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Natural Resource Damage and Assessment (NRDA) Program- DOI Monitoring and Adaptive Management Technical Assistance Active

By Wetland and Aquatic Research Center November 28, 2023

WARC researchers are providing support to Louisiana Monitoring and Adaptive Management activities.

Monitoring and Adaptive Management Process for Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage and Assessment Plan
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The monitoring and adaptive management process interpreted for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage and Assessment (NRDA) restoration plan, including a feedback loop represented by orange and blue arrows. This process includes four overarching phases: injury assessment, restoration planning, restoration implementation, and reporting. An adaptive management feedback loop of monitoring (Arrow #4), evaluation (Arrow #5), feedback (Arrow #6), and adjustment of restoration actions (Arrow #7) is included within the restoration implementation phase. Orange arrows represent steps of the feedback loop related to decision-making and governance (see Chapter 7), while blue arrows represent steps related to the collection and analysis of information. This adaptive management process may be applied at the project, resource, and cross-resource levels, as appropriate. Source: DWH NRDA Trustees. 2016. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan (PDARP) and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).

The Science Issue and Relevance: After the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, federal and state agencies including the Department of Commerce (represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]), the Department of the Interior (DOI; represented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the five Gulf of Mexico states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, formed a Trustee Council and began working together to collectively assess the injuries caused by the DWH oil spill and to select the appropriate restoration measures to compensate the public for the injury to and lost use of the resources each of the Trustees hold in trust for the public. The Louisiana-Trustee Implementation Group (LATIG) Monitoring and Adaptive Management (MAM) work group was established by the Trustee Council to meet the monitoring and adaptive management obligations described in the Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS) and Trustee Council Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The LATIG MAM work group approves and funds MAM work annually leading to short and long-term projects which collectively support the overall MAM activities within the State of Louisiana.  On behalf of DOI, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) participates in relevant LATIG MAM funded activities as requested by other Trustees. The work varies by funded activity but typically includes MAM consultation, technical review of other Trustee’s deliverables, and participation in MAM workshops.

Monitoring and Adaptive Management Procedures and Guidelines Manual
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Figure 2. Monitoring and Adaptive Management Procedures and Guidelines Manual followed for MAM activities within Louisiana.

Methodology for Addressing the Issue: As directed by the Trustee Council, the LATIG MAM activity specific work generally supports other Trustees, as needed, by:

  1. Providing technical consultation during the development and execution of MAM activities.
  2. Ensuring activity compliance with the MAM SOP.
  3. Reviewing and providing feedback of other Trustee’s deliverables prior to Trustee Council approval.
  4. Coordinating within DOI to support MAM activities within Louisiana.
  5. Participating in MAM activity workshops, seminars, and technical meetings.

Future Steps: USGS anticipates supporting Louisiana's MAM activities using similar techniques as listed above throughout the life of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment DWH Restoration Program.

WARC researchers are providing support to Louisiana Monitoring and Adaptive Management activities.

Monitoring and Adaptive Management Process for Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage and Assessment Plan
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The monitoring and adaptive management process interpreted for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage and Assessment (NRDA) restoration plan, including a feedback loop represented by orange and blue arrows. This process includes four overarching phases: injury assessment, restoration planning, restoration implementation, and reporting. An adaptive management feedback loop of monitoring (Arrow #4), evaluation (Arrow #5), feedback (Arrow #6), and adjustment of restoration actions (Arrow #7) is included within the restoration implementation phase. Orange arrows represent steps of the feedback loop related to decision-making and governance (see Chapter 7), while blue arrows represent steps related to the collection and analysis of information. This adaptive management process may be applied at the project, resource, and cross-resource levels, as appropriate. Source: DWH NRDA Trustees. 2016. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan (PDARP) and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).

The Science Issue and Relevance: After the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, federal and state agencies including the Department of Commerce (represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]), the Department of the Interior (DOI; represented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the five Gulf of Mexico states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, formed a Trustee Council and began working together to collectively assess the injuries caused by the DWH oil spill and to select the appropriate restoration measures to compensate the public for the injury to and lost use of the resources each of the Trustees hold in trust for the public. The Louisiana-Trustee Implementation Group (LATIG) Monitoring and Adaptive Management (MAM) work group was established by the Trustee Council to meet the monitoring and adaptive management obligations described in the Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS) and Trustee Council Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The LATIG MAM work group approves and funds MAM work annually leading to short and long-term projects which collectively support the overall MAM activities within the State of Louisiana.  On behalf of DOI, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) participates in relevant LATIG MAM funded activities as requested by other Trustees. The work varies by funded activity but typically includes MAM consultation, technical review of other Trustee’s deliverables, and participation in MAM workshops.

Monitoring and Adaptive Management Procedures and Guidelines Manual
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Figure 2. Monitoring and Adaptive Management Procedures and Guidelines Manual followed for MAM activities within Louisiana.

Methodology for Addressing the Issue: As directed by the Trustee Council, the LATIG MAM activity specific work generally supports other Trustees, as needed, by:

  1. Providing technical consultation during the development and execution of MAM activities.
  2. Ensuring activity compliance with the MAM SOP.
  3. Reviewing and providing feedback of other Trustee’s deliverables prior to Trustee Council approval.
  4. Coordinating within DOI to support MAM activities within Louisiana.
  5. Participating in MAM activity workshops, seminars, and technical meetings.

Future Steps: USGS anticipates supporting Louisiana's MAM activities using similar techniques as listed above throughout the life of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment DWH Restoration Program.