Workshops and Field Trips
OPTIONAL WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP 1: THE SOCIAL VALUES FOR
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (SolVES) APPLICATION
FOR COASTAL AREAS
Sunday, June 3 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration Fee: $60
Contact: Alisa W. Coffin and Benson C. Sherrouse
US Geological Survey,
Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center
coffina@usgs.gov
This workshop will provide participants with an overview
of the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) GIS
tool. SolVES calculates the non-monetary, or social, values
attributed to ecosystem services. SolVES is designed to use
data from public attitude and preference surveys to assess,
map, and quantify social values. The tool calculates and maps
a 10-point Value Index representing the relative perceived
social values of ecosystem services such as recreation and
biodiversity for various groups of ecosystem stakeholders.
SolVES also identifies and models relationships between
social values and physical characteristics of the underlying
landscape. These relationships can then be used to generate
predicted Value Index maps for similar areas where survey
data are not available.
While SolVES was developed for terrestrial environments,
recent applications have focused on coastal areas. Coastal
systems provide an array of ecosystem services that are critical
to the resilience of coastal communities but that are often
unaccounted for in analyses weighing the costs and benefits of
development plans that might degrade them. By quantifying
social values attributed to ecosystem services as indicated by
public attitudes and preferences, these values can be more
systematically incorporated into coastal and marine spatial
planning efforts.
Participants in the workshop will gain knowledge and handson
experience in the use of SolVES. In this full-day workshop,
participants will be guided through a tutorial using survey
and biophysical data derived from a coastal setting to create
maps of quantified social values and relate them to ecosystem
characteristics.
Participant requirements:
WORKSHOP 2: LEADERSHIP SKILL
DEVELOPMENT SERIES: PROFESSIONAL
MENTORING
Sunday, June 3 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Registration Fee: $35
Contact: Brian Smith
NOAA Coastal Services Center
brian.m.smith@noaa.gov
The purpose of the half-day workshop is to provide a venue
for professionals at all stages of their careers to learn about
and discuss mentor-mentee relationships. This session will
build off previous TCS leadership events: in particular, the
leadership workshop that was held two years ago at TCS 22.
Two panels will be convened – one consisting of mentors, and
the second represented by the mentors and previous “mentees”
– to present and discuss a number of topics regarding the
mentor-mentee relationship. Three mentor/mentee teams will
comprise the panels – one each from government, academia,
and education – to provide comparison and contrast in
mentoring efforts among different sectors of the coastal
management community.
Topics to be addressed include:
- Defining mentoring within particular coastal/marine
disciplines
- Identifying the most important elements of successful
mentor-mentee relationships
- Conscious or, in reflection, subconscious “ground rules” for
productive mentor-mentee relationships
- Principal benefits and challenges associated with mentormentee
relationships
- Beneficial outcomes of mentor-mentee relationships and
how further career aspirations
- Advice for prospective mentees who are seeking possible
mentors
The workshop will be facilitated to encourage active dialog
among the panelists and between the panel and participants by
providing questions to the panel in advance and encouraging
Q&A throughout the session.
WORKSHOP 3: Applying Mitigation
Assessment Tools to Submerged
Marine Habitat Impacts
Sunday, June 3 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Registration Fee: $35
Contact: Steven MacLeod
Ecology and Environment, Inc.
smacleod@ene.com
The mitigation strategy of “avoid, minimize, compensate” is
common, but the approach for determining mitigation credit
through preservation, enhancement, restoration or creation
varies widely between states and USACE districts. Certain
tools exist to calculate wetland mitigation ratios at a sitespecific
level, based on functional and conditional values of the
impacted site versus the mitigation site. However, the majority
of these tools are not specifically designed to address impacts to
submerged marine habitat, such as seagrass and hardbottom.
This technical workshop will provide an overview of three
to four predominant mitigation calculation tools (e.g., HEA,
HGM, WRAP and UMAM) from a panel of regulators and
scientists, and how the tools can be applied to the marine
environment. Participants will then apply these tools to a
sample benthic habitat mitigation case during a break-out
session. The workshop will conclude with a discussion about
the strengths and weaknesses of these methods in relation to
in-water resources.
No previous knowledge of habitat assessment techniques is
necessary for this half-day workshop, but participants will
benefit from prior experience with, or review of, one or more
assessment method due to the rapid pace of the overviews
and so that we may concentrate on the application of the
techniques to submerged marine habitats.
Invited panelists include:
- Richard Dodge, PhD, NOVA Southeastern University
n Ron Gouguet, Windward Environmental, LLC
- John McManus, PhD, University of Miami Rosenstiel
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
- Jill King, Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection,
Southeast District
Supplementary panelists may join the workshop via webinar
FIELD TRIP 1: Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve
TIME: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
COST: $50
WHAT TO BRING: Water, snacks and climate protection
(sunscreen, hats, and protective clothing)
The barrier islands of Miami Beach, Fisher Island, Virginia
Key, and Key Biscayne form the eastern border of the northern
section of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve. The residential
developments along the mainland shore and the Miami central
business district form the western border. The construction
of causeways and the Port of Miami have subdivided the
northern preserve into eight basins causing changes to natural
water flow. Dredge and fill projects have altered the northern
bay with channels too deep for seagrass growth. Despite the
development that has taken place in the northern bay there still
are areas with abundant seagrass beds, hardbottom community
and mangroves that provide habitat for diverse species of fish,
invertebrates, birds, reptiles, and marine mammals.
Attendees will board a bus at the Hyatt Miami and travel to
the Biscayne Bay Environmental Center, which is the Biscayne
Bay Aquatic Preserves field office (1277 NE 79 Street, Miami,
33138). From there, field trip participants will board two
Florida Department of Environmental Protection vessels and
travel south and/or north of the office for a tour of spoil islands
that have been restored and serve and bird rookeries, seagrass
beds that are in literature as some of the diverse in Biscayne
Bay despite past impacts and current stressors, and a tour of
the Oleta River, a site that represents significant cultural and
natural resources.
Participants are required to wear a personal floatation device
and sign a waiver of liability to TCS.
FIELD TRIP 2: Biscayne National Park:
A Snorkel Trip to the Coral Reefs of the Park and a
Discussion of Development and the National Park
TIME: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
COST: $99 (includes transportation to the park, snorkel trip
fee, and lunch)
WHAT TO BRING: Swimsuit, sunscreen, hat, towel and
cover up. Water will be provided.
Biscayne National Park was originally created as a National
Monument in response to development pressures, which
threatened to create a series of channels and causeways
across the Bay and Miami Beach-like development of the
islands. The subtropical bay, islands and coral reefs have been
preserved and continue to survive as a neighbor to Metro
Miami-Dade County. There is a delicate balance between
this juxtaposition with a population that loves the water, loves
the Park, but sometimes does not realize their impacts to the
Park. Currently, Biscayne National Park is threatened by
overfishing, loss of freshwater flow to the Bay and adjacent
development. These impacts, combined with the global threats
to coral reefs, make protecting the Park a delicate balance
of public use and environmental protection. The Park works
closely with Miami-Dade County, the Regional Development
Council and the State of Florida to protect the resources
while preserving the access and use that make it a much-loved
resource.
Field trip participants will leave the hotel at 10:30 AM and
should expect to arrive at Biscayne National Park by 11:30
AM, at which time a brown bag lunch will be provided and
30 minutes allotted for lunch. A 30-minute presentation will
then be made in the Park auditorium about development and
planning by NPS with local and state agencies on development
in and around the Park. Either before or after this
presentation, field trip participants may check for the snorkel
trip and collect their gear. The boat will load at the dock at 1:15
PM and leave the dock at 1:30 PM. We will snorkel the reef
and discuss the threats of development, overfishing, climate
change and sea level rise on the reefs on the way out to the site.
The boat will return to the dock by 4:30 PM. There are outside
shower facilities at the dock, and the bus will depart to return
to the hotel by 5:00 PM.
Participants are required to sign a waiver of liability to TCS
and to the boat concessionaire.
FIELD TRIP 3: Regional Habitat Restoration:
Freshwater Wetlands, Mangrove Wetlands and
Tropical Hardwood Hammock Restoration Efforts
TIME: 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
COST: $30
WHAT TO BRING: Personal beverage, snack, binoculars, old shoes, and sunscreen
Florida’s rapid population growth and associated development
began after 1945 and resulted in the virtual elimination of a
variety of habitats and aquatic vegetation along vast areas of
Florida’s coastline. Southeast Florida (Miami-Dade County)
population grew from approximately 267,000 in 1940 to over
2.5 million people by 2010 – an increase of 900%.
Historic dredging and filling practices and regional
modifications to the distribution, quality and quantity of
freshwater to the coastal areas has resulted in degradation
of South Florida coastal habitats. Overall, Florida wetland
habitats have been reduced by 50%, which has changed the
landscape from expansive wetlands to heavily developed
communities. Concentrated and expanding human presence
continues to dramatically change the South Florida ecosystem.
South Florida historical altered habitats are being restored
on publicly owned lands through the cooperative efforts of
federal, state, and local governmental agencies.
Participants will travel to Oleta River State Park and Highland
Oaks Park. Located on the southeast coast of Florida, the
Oleta River is the only remaining natural river in Miami-Dade
County that can potentially provide the necessary low salinity
environment to fulfill the life history habitat requirement for
important commercial and recreational fishery species.
The first stop on the tour will be at the Oleta River State Park.
The walking tour will lead through a red mangrove forest
with the largest red mangroves (100 feet) on the east coast of
Florida. The walk will bring you to a newly restored 45-acre
red mangrove restoration site. You will be able to take a closeup
look and explore the restoration site on your own. This
is a great site for observing wildlife, especially birds. A short
restoration presentation will be provided.
Our second restoration stop will be at an ongoing tropical
hardwood hammock restoration. Along the way, we will drive
by a variety of restored sites (wetlands and uplands). These
sites include tropical hardwood hammocks that are dominated
by tropical trees and shrubs, most of which are evergreen or
semi-deciduous. This means they hold leaves during most or
all of the year. Tropical hardwood hammocks provide critical
habitat for a number of plants whose northernmost portions of
ranges extend into south Florida.
Afterward, we’ll travel a short distance to the Highland Oaks
Park and visit our third restoration stop. You will walk and
observe the newly restored headwaters of the Oleta River.
The objective of this restoration effort was to re-establish the
hydrology to the Oleta River headwaters and to restore the
adjacent freshwater wetlands with a variety of freshwater
species (Cypress, pond apple, leather fern, etc.).
FIELD TRIP 4: Planning, Development, the
Environment and a Working Miami River in
Downtown Miami
TIME: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
COST: Free
WHAT TO BRING: Please bring sunscreen, a hat, and
sunglasses. There will be ample opportunity to stop for
refreshments and lunch (on your own).
Miami was first settled in the late 1890s. Downtown Miami
centered upon the Miami River, one of the few natural riverine
features of Biscayne Bay. The river mouth and river were
home to other historic and prehistoric indigenous cultures
long before Miami became a city. This area is important as
an archaeological site, an historical center, a city focus and
important environmental habitat. This area is currently the
focus of redevelopment for the City of Miami. It is also the
center of a working waterfront with shipping interests using
smaller boats to access the islands of the Caribbean.
In addition, it is habitat for the endangered Florida Manatee.
These interests sometimes collide in planning for the River.
We will walk along the newly renovated waterfront and
discuss the historical connection of the River to the City of
Miami. We will see the area of the Miami Circle, a prehistoric
Indian site located near the river mouth. We will discuss
the native use of the river prior to settlement by Europeans.
Participants will have the opportunity to view the many
environmentally friendly changes that waterfront businesses
have implemented, in order to be compatible with the
environmental sensitivity of the river.
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