MBNMS RAP Meeting Summary February 8th, 2002

Research Activity Panel Meeting Summary
Chris Harrold, Monterey Bay Aquarium, RAP Chair

FEBRUARY 2002 RAP MEETING

Members

• Chris Harrold, Monterey Bay Aquarium - Chair
  
• Jeff Paduan, Naval Postgraduate School – Vice Chair
  
• Steve Eittreim, USGS
  
• Steve Moore, CSUMB
  
• Fiorenza Micheli, Hopkins Marine Station
  
• Francisco Chavez, MBARI
  
• Kerstin Wasson, ESNERR
  
• Geoff Wheat, NOAA/NURP
  
• Caroline Pomeroy, UCSC

Guests

• Erica Burton, MBNMS
  
• Kelly Newton, MBNMS
  
• Dan Brumbaugh, MPA Center
  
• Charlie Wahle, MPA Center
  
• Mary Batteen, NPS
  
• Tim Stanton, NPS
  
• Chris Essert, MBNMS
  
• Dennis Long, MBSF
  
• Stephanie, ESNERR

PRESENTATIONS

Institutional Update: Naval Postgraduate School (Mary Batteen & Tim Stanton)

The Naval Postgraduate School is home to graduate level Navy officer students. The goal of the Postgraduate School is to be an internationally recognized center in ocean analysis and prediction. NPS has many complimentary observational and modeling programs including global scale eddy resolving models, coastal observations, nearshore observations, and the Monterey inner shelf observatory (MISO). The Postgraduate School’s website houses lots of real time data including wind speed and direction, temperature, and a surf camera. The REAL Lab (Rapid Environmental Assessment Lab) is on property that used to be the City of Monterey sewer plant. There are several large tanks that are not in use. NPS has an interest in developing the property, but there are no definite plans. For more information please see: http://www.nps.navy.mil

A new integrated project to study the biophysical and socioeconomic functions of a reserve network in the Bahamas (Dan Brumbaugh)

The project, initiated by Dan Brumbaugh, was formed to study the indirect effects of a marine reserve network in the Bahamas. The five year project has 3 main components: cceanography, to study circulation and connectivity; marine ecology, to learn about habitat function, groups, and focal species; and human systems to understand resource use, cultural aspects, economies, and decision making. The project is organized into 6 working groups including coordination, modeling, connectivity, habitats, socialites, and GIS. The Bahamas was chosen for the project because the Department of Fisheries and NGO’s were going to create new Marine Protected Areas, several MPA’s were already in existence, the reefs are in moderately good shape, there is low species richness, and a lot of existing scientific data. Key species include the queen conch, spiny lobster, and Nassau grouper. There is also an education component to the study that includes displays at the American Museum of Natural History, and informal education products for the general public.
Dan Brumbaugh is currently with the MPA Center in Santa Cruz.
For more information please see: http://mpa.gov/mpabusiness/center.html

SHORT PRESENTATIONS

Opportunities with the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation (Dennis Long)

Dennis gave an update of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation. The Foundation currently has 50 programs in the areas of Research, Education, and Resource Protection. These programs include watershed activity, Pt. Pinos intertidal work, MPA Center, publishing a Rockfish book, California Coastal Commission classroom curriculum, and SIMoN. The Foundation offers low overhead costs (10-12%). They also have a grant administrator on staff, and a framework for employees to receive benefits. In addition to SIMoN the Foundation administers about $2 million in projects.

INFORMATION ITEMS

San Mateo Mystery Spill Update (Kelly Newton)

The San Mateo Mystery Spill has been solved! The vessel Jacob Lukenbach sunk off San Francisco in 1953 and has been confirmed as the source of the oil. Approximately 1550 birds have been recovered since late November. Work now includes developing plans to remove the oil from the sunken vessel.

ACCEO and McArthur cruise update (Erica Burton)

The ACCEO (Alliance for California Current Ecosystem Observation) held a meeting recently to discuss the practicality of moving the Cal COFI lines north. The outcomes of the meeting were that it is desirable, it can be accomplished, and that there is a need for better coordination. A draft monitoring plan will be developed by a sub-committee to create interest in the project. The group is still in the formation stages, but a draft mission statement has been developed along with survey design.

The McArthur will be available for Sanctuary ship time March 6 – 12. Francisco Chavez will lead the effort to conduct Cal COFI line 67. The entire cruise will take place March 1 – 15 and be partnered with USGS. Soft sediment samples and chlorophyll samples will also be collected.

CCEPI (Central Coast Environmental Prediction Initiative) Workshop update (Jeff Paduan & Francisco Chavez)

A workshop was held at the end of January to discuss the new initiative. Congressman Sam Farr & MBCORC started the initiative. The focus is atmospheric and ocean modeling. The priority for the group has been atmospheric models that focus mainly on the Salinas Valley. The goal is to have an environmental monitoring system that everyone can benefit from. Also needed is an operational model for research.

SIMoN Update (Erica Burton)

The three requests for proposals have been sent out, and full proposals have been received. The full proposals are currently out for review, and the SIMoN Science Committee will meet in early March to assist in making the final decisions. The new SIMoN office is open downstairs from the Sanctuary office and will be home to the SIMoN staff, Manager of the California Coastal National Monument, and the West Coast Office of Ocean Exploration. Thalia Jennings has been hired by the Sanctuary Foundation as the grant administrator and staff support for SIMoN. Job announcements will be sent out in early April to hire the SIMoN Director and Scientist. Jamie Kum is currently working on GIS layers of all monitoring projects in the Sanctuary. At the Research Coordinators meeting Andrew DeVogelaere accepted an Award for Science in Action, Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network (SIMoN), In Recognition of Groundbreaking Work to Develop Scientific Programs or Initiatives.

NERR Invasion Monitoring Workshop update (Kerstin Wasson)

The focus of the workshop was non-indigenous species and their effects on estuaries. The goal of the workshop was to envision an ideal national monitoring program for estuarine invasions, and brainstorm about how it might be implemented. Participants in the workshop included invasion biologists, partner agency representatives, and NERR representatives. Species richness and abundance were identified as the top two priorities for monitoring. Priority estuarine habitats for invasion monitoring were identified to be marshes and submerged aquatic vegetation. A summary document is in the works.

MBA is exploring off-site options for its Sea Otter Research and Conservation Program (Chris Harrold)

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is currently looking for a new facility to house its Sea Otter Research and Conservation Program. The Aquarium needs to focus on revenue generating activities and the aquarium is not the best location for a rehabilitation facility. Options being considered are the Long Marine Lab / OSPR facility in Santa Cruz, the Brick Factory in Moss Landing, property owned by MBARI on the island in Moss Landing, and the Naval Postgraduate Schools facility on Del Monte Beach. A decision will be made by May 2002.

Update of RAP member contact information (Kelly Newton)

Kelly will be sending out an email requesting updated contact information from RAP members.

Sanctuary Currents (Erica Burton)

Don’t forget, Sanctuary Currents Symposium 2002 will be held March 9 at CSUMB.