This agreement provides funding to the SAN francisco estuary institute (sfei) to implement the wetland regional monitoring program (wrmp)

Specifically, the recipient will manage and coordinate the project team to collect data to implement a science framework based on standardized methods to cost-effectively monitor the response of key tidal marsh indicators to climate change, population growth, and other regional drivers of change. The wrmp will also develop a data management platform to share data generated through the program and related efforts with the restoration community. This agreement provides partial federal funding in the amount of $5,000,000. Preaward costs are approved back to october 1, 2024. Activities:to implement the SAN francisco estuary partnership comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp), as part of this grant the SAN francisco estuary institute will accomplish the following activities: 1. Establish the wrmp monitoring site network; 2. Collect, analyze, and disseminate data; 3. Develop indicators, metrics, and methods for assessing tidal marsh condition, and 4. Support wrmp governance and administration.subrecipient:subawards under this agreement are planned for supporting wetland monitoring activities, including: - USGS (western ecological research center) for set-MHS - oregon state university for elevation/vegetation transects/MH - SF BAY nerr for transition zone vegetation and water surface elevation monitoring - UC davis for fish sampling - NOAA for lidar outcomes:anticipated deliverables include: 1. Establishment of the monitoring site network including a map of sites, an updated implementation workplan, and regular meetings with regulatory agencies, project implementers, land managers; 2. Data-related work including archived and publicly accessible records of monitoring site network monitoring data, annual report, tidal marsh extent memo, wrmp website updates and maintenance, qapp, other data delivery mechanisms including newsletter, media, conferences, meetings; 3. Sops and indicator alignment report for assessing tidal marsh condition; 4. Wrmp governance and administration through technical advisory committee agendas and meeting summaries, semi-annual progress reports, subaward and contract development and management. Expected long-term outcomes include increased wetland restoration project success by increasing the impact, utility, and application of site-specific permit-driven monitoring to inform science-based decision-making. The intended beneficiaries of this project are residents of the nine BAY area counties and the living resources of the SAN francisco BAY and its watersheds.