Transcript Next Steps

WESTAR Critical Loads Workshop:
Summing Up
Ira Domsky, Deputy Director
Arizona Depart of Environmental Quality
November 16, 2005
Building the Scientific Base

Science is rigorous and well founded


In some ways better than bases for NAAQS
Keying on the indicators





Ambient monitoring network – good, but needs
protection
Deposition monitoring network – marginal in scope
and potential utility
Physical and chemical measurements of soil and
water
Species diversity and populations
Ecosystems
Diversity of Biotic Communities





Alpine tundra
Subalpine conifer
forest and lakes
Hudsonian/mixed
conifer forest
Arid conifer
woodland
“Islands in the sky”







High desert
Grasslands
Evergreen woodlands
Chaparral
Low desert
Riparian areas and
wetlands
Ecotones
Building the Scientific Base

Funding the research to solidify causal
links





FLM budgets
Clean Air Act grants to states and locals
Universities
Foundations
Public/private partnerships
Other considerations

Climate change impacts





Temperature
Precipitation types, quantities and distribution
Existing programs – ozone, PM and
Regional Haze
Population growth – traffic, energy and
water
Oil and Gas development
Communicating value and values

What resources are at risk that are of
concern to people


Popular species
Ecosystem Services



Watersheds and water resources
Sustainability of timber and grazing
Recreation – tourism, hunting and fishing
Next Steps – for discussion





Develop an action plan
Establish an ad hoc WESTAR work group
Identify priority areas
Move forward with test cases
Seeking funding