Steering Committee Meeting

December 19-20, 2013

UPDATES

Stephen Jackson, Director

Kevin Johnson, Coordinator

&

John Rice,

Science Coordinator

http://southernrockieslcc.org

1st Science Advisory Committee Meeting, Oct 2013

1st Strategic Science Plan for 2013-2018: Science Priorities identified include:

1) Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, Resiliency, and Vulnerability Assessments

2) Climate Change Effects on Ecosystems

3) Hydrologic Response to Climate Change

4) Climate Change Effect on Human Populations, Socioeconomics, Urbanization, Cultural Resources, and Agricultural Issues

5) Improved Monitoring Networks for Resources Affected by Climate Change and Management Actions

6) Improved Management and Sharing of Climate Change and Geospatial Data

7) Imperiled and Rare Communities and Invasive Species

8) Coastal Response to Sea-Level Rise and Changing Geomorphology

9) Biological Response to Climate Change and Disturbance, Conservation Design and Delivery

10) Land-Use and Land-Cover Change

California LCC Developed Science-Management Framework

Developed Communication Plan

Conducting webinars & workshops on key topics

Effects of Climate Change on Inland Fishes

Best Practices for Systematic Conservation Planning

Southern Sierra Nevada Change Adaptation Workshop

Summarize knowledge, vulnerabilities, and management strategies of six focal resources

Southern Sierra Nevada Change Adaptation Workshop Given uncertain and rapidly changing conditions in the 21st century, how do we best achieve our shared conservation goals for the Southern Sierra Nevada Region?

(1) Identified shared and unique values to be conserved(2) Reviewed resource condition and vulnerability assessments(3) Explored new response strategies and where they might be used(4) Assessed constraints and opportunities

6 focal resources:

Watersheds, Rivers and Lakes

Wetlands, Meadows

Oak Woodlands

Giant Sequoia Groves

Mixed Conifer Forest, Pacific Fisher, and California Spotted Owl

High Elevation Five Needle Pines

Gulf Coast Prairie LCC Identifying a suite of focal species Creating focal area working groups (Prairie Partners, Edwards Plateau) Partnering with Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership to complete the

Southern Instream Flow project

Current Projects Decision Support Tool for Mottled Duck Habitat Management Bird Communities of Mature and Revegetated

Tracts Along the Lower Rio Grande Oklahoma Ecological Systems Mapping Update Conservation Framework for Priority Species of Grassland-Shrublands Employing the Conservation Design Approach on Sea-Level Rise Impacts

on Coastal Avian Habitats along the Central Texas Coast Developing Hydrologic Information for the GCPLCC

Prairie Partners Working Group

Purpose: To better address rapidly encroaching human

development in the Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma portions of the

GCP LCC

Focused on:

Identifying conservation criteria for priority habitats and species and

defining science needs to develop projects.

Identifying a common platform for sharing geo-spatial and inventory data,

and generating data to assess the three-state region in order to define

conservation opportunity areas.

Developing information to assist with actions in each conservation area,

and agreement on standards for data protocols, field data collection and a

spatial referencing system.

Creating Central Great Basin & Range Rapid Ecoregional

Assessment Challenges & Opportunities Report Work Group

Will review and develop an Opportunities and Challenges Report 

Will help identify larger landscape conservation issues and potential

solutions

May serve as a model for future REA Challenges and Opportunities reports

Developing a Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (STEK)

Strategic Plan to establish science priorities

Great Basin Weather and Climate Dashboard to help stakeholders

locate weather and climate information related to current drought 

Partnering for Great Basin Climate Forums

GBLCC Current Projects “Understanding the causes and consequences of cheatgrass die-offs in the Great Basin.”

Provide information on the size and extent of historic die-offs in the Winnemucca area and determine restoration opportunities. (University of Reno)

“Characterization of montane ecosystems, their microclimates, and wildlife distribution and abundance across the hydrographic Great Basin.” Retrieve data from over 200 temperature sensors to help quantify the variability of climate across varying landscape levels and time periods. (USGS)

“Evaluating species management guidance and monitoring programs for the Great Basin.” Summarizes the current knowledge on the value of different species management practices, important gaps in knowledge about priority species and current status of monitoring coverage. (Great Basin Bird Observatory)

“Development of tools and technology to improve the success and planning of big sagebrush ecosystems.” Inform managers of the most appropriate seed sources to plant to enhance the success of restoration under current and future climates. (USFS)

“Effects of genotype and management treatments of native and invasive herbs on success of sagebrush restoration.” Evaluate how initial establishment of sagebrush is influenced by management treatments and how the effects vary under different climate conditions. (USGS)