Encompassing over 11,000 square miles in the southeastern United States, the Suwannee River Basin supports diverse ecosystems and communities. The Ecological and Economic Impacts of Land Use and Climate Change on Coastal Food Webs and Fisheries project funded by the National Academies of Science (NAS) explores the complex dynamic between human and natural systems in the region, informing the development of future management practices.
“This project was set up to try to understand how we can better manage the Basin in the face of climate change to protect and sustain natural resources,” said Micheal Allen, director of the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station and principal investigator for the project.
Through extensive data synthesis on ground and surface water dynamics and coastal food webs, the project team is examining potential changes in water quality and quantity with implications to agriculture and natural resources in the Basin. Based on these changes, economic analyses will predict impacts to local industries such as tourism, recreation, fisheries and shellfish aquaculture.
“We hope this project will develop best management practices that people can use to maintain productive natural resources and agriculture that are so important to the region’s communities.” Allen said.
An integral aspect of the project has been the input of an advisory committee comprised of local stakeholders from various sectors. The project team meets with the committee biannually to receive feedback on the project’s development.
“The advisory committee has been invaluable in directing our focus toward important issues in the region,” said Angie Lindsey, UF associate professor of family, youth and community sciences and PIE Center affiliate faculty member. “By using direct input from stakeholders, we have been able to understand needs in the community and identify ways the project can address them.”
The project team will meet with the advisory committee in June 2023 to receive feedback on scenario development and discuss efforts to disseminate findings to the public.
“As we begin to develop outreach materials for this project, the committee will help us connect with community members and other opinion leaders to reach target audiences,” Lindsey said. “Ultimately, we hope to disseminate results and scenarios with recommended practices to preserve natural resources and industries in the region.”
This story is featured in the Spring 2023 edition of the PIE Center’s newsletter, The Slice. Download the slice
