|
workshops > a.r.m. loxahatchee nwr science workshops > summary of 2004 workshop (presentation)
Summary of 2004 A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR Science Workshop
| Purpose of Workshop |
 |
- Provide a forum for discussion of refuge science needs
- Discuss ongoing research
- Make a broader audience aware of refuge management issues needing science support
- Facilitate collaboration and partnerships
|
|
| Participants |
- Over 60 people from 10+ different groups including
- Universities (UF, FAU, FIU)
- Federal (FWS, USACOE, USGS, NPS)
- State (SFWMD)
- Private (A.R.M. Loxahatchee Foundation, Community watershed fund, Habita specialists, Inc.)
|
|
| Format |
- Plenary sessions
- Background
- General management needs
- Poster session
- Break out sessions
- General
- Water management
- Lygodium
- Field Trips
|
 |
|
| Poster Session |
 |
- Twenty-one posters
- General refuge information
- Wildlife and habitats
- Tree islands
- Exotics
- Water quality
- Supporting data layers
|
|
| Session Summary - General |
- Develop a list of projects (and contacts) that relate to refuge management issues
- Four groups of approximately 15 people
- 117 Projects in 25 broad categories
- Spreadsheet of projects and contacts
- Could not assign status of Addressing refuge need or Could address refuge need
|
|
| Session Summary - Water Management |
- Develop a matrix of attributes that can be used as a guide for future water management decisions
- Three groups 12-14 people
- Twelve general categories of attributes
- Ongoing studies (identified in general session) addressed eight of the categories
|
|
| Session Summary - Lygodium |
- Develop an action plan that will help meet Lygodium control goals
- Two groups of 10-12 people
- Group A discussed maintenance control, the refuge performance measure, and how the measure would be evaluated
- Group B focused on what was needed to reach maintenance control
|
|
| Evaluation |
- Everyone who responded felt the workshop met the stated objectives
- Plenary and poster session most useful
- Good opportunity for interaction and to see where research interests and needs overlap
|
 |
|
| Suggestions |
- Provide more information on refuge goals and constraints
- Provide template for projects before workshop
- Provide more specific information on focus of discussion groups
- Provide additional training/guidance for facilitator and note takers
- Focus on one topic and spend more time on it
|
|
| Benefits of Workshop |
- Increased collaboration
- SFWMD-Fire, water quality
- Identification of future workshop topics
- Application of lessons learned to other refuges and future workshops
- Summary report
|
|
| Summary Report |
- Program and Abstracts
- Session Summaries
- Recommendations for Future Workshops
- Appendices
- Background material
- List of pre-registered participants
- Summary of evaluation forms
|
|
| Potential Follow up Workshops |
- What are the hydrologic targets for tree islands/ridge and slough, alligators, wading birds, and apple snails in the refuge?
- What management/operations are necessary to achieve the desired targets?
- How will maintenance control be defined for meeting performance measures outlined in the License Agreement?
- Are refuge strategies for control of Lygodium the most effective and efficient given current information?
- Florida Panther and Ten Thousand Islands NWR
- Hydrology
- October 2005 (tentative)
|
|
|
