CZ-Mail
January 2004

Happy New Year and 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.

Alex Strysky New CZM Project Review Coordinator
CZM is pleased to announce that Alex Strysky will be joining our staff as Project Review Coordinator. Alex will be responsible for managing CZM's federal consistency program and the review of major infrastructure projects, and will also be part of CZM's municipal harbor planning team. Alex comes to CZM from the Department of Environmental Protection, where he has worked in the Wetlands and Waterways Division reviewing projects and developing policy under Chapter 91. Please join us in welcoming Alex to his new position!

High-Resolution Geologic Mapping of the Sea Floor Offshore of Massachusetts
CZM has entered into a Cooperative Funding Agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey to produce high-resolution seafloor geologic maps of Boston Harbor, South Essex Ocean Sanctuary, and the Southern Merrimack embayment. Seafloor maps to be produced include bathymetry, shaded relief, and interpretations of the seafloor geology. These maps provide the geologic framework for additional studies, such as benthic habitat mapping. Funding for this project is provided by Maritime and Northeast Pipeline LLC and Algonquin Gas Transmission Company as partial mitigation for the environmental impacts of pipeline construction of a gas pipeline across Boston Harbor. The pipeline passes through the South Essex Ocean Sanctuary. The program may be expanded to map additional areas as funds permit. See the project website for additional information on Massachusetts seafloor mapping initiatives.

Early December Northeaster
On December 3, the indications were there-the first significant east coast Northeaster was on its way. Labeled "dual impact," the first low-pressure system was predicted for Friday into Saturday, bringing a moderate amount of snow, wind, and waves, with the second more significant low expected for Saturday night into Sunday. Over time, the warnings grew more ominous, with predictions calling for large amounts of snow (from 6+ inches in the southeastern Massachusetts to two feet or more in the Worcester hills); winds of 30-40 mph with gusts to 50-60 mph along the coast; and a three-foot storm surge. The reality was even worse, causing the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to elevate the activation level of the State's Emergency Operation Center on Sunday morning, calling in more than a dozen state and volunteer agencies. All told, the North Shore of Massachusetts saw close to 3 feet of snow, resulting in snow emergencies in many communities. Maximum sustained winds at the Boston Buoy were 49.2 mph with gusts to 62.6 mph. The peak storm surge was 3.6 feet, which fortunately occurred an hour before low tide, with a 1.4 foot surge by the 10:00 a.m. high tide. Splash over and coastal roadway flooding did occur, however, and caused some problems in Winthrop and Scituate. North Shore lobstermen were hard hit, with many lost and damaged traps. Do you get the feeling it's going to be a long winter?

Funding Opportunities
Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant Program (Formerly "CPR Plus") - As mentioned in the last CZ-Mail, CZM issued a Request for Responses (RFR) for the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Source (Coastal NPS) Grant Program in December. Grants are provided to public and nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts coastal watersheds for the following types of projects: assessment, identification, and characterization of nonpoint sources; development of transferable tools (nonstructural best management practices), such as guidance documents, model by-laws, and land use planning strategies; and the implementation of innovative and unique demonstration projects. Proposals are due by January 12. For the complete posting, click here. For details on the program, see NPS Grant Program web page or email Julie Keane, Coastal NPS Grants Coordinator at julie.keane@state.ma.us.

National Whale Conservation Fund Fishing Gear Mini-Grants - Through this grant program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NOAA Fisheries fund projects aimed at reducing death and/or serious injury to large whales from fishing gear entanglements. Projects must also be consistent with applicable regulations pertaining to the Magnuson Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Seed grants of $2,000-$20,000 are available for creative and innovative proposals that seek to work with industry representatives to address this problem. Two grant cycles are held each year and proposals for the next grant round are due on April 1. For details and application forms, see the grant program web page.

Reminders - The following grants listed in the last CZ-Mail are still open:

• The NOAA/UNH Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), located at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), announced its funding opportunities for FY 2004. CICEET is still inviting proposals for Technology Transfer projects (deadline January 13). Details are posted on the CICEET website.

Products/Publications
Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Update - CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program distributes a periodic email update. The current edition includes new contact information, highlights of selected recent projects, and news of upcoming restoration activities. To be added to the electronic mailing list, please email your request to wetlands.restoration@state.ma.us.

Chapter 91/Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act Publications - The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has published a fact sheet and a pamphlet on Chapter 91, the Public Waterfront Act. These publications describe this legislation and its regulations, which protect and promote the public use of tidelands and inland waters. For copies of these and other Chapter 91 publications, see the DEP Waterways Program news and information web page.

Gulf of Maine Times, Winter Edition - The new edition of the Gulf of Maine Times is now available online. Topics covered include: the new National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay; small-scale fisheries; the Wells Reserve in southern Maine; wind power in Nova Scotia; environmental indicators; right whale death in the Bay of Fundy; territoriality in the Maine lobster fishery; and an editor's note on the need for a coastal policy in Nova Scotia.

Boston Harbor Islands Management Plan and Impact Statement - The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared a Final General Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. These documents are available electronically on the NPS Boston Harbor Islands management documents web page, along with a variety of other management documents concerning the islands.

NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research - This plan outlines the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) proposed research efforts on fisheries, habitat, and protected species research for the next five years. NMFS is accepting comments on the plan through January 7. For a PDF copy of the plan, click here.

Beach Currents - Published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Beach Program, this newsletter is "designed to promote communication between state, tribal, and local public health officials about beach protection activities." The inaugural edition includes articles on efforts in Maine, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin to develop beach monitoring programs.

Coastal Resource Management Customer Survey - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Services Center (CSC) provides states with tools, training, data, and expertise to serve the needs of coastal programs and the coastal management community. To target its efforts, CSC conducted a survey in 2002 of coastal managers nationwide on their use of technology and data. Full survey results are available on the CSC website.

Job Postings
Environmental Writer/Outreach Coordinator - This job announcement, which was listed in last month's CZ-Mail, should be posted later this month. CZM seeks a qualified communications professional to plan, execute, and oversee publications, events, and general outreach for the office. Specific duties include writing, editing, and overseeing the production of publications including CZ-Mail and the Coastlines annual magazine; developing content for the CZM website, editing web materials, and posting materials to the web; planning for, staffing, coordinating, and developing materials for events and CZM-sponsored workshops; editing and other quality control for outreach products; and developing a distribution plan and overseeing the distribution of CZM materials. If you are interested, email Anne Donovan at anne.donovan@state.ma.us, who will send you the posting when it is available, or check for the posting on the CZM jobs page.

Calendar
Cape Cod Watershed Management: Insights, Challenges & Opportunities - To be held on February 4 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Cape & Islands Realtors Conference Center in Yarmouth, this workshop will provide an overview and present case studies about topics including: habitat restoration, land use management, water supply, and wastewater planning. Details will be available at www.coastaltraining.org. Space is limited, so to register, email ccwatershed@hotmail.com by January 29.

Cape Cod FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map Workshops - On January 15, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Cape Cod Community College Science Building, Lecture Hall "A," CZM is holding a workshop to review important steps and procedures for determining the boundaries of flood zones for specific sites using the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. V-zone, A-zone, and AO-zone delineation boundaries will be covered in detail. Rebecca Haney, CZM Coastal Geologist; Richard Zingarelli, State Coordinator for the National Flood Insurance Program from the Department of Conservation and Recreation; and Michael Goetz, Branch Chief for Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment from FEMA Region I will direct the workshop and answer questions from participants. To register, email CZM's Steve McKenna at steve.mckenna@state.ma.us.

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

• The Massachusetts Bays Program (MBP) is currently planning for the Massachusetts Bays Symposium to be held on May 6 and 7. To complement the symposium, the MBP is developing a "State of the Bays" report on: the conditions of the Bays, efforts underway to protect and restore these resources, and goals to guide future work. For more information please email the Massachusetts Bays Program at massbays@state.ma.us.
• 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.coastaltraining.org/events/index.htm.

Other Items of Interest
Northeast Coastal Indicators Workshop Survey - The Northeast Coastal Indicators Workshop, which will be held in Durham, New Hampshire, on January 6-8, will be preparing a series of suggested environmental, social, and economic indicators for the region. Workshop organizers are currently conducting an online survey on the coastal and marine indicators that should be developed to help scientists, environmental managers, and citizens better understand and more effectively communicate leading coastal and marine management issues. To participate in the survey, click here.

A publication of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA03NOS4190087. 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.