Grantee Research Project Results
Integrating Coral Reef Ecosystem Integrity and Restoration Options with Watershed-based activities in the Tropical Pacific Islands and the Societal Costs of Poor Land-use Practices
EPA Grant Number: R828008Title: Integrating Coral Reef Ecosystem Integrity and Restoration Options with Watershed-based activities in the Tropical Pacific Islands and the Societal Costs of Poor Land-use Practices
Investigators: Richmond, Robert H. , Wolanski, Eric , Hamnett, Michael
Current Investigators: Richmond, Robert H. , Hamnett, Michael , Wolanski, Eric
Institution: University of Guam , Australian Institute of Marine Sciences , University of Hawaii at Honolulu
Current Institution: University of Guam , University of Hawaii at Honolulu , Australian Institute of Marine Sciences
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: (Extended to July 31, 2004)
Project Amount: $795,249
RFA: Water and Watersheds (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , Water
Description:
Coral reefs are highly diverse, productive and complex ecosystems. They build tropical islands and land masses, protect their shores from coastal erosion and wave damage, support fisheries of cultural and economic value, are a repository for natural products of biomedical value, and are truly museums of the world's tropical marine biodiversity. While coral reefs are relatively robust and have survived millions of years of natural disturbances, anthropogenic influences are a major concern for the sustainability of these important ecosystems. Due to the small size of the islands of Micronesia, activities conducted within watersheds have almost immediate effects on coastal coral reefs. Runoff, sedimentation and non-point source pollution are among the greatest threats to coral reefs throughout the Pacific Basin. The societal costs of coral reef degradation resulting from land-based developments are great, especially when considering the importance of coral reefs to island cultures.The objectives of the proposed research are to apply the knowledge gained from a previous STAR grant to determining the classes and concentrations of coastal pollutants associated with watershed discharge of greatest concern to coral reef health, to collect quantitative data on physical and chemical characteristics of coastal waters affected by watershed discharge and apply these to developing integrated management schemes, to provide an accurate assessment of the societal costs of insufficient environmental protection measures within watersheds as they affect reefs and related coastal marine resources, to determine if coral reef restoration activities are practical if coupled with watershed restoration efforts, and to make this information readily accessible to stakeholders as a means of affecting appropriate environmental policy.
Approach:
The approach includes performing ecological studies on coral reefs, quantifying levels at which sedimentation and selected classes of pollutants become problematic, studying coastal water characteristics of flow, residence time and spatial extent of watershed discharge to determine measures that can be implemented to reduce negative impacts, quantifying the societal costs to island communities resulting from watershed and related reef degradation, and testing reef restoration techniques coupled with land-based remediation. The proposed research integrates ecological studies, physical oceanographic research and social science to deal with problems identified as priorities by the US Coral Reef Task Force. It will focus on the anthropogenic disturbances most relevant to coral reefs, and translate this information for regional educational outreach.Expected Results:
The expected results will include protocols for assessing stress on coral reef ecosystems, water quality guidelines on coastal pollutants of greatest concern, data to guide reef recovery and restoration efforts, information on societal values of watersheds and coral reefs, and appropriate educational materials and data to support the development of policies for integrated watershed management.Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 65 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 11 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
TMDLs, ecological indicators, pollution, capacity-building., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Geographic Area, Water, International, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecosystem Protection, Chemistry, Ecology, Watersheds, Environmental Chemistry, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Wet Weather Flows, Water & Watershed, coastal watershed, Tropical Pacific Islands, societal costs, non-point sources, restoration planning, socioeconomics, water quality, coral reef ecosystem, Micronesia, watershed restoration, aquatic ecosystem, coral reef ecosystem restoration, coastal ecosystem, coral reefs, hydrology, human values, valuation of watersheds, aquatic degradation, human activities, coastal environments, ecological integrity, ecology assessment models, land use, sediment, ecological indicators, aquatic ecosystems, coral reef ecosystem integrity, flow monitor, land management, anthropogenic processes, runoff, water resources, anthropogenic stress, outreach and education, watershedProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.