Coordinating Goals, Outcomes, and Actions

The Chesapeake Bay Program's Executive Council and the Federal Leadership Committee for the Chesapeake Bay have called for coordinating and, where appropriate, integrating the goals, outcomes, and actions of the Chesapeake Bay Program with the goals, outcomes, and actions described in the Executive Order Strategy.  The Executive Council agreed in July 2011 to use a four stage process as a path forward in updating the commitments of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.  The Chesapeake Bay Program partnership will continue to have the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement as its guiding document as it considers ideas to update the commitments.

Implementing the Decision Framework Roles and Responsibilities 

Implementing adaptive management in the Chesapeake Bay Program through a decision framework is directed by the Principals’ Staff Committee (PSC) and Management Board (MB) but begins with each Goal Implementation Team (GIT) and their workgroups. Implementation of adaptive management will help us be more accountable, transparent and consistent in how we communicate our goals, strategies, and rationale to each other and external audiences.  The Decision Framework Implementation Workgroup of the Enhancing Partnership, Leadership, and Management Goal Implementation Team (Leadership GIT) is coordinating the process and supporting the GITs in implementing the decision framework process, as needed. In the coming months, a schedule for building out the decision framework for each of the Goal Implementation Teams will be developed and posted here.

Chesapeake Bay Decision Framework

Restoring a large complex ecosystem to desired conditions is a process fraught with uncertainty. Success hinges on the ability of all partners in the process to commit to learning while doing, taking actions without guarantees, supporting effective monitoring, transparently assessing progress, and redirecting efforts when necessary. The Principals' Staff Committee adopted an adaptive management process on May 10, 2011, supported by the content displayed in ChesapeakeStat, and employing the logic described below in the Decision Framework graphic. Mouse over circles in the graphic to reveal the steps and information each of the Goal Implementation Teams and workgroups will describe relative to their work. This framework forms the basis for supporting decision making and ultimately, implementing adaptive management in the CBP partnership.