LakeIstokpogaHabitatManagementPlanningandStakeholderEngagement

Whoareweandwhatarewedoinghere?

TheUFTeam

Kai Lorenzen, Fisheries Prof. PI

Chelsey Crandall Project Scientist, Co-PI

Joy Hazell, IFAS Extension, Lead Facilitator, Co-PI

Mark Hoyer, FL Lakewatch Dir., Lake Manage. Expert, Co-PI

Jason Ferrell, Director CAIP, Co-PI

Ed Camp,Asst. Prof. Governance, Co-PI

Vincent Lecours,Asst. Prof. GIS, Co-PI

“ToimplementacomprehensivestakeholderengagementplananddevelopandwriteahabitatmanagementplanforLakeIstokpogathatutilizesstakeholderinput.”

(FWCRequestforProposals)

Purpose

Purpose

TheHabitatManagementPlan

• BroadgoalsandspecificobjectivesforhabitatmanagementtoguideFWC

• Includeasuiteofmanagementactionsthatcanbeimplemented– Guideselectionofactionsinanadaptableway

• Includeaplanforcontinuedmonitoring,review,andadaptivemanagement– Futurestakeholderconsultationandreview

TheHabitatManagementPlan

• OnlyaddressesthosethingswithinFWC’sjurisdiction– Habitat– Wildlife

• Not:– Waterquality– Lakewaterlevels

• Takelegislationintoconsideration– SomethingsFWCismandatedtodo

Purpose

EngagementProcess

• Strategicandadaptive

• Varietyofmethodstoensurethehighestlevelofparticipationpossible

• TheUFteamwillleadandfacilitatetheprocessandFWCstaffwillbeinvolvedandparticipatewhereappropriate

• Identifystakeholdergroups’interests,values,knowledgebaseandpreferredmethodsofengagement

• ReachasharedunderstandingabouthabitatandhabitatmanagementinLakeIstokpoga

• Createahabitatmanagementplanthatstakeholdershaveownershipof

Goalsofthestakeholderengagementprocess

Step1:SituationAssessment

• Identifystakeholdersandtheirattitudesandperspectives

• Multiplesocialsciencemethodologies– attendanceatexistingregularmeetings– individualinterviews

Step2:Committee

• Apermanentcommitteeofrepresentativeswillbeformedto:

– identifyobjectives

– develophabitatmanagementoptions

– assesstrade-offsbetweenobjectivesandplansforcontinuedmonitoring,review,andadaptivemanagement

Step2b:Widerengagement

• Awiderarrayofstakeholdersandthegeneralpublicwillbeengagedthroughpublicmeetings

• Astakeholdersurveywillbeusetoobtaininputfromstakeholdersatlargewhohavenotpersonallyengagedwiththecommitteeorpublicmeetings

Futureengagement

• Thefinalplanwillsetoutopportunitiesforregularstakeholderconsultation,possiblyannually,toreviewimplementationoftheplan

Scheduleofactivities

Scheduleofactivities

Interviews:whathavewebeenhearing?

Interviews:Concerns• Waterquality

• Fishpopulations

• Lakewaterlevels

• Lakehabitat– Manypeopleconcernedaboutlakehabitatbutthinkaboutitdifferently(fish,boating,ecosystem)

• Spraying– Strong(butnotuniversal)

Interviews:Management

• Lackoftrust

• Don’tfeelabletoinfluencemanagementdecisions

• Confusionaboutwhymanagementtakesactionsormakescertaindecisions

• Unclearwhoisresponsibleforwhataroundthelake

• Concernaboutwhohasinfluencewhere

Interviews:Community

• Passionate,engagedcommunity

• Alottheylikeaboutthelake

• Strongsenseofplace

• Viewastheirplace,whetherlong-termresidentsorpeoplewhocomeseasonally

Interviews:Stakeholders• Homeowners/residents(year-

roundandseasonal)• Boaters• Recreationalanglers(bass,

crappie)• Commercialfishers• Tournamentrunnersandfishers• Fishingguides• Fishcampowners• Airboattourrunners• Duckhunters• Birders• Audubonsociety

• FOI• LIMC• FWC• Othermanagement

agencies• Froggiggers• Alligatorhunters• Localgovernment• HOA• ?