Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Southeast Alaska NetworkVital Signs Monitoring
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Sitka National Historical Park
We face tough challenges
The world is not only more complex than we understand,
it’s more complex than we can understand.J. B. S. Haldane
…preserve [dynamic systems] unimpaired…
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
What do Vital Sign Monitoring Data Provide?
Context and perspective; range of variation
Trend detection
Covariate and response variables; not subject to crisis of the day
Raise flags, temper reactions, tell stories
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
What SEAN is not built to do…
• Research: Investigate causal relationships– The “how” and “why” questions
• Assess value:– Management significance– Identify thresholds for management response– Define a desired condition or state
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
What SEAN is built to do…
• Answer questions:– What? Where? When? How much change? What
direction? What magnitude? What range?• And answer them with scientific rigor
– Embrace uncertainty– Refining understanding over the long term
• Work with park managers to understand context for change
• Provide data on select ecosystem elements that represent covariates and response variables
• Analyze, report, deliver data
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Key Principles
Be relevant to the Parks
Do a few things wellFocus. Design elegantly. Work efficiently.Scope for the optimum; design for reality.
Build a program that is longer-lived than our careers, larger than
ourselvesMust be sustainable
More than philosophy – major implications for program structure
Do you remember how we got here?
Selection and Identification ofSEAN Vital Signs
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Vital Sign Identification Process
1. Scoping Workshops– Marine, Freshwater, Terrestrial– Build conceptual models
Terrestrial plant succession following glacial recession…
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Everything should be made
as simple as possible.
But not one bit simpler.
-Einstein
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Marine Environments Freshwater Environments
Terrestrial Environments
Ungulates
Breeding Landbird Populations
Streamflow
Macroinvertebrates and Algae
Freshwater Water QualitySalmonids
Humpback WhalesMarine Predators
Forage FishesHarbor SealsKiller Whales
Steller Sea Lions
Kittlitz’s MurreletsPhenology
Western Toads
Wetland Communities
Intertidal Communities
Landcover and Landform
Bald EaglesBears
BiodiversityPests and DiseasesPlant Communities
Vital Sign Selection Process
1. Scoping Workshops– Marine, Freshwater, Terrestrial– Build conceptual models, incorporate into Phase I Report
2. Use conceptual models to identify candidate Vital Signs
3. Rate and rank based on ecological and management significance criteria
4. Adjust the ranking based on professional judgment
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Vital Sign Selection Process
3636
1212
Core Program
66Secondary Program
Optimum
overlaid with
Reality
8080200
200
1818
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Core and Secondary Programs
• Core Program– SEAN will initiate, develop,
implement, and directly fund– Full, formal monitoring
protocols• Secondary
– Parks lead and fund– Parks would likely continue to
monitor with or without the I&M Program
– SEAN will contribute data management and data delivery support as time and resources allow
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
NPS Photo
SEAN Core Program
Core Program1. Airborne Contaminants2. Marine Predators3. Weather and Climate4. Streamflow5. Freshwater Water Quality6. Oceanography7. Marine Contaminants8. Freshwater Contaminants9. Intertidal Communities10. Landform and Landcover11. Kittlitz’s Murrelets12. Glacial Dynamics (extent)
Secondary Program1. Freshwater Macroinverts, Algae
2. Invasive and Exotic Plants
3. Western Toads
4. Humpback Whales
5. Human Use and Mode of Access
6. Underwater Sound
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Vital Signs Relation to Conceptual Models
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Marine Environments Freshwater Environments
Terrestrial Environments
Ungulates
Breeding Landbird Populations
Streamflow
Macroinvertebrates and Algae
Freshwater Water QualitySalmonids
Humpback WhalesMarine Predators
Forage FishesHarbor SealsKiller Whales
Steller Sea Lions
Kittlitz’s MurreletsPhenology
Western Toads
Wetland Communities
Intertidal Communities
Landcover and Landform
Bald EaglesBears
BiodiversityPests and DiseasesPlant Communities
SEAN Core Program
Airborne ContaminantsFreshwater Water QualityFreshwater Contaminants
Glacial DynamicsIntertidal Communities
Kittlitz’s MurreletsMarine Contaminants
Marine PredatorsOceanography
StreamflowWeather and Climate
Landform and LandcoverSoutheast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Vital Signs Relation to Conceptual Models
Data Management Tenets
Single Authoritative Source Concept
Web-based delivery
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
NPS Photo:Moynahan
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Design: 1-2-3-4 Operation: 4-3-2-1
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
How the work is getting done
Blurring the lines between Parks and SEAN
Project Leaders, Park Leads
Cooperators and PartnersCESU, IAs
Mussel Watch, NWS, WRCC, NODC
Contractors
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Network Structure
Program Manager
Park StaffTechnical Committee
Chiefs of Resources
Board of Directors
SEAN Staff
Data ManagerEcologist
(Editor)(Term Biotech)
(Sci Comm Specialist)
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Program Structure – SEAN Hub
SEAN Project LeaderSergeant
KLGO Park LeadWilbarger
GLBA Park LeadSoiseth/Murdoch
SITK Park LeadSmith
SEAN Data ManagerJohnson
SEAN Program MgrMoynahan
Validation, Certification
Maintenance, Calibration, Data Collection
Data flo
w, train
ing, supplie
s
Admin, budget, reporting
Freshwater Quality
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Program Structure – Park Lead
Project/Park LeaderSharman
Field Ops, Analysis, Reporting
SEAN Data StewardSergeant
SEAN Data ManagerJohnson
Standard graphics, tables
SEAN Program MgrMoynahan
Validation, Certification
Admin, budget, reporting
Validation, CertificationBasic d
ata proces
sing
Oceanography
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Program Structure – Partner
SEAN Project LeaderSergeant
KLGO Park LeadWilbarger
GLBA Park LeadSharman
SITK Park LeadSmith
NOAA Mussel Watch Program
Reporting, web delivery
SEAN Program MgrMoynahan
Annual Funding Agreement
Sample Collection
Sample
Delivery
NOAA Contracted
Lab
Data
Marine Contaminants
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Budget
$505,000 Vital Signs Funding
$39,800 WRD Funding (1.66 ATB)
$544,800
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Budget
45%
30%
18%
4% 2%
FY10 Allocation
Personnel
Coop. Agreements
Ops/Equip
Travel
Other
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Budget
53%
25%
15%
5% 1%
FY11 Allocation
Personnel
Coop. Agreements
Ops/Equip
Travel
Other
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Budget
66%
23%
5%5% 1%
FY12 Allocation
Personnel
Coop. Agreements
Ops/Equip
Travel
Other
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
COLA to Locality Pay
• Transition began in FY10, complete of FY13
• Cost-to-program increases
• Upshot: personnel costs increase ~20-25%
• Protocol development costs >> operation
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Are SEAN commitments sustainable?
Yes, with vigilance
Real personnel cost impacts
SEAN staff are fully booked
VS programs and DM commitments are brutally
focused
NPS Photo:Moynahan
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Glacier Bay National Park and PreserveNPS Photo: Moynahan
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
NPS Photo
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Sitka National Historical Park
NPS Photo