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Islands Coral Reefs  \nTECHNICAL REPORT  \nSeptember 15 , 2021  \nThe Biological Condition Gradient (BCG)  \nfor Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reefs  \nContributing Authors  \nPat Bradley  \nTetra Tech; Key West, FL  \nBen Jessup  \nTetra Tech; Montpelier, VT  \nDeborah Santavy  \nUS EPA, Office of Research and Development, Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division; Gulf Breeze, FL  \nErnesto Weil  \nDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico; Mayagüez, PR  \nChristina Horstmann  \nUS EPA, Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education Fellow, Office of Research and Development, Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division; Gulf Breeze, FL  \nLeah Oliver  \nUS EPA, Office of Research and Development, Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division; Gulf Breeze, FL  \nContact Information  \nFor more information, questions or comments about this document, please contact Susan Jackson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water/Office of Science and Technology, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, 4304T, Washington DC, 20460 or by email at [j](jackson.susank@epa.gov)[ackson.susank@epa.gov](jackson.susank@epa.gov)  \nCitation  \nUSEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) . 2021. The Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reefs. EPA 822-R- 2-1007. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water/Office of Science and Technology, Washington, D.C  \nAcknowledgments  \nWe are grateful for the hard work, insights, commitment, and enthusiasm provided by the experts, as listed in the table below. The work of sample review and model development was fraught with a series of disruptive events that hampered communication and scheduling of critical meetings, webinars, and discussions. This included evacuation from Magueyes Island due to Hurricane Isaac in 2012, abruptly terminating the first workshop; the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Irma to Florida and the USVI, and Hurricane Maria to Puerto Rico in 2017; three government shut-downs that caused all work on the BCG to cease (2013, 2018, 2019); the devastating earthquake swarm in 2019-2020 that struck the southwestern part of Puerto Rico; and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The commitment and dedication of the experts has been humbling and deeply appreciated.  \nBCG Coral Reef Experts  \n\n| Affiliation | \u003Cbr>Expert | \u003Cbr>Assemblage Expertise |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| University of Puerto Rico | Richard Appeldoorn\u003Cbr>Ernesto Weil\u003Cbr>Paul Yoshioka\u003Cbr>Alberto Sabat | Fish Benthic\u003Cbr>Benthic Fish |\n| University of Miami | Jerry Ault Steve Smith | Fish\u003Cbr>Fish |\n| Smithsonian Institution | Melanie McField\u003Cbr>David Ballantine | Benthic/Fish\u003Cbr>Benthic |\n| San Juan Bay Estuary Program | Jorge Bauzá | Benthic |\n| NOAA | Lisamarie Carrubba Graciela Garcia Moliner\u003Cbr>Randy Clark\u003Cbr>Brandi Todd | Fish\u003Cbr>Fish Benthic\u003Cbr>Benthic |\n| Nova Southeastern University | Brian K. Walker | Benthic/Fish |\n| Puerto Rico Department of | Craig Lilyestrom | Fish |\n| Natural and Environmental | Ernesto Diaz | Benthic |\n| Resources | Miguel Canals | Benthic |\n| HJR Reefscaping | Michelle Schärer\u003Cbr>Héctor Ruiz | Fish Benthic |\n| University of the Virgin Islands | Tyler Smith | Benthic/Fish |\n| University of North Carolina, Wilmington | Alina Szmant | Benthic |\n| US Geological Survey | Caroline Rogers | Benthic |\n| National Park Service | Jeff Miller | Benthic |\n| Marine Biological Laboratory | Loretta Roberson | Benthic |\n| The Nature Conservancy | Aaron Hutchins | Benthic |\n\n\n| CSS-Inc., Fairfax, VA; Under Contract to NOAA | Chris Jeffrey\u003Cbr>Simon Pittman | Benthic Fish |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Vicente & Associates | Vance Vicente | Benthic |\n| Protectores de Cuencas | Roberto Viquiera | Benthic |\n| US EPA | David Cuevas | Benthic |\n|  | Evelyn Huertas | Fish |\n|  | William Fisher | Benthic |\n|  | Debbie Santavy | Benthic (facilitator) |\n|  | Christina Horstmann (ORISE) ","cbCaindkDEKbTiOs","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaindkDEKbTiOs","pdf",10906192,314,"English","# Notice and Disclaimer\n## Project scope and intended information use\n## Relationship to regulations\n# Acknowledgments\n## Disruptive events and expert contributions\n## Workshop hosting and convening organizations\n# BCG Coral Reef Experts\n## Expert affiliations and assemblage expertise\n# Contact Information\n## Document inquiries and correspondence\n# Citation","[{\"question\":\"What is the Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) used for in this report?\",\"answer\":\"It provides a structured approach for biological assessments of coral reefs, supporting state, territorial, water-quality management efforts using biological assessment information.\"},{\"question\":\"Who contributed expertise to develop and calibrate the model?\",\"answer\":\"The report lists contributing authors and “BCG Coral Reef Experts” across multiple universities, NOAA, EPA, and other organizations, with additional topic expertise credited in appendices.\"},{\"question\":\"Does the document change or replace environmental regulations?\",\"answer\":\"No. The notice states the discussion is informational and the document is not a regulation and does not change or substitute for regulatory provisions.\"}]","The Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) - for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reefs - Technical Report - September 15, 2021 | PDF",791]