Gulf of Mexico Alliance SIMOR Briefing June 9, 2009

Setting the Stage … U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Recommendations  Advance regional ecosystem approaches to management  Address land-based pollution  Protect coastal ecosystems, wetlands and estuaries  Educate the next generation of ocean stewards

Value of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance  Working model” of regional ocean governance  State leadership in U.S. Ocean Action Plan implementation  Will decrease overall costs and increase effectiveness of coastal management on a regional scale  Supporting Gulf Coast recovery and contributing to more resilient coastal communities – protecting lives and livelihoods.

Gulf of Mexico Alliance Organization Priority Issue Teams Alliance Management Team Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi (Chair), Texas Water Quality Florida lead AL, LA, MS, TX Restoration Louisiana lead AL, FL, MS, TX Education Alabama lead FL, LA, MS, TX Habitat ID Texas lead AL, FL, LA, MS Nutrients Mississippi lead AL, FL, LA, TX Federal Workgroup Co-Chairs EPA, DOI, NOAA CEQ NASA NSF USACE USDA – NRCS, USFS USDOC – NOAA USDOD – U.S. Navy USDOE USDOI – MMS, NPS, USFWS, USGS USDHHS – FDA USDOS USDOT USEPA Resilience Mississippi lead AL, FL, LA, TX

Federal Support for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance  13 Agencies listed as members of the Federal Workgroup  3 lead agencies- NOAA, EPA, DOI  Cooperative Agreements and Grants Coordinated among agencies to support Alliance actions  Federal coordinators from EPA and NOAA for all priority issue teams  Wide agency participation on issue teams  Logistical Support Host Websites Organize and host large workshops Support the Alliance Management Team and Coordination Team

First Governors’ Action Plan released in 2006  Intentionally focused 5 Priority Issues Specific action steps 36-month outcomes  Short-term “on the ground” successes  Two projects in Mexico  Approved and signed by all 5 Gulf State Governors

Action Plan I Successes  Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELCs) have been established in each of the five Gulf States and Veracruz, Mexico;  A Regional Sediment Management Master Plan has been drafted that will provide a framework for better management of Gulf sediment resources facilitating a reduction in coastal erosion and storm damages, as well as the restoration of coastal habitats;  Bi-national workshops designed to standardize harmful algal bloom identification and field sampling methods were conducted in Texas, Florida, and Mexico;  An ecosystem data portal has been established that will be used by resource managers to evaluate habitat extent and changes over time; and  A regional Nutrient Criteria Research Framework was developed that has led to a better understanding of nutrient impacts to Gulf ecosystems, as well as a coordinated approach to managing them.

Governors’ Action Plan II Released June 2009  Sets a course for actions designed to improve the health of coastal ecosystems and economies of the Gulf in ways that a single entity could not achieve  Five-year regional plan  Expanded partnerships including International partners, business, NGOs, academia  A strategy for tangible results

Challenges Addressed in Action Plan II Gulf Challenges  Sustaining Gulf Economy  Improving Ecosystem Health  Mitigating the Impacts of and Adapting to Climate Changes  Mitigating Harmful Effects to Coastal Water Quality

Priorities in Action Plan II Water Quality for Healthy Beaches and Seafood Habitat Conservation and Restoration Ecosystems Integration and Assessment Reducing Nutrient Impacts to Coastal Ecosystems Coastal Community Resilience Environmental Education

Intersections with SIMOR Priorities  Provide a federal coordination mechanism to respond to the priorities of state and regional governance partnerships, including emerging issues of national significance.  Ensure that research needs for effective resource management and policy are met, and that research results can, and are, applied by resource managers.  Facilitate improved understanding of climate change impacts on resources, implications for management, and adaptive strategies for the nation.  Support ocean education, outreach, and capacity building necessary for public understanding and support of science, and science-based resource management aligned with resource management priorities such as those above.