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SE CASC Regional Science Symposium
Sharing Science to Support Climate Adaptation #Science4Climate
November 13-15, 2019
New Orleans, LA
Event Information
The 2019 Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Regional Science Symposium was held on November 13-15, 2019 at the New Orleans Marriott, 555 Canal Street.
Goals of the Symposium:
- Support climate adaptation efforts by sharing science resources and tools and providing natural and cultural resource managers and regional experts with an opportunity to share lessons learned and best practices.
- Discuss and identify gaps and needs for actionable science that meets the requirements of managers for on-the-ground application.
- Provide a venue for researchers, managers, and other resource people to share information about current activities, plans, and opportunities for collaboration.
Symposium Participants:
- Researchers and managers working in the southeastern U.S., including the U.S. Caribbean, on climate impacts and adaptation for fish, wildlife, habitat, cultural resources.
- Decision makers and practitioners from state fish and wildlife agencies, federal organizations, Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations, NGOs.
World Cafe Session Information
The World Cafe session, 10 am – 12 pm on Thursday, November 14, facilitated directed conversations and knowledge sharing on targeted themes. There were a variety of tables set up during this session, organized around specific topics and around specific organizations, hosted by a table lead. Participants rotated to tables based on their individual interests.
Field Trip Details
An optional field trip to the Barataria Preserve – Jean Lafitte National Park on Friday, November 15th, included a swamp boat tour and a walking tour, led by Dr. Julie Whitbeck and other National Park Service personnel.
Facing one of the highest rates of relative sea level rise on planet Earth, with a mission to conserve and protect a landscape with a less than 2 meter topographic relief, we will focus on how science is informing management of this deltaic wetland landscape. Expert ecologists will provide an orientation to this major river delta landscape, its geological and human management history, and the major challenges the park is confronting in protecting and conserving essential ecological and environmental values in this predominantly freshwater coastal wetland landscape. We will visit the estuarine edge of the Preserve via swamp tour boat. Water level allowing, participants will be able to get out onto a floating peat marsh and (later) walk to the edge of a bald cypress swamp. We will address ongoing management projects and related research, with a focus on addressing the increasing influence from the Gulf of Mexico.
After the boat trip, we offer an – OPTIONAL – walk on one of the Preserve’s foot trails. Starting on the natural levee ridge of the Mississippi River distributary that shaped this place, we will explore bottomland hardwood forests growing on higher elevation terrain and bald cypress swamps inhabiting natural levee backslopes. In addition to enjoying these lush wetland ecosystems and their abundant biota, we may also visit one of the park’s elevation and hydrology dynamics monitoring stations, and we will learn about other ongoing research and monitoring programs.
Southeastern Louisiana’s November weather is influenced by alternate cold fronts from the northwest and warm onshore flow from the Gulf of Mexico. Dress accordingly. Mosquitos might be present! We encourage participants to bring your own refillable water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellant, a hat and a lightweight rain poncho. Please wear shoes that can get wet and muddy, long pants, and a button down lightweight long sleeve shirt. Rubber boots are helpful.
The Barataria Preserve Visitor Center is located at 6588 Barataria Blvd. Marrero, LA 70072 (about a 30 min drive from downtown New Orleans) using Hwy 90 and the Crescent City Connection bridge. Beware that many GPS units will get you lost; follow park signs on Hwy 45 and 3134. Louisiana Swamp Tours is located near the dead end of Hwy 301, at 9706 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, and it is a 10 minute drive from the Visitor Center. The Pecan Grove picnic area and “Big Woods” trails are reached from the Pecan Grove parking area opposite the Visitor Center on Barataria Blvd. The Bayou Coquilles/Marsh Overlook trail is accessed from the Coquilles parking area about half a mile north of the Visitor Center on Barataria Blvd.
About the Area
The Canal Street Marriott hotel is conveniently located one block away from the French Quarter and it is the starting point for all major avenues that run from Downtown to Uptown New Orleans. A streetcar trolley runs along the entire length of the street, making stops at all major hotels and street crossings.
Questions, comments?
All questions can be directed to Cari Furiness at the provided email address below.
Send an email