Publications by Alexandra Fries

IAN is committed to producing practical, user-centered communications that foster a better understanding of science and enable readers to pursue new opportunities in research, education, and environmental problem-solving. Our publications synthesize scientific findings using effective science communication techniques.

Southeast Michigan Report Cards: First Virtual Stakeholder Workshop Summary (Page 1)

Southeast Michigan Report Cards: First Virtual Stakeholder Workshop Summary

November 4, 10, and 16, 2021

Dylan Taillie, Alexandra Fries, Heath Kelsey, Joe Edgerton, Lorena Villanueva-Almanza ·
4 January 2022

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Integration and Application Network has partnered with Council Fire, LLC, the Clinton River Watershed Council, Friends of the Detroit River, Huron River Watershed Council, River Raisin Watershed Council, and Friends of the Rouge to create socio-environmental report cards for five rivers in southeast Michigan. An overall report card that integrates the results into an assessment of the southeast Michigan region will also be produced.

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2019-2020 Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card (Page 1)

2019-2020 Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card

Alexandra Fries, Nathan Miller, Bill Dennison, Heath Kelsey ·
13 October 2021

The aim of this report card is to provide a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of 2019-2020 Coastal Bays health. Coastal Bays health is defined as the progress of four water quality indicators (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen) and two biotic indicators (seagrass, hard clams) toward scientifically derived ecological thresholds or goals.

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2020 Integration and Application Network Report Card (Page 1)

2020 Integration and Application Network Report Card

Alexandra Fries ·
26 July 2021

In the annual IAN Report Card, IAN staff reflect on accomplishments from 2020. The self-assessment is based on indicators in three categories: social impacts, ecological outcomes, and partner engagement. Overall, IAN received an overall grade of C (78%) which is a decrease from the 2019 score of B (84%).

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Chesapeake Bay & Watershed Report Card 2020 (Page 1)

Chesapeake Bay & Watershed Report Card 2020

Alexandra Fries, Sky Swanson, Caroline Donovan, Annie Carew, Joe Edgerton, Heath Kelsey ·
22 June 2021

This report card provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of Chesapeake Bay. Since 2016, UMCES has engaged stakeholders throughout the watershed to transform the report card into an evaluation of the Chesapeake Watershed health. Watershed health includes traditional ecosystem indicators, but also social, economic, and cultural indicators. This is the second year the watershed has been scored, and four new indicators have been added.

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2020 Chesapeake Bay Report Card Economic Indicator Two-Pager (Page 1)

Local economy indicators coming next year

Michael Shuman, George Chmael ·
22 June 2021

This newsletter highlights synthesis outcomes from the Fall 2020 Economic Indicators workshop. Five new economic indicators were generated that will eventually be incorporated into future iterations of the Chesapeake Bay Report Card.

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Coastal Georgia Ecosystem Report Card 2020 (Page 1)

Coastal Georgia Ecosystem Report Card 2020

Alexandra Fries, Kelly Dobroski ·
22 April 2021

This is the seventh Coastal Georgia Ecosystem Report Card. Georgia DNR has been creating report cards since 2014, when IAN helped kick off the process. This report card updates indicators and methods. New indicators added were dissolved oxygen, spotted seatrout, and bald eagles. Overall, Coastal Georgia received a score of 77%, a B+.

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The Development Process and Methods for the Coastal Georgia Report Card (Page 1)

The Development Process and Methods for the Coastal Georgia Report Card

Alexandra Fries, Kelly Dobroski ·
22 April 2021

This companion document to the 2020 Coastal Georgia report card contains information about data sources for all indicators, a summary of analysis methods, and scoring details. The values and threats to Coastal Georgia were revisited and indicator importance and relevance were reviewed. This led to the addition of three new indicators: dissolved oxygen, bald eagles, and spotted seatrout. The two indicators covering right whales (population and calves) were removed from the report card scoring.

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