Winter 2022-23 Newsletter
The Wetland Regional Monitoring Program (WRMP) is a collaborative regional program working to provide the information needed to increase the pace and scale of wetland restoration in the Bay. The Program is co-managed by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership and the San Francisco Estuary Institute. The WRMP improves tidal wetland restoration project success by providing regional, long-term, high-quality monitoring data. Core program elements include the establishment of a monitoring network, data management platform, and a comprehensive science framework. 2022 has been a year of building momentum and exciting development for the WRMP. This newsletter edition highlights some of the key accomplishments of the WRMP staff, Steering Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, and Science Workgroups during 2022.
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Monitoring Site Network
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) approved a Technical Memo for a Priority Monitoring Site Network that describes a network of proposed sites across the lower San Francisco Estuary that can best address the near-term science priorities of the WRMP. The TAC carefully chose sites to reflect such factors as the different geographic regions of the Bay, marsh age, and types of restoration activities. These sites include ‘Benchmark’ sites of “old growth” wetland, which can serve as sentinels of large-scale environmental change; ‘Reference’ sites of intermediate-aged marshes or well-established wetland restoration efforts than can provide insight for newer restoration projects; and ‘Project’ sites that are more recently implemented and still maturing. We expect the Monitoring Site Network memo to be approved by the Steering Committee in early 2023.
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Geospatial Data Catalog
The Geospatial Data Catalog, released in December 2022, is a repository for the datasets relevant to Bay Area wetlands that were created before the advent of the WRMP. It will also serve as a home for new WRMP datasets. Prior to its release, the Technical Advisory Committee, restoration practitioners, and Tribes provided feedback on the Catalog. This Catalog will enable long-term data comparison, even in the early years of the WRMP.
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WRMP Workgroups
Science workgroups have been moving forward, demonstrating leadership in the use of emerging technologies and linking indicators to the needs of multiple stakeholders (such as regulators and land managers). Each workgroup will develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for measuring different aspects of the Bay Area’s wetland health. To learn more about what SOPs are and their importance, please check out this WRMP Blog post on SOPs written by former SeaGrant Fellow Carmen Zamora.
Key updates from each of the workgroups:
Geospatial workgroup: Led by Pete Kauhanen (SFEI) and Christina Toms (Water Board), this group developed an SOP for mapping bayland habitat types and transition zones. They will continue to meet in 2023 to advise on development of the Baylands Change Basemap, which is anticipated to be released at the end of 2023.
People and Wetlands workgroup: Kicked off in October 2022 to discuss how human connections to wetlands can be incorporated into WRMP monitoring. Led by Keta Price (Hood Planning Group) and Denise Walker (SFEI), this group comprises experts in environmental justice, environmental education, regulatory agencies, social science, and more.
Hydrogeomorphic workgroup: Led by Jeremy Lowe (SFEI) and Christina Toms (Water Board), this group was recently established to determine the best indicators and methods for measuring the ways in which water shapes tidal wetland landscapes. This group plans to begin meeting in early 2023.
Vegetation workgroup: This group, led by Mike Vasey (SF Bay NERR emeritus) and Iryna Dronova (UC Berkeley), will develop standardized methods to monitor wetland vegetation. The SOPs they develop in 2023 will include remote-sensing and field-based methodologies that capture both broad patterns and leading indicators of change.
Fish and Fish Habitat: Led by Levi Lewis (UC Davis) and Alison Weber-Stover (NOAA), this group has nearly finalized a standardized method for monitoring wetland fish and fish habitat. Their recommendations include the species to monitor, the frequency of sampling, and best practices for data collection and management, among others.
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WRMP Charter
In December, the Steering Committee approved an update to the WRMP Charter, which serves as a guiding document for the WRMP structure, governance and guiding principles. This document lays the administrative groundwork for how decisions are made within the WRMP, representation on the Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee, and structure of the workgroups.
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Communications and Engagement
The WRMP is committed to communicating data about our region’s wetlands to decision-makers, regulators, practitioners, and the interested public.
Communications Needs Assessment
The Communication Needs Assessment was designed to inform WRMP communications by discovering how people and groups interested in the WRMP want to engage, pinpointing communications needs, and highlighting opportunities. The Assessment found that the WRMP should develop a communications action plan, that scientists and regulators are interested in reading in-depth information about the region’s wetlands, and that new opportunities exist for involving a broader community with the WRMP through interactive wetland events and workshops. Read the full Assessment here. Congratulations to our former SeaGrant Fellow Carmen Zamora for leading this assessment process!
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Staffing Updates
The WRMP is growing! New staff in 2022 include Dr. Caitlin Crain (SFEI), Alexandra Thomsen (SFEP), and Dr. Sasha Harris-Lovett (SFEP).
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Meet Dr. Sasha Harris-Lovett, SFEP’s new Lead Environmental Scientist!
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Tell us a little about yourself:
Hello! I am a social scientist who is committed to developing ecologically sustainable water systems and building a more just society. My Ph.D. research at UC Berkeley focused on understanding the social and institutional contexts of water-related challenges in California, and developing tools to inform decision-making about water management. After graduating, I worked at the Berkeley Water Center, where I helped launch a regional wastewater monitoring program for public health decision-making (called COVID-WEB), and where I co-led the Bay Area One Water Network, a collaborative planning effort for more equitable and resilient water systems in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What about the WRMP is most exciting for you?
I am stoked to have the opportunity to help launch a program that will be a tremendous resource for wetland restoration practitioners, regulators, scientists, and the Bay Area communities more broadly. It is so exciting to have my work build towards a future where our children and communities can have thriving wetland ecosystems around the Bay to steward and enjoy.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love exploring the shoreline, gardening, cooking, and being outside. I also am an amateur children’s book writer!
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