C t l M d l C i ti d D i i M ki Conceptual Models: Communication and Decision Making Conceptual Models: Communication and Decision-Making Conceptual Models: Communication and Decision Making p gT l f M lti A R M tTools for Multi Agency Resource ManagementTools for Multi-Agency Resource ManagementTools for Multi-Agency Resource ManagementTools for Multi Agency Resource Managementg y g

M P tt 1 J S k l k 1 Ch d P l1 Sh R 2Marcy Protteau1, Jeremy Sokulsky1, Chad Praul1, Shane Romsos2 Marcy Protteau , Jeremy Sokulsky , Chad Praul , Shane Romsos1 Environmental Incentives LLC South Lake Tahoe CA USA; 2 Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Stateline NV USA1 Environmental Incentives, LLC, South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA; 2 Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Stateline, NV, USA

M E PIntroduction Conceptual Model Goal Objectives and Legend M&E ProgramIntroduction Conceptual Model Goal, Objectives and Legend M&E Program

The Lake Tahoe Regional Status and Trend Monitoring andWhen a region’s natural and cultural resources are managed

The Lake Tahoe Regional Status and Trend Monitoring and E l ti P (M&E P ) i ll b ti ff t fLake Tahoe Clarity Desired Condition (Goal) LEGENDWhen a region s natural and cultural resources are managed Evaluation Program (M&E Program) is a collaborative effort of Lake Tahoe Clarity Desired Condition (Goal) LEGEND

by several agencies with overlapping jurisdictions and goals,g ( g )

federal state and local agencies to cost effectively andLEGEND

by several agencies with overlapping jurisdictions and goals, it l d t d li ti f it i ff t ti

federal, state and local agencies to cost-effectively and Restore and then maintain the waters of Lake Tahoe for theit can lead to duplication of monitoring efforts, competing reliably monitor and report the status and trends ofRestore, and then maintain, the waters of Lake Tahoe for the p g , p g

understandings of what restoration actions can best lead toreliably monitor and report the status and trends of

i t l d i i diti i th T hpurposes of human enjoyment and preservation of itsunderstandings of what restoration actions can best lead to environmental and socioeconomic conditions in the Tahoe purposes of human enjoyment and preservation of its l i l t t f th f l d tgoals, and inefficient use of available funds and staff time. Basinecological status as one of the few large, deepwater, goals, and inefficient use of available funds and staff time.

B f di d t ff ti li it dBasin. g g p

ultraoligotrophic lakes in the world with uniqueBecause funding and staff time are limited, resource ultraoligotrophic lakes in the world with unique gmanagers are faced with a challenge – how should multiple Information gathered through the M&E Program:transparency, color and clarity.managers are faced with a challenge – how should multiple Information gathered through the M&E Program:transparency, color and clarity.agencies coordinate their efforts and allocate resources to • Improves decision-making and general understanding ofagencies coordinate their efforts and allocate resources to achieve common goals in a cost effective manner?

• Improves decision-making and general understanding of T h B i ditiachieve common goals in a cost-effective manner? Tahoe Basin conditionsLake Tahoe Clarity Objectives• Increases cost effectiveness and coordination of

Lake Tahoe Clarity Objectives• Increases cost-effectiveness and coordination of

monitoring efforts basin-wideMid-Lake Clarity monitoring efforts basin wideMid-Lake ClarityRestore and maintain mid lake clarity at levels measured for Each partner agency shares data collection and decisionConceptual Model Purpose Restore and maintain mid-lake clarity at levels measured for Each partner agency shares data collection and decision-Conceptual Model Purpose the period 1967-1971 which is an annual average Secchi making responsibilities that are appropriate to its mandate,

p p the period 1967-1971, which is an annual average Secchi d h f 29 7 making responsibilities that are appropriate to its mandate,

d d it t l l Id ll lti l T h B idepth of 29.7 meters. needs, and commitment level. Ideally, multiple Tahoe Basin p , y, pagencies contribute to the success of the M&E Program inConceptual models (CMs) provide an opportunity for Nearshore Clarity agencies contribute to the success of the M&E Program in Conceptual models (CMs) provide an opportunity for Nearshore Clarityvarying capacities. In turn, the M&E Program is the centralcollaboration and alignment of goals and efforts, and can I h th ti lit h th t t varying capacities. In turn, the M&E Program is the central location for status and trend monitoring information in the

collaboration and alignment of goals and efforts, and can i d i i ki d i d t di Improve nearshore aesthetic quality such that water location for status and trend monitoring information in the improve agency decision-making and increase understanding p q y

transparency and the biomass of attached algae are deemed Tahoe Basin assisting partner agencies in clearlyp g y g g

of environmental and socioeconomic conditions CMs provide transparency and the biomass of attached algae are deemed Tahoe Basin, assisting partner agencies in clearly f

of environmental and socioeconomic conditions. CMs provide acceptable at localized areas of significance. communicating their monitoring findings and progress made a “big picture” description of system condition without acceptable at localized areas of significance. g g g p gtoward goals

a big picture description of system condition without getting bogged down in the details They are used to: toward goals.getting bogged down in the details. They are used to:

1) D fi th t d t di f th t i t t1) Define the current understanding of the most important ) g pdrivers that affect the status of a system Conceptual Model Elementsdrivers that affect the status of a system Conceptual Model Elements2) Provide the opportunity for multiple diverse stakeholders p

Lake Tahoe Clarity Conceptual Model2) Provide the opportunity for multiple diverse stakeholders

t b t th i diff t ti f th Lake Tahoe Clarity Conceptual Modelto converse about their different perceptions of the M&E Program conceptual models comprise three parts:

p psystem and to find common ground M&E Program conceptual models comprise three parts:system and to find common ground

•Diagram A graphical representation of the goal(s)3) Assist in the selection and interpretation of meaningfulThe Lake Tahoe Clarity conceptual model is currently in development; the most recent draft is shown below. The conceptual model •Diagram – A graphical representation of the goal(s), 3) Assist in the selection and interpretation of meaningful

i di t t t k t t t The Lake Tahoe Clarity conceptual model is currently in development; the most recent draft is shown below. The conceptual model di h th l f L k T h Cl it th i ht h d id Thi l h b b k i t t ifi bl objective(s), drivers and actions that describe the systemindicators to track system statusdiagram shows the goal of Lake Tahoe Clarity on the right-hand side. This goal has been broken up into two specific, measureable objective(s), drivers and actions that describe the systemy

4) Identify the most influential actions for improving system g g y g g p p ,objectives Mid-Lake Clarity and Nearshore Clarity Drivers of the condition of the goal and objectives are shown as green (non- •Narrative document A text description of the conceptual

4) Identify the most influential actions for improving system objectives, Mid-Lake Clarity and Nearshore Clarity. Drivers of the condition of the goal and objectives are shown as green (non- •Narrative document – A text description of the conceptual statuscontrollable) and orange (controllable) boxes. Yellow hexagons represent management actions that can be taken to influence the model, including an explanation of the chains of cause and

status5) Identify key research priorities related to the program and controllable) and orange (controllable) boxes. Yellow hexagons represent management actions that can be taken to influence the

dri ers and in t rn the objecti es and goal Triangles indicate places here the s stem is meas red and hite diamonds indicatemodel, including an explanation of the chains of cause and effect in the s stem

5) Identify key research priorities related to the program and drivers and, in turn, the objectives and goal. Triangles indicate places where the system is measured, and white diamonds indicate effect in the system resource management actions j g g yareas that are priorities for further research

yresource management actionsareas that are priorities for further research. • Table – A spreadsheet with detailed information about eachTable A spreadsheet with detailed information about each

of the boxes and connections in the diagramof the boxes and connections in the diagram

G l nd Obj tiGoals and Objectivesj

C n pt l M d l D l pm nt PrConceptual Model Development Processp pBefore a conceptual model is developed a well defined goalBefore a conceptual model is developed, a well-defined goal must exist. This goal is a memorable and simple visionary

The M&E Program conceptual model development process ismust exist. This goal is a memorable and simple visionary t t t th t d ib th d i d t f The M&E Program conceptual model development process is

ff f ffstatement that describes the desired outcomes of

an integrated effort of agency staff, managers, and management actions Additionally this goal must be broken a teg ated e o t o age cy sta , a age s, a dstakeholders involving several levels of review

management actions. Additionally, this goal must be broken stakeholders, involving several levels of review.down into specific, measureable objectives. In Opendown into specific, measureable objectives. In Open

Standards for the Practice of Conser ation the Conser ationStandards for the Practice of Conservation, the Conservation Measures Partnership presents definitions for goal andMeasures Partnership presents definitions for goal and

bj ti hi h d h b i f h f ll i 1a) & 1c) Straw Proposalobjective, which are used as the basis for the following 1a) & 1c) Straw Proposal j , gdefinitions:definitions:

1b) & 1d) D ft D l tG l A i i d i ti f th l i l i 1b) & 1d) Draft DevelopmentGoal – A visionary description of the ecological, economic, 1b) & 1d) Draft Developmenty p g , ,physical and social attributes that characterize or exemplifyphysical, and social attributes that characterize or exemplify the outcomes of management actions A good goal meets the 2) Consistency Checkpointthe outcomes of management actions. A good goal meets the

it i f b i2) Consistency Checkpoint

criteria of being:) y p

g• Impact oriented• Impact-oriented• Memorable 3) Interagency and Science WorkshopMemorable

Ti li it d3) Interagency and Science Workshop

• Time-limited

O fObjective – A formal statement detailing a desired outcome 4) Independent Technical ReviewObject e o a state e t deta g a des ed outco eof a project If the project is well conceptualized and

4) Independent Technical Reviewof a project. If the project is well conceptualized and designed realization of a project’s objectives should lead todesigned, realization of a project s objectives should lead to th f lfill t f th j t’ l d lti t l it i i 5 ) M t S tthe fulfillment of the project’s goals and ultimately its vision. 5a) Management Support p j g yA good objective meets the criteria of being:

) g ppA good objective meets the criteria of being: • Results-orientedResults oriented

M bl 5b) Stakeholder Involvement• Measurable 5b) Stakeholder Involvement• Time limited

)• Time-limited• SpecificSpecific

P ti l 6) Executive Approval• Practical 6) Executive Approval

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