Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative

Mid-Atlantic Region Working Group

Agenda

Date: December 8, 2010 Time: 1:00 – 3:00

Location: Brevard County IFAS Extension Service, 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa

Meeting Objectives:

1) Discuss draft Working Group Plan

2) Review and discuss the CWCI draft goals and fundamental objectives

Facilitator: Laura DiGruttolo, FWC/CWCI Coordinator

Recorder: LD

Time	Topic	Desired Outcome
1:00	Welcome and introductions
	Agenda review	Understand objectives of today’s meeting, meeting norms
1:15	Overview of Working Group purpose	Understand why the group is needed
	Discuss draft Working Group Plan	Input on group’s goals; deliverables, identify roles, meeting format & frequency
2:00	Review draft CWCI vision/goals	Become familiar with the CWCI framework as developed by FWC
	Next step: enabling objects & actions	Set the stage for brainstorming objective & tasks/actions to meet CWCI goals
2:45	Wrap-up and adjourn	Closing comments, plan for next meeting

CWCI – Indian River Lagoon Area Working Group

12/8/10 – 1:00

Brevard County Extension Service office

In Attendance:

Matt Culver, Boating and Waterways Program, Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office

Robert (Bob) Day, Indian River Lagoon NEP/St Johns River Water Management District

Darcie McGee, Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office

Paula Berntson, Beach Programs, Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office

Rick Herren, Sea Turtle Coordinator, Indian River County

Stan Howarter, USFWS, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Brandon Smith, Brevard County Parks and Recreation

Holly Abeels, Marine Science Extension Agent, UF IFAS/Brevard County Extension Service

Conference Call:

Rick Fender, Florida Marine Contractors Association

Ron Brockmeyer, St Johns River Water Management District

Angy Chambers, US Air Force

Laura DiGruttolo: Overview – Review of CWCI

— Working Group scope and purpose: The group will be comprised of representatives from agencies and non-governmental entities in the Indian River Lagoon area. The purpose is to work together towards solutions to ongoing, on-the-ground issues affecting wildlife in the coastal zone.

Rick (Bob, Matt): CWCI scope should not be limited to the beach, but should be inclusive of all coastal habitats.
Concurrence by the group

— Working Group goals: make recommendations as to the scope and desired future conditions of the CWCI; identify/formulate enabling objectives; identify/determine what resources exist within the region.

Bob: IRL Estuary Program did a report 10 years ago of local government programs within the IRL area

[http://www.sjrwmd.com/itsyourlagoon/technicaldocumentation/pdfs/

See Non-Governmental and Governmental.pdf]

Rick: It would be helpful to have GIS layers with contacts. [See NRDA GIS and maps, FWRI interactive mapping service]
Bob: Refer to regional partnership that worked on growth management and planning, “How Shall We Grow”

Discussion – example a local coastal wildlife issue: feral cat colonies

— Darcy: very political issue; County Commission recently changed registration process of colonies

Overview of FWC’s vision for CWCI hierarchy

— Working Groups will report to CWCI Steering Committee – to be comprised of FWC staff, representatives from Working Groups throughout the state, FWS Coastal Program staff; final membership not yet determined

— Steering Committee will report to a Coastal Commission – envisioned to be comprised of upper-level management staff from federal, state and local agencies; membership not yet determined

— FWC’s Coastal Team (CWCI Planning Team) – to ultimately serve as a resource to Working Groups

— Coordinator to serve as a resource and liaison between the groups/team/committee

Darcy (Rick): need to avoid having a Steering Committee (Commission) hand down unfunded mandates

Resources and suggestions:

— Summary of discussions for Sept 7 CWCI forum – challenges/issues/gaps, strategies/opportunities (Laura – distributed)

— NWR Working Group – quarterly meetings held at Barrier Island Center, So Brevard (Rick, Paula)

— Brevard County Waterways Management Plan – under development for several years, stakeholders and working groups involved (Matt – see website: http://natres.brevardcounty.us/boating/)

— Rick – part of the Indian River County HCP, works a lot with cities and local entities

— Darcy – with CWCI outreach, need development and community group buy-in; find a message that will appeal to these groups so that they will want to be a part of the process.

Action item for next meeting:

Review existing management and other plans, rules and regulations, program and agency mission statements for goals and objectives that have an overlap with the CWCI –to be recommended as enabling objectives

Next meeting: Feb 2011, Brevard Extension Service office

Adjourn 2:45

Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative Mid-Atlantic Region Working Group 12-8-10 Meeting