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CZ-Mail March 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.
Romney and Pritchard Kick Off Coastal Hazards Commission On February 15, in Boston, Governor Mitt Romney and Environmental Affairs Secretary Stephen Pritchard helped kick off the newly appointed Coastal Hazards Commission. The charge to the Commission, as well as a summary of the meeting, can be found on the new CHC Website. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for March 13 in Boston. Coastal Zone Management Act Federal Consistency Regulations Revised The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revised the federal consistency regulations under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA). The purpose of the revisions was to clarify some sections and improve transparency and predictability of federal consistency implementation, while continuing to balance the state, federal, and private interests. The amendments do not change the authority of coastal states to review proposed federal actions (including the issuance of certain permits) that would have a reasonably foreseeable effect on any land or water use, or natural resource of its coastal zone. The new rules became effective February 6. Ocean Management Seafloor Maps of the North Shore Published Online - U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists Walter Barnhard, Brian Andrews, and Bradford Butman have published the first in a series of seafloor mapping reports, High-Resolution Geologic Mapping of the Inner Continental Shelf: Nahant to Gloucester, Massachusetts. The report was prepared as part of the cooperative mapping program between CZM and USGS. Available online, the report contains geographic information system data, maps, and technical explanations of data collection, processing, and geologic interpretation. For additional information, see the project website. Habitat Restoration Grant Awards - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment has announced the habitat restoration grant awards from the NOAA Habitat Restoration Partnership. In Massachusetts, awards were provided to the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod (APCC); Salem Sound Coastwatch, the towns of Newbury, Orleans, Yarmouth, and Duxbury; Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory; and the Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Program (WRP). The awards for Orleans and Yarmouth will help fund previously designed projects that will restore tidal hydrology to tidally restricted marshes. The APCC grant will fund volunteer salt marsh monitoring efforts in support of recent tidal restoration projects by the WRP. Salem Sound Coastwatch proposes pilot research to examine various Phragmites control efforts. Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory will work to restore a sustainable sea clam population in Cape Cod Bay. Newbury will also work to restore tidal flow to a restricted marsh by providing plan designs and permits. The WRP project will fund marsh mapping and hydrological modeling efforts to support a potential large tidal restoration project in Marshfield. Duxbury will restore and repair a fish ladder for Herring and Rainbow Smelt runs. More information will be available soon at http://restoration.gulfofmaine.org. The next round of requests for proposals is expected to be issued in September 2006. Seafloor Mapping Workshop - On March 23, CZM will hold a workshop to share results of seafloor mapping and habitat studies in Massachusetts. This free, one-day workshop, will be held at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston. To attend this workshop, please contact CZM's Tony Wilbur. Go to http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/ for more information about the CZM/USGS mapping initiative. CZM Staff & People Ocean Management Specialist - Sarah Joor, who began as Ocean Management Specialist for CZM in 2003, has decided to move on to other opportunities, not the least of which will include motherhood. Sarah had a baby boy in the fall of 2005. While at CZM, Sarah played a key role in supporting the Ocean Management Task Force in 2003-2004 as well as ensuring the implementation of several of the recommendations stemming from the Task Force's work. Grants/Funding Opportunities §319 Grants Pre-RFR Meeting - On March 9 at 1:00 p.m., the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a meeting to field questions and discuss the upcoming Request for Responses (RFR) for the §319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Competitive Grants Program. The meeting will be held at DEP's offices in Worcester. Additional information about the meeting and the RFR is available on the Comm-PASS website. Search for the keyword "319." For more information, contact DEP's §319 coordinator, Jane Peirce, at jane.peirce@state.ma.us or call (508) 767-2792. For information about past §319 projects, go to DEP's Website. 2006 Sounds Conservancy Grants Program - The Sounds Conservancy Grants Program is dedicated to supporting the conservation and restoration of the sounds of Long Island, Fishers Island, Block Island, Rhode Island, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket and their adjacent coastlines in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. The program encourages and supports projects that lead to improved marine and coastal resource management with funding up to $2,500 available to university, college, and high school students, private individuals, and nonprofit organizations with projects within the region. Applications must be postmarked by March 15. Reminders - The following funding opportunities listed in the last CZ-Mail are still available:
Massachusetts Bays Program Regional Services - To facilitate local involvement, the Massachusetts Bays Program (MBP) designed a unique structure to provide regional technical assistance to municipalities, non-profit organizations, and others to implement actions to restore Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. The MBP is seeking qualified organizations to provide, as independent contractors, technical services in each of its five sub-regions—Cape Cod, South Shore, Metro Boston, Salem Sound, and Upper North Shore. To view the RFR, visit the Comm-PASS website and search for document number "ENV06CZM16." Proposals are due March 24. Products/Publications Salem Best Development Urban Design Manual - The Best Development Practices Urban Design Manual accompanies Salem's recently adopted Stormwater and Low Impact Development (LID) Ordinance. The goal of the Guidebook is to clearly communicate the city's expectations and, in turn, to expedite the review process. Joint Ocean Commission: U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card - The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, a collaborative effort of the Commissioners of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission have issued the U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card. Intended to provide an assessment of progress through 2005, the report card proposes opportunities for improvements in 2006. EPA Releases New Smart Growth Publications - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released four new smart growth publications: Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development; Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices; Growing Toward More Efficient Water Use: Linking Development, Infrastructure, and Drinking Water Policies; and Parking Spaces/Community Places: Finding the Balance through Smart Growth Solutions. Journal Focuses on Eutrophication - The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the Office of Response and Restoration, in conjunction with EPA, funded a special issue of the peer-reviewed journal Limnology and Oceanography to advance the understanding of nutrient over-enrichment, or eutrophication, in freshwater and marine ecosystems. The January 2006 special issue provides a multidisciplinary synthesis of the current understanding of the causes and effects of excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus entering lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. The publication also identifies gaps in existing knowledge, which will help guide future research endeavors. Global Oceans Conference Summary - In January, the 3rd Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands—Moving the Global Oceans Agenda Forward—was held in Paris. The Conference was convened to assess progress in achieving the objectives adopted by the international community at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and the Millennium Development Goals. Still Available - These CZM/EOEA products and publications, listed in the last CZ-Mail, are still available:
Reminders: Proposed Flood Elevations for Areas of Nantucket and Falmouth - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is requesting technical information or comments on the proposed Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for areas of Nantucket and Falmouth. The BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that a community must adopt to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The proposed BFEs are available for inspection at the town hall in each community. For additional information, contact FEMA's Doug Bellomo at (202) 646-2903. Job Postings Wetlands Restoration Planner - The CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program is seeking applications for a Wetlands Restoration Planner. The primary duties of this planning and project management position include oversight of all WRP planning activities, management of individual restoration projects, assistance with program administration and policy issues, and maintenance of the WRP website, database and GIS. For more details about the position, check out the WRP Website. Applications are due March 21. ESIP Program Manager - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment is seeking applicants for a Program Manager for Ecosystem Indicator Partnership (ESIP) to implement the newly developed Indicators and Environmental Reporting Strategy. This strategy will support coastal decision-makers and provide the information needed to manage human effects on the ecosystem and to sustain economically and socially healthy human communities. Applications are due by March 15. Gulf of Maine Monitoring Inventory Contractor - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment is seeking applicants for a contractor to integrate the Gulf of Maine Monitoring Inventory with the Global Change Master Directory. The inventory is a compilation of over 300 environmental monitoring programs in the region. Applications are due by March 15. Summer 2006 Jobs on Cape Cod - The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking applicants for a number of summer jobs at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Falmouth. For more information, go to http://www.waquoitbayreserve.org and click on "Employment." Calendar Chatham Bird Lecture Series - On March 3, 10, 17, and 24, Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary will host a free lecture series at the Eldredge Public Library in Chatham to discuss the role Chatham beaches may hold for the future for threatened birds. Chatham has huge importance for nesting coastal birds such as piping plovers, common terns, and least terns. With increased pressure along the coastline from development, human use, and natural forces, such as erosion, the pristine beaches of Chatham have become more critical to these birds' future. For more information or to register, contact the Sanctuary at (508) 349-2615. MACC Conference - On March 4, the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) will hold its Annual Environmental Conference (AEC) at Holy Cross College in Worcester. This conference brings together over 1,000 participants from conservation commissions, state and federal government, environmental consulting firms, manufacturers of environmental products, and more. Over 25 distinct workshops are held on a variety of topics, and 50 environment-related firms and organizations will provide exhibits. Ocean Science Education Conference - The first annual Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence-New England (COSEE-NE) community conference, Partnerships in Ocean Science Education-New England, will be held March 4 at the University of Massachusetts Boston Campus. Greenland's Melting Glaciers Briefing - On March 6 at 7:00 p.m., Cape Cod Community College will host two Maine scientists who will discuss new evidence that Greenland's glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate. Come learn more about these findings and what citizens can do to help curb global warming. LNG Forums - The first in a series of U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored public education forums on liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been scheduled for March 10, in Boston. The forums are designed to maintain open lines of communication between government officials and interested citizens regarding LNG. Management of Shellfish Pests - On March 11, a Management of Shellfish Pests workshop will be held at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The second in a series of three, this free workshop is intended for individuals who raise shellfish to provide information about pests (including boring sponge and sea squirts), including successful management strategies. Attendance is limited to 50, with preference given to licensed shellfish farmers. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Bill Burt of Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. High School Student Marine Science Symposium - On March 22, Massachusetts Marine Educators will present the 23rd Annual High School Student Marine Science Symposium from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. To register, contact Robert Rocha. There is a $10 cost per student. Cape Cod Natural History Conference - On March 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the 11th Annual Cape Cod Natural History Conference will be held at Cape Cod Community College. Sponsored by the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, the conference will feature 16 brief presentations on Cape Cod's ecology, natural history, and conservation. For more information, go to http://www.massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay and click on "Special Events." Water Resource Management Conference - On April 18, EOEA's Office of Technical Assistance and the EOEA Water Policy Team will hold the first Water Resource Management conference in Boxborough to address water supply issues due to residential, commercial, and industrial growth in Massachusetts. Red Tide Symposium - On April 18, the MIT Sea Grant is hosting an all day symposium on harmful algal blooms. The purpose of this meeting is to bring together the scientific, regulatory, and fishing communities to share lessons learned from the 2005 red tide bloom and preparations for the 2006 shellfishing season. Coastal Society Conference - The 20th Annual Coastal Society Conference, Charting a New Course: Shaping Solutions for the Coast, is May 14-17 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Oceans Conference - Sponsored by the Marine Technology Society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the North America Oceans Conference and Exhibition will be held in Boston from September 18-21. The technical program at this Oceans Conference will emphasize what's new and innovative in the field of marine science and technology. Summer Field Schools for Adults - Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is offering a wide variety of field courses for adults that focus on the unique coastal environment and wildlife of Cape Cod. Field Schools emphasize active outdoor "in-the-field" experiences and are taught by professional naturalists and scientists. Reminders - The following calendar items, posted in the last CZ-Mail, are still to come:
2006 Secretary's Awards for Excellence In Environmental Education - EOEA Secretary Stephen R. Pritchard, in partnership with the Secretary's Advisory Group on Environmental Education (SAGEE) and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, is currently accepting nominations for the 2006 Secretary's Award for Excellence in Environmental Education. EOEA encourages all Commonwealth K-12 schools to submit nominations for outstanding environmental education programs. Application details are available on the EOEA Website. For more information, contact Meg Colclough. The deadline for nominations is March 15. Qualified Individuals Encouraged to Apply for NE Fishery Council Membership - Five seats will soon be vacant on the New England Fisheries Management Council. NOAA Fisheries, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, has formally asked the governors of the coastal New England states to solicit and submit nominations. Council members must be individuals, who, by reason of their occupational or other experience, scientific expertise, or training, are knowledgeable regarding the conservation and management, or the commercial or recreational harvest, of the fishery resources of the geographical area concerned. A total of four obligatory seats, one each from Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut must be filled by residents of those particular states. Any New England state may nominate a qualified individual to fill the only at-large seat that will be left vacant in August. Anyone interested in seeking nomination to the Council should contact the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries at (617) 626-1530. Nominations are due by March 15. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boston, MA 02114