Synthesis Report of Local Meetings: Western Alaska Landscape Conservation Cooperative

January' 2011$ Synthesis$Report$of$Local$Meetings$ Western$Alaska$Landscape$Conservation$Cooperative$$ Prepared'by'the'Arctic'Research'Consortium'of'the'U.S.'(ARCUS)' !!! ! 2" Western'Alaska'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperative'(LCC)" Synthesis'Report'of'Local'Meetings' ! ! INTRODUCTION' The"Western"Alaska"Landscape"Conservation"Cooperative"(LCC),"one"of"five"LCCs"in" progress"or"planned"for"Alaska,"was"recently"launched"in"2010"in"an"early"pilot"stage."The" Western"AK"LCC"will"share"expertise"and"capacity"to"achieve"common"landscape" conservation"goals."The"LCC"will"bring"together"federal,"state,"tribal,"and"local"governments," academia,"and"other"partners"to"develop"tools,"synthesize"information,"and"provide"a"forum" for"collaboration"to"land"and"resource"managers"to"understand"and"respond"to"climate" change."" " One"of"the"first"activities"of"the"Western"AK"LCC"was"to"convene"a"series"of"local"meetings" throughout"the"region"to"gather"input"on"LCC"directions."This"report"summarizes"common" themes"and"suggestions"for"the"LCC"that"emerged"from"the"local"meetings." " " ABOUT'THE'LOCAL'MEETINGS' Western"AK"LCC"staff"held"a"series"of"nine"(9)"meetings"in"October"and"November"2010" throughout"the"western"Alaska"region"to"speak" with"potential"partners"and"solicit"input"on" early"directions"for"the"LCC."Meetings"were"held" in"Cold"Bay,"King"Salmon,"Dillingham," Anchorage,"Kodiak,"Bethel,"Fairbanks,"Kotzebue," and"Nome."" " More"information"about"the"local"meetings," including"the"schedule,"agendas,"and"meeting" notes,"can"be"found"through"the"LCC"meetings" website"at:"http://www.arcus.org/westernQ alaskaQlcc/localQmeetings."A"compilation"of" the"final"meeting"notes"is"also"included"in" Appendix"A"of"this"report." " Over"100"people"participated"in"the"series"of"local"meetings,"including"representatives"of" federal"and"state"agency"staff,"nonQprofit"organizations,"Alaska"Native"organizations," academia,"and"local"residents."A"list"of"local"meeting"participants"is"included"in"Appendix"B." " The"Western"Alaska"LCC"is"committed"to"collaborating"with"partners"in"order"to"build"on" each"other's"efforts."The"Rapid"Ecoregional"Assessment"(REA)"process,"led"by"the"Bureau"of" Land"Management"(BLM),"is"a"complementary"effort"that"will"provide"additional"insight"on" Map!of!the!Western!AK!LCC!Region! !!! ! 3" important"management"questions"in"the"northern"region"of"the"LCC."The"LCC"local" meetings"in"Fairbanks,"Kotzebue,"and"Nome"were"held"in"conjunction"with"the"REA"to"avoid" duplication"of"effort."More"information"about"the"REA,"including"the"REA"local"meeting" notes,"can"be"found"at:" http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/climatechange/reas/seward.html."" " " SUMMARY'HIGHLIGHTS'FROM'LOCAL'MEETING'DISCUSSIONS' In"each"of"the"meetings,"LCC"staff"presented"general"information"about"Landscape" Conservation"Cooperatives"and"then"input"was"solicited"on"several"topics"related"to"the"LCC" effort."" " Several"overarching"and"common"themes"emerged"from"the"discussions;"these"are" summarized"below"in"the"following"categories:"Observed"Biological"and"Landscape" Changes,"Data"and"Information"Needs,"Collaboration"Needs,"Communication"and"Outreach" Needs,"and"Other"Issues." " An""issues"matrix""of"input"provided"by"local"meeting"participants"is"included"in"Appendix" C,"which"provides"an"atQaQglance"summary"of"topics"discussed." " " Observed!Biological!and!Landscape!Changes! Scientists"and"local"residents"are"observing"landscape"and"ecosystem"changes"throughout" Western"Alaska"in"the"terrestrial"and"marine"domains."Many"of"these"changes"are"of" considerable"concern"to"Alaskan"communities"due"to"their"impacts"on"subsistence"and" living"conditions."Listed"below"are"several"landscape" changes"discussed"by"meeting"participants." " Caribou:)Declining"caribou"populations"and"changing" migration"patterns"have"been"observed"throughout" the"region."These"changes"in"caribou"populations"are" a"significant"concern"to"resource"managers"and"local" residents,"given"the"subsistence"and"cultural" importance"of"the"species." " Hydrology:)Hydrological"changes,"specifically"drying" ponds"and"wetlands,"have"been"observed;"these" changes"have"potential"impacts"to"wildlife"habitat" quality"and"quantity.)"" ) Coastal)Erosion:)Coastal"erosion"is"being"observed"in"several"villages"in"the"region"and"is" an"important"concern"due"to"impacts"to"housing"and"infrastructure." " " Cold!Bay,!Alaska! !!! ! 4" Vegetation)Changes:)A"variety"of"vegetation"changes"are"being"observed"in"Western" Alaska."Meeting"participants"specifically"noted"an"increase"in"shrub"growth"(e.g.,"alder"and" willow)"in"current"tundra"areas,"which"may"signify"a"loss"of"caribou"habitat." " New)or)Introduced)Species:)Several"meeting"participants"mentioned"sightings"of"species" formerly"not"seen"in"an"area"(e.g.,"skates"present"in"a"bay"and"beaver"on"the"Seward" Peninsula),"or"new"behaviors"(e.g.,"more"overwintering"Brant),"as"well"as"introduced"(e.g.," Bison"in"Kodiak"area)"or"invasive"species." " Other)Observations)of)Change:""Other"observations"of"biological"or"landscape"changes"that" were"mentioned"in"the"local"meetings"include"changes"in"fish"populations"(e.g.,"declining" catches"in"halibut"and"salmon),"wind"and"weather"changes,"and"changes"in"the"marine" environment"(e.g.,"ocean"acidification,"seal"population"distribution"changes"and"disease)."It" was"also"noted"that"human"activities"(e.g.,"energy"development,"deforestation)"should"be" included"when"considering"regional"landscape"change."" " " Data!and!Information!Needs! A"significant"portion"of"the"local"meeting"discussions"focused"on"data"and"information" needs"for"informed"decisionQmaking"and"resource"management." " Baseline)Data)and)Monitoring)of)Key)Species)and)Habitat:))Several"participants"stressed" a"large"gap"in—and"critical"need"for—baseline"data"and"ongoing"monitoring"of"species"and" habitat,"especially"for"subsistence"species"such"as"caribou"and"salmon."Participants" expressed"a"need"for"longQterm"data"that"can"be"used"to"detect"and"understand"landscape" changes"at"scales"useful"for"decisionQmaking.") " Habitat)and)Species)Models:))Meeting"participants"generally"agreed"on"the"need"for" habitat"and"species"models"to"predict"how"climate"change"will"affect"the"distribution,"range," and"habitat"of"species"(specifically"subsistence"species)."Development"of"these"models"and" translation"of"the"resulting"information"to"decisionQmakers"will"require"collaboration" across"disciplines"and"geographic"regions."" " Climate)Patterns)and)Changes)at)Local)and)Regional)Scales:))Another"information"need" discussed"was"downscaling"of"climate"change"models"and"predictions"at"regional"and"local" scales."Local"communities"and"decisionQmakers"expressed"the"need"to"understand"how" climate"change"and"other"drivers"will"affect"their"local"landscapes"in"the"next"decades." " Subsistence)Use)and)Trends:""Subsistence"use"of"landscape"resources"is"a"critical"issue" throughout"Western"Alaska,"and"meeting"participants"noted"the"need"for"more"information" on"subsistence"patterns,"as"well"as"better"information"on"how"the"distribution"and" abundance"of"subsistence"species"may"change"in"the"future."Specific"information"needs" include"potential"changes"in"travel"distances"for"subsistence"harvest"and"adaptation"of" subsistence"patterns"to"changes"in"species."" " !!! ! 5" Hydrological)Data)and)Mapping:))Hydrological"data"was"discussed"as"a"key"information" gap"in"understanding"changes"in"the"hydrological"cycle"as"well"as"potential"impacts"on" wildlife"and"water"resources."Specific"examples"of"hydrological"data"needs"include" expansion"of"hydrological"monitoring"stations"and"mapping"of"lake"boundaries." " Permafrost:))Permafrost"data"was"cited"as"a"need"for"understanding"how"climate"change"is" affecting"permafrost"and"how"those"changes"may"impact"hydrology,"coastal"erosion," vegetation"patterns,"and"infrastructure."" Geospatial)Baseline)Mapping:""Baseline"mapping"was"also"discussed"as"a"basic"data"need," including"coastline/erosion"mapping,"topographic"data"and"elevation"models,"and"satellite" and"aerial"photography."" " Other:))Other"information"needs"that"were"discussed"included:"wildlife"contaminants"and" disease,"human"impacts"and"development!(e.g.,"population"growth,"energy"development)," ocean"acidification,"the"oceanQland"interface"(e.g.,"shoreline"and"intertidal"processes)," climate"change"effects"on"public"health,"fire"frequency"and"severity,"and"pests"and"invasive" species."" " " Collaboration!Needs! There"are"urgent"needs"for"integrated"landscapeQlevel"observations"and"modeling,"yet"no" one"agency"or"organization"has"the"capacity"to"meet"these"needs."Many"local"meeting" participants"recognized"the"value"of"the"LCC"in"facilitating"improved"collaboration"and" leveraging"of"existing"efforts"and"resources."Several"specific"suggestions"for"collaborative" needs"and"activities"are"listed"below." " Clearinghouse)to)Discover,)Exchange,)and)Access)Information)and)Data:))One"of"the" most"frequent"suggestions"was"for"the"development"of"an"online"portal"or"clearinghouse" where"relevant"information"and"data"could"be"found,"including"search"and"discovery"of" scientific"data,"information"on"ongoing"and"planned"projects,"publications,"and"a"directory" of"experts."This"would"provide""oneQstopQshopping""for"a"variety"of"audiences"to"learn" about,"and"better"coordinate"with,"LCCQrelated"efforts." " Improved)Coordination)Within)and)Between)State)and)Federal)Agencies:))Several" meeting"participants"suggested"improved"coordination"of"science"activities"and"data" collection"within"and"between"state"and"federal"agencies,"as"well"improved"communication" and"collaboration"overall." " Collaboration)on)Monitoring)Protocols)and)Joint)Field)Planning:)!Participants"noted"that" scientific"collaboration"would"be"strengthened"by"coordinating"monitoring"protocols"and" joint"field"efforts;"for"example,"collaboration"in"monitoring"sites"would"result"in" complementary"studies"with"improved"spatial"and"geographic"coverage." " Fully)Integrate)Indigenous)Knowledge)and)Participation)of)Local)Residents:""Local" residents"emphasized"the"need"for"the"LCC"to"fully"integrate"Traditional"Ecological" !!! ! 6" Knowledge"(TEK)/Indigenous"Knowledge"as"a"core"component"of"science"activities."In" addition,"the"LCC"was"encouraged"to"engage"in"twoQway"communication"with"local" residents"from"the"beginning"to"end"of"LCC"activities." " Define)Clear)Roles)and)Structure)of)the)LCC:""Since"several"organizations"and"agencies"are" conducting"or"planning"efforts"relevant"to"LCC"goals,"meeting"participants"stressed"the" need"to"clearly"define"and"communicate"the"activities"and"structure"of"the"LCC"as"well"as"its" role"in"relation"to"existing"agency"efforts"and"programs."" Include)NGOs)and)Other)NonPFederal/State)Entities)in)the)LCC)Process)and)Structure:!! In"order"for"the"LCC"to"be"viewed"as"a"truly"collaborative"effort,"it"was"suggested"that"the" LCC"fully"include"nonQgovernmental"organizations"(NGOs),"Alaska"Native"organizations," and"other"groups"in"the"LCC"organizational"structure." " ! Communication!and!Outreach!Needs! Several"suggestions"related"to"communication"and"outreach"of"LCC"activities"and"science." " Public)Outreach:))Several"meeting"participants"discussed"the"need"to"provide"local" communities"and"Alaskan"residents"information"on"science"and"resource"management"that" is"easily"understandable"and"can"be"used"to"inform"decisionQmaking."A"related"suggestion" was"to"make"a"concerted"effort"to"engage"and"inform"the"broader"public/taxpayers"on"the" value"of"the"LCC"and"its"relevance." " Outreach)to)Agencies,)PolicyPMakers,)and)the)Science)Community:)"Specific"suggestions" for"outreach"to"the"scientific,"agency,"and"resource"management"communities"included"a" brochure"geared"to"upperQlevel"policyQmakers,"a"newsletter,"and"regular"communications" on"LCC"activities."" " KP12)and)College)Student)Outreach)and)Training:))Another"outreach"suggestion"was"to" engage"students"through"targeted"educational"activities"to"encourage"science"as"a"career,"or" LCC"internships.") " ! Other!Issues! Other"input"provided"through"the"local"meetings"focused"on"LCC"organizational"issues," including"the"following"suggestions:" • The"LCC"should"ensure"that"longQterm"funding"will"exist"for"LCC"activities;"this"should" be"communicated"to"potential"partners"and"collaborators"to"encourage"participation"in" the"effort." • The"LCC"should"design"LCC"decisionQmaking"processes"(selecting"of"committee" representatives"and"working"groups,"funding"decisions,"etc.)"to"be"clear"and" transparent,"and"the"decisionQmaking"processes"should"be"communicated"to"those" outside"the"LCC"structure." !!! ! 7" • The"LCC"should"consider"ways"to"provide"information"to"decisionQmakers"that"can" facilitate"decisions"in"the"shortQterm;"science"and"research"can"be"a"long"process,"but" decisionQmakers"need"information"immediately." " " NEXT'STEPS' The"series"of"local"meetings"convened"by"Western"Alaska"LCC"staff"provided"an"excellent" forum"for"discussing"community"needs"throughout"the"region."The"issues"raised"and" discussed"in"the"local"meetings"will"be"reviewed"and"discussed"by"the"LCC"interim"Steering" Committee"and"will"help"formulate"the"agenda"and"goals"for"a"Western"AK"LCC"science" workshop"to"be"held"in"April"2011."This"science"workshop"will"bring"together"land"and" resource"managers"(from"state,"federal,"and"Native"Alaskan"management"entities),"field" specialists,"researchers,"conservation"organizations,"academia,"and"others"to"help"identify" early"science"needs"for"the"new"Western"Alaska"LCC." " More"information"on"the"Western"Alaska"LCC"can"be"found"through"the"LCC"website"at:" http://www.arcus.org/westernQalaskaQlcc."" ! 1! Appendix(A.(Summary(Notes(from(Local(Meetings( ( The$Western$Alaska$LCC$is$committed$to$collaborating$with$partners$in$order$to$build$on$each$ other's$efforts.$The$Rapid$Ecoregional$Assessment$(REA)$process,$led$by$the$Bureau$of$Land$ Management$(BLM),$is$a$complementary$effort$that$will$provide$additional$insight$on$ important$management$questions$in$the$northern$region$of$the$LCC.$The$LCC$local$meetings$ in$Fairbanks,$Kotzebue,$and$Nome$were$held$in$conjunction$with$the$REA$to$avoid$duplication$ of$effort.$More$information$about$the$REA,$including$the$REA$local$meeting$notes,$can$be$ found$at:$http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/climatechange/reas/seward.html.$$ $ $ Western(Alaska(Landscape(Conservation(Cooperative((LCC)(Meeting( Cold(Bay,(Alaska( 5!October!2010! ! Summary(Meeting(Notes( ! I.(Introductions((Susan!Fox,!ARCUS,!Facilitator;!see!participant!list!at!end!of!notes)( ! II.(Western(AK(LCC(Presentation((Karen!Murphy,!Western!LCC!Coordinator)( ! III.(Open(Discussion(( ! (((((A.(What(Are(Your(Observations(of(Landscape(or(Species(Changes?(Participants!were!!! !asked!to!discuss!any!changes!they!have!observed!in!the!landscape!or!wildlife:! • Drying/lower$water$level$of$ponds!–!Have!seen!more!drying!ponds!this!year!(and! different!ponds)!than!past!years!(perhaps!due!to!precipitation!changes!this!year?).! One!participant!noted!that!drying!like!this!was!not!evident!a!few!decades!ago!and! this!is!one!of!the!most!evident!of!recent!landscape!changes.!Another!longRterm! resident!noted!that!the!drying!seems!to!go!in!cycles!and!that!this!pattern!has! occurred!before.!! • Caribou!–!One!participant!noted!that!the!most!dramatic!impact!he!has!seen!is!in! decline!in!caribou!in!recent!years.!! – It!was!noted!that!from!a!refuge!management!standpoint,!this!is!a!critical! issue!–!to!understand!caribou!population!and!predator!dynamics,!forage! availability!and!use,!etc.!–!need!good!monitoring!activities.! • Fish!–!Halibut!fishing!not!as!productive!(and!smaller!fish)!in!recent!years.!Salmon! runs!have!been!later!the!last!few!years,!and!poor!silver!salmon!run!this!year.!Unsure! of!anyone!doing!fish!surveys.!Skates!are!now!present!in!the!bay,!where!they!had!not! been!seen!before.!! • Winds!–!One!noticeable!change!has!been!wind!direction,!which!historically!was! SE/NW,!whereas!now!see!more!easterly!winds.!!! ! 2! • Other!–!No!observations!noted!of!obvious!shrub!or!other!vegetation!changes,!or! obvious!increases!in!invasive!species.!Reports!from!other!western!Alaska!villages! that!residents!are!seeing!bird!species!they!had!not!seen!before.!Local!glaciers!might! be!good!indicators!of!landscape!change!–!perhaps!look!at!historical!aerial! photographs!and!compare!to!today!(one!participant!has!a!contact!person!for!this,! will!provide!after!meeting).!Cold!weather!came!in!this!year!about!3!weeks!earlier! than!usual!and!it!seemed!to!be!a!colder!winter!than!normal.!Also!seemed!to!have!a! late!spring.! ! (((((B.(Suggestions(for(Other(Groups(and(Potential(Partners?(Participants!were!asked!for! !suggestions!on!other!organizations,!agencies,!or!groups!that!the!LCC!should!be! !aware!of!as!potential!partners:( • King!Cove!Corporation! • Overall,!need!improved!cooperation!between!state!and!federal!agencies! • Good!cooperation!currently!between!state!and!federal!refuges,!could!build!on!that! • Important!to!entrain!residents!who!can!provide!observations!from!a!longRterm!view! • Clarify!relationships/activities!with!the!USGS!Alaska!Climate!Science!Center!and! NOAA!Climate!Service!to!ensure!no!duplication!of!effort! • Important!to!entrain!relevant!NGO's!at!the!science!level! ! (((((C.(Other(Comments(and(Suggestions?(Discussion!was!opened!for!any!other!comments! !or!suggestions:( • The!process!of!science!and!research!can!take!a!long!time,!but!decisionRmakers!are! under!pressure!to!make!decisions!immediately!and!in!the!short!term!–!LCC!should! consider!ways!to!provide!information!that!can!facilitate!decisions!in!the!nearRterm.! ! ! IV.(Meeting(Participants( 1.!Margaret!Petersen!! 2.!Niels!Dau!! 3.!Dirk!Derksen!(USGS)!! 4.!Tammy!Muller!! 5.!Geoffrey!Lloyd!! 6.!Audrey!Bohl!(USFWS)! 7.!Didem!Ikis!(Pennsylvania!State!University)! 8.!!Tyrone!Donnelly!(USGS)!! 9.!!Franz!Muller!(USFWS)!! 10.!Ken!Peterson!! 11.!Bruce!Casler!(USFWS)!! 12.!Nancy!Hoffman!(USFWS)!! 13.!Haim!Wenger! 14.!Jorge!Lopez!! ! 3! • In!addition!to!the!regional!level!(i.e.!'western!Alaska'),!also!need!more!local!data! • Relevant!publication:!Traditional!Ecological!Knowledge!of!20thNCentury!Ecosystems! and!Fish!Population!in!the!Kuskokwim!Bay!Region.!Robbin!LaVine,!Bristol!Bay! Native!Association,!Mark!Lisac,!USFWS,!Phillipa!CoileyNKenner,!AK!Dept.!of!Fish!and! Game.!Final!Report,!Fisheries!Resources!Monitoring!Program,!FIS!04N35! ! ! IV.'Meeting'Participants' 1. Jody!Seitz,!City!of!Dillingham!! 2. Celeste!Novak,!BB!CSRA!! 3. Michael!Swaim,!Togiak!NWR!! 4. Lorraine!King,!Ekwok!Village!Council!! 5. Mark!Lisac,!Togiak!NWR!! 6. Jon!Dyasuk,!Togiak!NWR!! 7. Ted!Krieg,!Subsistence!Division,!Ak!Dept.!of!Fish!and!Game!! 8. Norm!Anderson,!BBNA!! 9. Duncan!Nielsen,!Togiak!NWR!! 10. Jason!Dye,!Sport!Fish,!AK!Dept!Fish!and!Game!! 11. Jim!Woolington,!Wildlife!Conservation,!AK!Dept!Fish!and!Game!! 12. Paul!Liedberg,!Togiak!NWR!! 13. Jim!Loiland,!NRCS!! 14. Tevis!Underwood,!Togiak!NWR!! 15. Frank!Woods,!BBNA!! 16. Michele!Masley,!Bristol!Bay!Campus!! !!!!!!!NNNNNNN! Karen!Murphy,!Western!AK!LCC!Coordinator!! Susan!Fox,!ARCUS! Helen!Wiggins,!ARCUS!! ! ! 1! Western'AK'and'Arctic'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperatives'(LCC)' Joint'Anchorage'Meeting' Tuesday,!19!October!2010! ' Summary'Notes' ' ' I.'Introductions'' (Susan!Fox,!ARCUS,!Facilitator;!see!list!of!participants!at!end!of!notes)' ! ! II.'Joint'Western'AK'and'Arctic'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperative'(LCC)' Presentation' A!PowerPoint!presentation!by!LCC!staff!provided!an!overview!of!the!LCC!effort!and!a!brief! update!on!the!status!of!the!Western!AK!LCC!and!the!Arctic!LCC.! • The!Western!Alaska!LCC!overview!slides!were!presented!by!Karen!Murphy,!Western! LCC!Coordinator! • The!Arctic!LCC!overview!slides!were!presented!by!Greg!Balogh,!Arctic!LCC!Coordinator! ! ! III.'General'Discussion'on'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperatives'(LCCs)'D'Meeting! participants!were!invited!to!ask!general!questions!about!the!LCC!efforts.' ! 'Overall'Governance,'Budget,'and'Structural'Issues'–'Several!questions!arose!on!the! overall!structure!and!processes!of!the!LCCs:! • A!participant!requested!clarification!of!the!LCC!decisionRmaking!process:!Greg!Balogh! addressed!this!question!since!the!Arctic!LCC!has!a!charter!(while!the!Western!AK!LCC! has!not!been!officially!formed!yet):! – The!LCC!Steering!Committee!steers!the!LCC!direction,!while!the!LCC!staff! have!some!latitude!in!decisionRmaking,!as!granted!by!the!Steering! Committee.!In!general,!the!LCC!staff!serves!the!Steering!Committee,!but! without!being!staff!"of"!the!Steering!Committee.!LCC!staff!draw!on!collective! wishes!of!the!Steering!Committee.!Big!decisions!of!the!LCC!are!supposed!to! be!made!by!consensus.! ! • Question!on!the!absence!of!nonRgovernmental!organizations!on!the!LCC!Steering! Committee.!!! – LCC!staff!responded!that!the!Steering!Committee!is!now!limited!by!the! Federal!Advisory!Committee!Act!(FACA,!1972)!and!so!is!currently!limited!to! "governmentRtoRgovernment"!partnerships.!However,!the!LCC!is!working!on! this!issue!in!DC!and!exploring!options!so!that!nonRgovernmental! organizations!could!serve!on!the!Steering!Committee.!For!now,!NGOs!are! included!in!the!"partnershipsRatRlarge"!level!and!also!can!be!represented! within!the!LCC!Technical!Working!Groups.!' ! 2! – Joel!Reynolds,!Western!AK!LCC!Science!Coordinator,!noted!that!there!is!a! national!LCC!meeting!scheduled!this!fall!in!DC,!where!LCC!procedures!and! structure!will!be!addressed,!so!that!Western!and!Arctic!LCC!staff!can!bring!up! these!issues!at!the!national!level.' ' • Question!asking!for!an!overview!of!the!LCC!budget! !!!!!!!Response!for!the!Arctic!LCC!(response!by!Greg!Balogh):! – The!Arctic!LCC!is!funded!at!a!$2M!base,!with!$1M!to!use!as!seed!money!for! science!projects!and!$1M!for!salaries/travel/administrative!costs.!! – The!vision!is!that!the!LCCs!will!be!able!to!award!project!seed!money!to!other! entities!–!university!researchers,!other!agencies,!NGO!science!staff,!etc.!! – The!LCCs!will!be!working!on!the!details!as!far!as!how!funding!calls!will!be! structured.!! – In!addition,!part!of!the!vision!of!the!LCC!is!that!ideas!will!bubbleRup!above! the!LCC!level!into!each!agency,!for!example,!through!the!Alaska!Climate! Change!Executive!Roundtable!(ACCER),!where!additional!funding!and! resources!could!be!leveraged.!! – Participation!on!an!LCC!Steering!Group!or!Working!Group!does!not!prevent!a! partner!from!seeking!LCC!project!funding.! ! !!!!!!!Response!for!the!Western!AK!LCC!(response!by!Karen!Murphy):! – The!Western!AK!LCC!funding!is!not!yet!finalized,!but!they!hope!for!a!similar! funding!level!to!the!Arctic!LCC.!! – For!the!Western!AK!LCC,!once!they!know!if!they!have!project!funds,!they!will! be!looking!for!initial!project!ideas!for!the!shorterRterm,!and!then!they!will! have!a!longerRterm!strategy!once!the!LCC!is!in!place!and!priorities!are! determined.!!These!meetings,!plus!the!science!meeting!in!the!spring,!will!help! determine!initial!direction!for!the!LCC.! ! • Question!on!the!Distinction!between!"Deep"!Versus!"Applied"!Science!in!LCC's! – Greg!Balogh!R!The!LCCs!could!address!both!"basic"!research!and!applied! science,!but!in!general!the!LCC!would!be!more!directed!to!applied!science,! while!the!Alaska!Climate!Science!Center!(CSC,!led!by!USGS)!will!be! addressing!the!"deep!science"!or!basic!research.!However,!basic!science! activities!like!filling!in!gaps!in!current!monitoring/observing!networks!might! be!accomplished!through!LCCs.!The!LCCs!and!CSC!will!coordinate!closely!to! ensure!no!duplication!of!effort.! ' • Question!regarding!LCC!sustainability!and!longRterm!funding! – LCC!staff!reported!that!the!intent!of!LCCs!is!to!be!longRterm!and!sustainable,! though!government!funding!is!always!"year!by!year."!!! – A!meeting!participant!noted!that!the!government!does!not!always!have!to! work!"year!by!year"!and!there!are!mechanisms!to!fund!sustainable,!multiR ! 3! year!programs!(such!as!Long!Term!Ecological!Research!Network!sites! (LTER),!and!so!the!LCC!should!get!firm!commitment!on!LCC!as!a!longRterm! effort,!which!will!help!potential!partners!see!the!value!in!committing!time!or! resources!to!LCCs.!! – During!the!initial!startRup!years!of!the!LCCs,!projects!that!do!not!need! multiple!years!of!funding!are!preferred!so!as!to!not!overRcommit!funding! while!LCC!direction/priorities!are!being!established.!There!is!the!potential! for!making!multiRyear!commitments!to!address!LCC!priorities!in!the!future.! ' ' Relation'of'LCC'to'Other'Ongoing'Efforts' • Several!participants!asked!how!the!LCCs!will!avoid!duplicating!efforts!of!current! agencies!and!groups.!LCC!staff!recognized!this!concern!and!addressed!the!question!with! the!following!points:' – The!core!vision!of!the!LCCs!is!that!they!would!build!on!or!supplement! existing!efforts!and!partnerships,!not!duplicate!work.!' – The!LCCs!will!be!managed!to!help!leverage!funds!for!the!highest!priority! science!needs.! – LCC!will!also!have!staff!that!can!help!build!and!sustain!collaborations.!! – There!is!not!a!lot!of!funding!available!for!science!in!the!Arctic!and!Alaska,! even!though!there!are!a!lot!of!science!needs!and!gaps!in!the!region,!so!LCC! can!help!supplement!that.!' – For!example,!environmental!monitoring!activities!might!be!undertaken!by! various!agencies!and!projects,!but!an!LCC!could!pull!these!together!through!a! database!and/or!tie!individual!projects!in!with!larger!agency!activities.!' ! • Several!meeting!participants!emphasized!the!need!for!the!LCCs!to!become!aware!of,!and! build!on,!already!existing!or!developing!efforts!or!documents,!including!those!efforts! that!have!already!identified!various!research!priorities.!LCC!staff!agreed!and!these! meetings!are!one!of!the!first!steps!in!that!process.!' ' • Question!to!LCC!staff!regarding!connections!with!international!partners! – For!Arctic!LCC,!have!had!initial!connections!with!Canada!so!far,!but!will!do! this!more.!! – For!Western!AK!LCC,!they!have!talked!with!Canada!Wildlife!Service!and! Environment!Canada!–!both!are!interested!in!engaging;!have!not!yet! connected!with!Russia.!And!there!are!also!circumpolar!groups!that!will!need! to!engage!with.! – Participant!suggestion!to!talk!with!Arctic!Council!and!AMAP!for!Arctic!LCC! ! • One!participant!noted!that!public!health!and!how!climate!change!will!affect!disease!is! an!important!landscape!issue!that!the!LCCs!could!consider.! ! 4! ! ' ' ' ' ' ' IV.'Discussion'on'the'Arctic'LCC'Specifically'! • Greg!Balogh!presented!a!PowerPoint!focused!on!the!Arctic!LCC,!including!information! on!the!Arctic!LCC!Steering!Committee!and!"Partnerships!at!Large,!"!staffing,!funded! projects,!and!the!Technical!Working!Groups.!! ! ! 'General'Arctic'LCC'Questions! ' • Question!on!the!balance!in!the!Arctic!LCC!between!terrestrial!and!marine!focus! – Terrestrial!science!was!the!initial!focus!for!Arctic!LCC's!first!set!of!projects.! The!LCC!is!currently!urging!NOAA!to!get!as!active!as!possible!in!the!LCC!so! that!the!LCC!can!include!more!of!the!marine!realm!(marine!mammals,!sea! birds,!etc.).!Overall,!the!LCC!plans!to!becomes!more!even!between!marine! and!terrestrial!science,!and!they!also!need!to!talk!with!those!involved!with! White!House's!National!Ocean!Council!(NOC)!and!Coastal!and!Marine!Spatial! Planning!efforts.! – Joel!Reynolds!(Western!AK!LCC!Science!Coordinator)!–!The!Western!AK!LCC! also!has!these!issues!in!mind,!and!have!spoken!with!the!Alaska!Ocean! Observing!System!(AOOS)!staff!to!ensure!the!Western!AK!LCC!builds!on! AOOS!efforts,!especially!in!the!data!management/data!discovery!realm.! ! • Questions!on!the!LCC!funded!projects!! !Question!on!where!more!information!on!2010!funded!projects!can!be!found:!! – The!LCC!will!be!putting!more!information!on!the!website,!and!are!also! working!on!fact!sheets!about!projects!that!will!be!distributed!and!posted!on! the!website.!!! Question!on!whether!the!Steering!Committee!members,!when!they!approved!the! research!projects,!ensured!they!did!not!overlap!existing!efforts:! – In!the!initial!round!of!2010!projects,!LCC!staff!(Philip!Martin,!Science! Coordinator)!guided!the!selection!of!projects!based!on!the!LCC!WildREACH! workshop!report!and!other!documents.!For!the!selection!of!2010!projects,! they!did!not!have!time!for!a!formal!planning!or!decision!process,!but!in!the! future,!projects!will!be!determined!based!on!agreedRupon!priorities.! – Greg!directed!additional!questions!on!the!currently!funded!projects!to!Philip! Martin,!Arctic!LCC!Science!Coordinator!([email protected])!! ! ! ! 5! Discussion'on'Technical'Working'Groups' • Greg!emphasized!that!there!are!opportunities!for!meeting!participants!to!participate!in! any!of!the!Technical!Working!Groups!(currently!have!five:!Geospatial!Data,!Hydrology,! Permafrost,!Coastal!Processes,!and!Climate!and!Downscaled!Modeling)!and!none!of!the! membership!is!set.! ! • Question!on!how!the!topics!for!the!Technical!Working!Groups!were!chosen.! – They!were!chosen!based!on!the!WildREACH!report!and!NSSI!documents,!with! a!focus!on!physical!processes,!rather!than!speciesRdriven.!! ! • Question!on!how!the!membership!of!the!Technical!Working!Groups!are!formed! – The!Steering!Committee!approves!the!creation!of!a!Working!Group,!but!does! not!determine!the!membership.!! – So!far,!Philip!Martin!has!led!initial!discussions!for!Working!Group! membership!and!is!reaching!into!the!various!science!communities!to!find! members!with!relevant!expertise,!asking!for!40–60!hours/year!commitment! from!members.!! – The!Technical!Working!Groups!are!just!being!formed!now!and!nothing!is!set! or!final.!So!far,!the!geospatial!group!is!the!only!group!that!has!met!(they!have! met!once).! ! • Meeting!participants!discussed!suggestions!for!other!or!additional!Technical!Working! Groups,!including:! – Human/community!impacts!! – Wildlife,!and/or!a!clearer!avenue!for!wildlife!biologists!to!participate!in!the! Working!Groups!and!to!ensure!priorities!are!related!to!wildlife!management! needs! – Habitat!connectivity!! – Species!of!Interest! – Project!tracking!(perhaps!as!subRgroup!under!the!Geospatial!Working!Group)! – Marine!issues!(either!as!separate!group!or!subRgroup)! – LongRterm!monitoring!! – Vegetation!(might!include!rare!species,!vegetation/cover!type!mapping,! habitat,!etc.)! – Subsistence! ! • Other!suggestions!from!meeting!participants!relevant!to!the!working!groups!included:! – LCC!could!consider!targeting!Working!Groups!at!a!broader!level!(from!which! more!specific!projects!could!be!developed),!with!different!areas!of! disciplinary!expertise!within!each!group.! – LCC!should!look!to!statewide!groups!for!efforts!already!in!place!(e.g.,!invasive! species!statewide!group).! ! 6! – LCC!should!think!more!about!communication!and!interaction!among!the! Working!Groups!as!well!as!between!the!Working!Groups!and!other!efforts,!as! the!science!and!management!issues!are!crossRcutting!and!do!not!have! defined!disciplinary!or!geographic!boundaries.! – LCCs!might!want!to!think!about!Working!Group!topics!that!are!broad!enough! to!be!the!same!across!the!Alaska!LCCs,!for!consistency.! – Need!some!type!of!coordinated!effort!for!downscaling/modeling!work.! – The!Steering!Committee!needs!to!decide!on!a!process!for!integrating!nonRLCC! efforts!into!the!LCC!Working!Groups,!to!avoid!duplication!of!work.! ' • Question!on!how!LCC!science!staff!positions!(geospatial!specialist,!data!manager,! hydrologist,!data!modeler)!will!fit!into!the!Working!Groups:! – The!LCC!geospatial!specialist!recently!hired!is!heading!up!Geospatial! Working!Group.!But!there!will!not!be!an!LCC!science!staff!person!to!lead!each! Working!Group!–!this!is!where!the!LCC!will!need!various!partners!to!help! lead!Working!Groups.! ' ! Existing'Efforts'and'Potential'Partnerships' • Several!participants!asked!for!clarification!on!the!relationship!between!the!North!Slope! Science!Initiative!(NSSI)!and!the!Arctic!LCC.!LCC!staff!addressed!the!question!with!the! following!points:' – The!Arctic!LCC!has!a!unique!situation!because!the!NSSI!is!in!place!and!has! already!done!a!lot!of!work.!!The!LCC!and!NSSI!have!been!discussing!how!to! work!together!and!leverage!funding.!! – The!NSSI!is!not!a!voting!presence!on!the!Arctic!LCC!Steering!Committee,!but! their!Executive!Director!regularly!attends!Steering!Committee!meetings.!!The! NSSI!and!the!LCC!have!a!lot!of!overlap!in!membership,!and!the!LCC!will! hopefully!be!adding!the!North!Slope!Borough!to!the!Steering!Committee!in! the!future!(a!seat!awaits!them).! – One!difference!to!note!between!the!NSSI!and!the!LCC!is!that!the!geographic! focus!of!the!NSSI!is!the!North!Slope,!while!the!LCC!is!broader,!including! marine!waters!within!the!exclusive!economic!zone!(EEZ).!Also,!the!LCC!is! being!organized!within!a!national!framework!of!LCCs,!with!eventual!goal!that! the!science!done!within!each!LCC!can!be!scaled!up!to!a!national!level.!For!the! LCCs,!there!will!be!a!national!framework!for!data!integration,!monitoring! protocols,!etc.!! – Several!participants!discussed!an!effort!by!NSSI!to!develop!a!projectRtracking! database!to!share!information!on!research!projects!being!conducted!in!arctic! Alaska,!and!suggested!that!this!might!be!a!good!effort!for!the!LCC!to!link!to! and/or!build!on.!The!National!Science!Foundation!also!has!funded!a!projectR tracking!mapping!database.!The!Alaska!Ocean!Observing!System!(AOOS)!is! also!undertaking!a!project!database.!Participants!familiar!with!these!efforts! ! 7! stressed!that!projectRtracking!databases!require!a!lot!of!coordination!and! staff!time.! – A!meeting!participant!noted!that!the!NSSI!is!working!on!a!paper!on!the! history!of!science!on!the!North!Slope,!as!well!as!a!paper!that!synthesizes! research!issues!and!needs!on!the!North!Slope!(e.g.,!need!for!development!of! future!scenarios,!need!for!longRterm!monitoring);!these!NSSI!documents! could!be!drawn!on!in!the!LCC!effort.! ! • Geographic!Information!Network!of!Alaska!(GINA;!http://www.gina.alaska.edu/)! provides!a!framework!for!linking!to!geospatial!data.! ! • There!are!major!longRterm!issues!of!developing!data!discovery!and!access!tools!for!the! arctic!that!should!be!resolved.! ! • There!are!already!statewide!groups!focused!on!various!topical!issues,!for!example!the! Alaska!Invasive!Species!Working!Group!(http://www.uaf.edu/ces/aiswg/),!and!the!LCC! should!contact!and!link!to!these.! ! • A!nonRgovernmental!resource!that!could!be!useful!is!the!Climate!Adaptation!Knowledge! Exchange!(CAKE;!http://www.cakex.org/),!which!is!building!a!shared!knowledge!base! for!managing!natural!systems!in!the!face!of!rapid!climate!change.!! ! • It!is!important!for!the!LCC!to!get!away!from!the!restrictions!of!Federal!Advisory! Committee!Act!(FACA)!and!only!having!government!agencies!on!the!LCC!Steering! Committee.!! ! • Participant!question!on!tribal!consultation.!LCC!staff!responded!that!they!are!seeking!to! involve!tribes!and!other!native!organizations,!and!also!hope!to!get!the!North!Slope! Borough!participating!in!the!Steering!Committee.! ! • LCC!staff!emphasized!that!the!LCC!can!help!"connect!the!dots"!between!existing! activities!and!communicate!between!groups;!the!LCC!does!not!want!to!reRinvent!any! efforts.! ! • LCC!staff!would!like!to!help!build!a!process!or!tools!that!link!together!relevant!efforts! and!projects,!whether!or!not!they!are!funded!through!the!LCC!R!perhaps!a!web!resource.!! ! ! Communications'–'Participants!shared!several!ideas!for!LCC!communications!and! networking!activities:! • Despite!all!the!meetings!various!groups!hold,!there!is!still!a!gap!for!placeRbased! meetings!focused!on!the!North!Slope.!It!would!be!useful!to!be!able!to!meet!regularly! about!regional!issues!(perhaps!annually,!similar!to!the!Alaska!Marine!Science! Symposium).!! ! 8! ! • The!LCC!might!consider!a!focus!on!what!local!communities!and!resources!managers! need!to!know!and!the!issues!they!face.!! ! • LCC!should!consider!working!on!the!agency!'branding'!of!LCCs!–!now!it!appears!to!be!a! USFWS!effort,!not!interagency.!For!example,!for!LCC!meetings,!might!avoid!holding! them!primarily!in!FWS!buildings.! ! ! • Question!on!whether!the!Arctic!LCC!has!a!communication!plan! – The!LCC!does!not!have!an!external!communication!plan!yet,!but!are!thinking! about!these!issues!and!potential!activities!–!such!as!an!annual!conference!or! other!ways!people!can!get!information!and!participate.! ! ! Measures'of'Success'–'Participant!asked!the!LCC!staff!how!they!will!measure!success!of! the!LCCs! • LCC!staff!responded!that!one!measure!of!success!will!be!forming!partnerships,! increasing!communication!between!groups,!and!networking.!The!other!measure!of! success!would!be!if!activities!generated!through!the!LCC!informed!onRtheRground! conservation!goals.!The!nationwide!LCC!network!is!now!discussing!the!metrics!of! success,!as!well.! ! • One!participant!noted!that!one!of!the!most!exciting!possibilities!of!the!LCC!is!the! potential!for!the!LCC!to!provide!a!contact!or!clearinghouse!that!could!answer!questions! from!communities!on!landscape!science,!climate!change!data,!etc.!! – LCC!staff!responded!that!they!could!envision!the!LCC!providing!that!role,!but! also!envision!twoRway!communications,!so!that!the!community!and!scientists! would!contribute!to!the!LCC!clearinghouse!as!well!as!look!to!the!LCC!for! information.!! ! ! Other'Questions' • Question!on!whether!there!would!be!cooperation!between!the!AK!LCCs!in!staffing,!as! there!should!be!coordination!between!the!LCCs!to!avoid!duplication! – The!LCCs!are!in!the!process!of!discussing!this!issue.! ! • Question!on!what!will!happen!to!LCCs!if!there!is!a!change!in!the!White!House! administration,!as!there!is!concern!and!people!are!reluctant!to!get!involved!for!fear!that! the!LCCs!will!not!be!a!longRterm!activity! – The!LCCs!will!be!talking!about!this!at!a!national!and!agency!level,!and!hope! that!the!LCC!becomes!"institutionalized"!as!a!branch!of!Department!of! Interior.! ! ! 9! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Participant'List' Name' Organization' 1.!Mike!Brubaker! Ak!Native!Tribal!Health!Consortium!! 2.!Caryn!Rea! Conoco!Phillips!! 3.!Karla!Dutton! Defenders!of!Wildlife!! 4.!Michael!Shephard! NPS! 5.!Cheryl!Rosa! USARC! 6.!John!Payne! North!Slope!Science!Initiative!(NSSI)! 7.!Wendy!Loya! The!Wilderness!Society! 8.!Dee!Williams! BOEMRE! 9.!Nils!Warnick! Audubon!Alaska! 10.!Steve!Zack! Wildlife!Conservation!Society! 11.!Dave!Howell! BLM! 12.!Steph!McAfee! The!Wilderness!Society! 13.!Mike!Daigneault! AK!Dept.!Fish!and!Game! 14.!Joel!Clemant! Wilburforce!Foundation! 15.!Andrew!Hartsig! Ocean!Conservancy! 16.!Keith!Boggs! AK!Natural!Heritage!Program/UAA! 17.!Monica!McTeague! AK!Natural!Heritage!Program/UAA! 18.!Eric!F.!Myers! Audubon!Alaska! 19.!Bill!Streever! BP! 20.!Mark!Shasby! USGS! 21.!Cindi!Jacobson! USFWS! 22.!Kristin!(Holzinger)!K'eit! BIA! 23.!June!McAfee! Calista!Corp.! 24.!Evie!Witten! The!Nature!Conservancy! 25.!Diane!Sanzone! BP! 26.!Crystal!Leonetti! USFWS! Greg!Balogh! Arctic!LCC!Coordinator! Karen!Murphy! Western!AK!LCC!Coordinator! Joel!Reynolds! Western!AK!LCC!Science!Coordinator! Susan!Fox! ARCUS,!Facilitation! Helen!Wiggins! ARCUS,!Facilitation! ! ! 2! monitoring,!a!salmon!project!to!examine!stream!conditions,!and!moose!exclusion! surveys!to!assess!affect!of!moose!grazing!on!vegetation.!! ! • The!refuge!developed!a!document!that!prioritized!refuge!science!needs!entitled:!"Yukon! Delta!National!Wildlife!Refuge:!2008!Biological!Review."!Thomas!Doolittle,!Supervisory! Wildlife!Biologist.!May!25,!2009.![Note:!Tom!Doolittle!provided!a!PDF!of!the!report].! ! • Other!USFWS!refuges!have!also!done!various!science!prioritization!exercises!(including! the!Izembek!and!Kodiak!refuges).! ! • Relevant!groups!for!science!in!this!region!include:!Ducks!Unlimited! (http://www.ducks.org/alaska),!the!Alaska!SeaLife!Center! (http://www.alaskasealife.org/),!Native!Corporations!and!Village!Councils!(could! consider!videoconferencing!to!reach!area!villages),!and!Alaska!Department!of!Fish!and! Game!(http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/).!It!was!noted!that!there!is!a!specific!need!for! improved!collaboration!between!federal!and!state!agencies.! ! ! 'C.'Important'Science'or'Data'Needs' • A!major!data!gap!for!the!refuge!is!a!baseline!inventory!and!monitoring!of!species!and! habitat.!Currently,!the!majority!of!observations!on!landscape!or!species!changes!are! anecdotal!(e.g.,!increasing!moose,!increasing!shrubs),!so!there!is!a!need!for!baseline! data!and!monitoring!to!detect!changes,!as!well!as!information!on!how!species!may!or! may!not!be!adapting!to!changing!conditions.! ! • Also!need!to!build!and!improve!monitoring!partnerships!across!agencies!and! organizations.! ! • Data!on!contaminants!in!fish!and!marine!mammals!is!needed!(e.g.,!beluga!is!an! important!subsistence!species!for!coastal!communities).! ! • Examples!of!specific!data!gaps!include!data!on!eelgrass,!berries!and!terrestrial/aquatic! insects!(wildlife!food!sources),!and!understanding!possible!effects!of!sea!level!rise!on! salinization!of!freshwater!habitats.! ! • It!is!important!to!consider!other!landscape!changes!in!addition!to!climate!change,!such! as!development/population!growth,!contaminants,!and!ocean!acidification.! ' ' 'D.'Overall'Suggestions'for'LCC'Planning'and'Implementation'' • One!of!the!most!critical!issues!for!the!LCC!is!to!ensure!it!has!longUterm!funding.! ! • LCC!could!consider!producing!a!very!simple,!short,!easyUtoUread!brochure!geared!to! upperUlevel!management!and!policyUmakers!to!entrain!broad!support.!If!possible,!this! document!would!highlight!where!the!LCC!was!able!to!leverage!funds!(e.g.,!LCC!used!$X! ! 3! project!seed!money!and!leveraged!an!additional!$X!from!various!agencies!and! organizations!for!a!specific!management!concern).!It!will!be!important!for!the!LCC!to! clearly!communicate!how!LCC!science!is!in!support!of!management!issues,!not!just! 'science!for!science's!sake'.! ! • Another!useful!product!would!be!an!annual!publication/newsletter!that!provides! information!on!LCC!progress,!funded!projects,!etc.! ! • Outreach!to!the!public!is!extremely!important;!the!LCC!should!communicate!on!LCC! science!and!how!it!is!relevant!to!people's!lives.!The!public!is!where!ultimate!buyUin!and! support!lies.!! ! • LCC!could!provide!some!type!of!network!of!experts,!so!when!an!agency!or!organization! is!lacking!in!a!particular!expertise!(e.g.,!climate!change,!habitat!modeling),!they!can! reach!into!the!LCC!to!fill!gaps!in!expertise.! ! • A!successful!LCC!would!help!resource!managers!provide!information!to!local!residents! on!changes!and!opportunities!in!subsistence!resources,!as!well!as!help!resource! managers!determine!what!species!they!should!focus!on!for!science!and!management! efforts.! ! • A!valuable!role!of!the!LCC!would!be!to!improve!collaboration!and!cooperation!between! different!refuges,!agencies,!and!other!organizations,!with!a!focus!on!landscapeUlevel! science!that!informs!resource!management!decisions.!There!are!many!barriers!to!intraU and!interUorganizational!collaboration!and!the!LCC!could!help!overcome!those!barriers.! For!example,!the!LCC!could!fund!an!'umbrella'!project!and!entrain!relevant!agencies!to! contribute.!!! ! ! III.'Meeting'Participants' 1.!Charisa!Morris,!USFWS!! 2.!Thomas!Doolittle,!USFWS!! 3.!Melissa!Gabrielson,!USFWS!! 4.!Kristine!Sowl,!USFWS!! UUUUUUUUUUUUU! – Paul!Krabacher,!BLM!(Representing!LCC!Steering!Committee!and!the!BLM!Rapid! Ecoregional!Assessment)! – Keith!Boggs,!AK!Natural!Heritage!Program/UAA!(Contractor!for!BLM!Rapid!Ecoregional! Assessment)! – Susan!Fox!(ARCUS,!Facilitation)! – Helen!Wiggins!(ARCUS,!Facilitation)! ! ! 1! Western'Alaska'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperative'(LCC)' Fairbanks'Meeting' Thursday,!4!November!2010! Summary'Meeting'Notes' ' ! I.'Introductions'(Margaret!King,!Independent!Consultant;!see!participant!list!at!end!of! notes)! ! ! II.'Western'AK'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperative'(LCC)'Presentation'(Paul! Krabacher,!LCC!Steering!Committee!Member;!presentation!included!a!brief!overview!of!the! Bureau!of!Land!Management's![BLM]!Rapid!Ecological!Assessment![REA]!process)' ! ! III.'Open'Discussion'–!The!meeting!was!opened!for!questions!and!discussion!on!the!LCC! !!A.!Participant!Ideas!on!Science!Needs,!Data!Gaps,!or!Landscape!Management!Issues! Relevant!to!the!LCC! • Need!improved!understanding!on!how!hydrological!changes!may!affect!fish!habitat!and! local!water!resources,!and!understanding!recent!changes!in!fish!runs.! ! • More!permafrost!monitoring!is!needed!as!well!as!understanding!of!how!changes!in! permafrost!may!affect!hydrology,!coastal!erosion,!vegetation!patterns,!and! infrastructure.!Permafrost!science!community!is!relatively!small;!an!entity!like!the!LCC! could!help!build!that!science!community.! ! • Need!better!information!on!fire!frequency!and!severity;!there!is!some!evidence!of! changes,!but!the!causes!are!not!clear.! ! • Need!social!science!data!on!patterns!of!resource!use,!including!subsistence!use,! recreational!use,!and!changes!in!accessibility!(e.g.,!drying!land!allows!travel!to!areas! that!were!previously!inaccessible).! ! • Need!to!understand!how!climate!change!will!affect!distribution!and!habitat!of!rare! plants!and!animals,!and!invasive!species.!! ! • Need!to!better!understand!relative!patterns!of!interannual!variability!relative!to! climateSinduced!changes!in!aquatic!resources.!! ! • Pursuing!a!general!understanding!of!how!the!landscape!will!change!in!the!next!10S20! years!is!a!science!need!that!is!relevant!to!many!different!agencies!and!groups.! ' • Monitoring!should!be!designed!as!complementary!baseline!studies!rather!than! independent!studies.!Also,!monitoring!studies!should!be!designed!to!take!into!account! ! 2! local!variability!(e.g.,!patterns!of!climate!change!might!be!fairly!consistent!throughout!a! region,!but!patterns!of!permafrost!changes!are!not).!' ! • There!is!a!need!for!a!coordinated!or!centralized!resource!for!communicating!about! research!activities!and!centralizing!involvement!of!local!residents!in!research!–!a!place! where!interested!parties!can!go!for!"one!stop!shopping"!to!learn!about!or!coordinate! science!efforts.!! ' ' B.!Participant!Suggestions!for!Relevant!Ongoing!Efforts,!Programs,!or!Groups! • The!Alaska!Center!for!Climate!Assessment!and!Policy!(ACCAP;! http://ine.uaf.edu/accap/),!which!is!NOAASfunded,!is!interested!in!working!together! with!all!of!the!Alaska!LCCs.!There!is!a!formal!MOU!between!NOAA!and!the!Department! of!Interior!to!coordinate!activities.!ACCAP!focuses!on!issues!of,!and!information!for,! human!adaptation!and!response!to!climate!change.! ! • Native!Alaska!involvement!will!be!important!for!the!LCC!overall!and!for!coordinating! local!observing!activities.!Most!tribes!have!an!environmental!coordinator,!but!it!is! important!to!contact!all!tribal!organizations/groups!in!any!given!region.!! ! • The!new!Alaska!NOAA!Climate!Service!will!be!collaborating!with!the!LCCs!as!well!as!the! USGS!Climate!Science!Center.!The!principal!mission!of!the!NOAA!Climate!Service!is!to! provide!climate!tools!and!products!that!are!useful!for!decisionSmakers.!! ! • Collaboration!between!state!and!federal!agencies!is!critical.! ! • The!Alaska!Natural!Heritage!Program!(http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu/)!offers! synthesized!data!via!the!web!on!rare!plant!and!animal!species!as!well!as!and!invasive! species.!! ! • It!is!not!clear!how!the!Alaska!Department!of!Fish!and!Game!would!fit!into!the!LCC,!nor! the!relationship!between!the!Bureau!of!Land!Management's!Rapid!Ecological! Assessment!(REA)!and!the!LCC.! – Paul!Krabacher!replied!that!for!the!REA/LCC!relationship,!the!REA!is!more!of!a! process!that!will!contribute!to!the!LCC,!while!the!LCC!is!more!of!a!'group.'! ! • The!Scenarios!Network!for!Alaska!Planning!(SNAP;!http://www.snap.uaf.edu/)!has! been!working!with!the!Arctic!LCC!and!is!providing!spatial!data!layers/datasets,!which! should!come!online!spring!2011,!possibly!through!the!Geographic!Information!Network! of!Alaska!(GINA).!! ! • The!Maniilaq!Association!and!the!Alaska!Native!Tribal!Health!Consortium!recently! convened!a!twoSday!summit!in!Kotzebue!to!discuss!how!the!changing!climate!will! impact!human!health;!this!was!a!valuable!meeting!relevant!to!the!LCC.! ! ! 3! ! !C.!Other!Questions!or!Issues! • Question!on!whether!there!will!be!a!document!similar!to!the!WildREACH!report! (http://www.arcus.org/alaskafws/)! – Paul!Krabacher!replied!that!yes,!there!will!be!a!Western!AK!LCC!planning!document! produced!after!the!spring!2011!State!of!the!Science!workshop.! !!! • Question!on!timeline!of!funding!for!the!LCC! – Paul!Krabacher!replied!that!funding!is!not!yet!allocated!for!Western!AK!LCC,!but! funding!in!FY2011!is!likely.! ! ! IV.'Meeting'Participants' 1. Sarah!Trainor,!Alaska!Center!for!Climate!Assessment!and!Policy!(ACCAP)!and!Scenarios! Network!for!Alaska!Planning!(SNAP)! 2. Yuri!Shur,!Department!of!Civil!&!Environmental!Engineering,!University!of!Alaska! Fairbanks!! 3. Vladimir!Romanovsky,!Geophysical!Institute!and!Department!of!Geology/Geography,! University!of!Alaska!Fairbanks!! 4. Tim!Hammond,!Central!Yukon!Field!Office,!Bureau!of!Land!Management!! 5. James!Partain,!NOAA!Alaska!Regional!Climate!Service!! 6. Jimmy!Fox,!U.S.!Fish!and!Wildlife!Service! 7. John!Chythlook,!Alaska!Department!of!Fish!and!Game!! 8. John!Burr,!Alaska!Department!of!Fish!and!Game!! 9. Amy!Breen,!Scenarios!Network!for!Alaska!Planning!(SNAP)!! 10. Bob!Schneider,!Bureau!of!Land!Management!–!Fairbanks!District!! 11. Marie!Lowe,!Institute!of!Social!and!Economic!Research!(ISER)!–!University!of!Alaska! Anchorage!! 12. Dan!Bogan,!Alaska!Natural!Heritage!Program!! SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! ! – Paul!Krabacher,!LCC!Steering!Committee!and!the!Bureau!of!Land!Management!Rapid! Ecoregional!Assessment!! – Keith!Boggs,!AK!Natural!Heritage!Program/UAA!(Contractor!for!BLM!Rapid!Ecoregional! Assessment)! – Margaret!King,!Margaret!J!King!&!Associates!! – Susan!Fox,!Helen!Wiggins,!and!Julie!Griswold,!Arctic!Research!Consortium!of!the!U.S.! (ARCUS,!Facilitation)! ! ! 1! Western'Alaska'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperative'(LCC)' Kotzebue'Meeting' Tuesday,!9!November!2010! Summary'Meeting'Notes' ! ! I.'Introductions'(Susan!Fox,!ARCUS,!Facilitator;!see!participant!list!at!end!of!notes)! ! II.'Western'AK'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperative'(LCC)'Presentation'(Karen! Murphy,!Western!Alaska!LCC!Coordinator)! ! III.'Open'Discussion'–!The!meeting!was!opened!for!questions!and!discussion!on!the!LCC.!! A.#Data#and#Science#Needs! • There!are!two!critical!data!needs!for!the!Selawik!National!Wildlife!Refuge! (http://selawik.fws.gov/):! – Permafrost!–!mapping!where!permafrost!exists,!understanding!and! predicting!changes!in!permafrost,!and!predicting!potential!impacts!of! warming/thawing!permafrost!(e.g.,!effects!on!infrastructure).!This!is!a!good! issue!for!a!partnership!like!the!LCC!because!this!is!a!need!that!exists!on!a! broader!regional!scale.!! – Topographic/elevation!data!–!the!refuge!is!currently!working!with!older! USGS!topographic!maps;!there!is!a!need!for!highTresolution!topographic! mapping!and!elevation!models!(e.g.,!using!LIDAR).!! ! • There!is!an!overall!need!for!basic!regional!baseline!data,!but!it!is!more!than!any! individual!agency!can!afford.! ! • Information!on!subsistence!is!extremely!important!in!the!local!communities,!including! information!on!present!and!future!populations!of!subsistence!species!(e.g.,!caribou,! moose,!walrus,!seals,!etc.)!and!patterns!of!use.!Both!biological!and!social!science!data! are!needed!to!help!management!agencies!make!subsistence!decisions.!! ! • Caribou!is!a!critical!species!in!the!area!(the!Western!Arctic!Caribou!Herd)!–!need!more! data!on!migration!patterns,!relative!effects!of!change!drivers!such!as!climate!and!human! activities:! – Recently,!caribou!have!been!migrating!south!later,!creating!a!mismatch!in! timing!for!harvest.! – Could!do!"social!network"!research!methodology!on!caribou!(e.g.,!examining! how!caribou!decide!to!use!various!habitat).! – There!is!a!Western!Arctic!Caribou!Working!Group,!which!includes! representatives!from!all!villages!in!the!region!(it!is!not!an!agency!group);! they!exchange!information!on!the!caribou!herd!and!help!identify!research! needs!for!agencies.!! ! 2! ! • Data!on!hydrology!and!water!resources!is!needed:! – Water!transportation!issues!(e.g.,!ability!of!fuel!barges!to!reach!villages)!are! important!–!need!to!understand!possible!changes!in!river!levels!and!impact! on!transportation.!! – Also!need!to!understand!how!possible!changes!in!river!levels!may!affect!fish! species.! ! • Animal!health!and!disease!is!a!concern!–!how!climate!change!may!affect!wildlife!health! and!disease!(including!diseases!that!could!pass!to!humans).!! ! • Would!be!useful!to!have!information!to!help!inform!feasibility!of!alternative!power! development!(solar,!wind,!etc.).!! ! • Ocean/marine!issues!of!concern!include:! – How!might!sea!level!rise!affect!this!region!and!specific!towns/villages?!! – Need!a!better!understanding!and!detailed!mapping!of!coastal!erosion.!! – Need!to!understand!possible!effects!of!ocean!acidification!in!the!region.!! – Need!to!understand!possible!effects!of!climate!change!on!marine!mammal! populations,!which!are!important!for!subsistence.!! ! • Need!information!that!would!help!inform!decisions!on!whether!to!introduce!wood! bison!to!the!region.! ! • Need!some!sort!of!"clearinghouse"!where!interested!parties!can!access!scientific!data! and!information.! ' ' B.#Potential#Partnerships,#Relevant#Groups,#and#Efforts# • Traditional!Ecological!Knowledge!(TEK)/Indigenous!Knowledge!should!be! incorporated!in!a!meaningful!way,!as!an!integral!part!of!research!in!the!region:! – Scientists!coming!into!local!communities!asking!for!local!observations!and! TEK!should!do!so!in!a!more!coordinated!fashion,!to!avoid!duplication!and! help!prevent!"fatigue"!in!the!local!TEK!experts.! – Need!to!create!parity!between!locals!and!scientists!and!involve!TEK!experts! as!coTequals!with!scientists.! – TEK!should!also!be!used!to!guide!research!objectives,!before!the!research!is! initiated.! – Need!an!"umbrella"!or!clearinghouse!of!what!science!is!being!done!in! communities!so!that!groups!and!individuals!can!collaborate!and!avoid! duplication.! ! ! 3! • The!Maniilaq!Association!and!the!Alaska!Native!Tribal!Health!Consortium!recently! convened!a!Climate!Summit!in!Kotzebue!to!discuss!climate!change!(note:!LCC!staff!need! to!determine!if!there!was!a!summary!or!product!from!this!meeting).! ! • NANA!Regional!Corporation!has!several!relevant!documents,!including!land!use!and! energy!plans:!http://www.nana.com/.!! ! • The!Kotzebue!Indian!Environmental!General!Assistance!Program!(IGAP)!is!an!effort! relevant!to!the!LCC.!! ! • Two!relevant!Traditional!Ecological!Knowledge!(TEK)!reports!from!the!U.S.!Fish!and! Wildlife!Service:! – Uqausriptigun:!In!Our!Own!Words.!Selawik!elders!speak!about!caribou,! reindeer!and!life!as!they!knew!it.!Selawik!National!Wildlife!Refuge,!U.S.!Fish! and!Wildlife!Service.!2007.! – Iqaluich!Niginaqtuat:!Fish!That!We!Eat.!U.S.!Fish!and!Wildlife!Service,!Office!of! Subsistence!Management,!Fisheries!Resource!Monitoring!Program.!Final! Report!No.!FIS02T023.!2006.! ! ! C.#Other#Issues#and#Questions# • Suggestion!that!both!the!LCC!and!REA!(Rapid!Ecoregional!Assessment)!need!a! transparent!process!for!how!local!interests!and!communities!will!be!included.!Local! people!need!to!know!where!they!have!a!voice!and!they!should!be!at!the!same!level!of! agencies!for!input,!not!just!at!an!"advisory"!level.!LCC!and!REA!should!communicate! clearly!about!how!decisions!in!the!LCC!and!REA!are!made.! ! • Concern!that!agency!processes!for!resource!management!that!are!initiated!in!the!lowerT 48!do!not!necessarily!translate!to!Alaska,!given!local!subsistence!issues!and!cultural! context.! – Karen!Murphy!emphasized!that!the!role!of!the!LCC!is!not!to!weigh!in!on! policy!decisions,!nor!advocate!for!specific!regulations!or!management! processes,!but!only!to!help!provide!scientific!information!and!data.' ! • Question!on!the!Alaska!Rapid!Ecoregional!Assessment!(REA)!and!why!the!specific!REA! geographic!region!was!chosen!(note:!REA!meeting!was!held!after!LCC!meeting).!! – Paul!Krabacher,!REA!Lead!(Bureau!of!Land!Management)!responded!that!the! REA!is!a!national!effort;!this!region!was!chosen!for!the!Alaska!REA!primarily! because!of!the!Western!Arctic!Caribou!Herd!wintering!ground.!But!it!is! important!to!note!that!the!caribou!use!a!much!broader!geographic!range!and! cross!into!arctic!Alaska,!so!this!is!a!good!example!of!a!topic!where!different! efforts!and!groups!across!western!and!arctic!Alaska!will!need!to!collaborate.!! ! ! ! ! 4! ! ! ! IV.'Meeting'Participants' 1. Elizabeth!Moore,!Northwest!Arctic!Leadership!Team!(NWALT)T!NANA!Regional! Corporation!! 2. Lincoln!Saito,!Northwest!Arctic!Borough!! 3. LeeAnne!Ayres,!U.S.!Fish!and!Wildlife!Service!T!Selawik!National!Wildlife!Refuge!! 4. Anne!Orlando,!U.S.!Fish!and!Wildlife!Service!T!Selawik!National!Wildlife!Refuge!! 5. Alex!Whiting,!Native!Village!of!Kotzebue!(NVOK)!! 6. Charlie!Nazuruk,!Noorvik!Native!Community!! 7. Lonnie!Tebbits,!Noorvik!Native!Community! 8. John!Erlich,!Sr.,!Bureau!of!Land!Management!T!Kotzebue!Field!Office!! 9. Shelly!Jacobson,!Central!Yukon!Field!Office!T!Bureau!of!Land!Management!! 10. Bibianna!Scott,!NANA!Regional!Corporation!! 11. Paul!Eaton,!Maniilaq!Association!! TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! LCC!and!REA!Staff!and!Contractors:! LCC:! Karen!Murphy,!Western!AK!LCC!Coordinator;!Greg!Balogh,!Arctic!LCC!Coordinator;!Susan! Fox!and!Helen!Wiggins,!Arctic!Research!Consortium!of!the!U.S.!(ARCUS)!! ! REA:! Paul!Krabacher,!REA!Lead;!Margaret!King,!MJKing!and!Associates;!Keith!Boggs,!UAA/AK! Natural!Heritage!Program;!Dan!Bogan,!UAA;!Tobias!Schwoerer,!Institute!for!Social!and! Economic!Research!(ISER)/UAA.! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1! Western'Alaska'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperative'(LCC)' Nome'Meeting' Wednesday,!10!November!2010! Summary'Meeting'Notes' ! ! I.'Introductions'(Susan!Fox,!ARCUS,!Facilitator;!see!participant!list!at!end!of!notes)! ! II.'Western'AK'Landscape'Conservation'Cooperative'(LCC)'Presentation'(Karen! Murphy,!Western!Alaska!LCC!Coordinator)! ! III.'Open'Discussion'–!The!meeting!was!opened!for!questions!and!discussion!on!the!LCC.!! A.#General#LCC#Questions#and#Discussion## ! • Question!on!how!LCC!projects!will!be!funded:! – Karen!responded!that!the!LCC!may!receive!$1M/year!specifically!for!LCC! projects.!In!addition,!a!main!goal!of!the!LCC!is!to!leverage!other!agency! funding!and!efforts,!so!it!is!expected!that!additional!capacity!will!be!available! through!budgeting!processes!not!specific!to!the!LCC.!For!example,!the!U.S.! Geological!Survey's!Alaska!Climate!Science!Center!will!also!have!funds!for! research,!a!portion!of!which!will!be!used!be!used!on!science!priorities! identified!through!the!five!Alaska!LCCs.!! ! • Question!on!whether!there!will!be!LCC!subWgroups!for!specific!geographic!areas!within! the!broader!LCC!boundary:! – Karen!responded!that!the!format!of!subW!or!working!groups!is!still!in! discussion!by!the!interim!Steering!Committee;!for!example,!groups!could!be! formed!around!specific!geographic!areas,!taxonomic!groups,!by!topical! themes,!or!some!combination!thereof.! ! • Question!on!whether!the!final!LCC!Steering!Committee!could!include!local!community! representation:! – Karen!responded!that!the!Steering!Committee!will!be!comprised!of!federal! and!state!agency!representatives,!but!there!will!be!other!opportunities!for! expanded!partnerships,!such!as!in!the!working!groups.!! ! • A!concern!was!voiced!that!agency!staff!might!not!have!the!time!to!participate!in!new! efforts!such!as!the!LCC,!even!though!it!is!clear!the!LCC!has!value:!! – Karen!responded!that!the!LCC!staff!recognize!this!concern,!and!the!LCC!will! strive!to!avoid!adding!work!for!agency!staff.!It!is!inevitable!that!some! additional!work!from!agency!staff!will!be!necessary!–!particularly!during!the! start!up!years,!but!the!expectation!is!that!the!benefits!of!that!work!should! assist!the!agencies!in!being!more!effective!on!their!conservation!efforts.!The! LCC!should!help!agencies!be!more!efficient!and!may!provide!additional!