Shafer Consulting Selected as Scientific Editor for FWRI

Dr. Jennifer Shafer has been selected to provide professional scientific editing services to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Jennifer will specialize in reviewing FWRI staff research papers that include spatial and statistical modeling in preparation for journal publication.

The Science and Environment Council of Sarasota County Appoints New Executive Directors

Dr. Jennifer Shafer and Dr. David Shafer of Shafer Consulting were appointed the new Executive Directors of the Science and Environment Council (SEC) of Sarasota County.

The SEC was incorporated in 2001 as a collaboration of non-profit and government agencies with environmental missions.  SEC’s mission is to promote and advocate science, conservation and environmental issues in Sarasota County for maintaining and improving quality of life through education, public outreach, demonstration, information gathering and analysis, and special projects.  Institutional members include the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Crowley Museum and Nature Center, Florida House, Friends of Myakka River, Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park, G.WIZ, Historic Spanish Point, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Myakka River State Park, Mote Marine Laboratory, New College of Florida, Oscar Scherer State Park, Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, and Sarasota County Government. SEC also has seven local affiliate members.

“We look forward to carrying on the productive tradition of education and policy initiatives by the SEC, while expanding collaborative research opportunities among members to advance our scientific understanding of our environment and its conservation” David said in a statement.

Shafer Consulting Sponsors Scallopalooza

Shafer Consulting, together with 74 groups and organizations, is proud to sponsor Sarasota Bay Watch's Second Annual Scallopalooza.

The Sarasota Yacht Club http://www.sarasotayachtclub.org/ will again host this special fundraiser this June 9th, dedicated exclusively to restoring scallops in Sarasota Bay. 

Scallopalooza is a celebration of community-based "sea-grass-roots" efforts to restore bay scallops in Sarasota Bay. It features an evening of entertainment, presentations, silent and live auctions and food.

This year's program features colorful Master of Ceremonies Jeff Birnbach orchestrating informative presentations by invited speakers and live auction items:

Web Design: Sustainable & Authentic Florida Conference

Shafer Consulting designed and built the webpage for the 2012 Sustainable & Authentic Florida Conference.

The Conference will be held October 17-19, 2012 on Anna Maria Island.

http://www.sustainableandauthenticflorida.com/

Hernando Hazard Vulnerability Analysis

Shafer Consulting worked with Calvin Giordano and Associates on the Post Distaster Redevelpoment Plan for Hernando County, providing GIS-based Hazard Vulnerability Analysis. The analysis modeled the potential effects of hurricane wind and storm surge and basin flood events in Hernando County. The analysis examined vulnerability of structures, critical facilities, infrastructure, natural resources and socio-economic groups for under vaious hazard scenarios post-disaster redevelopment planning.

Sarasota Bay Watch Scallop Blog

Shafer Consulting designed and built a Scallop Blog for Sarasota Bay Watch.  The blog provides updates on Sarasota Bay Watch's efforts to restore healthy scallop populations in Sarasota Bay.

The Sarasota Bay Watershed Symposium: science, policy and education

New College of Florida, in partnership with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, presented the Sarasota Bay Watershed Symposium February 17-19, 2012.The Symposium brought together 252 participants, including scientists (27%), educators (19%), policy makers (6%), business leaders (13%), students (15%), and the interested public (21%) to address environmental issues in Sarasota Bay and her watersheds.

Altogether, a team of 99 individuals from across the professional, citizen and academic community contributed their time, knowledge and creativity to plan and carry out the Symposium Program.  Invited contributors numbered 74, including two keynote speakers (see Appendix A), a series of six discussion sessions, a visioning session, a science poster session (see Appendix B), native plant display, an art exhibit, and a synthesis and listening session with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Policy Board.  Discussion sessions each featured a plenary roundtable discussion with invited experts, followed by concurrent breakout discussions lead by experts where participants could further explore and discuss sub-topics of the issues from the plenary. 

Sessions on Day 1 focused on habitat connections, science-policy connections and socio-economic connections.  Sessions on Day 2 were place-based, examining the dynamic complexity of topics identified during Day 1 through local case-studies. Lessons learned, solutions and next steps were identified.  Locations included Palma Sola Bay Watershed, Bradenton; Phillippi Creek and North Roberts Bay Watershed, Sarasota; and the Sarasota Bay Watershed, Sarasota-Bradenton and the Islands.

Ten hours of plenary proceedings were video captured and live streamed to the internet, and are available on-demand on the Sarasota Water Atlas.  This video plus summaries of proceedings were uploaded to create 105 pages of new content on the Coastal Watershed Wiki on the Sarasota Water Atlas (http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/wiki) (see Appendix C).  This document synthesizes the ideas and discussion generated across science, policy and education topics. The table below summarizes results from the Post-Symposium Survey.

New College GIS Historical Land Use Anaysis of Sarasota Bay

Shafer Consulting led a month-long workshop at New College to complete a GIS-based analysis of historical land use in the Sarasota Bay Watershed 1948-2009.

Palm Beach Sea Level Rise Storm Surge Modeling

Shafer Consulting provided scientific mapping and modelling services to Palm Beach County under contract with Calvin Giordano & Assoc. With the latest LIDAR elevation data, we used GIS to model the potential effect of sea level rise on the coastal community of Palm Beach County, Florida, under four possible future scenarios: 3 feet of sea level rise (SLR), and 3 ft SLR plus storm surge from Category 1, 3 and 5 hurricanes, respectively. Community vulnerability to the resulting inundation zones was evaluated along multiple dimensions, including: Critical Facilities, Ecosystems, Economy, Coastal Resources, Water Resources, and Population.

Coastal Watershed Initiative

Dr. Jennifer Shafer and Dr. David Shafer were recently appointed Project Coordinators for New College's Coastal Watershed Initiative. New College of Florida was awarded a New Florida Intitiative Grant for integrated research, education and policy outreach for Southwest Florida watersheds. The project includes organizing and hosting the Sarasota Bay Watershed Symposium and developing science, managment and education outreach tools through the Sarasota Water Atlas. Sign up to receive info and updates as the project unfolds!
http://www.shafer-consulting.org/

Mote Welcomes New Adjunct Scientists

Dr. David Shafer and Dr. Jennifer Shafer were recently appointed Adjunct Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. Mote Marine Laboratory is a leader in marine research with seven centers for marine research, the public Mote Aquarium and an Education Division specializing in public programs for all ages. Shafer Consulting looks forward to collaborating with Mote scientists in Coastal Ecology, Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Marine Policy. http://www.shafer-consulting.org

Successful Grant: $15,000 for Sarasota Bay Watch
Shafer Consulting wrote another successful grant proposal for Sarasota Bay Watch. The Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation has awarded Sarasota Bay Watch $15,000 toward funding an Executive Director position. Shafer Consulting contributes time and expertise providing grant writing and scientific and technical support for Sarasota Bay Watch.
http://www.shafer-consulting.org

Successful Grant: $20,000 for Sarasota Bay Watch
Shafer Consulting wrote a successful grant proposal for Sarasota Bay Watch. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County through its Boost Initiative Funds has awarded Sarasota Bay Watch $20,000 toward funding an Executive Director position. Shafer Consulting contributes time and expertise providing grant writing and scientific and technical support for Sarasota Bay Watch.
http://www.shafer-consulting.org

Shoreline Analysis of the Withlacoochee River
Shafer Consulting conducted a survey and GIS analysis of the Withlacoochee River in west-central Florida. Understanding historic flows of tidal rivers can help re-establish appropriate levels after years of alteration. One approach to understanding historic flow is to analyze the community composition of shoreline vegetation, which shifts with tidal influence. Using GIS to identify and analyze these shifts in shoreline type in the context of river salinity signatures can provide insight into appropriate flow levels for maintaining river ecology. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Ernest Estevez, Center for Coastal Ecology, Mote Marine Laboratory.
http://www.shafer-consulting.org

2010 Sister Keys Cleanup
Shafer Consulting joined Sarasota Bay Watch in their Second Annual Sister Keys Clean-Up on Saturday May, 8 2010. Over eighty participants gathered close to a ton of trash during the morning event. The volunteers were treated to a complimentary lunch by Ed Chiles and the Chiles Group, under the buttonwood trees bayside at the Mar Vista and Dockside Restaurant. Town of Longboat Key Public Works employees Curtis Vandermolin, Lloyd Hines, James Linkhogle and Dale Wyman provided invaluable logistical support while David Miller of Cannons Marina and Longbeach Village Association President Michael Drake provided transportation to and from Sister Keys aboard one of the Marina's custom deck boats. Sarasota Bay Watch would like to thank Audubon, the Sarasota Bay Guardian's, Around the Bend Nature Tours and the Snook Foundation for their support. A special nod to Officer Dennis Silvero of the Longboat Key Police, who stood guard along the intercoastal waterway.
http://www.shafer-consulting.org

Sea Level Rise in Sarasota New College Adjunct Professor Jennifer Shafer led a team of students in a spatial analysis of the potential impacts of sea level rise on Sarasota County. Using GIS to analyze new Lidar elevation data, the students evaluated the vulnerability of Sarasota's natural, cultural and economic resources to a 2-, 4- and 6-foot rise in sea level, which could occur over the next century. A 6-foot rise in sea level would impact almost 12,000 coastal residences currently valued at $5.5 billion. Many of Sarasota's cultural landmarks such as St. Armands Circle, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and Selby Gardens are also vulnerable to inundation. Pelican Press article http://www.shafer-consulting.org

2009 Myakka River Cleanup
Shafer Consulting joined the 2009 Myakka River Cleanup Event. Their efforts, led by Myakka River enthusiast Bob Richardson, cleaned litter and debris from the river along a four mile reach between Border Road Bridge and Rocky Ford. While paddling furiously to keep up with Richardson, the group recovered a motley collection of river debris, including a paper plate, the sole of a shoe and a latex glove. Their targeted segment was mostly litter-free. The larger cleanup effort targeted 38 miles of the river, including 12 miles inside the Myakka State Park. The Myakka River, designated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River, flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. http://shafer-consulting.org

View Jennifer's Presentation to the Sarasota County Commission (Agenda Item 11)

Jennifer Shafer recently presented the final report of the Transportation and Redevelopment Action Committee (TRAC) to the Sarasota County Commission. Tim Dutton, Executive Director of the sponsoring organization SCOPE, praised Jennifer's leadership: "Dr. Shafer stepped up as both a citizen and as a gifted professional to lead an innovative process of civic engagement. As chair of the citizen group, Jennifer was called upon to convey complex ideas generated through the many steps of the year-long process. Her understanding of the dynamics of development and the nuances of power and personality in the context of citizen ownership made a big difference." TRAC chose Bee Ridge Road as a case-study for transforming Sarasota's tired and sprawling corridors using TOD principles to achieve walkable mixed-use neighborhoods connected by multi-modal transit. By distilling hundreds of ideas contributed by citizens participating in Focus Groups, TRAC identified 21 guiding principles to serve as a road map for elected officials, county planners, businesses and neighborhoods. http://shafer-consulting.org

Teacher's Institute for Conservation Biology: Technology Workshop

Jennifer Shafer lead a seminar and workshop featuring remote sensing and geographic information systems as tools for monitoring and modeling plant and animal populations and their habitats. The workshop was held at the Teachers Institute for Conservation Biology, sponsored and conducted by the Lemur Conservation Foundation in Myakka City, FL. "Her performance was outstanding," said Dr. Mike Stuart, team leader and Professor Emeritus of Biology at UNC. "Dr. Shafer provided detailed instructions and information prior to the course and followed up with both an excellent presentation and hands-on instruction on how to use the technology. Dr. Shafer is clearly well versed in the biological science behind the technology, but she is also an outstanding teacher. Dr. Shafer and her company would be my first choice for any project involving complex data analyses of environmental issues or in teaching others how to understand the myriad issues in land use. I look forward to utilizing her skills and expertise again in future programs." http://shafer-consulting.org

It's Hot, But Not Because of Global Warming
Research suggests that local land-use changes — urban development and draining wetlands — may be contributing more to local climate change than global warming. Florida’s top global warming scientists, including Harold Wanless, chairman of geological sciences at the University of Miami, agree that greenhouse gases don’t seem to be impacting Florida’s temperatures. When it comes to global warming, sea-level rise — caused by warming elsewhere, particularly the Arctic — is the chief threat to Florida. Wanless predicts Florida’s seas will rise three to five feet by century’s end. http://shafer-consulting.org