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Hudson River Environmental SocietyThe State of Hudson River Science Symposium

April 24, 2013

Providing Science in Support of Continuing Stewardship of the

Hudson River: Are we up to the Challenge?

Dennis SuszkowskiQuang Huynh

Hudson River Foundation

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Science for the Hudson River

Desired attributes for sustainable science associated with stewardship

An “Adequate” Supply of Science Financial capital Intellectual capacity

High Quality Science Reliable data Products/publications that are widely

accepted Respected investigators

Relevant Science Managerial useful –relate to goals of the

River Scientifically relevant Conducted in appropriate timeframes –

short- vs. long-term investments

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4

5

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Quantity of Hudson River Scientific Research

2010

2007

2004

2001

1998

1995

1992

1989

1986

1983

$0$500,000$1,000,000$1,500,000$2,000,000$2,500,000

HRF

NSF

NOAA

EPA

NY SeaGrant

NIH

NYSDEC

F&WF

All Others

Hudson River ResearchFunding by organizations

1983 – 2010Total = $65M~ $2.3M/yr

HRF= $34M or 52%

HRF NSF NOAA EPA NY SeaGrant NIH NYSDEC F&WF All Others

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Food

Web

s

Hydro

dyna

mics/S

ed. T

rans

port

Resou

rce/

Key S

pecies

Toxic S

ubst

ance

s

Info

rmat

ion

Man

agem

ent

Public

Pol

icy

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

18.2%19.1%

26.2%

34.2%

0.1%

2.2%

Hudson River Researchby General Category

1983 - 2010

Pere

centa

ge o

f fu

ndin

g w

ithin

sele

cte

d t

ime p

eri

od

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Hudson River Chesapeake Bay

% C

ontr

ibut

ion

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

Hudson River Chesapeake Bay

Millions

of $

Private

State

Federal

Comparison of Research Funding SourcesHudson River vs. Chesapeake Bay

Average Yearly Funding Amounts1990-2000

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546 publications in 148 peer-refereed journals from research grants

HRF-supported publications cited more than 30,000 times Very high H-index of 81 = 81 publications have been cited 81 times

or more ( A rating of 45 or higher = potential membership in US National Academy of Science for a scientist)

Most highly cited publication cited 2826 times 97% of HRF-sponsored publications have been cited at least once

Publications from HRF support….

Quality of Research Products

10

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

$30

Mill

ion

s o

f $

Hudson River Monitoring (Includes Assessments, Inventories, Surveys and Data Management)

by Funding Source: 1990-2000Total ~ $117 million (~$10.6M/yr)

Total science in HR ~ $13M/yr

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Relevance - Goals for Future Stewardship of the Hudson

Hudson River Estuary Program

NY/NJ Harbor & Estuary Program

Hudson-Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Plan

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7 Focus Areas of HRF for Hudson River Science

• Restore signature fisheries• Restore and improve habitats• Understand the watershed and its

influence on river processes• Evaluate climate change impacts

and implications (including extreme events)

• Understand human use and interaction

• Understand existing and emerging contaminants

• Evaluate ecosystem services and value

The Mid-Term Future (i.e., 5 – 10 years)

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Sustainable Stewardship

Modeling

Research

Monitorin

g

Public Interest

Management Framework

Science

Stewardship

Responsible planning &

management of resources, including

restoration

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Contributors of Science

Science

“Champions”

Managers

Research Commun

ity (funders & academics)

Advocates for funding and projects plus participation

Nudge (through regulation), assess

& monitor

Science

Research

Community

(funders & academics)

Partnering and Leveraging

Ecosystem Restoration Research:

Leveraging of FundsHRF funds of $570K leveraged an additional $2M in research and staff support between 2007 and 2012.

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HRF grant: Bain, Habitat $50K

TEC development: PA contracts to

HRF$350K

HRF Grant: Levinton , Oysters, $220K

DEC Grant to Levinton: Oysters in

Haverstraw Bay, $250K

NFWF grant to HRF: Oyster sustainability

in Jamaica Bay, $200K

HRF grant to Levinton; Oysters in Jamaica Bay $75K

NFWF grant to Levinton/Doall:

Oysters in Jamaica Bay

$150K

HRF grant to HydroQual:

Modeling oyster transport, $60K

NYCDEP Oyster modeling to HydroQual

$100K

US FWS : Oysters in Jamaica Bay

$75K

Oyster Research Partnership

$1.2M

HRF grants for Oyster Reef

Assessments,$300k

PA & HEP funds for Experimental Reef

Construction $450k

Research & Monitoring

infrastructure $350

Oyster Partners in-kind services

$450K

HRF grants to Bain :TEC research,

$95K

ORRP Phase 2: Restoration Research

NOAA/WCS/HEP/HS$350K

HRF; $570,000 Other sources; $2,030,000

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Challenges to Continued Stewardship

Major issues, like climate change, require new scientific insights

A troubled economic climate Public and private levels of funding for science not likely to

increase in near term Curtailment of geographically-specific federal funding (i.e.,

earmarks) Promotion and maintenance of partnerships Development of shared understanding of the contributions

and limitations of science in advancing stewardship Short-term gratification vs. long-term benefit

Continuation of some science programs may be in jeopardy Utilities’ biological monitoring program, CARP , USGS sediment

monitoring

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Opportunities for Continued Stewardship

Strong and growing public interest Extreme events, climate change, restoration and public

access/recreation

Talented scientific community with long track record Success can attract new $

Likely funding from traditional sources Increases unlikely in near term

Frameworks are in place that encourage partnerships Leveraging will be essential

Future settlements may provide new sources of funding for science