Science and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration An Assessment of the Critical Ecosystem Studies Initiative (2003) / Chapter Skim
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2 Overview of the CESI Program
2 Overview of the CESI Program
Pages 24-40
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CESI HISTORY AND CONCEPT In January 1996, the Department of the Interior proposed a plan to "kickstart" the greater Everglades ecosystem restoration effort through increased federal Ending and programmatic initiatives. These initiatives were focused on four key areas: (1)
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Project to restore the South Florida ecosystem. Within this context, the overall objectives of the CESI program were described as follows (DOI, 2000~: · to initiate and accelerate completion of studies required for sound ecosystem restoration to meet critical science information needs in support of the South Florida restoration to provide administrative support for coordination, contracting, and review of activities supported by the CEST program · to develop annual fimding requests to Congress to meet anticipated critical studies required for achieving ecosystem restoration Even though the region was rich with agencies conducting scientific and engineering research, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S.
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26 Science and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration
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Overview of the CESI Program 27 the projects and accomplishments of the CESI program and in evaluating the future goals, it is critical to view the CESI program as one component of a larger entity that includes other science initiatives as well as political and socioeconom~c Issues. Research studies funded through the CEST program were intended to elucidate how the natural system functions, identify the ways in which the ecosystem has been altered, and develop tools for examining how the current system might respond to restoration of historic hydrological conditions.
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Coordination and science peerreview activities were funded in support of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and Working (Ryan ~ ~ These include funding for strategic planning, science peer review, development of invasive-species control strategies, CEST-sponsored workshops, and support for the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Science Conference and the Florida Bay Science conferences. During its first year (FY 1997)
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, as it represents the latest comprehensive, multiagency assessment of region-wide science needs (William Perry, NPS, written communication, 2002~. A vitally important component of DOI's responsibilities in the South Florida restoration wall be to assist in evaluating the ecosystem response to the restoration projects once they begin operation, with specific focus on the restoration's effects on federally managed lands and resources.
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are provided in Appendix B as one framework for viewing the CESI program's contributions to filling information gaps. The CESI program has placed particular emphasis on supporting research to improve the understanding of South Florida's ecosystem structure and functions in order to provide a basis for predicting the ecosystem's response to restoration of historic hydrological conditions.
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The South Florida Water Management Model (SFWMM) is the primary hydrological modeling tool used to determine impacts of restoration projects on the natural system, but the model stops well inland of the southwest coast.
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The large uncertainty about nutrient and contaminant transport resulting from the restoration projects makes this area of inquiry a high priority. Coordination among ongoing research efforts, however, will be critical to maximize the cost effectiveness of science resources.
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Those activities not considered in this review include development of invasive-species control strategies, support for the Office of the Executive Director of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, and funding for the National Research Council's Committee on the Restoration of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. To assess the CESI program's overall!
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From page 34... ...
Instead, the CESI program's efforts have emphasized development of ecological and hydrological modeling tools and research to determine the hydrological attributes required to restore the ecosystem as nearly as possible to historic conditions, so that appropriate project designs can be developed to meet these restoration objectives. Since the authorization of the CERP in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, the CEST program has specifically tried to fund research where there were scientific questions to be answered that could inform design, implementation, and management decisions to support ongoing restoration projects.
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At current funding levels and with increasing demand for CERP-related monitoring and assessment, CESI staff foresee little available CESI funding to support future experimental or applied research. Continued research in areas closely related to the South Florida ecosystem restoration objectives provides a strong scientific foundation for future decision making and allows the science knowledge base to develop so that scientists and planners can respond to new and emerging concerns.
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Although this report identifies many areas where additional research is needed, a complete and updated assessment of scientific information needs for the South Florida ecosystem restoration, along with research priorities, would be extremely valuable to the restoration effort. Such an effort would improve coordination among the multiple agencies engaged in South Florida ecosystem science and would support wise investment of limited science resources.
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From page 37... ...
When a single CEST study was determined to be relevant to multiple restoration projects, the highest-priority restoration projects were used as the basis of the time-line comparison. For example, if a CEST study was viewed as contributing high-priority information to both the Cull project and the Florida Bay Feasibility Study, but only low-priority information to the Lakebelt Pilot Study, the CEST study would be compared to both high-priority linked projects (C-111 and Florida Bay Feasibility Study)
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As the accelerated CERP time line continues to move forward, CESI projects will be further challenged to produce results even in advance of project construction. For the 2002-2006 proposed CEST projects, there were 74 proposed research projects analyzed in 135 comparisons with restoration projects.
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Negative values mean that the research results will be delayed relative to the specified restoration project start or completion dates. (CESI project data source: William Perry, NPS, written communication, 2002; restoration project data source: SFWMD, 2002f)
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_ ~ CESI studies proposed to start between 2002 and 2006 linked to completion dates for restoration projects FIGURE 2-4 A comparison between when research results will be available from CESI projects that CESI managers have proposed be started between 2002 and 2006 and (a) starting dates and (b)
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