SUMMARY OF DOI SCIENCE NEEDS RELATED TO THE LOWER WEST COAST
Major DOI Responsibilities and Interests	Major Unanswered Questions	Needed Science	Timeline
Help ensure that hydrologic performance targets accurately reflect the natural predrainage hydrology and ecology (DOI CERP partnership responsibility)	Southwest Florida Feasibility Study
	What hydrologic targets will support the restoration of predrainage ecological conditions, including short hydroperiod (ephemeral) wetland habitats, in this area? What are the critical links between hydrology, water quality, and ecological responses in southwest Florida?	Modeling to predict temporal and spatial variations in hydrologic conditions Modeling to predict temporal and spatial salinity patterns in estuaries	NEPA Scoping Completed
	C-43 Basin Storage Reservoir
	What hydrologic targets will achieve natural flows in the Caloosahatchee River?	Modeling to determine natural flows in the Caloosahatchee River	NEPA Scoping May 2004
	Henderson Creek / Belle Meade Restoration
	What are the hydrologic targets for freshwater inflows into the mangrove estuaries and Rookery Bay? What are the operating protocols needed to establish rainfall-driven operations?	Additional analysis of Henderson Creek/Rookery Bay hydrology Research and possible model refinement to establish operating protocols	NEPA Scoping TBD
	Picayune Strand Hydrologic Restoration
	What are the hydrologic targets for freshwater inflows?	Refinement of the MIKE-SHE Model	NEPA Scoping Completed
Help ensure that hydrologic performance targets protect threatened and endangered species and promote fish, wildlife, and park values (consultations on project design related to DOI stewardship responsibilities)	Southwest Florida Feasibility Study
	How do hydrologic and water quality targets relate to the landscape-scale assemblage of habitats needed to support the area's fish and wildlife resources and particularly the wide-ranging species, such as the Florida panther, West Indian manatee, Florida black bear, wood stork, and other migratory and wading birds?	Modeling to predict trophic- or species-level responses to habitat changes	EIS Review, Section 7 Consultation, and CAR Draft: March 2008 Final: May 2009
	C-43 Basin Storage Reservoir
	How will hydrologic restoration contribute to the recovery of listed species particularly the West Indian manatee, and to the protection and enhancement of fish and wildlife values?	Geographic information system (GIS) mapping for habitat database Modeling of West Indian manatee responses to habitat changes	EIS Review, Section 7 Consultation, and CAR Draft: May 2006 Final: Dec 2006
	Henderson Creek / Belle Meade Restoration
	What are the links between freshwater flows and ecological responses in the upland areas and the receiving water bodies of Rookery Bay?	Modeling to predict the relative abundance and spatial distributions of estuarine fish and macroinvertebrates	EIS Review, Section 7 Consultation, and CAR TBD
	Picayune Strand Hydrologic Restoration
	What are the anticipated effects on the threatened and endangered species in the project area, and particularly the West Indian manatee, Florida panther, and wood stork? What alternative will provide the most benefits for fish and wildlife resources?	Synthesis and study of the impacts of altered hydrology on the Florida Panther NWR Modeling to predict changes in hydrology and ecology in the Ten Thousand Islands NWR	EIS Review, Section 7 Consultation, and CAR Complete
Major DOI Responsibilities and Interests	Major Unanswered Questions	Needed Science	Timeline
Assess the responses of ecological communities and species as a basis for adaptive management (continuation of DOI responsibilities outlined above)	Southwest Florida Feasibility Study
	What are the key indicators of the desired ecological responses?	Identification and monitoring of key indicators and communities is needed for assessing hydrological restoration efforts and accompanying water quality concerns	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment Project Completion: TBD
	C-43 Basin Storage Reservoir
	What are the effects on threatened and endangered species?	Monitoring of bird species: bald eagle Audubon's crested caracara Everglade snail kite wood stork Monitoring of West Indian manatee responses to habitat changes	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment Project Completion: April 2011
	Henderson Creek / Belle Meade Restoration
	What are the key ecological indicators and how will they respond to the desired flow regime?	Identification and monitoring of indicator species: euryhaline and stenohaline crabs eastern oyster	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment Project Completion: TBD
	Picayune Strand Hydrologic Restoration
	What are the effects on wildlife within the Ten Thousand Islands NWR? What are the hydrologic effects on receiving waters south of the project area? What are the effects on threatened and endangered species? What is the ecological response to hydrologic change?	Baseline data and monitoring of effects on wildlife within the Ten Thousand Islands NWR Monitoring of water flows and water quality in receiving waters south of the project area Monitoring of effects on federally listed species affected by the project: West Indian manatee Florida panther wood stork Monitoring of ecological responses to hydrologic change: amphibians aquatic invertebrates and fishes wading birds crab, oyster, fish, and marine invertebrates in estuaries	Post-implementation monitoring and assessment Project Completion: TBD