plans and programs to address climate change (Goal 2, 29 projects).

 The fewest reported projects are in the area of increasing awareness and 

motivating action (Goal 6, 21 projects).

 Most planned climate adaptation projects for FY 2015 and 2016 represent 

climate-smart approaches to doing natural-resource conservation. Fewer projects 

represent wholly new approaches to climate adaptive conservation.

The overall impression gained from reviewing this work is that many agencies are 

beginning to respond to the challenge of climate change, but largely independent of 
2

other agencies. Many agencies are working on the initial stages of climate adaptation 

that include planning (Goal 1), capacity building (Goal 3), and monitoring (Goal 4). In 

most cases, the work being reported helps implement the Strategy and supports its 

recommendations, but was not initiated in response to that Strategy.

Finally, there is much room for expanded efforts in the areas of active management 

(Goal 2) and public outreach/education (Goal 6) and for much closer coordination and 

collaboration among federal, state, and tribal agencies. The JIWG will continue to foster

that coordination/collaboration. Some recommended next step are: 

 The JIWG should develop annual reports describing progress in 

implementation of the Strategy to the National Council on Climate Change 

Preparedness and Resilience. 

 Agencies should, in cooperation with the JIWG, consider expanding their 

portfolio of adaptation efforts to address the strategic actions called for in the 

Strategy that need increased attention.

 The JIWG should actively engage JIWG member agencies and other 

stakeholders in subgroups that focus on advancing key programmatic or 

policy matters in support of Strategy implementation.
3

Introduction

The National Strategy is a framework for coordinated action by multiple partners over 

the next 5-10 years to reduce risks and impacts of climate change on America’s fish, 

wildlife, and plant resources and the people that depend upon those resources. The 

National Strategy was developed at the request of Congress by a unique partnership of 

federal, state, and tribal wildlife agencies. The National Strategy was released in 2013 

and a Joint Implementation Working Group (JIWG) was formed to promote its 

implementation, report on progress, and update the National Strategy as new 

information and developments warrant.

In 2014, the JIWG released a report, the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate 

Adaptation Strategy: Taking Action: A Progress Report (Taking Action), that provided 

case studies of agency climate change adaptation efforts that were already underway 

when the National Strategy was being developed and released. Taking Action showed 

that the types of actions recommended by the National Strategy are feasible and 

already underway. This Next Steps report is more forward looking and emphasizes a 

broader picture of the climate adaptation and resilience work currently underway or 

planned in the near future.

Next Steps provides a brief summary of some of the top actions that federal, state, and

tribal wildlife resource agencies are taking in FY 2015 and/or 2016 that help implement 

the goals of the National Strategy. This report should be viewed as a sampling of 

implementation efforts, not a comprehensive survey. It is meant to identify and highlight 

leading examples of where agencies are engaging, within existing resources, on climate 

change adaptation and resilience enhancing efforts. It is intended to help illustrate how 

these issues are being incorporated into agency programs and activities, identify points 

of contact for further information, and to inform participating agencies and partners of 

opportunities for coordination and collaboration.

JIWG member agencies were asked to identify the top three actions, activities, or 

projects (hereafter, projects) underway or planned in FY 2015 and/or 2016 that 

contributed in some way to implementing one or more of the seven goals of the National 

Strategy (Box 1). Fifteen of 21 JIWG member agencies reported one or more projects 

that contribute to implementation of the National Strategy. The total number of projects 

principally or directly related to climate change adaptation or natural resource resilience

reported was 232. Summary information on all projects is presented in Appendix 1.

The National Strategy established seven overarching goals and then outlined major 

strategies and actions for achieving each goal. The following sections sort the projects

reported by goal and list each under the more specific “strategy” to which they 

contribute most directly.
4

Note that the work described in the National Strategy is multi-faceted, broad in scope, 

often complex, and, in many cases, will take significant time to complete. Just because 

a strategy in the following sections has a project or two listed does not mean that 

strategy has been fully implemented. This information does, however, serve to highlight 

major areas where work is underway and those areas that currently lack attention.

Finally, after reviewing the implementation projects underway across agencies to 

support each goal, the JIWG identified actions recommended by the National Strategy

that need greater attention from the agencies. These projects are listed at the end of 

each goal section of this report.

The Strategy identifies seven goals to help fish, wildlife, plants and 

ecosystems cope with the impacts of climate change. These goals

were developed collectively by diverse teams of federal, state, and tribal 

technical experts, based on existing research and understanding regarding 

the needs of these valuable resources.

BOX 1

Goal 1

Conserve habitat to support 

healthy fish, wildlife and plant 

populations and ecosystem 

functions in a changing climate.

Goal 2

Manage species and habitats to 

protect ecosystem functions and 

provide sustainable cultural, 

subsistence, recreational, and 

commercial use in a changing 

climate.

Goal 3

Enhance capacity for effective 

management in a changing 

climate.

Goal 4

Support adaptive management 

in a changing climate through 

integrated observation and 

monitoring and improved 

decision support tools.

Goal 5

Increase knowledge and 

information on impacts and 

responses of fish, wildlife and 

plants to a changing climate.

Goal 6

Increase awareness and 

motivate action to safeguard 

fish, wildlife and plants in a 

changing climate.

Goal 7

Reduce non-climate stressors to 

help fish, wildlife, plants, and 

ecosystems adapt to a changing 

climate.

John Maxwell, USFWS Climate Change 
5

Goal 1. Conserve habitat to support healthy fish, wildlife, and plant populations 

and ecosystem functions in a changing climate.

An important first step toward adapting to climate change is to identify and 

begin protecting the best candidates for conservation areas that help 

safeguard species in a changing climate. The National Strategy envisions 

innovative opportunities to conserve additional habitat areas or to forge 

new connections between existing habitat areas.

Strategy 1.1: Identify areas for an ecologically-connected network of terrestrial, 

freshwater, coastal, and marine conservation areas that are likely to be resilient to 

climate change and to support a broad range fish, wildlife, and plants under changed 

conditions.

 Under Department of the Interior (DOI) leadership, federal land management 

agencies selected six flagship geographic regions in which inter-agency efforts will 

demonstrate a landscape level approach to developing place-based resilience 

strategies. The regions chosen include California’s Headwaters, California's NorthCentral Coast and Russian River Watershed, Crown of the Continent, southwest 

Florida, Hawaii, Puget Sound Washington and the Great Lakes region. This is one of 

the first actions specified in the Priority Agenda: Enhancing the Climate Resilience of 

America’s Natural Resources (see Appendix 1: 13-14)1.

 In response to climate change concerns and other ecological stressors, the Bureau 

of Land Management (BLM) has launched 14 Rapid Ecological Assessments 

(REAs) since 2010 to improve understanding of the existing condition of these 

landscapes, and how conditions may be altered by ongoing environmental changes 

and land use demands. REAs look across all lands in an ecoregion to identify 

regionally important habitats for fish, wildlife, and species of concern. REAs then 

gauge the potential of these habitats to be affected by four overarching 

environmental change agents: climate change, wildfires, invasive species, and 

development (both energy development and urban growth). In FY 2015 and 2016 

REAs will be completed for the Wyoming Basin, Yukon Kuskokwim, North Slope, 

Madrean Archipelago, Chihuahuan Desert, Southern Great Plains, and Central 

Yukon (1).

 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Migratory Bird Program is examining 

long-term data sets from hunting records across 49 states to assess potential range 

shifts in certain waterfowl species (22). This work will help determine if these bird

 

1

Numbers in parentheses refer to the Project with that number in the list presented in Appendix 1.
6

species will have sufficient conservation areas in newly emerging ranges resulting 

from climate change.

Strategy 1.2: Secure appropriate conservation status on areas identified in Action 1.1.1 

to complete an ecologically-connected network of public and private conservation areas 

that will be resilient to climate change and support a broad range of species under 

changed conditions.

 The National Park Service (NPS) is providing guidance to parks to assess unique

ecological systems based on geological, soil, and vegetation surveys, to, in-part, 

capture unique geophysical settings. By FY 2016 NPS will assemble a portfolio of 

priority conservation sites based on the results (27).

 The National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) is providing project funding for 

climate adaptation projects (8) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation 

Commission (FWC) is using its Florida Private Lands Partnerships to target property 

tax incentives for land dedicated to conservation (25). This effort will lead to a more 

connected habitat landscape to allow for species migration.

Strategy 1.3: Restore habitat features where necessary and practicable to maintain 

ecosystem function and resiliency to climate change.

 Many efforts are underway across the country by a variety of agencies to restore 

important degraded habitats to enhance the resilience of fish, wildlife, or plant 

resources and/or to enhance carbon sequestration services. Most are focused on 

riparian and wetland systems: some coastal (5, 7, 9, 20, 34); others inland (30, 33, 

36), or both (10, 19). For example, The California Department of Fish and Wildlife 

(CDFW) is restoring 950 acres of fresh and brackish water emergent wetlands that 

will be accomplished by reconnecting diked lands of Hill Slough in Suisan Marsh (5).

Strategy 1.4: Conserve, restore, and as appropriate and practicable, establish new 

ecological connections among conservation areas to facilitate fish, wildlife, and plant 

migration, range shifts, and other transitions caused by climate change.

 A number of efforts are underway to better identify and protect ecological 

connectivity. This includes a number of projects supported by the Landscape 

Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs, 11). NPS efforts to identify restoration 

opportunities that include corridor goals and objectives (21) and migration barriers, 

both internal and external to park boundaries (37), and the FWC’s Conservation 

Blueprint (24). In addition, a collaborative interagency (CDFW, BLM, USFWS, and 

the California Energy Commission) effort on Desert Tortoise management is seeking 

to assemble and manage a Desert Tortoise Conservation Area and Linkage Reserve 

System (4).
7

Key Actions in Strategy Needing Future Attention

 1.1.4: Establish inter-jurisdictional inventory of current conservation area and 

candidate high priority conservation areas.

 1.2.4: Work with partners at landscape scales to strengthen and maximize use of 

existing conservation programs, particularly the conservation title of the Farm Bill, 

conservation easement tax incentives, the private lands programs focused on 

endangered species, and other federal and state private lands incentive 

programs to conserve private lands of high conservation value, to enhance 

habitat values and maintain working landscapes under climate change.

 1.3.1: Develop and implement restoration protocols and techniques that promote 

ecosystem resilience and facilitate adaptation under a range of possible future 

conditions.

 1.4.2: Assess and prioritize critical connectivity gaps and needs across current 

conservation areas, including areas likely to serve as refugia in a changing 

climate.

.
8

Goal 2. Manage species and habitats to protect ecosystem functions and provide 

sustainable cultural, subsistence, recreational, and commercial use in a changing 

climate.

In order for climate change considerations to become mainstreamed within 

agency’s operations, climate change impacts and adaptation strategies 

must be incorporated into existing and new management and conservation 

plans for species and habitats. New management approaches are being 

developed as needed to ensure that healthy, robust populations of fish, 

wildlife, and plants will be maintained into the future. 

Strategy 2.1: Update current or develop new species, habitat, and land and water 

management plans, programs and practices to consider climate change and support 

adaptation.

 Many efforts are underway across the country by a variety of agencies to incorporate 

climate change into general and species-specific management or conservation plans 

and objectives for fish, wildlife, and the habitats on which they depend (38, 39, 40, 

41, 49, 50, 56). For example, conservation of habitat for Mohave Ground Squirrel 

may be undertaken outside its historic range if such areas have been shown to be 

suitable for occupancy in response to climate change induced shifts in the species’ 

range and/or distribution (38).

 Agencies are also beginning to utilize the principles of ecosystem based 

management and green infrastructure together to support climate adaptation (57, 

58). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Coastal States Organization, and The Nature 

Conservancy have partnered to develop the Systems Approach to Geomorphic 

Engineering (SAGE). SAGE is an initiative that brings together experts and 

practitioners from the federal, academic, non-profit and private sectors to pursue and 

advance a comprehensive view of shoreline change to slow, prevent, mitigate, 

and/or adapt to impacts to coastal communities from the consequences of climate 

change, linking ‘soft’ ecosystem-based approaches with ‘hard’ infrastructure 

approaches (58).

Strategy 2.2: Develop and apply species-specific management approaches to address 

critical climate change impacts where necessary.

 Efforts are currently underway to develop species-specific management approaches 

to help maintain healthy fish populations in the future and to avoid negative impacts 

of climate change. USFWS/Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation along with the

Department of Commerce (DOC), the National Institute of Standards & Technology
9

(NIST), and Montana State University are working together to develop dietary 

interventions to mitigate climate-induced alterations of rainbow trout gut microbial 

populations and protein metabolism in hatchery-raised fish (44).

 The CDFW is working with several organizations in California’s Central Valley to 

develop a reintroduction plan for winter-run Chinook Salmon that will create a more 

resilient population in the face of climate change (45). 

 Several agencies and organizations are utilizing risk assessments to design 

appropriate management actions and inform decision-making frameworks related to 

various species and habitats (60, 61, 62).

Strategy 2.3: Conserve genetic diversity by protecting diverse populations and genetic 

material across the full range of species occurrences.

 Multiple large-scale efforts are underway to protect genetic material and diverse 

plant populations. NPS is currently working to implement the Plant Conservation 

Alliance 2015 Action Plan (46). 

 An interagency collaboration, led by BLM, is developing a National Seed Strategy 

which will ensure the availability of appropriate seed to provide healthy and 

productive plant communities in a changing climate (47).

Key Actions in Strategy Needing Future Attention

 2.1.3: Identify species and habitats particularly vulnerable to transition under 

climate change (e.g., wetlands, cool-water to warm-water fisheries, or cool 

season to warm season grasslands) and develop management strategies and 

approaches for adaptation.

 2.1.5: Review and revise as necessary existing species and habitat impact 

avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and compensation standards and develop 

new standards as necessary to address impacts in a manner that incorporates 

climate change considerations.

 2.2.2: Develop criteria and guidelines that foster the appropriate use, and 

discourage inappropriate use of translocation, assisted relocation, and captive 

breeding as climate adaptation strategies.

 2.3.3: Develop protocols for use of propagation techniques to rebuild abundance 

and genetic diversity for particularly at-risk plant and animal species.
10

Goal 3. Enhance capacity for effective management in a changing climate.

The National Strategy recognizes that it is critical to enhance natural 

resource managers’ capacity for understanding information about climate 

change so that it can be utilized in developing effective management plans.

This may involve, among other things, developing new management tools,

professional training, and new ways of assessing information.

Strategy 3.1: Increase the climate change awareness and capacity of natural resource 

managers and other decision makers and enhance their professional abilities to design, 

implement, and evaluate fish, wildlife, and plant adaptation programs.

 There has been extensive progress among the federal, state, and tribal agencies in 

developing new climate change training classes focused on both existing and 

emerging tools. The aim is to help managers and decision makers learn and apply 

climate knowledge in their activities. This training is open to all federal agency 

personnel and partners and includes various topics. For example, USFWS’s 

National Conservation Training Center offers a climate change curriculum that 

includes courses on Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (83), the National 

Climate Academy (65, 87), Decision Analysis in a Changing Climate (83), Scenario 

Planning toward Climate Change Adaptation (83), Climate-Smart Conservation 

training (86), Communicating Climate Change (67) and Tribal Climate Adaptation 

Planning (89). As another example, the Bureau of Reclamation has been 

collaborating with the Climate Change and Water Working Group and University 

Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) COMET program to develop and 

pilot climate change training tools for federal and non-federal water agency staff and 

explore sustained delivery approaches (88).

 Existing training classes are also being updated to include a climate change 

component. The USACE has taken this approach with their Ecosystem Restoration 

Planning courses and the NPS is incorporating climate change considerations into 

their plant conservation and restoration efforts (74).

 BIA has added a geospatial analysis position to its workforce to increase its data 

analysis capacity in support of adaptation planning and to help identify best 

practices/planning scenarios for tribes (90).

 There are efforts underway to provide data that increases the capacity of managers 

to implement climate adaptation programs. For example:

o Various LCC projects are designed to provide information to land 

managers such as sea level rise modeling, including site-specific data and 

modeling results (72).

o NOAA is connecting with stakeholders, customers and users through 

regional, state, and local extension capabilities and activities to translate 
11

climate information. For example, their Regional Integrated Sciences & 

Assessments (RISA) program supports research teams that help expand 

and build the nation’s capacity to prepare for and adapt to climate 

variability and change (70).

o Tribes are working towards increasing information available on the web.

For example, there will be a "tribal landing page" added to the Climate 

Resilience Toolkit2 which will aid in the sharing of management and 

planning level information (91).

Strategy 3.2: Facilitate a coordinated response to climate change at landscape, 

regional, national, and international scales across state, federal, and tribal natural 

resource agencies and private conservation organizations.

 The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) is a network of 

individuals and organizations, each working on reducing vulnerability to climate 

change in their areas. The WICCI network covers a host of topics, including heat 

stress, waterborne disease, agriculture, wildlife, natural communities, stormwater

management, community planning, and more (78).

 NOAA has coastal monitoring and data collection tools, sanctuaries, estuarine 

reserves, marine protected areas, and other assets located in coastal areas around 

the Nation. Their Sentinel Site Program is currently looking at the impacts of climate 

change, focusing on sea level change and coastal inundation. This effort is about 

more than simply gathering data and directly engages local, state, and federal 

managers as part of the Cooperative team. By doing so, managers help ensure the 

types of science conducted, information gathered, and products developed are 

immediately used for better management (68). 

 The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) was part of a binational team that worked toward 

supporting a binational agreement (Minute 319) which supplements the 1944 Water 

Treaty with Mexico. This agreement will help increase resilience to climate change 

by preserving reservoir elevations in the Colorado River, providing environmental 

flows in the Colorado River Delta in Mexico, and facilitating investments to improve 

water infrastructure in Mexico (97).

 The challenges of working across multiple jurisdictions and across great geographic 

distances make highly migratory species a special case in terms of correctly 

assessing their vulnerability to climate change impacts. The USFWS is partnering 

with foreign countries in the development and prioritization of national 

guidelines/actions needed to assist migratory species to adapt to climate change

(100). 

 

2

Note on, and link to Climate Resilience Toolkit.
12

Strategy 3.3: Review existing federal, state and tribal legal, regulatory and policy 

frameworks that provide the jurisdictional framework for conservation of fish, wildlife, 

and plants to identify opportunities to improve, where appropriate, their usefulness to 

address climate change impacts.

 CDFW is establishing a program that will use cap and trade funds to establish a 

program titled Wetland Restoration for GHG Reduction. The new program and 

additional staff will enhance CDFW's capacity to support climate adaptation and 

mitigation activities (79). 

 The NPS is reviewing and revising their guidance on ecological restoration to add 

more detail on addressing targets and strategies to incorporate adaptation 

opportunities. They are also developing and utilizing guidance on how to address 

impacts associated with climate change, including those on low income, minority and 

Tribal communities, and in environmental compliance documents (104).

 The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is examining their 

cooperative agreement process to ensure that they are responsive to increased 

demand for collaboration and partnerships with others on climate change issues

(65).

Strategy 3.4: Optimize use of existing fish, wildlife, and plant conservation funding 

sources to design, deliver, and evaluate climate adaptation programs.

 BOR is currently prioritizing funding for land and water protection programs in FY

2015-16 that incorporate climate change considerations. For example, WaterSMART 

Grants provide cost-shared financial assistance to carry out water and energy

efficiency improvements, including projects that save water, increase energy 

efficiency and the use of renewable energy in water management, address 

endangered species and other environmental issues, and facilitate transfers to new 

uses (105).

 USFWS is developing policy in FY 2015-16 that will incorporate climate change 

considerations and best management practices for applying resilience criteria to land 

acquisition and financial assistance programs (106).

Key Actions in Strategy Needing Future Attention

 3.1.4: Develop a web-based clearinghouse of training opportunities and 

materials addressing climate change impacts on natural resource management.

 3.2.4: Collaborate with tribal governments and native peoples to integrate 

traditional ecological knowledge and principles into climate adaptation plans and 

decision-making.

 3.3.2: Review existing legal, regulatory and policy frameworks and identify 

opportunities to develop or enhance, where appropriate, market-based incentives 
13

to support restoration of habitats and ecosystem services impacted by climate 

change. Identify opportunities to eliminate disincentives to conservation and 

adaptation.

 3.4.1: Prioritize funding for land and water protection programs that incorporate 

climate change considerations.
14

Goal 4. Support adaptive management in a changing climate through integrated 

observation and monitoring and use of decision support tools.

Adaptive management for a changing climate requires inventory, 

monitoring, and observation to understand climate impacts on fish, wildlife, 

and plants. It also requires understanding what vulnerable, identifying 

possible future scenarios is, and developing management strategies for 

effective adaptation. There is significant activity underway in FY 2015 and 

2016 to address this Goal.

Strategy 4.1: Support, coordinate, and where necessary develop distributed but 

integrated inventory, monitoring, observation, and information systems at multiple 

scales to detect and describe climate impacts on fish, wildlife, plants, and ecosystems.

 A number of efforts are underway to monitor changing conditions on marine and 

riverine aquatic ecosystems. Such efforts include measuring responses to human 

impacts and management activities in Wisconsin on Cisco (107). California (CDFW)

will continue to monitor changing water temperature in the Sacramento River and its 

effects on aquatic habitat (108). FWC will continue to implement ongoing Seagrass 

Integrated Mapping and Monitoring and Coastal Habitats Independent Mapping and 

Monitoring Programs that coordinate statewide efforts to map and monitor critical 

coastal habitats in Florida (111).

 Various LCC projects will provide managers with the monitoring tools they need to 

evaluate climate change effects. For example, the University of California 

Riverside’s Center for Conservation Biology will create a sustainable resource 

monitoring framework that will provide empirical data identifying if and how climate 

change is changing the composition and vitality of Joshua Tree National Park (134).

 NPS will collaborate with the National Phenology Network (NPN) to build a system 

for monitoring phenology in National Parks (137).

 The North Slope Science Initiative is an intergovernmental effort, administered by 

BLM, to increase collaboration at the local, state, and federal levels to address the 

research, inventory, and monitoring needs to support decision-making about 

development and climate change on the North Slope of Alaska (110).

 NOAA partners will continue to track, assess and report on current conditions and 

impacts of climate and other stressors on the Nation’s marine ecosystems (National 

Marine Fisheries Service ecosystem status reports) and estuaries (National 

Estuarine Research Reserves System System-Wide Monitoring Program--112).

 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and partners will develop a 

Northeast climate and marine ecosystem dashboard to provide fisheries and other 
15

marine resource managers with improved information on past, current and future 

climate and marine ecosystem conditions including early warnings (119). 

 USFWS and partners will evaluate long-term waterfowl breeding population data to 

develop an estimation framework to develop models linking waterfowl population 

dynamics to climate change impacts on important weather and habitat variables

(129).

Strategy 4.2: Identify, develop, and employ decision support tools for managing under 

uncertainty (e.g., vulnerability and risk assessments, scenario planning, strategic habitat 

conservation approaches, forecasting, and adaptive management evaluation systems) 

via dialogue with scientists, managers (of natural resources and other sectors), 

economists, and stakeholders

 NOAA Fisheries have several efforts underway to assess and pilot methodology to 

ascertain vulnerability of marine protected species (e.g., marine mammals, sea 

turtles--114) and commercial and recreational fisheries (119).

 Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) Objective 3 states that, by 2017, Florida 

will integrate adaptation planning into a broader suite of habitats and species, using 

previous vulnerability assessments as a template for identifying threats. Plans 

include expanding scenario planning and/or vulnerability assessments, developing 

and funding on-the-ground pilot adaptation projects, and funding research projects 

that will provide the information needed to better manage habitats and/or species in 

response to climate change (123).

 In association with SWAP revision, CDFW is partnering with UC Davis to conduct a 

vulnerability assessment of vegetative communities across the entire state of 

California in 2015. The study will increase our knowledge of which communities in 

California are most vulnerable to climate change and why. (141).

 By 2016, USFWS and partners will provide an adaptive harvest management 

framework to Atlantic States for horseshoe crab harvest decisions and a modeling 

and estimation framework to evaluate changes in migration phenology and matchmismatch of migratory shorebirds and their food resources in Delaware Bay (127).

 Over the next year, NOAA will deploy new or expanded resilience tools including an 

expanded Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper for coastal states on the East Coast and 

Gulf of Mexico; a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment tool for Coastal 

Habitats; and a new performance support tool for GIS professionals working with 

agencies and organizations on natural infrastructure planning for coastal resilience. 

These resources and tools will be incorporated into the Climate Resilience Toolkit3

(120)(Wisconsin DNR is incorporating climate adaptation into Master Planning for 

 

3

https://toolkit.climate.gov/
16

the Driftless Area, a unique potential climate refugia located in the western and 

southwestern portion of the state. The Driftless Area planning team used two of the 

newest science-based stream models to help evaluate the suitability of current and 

future habitat conditions for brook trout, brown trout, and smallmouth bass (124).

 USFWS and partners will develop a survey sampling framework to estimate 

population size and distribution of breeding shorebirds, compare results to prior 

survey efforts, and provide robust information for future analysis of climate change in 

Arctic and boreal habitats in areas of high breeding densities (125).

 Over the next two years, NPS will hold scenario workshops on conservation in a 

changing climate in several national parks including Yellowstone National Park, 

Acadia National Park, and Cape Lookout National Seashore (142).

 NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) will explore management options for 

adapting to or mitigating climate change impacts on natural resources, protected 

species, and coastal and ocean habitats by developing climate change scenarios in 

ecosystem-based, forecast models, e.g. Scenario forecast models developed by The 

National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise 

Program and implemented through NOS Sentinel Site program (131).

Key Actions in Strategy Needing Future Attention

 4.1.5: Develop consensus standards and protocols that enable multi-partner use 

and data discovery, as well as interoperability of databases and analysis tools 

related to fish, wildlife, and plant observation, inventory, and monitoring.

 4.2.4: Define national standards and criteria to identify fish, wildlife, plants, and 

ecosystems most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
17

Goal 5. Increase knowledge and information on impacts and responses of fish, 

wildlife, and plants to a changing climate.

The design and delivery of fish, wildlife, and plant climate change 

adaptation programs will depend upon expanded and improved knowledge 

about the specific impacts of climate change on these resources and their 

capacity to respond and adapt.

Strategy 5.1: Identify knowledge gaps and define research priorities via a collaborative 

process among federal, state, tribal, private conservation organizations, and academic 

resource managers and research scientists.

 Federal agencies are working with partners to develop research plans and establish 

priorities for their areas of expertise and management responsibility. For example, 

NMFS is developing both a national Climate Science Strategy and Regional Action 

Plans to support management of marine and coastal resources (170).

 DOI’s Climate Science Centers (CSCs) work with regional stakeholders both on 

medium-term (5 year) priorities and annual investment decisions (183) and the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is adding five tribal liaison positions at CSCs to 

strengthen the capacity for dialogue with tribes (182)

 BOR’s Basin Studies and Climate Risk Analyses use stakeholder activities to identify 

adaptation strategies that help balance water supplies and demands given impacts 

from climate change (171). 

Strategy 5.2: Conduct research into ecological aspects of climate change, including 

likely impacts and the adaptive capacity of species, communities and ecosystems, and 

their associated ecosystem services, working through existing partnerships or new 

collaborations as needed (e.g., U.S. Global Change Research Program, National 

Climate Assessment CSCs, RISAs, and others).

 Understanding how carbon storage can be integrated into management so as to 

achieve both adaptation and mitigation is a key goal. NOAA is working to define the 

role of coastal and ocean habitats in carbon storage (143), and the USGS and 

USFWS have pilot projects to explore carbon storage as a component of restoration 

and protection of coastal habitats, including mangrove systems (215).

 Wisconsin DNR has research underway to explore the effects of climate change on 

common loons, snowshoe hare, and the timing of songbird migration. The songbird 

work takes advantage of citizen science to expand the data available (153, 159, 

160). 

 A White House Task Force – Coastal Green Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services,

co-chaired by NOAA and USGS, will identify knowledge gaps and research priorities 
18

for better understanding the ecosystem services and values provided by coastal 

green infrastructure (169). In addition, EPA is developing a National Ecosystem 

Services Classification System that will identify how these services provide direct 

benefit to humans (168).

 NOAA is launching a new research effort to understand the effects of climate change 

on fish stocks and fisheries in the U.S. Northeast Shelf and the Bering Sea to 

provide fisheries managers and industries with more robust climate-ready 

management strategies (157, 158).

 The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) and 

several CSCs have begun work on a toolkit for managers to support them as they 

anticipate and adapt to drought, with a focus on ecological impacts (154).

Strategy 5.3: Advance understanding of climate change impacts and species and 

ecosystem responses through modeling.

 The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is modeling future conditions on the west 

side of the Reservation to estimate the impacts from sea level rise and storm surge 

on the near-shore environment (151). 

 Wisconsin DNR is developing watershed-scale models to predict the occurrence of 

fish species in Wisconsin streams under current climate conditions and to project 

possible changes in fish species occurrence in response to global climate change

(164)

 LCC projects will use modeling to identify potential impacts of climate change on key 

habitats so that those impacts can be considered in the management of resources.

For example, several projects are ongoing to model sea-level rise along the Pacific 

Coast including at several National Wildlife Refuges (167).

Key Actions in Strategy Needing Future Attention

 5.1.5: Based on priority conservation needs identified by resource managers, 

develop national, and as appropriate, regional research agendas identifying key 

high level questions for which more fundamental research is needed to enable 

development of management applications or decision support tools; and facilitate 

consultation among major science funding agencies to maximize incorporation of 

these needs into funding opportunities and work plans.

 5.2.6: Identify pollutants likely to be affected by climate change and accelerate 

research on their effects on fish, wildlife, and their habitats, including contaminant 

effects that will likely increase vulnerability to climate change.

 5.3.5: Provide access to current climate data and ensure alignment with data 

management and decision support tools at agency and departmental levels.
19
20

Goal 6. Increase awareness and motivate action to safeguard fish, wildlife, and 

plants in a changing climate.

Many government and non-governmental entities are already working to 

increase awareness about the effects of a changing climate on natural 

resources. As these efforts go forward, it is important to remember that 

different approaches are needed with different audiences. Outreach needs 

to be varied, comprehensive, and persistent. 

Strategy 6.1: Increase public awareness and understanding of climate impacts to 

natural resources and ecosystem services and the principles of climate adaptation at 

regionally- and culturally-appropriate scales.

 The BIA, in partnership with USFWS, USFS, USGS, and the NPS are providing an 

Intertribal Climate Youth Leadership Congress for training and engagement to 100 

tribal youth June 28-July 3, 2015 (189).

 Subject to appropriations, EPA will expand activities in each of its 10 regional offices 

to assist small and disadvantaged communities in addressing environmental risks, 

building resilience and addressing the impacts of climate change (192).

 CDFW staff will identify opportunities to increase awareness of the various stresses 

to California ecosystems (including climate change) and to communicate the 

importance of addressing these stressors. Outreach objectives and associated 

actions will be outlined in the revised SWAP, which will be completed in 2015 (185).

Strategy 6.2: Engage the public through targeted education and outreach efforts and 

stewardship opportunities.

 The Wisconsin DNR and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) are exploring the 

use of citizen science programs for studying spring migration phenology of songbirds 

throughout the Upper Midwest. So far, they have found that milder climate conditions 

on overwintering grounds promotes early arrival to breeding grounds, which may 

lead to phenological mismatches between the birds and their normal food sources 

(e.g., insects, etc.; 197).

 Among other creative education initiatives, the NPS is working with the Garden Club 

of America to disseminate climate-related information and messages (200).

 The BIA is initiating a climate-impact photo contest for K -12 students (190).

Strategy 6.3: Coordinate climate change communication efforts across jurisdictions.

 NOAA has developed interagency websites, such as Climate.gov (http://climate.gov) 

and Digital Coast (http://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast) that communicate climate data 

and information to the general public as well as decision makers (191).
21

Key Actions in Strategy Needing Future Attention

 6.1.3: Identify and partner with key stakeholder groups (e.g., conservation and 

environmental organizations, hunting and angling groups, trade associations, 

outdoor manufacturers and retailers) to help develop and distribute key climate 

change and adaptation messages tailored for their interest groups as well as the 

broader public.

 6.2.5: Develop educational materials and teacher trainings for K-12 classrooms 

linked to state education standards on impacts and responses to climate change.

 6.2.8: Develop strategy to assess effectiveness of communication efforts and 

modify as appropriate.

 6.3.2: Engage employees from multiple agencies in key climate change issues by 

expanding existing forums for information sharing and idea exchange, and create 

new forums and channels as needed.
22

Goal 7. Reduce non-climate stressors to help fish, wildlife, plants, and 

ecosystems adapt to a changing climate.

Reducing existing threats such as habitat degradation and fragmentation, 

invasive species, pollution, and over-use can help fish, wildlife, plants, and

ecosystems better cope with the additional stresses caused by a changing 

climate.

Strategy 7.1: Slow and reverse habitat loss and fragmentation.

 The BLM, working jointly with the USFS, has developed a series of Environmental 

Impact Statements (EISs) to incorporate Greater Sage-Grouse conservation 

measures on the lands they manage. These Draft EISs were released to the public 

in 2013. The goal is to release the final EISs in the early summer of 2015, with final 

plans released before the end of FY 2015 (205).

 The US Coral Reef Task Force member agencies will implement Watershed 

Management and Conservation Action Planning and Implementation in priority 

watersheds in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and Hawaii in collaboration with 

multiple federal, state and local entities (206).

Strategy 7.2: Slow, mitigate, and reverse where feasible ecosystem degradation from 

anthropogenic sources through land/ocean- use planning, water resource planning, 

pollution abatement, and the implementation of best management practices.

 In 2014, EPA joined with federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and 

private-sector entities to form the Green Infrastructure Collaborative, a network to 

help communities more easily implement green infrastructure. The Collaborative will 

build capacity for green infrastructure implementation by providing a platform for 

national stakeholders to:

o Leverage joint efforts to promote the multiple community benefits of green 

infrastructure;

o Build and share knowledge around emerging green infrastructure 

technologies and policy issues; and

o Facilitate shared inquiry into the best ways to encourage adoption of 

green infrastructure technologies at the local level.

o Seven federal agencies support the Collaborative and these agencies 

have committed to specific actions to promote green infrastructure. Over 

the coming year, Collaborative members will work closely together to align 

public and private knowledge and resources to promote green 

infrastructure.
23

 Pollution Control Programs: EPA is continuing to implement a range of water 

pollution abatement programs in cooperation with States, including permits for 

control of pollution discharges, grants to states for reducing nonpoint sources of 

pollution, and grants to support financing of drinking water and wastewater facilities. 

Strategy 7.3: Use, evaluate, and, as necessary, improve existing programs to prevent, 

control, and eradicate invasive species and manage pathogens.

 The Federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and National Invasive Species 

Council produced a report, "Bioinvasions in a Changing World: A Resource on 

Invasive Species-Climate Change Interactions for Conservation and Natural 

Resource Management” in FY 2015. An interagency workgroup will define 

information gaps and provide recommendations on the intersection between climate 

change and invasive species and will provide ongoing updates to the report (232).

 USFWS will work with industry and other partners to promote and encourage 

environmentally responsible consumer behavior in selecting and owning pets. For 

example, reinvigorating the Habitattitude campaign will lead to fewer releases, 

whether accidental or intentional, of pets that pose a threat to native resources that 

are already stressed by climate change (211).

 USFWS will continue to develop peer-reviewed tools such as the Risk Assessment 

Mapping Program that maps and scores invasive species climate niches using 

projections of changing climate conditions. Data generated by those improved risk 

assessment models will allow the USFWS and partners to better identify high-priority 

threats and take more effective action for the benefit of trust resources. This 

information, which incorporates climate data, will continue to be shared with industry, 

the public, and state partners to promote and encourage environmentally 

responsible actions in the trade of harmful species and take voluntary and regulatory 

risk management actions (208).

 Invasive, non-native plants and animals degrade and diminish Florida's conservation 

lands and waterways. The State devotes significant resources to monitoring and 

managing these species. Efforts include Exotic Pet Amnesty Days, and the Python 

Challenge which seek to raise awareness and reduce numbers of exotic animals, 

and extensive ongoing programs to remove Hydrilla and water hyacinth from rivers

(210).

 The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project (CBNEP) aims to eradicate the 

invasive and highly damaging nutria from the Delmarva Peninsula, thereby 

preventing further erosion of the remaining coastal wetlands to preserve and protect 

the ecological and economic benefits they provide the Chesapeake Bay Region

(231).
24

Strategy 7.4: Reduce destructive capture practices (e.g., fisheries bycatch, destructive 

fishing gear), over-harvesting and illegal trade to help increase fish, wildlife, and plant 

adaptation.

 The State of Hawai‘i designated the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area 

in order to control the overabundance of marine algae on coral reefs and restore the 

marine ecosystem back to a healthy balance. In 2009, the State prohibited the 

killing, injuring, or harming of sea urchins and certain herbivorous fishes, including 

sea chubs, parrotfish, and surgeonfish in order to increase the local abundance of 

these beneficial fishes and sea urchins in the area. Feeding of these fishes is also 

prohibited in order to promote grazing. The State is continuing to monitor the 

impacts of this effort (214).

Key Actions in National Strategy Needing Future Attention

 7.1.9: Identify options for redesign and removal of existing structures or barriers 

where there is the greatest potential to restore natural processes.

 7.2.2: Work with farmers and ranchers to develop and implement livestock 

management practices to reduce and reverse habitat degradation and to protect 

regeneration of vegetation.

 7.3.3: Develop national standards for collecting and reporting invasive species data 

to facilitate information sharing and management response.
25

Summary and Recommendations

Conclusions 

Although not an exhaustive inventory of effort, this report reveals certain features of 

reported implementation activities.

 There is a large body of work consistent with the recommendations of the

Strategy in action or planned for FY 2015 and 2016 by a broad spectrum of 

federal, state, and tribal agencies (15 agencies reported a total of 232 projects). 

 Although some of this work is collaborative (36 of 232 projects), most actions are

driven by a single agency (196 of 232 projects).

 Work is ongoing or planned in each of the Strategy’s seven major goal areas, 

with the most extensive work in the areas of identifying and protecting 

conservation areas (Goal 1, 45 projects); enhancing management capacity to 

deal with climate change (Goal 3, 46 projects); and developing and utilizing new 

tools to enable adaptive management (Goal 4, 46 projects).

 Fewer projects, but still a significant number, were reported in the areas of 

increasing knowledge and information on climate change impacts on, and 

responses of fish, wildlife, and plants (Goal 5, 35 projects); reducing the impacts 

of current stressors (Goal 7, 30 projects): and updating current management 

plans and programs to address climate change (Goal 2, 29 projects).

 The fewest reported projects are in the area of increasing awareness and 

motivating action (Goal 6, 21 projects).

 Most planned climate adaptation projects for FY 2015 and 2016 represent 

climate-smart approaches to doing natural-resource conservation. Fewer projects 

represent wholly new approaches to climate adaptive conservation.

The overall impression gained from reviewing this work is that many agencies are 

beginning to respond to the challenge of climate change, but largely independent of 

other agencies. Most work is in the areas of land and water conservation or building the 

human and intellectual capacity for adaptation. In most cases, the work being reported 

helps implement the goals and recommendations of the National Strategy, but was not 

initiated in response to that Strategy. There is much room for both expanded efforts and 

for much closer coordination and collaboration between agencies and with partners.

The National Strategy’s Joint Implementation Working Group can and should play a role 

in overseeing and promoting implementation efforts and fostering

coordination/collaboration.

Recommendations

Based on a review of the information presented here, key next steps include: 
26

 The Joint Implementation Working Group should develop annual reports describing 

progress in implementation of the National Strategy to the National Council on 

Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience. These reports should also identify 

pressing policy matters and critical investments needed to support effective 

implementation of the National Strategy in the future. 

 Agencies should, in cooperation with the JIWG, consider expanding their portfolio of 

adaptation efforts to address the strategic actions called for in the National Strategy

that need increased attention. Some of these actions are identified at the end of 

each goal section of this report. Where necessary, agencies should include funding 

for such actions in future budget requests. 

 The JIWG should actively engage JIWG members and other stakeholders in 

subcommittees that focus on advancing key program or policy matters in support of 

the National Strategy.

 The JIWG should name a lead federal agency on an annual basis. The lead federal 

agency should, in cooperation with State partners in the JIWG, be responsible for 

co-chairing meetings, managing JIWG activities and reports, representing the JIWP 

to outside parties, and providing operational staff support to complement the staff 

support now provided by other JWIG partners (i.e.; Association of State Fish and 

Wildlife Agencies).
27

Appendix 1. Projects Reported by Federal and State Agencies that Contribute to Implementation of the National Fish, Wildlife, and 

Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy

#

Strategy

Goal

Strategy 

or Action

Title Brief Project Description Year (15 

or 16) Agency Contact

1 1 1.1

Rapid 

Ecological 

Assessments

In response to climate change concerns, the BLM has launched fourteen Rapid 

Ecoregional Assessments (REAs) since 2010 to improve the understanding of the 

existing condition of these landscapes, and how conditions may be altered by 

ongoing environmental changes and land use demands. REAs look across all 

lands in an ecoregion to identify regionally important habitats for fish, wildlife, and 

species of concern. REAs then gauge the potential of these habitats to be affected 

by four overarching environmental change agents: climate change, wildfires, 

invasive species, and development (both energy development and urban growth). 

In FY 2015 and 2016 REAs should be completed for the Wyoming Basin, Yukon 

Kuskokwim, North Slope, Madrean Archipelago, Chihuahuan Desert, Southern 

Great Plains, and Central Yukon

BLM ktripp@blm.gov

2 1 1.1

Wildlife 

Management 

Area Planning 

in Florida

Sea level rise potential inundation being included in new management plans for 

coastal wildlife management areas, such as Chassahowitzka WMA. The results of 

Sea Level Affecting Marsh Model (SLAMM) for CWMA show habitats that may be 

impacted. The low-lying coastal habitats, such as salt marsh and hardwood 

swamp, are projected to face the most direct and dramatic impacts, which may 

result in the loss of species using that habitat including migrating and nesting 

birds.

15, 16, 17

Florida Fish 

and Wildlife 

Conservatio

n 

Commission

Whitney.Gray@My

FWC.com

3 1 1.2

Designation 

of climate 

adaptive sites 

in the 

National 

Estuarine 

Research 

Reserve 

System

National Estuarine Research Reserve System site designation - continue NERR 

site designation process for Hawaii on landscapes likely to be climate resilient NOAA-OCM Roger.B.Griffis@noaa.gov

4 1 1.3

Desert 

Tortoise 

Management

Assemble and manage a Tortoise Conservation Area and linkage reserve system 

to provide for desert tortoise population and range change on the landscape in 

response to biophysical changes as a result of climate change, shifting vegetation 

communities, and desert tortoise populations. Actions will be taken in accordance 

with the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), which will be 

completed in 2015.

15/16

CDFW, 

BLM, 

USFWS, CA 

Energy 

Commission

Whitney.Albright@

wildlife.ca.gov
28

5 1 1.3 Hill Slough 

Restoration

Restoration of 950 acres of fresh and brackish water tidal emergent wetlands that 

will be accomplished by reconnecting diked lands of Hill Slough (in Suisun Marsh). 15/16 CDFW Greg.Martinelli@wildlife.ca.gov

6 1 1.3

Improve Best 

Management 

Practices for 

Culverts and 

Road Stream 

Crossings

Provide on the ground training for state and local officials in designing and 

developing best management practices for culverts and road crossings to promote 

habitat connectivity for aquatic organisms and provide resiliency in the face of 

increasing rainfall.

15/16 FWS/FAC dolores_savignano

@fws.gov

7 1 1.3

Lindsey 

Slough 

Restoration

Restoration of 150 acres of fresh and brackish water tidal emergent wetlands and 

69 acres of alkali wetlands that will be accomplished by reconnecting diked lands 

in Lindsey Slough (in the Cache Slough area).

15/16 CDFW Greg.Martinelli@wi

ldlife.ca.gov

8 1 1.3

National Fish 

Habitat Action 

Plan Project 

Funding

Provide funding to National Fish Habitat Partnerships for climate adaptation 

projects. 15/16 FWS/FAC dolores_savignano@fws.gov

9 1 1.3

Restore

coastal, 

marine and 

Great Lakes 

habitats

Restore coastal, marine and Great Lakes habitats to promote climate resilience 

through efforts such as Coastal Zone Management Area (CZMA) funded projects NOAA-OCM Roger.B.Griffis@noaa.gov

10 1 1.3

Wetlands 

Restoration 

for 

Greenhouse 

Gas 

Reduction 

(grant 

program)

Projects will result in the restoration of coastal/Delta wetlands and mountain 

meadows for the primary purpose of GHG emissions reduction, but with many 

ecological co-benefits such as improved ecosystem function and resilience. 

Project selection and implementation will begin in 2015.

15/16 CDFW Helen.Birss@wildli

fe.ca.gov

11 1 1.4

Identify and 

map priority 

areas for 

wildlife 

connectivity.

Some LCC projects will evaluate wildlife connections that may be important as 

climate change transitions occur. (For example, one LCC project will provide a 

quantitative and predictive analysis of landscape connectivity for 20 wildlife 

species over the Sonoran Desert ecoregion in the United States based on climate 

change and water type.)

15/16

LCC lead 

agencies 

(FWS, NPS, 

BOR, 

BLM,FS)

elsa_haubold@fws

.gov

12 1 1.1.1

BLM Healthy 

Lands 

Initiative 

Focal Areas

The BLM will use a landscape approach to identify and prioritize focal areas for 

treatments that are intended to maintain, improve, or restore range, aquatic, or 

forest health; connectivity; or resilience to climate change, fire, and other change 

agents.

15/16/17+ BLM kprentic@blm.gov 

ktripp@blm.gov

13 1 1.1.1

Identify and 

map high 

priority areas 

Within 6 months, Federal agencies working to address ecosystem management 

issues through LCCs and other multi-stakeholder bodies will work with partners to 

select flagship geographic regions for which they will identify priority areas for 

15

LCC lead 

agencies 

(FWS, NPS, 
29

for 

conservation.

conservation, restoration, or other investments to build resilience in vulnerable 

regions, enhance carbon storage capacity, and support management needs. 

Within 24 months, these agencies and their partners will have identified and 

mapped the initial list of priority areas within each of the selected geographic 

landscapes or regions.

BOR, 

BLM,FS)

14 1 1.1.1

Identify and 

map high 

priority areas 

for 

conservation.

Identify and map priority areas for conservation in flagship geographic regions. 

(Several efforts are already ongoing, including the Southeast Conservation 

Adaptation Strategy (SECAS), a collaboration to define the 2060 conservation 

landscape needed to support fish, wildlife and other natural and cultural resources 

in the Southeastern US and Caribbean.)

15/16/17

LCC lead 

agencies 

(FWS, NPS, 

BOR, 

BLM,FS)

elsa_haubold@fws

.gov

15 1 1.1.1

National 

Landscape 

Conservation 

System

These lands are managed as an integral part of the larger landscape, in 

collaboration with the neighboring landowners and surrounding communities. The 

management objectives are to maintain biodiversity and promote ecological 

connectivity and resilience in the face of climate change.

BLM sbutts@blm.gov/ 

ktripp@blm.gov

16 1 1.1.1

SWD District 

Reservoir 

Master Plan 

Updates.

Master Plan Updates will include climate adaptation and are scheduled for 

Tenkiller, Fort Gibson, John Redmond, Keystone, Pat Mayes, Robert S. Kerr, 

Texoma, Whitney, Sam Rayburn, Lavon, Canyon, Addicks & Barker, Wallisville, 

Beaver, Table Rock, and Bull Shoals Reservoirs.

15/16 USACE David.K.White@us

ace.army.mil

17 1

1.1.1, 

1.2.1

Joint venture 

activities

Work with various joint ventures on climate adaptation related activities for 

waterbird habitats. 15/16 Joint Ventures

guthrie_zimmerma

n@fws.gov

18 1

1.1.1, 

1.2.1,1

.3.1

Neotropical 

Migratory Bird 

Conservation 

Act (NMBCA)

Grant and matching funds support projects aimed at promoting the conservation 

of migratory birds and will include climate adaptation.

Division of 

Bird Habitat 

Conservatio

n

Leakhena_Au@fw

s.gov

19 1

1.1.1, 

1.2.2, 

1.3.1, 

1.4.1

North 

American 

Wetlands 

Conservation 

Act Grants 

(NAWCA)

Grant and matching funds support projects aimed at protecting, restoring, and 

enhancing wetland and associated upland migratory bird habitat and will include 

climate adaptation

15/16

Division of 

Bird Habitat 

Conservatio

n

Leakhena_Au@fw

s.gov

20 1 1.1.2

Climate 

Ready 

Estuaries 

Program; part 

of the 

National 

Estuaries 

Program

The EPA Climate Ready Estuaries Program is providing grant assistance to 

support protection and restoration programs in 28 critical estuaries around the 

country, including climate adaptation projects and revision of existing 

Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans for the estuaries to include 

climate adaptation elements.

15/16

EPA 

National 

Estuaries 

Program 

Estuaries

Craghan.Michael

@epa.gov

21 1 1.1.3 Restoration 

opportunities 

Identify significant degraded sites for restoration actions that implement corridor 

development goals and objectives 15/16 NPS / NIFC cat_hawkins_hoffman@nps.gov for 
30

for corridor 

enhancement 

on NPS lands

Eckert, Schwab

22 1 1.1.3

Assessing 

species range 

Shifts

Examine long term data sets from hunting records across 49 states to assess 

potential range shifts in certain waterfowl species as a result of climate change 15/16

Division of 

Migratory 

Bird 

Management

Khristi_Wilkins@fw

s.gov; 

Eleanora_babij@f

ws.gov

23 1 1.1?

Revise Forest 

Plans: 

Implement 

2012 

Planning Rule

Revisions to include climate adaptation

Ongoing 

until all 

LMP’s 

are 

revised

Forest 

Service

24 1 1.2.1

Florida's 

Cooperative 

Conservation 

Blueprint

A multi-partner strategic conservation process continuing since 2006. The goal is 

to conserve wildlife, identify important interconnected wildlife habitats, and 

maintain a sustainable economy and a wide range of agriculture and nature-based 

opportunities. Components include private landowner incentives programs, and 

the development of a payment for ecosystem services program specifically for 

conservation of gopher tortoise habitat on private lands.

Florida Fish 

and Wildlife 

Conservatio

n 

Commission

Brian.Branciforte@

myfwc.com

25 1 1.2.1

Florida 

Private Lands 

Partnerships

The Landowner Assistance Program works cooperatively with private landowners 

and managers to conserve wildlife and habitat while keeping land productive for 

agriculture and recreation. The program offers habitat management workshops, 

and technical assistance. Property tax incentives have been developed for land 

that is dedicated wholly or in part, in perpetuity, to conservation. This program is 

being used to protect important corridors.

Florida Fish 

and Wildlife 

Conservatio

n 

Commission

Scott.Sanders@m

yfwc.com

26 1 1.2.2

Establish

Healthy 

Watersheds 

Grant 

Consortium

EPA will establish a Healthy Watersheds Consortium to accelerate and expand 

the strategic protection of healthy freshwater ecosystems and their watersheds 

across the country. EPA expects to issue a cooperative agreement to fund a 

single grantee to manage the Healthy Watersheds Consortium grant program and 

issue subawards on a competitive basis.

15

EPA Heathy 

Watersheds 

Program

Gabanski.Laura@

epa.gov

27 1 1.2.2

Identify 

unique

geophysical 

settings within 

NPS units

Provide guidance to parks to assess unique "patch" ecological systems based on 

geological, soil, and vegetation surveys (or systematic review of surveys done 

from CO). Assemble a portfolio of priority conservation sites based on the results.

16 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Brown, Eckert, 

Heise

28 1 1.2.5

Extend NPS 

Natural 

Resource 

Adaptation 

support to 

NPS 

Work with the NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to 

identify priority adaptation opportunities and practices. 15/16 NPS-NRSS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert, Drees
31

Partnership 

stewardship

29 1 1.2.5

Implementatio

n of E.O. 

13186

Develop MOU's with Federal agencies such as DOD to promote conservation of 

migratory birds including managing habitat for climate adaptation. 15/16

Division of 

Migratory 

Bird 

Management

Charisa_Morris@F

WS.gov

30 1 1.3.1

River 

Restoration 

across the 

West

Reclamation has numerous river restoration and enhancement efforts ongoing 

across the West that has resulted in a broad array of benefits to fish and wildlife 

resources and their habitats. A number of ongoing restoration programs have 

begun to incorporate climate change modeling results into their restoration 

planning (e.g., San Juan River Fish Recovery Program and the San Joaquin River 

Restoration Program).

15/16 BOR acoykendall@usbr.

gov

31 1 1.3.2

Comprehensi

ve 

Everglades 

Restoration 

Plan (CERP)

Restore more natural water flow, depth and duration within the Greater 

Everglades Ecosystem to maintain water levels in a changing climate. 15/16

USACE, 

FWS, NPS, 

SFWMD

Kimberley.A.Taplin

@usace.army.mil

32 1 1.3.2

Dike Notching 

to improve 

habitat in the 

Lower 

Mississippi 

River.

Notches reduce sedimentation in old chute channels and behind sandbars and 

maintain flowing water conditions at lower stages in secondary channels. 

Additionally, low water stages flowing through a notch result in a diversity of 

current velocities at the notch that increase substrate diversity (both in 

composition and topography/

bathymetry), thereby increasing aquatic habitat and aquatic species diversity 

downstream of the 

15/16 USACE gary.l.young@usa

ce.army.mil

33 1 1.3.2

SWD 

Ecosystem 

Restoration 

Project 

Planning and 

RESTORE 

Act proposal 

submittal

Projects will restore wetlands, riparian forest, native vegetation and ESA critical 

habitat. Most projects are in feasibility stage and include Arkansas River Corridor 

(SWT), Crow Creek (SWT), and Brownsville Resacas (SWG). Potential 

RESTORE Act funding may be obtained for Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) 

Arkansas whooping crane critical habitat protection and development proposal

15/16 USACE Robert.W.Heinly@

usace.army.mil

34 1 1.3.3

Identify and 

support key 

restoration

projects that 

can increase 

Identify and support key restoration projects that can increase coastal blue carbon 

sinks. 15/16

FWS 

Coastal 

Program and 

NMFS Office 

of Habitat 

Chris_darnell@fws

.gov and 

roger.b.griffis@noa

a.gov
32

coastal blue 

carbon sinks.

Conservatio

n

35 1 1.3.3

Mississippi 

Coastal 

Improvement

s Program 

(MsCIP), 

Comprehensi

ve Barrier 

Island 

Restoration

Reduce erosion of Mississippi Sound barrier islands to conserve natural resources

on the islands 15/16 USACE, NPS

Susan.I.Rees@us

ace.army.mil

36 1 1.3.3

Restoring 

brush habitat 

along 

waterways

Brownsville Resacas Ecosystem Restoration Project (SWG) will restore brush 

habitat along waterways as corridors for endangered jaguarundi and ocelot in 

south Texas; project in feasibility planning stage.

15/16 USACE Yvonne.L.Haberer

@usace.army.mil

37 1 1.4?

Assessing 

National Park 

connectivity 

barriers

Work with NPS Facilities programs to assess migration barriers internal to and 

beyond park boundaries 15/16 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Plumb, Leslie, 

Hardy

38 2 2.1

Mohave 

Ground 

Squirrel 

Management

Conservation of suitable habitat, within or outside of the historic range of Mohave 

ground squirrel that has shown to be suitable for occupancy in the event of range 

and distribution shifts in response to climate change (identified in Desert 

Renewable Energy Conservation Plan -- DRECP). Actions will be taken in 

accordance with the DRECP, which is scheduled for completion in 2015.

15/16

CDFW, 

BLM, 

USFWS, CA 

Energy 

Commission

Whitney.Albright@

wildlife.ca.gov

39 2 2.1 Population 

regulation

Each year help inform harvest regulations for waterfowl in the face of changing 

climate and 15/16

Division of 

Migratory 

Bird 

Management

40 2 2.1

Update 

current or 

develop new 

management 

plans, 

programs and 

practices

Incorporate climate change considerations into ongoing National Estuarine 

Research Reserve System (NERRS) Management Plan updates NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@noaa.gov

41 2 2.1

Update 

current or 

develop new 

management 

plans, 

Incorporate climate change considerations into fisheries management 

assessments and decision-making 15/16 NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@noaa.gov
33

programs and 

practices

42 2 2.1

Update 

current or 

develop new 

management 

plans, 

programs and 

practices

Incorporate climate change considerations into Endangered Species Act 

consultations and decision-making 15/16 NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@noaa.gov

43 2 2.1

Update 

current or 

develop new 

management 

plans, 

programs and 

practices

Complete coastal vulnerability assessments NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

44 2 2.2

Development 

of Dietary 

Interventions 

to Mitigate 

ClimateInduced 

Alterations of 

Rainbow 

Trout Gut 

Microbial 

Populations 

and Protein 

Metabolism

Benefits of determining the shifts in gut microbial communities and global 

metabolic shifts in response to climate change will allow refinement of dietary 

formulations that both meet the metabolic demands of rainbow trout and limit their 

environmental impact from metabolic waste.

15/16/17

FWS/FAC 

with Dept. of 

Commerce/

Nat'l Institute 

of Standards 

& 

Technology 

& Montana 

State Univ

dolores_savignano

@fws.gov

45 2 2.2

Reintroductio

n of Chinook 

Salmon

Development of a reintroduction plan for winter-run Chinook salmon is currently 

underway and will be completed within the next two years. Implementation of the 

plan will help to maintain a robust population and enhance resiliency in the face of 

climate change.

15/16

CDFW, 

several 

agencies in 

Central 

Valley

Kevin.Shaffer@wil

dlife.ca.gov

46 2 2.3

Implement 

Plant 

Conservation 

Alliance 

(PCA) 2015 

Action Plan

With the renewal of the Federal Partner for Plant Conservation MOU, these items 

are present in draft action items for the agencies (and several hundred NGO 

partners). In addition, look at other MOUs to work with organization on such 

issues as Chestnuts, etc.

15 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert
34

47 2 2.3 National Seed 

Strategy

An interagency collaboration, led by BLM, which will ensure the availability of 

appropriate seed to provide healthy and productive plant communities in a 

changing climate through a national network.

15,16,17 BLM polwell@blm.gov/ 

ktripp@blm.gov

48 2

2.1 & 

1.1

Integration of 

NFWPCAS 

Recommende

d Actions with 

Environmenta

l Stewardship 

Program on 

USACEManaged 

Lands

Use the available inventory of the 432 (approx. 12 million acres total) USACEowned lands (land use, acreage of various habitat types, management actions, 

etc.) as well activity and management information to analyze how stewardship 

activities and priority work tasks might align with the recommendations presented 

in the NFWPCAS.

15 USACE

janet.a.cushing@u

sace.army.mil; 

jeff.krause@usace

.army.mil

49 2 2.1.1

Adjusting 

adaptive 

harvest 

management 

decision 

frameworks in 

response to 

climate 

change

Through the double-loop learning process of adaptive management, formally 

consider how climate change impacts harvest management objectives, regulatory 

actions, and system models used to predict waterfowl population responses to 

harvest regulations and environmental change.

15/16 USFWS/DM

BM/PHAB

scott_boomer@fw

s.gov

50 2 2.1.1

Incorporate 

climate 

change 

consideration

s into new 

and future 

revisions of 

management 

plans.

Developing and revising Bird Conservation Plans to include climate change. 15/16

Division of 

Migratory 

Bird 

Management

FWS NCTC

51 2 2.1.1

Support 

adaptation

planning

Direct support for Tribes to develop strategic climate adaptation plans leading to 

updated management planning. 15/16 BIA sean.hart@bia.gov

52 2

2.1.1 

& 

2.1.2

Incorporate 

carbon 

sequestration 

and nutrient 

cycling 

information 

into 

Ecosystem services, specifically carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling, will be 

quantified to show the impacts/benefits for selected St. Johns Bayou/New Madrid 

Floodway project alternatives.

15/16 USACE gary.l.young@usa

ce.army.mil
35

Mississippi 

Valley 

Division 

feasibility 

reports.

53 2 2.1.2

Support 

Habitat 

Response

Provide more functional guidance to managers that more clearly defines terms

about climate adaptation and climate change. 15/16 BRMD, CCRP

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert, 

OEO,Fisichelli, 

Schuurman

54 2

2.1.2 

and 

2.1.7

Develop best 

practices for 

applying 

resilience 

criteria to 

program 

management 

practices, 

training, 

investments, 

etc.

Adopt Climate Smart principles for program management, investments, etc., via 

formulation of FWS policy 15

FWS/Climat

e Adaptation 

Network

mark_shaffer@fws

.gov

55 2 2.1.4

Maintain Fire 

Adapted 

Communities 

under shifting 

climate 

regimes

Develop adaptive management frameworks to prescribed fire manipulations to 

assess potential manipulations in fire treatments to fire adapted communities 16 BRMD, NIFC

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Benson, Eckert, 

Brown, Cook

56 2 2.1.4

Picayune 

Strand 

Restoration 

Project, a 

Comprehensi

ve 

Everglades 

Restoration 

Plan (CERP) 

project

Restore natural hydrology within a portion of the Big Cypress ecosystem, 

implement a more natural fire regime, control invasive and nuisance plant species, 

provide connecting habitat for the Florida panther

15/16

USACE, 

FWS, 

SFWMD, FL 

Division of 

Forestry

Lacy.E.Shaw@usa

ce.army.mil

57 2 2.1.8

Green 

Infrastructure 

Collaborative

EPA has established a "Green Infrastructure Collaborative" to help communities 

rapidly adopt "green infrastructure" practices. The collaborative will provide 

technical assistance to at least 25 communities in FY 15.

15/16 EPA Kloss.Christopher

@epa.gov
36

58 2

2.1.8 

& 

2.1.9

Systems 

Approach to 

Geomorphic 

Engineering 

(SAGE)

SAGE is an initiative that brings together experts and practitioners from the 

federal, academic, non-profit and private sectors to pursue and advance a 

comprehensive view of shoreline change to slow/prevent/mitigate/adapt impacts 

to coastal communities from the consequences of climate change, linking ‘soft’ 

ecosystem-based approaches with ‘hard’ infrastructure approaches.

15

USACE, 

NOAA, 

Coastal 

States 

Organization

, TNC

charles.b.chesnutt

@usace.army.mil; 

marriah.s.abellara

@usace.army.mil

59 2 2.1.9

Decision 

Analysis for 

Coastal 

Wetland 

Management 

and 

Embracing 

Uncertainty 

about Sea 

Level Rise

Construct a decision support tool for coastal wetland managers in Delaware to 

identify optimal management actions and conservation investments for coastal 

managed wetlands while accounting for uncertainty related to sea level rise 

impacts on wetland habitats.

15/16 DNREC, 

FWS

james_lyons@fws.

gov

60 2 2.2.1

Design and 

implement 

management 

actions to 

address risks 

identified in 

vulnerability 

or risk 

assessments.

LCC projects will use data gathered in risk assessments to design and implement 

appropriate management actions for initial species and habitats of concern. 

(Ongoing efforts include identifying and prioritizing conservation actions to 

enhance resilience under a changing climate for Yellowstone cutthroat trout.)

15/16

LCC lead 

agencies 

(FWS, NPS, 

BOR, 

BLM,FS)

elsa_haubold@fws

.gov

61 2 2.2.1

Integrate 

multi-stressor 

assessments

Will modify EPA's Eco-Risk Framework to incorporate climate impacts into a multistressor assessment of SHEN forests. Use vulnerability and risk assessments to 

design and implement management actions at species to ecosystem scales.

15/16 BRMD, 

ARD, CCRP

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert , Hogan, 

Blett, Fisichelli, 

Schuurman

62 2 2.2.2

Develop 

criteria and 

guidelines 

that foster the 

appropriate 

use, and 

discourage 

inappropriate 

use of 

translocation, 

assisted 

Work with revived interagency team to identify risk assessment factors and 

probabilities as precursor to a decision making framework. Host 

synthesis/analysis/framework development through USGS Powell Center, Fort 

Collins CO

15/16

NPS, 

USFWS, 

USFS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

CCRP, BRD, 

(USFS, FWS, etc.)
37

relocation, 

and captive 

breeding as 

climate 

adaptation 

strategies. 

Guidance on 

Active 

population 

movements

63 2 2?

Promoting 

biological 

carbon 

sequestration

The USDA and DOI are both working on identifying actions that promote biological 

carbon sequestration. The USDA is proposing voluntary actions that may be taken 

in forestry (both public and private), agriculture, livestock management, and others 

that could lead to substantial enhancement of C sequestration. The DOI is 

currently investigating how existing programs, policies, and activities may be used 

to increase sequestration. It has established three task teams to explore 

opportunities and constraints for carbon-related efforts for 1) Conservation of 

Sensitive Lands, 2) Stewardship of Federal Forests and Grasslands, and 3) 

Energy Generation and Efficiency

USGS Bradley Reed, 

reed@usgs.gov

64 2 2?

Species 

Viability Team 

and Focal 

Species 

Team 

assembled

Teams asked to clarify species viability approach to climate adaptation and to 

recommend selection and use of focal species 

White 

papers 

complete

d in 2015

FWS NCTC dave_lemarie@fws

.gov

65 3 3.1

CDFW 

Climate 

College

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Climate College is an 

educational initiative geared towards CDFW staff. The College aims to increase 

awareness of climate changes issues as they relate to CDFW responsibilities, and 

enhance overall capacity to address these issues. Planning for the next iteration 

of the College will begin in 2015.

15/16 CDFW Kurt.Malchow@wil

dlife.ca.gov

66 3 3.1

Climate 

Issues 

incorporated 

into plant 

conservation 

and 

restoration

Incorporate climate issues into Park Conservation Alliance efforts to develop and 

share research, practices and expertise 15 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert

67 3 3.1

Communicati

ng climate 

change 

training

Deliver Communicating Climate Change course once per year. 15/16 FWS NCTC dave_lemarie@fws

.gov
38

68 3 3.1

Increase 

awareness 

and capacity 

of natural 

resource 

managers 

and other 

decision 

makers

Support applied research projects to enhance understanding and integration of 

climate information, e.g., implementation of NOAA Sentinel Sites Cooperatives. 15/16 NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@noaa.gov

69 3 3.1

Increase 

awareness 

and capacity 

of natural 

resource 

managers 

Increase capacity of natural resource managers through development of tools and 

trainings, e.g. Coral Triangle Initiative, Digital Coast, and Climate.gov.

15/16 NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

70 3 3.1

Increase 

awareness 

and capacity 

of natural 

resource 

managers 

Connect with NOAA stakeholders, customers and users through regional, state, 

and local extension capabilities and activities to translate climate information, e.g. 

RISAs, RCSDs, Sea Grant, NERRS, and other NOAA regional offices. 

15/16 NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

71 3 3.1

Increase 

awareness 

and capacity 

of natural 

resource 

managers 

Support existing and foster new communities of practice (e.g. SAGE –Systems 

Approach to Geomorphic Engineering). 15/16 NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@noaa.gov

72 3 3.1

Provide data 

that increases 

the capacity 

of managers 

to implement 

climate 

adaptation 

programs.

Various Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) projects will provide 

information that increases managers' ability to implement appropriate climate 

adaptation program. (For example, sea-level rise modeling, including site-specific 

data and modeling results, will be disseminated to land managers.)

15/16

LCC lead 

agencies 

(FWS, NPS, 

BOR, 

BLM,FS)

elsa_haubold@fws

.gov

73 3 3.1 Update CC 

Scorecard

Implement next steps to increase Agency CC knowledge by revising agency 

scorecard. 16 FWS/CAN mark_shaffer@fws.gov

74 3 3.1

Various 

planning and 

climate 

change 

Ecosystem restoration planning courses are being updated to include climate 

change effects considerations. Joint interagency training is also being developed 

for more coordinated restoration efforts.

15 USACE, 

FWS

shawn.b.komlos@

usace.army.mil
39

training 

development

75 3 3.2

Ensuring 

Robust 

Cooperative 

Agreement 

Process

Examine the cooperative agreement process to ensure that APHIS is responsive 

to increased demand for collaboration and partnerships with others on climate 

change issues.

15 

APHIS, 

Marketing 

and 

Regulatory 

Programs 

Business 

Services,

Financial 

Management 

Div.

Michael Paranoid, 

michael.g.peranio

@aphis.usda.gov

76 3 3.2

Facilitate a 

coordinated 

response

Coordinated development of tools, resources and information at scales relevant to 

managers that enable stakeholders to make decisions using the best available 

information, E.g. NERRS, Digital Coast, Climate.gov, Vulnerability of Fish Stocks 

in a Changing Climate Assessment Tool. 

15/16 NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

77 3 3.2

Participation 

in local and 

regional 

climate 

collaborative

CDFW will continue to participate in local and regional collaboratives to help 

facilitate a coordinated response to climate change. 15/16 CDFW, LCCs

Whitney.Albright@

wildlife.ca.gov

78 3 3.2

Wisconsin 

Initiative on 

Climate 

Change 

Impacts 

(WICCI)

WICCI is a network of individuals and organizations, each working on reducing 

vulnerability to climate change in their areas. The WICCI network covers a host of 

topics, including heat stress, waterborne disease, agriculture, wildlife, natural 

communities, stormwater, community planning, and more. FOR EXAMPLE, In 

response to the need for lake temperature data for specific frequencies and 

durations, a multi-disciplinary team from UW Madison, Wisconsin DNR, NASA, 

USGS, and the University of Iowa have developed a

hydrodynamic model that allows them to hindcast the daily thermal profiles and 

annual ice cover from 1979-2012 for more than 2,300 Wisconsin lakes. The 

model’s results allow users to derive lake-specific and time varying estimates of 

temperatures which influence species of interest to biologists, managers and 

users of Wisconsin’s lakes. To date, the team has looked at lake records for more 

than 2,400 lakes around the state and has included these observations into the 

model.

2007-

Present

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources & 

University of 

Wisconsin 

and various 

partner 

agencies 

and 

organization

s

info@wicci.wisc.ed

u

79 3 3.3

Greenhouse 

Gas 

Reduction 

Fund

CDFW will use cap and trade funds to establish a program titled Wetland 

Restoration for Greenhouse gas Reduction. The new program and additional staff 

will enhance CDFW's capacity to support climate adaptation and mitigation 

activities. The program is currently being established, and will continue to be 

expanded in 2015.

15/16 CDFW Helen.Birss@wildli

fe.ca.gov
40

80 3 3.3

Increase 

agency 

awareness 

and emphasis 

on managing 

climate 

change

Reorganization: Combine Sustainability unit in Bus Ops with Chief’s Climate 

Change Advisor’s Office 15 Forest Service

81 3 3.3

Update NPS 

Restoration 

Guidance

NPS guidance on ecological restoration will be reviewed and revised to add more 

detail on addressing targets and strategies to incorporate adaptation opportunities 15/16 NRSS and NIFC

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Benson, Eckert, 

Hogan

82 3 3.4

Optimize use 

of existing

FWP 

conservation 

funding 

sources

Incorporate climate change adaptation into National Estuarine Research Reserve 

System (NERRS) and National Marine Sanctuary management plans. 15/16 NOAA -NCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

83 3 3.2.3

Additional 

climaterelated 

training

Each year, will provide four Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment classes, 

one Climate Academy (online), one Decision Analysis for Climate Change 

(online), two Decision Analysis in a Changing Climate and one Scenario Planning 

Toward Climate Change Adaptation. Flexibility will be built in to the schedule to 

meet changing demand.

15/16 FWS NCTC mark_shaffer@fws

.gov

84 3

3.1.1, 

3.1.2

Provide 

trained Type 

3 Incident 

Management 

Teams to 

respond to 

all-hazard 

emergencies, 

some of 

which will be 

associated 

with climaterelated 

extremeweather 

events.

Provide Incident Management Teams (IMTs) of designated and trained personnel 

which may be activated, if available, to support management in all-hazard 

emergencies that extend beyond one operational period. A Type 3 IMT is a multiagency/multi-jurisdiction team for extended incidents formed and managed at the 

State, regional, or metropolitan level, typically utilized in emergency response 

resulting from severe storm or incident of animal or plant disease. Such incidents 

may increase in frequency or intensity with climate change. (Incident Types range 

from Type 5, often contained within a few hours after resources arrive on scene, 

to a Type 1, which is national in scope and involves responders from multiple 

agencies and/or jurisdictions.)

(ongoing)

APHIS, 

Marketing 

and 

Regulatory 

Programs 

Business 

Services 

(MRPBS), 

Emergency 

Management 

Safety and 

Security 

Division, 

Emergency 

Preparednes

s Branch

James Premo 

James.L.Premo@

aphis.usda.gov

85 3

3.1.1, 

3.1.2

Revision of 

the 

Emergency 

Emergency Support Function (ESF) #11 of the National Response Framework 

provides coordination for five functions in Agriculture and Natural Resources for 

the protection of the Nation’s agricultural and natural resources during national 

(ongoing)

APHIS, 

Marketing 

and 

Craig Aughe 

Craig.A.Aughe@a

phis.usda.gov
41

Support 

Function 

(ESF) #11

Annex to the 

National 

Response 

Framework

emergencies. ESF#11 activities include technical assistance for animal and 

agricultural emergency management that may be necessary following of extreme 

weather and weather-related events (e.g., floods, hurricanes, fires). Such events 

may increase in frequency or intensity with climate change

Regulatory 

Programs 

Business 

Services 

(MRPBS), 

Emergency 

Management 

Safety and 

Security 

Division

86 3 3.1.2 Climate 

Smart training

Provide Climate Smart training to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and other 

federal and state agency staff. A minimum of four classes will be scheduled per 

year.

15/16 FWS NCTC dave_lemarie@fws

.gov

87 3 3.1.2

National 

Climate 

Academy

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) serves on the planning 

committee for the National Climate Academy. Spearheaded by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service National Conservation training Center (NCTC), the National 

Academy is intended to increase understanding of the evidence, 

potential impacts, and range of

management choices related to climate change. Planning is now underway for the 

next training, which is slated to begin in February 2015.

15

USFS, 

NCTC, 

AFWA, NPS, 

TWS, 

CDFW, 

Society for 

Conservatio

n Biology, 

Minnesota 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources

Whitney.Albright@

wildlife.ca.gov

88 3 3.1.3

Develop 

training on 

the use of 

existing and 

emerging 

tools for 

managing 

under 

uncertainty 

(e.g., 

vulnerability 

and risk 

assessments, 

scenario 

planning, 

decision 

support tools, 

Reclamation has been collaborating with the Climate Change and Water Working 

Group (CCAWWG) and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) 

COMET program to develop and pilot climate change training tools for Federal 

and non-Federal water agency staff and explore sustained delivery approaches. In 

order to ensure that Reclamation staff is adequately trained, Reclamation is 

planning to develop and implement a continuing training program serving 

Reclamation's diverse staff needs, relying on and incorporating available training 

tools and working with other agencies to leverage new tools as they become 

available.

15/16 BOR draff@usbr.gov
42

and adaptive 

management)

.

89 3 3.1.3

Provide 

training in 

adaptation

planning

Design and deliver tribal climate adaptation planning training nationwide (not 

restricted to Tribes). 15/16 BIA sean.hart@bia.gov

90 3 3.1.6

Increase data 

analysis 

capacity

Add 1.5 Tribal geospatial analysis positions to support adaptation planning and 

identify best practices/planning scenarios for new planners. 15 BIA sean.hart@bia.gov

91 3 3.1.6 Increase web 

presence

Add "tribal landing page" to Climate Resilience Toolkit. Add Tribal climate web 

portal for sharing of management and planning level information. 15/16 BIA sean.hart@bia.gov

92 3 3.2.

Facilitate a 

coordinated 

response

Continue working with states and regional consortiums of state, local and tribal 

managers, businesses, and NGOs to incorporate climate change into natural 

resource management, e.g., via CZMA, ROPs, LCCs, etc. 

15/16 NOAA -

NMFS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

93 3 3.2.1

California 

LCC 

Landscape 

Conservation 

Design

Beginning to work with the California LCC to develop a landscape conservation 

design for the central valley of California, which will include climate adaptation. 

15/16 CA LCC guthrie_zimmerma

n@fws.gov

94 3 3.2.1 Flyway 

activities

Work with states and NGO's on various aspects of harvest and habitat 

management plans for waterfowl, which will include climate adaptation. 

15/16

climate 

change 

vulnerability 

assessment

dave_lemarie@fws

.gov

95 3 3.2.1

Use LCCs to 

support 

ecoregional 

invasive plant 

response

Work with Desert and Great Lakes LCCs to support (respectively) native plant 

community restoration planning, plant materials, and invasive plant management 

prioritization; and wide-ranging forest species risk analysis and response. 

15 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert, Hogan

96 3 3.2.1

Use regional 

venues, such 

as LCCs, to 

collaborate 

across 

jurisdictions 

and develop 

conservation 

goals and 

landscape/se

ascape scale 

The Southern Rockies LCC provided funding to the Valles Caldera National 

Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, and University of New Mexico to quantify how 

forest restoration efforts impact water yields and reduce risks of catastrophic 

wildfires exacerbated by climate change. Results can be incorporated into 

conservation management plans for fisheries, riparian restoration, and terrestrial 

wildlife species threatened by long-term changes in habitat and climate.

15/16

BOR/Nature 

Conservancy

/Valles 

Caldera 

National 

Preserve

svaddey@usbr
43

plans capable 

of sustaining

97 3 3.2.5

Engage with 

international 

neighbors

Engage with Canada, Mexico, Russia, and nations in the Caribbean Basin, Arctic 

Cirle, and Pacific Ocean to help adapt to and mitigate climate change impacts in 

shared trans-boundary areas and for common migratory species. Reclamation 

was part of a binational team supporting the adoption of Minute 319, which 

supplements the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico. Minute 319 will help increase 

resilience to climate change by preserving reservoir elevations in the Colorado 

River, providing environmental flows in the Colorado River Delta in Mexico, and 

facilitating investments to improve water infrastructure in Mexico.

15/16 BOR acoykendall@usbr.

gov

98 3 3.2.5

Working 

w/Internationa

l Partners

Incorporating climate change in to North American Wetland Conservation Act 

(NAWCA) Grant and matching funds to support projects aimed at protecting, 

restoring, and enhancing wetland and associated upland migratory bird habitat.

15/16

Division of 

Bird Habitat 

Conservatio

n

dave_lemarie@fws

.gov

99 3 3.2.5

Working 

w/Internationa

l Partners

Incorporating climate change in to Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act 

(NMBCA) Grant and matching funds to support projects aimed at promoting the 

conservation of migratory birds. 

15/16

Division of 

Bird Habitat 

Conservatio

n

Leakhena_Au@fw

s.gov

100 3 3.2.5

Working 

w/Internationa

l Partners

Convention of Migratory Species Climate Change Working Group working to 

develop and implement a Program of Work to address climate change issues and 

migratory species

15/16

Migratory 

Bird 

Program

Eleanora_Babij@f

ws.gov

101 3 3.3.1

Update 

Review on 

legal , policy 

support for 

restoration

Since we need to review NPS policy support for restoration, could extend to an 

analysis of federal programs and legislation, particularly in light of GAO interest in 

large landscapes. 

16 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert, Budde

102 3 3.3.2

Non-federal 

tools for 

private land 

conservation

Assemble a portfolio of private lands efforts by NGOs such as EDF and TNC for 

climate resilient landscapes. 15 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Hogan, Budde, 

Hardy

103 3 3.3.4

Review 

existing legal, 

regulatory 

and policy 

frameworks 

Review existing legal, regulatory and policy frameworks that govern floodplain 

mapping, flood insurance, and flood mitigation and identify opportunities to 

improve their usefulness to reduce risks and increase adaptation of natural 

resources and communities in a changing climate. Update Floodplain 

Management DO 77-2. NPS Director's Order 77-2 provides a process for national 

parks to assess development proposal impacts within floodplains. This Director's 

Order will be updated to ensure adherence to Executive Order 11988 and the 

Presidential Memorandum for establishing a Federal flood risk management 

standard.

15/16 NPS forrest_harvey@np

s.gov

104 3 3.3.5 Develop and Develop and utilize an analytical framework to assess impacts associated with 15/16 APHIS, Wendy Hall, 
44

utilize a 

framework to 

assess 

climate

change for 

Agency 

actions 

subject to 

NEPA, 

consistent 

with draft 

CEQ 

guidance.

climate change for Agency actions subject to the National Environmental Policy 

Act (NEPA), consistent. Develop and utilize guidance on how to address impacts 

associated with climate change, including those on low income, minority and 

Tribal communities, in environmental compliance documents. Deploy the 

framework and associated guidance to inform analyses within National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents.

[ongoing] Policy & 

Program 

Developmen

t, 

Environment

al and Risk 

Analysis 

Services

wendy.f.hall@aphi

s.usda.gov

105 3 3.4.1

Prioritize 

funding for 

land and 

water 

protection 

programs that 

incorporate 

climate 

change 

consideration

s.

WaterSMART Grants provide cost-shared financial assistance to carry out water 

and energy efficiency improvements, including projects that save water, increase 

energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in water management, address 

endangered species and other environmental issues, and facilitate transfers to 

new uses. On-the-ground projects may also include implementation of climate 

adaptation strategies identified in a completed Basin Study. In May, 2015, 

Reclamation announced the selection of more than $24 million in WaterSMART 

Grants for 50 water and energy efficiency projects in 12 western states, including 

five projects that are implementing adaptation strategies identified in completed 

WaterSMART Basin Studies. For example, the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users 

Association in Montrose, Colorado, will install a 4.8 megawatt hydroelectric facility 

on the existing “Drop 4” irrigation canal drop structure located on the South Canal. 

The Association expects to generate 17,817,000 kilowatt hours annually, which 

will be provided locally to the City of Delta, Colorado. As part of the project, the 

Association will also pipe 1,344 linear feet of canal, thereby allowing water to 

bypass leaking canals through a steel penstock. The project is expected to result 

in annual water conservation of 77 acre-feet of water annually due to seepage. 

The water conserved by this project will be made available to downstream water 

users. The project implements adaptation strategies that were addressed in the 

2012 WaterSMART Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study, 

which the Association participated in as a stakeholder.

15/16 BOR jgerman@usbr.gov

106 3

3.4.1 

and 

3.4.2

Develop best 

practices for 

applying 

resilience 

criteria to land 

acquisition 

and financial 

assistance 

Develop Service policy on incorporating climate change considerations into 

existing land acquisition and financial assistance programs, as appropriate. 15/16 FWS/CAN mark_shaffer@fws.gov
45

programs.

107 4 4.1

Effects of 

climate 

change on 

cisco, a 

keystone fish 

species in 

Wisconsin’s

deepest lakes

Develop a network of long-term trend lakes to monitor cisco responses to human 

impacts and management activities as well as statistical models to explain 

patterns of cisco occurrence and/or abundance in relation to environmental and 

biotic variables.

Ongoing

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources

john.lyons@wisco

nsin.gov

108 4 4.1

Monitoring 

Changing 

Ecological 

Conditions

CDFW will continue to monitor water temperature in the Sacramento River and its

effects on aquatic habitat. Monitoring efforts allow for early detection of impacts 

from climate change, and enable the Department to determine if/when 

management actions need to be altered.

15/16 CDFW Kevin.Shaffer@wil

dlife.ca.gov

109 4 4.1

National 

Communitylevel climate 

and hazard 

resilience 

indicators

USGS has been participating in the FEMA/NOAA – led interagency development 

of the "National Community‐Level Climate and Hazard Resilience Indicators." This 

effort aims to develop a set of national indicators of community level resilience to 

climate change and related hazards that is federally actionable and supported by 

available data. Specifically, each indicator will be relevant to community 

climate/hazard resilience; relevant to federal policy priorities and programs; and 

data driven. 

USGS

Kristin Ludwig, 

kaludwig@usgs.go

v

110 4 4.1

NSSI Data 

Catalog and 

Project 

Tracking

The North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) is an intergovernmental effort, 

administered by BLM, to increase collaboration at the local, state, and federal 

levels to address the research, inventory, and monitoring needs to support 

decision-making about development and climate change on the North Slope of 

Alaska.

15,16,17 BLM jpayne@blm.gov/ 

ktripp@blm.gov

111 4 4.1

Seagrass 

Integrated 

Mapping and 

Monitoring/Co

astal Habitats 

Independent 

Mapping and 

Monitoring 

Program

SIMM and CHIMMP are ongoing projects that seek to coordinate statewide efforts 

to map and monitor critical coastal habitats in Florida in order to complete a data 

gap analysis and to compile all existing mapping and monitoring data sets.

Florida Fish 

and Wildlife 

Conservatio

n 

Commission

Paul.Carlson@myf

wc.com (SIMM) or 

Ryan.Moyer@myf

wc.com (CHIMMP)

112 4 4.1

Support and 

coordinate 

monitoring, 

observation 

and 

information 

Sustain NERRS SWMP to track and assess impacts of climate and other 

stressors on the condition of the nation’s estuaries 15/16 NOAA -OCM

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov
46

systems

113 4 4.1

Support and 

coordinate 

monitoring, 

observation 

and 

information 

systems

Improve ability to monitor the physical and ecological consequences of climate 

change and apply this information to better understand and manage natural 

resources; e.g. Expand, refine, and network existing monitoring and observation 

systems that provide data in support of scenario forecast models on the 

ecosystem impacts of climate change (e.g. the ecosystem effects of sea level rise 

through NOS Sentinel Site Program).

15/16 NOAA-OCM Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

114 4 4.2

Identify, 

develop and 

employ 

decision 

support tools

Develop and pilot methodology for assessing the Climate Vulnerability of marine 

protected species (e.g., marine mammals). 15/16 NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@noaa.gov

115 4 4.2

Identify, 

develop and 

employ 

decision 

support tools

Explore management options for adapting to or mitigating climate change impacts 

on natural resources, protected species, and coastal and ocean habitats by 

developing climate change scenarios in ecosystem-based, forecast models, e.g. 

Scenario forecast models developed by NCCOS Ecological Effects of Sea Level 

Rise Program (EESLR) and implemented through NOS Sentinel Site program

15/16 NOAANCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

116 4 4.2

Identify, 

develop and 

employ 

decision 

support tools

Understand vulnerability of coastal and marine ecosystems and living marine 

resources to climate change 15/16 NOAA -NCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

117 4 4.2

Identify, 

develop and 

employ 

decision 

support tools

Deliver data analysis and synthesis products on the progression and impacts of 

climate change to resource managers and stakeholders, e.g. SLR viewers 15/16 NOAA -OCM

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

118 4 4.2

Identify, 

develop and 

employ 

decision 

support tools

Develop new frameworks for effective management of natural resources, 

protected species, and coastal and ocean habitats actions under climate change 15/16 NOAA -NCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

119 4 4.2

Identify, 

develop and 

employ 

decision 

support tools

In 2015, NOAA will help fishing-dependent communities prepare for climate 

impacts on fish stocks by completing climate vulnerability assessments for major 

commercial and recreational marine fish stocks; helping communities undertake 

risk assessment and adaptation planning; conducting collaborative research on 

climate variability and change on fish stocks and fisheries in the U.S. Northeast 

Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem; and, establishing Resilient Fishing Communities 

Demonstration Projects to provide technical assistance to fishing-dependent 

15/16 NOAA -

NMFS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov
47

communities in risk assessment and adaptation planning.

120 4 4.2

Identify, 

develop and 

employ 

decision 

support tools

Over the next year, NOAA will deploy new or expanded resilience tools, including 

a Northeast climate and marine ecosystem dashboard for information on current 

and future conditions; an expanded Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper for coastal 

states on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico; a Climate Change Vulnerability 

Assessment tool for Coastal Habitats; and a new performance support tool for GIS 

professionals working with agencies and organizations on natural infrastructure 

planning for coastal resilience. These resources and tools will be developed with a 

goal of future incorporation into the Climate Resilience Toolkit.

15/16 NOAA -

NMFS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

121 4 4.2

Identify, 

develop and 

employ 

decision 

support tools

Complete Fish Stock Climate Vulnerability Assessments for the West Coast and 

Alaska marine ecosystems. 15/16 NOAA -NMFS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

122 4 4.2

Revise Forest 

Plans 

Implement 

2012 

Planning Rule 

monitoring 

requirement

Emphasis on improving adaptive management in Land Management planning 16 Forest 

Service

123 4 4.2

State Wildlife 

Action Plan 

Climate 

Adaptation 

Implementatio

n Objectives

Florida's SWAP Objective 3 states that, by 2017, Florida will integrate adaptation 

planning into a broader suite of habitats and species, using previous vulnerability 

assessments as a template for identifying threats. Plans include expanding 

scenario planning and/or vulnerability assessments, developing and funding onthe-ground pilot adaptation projects, and funding research projects that will 

provide the information needed to better manage habitats and/or species in 

response to climate change.

Florida Fish 

and Wildlife 

Conservatio

n 

Commission

Andrea.Alden@my

fwc.com

124 4 4.2

Wisconsin 

Driftless Area 

Master 

Planning

Located in the western and southwestern portion of the state, the Driftless Area 

escaped the last glacial period and as a result is characterized by rugged 

topography, coldwater streams, rock outcroppings and caves. The Driftless Area 

planning team used two of the newest science-based stream models to help 

evaluate the suitability of current and future habitat conditions for brook trout, 

brown trout, and smallmouth bass.

15/16

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources

Paul.Cunningham

@wisconsin.gov

125 4 4.1.6

Abundance 

and 

Distribution of 

Breeding 

Shorebirds in 

the YukonIn an area with some of the highest breeding shorebird densities in the world, 

develop a survey sampling framework to estimate population size and distribution 

of breeding shorebirds, compare results to prior survey efforts, and provide robust 

information for future analysis of climate change in arctic and boreal habitats.

15/16

FWS, 

Manomet, 

ADFW, 

Audubon

james_lyons@fws.

gov
48

Kuskokwim 

Delta

126 4 4._._

Adaptive 

management 

training

Conduct one Adaptive Management: Structured Decision Making for Recurrent 

Decision class. 15 FWS NCTC dave_lemarie@fws.gov

127 4 4._._

Integrate the 

adaptive 

management 

process and 

its 

applications 

into climate 

change 

training

Decision Analysis for Climate Change (online) and Decision Analysis in a 

Changing Climate are each to be delivered once per year. Additionally, Designing 

a Biological Monitoring Program: Concepts and Examples, delivered once per 

year, emphasize the use of adaptive management in conservation.

15/16 FWS NCTC dave_lemarie@fws

.gov

128 4 4.1.2

Annual 

adaptive 

harvest 

management

Conduct annual adaptive harvest management assessments for waterfowl in the 

face of environmental uncertainty. Work with USGS partners to improve adaptive 

management tools.

15/16

Division of 

Migratory 

Bird 

Management

guthrie_zimmerma

n@fws.gov

129 4 4.1.2

Modeling 

North 

American 

waterfowl 

responses to 

projected 

climate 

change

Evaluate long-term waterfowl breeding population data to develop an estimation 

framework to develop models linking waterfowl population dynamics to climate 

change impacts to important weather and habitat variables.

15/16 USFWS/DM

BM/PHAB

scott_boomer@fw

s.gov

130 4 4.1.2

Review of the 

Waterfowl 

Breeding 

Population 

and Habitat 

Survey

Formulate recommendations for survey modifications and/or auxiliary survey 

efforts to assess change in waterfowl breeding distribution or relative abundance 

and implications for population estimates and management decision frameworks.

15/16 FWS

mark_koneff@fws.

gov; 

ken_richkus@fws.

gov

131 4 4.1.4

Support and 

coordinate 

monitoring, 

observation 

and 

information 

systems

Expand the NOAA Sentinel Site Program to provide integrated monitoring and 

assessment of key climate and other variables for effective decision making in 

coastal and estuarine areas.

15/16 NOAANCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

132 4 4.1.5 Build online Cooperate with other key agencies in providing an online 'front door' to the array 15/16 Science elsa_haubold@fws
49

tools of regional information, services and tools available for addressing climate change 

'

Applications .gov

133 4 4.1.6

Adaptive 

Monitoring of 

Salt Marsh 

Elevation 

Dynamics 

and 

Prescribed 

Fire at 

Blackwater 

NWR

Use a novel application of GPS-RTK technology and hierarchical models to 

monitor salt marsh surface elevation and evaluate salt marsh habitat loss and 

change as a result of sea level rise, prescribed fire, and environmental factors.

15/16 FWS james_lyons@fws.

gov

134 4 4.1.6

Assist with 

development 

and 

implementatio

n of 

monitoring 

protocols that 

provide 

information 

needed to 

manage as 

climate 

changes.

Various LCC projects will provide managers the monitoring tools they need to 

evaluate climate change effects. (For example, the University of California 

Riverside’s Center for Conservation Biology will create a sustainable resource 

monitoring framework that will provide empirical data identifying if and how climate 

change is changing the composition and vitality of Joshua Tree National Park.)

15/16

LCC lead 

agencies 

(FWS, NPS, 

BOR, 

BLM,FS)

elsa_haubold@fws

.gov

135 4 4.1.6

Ecosystem 

Restoration 

and Mitigation 

Project 

Monitoring

All Corps construction projects that include ecosystem mitigation or restoration are 

required to be monitored for habitat success. Current Ecosystem Restoration 

projects: Arkansas River Corridor (SWT), Crow Creek (SWT), Brownsville 

Resacas (SWG). Mitigation monitoring Brays & Greens Bayous (SWG), Little 

Fossil Creek, Dallas Floodway Extension, Waco Lake, & Pecan Creek (SWF), 

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (SAJ).

15/16

USACE, 

FWS, NPS, 

SFWMD

Carolyn.E.Murphy

@usace.army.mil 

(SWG); 

Daniel.Allen@usac

e.army.mil (SWF); 

David.A.Tipple@u

sace.army.mil 

(SAJ)

136 4 4.1.7

Use existing 

or define new 

indicators at 

appropriate 

scales that 

can be used 

to monitor the 

response of 

Assess NPS I&M network monitoring programs for existing (and potential 

additional) contributions to climate change effects monitoring 15/16 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

K Jarvis, N 

Fisichelli, B 

Monahan
50

fish, wildlife, 

plants, and 

ecosystems 

to climate 

change.

137 4 4.1.9

California 

phenology 

project

Initiate Appalachian Trail Phenology project. Collaborate with the National 

Phenology Network to facilitate monitoring of phenology; create an analogous 

National Population Network to catalog

15/16 NPS cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov

138 4 4.2.1

Develop 

regional 

downscaling 

of Global 

Climate 

models to 

conduct 

vulnerability 

assessments 

of living 

resources.

Reclamation's Science and Technology Program is taking a leading role to 

develop the data and tools necessary to support climate change adaptation within 

Reclamation and by customers and stakeholders. Since 2007, Reclamation has 

led a partnership of eight Federal, academic, and Non-Governmental 

Organizations to provide future projections of temperature, precipitation, and 

streamflow throughout the continental US to support locally relevant decision 

making. (http://gdo-dcp.ucllnl.org/downscaled_cmip_projections/).

15/16 BOR draff@usbr.gov

139 4 4.2.1

Develop 

regional 

downscaling 

of Global 

Climate 

models to 

conduct 

vulnerability 

assessments 

of living 

resources.

Desert LCC project led by The Nature Conservancy in 2014 builds on the 

Colorado River Basin Study to develop a decision support tool for incorporating 

ecological flows into water management models used for basin-wide water supply 

planning. Will build on this project in 2015 by developing an environmental flows 

database, including calculations of flow needs developed across geography.

15 BOR/Nature 

Conservancy

svaddey@usbr.go

v

140 4 4.2.3

Climate 

Vulnerability 

of Marine 

Ecosystems

CDFW is in the early stages of planning a climate vulnerability assessment for the 

marine environment in association with the State Wildlife Action Plan revision. The 

assessment will likely begin in 2015.

15/16 CDFW Whitney.Albright@

wildlife.ca.gov

141 4 4.2.3

Climate 

Vulnerability 

of Vegetative 

Communities 

in California

In association with the State Wildlife Action Plan revision, CDFW is partnering with 

UC Davis to conduct a vulnerability assessment of vegetative communities across 

the entire state of California. The study will increase our knowledge of which 

communities in California are most vulnerable to climate change and why. The 

assessment will be completed in 2015.

15 CDFW, UC 

Davis

Whitney.Albright@

wildlife.ca.gov

142 4 4.2.6 Scenario 

workshops

Scenario workshops in several national parks including Yellowstone National 

Park, Acadia National Park, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Dry Tortugas. 

15/16 NPS cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov
51

Engage scientists, resource managers, economists, and stakeholders in climate 

change scenario planning processes, including identification of a set of plausible 

future scenarios associated with climate phenomena and socioeconomics likely to 

significantly impact fish, wildlife, and plants.

143 4 4.2.6

Climate 

Adaptation 

Planning

Through the Basin Studies, Reclamation partners with non-Federal stakeholders 

to evaluate the impacts of climate change to multiple water uses within a basin, 

and to identify adaptation strategies. To date, 19 Basin Studies have been 

initiated, with five completed, in 15 western states. Engage scientists, resource 

managers, economists, and stakeholders in climate change scenario planning 

processes, including identification of a set of plausible future scenarios associated 

with climate phenomena and socioeconomics likely to significantly impact fish, 

wildlife, and plants.

15/16 BOR aerath@usbr.gov

144 4 4.2.7

Adaptive 

management 

training

Conduct one Adaptive Management: Structured Decision Making for Recurrent 

Decision class. 15 FWS NCTC dave_lemarie@fws.gov

145 4 4.2.7

Integrate the 

adaptive 

management 

process and 

its 

applications 

into climate 

change 

training

Decision Analysis for Climate Change (online) and Decision Analysis in a 

Changing Climate are each to be delivered once per year. Additionally, Designing 

a Biological Monitoring Program: Concepts and Examples, delivered once per 

year, emphasize the use of adaptive management in conservation.

15/16 NOAA-OCM Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

146 4 4.2.7

Publish 

"Being 

Prepared for 

Climate 

Change: A 

Workbook for 

Developing 

Risk-Based 

Adaptation 

Plans" 

The Workbook presents a guide to climate change adaptation planning and is 

intended to assist organizations that manage environmental resources to prepare 

a broad, risk-based adaptation plan.

http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-

09/documents/being_prepared_workbook_508.pdf

15 EPA Craghan.Michael

@epa.gov

147 4 4.2.8

Adaptive 

Management 

of Horseshoe 

Crabs and 

Red Knots in 

Delaware Bay

Provide adaptive harvest management framework to Atlantic States for horseshoe

crab harvest decisions and a modeling and estimation framework to evaluate 

changes in migration phenology and match-mismatch of migratory shorebirds and 

their food resources in Delaware Bay

15/16

FWS, 

USGS, 

Delaware, 

New Jersey, 

Atlantic 

States 

Marine 

james_lyons@fws.

gov
52

Fisheries 

Commission

148 4 4.2.8

Adjusting 

waterfowl 

adaptive 

harvest 

management 

decision 

protocols to 

directional 

system shifts 

associated 

with climate 

change

Adjust current Adaptive Harvest Management protocols by developing 

optimization frameworks that explicitly account for non-stationary system 

dynamics over finite time horizons.

15/16

USFWS/DM

BM/PHAB 

and the 

Harvest 

Management 

Working 

Group

scott_boomer@fw

s.gov

149 4 4.2.8

Integrated 

Waterbird 

Management 

and 

Monitoring

Develop monitoring protocols and management decision support tools for 

managers at flyway, regional, and local scales to meet multiple objectives for 

waterbird conservation and management during migration and over-wintering

15/16 FWS james_lyons@fws.

gov

150 5 5.1

"Barriers and 

Opportunities 

to Managing 

for 

Disturbance 

and 

Environmenta

l Change in 

the Upper 

Midwest."

Through this project we surveyed and interviewed land managers across 

Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to assess factors that serve as barriers and 

opportunities to climate adaptation

Complete

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources

tricia.knoot@wisco

nsin.gov

151 5 5.1

Coastal 

Climate 

Impacts to 

First Foods, 

Cultural Sites, 

and Tribal 

Community 

Health and 

Well-being

Using computer modeling to forecast future conditions on the west side of the 

Reservation, we will estimate the impacts from sea level rise and storm surge on 

the nearshore environment

15/16/17

Swinomish 

Indian Tribal 

Community

PI: Dr. Jamie 

Donatuto; Co-PIs: 

Aundrea McBride, 

Skagit River 

Systems 

Cooperative and 

Sarah Grossman, 

Swinomish Tribe

152 5 5.1

Regional 

Science 

Coordination

The DOI Northwest Climate Science Center (NWCSC) will pilot a regional 

approach to identifying key management priorities and related information needs. 

Focusing on specific climate relevant topic areas (e.g. fire, sea level rise, 

15/16

USGS 

NCCWSC, 

DOI NW 

(NCCWSC) Robin 

O'Malley 

romalley@usgs.go
53

coldwater fisheries), the NWCSC will summarize existing scientific knowledge 

about climate change and adaptation for the topic, convene regional decision 

makers and science partners to identify key decisions, identify information gaps, 

and identify appropriate “division of labor” among entities that can contribute to 

filling those gaps. This will move science collaboration from a project level to a 

program level.

CSC v (NW CSC) 

Gustavo Bisbal, 

Director 

gbisbal@usgs.gov

153 5 5.2

"Potential 

Effects of 

Climate 

Change on 

Inland Glacial 

Lakes and 

Implications 

for Lake 

Dependent 

Biota in 

Wisconsin"

Evaluate how changes in freshwater lake habitat quality (specifically lake clarity) 

may impact common loon lake occupancy in the Trout Lake watershed of northern 

Wisconsin under detailed climate-change scenarios.

Complete

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources

michael.meyer@wi

sconsin.gov

154 5 5.2

Climate / 

Drought 

Toolkit for 

Adaptive 

Management

USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) and 

several DOI Climate Science Centers (CSC) have begun work on a toolkit for 

managers to support them as they anticipate and adapt to drought, with a focus 

on ecological impacts. FY2015 will include place-based work (2 areas to be 

selected) with data synthesis, scenario development, and visualization tool 

improvement. All activities will be based on continuing interactions with managers, 

through “actionable science” work groups. FY2016 will expand the integration of 

socio-economic and ecological impacts and the application and visualization of 

these models with decision makers and resource managers.

15/16

USGS 

NCCWSC, 

DOI South 

Central 

CSC, 

Southwest

CSC, and 

North 

Central CSC

Shawn Carter, 

scarter@usgs.gov

155 5 5.2 Conduct 

research

Ongoing research programs aim to understand major ecological shifts due to 

changing environmental conditions and variability, including studies on noanalogue ecological communities, state transitions and their reversibility, and 

ecological tipping points and thresholds; e.g. Continue programs to build 

understanding of the capacity of keystone, foundational, protected, and harvested 

species to resist or adapt to climate change and ocean acidification

15/16 NOAA -

NCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

156 5 5.2 Conduct 

research

Investigate how climate and climate change (e.g. ocean acidification, temp, sea 

level rise, etc.) shapes ecosystem structure and function 15/16 NOAA -NCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

157 5 5.2 Conduct 

research

In 2015, NOAA proposes to increase efforts to provide fisheries and other 

decision makers in the Alaska region with information on climate impacts on major 

fish stocks and protected species, and implement a distributed biological 

observatory to improve understanding of how climate and human-induced change 

are affecting subsistence cultures and the environment in the Arctic.

15/16 NOAANMFS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

158 5 5.2 Conduct 

research

NOAA will launch new program to support collaborative research on climate 

impacts on fish stocks and fisheries of the Northeast marine ecosystem. 15/16 NOAANMFS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov
54

159 5 5.2

Snowshoe 

Hare: "Forest 

and snow 

cover shape 

the southern 

range 

boundary of a 

northernadapted 

mammal"

Documented a continued northward range boundary shift of snowshoe hare in 

Wisconsin. Areas of range contraction are associated with regions characterized 

by a shortened snow cover season.

ongoing

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources & 

University of 

Wisconsin 

Madison

bzuckerberg@wisc

.edu

160 5 5.2

Songbirds 

"Climate 

variability 

drives the 

arrival of 

temperate 

migrants to 

the Upper 

Midwest"

Exploring the use of citizen science programs for studying spring migration 

phenology throughout the Upper Midwest. We have found that milder climate 

conditions on overwintering grounds promote early arrival to breeding grounds.

ongoing

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources & 

University of 

Wisconsin 

Madison

bzuckerberg@wisc

.edu

161 5 5.3

Advance 

understandin

g

Develop ecosystem-based, scenario forecast models to assess and predict the 

efficacy of management strategies for mitigating ecosystem impacts of climate 

change, in order to inform management goal-setting, validation, and adaptation.

15/16 NOAANCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

162 5 5.3

Advance 

understandin

g

Strengthen modeling and tools for estimating carbon services of ocean and 

coastal habitats for use in decision making concerning the protection and/or 

restoration of coastal habitats

15/16 NOAANCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

163 5 5.3

Assessment, 

Inventory and 

Monitoring 

Strategy and 

Model 

Development

Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring Strategy is designed to develop conceptual 

ecological models illustrating

the key components (attributes) of ecosystem

sustainability and the interaction of stressors (e.g.

fire, development, invasive species, and climate

change) on ecosystem capacity.

15/16/17 BLM gtoevs@blm.gov/ 

ktripp@blm.gov

164 5 5.3

Development 

and 

Evaluation of 

Watershed 

Models for 

Predicting 

Stream 

Fishery 

Potential

Develop watershed-scale models to predict the occurrence of fish species in 

Wisconsin streams under current climate conditions and to project possible 

changes in fish species occurrence in response to global climate change

15

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources

gretchen.hansen@

wisconsin.gov
55

165 5 5.3 Massasaga 

Rattlesnake 

"Demographic consequences of climate change and land cover help explain a 

history of extirpations and range contraction in a declining snake species."

Developed demographically-informed species distribution models to better 

understand the mechanisms driving range contraction of Eastern Massasauga 

rattlesnakes. We have found that extreme events, such as flooding, interact with 

habitat loss in driving over 30 years of population extirpations throughout the 

Upper Midwest.

ongoing

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources & 

University of 

Wisconsin 

Madison

bzuckerberg@wisc

.edu

166 5 5.3

Modeling 

bass-walleye 

interactions in 

northern 

Wisconsin 

lakes.

Using historical data to identify what lake conditions continue to support walleye 

and what conditions are associated with increasing bass populations. Also project 

changes to these important sport fishes under different scenarios of climate and 

land use change, and identify management actions most likely to be successful in 

reversing undesirable trends.

15

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources

gretchen.hansen@

wisconsin.gov

167 5 5.3

Use modeling 

to understand 

potential 

impacts of 

climate 

change on 

key habitats

LCC projects will use modeling to identify potential impacts of climate change on 

key habitats so that those impacts can be considered in management of 

resources. For example, several projects are ongoing to model sea-level rise 

along the Pacific Coast including at several National Wildlife Refuges.

15/16

LCC lead 

agencies 

(FWS, NPS, 

BOR, 

BLM,FS)

elsa_haubold@fws

.gov

168 5

5.1 

and 

5.2

Develop 

National 

Ecosystem 

Services 

Classification 

System

EPA will establish a National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS) 

that systematically maps distinct pathways by which ecosystem services enter 

and find value in human systems.

15 EPA Corona.Joel@epa.

gov

169 5 5.1.

Identify 

knowledge 

gaps...via 

collaborative 

processes

Work with partners, through the CGIES Task Force and SAGE, to identify 

knowledge gaps and research priorities for better understanding the ecosystem 

services and values provided by coastal green infrastructure

15/16 NOAA -

OCM, PPI

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

170 5 5.1.

Identify 

knowledge 

gaps...via 

collaborative 

processes

NOAA Fisheries Service and partners will complete a Climate Science Strategy 

and Regional Action Plans to identify science priorities and increase the 

production, delivery and use of climate-related information in fulfilling NOAA's 

mission activities.

15/16 NOAA -

NMFS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

171 5 5.1.2

Bring 

managers 

and scientists 

together at 

the 

Reclamation's Basin Studies and the WWCRAs form a robust program that 

utilizes Federal and stakeholder driven activities to identify adaptation strategies 

that help balance water supplies and demands given impacts from climate 

change. These activities can be enhanced to further support adaptation efforts 

conducted with partners and stakeholders and used to inform other Reclamation 

15/16 BOR svaddey@usbr.go

v
56

appropriate 

scales to 

prioritize 

research 

needs that 

address 

resource 

management 

objectives 

considering a 

changing 

climate.

planning policies, programs, and activities. Reclamation has identified two 

immediate actions to support climate adaptation planning, including: (1) 

Enhancing the Basin Studies and WWCRAs; and (2) initial steps to incorporate 

climate information across a range of planning activities.

172 5 5.1.7

Ecosystem 

Goods & 

Services 

Tools 

Development 

and Methods 

Refinement

Develop web-based tools to assess ecosystem services, and test a developed 

EGS framework that can be used to consider ecosystem services in water 

resources planning.

15/16/17 USACE

janet.a.cushing@u

sace.army.mil; 

elizabeth.o.murray

@usace.army.mil

173 5 5.1.7

Research on 

carbon 

sequestration

Strengthen research on role of coastal and ocean habitats in carbon sequestration 

and storage. 15/16 NOAA -NCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

174 5

5.2 

and 

5.3

Conduct 

research and 

Advance 

Understandin

g

NOAA will launch new three year research and modeling project to better project 

climate impacts on major US fisheries in the Bering Sea and provide fisheries 

managers and industries with more robust information for decision making.

15/16 NOAANMFS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

175 5 5.2.2

Annual 

population 

status reports

Analyze population data from annual surveys and publish estimates in our annual 

waterfowl trend and status reports. Aid in the development of new tools for 

monitoring populations from existing surveys in peer reviewed journals

15/16

Division of 

Migratory 

Bird 

Management

guthrie_zimmerma

n@fws.gov

176 5 5.2.2

Arctic 

Migratory Bird 

Survey 

Report

Document distribution and densities of several flagship species in portions of the 

Canadian Arctic that are seldom surveyed, and that are vulnerable to climate 

changes.

15

FWS, CWS, 

Sea Duck 

JV, Arctic 

Goose JV, 

Inuvialuit 

Final 

Agreement, 

Polar 

Continental 

Shelf 

pam_garrettson@f

ws.gov
57

Project, and 

the Atlantic, 

Mississippi, 

and Flyways

177 5 5.2.2

Golden eagle 

survival metaanalysis

Working with several collaborators on conducting a meta-analysis to estimate 

survival trends in golden eagles based on satellite telemetry data 15/16

Division of 

Migratory 

Bird 

Management

guthrie_zimmerma

n@fws.gov

178 5

5.2.2 

and 

5.2.3

Research on 

ecosystem 

and 

population 

responses

Understand physical-biological connections and mechanisms of ecosystem and 

population responses to climate change impacts. 15/16 NOAANCCOS

Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

179 5 5.2.3

Identify 

Knowledge 

Gaps

NPS - NRSS contribute staff time to a GOVT / NGO workgroup to Identify and 

address priority climate change knowledge gaps and needs (e.g., species 

adaptive capacity, risk/rewards of assisted relocation, climate change synergy 

with existing stressors).

16 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Hogan, Resnick, 

Budde, G. Plumb

180 5 5.2.4

Identify Plant 

Material 

knowledge 

gaps

Synthesize NPS info needs on Native Plant Materials 15 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert, Hogan 

(PCA)

181 5 5.2.6

Deep water 

horizon oil 

spill

Working with NRDA biologists to analyze data to inform mortality of waterbirds 

exposed to oil 15

Natural 

Resource 

Damage 

Assessment 

and 

Restoration

Veronica_Varela@

fws.gov

182 5 5.2/5.3

Increase 

research 

capacity/tech

nical

expertise

Add 5 Tribal climate scientist/extension liaisons, In cooperation with Climate 

Science Centers to address tribal research needs and to provide technical

expertise for adaptation planning

15/16 BIA and 

USGS sean.hart@bia.gov

183 5 5.3

Assessing 

biological 

carbon stocks 

The USGS has recently completed an assessment of biological carbon stocks and 

fluxes for the conterminous US based largely on remotely sensed data and 

summarized at 250m spatial resolution. The assessment is also under way for 

Hawaii and Alaska and is expected to be completed in 2015. This information will 

be used to help assure consistency across jurisdiction and with methods such as 

those used by IPCC and reporting requirements under the UNFCC. In addition, 

DOI bureaus are cooperating on several pilot projects to consider biological 

carbon management as part of their overall decision making process. The first of 

15/16 Bradley Reed, 

reed@usgs.gov
58

these projects is being undertaken in Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife 

Refuge by USGS and USFWS and considers the implications of water 

management strategies on carbon accumulation in peat soils and aboveground 

biomass, as well as other ecosystem services (e.g. water quality, biodiversity, 

etc.). Additional pilots are being initiated in Puget Sound, interior Alaska, Florida, 

and elsewhere. Finally, USGS is investigating blue carbon and the restoration and 

protection of coastal habitats in the mid-Atlantic coast and in mangrove 

ecosystems through pilot projects (e.g. with FWS) and is also investigating the 

integration of remote sensing with other research activities for blue carbon in 

mangrove ecosystems. A pilot study testing an approach is being initiated in 

Florida at the Ding Darling NWR in Florida.

184 5 5.3.5

Provide 

access to 

current 

climate data 

and ensure 

alignment 

with data 

management 

and decision 

support tools 

at agency and 

departmental 

levels.

In the future, Reclamation will focus efforts on making the following types of 

information available through web-based portals in coordination with efforts by 

other Federal agencies: (1) future climate and hydrology projections; (2) results 

and reports from the WWCRA Impact Assessments, WaterSMART Basin Studies, 

and SECURE Studies; (3) real-time and historical operational data of 

Reclamation's reservoirs and other facilities; and (4) geospatial information that 

can be used to analyze and visualize historical and temporal climate and 

hydrological data. This information portal will help Reclamation enhance internal 

and external knowledge networks (e.g., LCCs), make information access cheaper 

and faster, and build awareness among Reclamation staff and partners on cuttingedge information, tools, and adaptation approaches.

15/16 BOR svaddey@usbr.go

v

185 6 6.1

Educational 

and outreach 

efforts in the 

State Wildlife 

Action Plan

CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) staff will identify opportunities 

to increase awareness of the various stresses to California ecosystems (including 

climate change) and to communicate the importance of addressing these 

stressors. Outreach objectives and associated actions will be outlined in the 

revised State Wildlife Action Plan, which will be completed in 2015.

15/16 CDFW Armand.Gonzales

@wildlife.ca.gov

186 6 6.1

Increase 

public 

awareness 

and 

understandin

g

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will continue operation 

and advancement of their Digital Coast website to communicate information to the 

public and decision makers.

NOAA-OCM Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

187 6 6.1

Make 

information 

available to 

the public to 

increase 

awareness 

Providing information to increase the public's awareness and understanding of 

climate impacts will take a variety of forms depending on the particular project. 

One example is the North Pacific LCC Conservation Planning Atlas (CPA, an online resource providing data discovery, visualization, and an analytical platform for 

stakeholders.

15/16

LCC lead 

agencies 

(FWS, NPS, 

BOR, 

BLM,FS)

elsa_haubold@fws

.gov
59

and 

understandin

g of climate 

impacts.

188 6 6.1

Produce 

monthly 

communicatio

n: Forest 

Service 

Climate 

Update

The US Forest Service produces a monthly Climate Update which describes field 

activities, upcoming events alerts, online tools, and the resource center on climate 

change.

15/16 Forest 

Service

189 6 6.2 Youth 

Engagement

An Intertribal Climate Youth Leadership Congress (training/engagement) will 

involve 100 tribal youth. 15

BIA, 

USFWS, US 

Forest 

Service, 

USGS, NPS

sean.hart@bia.gov

, or 

jim_siegel@fws.go

v

190 6 6.2 Youth 

Engagement A climate impact photo contest will be held for tribal youth in grades K-12. 15 BIA sean.hart@bia.gov

191 6 6.3

Coordinate 

climate 

change 

communicatio

n efforts 

across 

jurisdictions

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will continue 

development of interagency websites that communicate climate data and 

information, e.g. Climate.gov, Digital Coast

NOAA Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

192 6 6.1.1

Community 

Outreach on 

Climate 

Change 

Adaptation

Subject to appropriations, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) will expand 

activities in each of its 10 Regional offices to assist small and disadvantaged 

communities in addressing environmental risks, building resilience and addressing 

the impacts of climate change.

16 EPA TBD

193 6 6.1.1

Develop 

Public 

"Climate 

Adaptation 

101" Training

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), in partnership with its Local 

Government Advisory Committee, will develop a public version of the “Climate 

Adaptation 101” Training Module recently created for internal climate change 

training. The public version will be targeted to local decision-makers in small 

communities.

15; first 

quarter EPA Nurse.Leanne@epa.gov

194 6

6.1.4, 

6.1.5, 

6.2.2

NWRS Public 

Communicati

ons/Engagem

ent Plan

Implement climate related components of the NWRS Public 

Communications/Engagement Plan. 15/16 Refuges ?

195 6 6.1.5 Increase NPS Interpreter Curriculum, Superintendents' Academy, and e-learning module 15/16 NPS cat_hawkins_hoff
60

public 

awareness of 

existing 

habitat 

conditions 

and the 

benefits of 

building 

resiliency of 

those 

habitats.

man@nps.gov for 

Stubblebine, Holly

196 6 6.1?

Invasive 

species 

awareness

Review existing efforts to educate managers and the public, and develop a 

cohesive strategy for a systematic awareness campaign.

16 NPS-IPM, 

etc.

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

DiSalvo, Hogan, 

Resnick

197 6 6.2.1

Songbirds 

"Climate 

variability 

drives the 

arrival of 

temperate 

migrants to 

the Upper 

Midwest"

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is exploring the use of citizen 

science programs for studying spring migration phenology throughout the Upper 

Midwest. They have already found that milder climate conditions on overwintering 

grounds promote early arrival to breeding grounds.

ongoing

Wisconsin 

Department 

of Natural 

Resources & 

University of 

Wisconsin 

Madison

bzuckerberg@wisc

.edu

198 6 6.2.3

Coastal 

Climate 

Impacts to 

First Foods, 

Cultural Sites, 

and Tribal 

Community 

Health and 

Well-being

Bureau of Indian Affairs will work with community members to talk about how the 

forecasted changes to the nearshore environment may impact community health 

and wellbeing.

15/16/17

199 6 6.2.6

Educate on 

plant species 

response to 

CC

Through PCA's action plan and network of collaborators, and JFSP Fire 

Knowledge Exchanges, develop model and outreach materials to educate public 

and managers

15 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert, S. Plumb, 

Drees

200 6 6.2.7

Working with 

Garden Club 

of America

National Park Service will use a Memo Of Understanding with Garden Club of 

America to disseminate information and messages about climate change. 15 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

Eckert, S. Plumb, 

Drees
61

201 6 6.3.3

Provide 

access to 

tools that 

promote 

improved 

collaboration, 

interactive 

dialog, and 

resource

sharing to 

minimize 

duplication of 

effort

across 

jurisdictions.

The Bureau of Reclamation has led a partnership with Federal and non-Federal 

entities since 2007 to develop and support the Downscaled Climate and 

Hydrology Projections Website, hosted at Lawrence Livermore National 

Laboratories. This web-based tool provides scientists, engineers and planners 

quick and easy access to local future climate and hydrology information essential 

for adaptation planning. In 2014, Reclamation and its partners updated the 

website to include hydrology projections for the contiguous U.S. consistent with 

new CMIP5 climate projections. New generations of climate modeling will continue 

to be made available through this partnership.

15/16 BOR lbrekke@usbr.gov

202 6 6.4.1 Youth 

Engagement

The Bureau of Indian Affairs will provide Climate Management-related internships 

for Tribal youth in the areas of forestry/wildlife, research, and planning. 15/16 BIA sean.hart@bia.gov

203 7 7

Amend 

western 

Forest and 

Grassland 

LMP’s

Control activities to reduce negative impacts on sagebrush ecosystems and 

reduce non-climatic stressors on Sage Grouse and their ecosystems 2015

204 7 7

Develop 

process to 

request 

support from 

USDA and/or 

the Federal 

community for 

large-scale 

responses

Work with USDA and DHS to develop procedures for requesting support and 

coordinating activities for large-scale emergency responses. (ongoing)

APHIS, 

Marketing 

and 

Regulatory 

Programs 

Business 

Services, 

Emergency

Management 

Safety and 

Security 

Division

Craig Aughe 

craig.a.aughe@ap

his.usda.gov

205 7 7.2

Greater 

Sage-grouse 

and 

Sagebrush 

Conservation. 

Planning and 

Implementatio

The BLM, working jointly with the Forest Service, has developed a series of 

Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) to incorporate Greater Sage-Grouse 

conservation measures on the lands they manage. These Draft EISs were 

released to the public in 2013. Our goal is to release the final EISs in the early 

summer of 2015, with final plans released before the end of the fiscal year

15/16/17 BLM
62

n Initiative

206 7 7.2

Slow, mitigate 

and reverse 

where 

feasible 

ecosystem 

degradation...

Watershed Management and Conservation Action Planning and Implementation in 

priority watersheds in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and Hawaii in collaboration 

with multiple federal, state and local entities through the US Coral Reef Task 

Force

NOAA-OCM Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

207 7 7.3

Coordinate 

the 

development 

of 

epidemiologic

al forecasting 

tools for plant 

pests and 

diseases

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Center for Plant Health 

Science Technology (CPHST), jointly with North Carolina State University’s 

Center for Integrated Pest Management and Oregon State University’s Integrated 

Plant Protection Center (IPPC), is working to integrate state of the art 

epidemiological models into APHIS pest risk analyses. These efforts inform import 

decision-making by assessing the potential impacts associated with exotic pest 

entry and establishment, being mindful of trade and land use patterns, as well as 

climate change effects.

(ongoing)

APHIS, Plant 

Protection 

and 

Quarantine 

(PPQ), 

Center for 

Plant Health 

Science and 

Technology

208 7 7.3

Enhance 

USFWS 

ability to 

identify 

invasive 

species 

threats.

The Service will continue to develop peer-reviewed tools such as the Risk 

Assessment Mapping Program (RAMP) that maps and scores invasive species 

climate niches using projections of changing climate conditions. Data generated 

by those improved risk assessment models will allow the USFWS and partners to 

better identify high-priority threats and take more effective action for the benefit of 

trust resources. This information, which incorporates climate data, will continue to 

be shared with industry, the public and State partners to promote and encourage 

environmentally responsible actions in the trade of harmful species and take 

voluntary and regulatory risk management actions.

15/16 FWS/FAC

dolores_savignano

@fws.gov and 

Craig_Martin@fws.

gov

209 7 7.3

Invasive

Species 

Program

CDFW's Invasive Species Program will continue to take action to reduce the 

negative impacts of invasive species on California's wildlands and waterways. 15/16 CDFW Invasives@wildlife.ca.gov

210 7 7.3

Non-native 

plants and 

animals

Invasive, non-native plants and animals degrade and diminish Florida's 

conservation lands and waterways. The state devotes significant resources to 

monitoring and managing these species. Efforts include Exotic Pet Amnesty Days, 

and the Python Challenge which seek to raise awareness and reduce numbers of 

exotic animals, and extensive ongoing programs to remove Hydrilla and water 

hyacinth from rivers.

Florida Fish 

and Wildlife 

Conservatio

n 

Commission

Bill.Caton@myfwc.

com (plants) or 

Kristen.Sommers

@myfwc.com

(animals)

211 7 7.3

Reinvigoratin

g 

Habitattitude 

Outreach 

Campaign

USFWS will work with industry and other partners to promote and encourage 

environmentally responsible consumer behavior in selecting and owning pets. For 

example, reinvigorating the Habitattide campaign will lead to fewer releases, 

whether accidental or intentional, of pets that pose a threat to native resources 

that are already stressed by climate change.

15/16 FWS/FAC, 

NPS, NOAA

dolores_savignano

@fws.gov and 

Craig_Martin@fws.

gov

212 7 7.3 Statewide Wisconsin has developed an invasive species identification, classification and 15/16 Wisconsin invasive.species@
63

invasive 

species 

management 

program

control rule and administers a variety of technical and financial assistance 

programs to support prevention, detection, rapid response and control efforts

Department 

of Natural 

Resources 

and 

Wisconsin 

Invasive 

Species 

Council

wisconsin.gov

213 7 7.3

SWD District 

Reservoir 

Master Plan 

Updates

Control of invasive is a goal for Corps lands; green infrastructure is a goal of all 

Corps facilities. Master Plans undergoing updating include Tenkiller, Fort Gibson, 

John Redmond, Keystone, Pat Mayes, Robert S. Kerr, Texoma, Whitney, Sam 

Rayburn, Lavon, Canyon, Addicks & Barker, Wallisville, Beaver, Table Rock, Bull 

Shoals Reservoirs.

15/16 USACE David.K.White@us

ace.army.mil

214 7 7.4

Reduce 

destructive 

capture 

practices

Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area. Maui, Hawaii NOAA-OCM Roger.B.Griffis@n

oaa.gov

215 7 7.1

Assess 

biological 

carbon stocks

The USGS has recently completed an assessment of biological carbon stocks and 

fluxes for the conterminous US based largely on remotely sensed data and 

summarized at 250m spatial resolution. The assessment is also under way for 

Hawaii and Alaska and is expected to be completed in 2015. This information will 

be used to help assure consistency across jurisdiction and with methods such as 

those used by IPCC and reporting requirements under the UNFCC. In addition, 

DOI bureaus are cooperating on several pilot projects to consider biological 

carbon management as part of their overall decision making process. The first of 

these projects is being undertaken in Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife 

Refuge by USGS and USFWS and considers the implications of water 

management strategies on carbon accumulation in peat soils and aboveground 

biomass, as well as other ecosystem services (e.g. water quality, biodiversity, 

etc.). Additional pilots are being initiated in Puget Sound, interior Alaska, Florida, 

and elsewhere. Finally, USGS is investigating blue carbon and the restoration and 

protection of coastal habitats in the mid-Atlantic coast and in mangrove 

ecosystems through pilot projects (e.g. with FWS) and is also investigating the 

integration of remote sensing with other research activities for blue carbon in 

mangrove ecosystems. A pilot study testing an approach is being initiated in 

Florida at the Ding Darling NWR in Florida.

Bradley Reed, 

reed@usgs.gov

216 7 7.1.4 Project 

Formulation

Navigation and Flood Risk Management projects are formulated and coordinated 

during the Planning process to accomplish these goals. Larger projects include 

Matagorda Ship Channel (SC), Houston SC (numerous), Gulf Intracoastal 

Waterway projects (numerous), Sabine to Galveston, Coastal Texas, and Dallas 

Floodway.

15/16 USACE Robert.W.Heinly@

usace.army.mil
64

217 7 7.1.4

Provide 

Water Utilities 

with 

Technical

Assistance for 

Climate 

Change 

Adaptation

EPA will provide technical assistance to 20-25 water utilities in the use of the 

Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). EPA is also 

updating CREAT to version 3.0 to provide enhanced data management and 

analysis services.

15 EPA Baranowski.Curt@

epa.gov

218 7 7.1.4

Restore 

floodplain 

connection to 

Big Oak Tree 

State Park, 

Missouri.

Mitigation plans for the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project 

include providing a direct surface water connection to the park from the 

Mississippi River via a gated culvert to allow river water to flow through the 

frontline levee at times of higher stages, to mimic

natural flooding.

15/16 USACE gary.l.young@usa

ce.army.mil

219 7 7.1.6

NPS portfolio 

of disturbed 

sites for 

mitigation 

banks

Create a portfolio of degraded resource categories and develop CC related 

adaptation criteria for managing these areas (to increase eligibility potential) 15/16 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

WRD, BRMD, 

GRD, NIFC

220 7 7.1.7

Ecosystem 

Benefits of 

Restoration

Develop valuation criteria and data required for key restoration activities and 

outcomes, including C sequestration 16 NPS

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

EQD, BRMD

221 7 7.2.1

COE/Texas 

Water 

Development 

Board 

Collaboration

COE/Texas Water Development Board collaboration on environmental flows, 

water rights, and water management issues in Texas. 15/16 USACE

Ray.Russo@usac

e.army.mil; 

Elston.Eckhart@us

ace.army.mil

222 7 7.2.10

Reforestation 

of mitigation 

sites with 

native 

vegetation.

Reforestation in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley would sequester 4.88 tons of 

carbon per acre/year. 15/16 USACE gary.l.young@usace.army.mil

223 7 7.2.12

CC-adapted 

fuel treatment 

impacts to 

ecosystem 

services, fire 

response, 

and 

ecosystem 

condition

Review YOSE / SEKI project results on prescribed fire and fuel prescriptions. Tie 

evaluation to climate and fire regime shifts. Provide a deliverable 16 NPS, NIFC

cat_hawkins_hoff

man@nps.gov for 

NIFC, Eckert
65

224 7 7.2.5

Incorporate 

riparian buffer 

strips into 

mitigation 

planning, St. 

Johns Bayou 

and New 

Madrid 

Floodway 

Project, 

Missouri.

The ecological benefits associated with buffer strips are numerous and include but 

are not limited to providing structure, sediment retention, nutrient removal, filtering 

agricultural runoff, as well as providing habitat to a variety of terrestrial/semiaquatic wildlife resources.

15/16 USACE gary.l.young@usa

ce.army.mil

225 7 7.2.8

Reduce 

ground and 

surface water

withdrawals in 

areas 

experiencing 

drought

and/or 

increased 

evapotranspir

ation.

Beginning in FY 2016, Reclamation will expand on current Science and 

Technology Program water conservation research to test and demonstrate new 

technologies and methods that create water savings. Projects will include 

demonstrating the benefits of innovative canal lining techniques, such as lime 

stabilization or in-situ compaction.

16 BOR draff@usbr.gov

226 7 7.2.9

cost-shared 

funding to 

plan, design, 

and construct 

water reuse 

projects

Reclamation will continue support for the Title XVI Program, which provides costshared funding to plan, design, and construct water reuse projects. Water reuse 

and recycling can turn currently unusable water sources into a new source of 

supply that is less vulnerable to drought and climate change, increasing flexibility 

and reducing the pressure to transfer water from agricultural to urban uses.

15 BOR aerath@usbr.gov

227 7 7.2.9

Expand 

WaterSense 

Program

Subject to appropriations, EPA will expand the existing WaterSense to support 

increasing the range of products covered by the WaterSense label, to build a 

broader partner base, and increase the rate of GHG, energy and water savings.

FY 16 EPA Blette.Veronica@e

pa.gov

228 7 7.3.9

Develop and 

use 

partnerships 

to leverage 

resources 

and minimize 

impacts of 

changing 

pest, disease, 

and vector 

Identify specific pests, diseases, or vectors that are changing their distribution in 

the United States as a result of climate change and identify strategies to improve 

preparedness in the face of these changes.

(ongoing)

APHIS, 

Veterinary 

Services 

(VS), 

Centers for 

Epidemiolog

y and Animal 

Health and 

APHIS, 

Wildlife 

VS- Cynthia 

Johnson 

cynthia.l.johnson@

aphis.usda.gov, 

Steve Sweeney 

steven.j.sweeney

@aphis.usda.gov, 

WS - Thomas 

Deliberto 

Thomas.J.DeLibert
66

distribution on 

the health 

and value of 

U.S. 

agriculture, 

natural, and 

other 

resources

Services 

(WS), 

National 

Wildlife 

Research 

Center

o@aphis.usda.gov

229 7 7.3.7

Invasive 

species 

monitoring in 

Mississippi 

Valley 

Division 

mitigation 

plans.

Include in Civil Works Feasibility Studies mitigation plans that prevent and monitor 

for establishment of invasive species. 15/16 USACE gary.l.young@usace.army.mil

230 7 7.3.8

Feral swine 

eradication/co

ntrol 

programs

Eradicate or control feral swine populations in all states and conduct disease 

surveillance and monitor efforts. Eradication of feral swine prevents significant 

ecological damage from their rooting in wetland and forested habitats which 

otherwise destroys habitat for native species and further exacerbates ecological 

effects of climate change.

(ongoing)

APHIS, 

Wildlife 

Services 

(WS) and 

APHIS, 

Veterinary 

Services 

(VS)

Dale Nolte, 

Dale.L.Nolte@aphi

s.usda.gov

231 7 7.3.8

The 

Chesapeake 

Bay Nutria 

Eradication 

Project 

(CBNEP)

The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project (CBNEP) aims to eradicate the 

invasive and highly damaging nutria from the Delmarva Peninsula. Eradicating 

nutria allows restoration of native coastal wetlands that are vital to protecting 

ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay Region and providing resilience to climate 

change in the region.

(ongoing) 

Estimated

completio

n 2017.

APHIS, 

Wildlife 

Services 

(WS), Nutria 

Program

232 7 7.3.9

Invasive 

Species/Clim

ate Change 

Working 

Group

The interagency and extramural working group, co-chaired by APHIS and National 

Invasive Species Council (NISC) staff members, seeks to define and provide the 

Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) and NISC with information, gaps, 

and recommendations on the intersection between climate change and invasive 

species. In FY2105, it produced a report, "Bioinvasions in a Changing World: A 

Resource on Invasive Species-Climate Change Interactions for Conservation and 

Natural Resource Management." The working group will continue to monitor the 

topic and provide ongoing updates to the report.

Report 

complete

d FY15, 

Group 

monitorin

g efforts 

and 

updates 

to report, 

ongoing.

APHIS, 

USGS, 

USFWS, 

EPA, BIA, 

USFS, DOD, 

DOI, NOAA, 

Puget Sound 

Partnership, 

CA Native 

Plant 

Society, 

Tom Hall, 

Thomas.c.hall 

@aphis.usda.gov
67

FWC, PA 

Sea Grant, 

CA Invasive 

Plant 

Council, 

North Slop 

Science 

Initiative, 

Univ. of 

Wisconsin 

Sea Grant 

Institute, MIT 

Sea Grant 

College 

Program, 

NPS, NWF, 

Metlakatla 

Indian 

Community, 

BIA
68

Appendix 2. List of acronyms

NFWPCAS National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy

JIWG Joint Implementation Working Group

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs

BLM Bureau of Land Management

BOR Bureau of Reclamation

CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife

CSC Climate Science Center

DOC Department of Commerce

DOI Department of the Interior

FWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

LCCs Landscape Conservation Cooperatives

NCCWSC National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center

NFHAP National Fish Habitat Action Plan

NIST National Institute of Standards & Technology

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA)

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOS National Ocean Service (NOAA)

NPN National Phenology Network

NPS National Park Service

SWAP State Wildlife Action Plan

USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
69

Appendix 3: Members of the Joint Implementation Working Group

 Council Environmental Quality

 Department of Agriculture

o Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

o Farm Service Agency

o Natural Resources Conservation Service

o U.S. Forest Service

 Department of Commerce

o National Marine Fisheries Service

o National Ocean Service

 Department of Defense

o U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

 Department of the Interior

o Bureau of Indian Affairs

o Bureau of Land Management

o Bureau of Reclamation

o National Park Service

o U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

o U.S. Geological Survey

 Environmental Protection Agency

 States

o California Department of Fish and Wildlife

o Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

o New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

o Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

o Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

 Tribal Commissions

o Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission