Presented by Rob Ferguson, NOAA CRCP

First Meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee to the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities in the

Wider Caribbean Region

Oranjestad, Aruba 5-7 June 2012

A Ridge to Reef Approach: Watershed Management in Puerto Rico and the USVI

Coral Reef Conservation Program

“To support effective management and sound science to preserve, sustain and restore valuable coral reef ecosystems for future generations.”

Jurisdiction Priorities

Identified place-based, local coral reef management priorities in each of the seven US state and territorial coral reef jurisdictions

• 19 priority sites across seven jurisdictions

• 4 out of the 8 priority sites in Puerto Rico and the USVI are listed in the National System of Marine Protected Areas

1) Technical Assistance

• Develop WMPs & implement recommended management activities

2) Partner Collaboration and Coordination

• Partner with federal, state, and NGOs to implement BMPs

• U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Partnership Initiative

National Objectives of Emphasis

National Objectives of Emphasis (cont.)

3) Monitoring and Assessment

• Need to capture baseline data

4) Capacity Building

• Capacity Assessments

• LBSP trainings, develop BMP manuals and educational material

Photo Credit: NOAA/NCCOS/CCMA

1. Partner Collaboration and Coordination

2. Monitoring and Evaluation

3. WMP Development and Implementation

4. Building Local Capacity

Two Case Studies: Addressing LBSP in Puerto Rico and the USVI

Photo Credit: NOAA Restoration Center

Guánica, Puerto Rico

Principal Recommendations of the 2008 Guánica WMP: 1. Address High Mountain

Sediment Sources

2. Stream Bank Stabilization

3. Lagoon Restoration

4. Construct a Treatment Wetlands

Photo Credit: Paul Sturm

Partnering Agencies

Puerto Rico USDA-NRCS

DOI-USFWS USEPA

NOAA

National Fish and

Wildlife Foundation

Addressing High Mountain Sediment Sources

1. Over 4,000 acres enrolled in USDA conservation programs

2. Conversion of sun-grown to shade-grown coffee plantations

3. Building and strengthening a network of partners

Photo Credits: USFWS and Envirosurvey Inc

Restoring Guánica Lagoon

1950 Aerial Image

2007 Aerial Image

Photo Credit: PR

DNER

Photo Credit: PR

DNER

Stream Bank Stabilization

1. Stream bank assessment

2. Application of stream bank stabilization conservation practices

3. Removal of old irrigation systems and channelization material

Photo Credit: NRCS

Photo Credit: Paul Sturm

Constructed Wetlands

1. Design is complete

2. NEPA review is complete

3. Partnership engagement

Photo Credit: Paul Sturm

USVI: Watershed Management Assessment,

Planning, and Implementation

Photo Credit: Zandy Hillis-Starr,

VI National Park

Photo Credit: Horsley Witten Group

Photo Credit: Horsley Witten Group

Photo Credit: NOAA/NCCOS/CCMA

St. Croix East End Marine Park

1) Delineation of STXEEMP

• 12 square miles drains to

the 60 square mile marine

park

• 6 watersheds

2) Development of a WMP for

the STXEEMP’s 6

watersheds

3) Implementation of

Recommended Management

Activities

Photo Credit: Horsley Witten Group

Project Design and Implementation

Image Credits: Horsley Witten Group

Photo Credit: USDA, NRCS

STEER: A Three-Pronged Approach to Effective Watershed Management

1) Characterization of LBSP and Bioeffects

2) Coastal Use

Assessment

3) Development of a WMP

Photo Credit: Horsley Witten Group

Next Steps 1. Search for additional partners

to implement larger-scale

projects.

2. Continue assessing impacts to

coral reef systems.

3. Evaluate existing WMPs to

identify remaining watershed

management needs and

continue implementing

management actions.

4. Continue Building Local

Capacity to address LBSP.

Photo Credit: NOAA Restoration Center

Thank You!

Photo Credit: NOAA MPA Center

References Center for Watershed Protection, 2008. Guánica Bay Watershed Management Plan: A Pilot Project for Watershed Planning in Puerto Rico. Ellicott City, MD. http://www.cwp.org/documents/cat_view/79-watershed-plans.html Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 2011. St. Croix East End Watersheds Management Plan. Sandwich, MA. http://www.horsleywitten.com/stx-east-end watersheds/pubs/final/111114_FinalSTXEEMPWatershedPlan.pdf NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. 2009. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Goals & Objectives 2010-2015. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutCoral Program/strategy/currentgoals/resources/3threats_go.pdf NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. 2011. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program’s Performance Measures Manual: Guidance for Using the New Coral Program Performance Measures. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA.http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutCoral Program/howwework/resources/Coral Program_perf-measures.pdf NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. 2011. Land-Based Sources of Pollution Implementation Plan: FY 2011 – FY 2015. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/resources/pdfs/crcp_implementation_plan.pdf NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. 2009. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Goals & Objectives 2010-2015. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutCoral Program/strategy/currentgoals/resources/3threats_go.pdf The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. 2010. Puerto Rico’s Coral Reef Management Priorities. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/reprioritization/managementpriorities/resources/prico_mngmnt_clr.pdf The Territory of the United States Virgin Islands and NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. 2010. United States Virgin Islands’ Coral Reef Management Priorities. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/reprioritization/managementpriorities/resources/usvi_mngmnt_clr.pdf