TO: SEAHG MEMBERS

From: L. D. Garrett, SEAHG Chair

Subject: Summary of findings of SEAHG Committee Meetings on Socio-Economic Program proposals for

TWG;1./15/2OL4

Date: L/I7/2O14

The SEAHG Webinar/Conference Call was convened on 1/L5/20L4 to finalize SEAHG Committee

recommendations to the TWG regarding socioeconomic programs and budget needs for the Fy 20ß/f6

program and budget period. The Chair thanked Linda Whetton, BOR and Lucas Bair, GCMRC for

developing the logistics for the meeting.

ln attendance for the meeting were the following members: Lucas Bair, Shane Capron, Leslie James, Jan

Balsom, Jerry Myers, Jane Bird, Jason Thiriot, Clayton Palmer, Jenika Raub, and Dave Garrett. Linda

Whetton, BOR documented mtg. discussions

Garrett reviewed the mtg. agenda and stated the objective for the call was to review the three SE

projects recommended on the L2/4/13 SEAHG call, and to continue to review originally recommended

projects for consideration of additional SE projects. Bair and Garrett would present overviews of the

three projects supported inThe t2/4/ L3 mtg., and the Group would then discuss and propose additional

projects that might be recommended to the TWG. The recommendations of the Group would be

summarized at the end of the meeting. The Group agreed to the objective and procedures for

documenting their recommendations.

Garrett also proposed that all developed recommendations at this meeting would be summarized by the

Chair and forwarded in a written one or two paragraph statement to the Group for review and approval

for submission to the L/29/r4 TWG meeting. The Group agreed to the proposal.

Capron noticed the Group that the 2OL5/1.6 program recommendations to the TWG from the SEAHG

should be presented at the 1'/29/t4 mtg. and would be considered with all recommendations to the

AMWG being developed by the TWG. The final TWG recommendations to AMWG onZOIS/IG programs

and budgets will not be made until the summer AMWG mtg.

Bair presented two presentations in the form of PPTs; " Economics Re5earch at GCMRC", and "Adaptive

Management".

ln the area of economics research Bair proposed that GCMRC could collaborate with the SEAHG in

development of a project that would evaluate direct expenditures on recreation in the general CRE area.

Budget may not exist for work on Lake Powell/Lake Mead. The project would be based on data from the
recently proposed NPS survey ínstrument to OMB for approval. Due to economic constraints, and the

potential higher economic values associated with non-market values, the market or direct expenditure

assessments of the original proposed survey to the SIAHG could not be pursued by the NPS. Bair noted

that Dr. Schmidt had approved this GCMRC proposal and he had also discussed it with BOR and NPS. The

primary goal would be to complete the market based assessment using data from the NPS developed

instrument. AII parties were in agreement with GCMRC proceeding with the project if support existed in

the SEAHG and it was recommended as a priority project by the SEAHG. Bair noted the methods for

pursuing the recreation market assessment would include using the existing above noted NPS survey

instrument on direct market expenditures for developing the data base. The instrument should be

available from OMB and the NPS in late 2014 or early 2015 to permit initiation of data collection. At that

point GCMRC would be responsible for data collection, analysis and reporting of the research findings.

Although the survey instrument has limited or no opportunity for revision it is comprehensive and would

offer extensive new findings on these recreation market values. Bair also projected the costs for the

project to be in the vicinity of 5240,000 which would exist in the GCMRC SE carryover budgets for

2073/201,4. And, as noted Schmidt would agree to use these funds for this activity if supported by the

SEAHG. Bair proposed that the project be accomplished in collaboration with the SEAHG and he wished

to initiate the project in the current budget cycle. However, it would not be complete until possibly

2016, after the EIS/LTEMP process is proposed for completion.

Bair requested input and questions and input were provided by James, Myers, Balsom, Thiriot, Garrett,

and Palmer. The group noted this project was a project that the SEAHG wished to initiate as quickly as

possible and should be completed by GCMRC if possible. Bair was requested to provide a brief paper to

the SEAHG that details what spec¡fic recreation market values will be pursued. Bair agreed to provide his

PPTs and a written prospectus to the SEAHG. Garrett was requested to summarize this project as a SE

project proposal by the Group.

Capron asked Bair if GCMRCs request to the SEAHG and TWG was for their support and

recommendation to start this research activity in 2Ot4 on existing funds and Bair confirmed it was the

GCMRC request. Because GCMRC wished to start the project immediately on already approved 2Ot3/L4

funds for SE research, Capron noticed that Garrett was to briefly summarize this SEAHG proposal and

submit it to the TWG for consideration on I/29/L4, and have a separate SEAHG proposal for SE projects

that would require 2015/16 budget resources. Garrett agreed to have the documents and short PPT

available to the TWG meeting.

Bair presented a second potential research project for consideration in the area of "Decision Methods to

support Adaptive Management Programs". This project is proposed for considerat¡on as a2075/L6

socioeconomic program activity. lt was proposed by the SEAHG as an information need. The focus

would be to evaluate more rapid assessment decision support methods that incorporate economic

criteria and values and therefore produce more useful planning direction on research and management

alternatives. lt would require signifícant interaction of GCMRC, SEAHG and TWG to evaluate differing

decision support methodologies and approaches to best serve the needs of the AMP. Bair provîded

arguments for the needs for the methods and general approaches that could be employed. Simplistic

examples were also presented. Further discussions of this 2075/1,6 research proposalwas supported by

the Group. Palmer and Thiriot proposed that given that the right models and economic data could be

developed, this approach would be a useful and valuable project addition to the AMP over the next two

years. A prospectus on the project was requested by the SEAHG and Bair agreed to provide it before the
TWG mtg. Garrett agreed to draft a short paragraph for Capron and Jordon on this 2OL5/I6 SE project

proposal for the TWG mtg.

Garrett reviewed the SEAHGs 12/5/13 proposal to conduct a "Non-Market Valuation Workshop" in

2015. The workshop originally was proposed with thê objective of identifying potential directions and

methods for pursuing the SEAHG recommended non-market assessment projects. However, some of

these AMP proposed projects are now already being implemented in the EIS/LTEMP process. Garrett

recommended that the SEAHG felt it should revise the objective of the workshop. Discussions by James,

Thiriot, Myer, Palmer pointed to support for a workshop in early 2015 that would focus on a general

new objective that would provide specific description of what non-market and market assessments

were currently underway for the EIS/LTEMP, what methods were being used and how the AMP might

best use the outcomes of these assessments in its ongoing planning processes for science and

management activities. Garrett reported that the original projection on the cost of the workshop was

established at S10,000 but the new objective would reduce this cost. The Group also recommended the

Workshop be attached to a regular TWG meeting if possible. Garrett agreed to develop a short

paragraph of a proposal for this project for the TWG mtg.

Garrett requested input on additional projects from the SEAHG as potential 2OL5/t6 SE program

recommendat¡ons. Garrett proposed that in his review of the SEAHG proposed lNs and projects and

projects currently underway, he identified an area that may not have ongoing or planned assessments.

It relates to assessments of Tribal values associated with Native American cultural resources. The Group

could not identify another specific 2015/76 project need to accommodate the information needs it

originally proposed. However, discussions were had by Capron, Myers, James, Thiriot, Palmer, and

others on confusion that exists on what was proposed as needed and what is planned. Capron

requested Garrett evaluate Table 3 and the approved SEAHG proposals and develop a more simplistic

table. The table and text should describe in more simplistic and brief terms what was proposed by the

SEAHG to be accomplished, what is now planned for accomplishment, and what may st¡ll be needed.

Garrett agreed to develop the assessment.

Garrett made a final request for new proposed SE projects and none were proposed. He reiterated that

the draft summary of the SEAHG meetings would be forwarded for SEAHG review and provided in final

at the TWG meeting. A short set of three paragraphs would be sent following the summary of mtgs.

The three paragraphs would be the three recommended SE projects from the SEAHG to the TWG. The

SEAHG recommended recreation market assessment is proposed for funding from2OI3/14 carryover

funds and will continue through 2Of5/76. The decision support project and non-market values

workshop are proposed for support from 2O75/L6.

This summary will be followed by the SEAHG proposal to the TWG on the three SE projects supported

for recommendation for funding in 2Ot4 and 2Ot5/16.