2009 NPS Ocean and Coastal Park Workshop Results and Proceedings: Establishing a Community of Practi

The NPS Natural Resource Program Center's Geologic Resources and Water Resources Divisions hosted a three-day facilitated workshop attended by 53 resource managers and staff from ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes parks, regional offices, and central offices throughout the National Park System. The workshop, entitled "Establishing a Community of Practice, Formulating Guidance, and Charting a Course for the Future," was held in Boulder, Colorado on August 25-27, 2009. The purpose of the workshop was to carry out three tasks identified in the National Park Service national and regional ocean stewardship strategies: (1) analyze NPS authorities, (3) identify NPS responsibilities and opportunities, and (3) improve communication among ocean professionals. Day One of the workshop was a plenary session during which workshop participants gave brief presentations on each of the five remaining high priority topics, followed by group discussion, questions, and comments. On Days Two and Three, the participants divided into five breakout groups. Breakout groups analyzed the topics and possible solutions, reported on their progress in plenary sessions on Days Two and Three, and then revised their recommendations based on the feedback received from the other participants. The final plenary session on Day Three identified cross-cutting issues and tools, suggested priorities, and addressed NPS ocean and coastal budget needs. The next section (Summary of Workshop Results and Recommendations) distills the three days of workshop proceedings into a concise list of priority actions and topic-specific recommendations to guide the direction and action items for the NPS oceans and coastal program. The appendices summarize the workshop. Appendix A contains a list of the participants. Appendix B describes the workshop planning, budget, and agendas. Appendix C contains the workshop proceedings.