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.

Mystic River Designated Port Area Boundary Decision
On December 16, CZM issued the designation decision for the boundary of the Mystic River Designated Port Area (DPA). The decision, based on the recommendations of a CZM study published in October of 2002 (see http://www.mass.gov/czm/mysticriverdpa.pdf), modifies the DPA boundary to exclude three properties. The designation decision includes conditions that support the development of an industrial truck and rail route along the existing rail line through the DPA and is available at http://www.mass.gov/czm/mysticriverdpadd.pdf.

East Boston Designated Port Area Boundary Review Report
On December 20, CZM published the boundary review report for the East Boston Designated Port Area (DPA) for public review and comment. The report recommends modifying the DPA boundary to exclude a property on New Street, and is based on: (1) new information regarding the Chapter 91 line of jurisdiction; and (2) the need for DPA boundaries that "...coincide to the maximum extent practicable with roadways, property lines, or other physical or legal landmarks that are generally permanent...." CZM will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 16, at the Harborside Community Center, 312 Border Street, at 7:00 p.m. Written comments will be accepted through January 23, 2003. The report is available online at http://www.mass.gov/czm/ebdpabr.pdf.

Massachusetts Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan Approved
In October of 2000, a coalition of state and federal agency representatives, consultants, academics, and other natural resource managers began drafting a statewide management plan to address threats from aquatic invasive species in Massachusetts. Aquatic invaders such as Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, and the European green crab have cost the Commonwealth and the region millions of dollars in lost recreational and commercial revenue, and can severely diminish the ecological integrity of aquatic systems. The 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. At its November meeting, the Federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force approved the Massachusetts Plan, making the Commonwealth eligible for cost share assistance for implementation under the National Invasive Species Act of 1990. To download a complete copy of the Massachusetts Plan, go to http://www.mass.gov/czm/invasives/index.htm.

CZM Hires Firm to Map State Tidelands Jurisdiction
CZM has hired Boston Survey Consultant, Inc. of Boston to prepare plans depicting tidelands jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Protection(DEP), Waterways Regulation Program. For areas that are located on filled tidelands, a key focus of this work will include the mapping of Historic High and Low Water Marks. The Boston Harbor region is the first phase of this project and will be completed in August, 2003. Mapping of the remainder of the coast will be completed by the end of 2004. Stay tuned to CZ-Mail for more on this project.

New Bedford/Fairhaven Municipal Harbor Plan Approved
The New Bedford/Fairhaven Municipal Harbor Plan was approved by EOEA Secretary Bob Durand on September 24. The plan recognizes the port's status as one of the state's most vital Designated Port Areas (DPAs) and prioritizes strengthening and supporting the marine industrial activities. The plan includes a number of strategies to mobilize investment in the working waterfront, including an innovative approach to add flexibility to DPA areas regarding supporting uses, while also providing funding for port improvements. The plan also focuses on essential transportation infrastructure improvements, specifically dredging, development of a major intermodal transportation center, and the redesign of area highways. Construction of a ferry terminal, fishing industry pier expansions, and the development of a marine industrial park are among other specific recommendations. A copy of the approval decision is available at: http://www.mass.gov/czm/nbfhp_full_decision.pdf.

Products/Publications
Gulf of Maine Action Plan Available - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, in collaboration with public and private entities around the Gulf of Maine, has released its 2001-2006 Action Plan. The Action Plan focuses on three goals: (1) protecting and restoring coastal and marine habitats, (2) protecting human health and ecosystem integrity, and (3) encouraging sustainable maritime activities. The Council has also published a full-color brochure that summarizes the Action Plan. For an electronic copy of the Action Plan, see http://www.gulfofmaine.org/action_plan2001-06.html. To order a hard copy of the Action Plan or a brochure, email your request to czm@state.ma.us.

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 new 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 impacts on the coastal environment. For a hard copy, please email your request toczm@state.ma.us.

Websites
Parker River/Essex Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern Website - CZM has introduced a new web page focusing on the Parker River/Essex Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). This web page highlights a two-year project conducted by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Fellow for CZM. It includes an extensive resource inventory for the area, outreach and education materials (including newspaper articles on the ACEC), maps and other technical assistance materials (such as a GIS training program), and other products/information. To check out the web page see: http://www.mass.gov/czm/prebacec.htm.

It's Back?! More on El Niņo - Our early-season snowfall may be compliments of El Niņo, a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific having important consequences for global weather. For more on this important weather event, see NOAA's El Niņo theme page at: http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/nino-home.html.

NOAA Coastal Services Center Funding Opportunities - This web page provides information for coastal managers on grant opportunities offered by NOAA's Coastal Services Center and other similar sources. To view the page, go to http://www.csc.noaa.gov/text/grant.html.

Coastal State Publications Database - NOAA's Coastal Services Center has compiled a searchable database of recommendations, guidelines, and regulations produced by state coastal zone management programs since 1990. Users can search by issue, coastal management technique, state, or keyword. To use the database, see: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/techniques/statepubs/index.html. In addition, the NOAA Coastal Services Center Library provides thousands of state coastal zone management publications through its online Coastal Zone Information Center Collection at: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/CZIC/.

The Gulf of Maine Biogeographic Information System Electronic Atlas - The goal of this initiative is to "develop, test, and demonstrate information dissemination and visualization tools, involving overlaying numerous environmental and ecosystem data layers in the Gulf of Maine region." Data on groundfish trawl surveys and the Atlantic Reference Centre Specimen Collection are currently available, and users have the option to map their own data. The atlas is available at http://gmbis.marinebiodiversity.ca/aconw95/aconscripts/groundfishsurveymap.html.

Job Postings
Coastal Geologist - CZM is seeking a coastal geologist to delineate the landward toe of primary dunes in at least five communities along the Massachusetts coast. The coastal geologist will also perform related duties to facilitate updating the landward boundary of the V-Zone on Federal Emergency Management Agency maps. Applications for this federally funded position are due by January 9. For more information, go to the Commonwealth Employment Opportunities website.

Northeast Aquatic Nuisance Species (NEANS) Panel Interns - NEANS is seeking interns to support the work of its Policy and Legislation Committee and its Communication, Education, and Outreach Committee. For copies of the postings, see http://www.northeastans.org/jobsandgrants.htm.

Additional Positions Soon to Be Posted - CZM is developing job postings for a Coastal Geologist/Geomorphologist, Coastal Public Access Coordinator, and a Harbor Planning Coordinator, which will be posted in January or February. In addition, the Massachusetts Bays Program will also be posting a position for an Outreach Coordinator/Policy Planner. See future editions of CZ-Mail or the CZM website at http://www.mass.gov/czm/jobsandgrants.htm for further information as it becomes available.

In the News
Here are selected links to newspaper articles from the last month on coastal issues:

• Judge Grants Delay on New Fishing Limits (Associated Press, 12/5/02)
• State cautions about use of Ipswich River (Boston Globe, 12/6/02)(Boston Globe articles are available for a limited time only.)
• New fish count raises flap: Results fuel debate over new restrictions (Boston Herald, 12/12/02)
• Schooners' discovery recalls wreck (Boston Globe, 12/17/02)(Boston Globe articles are available for a limited time only.)
• Boston Harbor may be cleaning itself (Associated Press, 12/23/02)

Other Items of Interest
Gulf of Maine Visionary Award Winners - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment's 2002 Visionary Award recipients for Massachusetts are: the Environmental Science Program at Essex Agricultural and Technical High School and Dr. Moira Brown of the Center for Coastal Studies. The Environmental Science Program received the award for its creativity and commitment to environmental education. Using the Gulf of Maine as a teaching tool, this curriculum employs "expeditionary learning" to give students practical skills for investigating how an ecosystem works, such as how to perform water quality testing, read topographical maps, and raise fish for release to the wild. Dr. Brown was honored for her efforts to protect the critically threatened North Atlantic right whale, one of the most endangered species in the Gulf. Her research is used by government agencies to enhance right whale protection measures and her public education efforts raise awareness about the threats whales face. Recently, she initiated and successfully led the charge to relocate shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy to reduce the likelihood of right whale ship strikes. Visionary Awards are given to individuals and organizations that show exceptional dedication to preserving and maintaining the environmental quality of the Gulf of Maine, which stretches from the southern waters of Massachusetts to Cape Sable, Nova Scotia.

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.