NEXT MEETING: GARDEN GROVE, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 5-9 2024

Building an estuarine assessment program around a modular, function-based framework allows us to address several key challenges in large scale monitoring, such as comparability across heterogeneous environments, standardization among practitioners, and differing management needs. A function-based approach provides a way to accommodate different estuary types and assimilate data from diverse monitoring programs. The modular nature of the approach provides flexibility for implementing agencies to address both local and regional needs concurrently, thereby encouraging broad adoption. Here, I will discuss such an approach developed to assess the effectiveness of California’s Estuarine Marine Protected Area Program (EMPA) with examples of standard protocols, standard data templates, and guidance on analysis, synthesis, and reporting.  This framework provides an opportunity to assess general condition and trends of coastal wetlands that can be used as baselines for regional assessments, proposed restoration projects, and the development of bioassessment tools, as well as help the state assess its large investment in coastal wetland protection, enhancement, and restoration.