Northeast MIchigan Integrated Assessment: Design of a Stakeholder Engagement Process

Abstract

An integrated assessment (IA) brings together policy makers, scientists, and key stakeholders to address a common issue of concern through collaboration and a formal analysis process. The goal of an IA is to link existing natural and social scientific knowledge about a problem with policy options in order to help decision makers evaluate possible actions. An IA led by Michigan Sea Grant (MSG) was conducted for the three-county region of Presque Isle, Alpena, and Alcona Counties in Northeast Michigan. This coastal area along Lake Huron includes rich natural and cultural resources, but the local communities have recently experienced economic difficulties. Despite the great potential for natural and cultural resourcesrelated tourism, local residents wish to proceed cautiously in order to avoid overdevelopment and the destruction of the area’s unique resources. Therefore, the key policy question addressed by this IA is: How can coastal access be designed, in a regional context, for sustainable tourism that stimulates economic development while maintaining the integrity of natural and cultural resources and quality of life? The objectives of this project, as a part of the larger IA, were 1) to serve as a member of the secretariat team and as such to design the stakeholder engagement process and assist in drafting policy options and 2) to serve as an observer of the process to provide key findings and recommendations for future IAs. A literature review on collaboration as well as interviews with individuals who had coordinated such processes provided guiding principles and best management practices that were incorporated into the NEMIA process. A qualitative analysis was used to draft policy options that reflect the participant-identified preferred future vision for the region. The NEMIA process was a pilot project intended to demonstrate the utility of the IA process to issues at the local scale. Recommendations for future MSG integrated assessments are provided based on experiences from the NEMIA process as well as the guiding principles gleaned from the collaboration literature and interviews.