1. Steering Committee Meeting December 19-20, 2013 UPDATES

4. Stephen Jackson, Director

5. Kevin Johnson, Coordinator & John Rice, Science Coordinator http://southernrockieslcc.org

6. 1 st Science Advisory Committee Meeting, Oct 2013 1 st 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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 Decision Support Tool for Mottled Duck Habitat Management  Bird Communities of Mature and Revegetated Tracts Along the Lower Rio Grande Bird Communities of Mature and Revegetated Tracts Along the Lower Rio Grande  Oklahoma Ecological Systems Mapping Update Oklahoma Ecological Systems Mapping Update  Conservation Framework for Priority Species of Grassland-Shrublands 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 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 Developing Hydrologic Information for the GCPLCC

10. 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.

11.  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

12. 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)