Day 1: Using Ecosystem Services to Increase Progress Toward, and Quantify the Benefits of, Multiple CBP Outcomes

March 16, 2023 - March 16, 2023


This workshop convened in-person on Thursday, March 16th at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club on Kent Island, MD.

  • Planning Session, see more here.
  • Day 2, see more here.

Workshop Save the Date: Ecosystem Services Save the Date

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted Day 1 of a multi-day workshop for the purpose of developing a strategic plan for the Chesapeake Bay Program to incorporate ecosystem services (ES) into its current decision framework, tools, and engagement with local partners; as well as guidance to help partners apply ES information to increase implementation of restoration and conservation activities. This will enable CBP to take advantage of ongoing efforts and new datasets to better identify, assess, and communicate the multiple benefits of restoration and conservation activities in the Bay watershed.

This workshop highlighted case studies where ecosystem services data were coupled with existing tools inside the watershed (including CAST, the Watershed Data Dashboard and state tools) and outside the watershed to inform stakeholder attitudes (or views) and decisions for water- quality improvements. Invited experts engaged with stakeholders, gain insights into the specific ES and uses cases that are of most importance, and provide recommendations for a strategic plan to more effectively use ES to address multiple CBP outcomes through 2025 and beyond.

Workshop Objectives: 

This workshop had two primary objectives: (1) have investigators engage with stakeholders on effective application of new ES results into tools and decision making at multiple levels, and (2) develop recommendations for an actionable workplan of how ecosystem services can be used to address multiple CBP outcomes. The plan will provide recommendations for both short-term applications of ecosystem services into tools (between 2023-2025), as well as longer-term improvements based on research needs identified at the workshop. This workshop focuses on the following aspects of ecosystem services for decision making:

  • Refine stakeholder needs and knowledge gaps and evaluate how ecosystems services data being produced from several studies related to water-quality practices can be applied by decision makers and conservation and restoration practice implementers to help advance other CBP outcomes and support local restoration and community goals.
  • The suggested CBP outcomes to be emphasized include riparian forest buffers, stream health, wetlands, climate resiliency, and healthy watersheds.

Background Information, Current Efforts, and CBP Efforts on Addressing Multiple Outcomes: 

Several STAC workshops have addressed aspects of ecosystem services and multiple benefits from water quality practices. There are several ongoing projects, and previous reports, addressing aspects of ecosystem services that would be utilized for the workshop including, but not limited to

  • Identifying and Defining Levels of Meaningful Change in Ecosystem Services of the Chesapeake Bay and its Watershed, Rossi et al., 2022. Link to article
  • EnviroAtlas High Resolution Metrics of Ecosystem Services for the Mid-Atlantic (USEPA)
  • Ecosystems Services of Floodplains in Chesapeake and Delaware Basins (USGS)
  • GIT-funded Ecosystem Services Project: Quantification of the Value of Green Infrastructure Hazard Mitigation Related to Flooding, RTI, 2020. Link to report
  • BMP Impact Scoring Report, TetraTech, 2017. Link to report

Day 1 Ecosystem Services Workshop Agenda

Workshop Steering Committee: 

Presentations:

For more information, please contact Meg Cole, STAC Coordinator, at colem@chesapeake.org.