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CZ-Mail April 2006 Welcome to CZ-Mail, the monthly email newsletter 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 at http://www.mass.gov/czm/. If you have suggestions for CZ-Mail, would like your name added to the mailing list, or would like your name removed, please email your request to CZ-Mail@state.ma.us. All links on this web page were current and working on the date of publication.
Coastal Hazards Commission Presented with Issues On March 13, in Boston, the newly appointed Coastal Hazards Commission heard presentations about coastal hazards issues, state hazards planning efforts, and the condition of state-owned structures—seawalls, groins, and bulkheads. The Commission will soon be broken up into issue specific working groups to explore issues in greater detail and begin developing strategies to respond to the priority issues. Check out the Commission Website for the meeting summary, including the presentations. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for April 10 in Scituate. Pritchard Testifies on Harbor Island LNG Facility Proposal On March 8, Environmental Affairs Secretary Stephen R. Pritchard testified before the Legislature's Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets against House Bill 4500, An Act Authorizing the Leasing of Certain Real Property Known as Outer Brewster Island. In his testimony, Secretary Pritchard raised significant concerns for the bill's proposed 99 year lease of this island for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. Outer Brewster Island is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. Removing this island from the park for an industrial purpose would require approval of the National Park Service, a difficult task. His largest concern was that no substantive environmental review of the project would likely occur until after the property was leased for an industrial use. He went on to explain that the bill presumes minimal impacts on adjacent waters of Boston Harbor, although no review has been conducted. Finally, Pritchard points out inconsistencies within the bill, which states that the project's impacts will not affect the public's or the Commonwealth's rights, yet the public flat and submerged land rights would relinquished for the term of the lease (99 years). Currently, the legislature has referred the bill for further study. Green Neighborhoods Alliance Featured in Coastal Services Magazine The March/April 2006 edition of Coastal Services, a publication of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Services Center, features the efforts of Green Neighborhood Alliance, a group co-founded in 1997 by EOEA/CZM Smart Growth Coordinator, Andrea Cooper. This Alliance crafted the open space residential design model as an alternative to traditional sprawl development in Boston's North Shore suburbs, and has since grown to include local officials, conservation and regional planning organizations, state and federal agencies, developers, engineers, planning consultants, and real estate agents. The Alliance now works coast-wide to promote this low impact site design approach as a strategy to reduce impacts on coastal resources and to preserve open space, aquatic habitat and water quality for commercial and residential developments. For details about these efforts in Massachusetts, see the CZM Coastal Smart Growth Website. Spring Is Here-Get Your Free Coast Guide Now! From Salisbury to Hingham, the Massachusetts Coast Guide to Boston and the North Shore can help you get to nearly 400 public access sites, ranging from expansive beaches with parking and concession stands to more out-of-the-way areas with scenic vistas. Developed by CZM, the 10" x 6.5" spiral-bound publication contains 22 maps, descriptions of access spots, photos of a variety of sites, transportation information, and more. To get your free copy now, e-mail your address to czm@state.ma.us, or stop by the CZM Boston office at 251 Causeway Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are on the 8th floor. Get directions. You can preview select portions of Coast Guide online. 100 Years of Estuarine Marsh Trends Report Released CZM, working with project partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has completed the final report of an investigation into estuarine marsh trends (losses, gains, and changes) over three time periods: 1893-1952, 1952-1971, and 1971-1995. The investigation is the first of a three-part series designed to provide a statewide assessment of estuarine marsh trends. The areas covered in the first phase were Boston Harbor, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the Elizabeth Islands. The wetlands class of estuarine marshes includes tidal emergent and tidal shrub-scrub wetlands, commonly known as "salt marshes." Available online in PDF format, the report describes the methods and results of the trend analysis and offers brief discussion on the findings. CZM Staff & People Communications Director - On March 21, CZM said goodbye to a longtime and well respected Director of Communications. Anne Donovan worked at CZM for 12 years and recently accepted the Communications Director position at the Trustees of Reservations in Sharon. While at CZM, Anne was responsible for producing a multitude of high quality publications including, Coastlines newsletter (1994-2000), Coastlines magazine (2001 to present), Massachusetts Coast Guide to Boston and the North Shore, and the overhaul of the CZM Website. Anne instilled in staff the importance of designing outreach projects for the audience using a realistic work plan. Her detailed editorial eye and technical writing skills will be sorely missed, as will her commitment to quality and teamwork. CZM wishes her well at the Trustees. Grants/Funding Opportunities §319 Grants RFR to be Released - On April 4, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will release the Request for Responses (RFR) for the §319 Nonpoint Source Competitive Grants Program, which provides grants to control nonpoint source pollution. The RFR will be available on the Comm-PASS website. Search for the keyword "319." For more information, e-mail Jane Peirce or call (508) 767-2792. For information about past §319 projects, go to http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/grants.htm. Rain Barrels Demonstrations - The Massachusetts Riverways Program is accepting proposals from watershed groups, stream teams, towns, and others working on stream protection to receive free rain barrels for use in demonstration projects. This program provides a unique opportunity to highlight the connection between water use and streamflow in communities, and to advocate for water conservation. The RFR and application forms are available at http://www.massriverways.org. Proposals are due by May 1. Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program Grants - CZM anticipates that funding for projects that improve coastal water quality will be made available through two grant programs during Fiscal Year 2007 (July 2006 through June 2007). The Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) grant program funds municipal projects that reduce or eliminate pollution caused by stormwater runoff from paved roadways and waste discharge from boats. The Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution (Coastal NPS) grant program funds a wider array of NPS management efforts, including watershed-scale NPS assessments, education and outreach, development of local planning tools, and efforts to eliminate or manage pollution from septic systems and marinas. While funding is not assured at this time, CZM encourages applicants to begin thinking about potential projects now. Until the RFR is posted, CZM staff are available to provide assistance to potential applicants in developing projects that fit program goals and priorities. Links to each program's web page, which includes eligibility criteria for applicants and proposals, and examples of past projects, are available from CZM's Coastal Water Quality web page. For more information, or to discuss project ideas, e-mail Marilyn McCrory or call (617) 626-1235. NOAA Marine Debris Program - The NOAA Marine Debris Program provides competitive grants to finance creative and innovative proposals that seek to work with marinas, ports, and the fishing industry to significantly reduce the occurrence of debris in these areas. In addition, the program is accepting research proposals that address the biological, social, or economic impact of marine debris on species, habitat, and coastal businesses. Pre-proposals are due June 1. Reminders - The following funding opportunity listed in the last CZ-Mail is still available:
Image Processing and Analysis for Salt Marsh Plant Community and Habitat Remote Sensing - CZM is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to provide professional services in image processing and analysis for salt marsh plant community and habitat remote sensing. CZM is interested in information about salt marsh habitat types and vegetation patterns that can be determined from aerial imagery and LIDAR data sets. This will be a collaborative process with the goal of transferring the principles, methods, and specific application of image processing and analysis techniques to CZM. To view the RFR, visit the Comm-PASS website and search for document number "RFR ENV06 CZM18." Proposals are due by April 25. Products/Publications 2006 Boaters' Guide to Tides and Pumpout Facilities - The 2006 Boaters' Guide to Tides and Pumpout Facilities is now available. The wallet-sized pamphlet, printed on waterproof paper, contains information on the locations of pumpout facilities along the Massachusetts coastline and a June-September tide chart. For a free copy, email your request and mailing address to czm@state.ma.us. DEP Releases Clean Water Toolkit - DEP has released the revised Massachusetts Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Manual, also called the "Clean Water Toolkit." Replacing the 1994 "Megamanual," the Toolkit and was created for use by municipal officials and residents to promote understanding and implementation of the many different options for prevention and control of nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution is caused when rainfall or snowmelt move over and through the ground, picking up natural and human-made pollutants and eventually depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even underground sources of drinking water. The new Toolkit provides a Best Management Practice Selector Tool, which allows the user to select fact sheets and best management practices to address specific criteria or resource areas. For additional information or a copy of the toolkit on CD, e-mail Jane Peirce, or call 508-767-2792. Gulf of Maine Times - The Spring Edition of the Gulf of Maine Times is now available featuring stories about life in and around the Gulf of Maine from Massachusetts to Nova Scotia. To receive future editions by email, contact editor@gulfofmaine.org. NOAA Expands Coastal Storm Inland Flooding Prediction Tool - NOAA's Coastal Services Center and National Weather Service, working in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Sea Island Software, Inc., have developed an enhanced inland flooding forecast component to HURREVAC. HURREVAC, derived from the words hurricane evacuation, is a computer program used by government emergency managers. This tool addresses the growing threat of damages due to flooding caused by coastal storms and will allow emergency management personnel to quickly compare flood inundation maps with forecasts of rainfall and river levels. New maps have been added to HURREVAC to cover coastal states from Maine to Texas. The expansion will improve the capabilities for coastal emergency planners to help facilitate better planning, decision-making, and response efforts to manage impacts of inland flooding. For more information contact Ben Sherman. Riverways Newsletter - The Massachusetts Riverways Program has released the March edition of Riverways NewsNotes. Websites CICEET Project Progress Reports - The Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET) has posted the fall 2005 progress reports for projects funded through its Environmental Technology Development Program (ETD). Projects funded through the ETD address priority concerns of professionals engaged in coastal nonpoint issues such as stormwater and wastewater management, land use planning, and microbial contaminant detection and source tracking. The ETD's research focus areas are informed directly by coastal managers through national surveys, regional meetings, and CICEET's extensive outreach activities. Stormwater Webcasts - A new series of webcast training sessions for municipal stormwater managers is now available. This series will provide a mix of basic and advanced topics in two-hour blocks. Webcasts will be scheduled approximately every other month until September. To view the schedule of upcoming topics, or to view a previous webcast, go to http://www.epa.gov/npdes/training. Essex County Forum Updates Website - Essex County Forum—Smart Growth for Livable Communities, an organization dedicated to advancing stewardship of Essex County's natural resources while working with others to make better decisions about growth, has updated its website. Ipswich River Watershed Association Website Update - The Ipswich River Watershed Association, dedicated to the health if the Ipswich River, has updated its website to provide a better look and greater functionality. Public Comment Ocean Research Priorities Plan - The public comment period on the development of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan (ORPP) is now open. Called for in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, the ORPP, in conjunction with a follow-up Implementation Strategy, will describe a vision for U.S. ocean science and technology, the challenges to be addressed, identify key themes, specify goals for each theme and a time frame for their achievement, and address implications for the use or prioritization of resources. All interested parties are encouraged to review the planning document and provide input. In addition to the public comment period, the National Science and Technology Council Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology is holding a public workshop on April 18-20 in Denver, CO, to solicit input and guidance from the ocean science communities for the ORPP. Final Flood Elevation Determinations for Areas of Quincy - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued final Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) for areas of Quincy. The BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that a community must adopt to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The final BFEs are available for inspection at Quincy City Hall. For additional information, contact FEMA's Doug Bellomo at (202) 646-2903. Job Postings ACEC Student Intern - The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking applicants for two Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Interns to assist the ACEC Program Director in the environmental review and public outreach for the program. Applications are due April 4. Calendar New England Estuarine Research Society Meeting - On April 6-8, the New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS) will hold its spring meeting in Hull, MA. See for more details, including registration information. Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen Workshop - On April 7, the Massachusetts Coastal Training Program, is holding a workshop entitled Nitrogen From The Air: How Important is This Source to Coastal Pollution on Cape Cod? This free workshop is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Cape Cod and Islands Association of Realtors Conference Center, 22 Mid Tech Drive, West Yarmouth, MA. Wastewater from septic systems and fertilizer use are the main sources of nitrogen to bays and ponds on Cape Cod. Recent studies show that for the entire United States nitrogen deposited from the atmosphere either directly or indirectly through run-off from the land is also a major source accounting for 40% of the nitrogen entering coastal waters. This workshop will provide a broad overview of atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and its importance, examine case studies from Chesapeake Bay and Tampa Bay, and recommend actions that need to be taken to better understand and reduce this nitrogen source on Cape Cod. Humpback Whale Lecture - On April 10, the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, is hosting Jooke Robbins, who directs the center's Humpback Whale Studies. She will talk about "Humpback and Whale Entanglement in Fishing Gear: How Big is the Problem?" Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission Meeting - The Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission will meet at 1:00 p.m. on April 10 in the meeting room at Cape Cod National Seashore Headquarters, Marconi Station, Wellfleet. The meeting is open to the public and interested parties may make oral/written presentations to the Commission. Low Impact Stormwater Design for Cape Cod - CZM, EOEA, the Massachusetts Bays Program, the Cape Cod Commission, Barnstable County, and the Horsley Witten Group will hold a free workshop entitled BREAKING THE BARRIERS: Moving Forward with Low Impact Stormwater Design for Cape Cod. This free workshop will be held April 11 at the Brain Center, Mashpee, MA from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn how Low Impact Development Stormwater Management techniques can protect Cape Cod water resources, enhance community character, and save money. Registration is limited, so sign up by April 4. Register online or e-mail water@capecodcommission.org. Cape Friendly Landscaping Courses - On Thursdays in April, the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History are sponsoring a series of free Cape Cod Friendly Landscaping Courses at Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Route 6A, Brewster. The courses are: April 13, An Overview to Ecological Landscaping; April 20, Fighting Pests Without Pesticides; and April 27, Protect and Enhance Wildlife Habitat in Your Yard. All courses are from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact Laurie L. Tompkins at (508) 457-0495 x108. Marine Science Lectures - Join the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Sea Grant for the annual series of lectures titled Oceans Alive: Plain Talk on Current Topics in Marine Science Presented for the General Public. The talks are free of charge and are designed to inform and involve the general public in relevant and timely marine science issues. This year's series will feature the following presentations: April 18 at 7:00 p.m., The Changing Massachusetts Coastline: How it Affects Waterfront Property Owners and You; April 25 at 4:00 p.m., Young Scientists Present: Winning Science Fair Projects; and May 2 at 7:00 p.m., Freeze Frame: A Photojournalist's Experience on an Arctic Expedition—Ice, Ocean, Atmosphere. Presentations are held in Redfield Auditorium, Water Street, Woods Hole. For more information, e-mail Woods Hole Sea Grant or call 508-289-2398. Coastal Hazards Seminar - On April 26, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the University of Massachusetts Boston is hosting a seminar, Coastal Vulnerability—Are we Designed for Disasters?, by Dr. Margaret Davidson, Director of NOAA's Coastal Services Center. Dedication of Secretaries' Landing - On April 28, Environmental Affairs Secretary Stephen Pritchard and DCR Commission Stephen Burrington will host an Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony to dedicate Secretaries' Park—a new park situated on the Charles River adjacent to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. It is expected that many former Environmental Affairs Secretaries will be in attendance, so come join the festivities to commemorate 34 years of environmental stewardship in Massachusetts. Please R.S.V.P. to 617-626-1110. Minerals Management Service Conference - The U. S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) will be holding its first ever informational conference specifically highlighting the work of the agency's Marine Minerals/Sand and Gravel Program. The three-day meeting is intended to foster coordination and communication among interested parties relative to offshore sand borrow investigations in federal waters and the conduct of environmental studies to evaluate the effects of dredging for beach nourishment. The meeting will be held in Melbourne, Florida on June 20 -22. Reminders - The following calendar items, posted in the last CZ-Mail, are still to come:
Think Again. Think Blue - Meet Spike, some butts, and a little yellow rubber duckie. The Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association, Massachusetts Bays Program, and the many other partners of the Think Blue Coalition are proud to announce the launch of the Think Again. Think Blue Website. Part of the Think Blue stormwater outreach campaign, this new website features many elements of the campaign including the fun and creative series of print ads (coming to the MBTA in May), a large number of simple tips to help people reduce their contribution to stormwater pollution, and even background information on Think Blue such as the results of a large-scale telephone survey conducted to help focus the campaign. The rapidly evolving site will soon feature an interactive quiz and event calendar highlighting local Think Blue events. The Think Blue campaign will kickoff this May. 2006 Call for Entries: National Award for Smart Growth Achievement - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting applications for the fifth annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. This competition is open to local or state governments and other public sector entities that have used the principles of smart growth to create better places. Applications will be accepted in five categories: built projects; policies and regulations; small communities; equitable development; and overall excellence in smart growth. Applications are due on May 1. Coastal America Calls for Nominations for 2006 Awards - Coastal America is soliciting nomination for its 2006 Awards Program to recognize the efforts of partnerships, agencies, non-federal entities and individuals. The awards recognize partnership efforts to protect, preserve and restore coastal resources as well as efforts that increase public awareness and education about oceans and coasts. Questions can be directed to william.nuckols@usda.gov. Nominations are due by April 14. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boston, MA 02114