Citation:

Cicchetti, G., E. Shumchenia, S. Jackson, M. Pryor, AND K. Rocha. Using the Biological Condition Gradient to manage 40 embayments with the Massachusetts Bay Estuary Partnership. Center for Watershed Protection Coastal and Island Conference, NA, Online, November 16 - 17, 2020.

Impact/Purpose:

We are developing tools to help the Massachusetts Bay Estuary Partnership (MassBays, a National Estuary Program) develop quantitative non-regulatory publicly supported targets for habitat restoration in 40 estuarine embayments. We apply the Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) framework to consistently assess the extent of historic losses of valued habitats (salt marsh, mudflats, and seagrass) in embayments. The BCG lets environmental managers present biological condition (here the extent of valued habitats) to the public and other stakeholders as “what ecology did we have, what ecology do we have, what ecology do we want, and how do we get there, i.e., targets and management actions. Regional managers at MassBays will use this framework with local communities to set ambitions but achievable restoration targets, develop actions, and monitor progress. Our work addresses the needs of MassBays but also provides a model and guidance for managers at other National Estuary Programs, States, and EPA regions to develop publicly supported goals for environmental improvement.

Description:

The Massachusetts Bay Estuary Partnership (MassBays), one of 28 National Estuary Programs, is charged with developing and implementing a management plan covering 47 coastal bays and estuaries (embayments) spread over 1,100 miles from the tip of Cape Cod to the New Hampshire border. A goal is to develop publicly supported non-regulatory targets for desired future environmental conditions in embayments, then guide and inform local actions to reach those targets. The Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) approach applied to habitats (here salt marshes, mudflats, and seagrass beds in 40 embayments) is well suited to this challenge. The BCG uses available data in consistent bioassessments to evaluate and compare historic losses of valued habitats within and among embayments. Regional MassBays managers can engage local communities and townships with quantitative BCG results to dialogue “what habitat conditions did we have (the bountiful past), what conditions do we have (present-day status), and what conditions do we want in our desired future embayment (goals)?” This last question leads to quantitative publicly supported targets to restore and protect habitats, followed by management and community discussion on the actions needed to achieve those targets.

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