2023 WLEB Conference: Elements of Successful Adaptive Management

Watch Rich Batiuk of Coastwise Partners share his experience of what makes for successful adaptive management using the Chesapeake Bay as his example.
Batiuk emphasizes the need for a comprehensive monitoring network, integrated models, tracking of best management practices, and understanding the impact of land use changes.
He discusses the challenge of tracking practices across 75,000 family farms and stresses the significance of setting targets for individual practices. He highlights the success story of 482 wastewater treatment facilities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed meeting their goals, showcasing patterns in adaptive management. He presents a dashboard approach for collaborative data analysis and interpretation involving universities, regulatory bodies, and local agencies. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of effective communication with the public, storytelling, and building triggers for policy changes.
Batiuk concludes by acknowledging the ongoing challenges and the need for continuous adaptation, emphasizing the potential for success despite difficulties in changing human behavior.