Indicator Steps for Coastal Development

Revised per conference call 8/27/07, C.Tilburg

Coastal Development Subcommittee

Steps

The following steps should be taken by all ESIP subcommittees to determine indicators.

1. Form Subcommittee Completed

2. Choose chair from within subcommittee Completed

3. Acknowledge target audience – Coastal managers and decision makers To be completed in conference call. The call will focus on determining a profile for Coastal Managers and articulate the kinds of decisions that the group feels managers would make using indicators.

4. Work within matrix of indicators verifying the following information (This matrix will be a collaborative process utilizing a webpage set up for the ESIP Subcommittees – information will be sent to members within the next 2 weeks).

1. Select categories for which indicators are needed.

• What are the leading management issues that we should be selecting indicators for. Examples: habitat fragmentation, environmental and economic consequences, sprawling development, shoreline development, water quality.

2. Organize indicators within matrix according to above categories then modify/amend indicators as necessary.

3. Assess if the following questions/criteria apply to the indicators (note columns on matrix)

• Is the indicator scientifically valid?
• Is the indicator responsive to change?
• Does the indicator show links between cause and effect?
• Are accurate data available?
• Is the indicator relevant to users?
• Is the indicator comparable through the Gulf of Maine?
• Is the indicator useful at large and small geographic scales?
• Is there a desired or acceptable value for the indicator? If so, what is it and why?

5. Based on questions above (represented by columns in the matrix) select initial 2-3 indicators to be used by the subcommittee

6. Determine if caution or interpretation needs to be used in association with the chosen indicators

7. Determine how climate change will affect the chosen indicators

8. What is the relationship between this indicator and other indicators in this subcommittee or other subcommittees? (e.g., how might we select a CD indicator that is also responsive to other issues – eutrophication, aquatic habitats, contaminants, etc.)

9. Is there something that can be done to affect change with this indicator?

10. What data needs to be collected on an on-going basis and who can/should collect it and how?