This page intentionally left blank FINAL EVALUATION FINDINGS ELKHORN SLOUGH NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE APRIL 2005 THROUGH JULY 2010 FEBRUARY 2011 Photos courtesy of ESNERR and Michael Graybill Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration United States Department of Commerce This page intentionally left blank TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................... 2 II. PROGRAM REVIEW PROCEDURES..................................................................................... 4 A. OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 4 B. DOCUMENT REVIEW AND PRIORITY ISSUES ............................................................. 4 C. SITE VISIT TO CALIFORNIA ............................................................................................. 5 III. RESERVE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION ................................................................................. 6 IV. REVIEW FINDINGS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................. 8 A. OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT ......................................................................... 8 1. ESNERR Strategic Planning and Execution ....................................................................... 8 2. Financial Support and Agreements ..................................................................................... 9 3. Reserve Operations and Staffing ...................................................................................... 11 4. Partnerships ....................................................................................................................... 14 5. Facilities ............................................................................................................................ 15 6. Site Boundary .................................................................................................................... 17 B. RESEARCH AND MONITORING .............................................................................. 17 1. Monitoring ........................................................................................................................ 18 2. Research Activities ........................................................................................................... 19 3. Mentoring and External Researchers ................................................................................ 20 4. Geographic Information Systems ..................................................................................... 20 C. TIDAL WETLAND PROJECT ..................................................................................... 21 D. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ................................................................................ 22 1. K-12 Student Education and Teacher Professional Development .................................... 22 2. Outreach and Community Education ................................................................................ 24 E. COASTAL TRAINING PROGRAM ............................................................................ 25 F. STEWARDSHIP............................................................................................................ 26 1. Resource Protection .......................................................................................................... 26 2. Restoration ........................................................................................................................ 28 G. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM ........................................................................................... 29 V. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................ 31 VI. APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................ 32 Appendix A. OCRM Summary of Accomplishments and Recommendations ......................... 32 Appendix B. CDFG’s Response to June 2000 – March 2005 Evaluation Findings ................. 34 Appendix C. Persons and Institutions Contacted ...................................................................... 36 Appendix D. Persons Attending the Public Meetings .............................................................. 39 Appendix E. ESNERR’s Own Summary of Accomplishments for the Evaluation Period ...... 40 ELKHORN SLOUGH NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE 1 FINAL EVALUATION FINDINGS FOR APRIL 2005 – JULY 2010 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972, as amended, established the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). Section (§) 312 and §315 of the CZMA require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct periodic performance reviews or evaluations of all federally designated National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs); §312 and their implementing regulations describe the evaluation process requirements. The review described in this document examined the operation and management of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR or “the Reserve”) during the evaluation period of April 2005 through July 2010. The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG or “the Department”) administers ESNERR. This document describes the evaluation findings of the Director of NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) with respect to ESNERR during the evaluation period. These evaluation findings include discussions of major accomplishments as well as recommendations for program improvement. The conclusion of the findings is that the State of California successfully implemented its federally approved NERR during the evaluation period. The evaluation team documented a number of accomplishments during this review period. ESNERR strategic planning led to a new management plan that integrates conservation goals across its sectors and emphasizes ecosystem-based management for the Reserve. CDFG memoranda of understanding with strategic partners NOAA, the California State Coastal Conservancy (“Coastal Conservancy”), and the Elkhorn Slough Foundation (“Foundation”) clarify and codify these collaborative, evolving partnerships. The Reserve’s productive staff performed a wide breadth and large quantity of noteworthy programmatic work. The Reserve’s monitoring and research activities aligned with its conservation goals and generated high quality data that provide a unique look at the continued evolution of the Elkhorn Slough ecosystem, inform land management decisions and education, and document the state of the Reserve. The Coastal Training Program built and nurtured collaborative learning networks that inform and connect decision makers. The Reserve’s science-based approach to protecting species and habitats addressed many of the stressors to these resources. ESNERR volunteers supported the Reserve’s work towards conservation goals across the research, education, and stewardship sectors and increased the number of ambassadors of Elkhorn Slough All but two of the recommendations for the Reserve are Program Suggestions, and describe actions that OCRM believes CDFG should take to improve the program but that are not currently mandatory. Related to the Coastal Conservancy requesting CZMA § 315 operation and management funds for Reserve on behalf of CDFG, OCRM strongly urges CDFG to undertake efforts needed to empower CDFG to become the sole applicant for these financial assistance awards. OCRM encourages the Reserve to collaborate with the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, NOAA, and other appropriate partners to establish thoughtful criteria for ESNERR boundary expansion. OCRM strongly encourages the Reserve to update its education market analysis and ELKHORN SLOUGH NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE 2 FINAL EVALUATION FINDINGS FOR APRIL 2005 – JULY 2010 needs assessment, and inform the upcoming management plan, educational curricula, and training materials updates through an education strategic planning process. In addition, the findings include a necessary action for CDFG to fill the vacant reserve manager position prior to July 1, 2011 and a necessary action for the Reserve to take action to obtain spending authority over Minhoto property lease income. ELKHORN SLOUGH NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE 3 FINAL EVALUATION FINDINGS FOR APRIL 2005 – JULY 2010 II. PROGRAM REVIEW PROCEDURES A. OVERVIEW NOAA began its review of the Reserve in April 2010. The §312 evaluation process involved four distinct components: an initial document review and identification of specific issues of particular concern; a site visit to California, including interviews and a public meeting; development of draft evaluation findings; and preparation of the final evaluation findings, partly based on comments from the state regarding the content and timetables of recommendations specified in the draft document. The recommendations made by this evaluation appear in boxes and bold type and may be of two types: Necessary Actions address programmatic requirements of the CZMA’s implementing regulations and of the Reserve designated by NOAA. These must be carried out by the date(s) specified; Program Suggestions denote actions that OCRM believes would improve the program, but are not mandatory at this time. If no dates are indicated, OCRM expects the state will consider