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CZ-Mail All links on this web page were current and working on the date of publication.
Coastal Hazards Commission Discusses Beach Nourishment On April 10, in Boston, the Coastal Hazards Commission heard presentations about beach nourishment experiences and concerns. The Commission has been 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 more information about the Commission, including meetings summaries, selected meeting presentations, a timeline for the Commission's work, and an organizational chart for the new working groups. The next Commission meeting, scheduled for May 8 in Boston, will focus on the potential impacts of sea-level rise and hazard mitigation planning. 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. New Maps Provide Clues to the Historic 2005 Red Tide Outbreak in New England and Hints for 2006 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), with funding from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, recently released mapping results from the fall of 2005, showing the abundance and distribution of resting cysts of Alexandrium fundyense, which are resting stages (or seeds) of the microscopic alga responsible for the historic New England red tide event in 2005. The 2005 post-bloom survey found abundant cysts off western Maine indicating potential for another large bloom in 2006, but few cysts in Massachusetts Bay and in the waters south of Cape Cod. WHOI scientists caution, however, that an accurate forecast for 2006 would requires additional information such as rainfall, runoff, and wind patterns. WHOI will perform more surveys this spring to observe the development of the toxic algae. For detailed information about red tide in Massachusetts, including opening notices, an up to date map of the open areas, and a red tide information page containing details about current and planned monitoring and response efforts, go to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) Website. CZM Staff & People Cape and Islands Regional Coordinator - Steve McKenna has been named CZM's Cape and Islands Regional Coordinator. Steve provides technical assistance to Cape and Islands communities and works with local, state, and non-profit organizations on regional initiatives that protect and enhance the region's coastline. A native Cape Codder, Steve has been with CZM since 1997, most recently serving on the Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution team. Coastal Hazards Planner - CZM welcomes Julia Knisel as a Coastal Hazards Planner. Julia will staff the Coastal Hazards Commission through November and then work with the CZM Coastal Hazards team to implement the Commission's recommendations. Julia brings coastal geology and hazards management experience from Maine, North Carolina and most recently, from the U.S. Geological Survey in Woods Hole. Grants/Funding Opportunities Self Help Grants - The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) Secretary Stephen R. Pritchard has announced the 2007 Self-Help and Urban Self-Help grant round. Grants of up to $500,000 may be available for the purchase of open space or parkland, development of recreation sites, or the renovation of parks. Global Positioning System (GPS) Equipment - ESRI and Trimble are seeking applications for software, hardware, and training to develop mobile public domain applications related to disciplines serving coastal communities. The goal of this program is to foster innovative approaches to solving government problems through the combined use of Geographic Information System and GPS technology. Proposals are due by June 2. Reminders - The following funding opportunities listed in the last CZ-Mail are still available:
COASTSWEEP Coordination - CZM is seeking a qualified contractor to coordinate the annual Massachusetts coastal beach cleanup, COASTSWEEP. This event is held in September each year at beaches, riverbanks, marshes, and other coastal locations. To view the RFR, visit the Comm-PASS website and search for document number "ENV 06 CZM 19." Answers to any questions will be posted on the Comm-PASS website. Proposals are due by May 9. Science to Management - The Coastal States Stewardship Foundation (CSSF) is seeking a contractor to address strengthening the application of science in coastal decision-making. This project builds upon work the Coastal States Organization (CSO) has conducted over the past three years and is part of both CSO and CSSF's efforts to bring innovation to the coast by improving the links between scientists and coastal managers. Funding, up to $118,000, is being provided by the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET) at the University of New Hampshire. Proposals are due by May 15. National Core Coastal Indicators Workshop - CSO is seeking a contractor(s) to assist in the planning and facilitation of a workshop to identify core national indicators that reflect the state of the nation's coastal resources and communities. Total funding available for this proposal is between $15,000 and $20,000. Proposals are due by May 26. Products/Publications New DEP e-Newsletter - DEP has just launched its first quarterly e-Newsletter. This new publication will allow DEP to share highlights of important work, as well as provide information about new regulations, upcoming public hearings, and the latest environmental enforcement actions. Subscribe to future issues. Greenscapes Newsletter - The April 2006 Greenscapes e-newsletter is now available online. This issue provides details about the Greenscapes program free Reference Guide, workshop series, and much more. The Greenscapes program is a regional outreach effort sponsored by the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, the Massachusetts Bays Program, and several South Shore municipalities. To subscribe to this newsletter, send a blank email to greenscapes-subscribe@lists.nsrwa.org. Wells NERR Publishes Guide to Protecting Small Waterways - In an effort to encourage the protection of coastal watersheds, the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) has published Incorporating Small Streams and Brooks into Developing Landscapes. The 56-page book provides guidance to municipal planners, conservation organizations, and natural resource professionals to conserve and protect river resources as communities grow and develop. To order a copy for $7.95, email Paul Dest. CWP Smart Watershed Benchmarking Tool - The Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) has released a Smart Watershed Benchmarking Tool. Using lessons learned from around the country, this self-assessment tool helps local communities integrate and align their urban watershed programs to meet their water resource goals. Local watershed groups can also use this tool by determining how a community compares to others—providing information to work with local governments to encourage adoption of recommended practices. NOAA Releases Science Brief on Ocean Acidification - NOAA has issued the science brief Carbon Dioxide and Our Ocean Legacy. The 4-page fact sheet details new scientific research showing that oceans are beginning to face yet another threat due to global climate change—the basic chemistry is changing because of the uptake of carbon dioxide released by human activities. According to the brief, this natural process of carbon dioxide absorption has benefited humankind by significantly reducing the greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere and thus minimizing some impacts of global warming. However, the ocean's daily uptake of 22 million tons of carbon dioxide is starting to take its toll on the chemistry of seawater. These changes have a negative impact on corals and other sea life, especially at the base of the food chain, with potential adverse economic consequences.. EPA Releases Guidance for State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program For Wetlands - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released Application of Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program For Wetlands, a document prepared to help EPA and State program managers plan and implement a wetland monitoring and assessment program within the context of the March 2003 EPA document, Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program. It provides clarification and further information on how the original Elements document applies to wetlands. The purpose of this document is to provide specific information on the elements of wetlands monitoring programs for states that are in earlier stages of developing these programs and to promote interstate consistency in reporting progress toward increasing wetland quantity and towards the longer-term goal of improving the quality of the nation's wetlands. CSC Products and Services Bulletin - The NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC) has released the latest Products and Services Bulletin. This quarterly publication supplies up-to-date information about the tools and services developed by the CSC for the nation's coastal resource managers. This edition includes information about a new flood mapping tool for emergency preparedness officials, and training opportunities. Still Available: This CZM publication, listed in the last CZ-Mail, is still available:
Swansea Water District Desalination Project - The Secretary of Environmental Affairs has issued a certificate for the Swansea Water District desalination project stating that it adequately and properly complies with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). This project will withdraw up to 3.6 million gallons per day (mgd) of water from the Palmer River and produce 1.4 mgd of drinking water through reverse osmosis. CZM worked with DMF, DEP, EPA, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to encourage the proponent to minimize entrainment and impingement impacts and reduce the salinity within the discharge plume. The Secretary's certificate requires that two remaining issues be resolved in permitting. First, the proponent will need to work with DMF to arrive at appropriate mitigation for the potential loss of oyster habitat and resources that would result from building the intake. Second, the Chapter 91 licensing process will ensure that the proposed withdrawal structure that will be built on the bottom of the Palmer River will not affect the passage of water under the newly reconstructed Route 6 bridge. View the certificate. Public Comment Federal Agencies Seek Comment on Wetland Mitigation Rules - EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced changes to the Compensatory Mitigation Rule, which regulates compensatory mitigation for authorized impacts to wetlands, streams, and other waters of the U.S. regulating wetlands. Comments are being sought on the proposed rule. For more information, go to EPA's compensatory mitigation website. Comments are due by May 30. Ocean Research Priority Plan - The National Science and Technology Council's Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology has released a planning document for the U.S. Ocean Research Priorities Plan and requests for public comment. This document was prepared to serve as a basis for discussion of priorities in the development of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan. Individuals who wish to provide comments should refer to the guidelines for comment submission. Comments are due by May 15 and should be sent to public-comment@jsost.org. Job Postings Dredging Coordinator - CZM is seeking applications a Dredging Coordinator to assist in the planning and review of dredging projects and programmatic dredging/dredged material management planning. Applications are due May 16. Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator - CZM will soon be seeking applications for Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator to coordinate CZM activities for the Boston Harbor region, acting as liaison between CZM, EOEA, and municipalities, other state agencies, federal agencies, regional NGOs, business and private interests, citizens, and stakeholders. The position is also responsible for the review of planning efforts and specific projects in the Boston Harbor region, including many high-profile new and re-development projects. For more details, and to view the job posting, stay tuned to the CZM Jobs and Grants page. Coastal Hazards Coordinator - CZM will soon be seeking candidates for a Coastal Hazards Coordinator to direct CZM's coastal hazards team and coordinate with other state and federal coastal hazards planning and response agencies. For more details, stay tuned to the CZM Jobs and Grants page. Wetlands Restoration Planner - 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, and to view the job posting, stay tuned to the CZM Jobs and Grants page. Marine Educators - The Center for Coastal Studies is seeking applicants for a number of marine educator positions. Applicants must have knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Gulf of Maine, particularly knowledge of cetaceans. Applications are due May 15. Calendar LID Workshop - On May 11, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Hingham Town Hall, CZM and the Weir River Watershed Association present a free workshop for municipal officials and staff, developers and engineers entitled Low Impact Development Tools—Strategies for Environmentally-Friendly Development that Reduces Stormwater Runoff. Low Impact Development is a more sustainable land development pattern that combines thoughtful site planning with best management practices to create projects with preserved open space, reduced impervious surfaces, improved stormwater drainage, and site-sensitive landscaping. Massachusetts case studies of LID in practice will be highlighted. For more information, contact Andrea Cooper, CZM Smart Growth Coordinator. Green Roofs Conference - On May 11-12, the city of Boston will host the Fourth Annual International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities, Conference, Awards & Trade Show at the Hynes Convention Center. The Conference is organized by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) a not-for-profit industry association working to promote the green roof industry in North America. The two-day conference will consist of plenary and specialized sessions focused on three main topic areas: Policies and Programs to Support Green Roofs; Green Roof Design and Implementation; and Research and Technical Papers on Green Roof Performance. Business of Water Symposium - On May 12, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will host a free all-day symposium Business of Water: Problems and Solutions. Water is a critical and limited natural asset. Commerce, smart growth, and economic development are dependent on the economics and management of water and its related processes and products. This conference will explore traditional water businesses and the economics of water as well as water's role in natural systems services, its influence on how to engineer our communities, and new dimensions in the business of water. Taunton River Watershed Land Use Lecture - Join the Taunton River Watershed Alliance and the Taunton River Watershed Campaign at 6:30 p.m. on May 16 at the Bridgewater Public Library for the free program Critical Mass: Land Use Change in Southeastern Massachusetts. The Taunton River Watershed Alliance and nine other conservation and planning organizations are part of the Taunton River Watershed Campaign. Massachusetts Watershed Coalition Annual Meeting - On May 18, the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition is hosted its annual meeting at the Trustees of Reservations Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster. The meeting will focus on opportunities to ensure healthy streams and lakes, including detailed discussion of Low Impact Development techniques and examples. Pre-registration is requested. For more information, email Ed Himlan. LID Workshop - On May 24, in Marion, CZM, the Buzzards Bay Action Committee (BBAC), and the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (BBNEP) present a free workshop for municipal planners, conservation agents, municipal Phase II coordinators, planning board members, and selectmen entitled How to make Low Impact Development Happen in Your Community. Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Meeting - On May 25 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service (FWS) will hold a meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Scott Newsham, ANS Task Force Executive Secretary. Call for Abstracts - Abstracts are currently being solicited for the 2006 Water Resources Symposium—Why Water Suppliers Should Care About Stormwater Management—co-sponsored by the New England Water Works Association, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, the Groundwater Protection Council, and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Stormwater Center. The symposium will be held on October 12-13, at the UNH Stormwater Center campus. Abstracts are due by May 31. Healthy Lawns and Landscapes Workshops - Through May, DEP is holding a number of free Healthy Lawn and Landscape workshops. Attendees will learn how to have a beautiful yard without using chemicals that may harm children, pets, or the environment. Homeowners, landscapers, and municipal staff are welcome to attend. Saving the Seas Lectures - On alternate Tuesday evenings in May the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster is hosting a series of "Saving the Seas" lectures. Most sessions will begin with a brief background lecture leading into a panel discussion among experts in each topic. Lectures are held 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Neponset River Watershed Association Annual Meeting - On June 13, join the Neponset River Watershed Association for a thought-provoking, timely presentation on, "Smart Growth, Cities, Climate Change and the Neponset River Watershed." This annual meeting will be held at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum in Milton. UNH Stormwater Center 2006 Workshops - The CICEET-sponsored Stormwater Center at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) has announced its 2006 schedule of stormwater technology demonstration workshops. These workshops will take place at the Center's unique field facility, where researchers evaluate the effectiveness of different stormwater treatment systems in a side-by-side setting, under strictly controlled conditions. It is the only test bed of its kind in the nation. The 2006 workshops will consist of a tour of the facility, followed by a working lunch and discussion. Workshops are open to municipal officials, engineers, land planners, landscape architects, and natural resource managers. 2006 Watershed Institute - The Center for Watershed Protection has designed the 2006 Watershed Institute to equip watershed professionals with the tools needed to develop comprehensive watershed plans. Are you a public works manager, urban planner, stream association member, or water quality professional who has discovered the importance of managing your local water resources at a watershed scale? This intensive, interactive four-day program is being held October 23-26 near Columbus, Ohio. Reminders - The following calendar items, posted in the last CZ-Mail, are still to come:
Think Again. Think Blue. Campaign Kickoff - On May 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Charles River Esplanade, the Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association (MBEA), together with the Massachusetts Bays Program, and other partners in the Think Blue Coalition are hosting a Duck Party for the debut of the Think Again. Think Blue. Massachusetts stormwater education campaign! What's a Duck Party? It is a visitor and family-friendly fun event to celebrate the completion of the River Dock Restoration Project and to highlight the work of the Esplanade Association and the many other organizations who are friends of the Esplanade, including the Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association. Think Blue will be debuting "Storm," a 15' tall inflatable duck that will be making many appearances this summer at community events all around the Massachusetts coast to raise awareness about stormwater pollution. To learn more about MBEA's part in The Duck Party, please contact Paula Jewell. DEP Issues Revised Title 5 Regulations - The final version of Title 5, the regulations governing on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems, are now in effect. For more information about Title 5, go to DEP's Title 5 web page. Cape Cod National Seashore Welcomes Visiting School Field Trip Groups to Salt Pond Visitor Center - Cape Cod National Seashore's Salt Pond Visitor Center will be welcoming school field trips planning to visit the park this spring, providing an outstanding hands-on educational opportunity for students. Park films, including "Sands of Time," "Wooden Ships, Men of Iron," and "Voice of Cape Cod" will be playing on a regularly-scheduled basis at the Visitor Center, offering a valuable perspective into the natural and cultural history of Cape Cod. In addition, the Visitor Center museum showcases native flora and fauna species and highlights local maritime history, including the U.S. Lifesaving Service and whaling and fishing traditions. The Visitor Center requests that teachers provide advance notice. Additional information is available on the Cape Cod National Seashore Website. The Salt Pond Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Marine Science Sea Education for Teachers - Nantucket Soundkeeper is hosting a three-day educational sailing trip aboard the 125-foot replica schooner, Spirit of Massachusetts, for middle and high school science teachers from the Cape and Islands who are interested in developing a marine science program for their classrooms. No previous sailing experience is necessary for this free trip. Qualified candidates are urged to apply by June 1. May is American Wetlands Month - Join EPA in celebrating American Wetlands Month in May. This year's theme, "It Pays to Save Wetlands," focuses on the economic and environmental benefits of wetlands, including cleaner water, less flood damage and more seafood. EPA and its partners in government, private industry and public interest groups have planned events nationwide highlighting the importance of protecting and preserving wetlands. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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