Habitat Matrix Program

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NOAA Leadership Seminar
PPBES An Evolving Process
Habitat Matrix Program Peg Brady, Program
Coordinator
23 March 2005
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Nine programs directly support NOAAs ecosystem
goal

• Habitat
• Corals
• Coastal and Marine Resources
• Protected Species
• Fisheries Management
• Aquaculture
• Enforcement
• Ecosystem Observations
• Ecosystem Research

(Final Program Structure approved by the NEC,
June 2004)
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Program Plan Detail
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Habitat Matrix Program Objectives

• Protect and restore ocean, coastal and Great
  Lakes habitats that support NOAAs trust
  resources.
• Advance the science underlying coastal habitat
  protection and restoration and develop strategies
  to achieve successful projects.
• Transfer habitat science and technology to
  partners.

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Habitat Core Programs
Damage Assessment and Restoration Program
(DARP) conducts natural resource damage
assessments and restoration of coastal and marine
resources injured as a result of oil spills,
releases of hazardous materials and ship
groundings.
Community-based Restoration Program - establishes
partnerships at the national and local level to
provide funding, technical assistance, land,
volunteer support or other in-kind services to
help citizens carry out habitat restoration
projects.
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Habitat Core Programs
EFH, Wetlands and Fisheries Habitat Protection -
primary mandates focus on ensuring that living
marine resources have sufficient healthy habitat
to sustain populations. The mandates emphasize
wetlands, anadromous fish habitat, and habitat of
other marine and estuarine species.
Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) - provides a focus
for NOAAs multiple capabilities and activities
in the Chesapeake Bay and with the
multi-state/Federal partnership that comprises
the Chesapeake Bay Program.
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Habitat Core Programs
Coastal Protection and Restoration Division - is
responsible for implementing the Secretary of
Commerce's natural resource trustee
responsibilities by protecting and restoring
coastal habitats and resources affected by
hazardous materials releases.
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and
Restoration Act Program funds and supports
restoration, protection, conservation and
enhancement of threatened wetlands in Louisiana.
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Habitat Core Programs
Tunicate on Georges Bank

• Invasive Species activities include
• Prevention
• Monitoring and Early Detection
• Rapid Response, Control and Management
• Restoration
• Leadership and Coordination

Estuary Restoration Act - enacted to (1) promote
estuary habitat restoration, (2) develop a
national strategy for creating and maintaining
habitat restoration partnerships, (3) provide
federal funding for restoration projects, and (4)
enhance monitoring and research capabilities.
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Habitat Matrix Program Operational Steps

• Designed and implemented Matrix Management
  training program.
• Finalized original matrix management agreement
  that provided terms of reference for all members
  and established subcommittees.
• Established routine meeting schedule and intranet
  site.
• Re-organized Habitat Matrix Program to include
  Habitat Protection programs, all of NCBO and
  Invasive species programs.
• Held Habitat Program retreat and matrix training
  refresher for new and former members held at the
  beginning of FY 07 PPBES process.
• Stepped up communications and coordination within
  Habitat Program and improved responses to
  requests from NOAA Leadership.

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Habitat Matrix Program Progress to date

• Two Program Baseline Assessments completed (FY 06
  07).
• Consensus on Program performance measures and
  targets. Achieved FY 03 04 targets.
• National Estuary Restoration Inventory completed
  and launched. NERI provides Internet-accessible
  information on restoration techniques, acres
  restored, and monitoring results from projects.
  (http//neri.noaa.gov)
• Habitat Programs Portal site completed and
  launched. (http//restoration.noaa.gov)
• Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program
  Adjustment in Presidents FY 06 Budget.

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FY 04 Performance Measures

• Acres of habitat restored for ocean, coastal, and
  Great Lakes resources (5,562.64 acres of an
  annual target of 3,760 acres in 2004).
• Stream miles made accessible for ocean, coastal,
  and Great Lakes resources (410 of an annual
  target of 410 stream miles in 2004).
• Hazardous waste sites improved (18 of an annual
  target of 12 sites in 2004).

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Habitat Program Challenges

• Address reduction of base funds for all Habitat
  Programs.
• Integrate the Habitat Program within the regional
  ecosystem approach to management (EAM). Establish
  protection and restoration priorities nationally
  and regionally within the EAM.
• Fully integrate all programs including the
  regions within the Habitat Programs PBA.
• Advance the science (including social sciences)
  underlying coastal habitat protection and
  restoration and develop improved strategies for
  achieving success.
• Refine Habitat Program performance measures and
  tracking procedures.