Implementing science planning methods within the Coregonine Restoration Framework via expert knowledge elicitation and workshop facilitation – Year 2

Josh Egan (GLFC, jegan@glfc.org), Andrew E. Honsey (USGS), Andrew Muir (GLFC), Amanda Ackiss (USGS)

The Coregonine Restoration Framework (Bunnell et al. 2023) includes a Planning Phase that is divided into four elements: (1) resolving coregonine taxonomy using genetics and ecology and delineating spatial units for conservation and restoration, (2) describing and mapping historical and contemporary distributions and habitats, (3) conducting population viability analyses, and (4) conducting threats assessments for extant and extirpated populations (Bunnell et al. 2023). Multi-institutional science teams developed methods for each of these elements that were vetted and approved by the Council of Lake Committees through the Joint Strategic Plan process and are now being implemented across the Great Lakes basin. Central components of elements (1) and (4) are “spatial unit delineation” and “threats assessment” expert elicitation workshops, respectively, which are led by the Native Fishes Restoration Coordinator (J. Egan; Ackiss et al. 2024). Preparing for these workshops requires data synthesis, assembling an expert panel representing diverse institutions and perspectives, and coordinating meeting logistics. Prior to and during workshops, expert panelists review data syntheses and participate in structured expert elicitation. The Restoration Coordinator also leads the compilation and communication of workshop results and coordinates with other Coregonine Restoration Framework science planning teams (e.g., gap analysis and population viability analysis) throughout the implementation process. Indigenous Knowledges are also highly informative to elements (1) and (4) and can be incorporated into the Planning Phase at any time. Tribes and First Nations determine their participation and lead the synthesis of Indigenous Knowledge. The Restoration Coordinator serves as a point-of-contact to seek inclusion of interested First Nations and Tribes in the Planning Phase. Substantial progress has been made on Coregonine Restoration Framework Planning Phase elements (1) and (4) during FY2024. In response to a request from the Lake Erie Committee in 2023, we successfully conducted spatial unit delineation and threats assessment workshops for Lake Erie cisco Coregonus artedi and shared preliminary results with the Lake Erie Committee. To fulfill a 2023 request from the Lake Ontario Committee, we conducted a spatial unit delineation assessment for Lake Ontario bloater C. hoyi (August 6 and 8, 2024) and are currently preparing for spatial unit delineation assessments for Lake Ontario cisco, lake whitefish C. clupeaformis, and round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum (October 8-11, 2024). Full Lake Erie cisco spatial unit delineation and threats assessment reports will be completed in 2024. Preliminary results from Lake Ontario spatial unit delineation workshops will be disseminated in 2024 and full reports will be completed in 2025. We also have engaged with multiple First Nations to discuss the possibility of their involvement in the Planning Phase. We anticipate fulfilling the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Committee requests in 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, respectively. Beyond the spatial unit delineation, threats assessment for the four Lake Ontario species have not yet been scheduled but could start in late 2024 and span well into 2025 (or even 2026). Furthermore, informal communications with the Lake Michigan Committee indicate that they will be requesting implementation of the spatial unit delineation and threats assessment expert elicitation methodologies for at least one species (cisco), which represents additional work extending through 2026 and likely beyond. Furthermore, our initial outreach in 2024 indicates that, moving forward, we can expect to allocate additional time to engage with Tribes and First Nations. The Restoration Coordinator position responsible for this work is only funded through August 2025, and the substantial time and effort required for data compilation and workshop preparation serves as a barrier to timely fulfillment of Lake Committee requests. Therefore, we request another year of funding for this position as well as funding for an additional Restoration Assistant position to ensure that implementation of science planning methods meets current and anticipated needs. Cross-institutional coordination, Tribal and First Nations engagement, and workshop facilitation are critical components of this role. Thus, we also request funding for regional travel to structured decision making and expert elicitation workshops. To ensure inclusivity in expert-elicitation, we request travel funding for experts who have been invited to workshops and require travel support (which would be limited to graduate students or experts not affiliated with the Joint Strategic Plan (JSP), given we expect experts from JSP agencies to cover their own travel). Finally, we request funding to support gatherings that will facilitate consultation with Tribal and First Nations representatives regarding Indigenous participation in the Coregonine Restoration Framework Planning Phase.