Science to Support Informed Decision-Making: Examples from the US Environmental Protection Agency
Citation:
Lane, C. Science to Support Informed Decision-Making: Examples from the US Environmental Protection Agency. 5th International Symposium on Invasive Species, Uglich, RUSSIA, September 24 - 30, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
Invited presentation to 5th International Symposium on Invasive Species, Uglich, Russia
Description:
The mission of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. We work to achieve our mission through a combination of applied research and technical guidance for localities, states, tribes, and regions to best manage their terrestrial and aquatic systems – including the built environment in which we work and live. The US EPA’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) are statistically designed assessment approaches for the federal government via the EPA to work with local, state, and tribal governments to understand the condition of the nation’s coastal waters, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, and wetlands. Over the past decade we have assessed and reported to the United States Congress and the public on the condition, status, and trends of our aquatic resources. These data, collected in partnership with local, state, and tribal governments, include biological, chemical, physical, and human health indicators of condition and stressors at the scale of the contiguous US. In this presentation, I introduce the NARS and review and status and condition of the aquatic resources of the United States. There are major stressors, including the presence and abundance of invasive species, which are affecting aquatic resource integrity across the various types of waters assessed. Robust scientific data is critical to making informed decisions, and our experiences through the NARS program are helping the US EPA and our local, state, and tribal partners to better manage the aquatic resources of the United States into the future.
