Coastal Services Center

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Environmental Characterizations: Apalachicola Regional Resources on the Web (ARROW)

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Promoting Integrated Resource Management within the Apalachicola River and Bay Region

Overview

Objective
To develop a comprehensive, geographic information system (GIS) based, Web-enabled, environmental and socioeconomic information resource for the Apalachicola River Basin.

"A Tool for Integration"
Watersheds in peril need protection. We need to know where these are, what they mean to us, and innovative and well-integrated ways of managing them.

The many individual land users within a common watershed affect one another, the overall form and function of the landscape, and the socioeconomic climate. Often, individual decisions regarding land use and management do not account for the bigger picture effects on other land users, the natural environment, or even the overall quality of life. We can better design human systems, (patterns, processes, and infrastructure) not only to make better use of the natural resources on which we depend, but to operate more efficiently and effectively as a society, and ultimately attain a higher quality of life.

This project aims at linking people who are involved with planning, regulation, and management of the natural and cultural resources within the Apalachicola River and Bay Region, by providing a common source of focused ecological and socioeconomic information. This effort will provide a mechanism through which all of the interacting stakeholders within the watershed can better communicate and integrate their activities.

A full description of the socioeconomic characteristics of people living within the watershed will provide an essential function to the stakeholders. This description will help to solidify a common social vision, which incorporates both the deep cultural heritage of the Apalachicola River and Bay, as well as outlining the cutting edge challenges and opportunities of today.

Highlights

This Web site will include:

• Narrative that informs and enhances local understanding of cultural, socio- economic, and environmental assets.
• GIS clearinghouse which provides key conservation planning data to local planning agencies.
• An easy to use internet map server-based tool that will help planners and other interested parties understand and interpret existing conservation data within a planning context.

Partner

Florida Natural Areas Inventory - Part of the Natural Heritage Network

The Florida Natural Areas Inventory is a non-profit organization administered by Florida State University. They are dedicated to gathering, interpreting, and disseminating information critical to the conservation of Florida's biological diversity. The Inventory was founded in 1981 as a member of The Nature Conservancy's international network of natural heritage programs. Funding is provided through contracts and grants, which currently include work for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other state and federal agencies.

Status

The Apalachicola project is currently under development. The Web site will be available in November 2005.

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