Welcome to CZ-Mail, the monthly email update from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). This update provides information on major CZM initiatives, available tools and publications, upcoming workshops and events, grants, contracting opportunities, job openings, coastal legislation, and other news of interest to people working on coastal issues. More information about CZM's programs, publications, and other coastal topics can be found online at http://www.mass.gov/czm/. If you have suggestions on how to make CZ-Mail more useful, would like to add your name to the mailing list, or would like to have your name removed, please email your request to CZ-Mail@state.ma.us.

Ocean management made international news with an article on Australia's new Southeast Regional Marine Plan on the Environment News Service at http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2003/2003-07-21-04.asp.

Scientists to Search for Invasive Species at Rowes Wharf
On August 5, a contingent of nationally recognized scientists will conduct a rapid assessment survey of aquatic invasive species at Rowes Wharf as part of an 8-day effort studying the coastal waters from Casco Bay, Maine, through New York Harbor. The Massachusetts Bays Program and MIT Sea Grant are coordinating this search for "invasive species"--plants or animals not normally found in Massachusetts waters whose introduction can harm the environment, economy, and public health. The goals of this study are to develop a baseline inventory of species in the coastal waters, to identify creatures that have been recently introduced into the ecosystem, and to assist managers in preventing and controlling future invasions. A 2000 survey conducted in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays revealed that 10 percent of all identified species were invasive, including some that had never been identified before on the U.S. east coast. The National Geographic Society will be following the scientific crew for two days, including the Boston visit, to film a segment for an upcoming "Explorer" television program. For more on invasive species management in Massachusetts, see CZM's Aquatic Invasive Species Website.

Earthquake Hits East of Gloucester
On July 22 at 6:41 am a 3.6 magnitude earthquake struck in the Gulf of Maine, 50 miles east of Gloucester. Although no damage was reported, the tremors were felt on Cape Ann. For specifics on the quake, as well as additional information on earthquakes in New England, see http://wwwneic.
cr.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/neic_wnat.html.

Hurricane Preparedness Week
To help increase public awareness of hurricane impacts, Governor Romney declared the week of July 20-26 "Massachusetts Hurricane Preparedness Week." This designation was particularly timely, as Danny, the fourth tropical storm of the current season, reached hurricane status the previous week. On July 23 and 24, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) held its annual Massachusetts Emergency Management Team Hurricane Workshop, conducted by National Weather Service Staff, followed by the annual two-day Hurricane Exercise for scores of federal, state, local, public, private, and volunteer agencies and organizations, including CZM. For details, see http://www.mass.gov/mema. For more on being prepared for hurricane season, see CZM's online Hurricane Preparedness Kit at http://www.mass.gov/czm/hurricanes.htm.

NOAA Soliciting Comments on Inventorying Marine Managed Areas
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has published a Federal Register notice requesting comments on its proposed criteria for building an Inventory of U.S. Marine Managed Areas. Comments are due by September 22. For a copy of the notice, see http://a257.g.akamaitech.net
/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-18733.pdf.

Funding Opportunities
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced the availability of grants for states and communities under its Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants Program. These grants can be used to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program to reduce overall risk to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations. Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis with priority on funding mitigation projects that address National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) repetitive flood loss properties. The closing date is October 6. For the Federal Register notice announcing the grants, see http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/
14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-17043.htm. For more on the program, see http://www.fema.gov/fima/pdm.shtm.

Ecological Forecasting Project Funding - The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences/Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research is soliciting proposals for projects to develop an ecological forecasting capability that balances conservation and wise use of coastal resources. The proposals should be for two to five years and can cover the coastal environment, the Great Lakes, estuaries, or coral reef ecosystems. The Federal Register notice of the announcement, which closes November 4, is available on the center's website at http://www.cop.noaa.gov/welcome.html.

Cooperative Fisheries Research Funding - The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Region Office (NERO) is seeking research proposals for projects involving cooperation among members of the fishing industry, scientists, and managers. Projects should relate to marine habitat research, essential fish habitat, or anthropogenic influences affecting the distribution or abundance of fishery species. Proposals are due by August 8. For details, see http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/EASC/EAC-03-0001/
listing.html.

Ocean Exploration Funding - NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration is seeking applications for explorations or experiments to better understand the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, processes, and resources of unknown, or poorly known, oceanic and Great Lakes regions. Pre-proposals are due by September 3. For details, see http://explore.noaa.gov/
opportunity/welcome.html.

Reminder - The annual Self-Help, Urban Self-Help, and federal Land and Water Conservation Fund rounds, administered through EOEA's Division of Conservation Services (DCS), are open through August 29. These programs provide financial assistance to cities and towns for the purchase of conservation land, the purchase of park land, or the renovation or development of public outdoor recreation facilities. For details see http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/grants-and-loans/dcs/.

Products/Publications
Coastlines 2003 - Coastlines, the CZM magazine, is hot off the presses. This edition features the shipping industry, with articles on Massachusetts' ports, environmental issues associated with shipping, and shipping and right whales. Other articles cover CZM's 25th anniversary, Liberty Ships, giant squid, stormwater, Marion, coastal trails, and ships in a bottle. If you are on the CZM mailing list, your copy should be arriving shortly. Otherwise, for a copy, or to add your name to the Coastlines mailing list, email your request to czm@state.ma.us. Stay tuned to CZ-Mail for an announcement of the availability of the online version of Coastlines 2003.

Aquatic Invasive Species Fact Sheet - This CZM fact sheet, entitled Biological Invaders: Threats from Aquaitic Invasive Species and What You Can Do to Keep Them Out of Our Waters, provides detailed information on this issue, including specific tips on how to prevent invasive species introductions. For a hard copy, please email your request to czm@state.ma.us. For an electronic version of the Coastlines article, which served as the basis for this fact sheet, see http://www.mass.gov/czm/
coastlines/2002/c33.htm (for the HTML version) and http://www.mass.gov/
czm/coastlines/2002/pdf/c33.pdf (for the PDF version). For more on invasive species management in Massachusetts, see CZM's Aquatic Invasive Species Website.

Mapping the Undersea Landscape - The Science Translation Project of the Gulf of Maine Council has released a summary of seafloor mapping in the Gulf of Maine. This fact sheet, entitled Mapping the Undersea Landscape: Using seafloor maps to improve management of the Gulf of Maine, provides an overview of mapping activities and technology, along with case studies illustrating applications for management. For an online version of the fact sheet, see http://www.gulfofmaine.org/knowledgebase/ seafloor_mapping/
seafloor_mapping_page_1.asp (PDF http://www.gulfofmaine.org/
knowledgebase/seafloor_mapping/docs/seafloor_mapping.pdf). To order a printed copy, please email your request to czm@state.ma.us.

Gulf of Maine Times - The summer edition of the Gulf of Maine Times is now online at http://www.gulfofmaine.org/times/summer2003/index.htm. Read about shark research and the shark species found in the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy; how the increasing use of marine waters, from fish farms to wind farms, oil and gas drilling and more, has incited the call for ocean zoning; and a profile of Bill Ayer, Nature Trust of New Brunswick. In addition, science translator Ethan Nedeau writes about the amazing life cycle of the alewife and its impact on the health of coastal watersheds. For paper copies of the Gulf of Maine Times, or to offer to be a bulk distribution point, please email editor@gulfofmaine.org.

Reminders - The following publications listed in the July CZ-Mail are still available:

• Environmental Permitting in Massachusetts, a web-based CZM publication that gives permitting guidance for project proponents, consultants, and regulators. See http://www.mass.gov/czm/permitguide/index.htm.
• Ecological Landscaping Tools for Massachusetts Homeowners, a 64-page document published by EOEA with detailed information on wildlife-friendly, water-saving, low-maintenance landscaping. For a PDF copy, see http://www.mass.gov/envir/mwrc/pdf/More_Than_Just_
  Yard.pdf.

Websites
OCRM's New Clean Marina Website - The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management's (OCRM) new Clean Marina Website is now online at http://cleanmarinas.noaa.gov/. This site was developed to provide technical assistance to state coastal managers and marina operators and owners interested in developing Clean Marina programs and reducing nonpoint source pollution from their marina activities. The site includes sections on marina management measure, funding sources to implement Clean Marine initiatives; publications; related legislation; and links.

Job Postings
Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator - This month, CZM post the Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator position. Check the CZM website at http://www.mass.gov/czm/jobsandgrants.htm for the posting.

Calendar
Reminders: The following calendar items posted in the July CZ-Mail are still to come:

• The Massachusetts Coastal Training Program maintains a calendar of workshops and other training events for coastal decision makers and others interested in managing the coastal zone. For more information, see http://www.whoi.edu/science/coastaltraining/events/index.htm.
• Boston Antique and Classic Boat Festival--more than 40 vintage sailboats and motor-yachts are expected to be on display on August 16 and 17 at the Hawthorne Cove Marine in Salem. See http://by-the-sea.com/bacbfestival/.
• The Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium and the Boston Harbor Educators Conference will be held from October 4-7. For details see: http://www.bostonislands.com/science/index.html.

In the News
Here are links to newspaper articles from the last month on coastal issues: (Articles may only be available for a limited time.)

• Whale deaths worry scientists (Cape Cod Times, 7/31/03).
• Fishing ban is weighed to protect herring (Boston Globe, 7/31/03).
• Harboring an energy idea: Electricity-generating wind turbines proposed (Boston Globe, 7/29/03).
• Is it safe? How do law enforcement agencies protect a 900-foot liquefied-natural-gas tanker from potential attack? With everything they've got. (Boston Globe, 7/27/03).
• Wind farm faces new challenge (Boston Globe, 7/25/03).
• A regional approach to global warming (Boston Globe, 7/25/03).
• Genetic studies suggest deep drop in whale populations (ABCNews.com, 7/25/03).
• Area legislators unite on marine pilot bill (Cape Cod Times, 7/23/03).
• Northern N.E. winter shrinking, study says (Boston Globe, 7/23/03).
• Beached 600-pound sea turtle rescued (ABCNews.com, 7/21/03).
• Public to consider four options on fishing fleet reduction (Boston Globe, 7/18/03).
• Pollution, seaweed mar beachgoers' days (Boston Globe, 7/17/03).
• Undersea peaks will be explored (Cape Cod Times, 7/14/03).
• Wind farm decision at least year away (Cape Cod Times, 7/14/03).
• Whale safety is focus of 2 Maine meetings (Boston Globe, 7/14/03).
• Whale freed from tangle (Cape Cod Times, 7/11/03).
• Feds nix leasing plan for fishermen (Boston Herald, 7/11/03).
• Senate votes for panel on energy (Boston Globe, 7/11/03).
• For shellfishermen, a trio of plagues before high season (Cape Cod Times, 7/8/03).
• Whale protection rules called confusing (Cape Cod Times, 7/8/03).
• Shipments leave cargo littering the ocean (Boston Globe, 7/7/03).

Other Items of Interest
NYT Series on Long Island Sound - This summer, the New York Times is running a series of articles on the environmental and economic issues facing Long Island Sound. Topics covered include environmental stewardship, the impact of housing development on marinas, invasive species, the changing economy of the area, and sea turtles. For the index, see http://www.nytimes.
com/ref/nyregion/LISOUND-INDEX.html.

CZ Tip for August
Save Water - Although August usually marks the peak of water shortages, saving water should be a year-round goal. Water conservation helps maintain river flows, which is essential for protecting river habitats as well as the quality of the water that runs to the sea. For information on how to conserve water in your home, yard, and business, see this month's CZ Tip at http://www.mass.gov/czm/tips/savewater.htm.

A publication of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA17OZ1125. This publication is funded (in part) by a grant/cooperative agreement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or any of its sub-agencies.