Summary
This brief interim report provides initial feedback from a committeeof experts asked to review the Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study(the Keys Study). The committee first reviewed the Scope of Workfor the Keys Study (United States Army Corps of Engineers, 1998)and then attended a two-day public workshop in January 2001 duringwhich the study team explained their goals and their progress todate. Based on this brief, preliminary review, the committee concludesthat it is feasible to create a semi-quantitative tool (referredto in the Keys Study as the “Carrying Capacity Analysis Model” or CCAM) for assessing the broad impactsof alternative future development scenarios on important biological,environmental, social, and economic factors. To ensure that the finalproduct of the Keys Study is useful and scientifically credible,the report provides several suggestions for CCAM designers at thistime:
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Place a greater emphasis on definition of concepts and agreementon desired outcomes
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Ensure a higher level of coordination between the different modulesthat make up the CCAM
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Make better use of the expert advisors who have been involved inthe process and could offer valuable, ongoing feedback
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Set clear priorities, overall and within each module, to ensure thatthe most important elements are addressed first.
More detailed suggestions for completing the individual modules arealso included. This report will be followed by a more thorough examinationof the draft CCAM once it is completed later this year.