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.

25th Anniversary of the Blizzard of '78
February 6 and 7 mark the 25th Anniversary of the Blizzard of '78. Arguably the Commonwealth's "Storm of the Century," the blizzard dumped 27.1 inches of snow on Boston, paralyzing the city and surrounding suburbs for a week. Although snow was less of an issue along the immediate coast, the tides were devastating. At its peak, the ocean rose 15.2 feet above mean low water (measured at the Boston Tide Station). Given that major tidal flooding begins at Boston and along the east-facing coast of Massachusetts at 13.6 feet, these tides, topped with crashing waves, wreaked havoc on coastal homes, roads, and infrastructure. All told, 99 people were killed and thousands of houses and businesses were destroyed or severely damaged, with damage estimates exceeding $2.3 billion (in 1998 dollars).

The Blizzard of '78 was also an initiation for Joe Pelczarski, CZM's emergency management expert, who performed his first storm damage assessments as a rookie with the Division of Marine Fisheries. At that time, no Storm Team existed to evaluate damage, so Joe and some of his colleagues were called to do the job. Joe covered the coast from Gloucester to Saugus, taking photos and recording what he saw. Here are some of Joe's reflections on the Blizzard that blew us away: "On the evening of February 6, the tide rose above 13.6 in Boston, staying at flood levels for two hours and peaking at 14.7 feet. The next morning's tide (many remarked to me that it seemed like the tide never went out) rose above the 13.6 level at 9 in the morning and peaked at 15.2 at 11 am. The tide did not recede below the 13.6 line until after noontime. There were three additional hours of flooding, three additional hours of battering waves combined with blinding snow, blizzard conditions, and a water temperature of 35 degrees."

To see a collection of Joe's photos from the Blizzard of '78, check out http://www.mass.gov/czm/blizzard78.htm. For more on CZM's Storm Team, see http://www.mass.gov/czm/coastlines/2002/c4.htm.

NOAA Seeks Comments on Strategic Plan
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is requesting comments on its draft 2003-2008 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes NOAA's activities for the next five years. Comments are due by February 14. For a copy of a draft plan, or to comment, see the NOAA Office of Strategic Planning website at: http://www.osp.noaa.gov/.

Grant Opportunities

Community-Based Restoration Grants - NOAA's Restoration Center, in cooperation with national and regional partners, funds proposals for local, grassroots habitat restoration projects. For a complete grant listing see http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/funding.html. The following grants are currently available:

• NOAA Community-Based Program Direct Grants provide matching funds for grassroots marine habitat restoration projects that benefit anadromous fish, commercial and recreational resources, endangered and threatened species, and other living marine resources. Projects must have a strong "on-the-ground" component and include community participation and education and outreach. Applications are due by March 3. See http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/community/callforprojectsmay2.html for specifics.
  
• American Sportsfishing Association FishAmerica Restoration Grants are similar to the Community-Based Restoration Program Direct Grants, and applications are due by March 12. For details, see http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/community/asa.htm.
  
• Five Star Restoration Challenge Grants provide funds for community-based projects that involve multiple and diverse partners. To qualify, the project must have a strong on-the-ground habitat restoration component that provides long-term ecological, educational, or social benefits for people and their communities. Applications are due by March 3 and details are available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/community/fivestar.htm.
  

Gulf of Maine Implementation Grants - This winter, the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment will be requesting applications for Implementation Grants. These grants fund local initiatives in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia that support the Council's priority goals of protecting and restoring coastal and marine habitat, protecting human health and ecosystem integrity, and encouraging sustainable maritime activities. Stay posted to the CZM website at http://www.mass.gov/czm/jobsandgrants.htm for the grant announcement.

Products/Publications
Gulf of Maine Times - The winter edition of the Gulf of Maine Times is now online at http://www.gulfofmaine.org/times. Topics include: the perils of oil spills for sea birds of Atlantic Canada; impacts of contaminated fish on the region's loons; Gulf of Maine Expedition photo essay; spawning study in the Bay of Fundy based on first-hand knowledge of local fishermen; volunteers removing 45 tons of marine debris from Gulf beaches; and citizen concerns about the future of Stellwagen Bank.

Bulk Copies of the Gulf of Maine Times Available for Distribution - If you would like to serve as a distribution point for the Gulf of Maine Times, a free, 12-page quarterly newspaper on environmental issues facing the coastal region from Massachusetts through Nova Scotia, please email your request to the editor at editor@gulfofmaine.org.

The Pew Oceans Commission Fisheries Publications - The Pew Oceans Commission has released the following three publications on fisheries issues. Managing Marine Fisheries in the United States provides recommended fishery management reforms from 13 scientists, economists, and fishery experts. A Dialogue on America's Fisheries includes recommendations on fisheries management from fishermen who spoke at Commission meetings from Maine to Alaska. Socioeconomic Perspectives on Marine Fisheries in the United States finds that improving fishery management has the potential to more than double current catches, restoring and creating tens of thousands of family wage jobs. To access these documents, see http://www.pewoceans.org/articles/2003/01/13/pr_31402.asp.

The Pew Oceans Commission Marine Reserve Publication - Marine Reserves: A Tool for Ecosystem Management and Conservation, which was prepared for the Pew Oceans Commission by Dr. Stephen Palumbi of Stanford University, finds that marine reserves are an effective tool for restoring and maintaining coastal and marine habitats. For a copy, see http://www.pewoceans.org/oceanfacts/2003/01/13/fact_31395.asp.

Ocean Conservancy Publication on Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of Maine - Marine and Coastal Protected Areas in the U.S. Gulf of Maine Region assesses more than 300 protected areas on state and federal coastal lands and in the waters off Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The areas are described and mapped, then analyzed for their management objectives, specific protections afforded, and effectiveness in long-term conservation of marine biodiversity. Access the report online at http://www.oceanconservancy.org/dynamic/aboutUs/publications/publications.htm.

Online Course on Whales for Recreational Boaters - The International Wildlife Coalition, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the Dolphin Trust developed "See A Spout, Watch Out!" This web-based program for recreational boaters includes a brief slide show that offers five tips to encourage safe and responsible boating in the vicinity of whales. See http://www.iwc.org/spout/index2.htm to participate.

Other CZM Publications - CZM maintains a list of available publications at http://www.mass.gov/czm/publications.htm.

Products recently highlighted in CZ-Mail include:

• CZM's shoreline change maps, accompanying data, and all supporting technical documents are on the CZM website and a browser developed by the Massachusetts Geographic Information System (MassGIS). The 1:10,000 scale shoreline change maps and accompanying data tables show the relative positions of four or five historic shorelines and depict the long-term change rate at 40-meter (approximately 131-feet) intervals along the shore. See http://www.mass.gov/czm/hazards/shoreline_change/shorelinechangeproject.htm.
  
• The Massachusetts Clean Marina Guide is available on the CZM website at: http://www.mass.gov/czm/marinas/guide/macleanmarinaguide.htm. The guide is designed as a reference for owners and operators of marine boating facilities and provides information on cost-effective strategies and practices to reduce impacts on the coastal environment. For a hard copy, please email your request to czm@state.ma.us.
  
• Massachusetts Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan outlines a five-year strategy for state agencies and their partners to minimize damage from these non-native species by preventing their introduction, informing the general public about their impacts, monitoring for new introductions, and meeting other objectives related to invasive species management.

Websites

Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System - AKA GoMOOS, this website provides up-to-date information on weather and oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of Maine. To check out this real-time data, including hourly readings from a GoMOOS buoy in Massachusetts Bay and a NOAA buoy in Boston Harbor, see http://www.gomoos.org/. This site also provides options for graphing and downloading data.

science.gov - This site is a gateway to science and technology information from 10 major science agencies in the federal government. Available resources include technical reports, journal citations, databases, federal websites, and fact sheets. The resources are free and no registration is required. Check it out at http://www.science.gov.

Calendar

Workshop for Aquaculturists to Prevent Spread of Invasive Species - On February 25-26, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is holding a workshop to train aquaculturists in using Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles to reduce the risk of introducing or spreading aquatic nuisance species (ANS). This workshop will be useful to both freshwater and saltwater aquaculturists. Aquaculturists, shellfish officers, natural resource managers, and others involved in the aquaculture industry are encouraged to attend the workshop, which will be held in Hadley, Massachusetts. For more information, email shannon.weigle@state.ma.us.

Our Changing Coast: Private Rights & Public Trust - On March 28 and 29, the Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies is hosting this conference at Connecticut College. The focus is on the legal and ecological issues associated with coastal development, as well as the issue of private use and public protection of coastal areas. For details, see http://www.conncoll.edu/ccrec/greennet/ccbes/CC/agenda.

Job Postings

Research Fisheries Biologist - The National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking an experienced researcher to serve as Coordinator for Cooperative Research Programs at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in Woods Hole. For the full posting, see http://www.jobs.doc.gov. The position will close on February 10.

Marine Scientist - The Conservation Law Foundation is seeking a Marine Scientist to focus on marine resources management and marine biodiversity protection, including fisheries management and marine habitat protection in the greater Gulf of Maine. The position closes on February 14. For the complete posting, see http://www.clf.org/bepart/jobs.htm.

Aquaculture Specialist/Technical Coordinator - The Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Service is seeking an Aquaculture Specialist to provide outreach services to the public and private sectors of the local aquaculture community, as well as participate in other related coastal programs. The position closes on February 17. For a full posting, see http://www.barnstablecounty.org/employmentlistings.htm.

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.)

• Federal officials delay new fishing restrictions (Boston Globe, 1/15/03).
  
• Lobster supply in "crisis situation" (Cape Cod Times, 1/27/03).
  
• Why the global deep freeze (Boston Globe, 1/28/03).
  
• Researchers pleased with birth of 14 endangered right whales (Boston Globe, 1/30/03).
  
• Wind farm plan extolled, lambasted (Cape Cod Times, 1/31/03).

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.