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CZ-Mail November 2007 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. Additional information about CZM's programs, publications, and other coastal topics can be found on the CZM website. 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.
Massachusetts Hosts Meeting of Coastal States The Coastal States Organization's (CSO) 2007 fall meeting was held in Woods Hole from October 15-18. Organized by CZM and CSO, the meeting brought representatives of coastal programs throughout the nation and territories, officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other invited speakers together for meetings on a series of topics. Issues covered during the four days included "Envisioning the Future of Coastal Management" and efforts underway to reauthorize the federal Coastal Zone Management Act; coastal resiliency and response to hazards and storms; climate change and the coast; and oceans area-based management. CZM Director, Leslie-Ann McGee, made a presentation on area-based ocean management highlighting the potential opportunities and pitfalls of marine spatial planning, and CZM Assistant Director, Bruce Carlisle, gave an overview of the Commonwealth's coastal program. On October 17, the group visited the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies' new Hiebert Marine Laboratory and joined Center staff for a whale watch in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Cape Cod Bay NDA Since the spring of 2006, representatives from CZM, the town of Barnstable, the Center for Coastal Studies, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, the Massachusetts Bays Program, and Nantucket Soundkeeper have worked together to designate Cape Cod Bay as a federal No Discharge Area (NDA), prohibiting the discharge of all boat sewage. This work group is looking to designate all of the waters of Cape Cod Bay as an NDA, which includes all state waters from Provincetown to Plymouth, encompassing 11 towns. The work group has collected data on vessel use and pumpout facilities and is currently analyzing the data to determine what additional pumpout facilities are needed to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for NDA designation. This winter, the work group will assist towns that need additional pumpouts to secure grant funds for this equipment. A formal application should be submitted to EPA next spring, with designation expected next fall or spring 2009. Smart Growth/Smart Energy Awards Governor Deval Patrick's Office is seeking applications for the 2007 Massachusetts Smart Growth/Smart Energy Awards. This program recognizes the efforts of communities and private sector partners to design and build projects that conserve energy, enhance the local environment, and meet other criteria of the Commonwealth's Sustainable Development Principles. To be eligible for an award, projects must have been completed between July 1, 2002, and July 1, 2007, located within the Commonwealth, and proposed by public sector entities (as the lead applicant). Applications are due by November 9, and selected projects will be featured at the 2007 Massachusetts Smart Growth/Smart Energy Conference in Worcester on December 7 (see event announcement above). For details see the Governor's Smart Growth/Smart Energy website. Stony Brook Salt Marsh Restoration Project Receives Funding The town of Brewster has received a $48,600 grant from the Gulf of Maine Council on the Environment (GOMC) and the NOAA Habitat Restoration Partnership to conduct a feasibility study for restoration of 12-20 acres of salt marsh along Stony Brook, just south of Route 6A. The site is one of the premier herring runs on Cape Cod and attracts thousands of visitors annually. The town, CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program (WRP), NOAA, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and other partners have determined the marsh is an ideal candidate for restoration because of its degraded and tidally restricted condition. For more information about wetlands restoration in Massachusetts, see the WRP website. Rock Snot Alert Issued by the Aquatic Invasive Species Working Group CZM, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Massachusetts Aquatic Invasive Species Working Group have issued an alert for the invasive freshwater diatom, Didymosphenia geminata, otherwise know as Didymo or Rock Snot. This alga has the potential to blanket streambeds in a thick mat, leading to a loss of habitat for fish and invertebrates, and make swimming and fishing undesirable. Didymo has already been discovered in some New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York rivers, and the working group is seeking the public's help to keep this invasive species out of Massachusetts waters. A single drop of water can spread Didymo, therefore, a "Clean, Check, Dry" procedure is recommended to decontaminate materials that have been in contact with rivers, lakes, and streams. For more information, see the Rock Snot Alert (PDF, 422 KB), or contact Adrienne Pappal at adrienne.pappal@state.ma.us. BUAR Event Highlights Marine Archaeology October was archaeology month and CZM's Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources (BUAR), the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the Cape Cod Maritime Museum sponsored What Lies Beneath—a day-long event highlighting marine archaeology that included hands-on educational activities for kids, equipment exhibits, and presentations by marine archaeologists on exciting projects around New England. The event was held at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum in Hyannis, which is currently exhibiting For Those in Peril on the Sea featuring Sparrow-Hawk, Cape Cod's earliest recorded shipwreck. For more information about underwater archaeology in the Commonwealth, see the BUAR website. Grants/Funding Opportunities Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grants - CZM is seeking proposals for the Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program (CPR). For Fiscal Year 2008, the CPR program will provide up to $400,000 to municipalities located in the Massachusetts Coastal Watershed to assess and remediate stormwater pollution from paved surfaces and to design, install, or upgrade boat pumpout facilities. Up to $125,000 may be requested, and a 25% match of the total project cost is required. To view the Request for Responses (RFR), visit the Comm-PASS website and search for solicitation number "ENV 08 CZM 02." (You do not have to log in to use the search function.) For more information, contact Jay Baker at jason.baker@state.ma.us. Applications are due by November 20, and projects must be completed by June 30, 2008. See the EOEEA Press Release (PDF, 41 KB). Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program RFR Process Shifted by NOAA - NOAA recently announced a significant change in the timing of its Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP). The new schedule for the CELCP grant application and selection process will now begin late in the spring of 2008. NOAA's FY 2009 CELCP funding announcement will be added to its omnibus funding notice for competitive programs, which is normally published in early June. This new schedule delays the CELCP announcement by approximately nine months (compared to the two previous years). This schedule shift was caused when NOAA was no longer required to provide Congress with a competitive list of projects prior to the appropriations process. CZM expects to continue to use a similar Request for Responses (RFR) process as was used the previous two years to help identify the Massachusetts Priority Projects that the State will nominate to NOAA for the national competition. While this additional time may be beneficial to projects that are not quite fully developed, CZM is sorry for any inconvenience caused to projects that were ready to respond to the anticipated fall RFR. Prospective applicants continue to be encouraged to use the FY 2008 RFR as a preliminary guide to the development of projects. While the FY 2009 RFR is expected to be similar, its exact contents will be guided by the official NOAA funding notice later this coming spring. For more information, email David Janik at david.janik@state.ma.us or call (508) 291-3625 x12. Water Quality Management Planning Program Grants - The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is seeking proposals for up to $160,000 for the FY2008 Federal §604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Program Grants. The focus of the 2008 grants will be watershed or sub-watershed based nonpoint source assessment activities that support MassDEP's assessment efforts, including the Massachusetts Estuaries Project, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development, and water supply source protection planning. The priority watersheds for 2008 include: Ipswich, Buzzards Bay, Islands, Merrimack, Parker, Shawsheen, Boston Harbor (including Mystic), Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay, and Cape Cod. To view the Request for Responses (RFR), visit the Comm-PASS website and search for solicitation number "BRP 2007-06." Project Summaries for previously funded projects are available on the MassDEP website. Applications are due by December 14. Products/Publications CZM Habitat Classification Study - CZM studied existing habitat classification schemes appropriate for use in coastal, estuarine, and marine environments in Massachusetts, and recommended four classification frameworks to test. The report for this study, Habitat Classification Feasibility Study for Coastal and Marine Environments in Massachusetts (PDF, 1 MB), is now available online. For more information, contact Anthony Wilbur at tony.wilbur@state.ma.us. Stormy Report - The Fall 2007 edition of The Stormy Report, the official newsletter of the Think Blue Massachusetts stormwater campaign, is now available. The issue details Stormy's (Think Blue's 15' inflatable duck) summer tour and provides information about the Think Blue Toolbox, an online source of tools and guidance to assist partners in implementing their own Think Blue projects. To receive The Stormy Report every three months, email thinkblue@massachusettsbays.org. Wetlands Restoration Program Update - WRP's October 2007 Update on Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration is now available online. This latest update provides details on recent restoration sites that WRP and partners have helped restore, as well as updates on other projects, invasive species control activities, grant opportunities, and upcoming conferences. Climate Change Adaptation Report - CSO's Climate Change Work Group has released the report The Role of Coastal Zone Management Programs in Adaptation to Climate Change (PDF, 400 KB). The Work Group prepared this report to explore the current and future roles of state coastal zone management programs in addressing the increasing impacts of climate change to the coastal zone. This report aims to: inform Congress and federal agencies of the role of state coastal zone management programs in addressing climate change; inform efforts to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act; inform federal agencies of key research, information, and policy needs; and provide for information of exchange among coastal states and territories. Greenscapes E-Newsletter - The mid-fall issue of the Greenscapes E-Newsletter is now available online with articles about leaf peeping, local watering restrictions, and fall lawn maintenance. Greenscapes is a multi-partner outreach effort sponsored by the Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association (MBEA) and many other organizations, 31 municipalities, and other sponsors and supporters. Subscribe to the newsletter. Gulf of Maine Times - The fall 2007 issue of the Gulf of Maine Times is now available online. This issue presents the Gulf of Maine Council's Visionary Award winners, including Massachusetts recipients Susan Jones Moses of the Essex County Forum, and the Essex County Greenbelt Association. In addition, the rapid assessment surveys for marine invasive species conducted from Massachusetts to Maine this past summer is featured. Coastal Management Newsletter - The October edition of NOAA's Coastal Programs Division's National Coastal Management Program News features a piece on Massachusetts's Low Impact Development (LID) Working Group and includes stories about boating access in Florida and a special section on marine debris. Coastal Services Magazine - The September/October 2007 issue of the Coastal Services Magazine, a publication of the NOAA's Coastal Services Center, is now available online. This issue features stories about parking lots and water quality in Indiana, coral bleaching in the Florida Keys, and California's new seafood website. Coastal Society Bulletin - The Fall 2007 issue of The Coastal Society Bulletin is now available. This edition contains an article on the value of National Estuarine Research Reserves and a piece on the impact of shipping lanes on whales. Technical Report on Ballast Water Exchange - NOAA and the Smithsonian have released the technical report Current State of Understanding about the Effectiveness of Ballast Water Exchange (BWE) in Reducing Aquatic Nonindigenous Species (ANS) Introductions to the Great Lakes Basin and Chesapeake Bay, USA: Synthesis and Analysis of Existing Information (PDF, 3.7 MB), which describes the effectiveness of ballast water exchange procedures as a way to reduce aquatic invasive species discharged into U.S. waters, including the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay. Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research - The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has released the 2007 Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (PDF, 5.5 MB), a triennial report that presents a strategic plan for fisheries research for the subsequent years. New Marine Ecosystems and Management Newsletter - The first issue of Marine Ecosystems and Management, a new quarterly newsletter on marine ecosystem-based management worldwide, is now available. Websites Coastlines 2007 Now Online - The 2007 edition of Coastlines, the CZM magazine, is now available in print and online. This edition focuses on coastal recreation in Massachusetts. From beach combing to fly fishing, articles offer personal accounts and tips for getting started. Check out the Coastlines 2007 website, or for a printed copy, email your request to czm@state.ma.us. Discovery of Sound in the Sea - The University of Rhode Island Office of Marine Programs has launched a new version of the Discovery of Sound in the Sea website, an online resource about the science and use of sound in the ocean. Nitrogen & Phosphorus Pollution Website - EPA has redesigned its Nitrogen and Phosphorus website to include scientific literature reviews, monitoring data, guidance manuals, and webcasts in an effort to help states establish and use numeric water quality criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus. The new website also provides a clearinghouse of water treatment technologies and land-use practices to tackle these pollutants. National Pollutant Removal Performance Database - The Center for Watershed Protection has updated its National Pollutant Removal Performance Database to include an additional 27 studies published through 2006. A brief Pollutant Removal Database Report (PDF, 1.2 MB) presenting this data is now available. Water Quality Trading Program Maps - EPA has developed two water quality trading maps to show where water quality trading occurs in the United States. The first map displays trading programs that have traded at least once, as well as state-level trading programs. The second map shows trading programs that received EPA funding. See the EPA Water Quality Trading website. Watershed and Wetland Protection Information Kit - The Center for Watershed Protection and the National Association of Counties have developed The Watershed and Wetland Protection Information Kit for County Officials—a collection of resources that can assist county and local officials with efforts to protect and restore the multiple benefits of their community water resources. Public Comment BUAR Hearing on Proposed Regulation Revisions - On November 26, from 1:00-3:00 p.m., CZM's Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources (BUAR) will hold a hearing on revisions to regulations governing BUAR permits (312 CMR 2). Essentially, the revisions create a streamlined process and separate permit (no fee) for public planning and environmental review projects. The hearing will be held in the CZM conference room located on the 8th floor of 251 Causeway Street, Boston. Written testimony will be accepted through 4:00 p.m. on November 26. In addition, BUAR will hold its regularly scheduled November public meeting on November 29 at 1:30, also in the CZM conference room. Proposed Flood Elevation Determinations for Areas of Falmouth - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated the Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) for areas of 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 Falmouth Town Hall. For more information, contact FEMA's William R. Blanton, Jr. at (202) 646-3151. Reminders - The following comment opportunity listed in the last CZ-Mail is still open:
NDA Forum - On November 5 at 6:30 p.m., Safer Waters in Massachusetts (SWIM) and the town of Nahant will hold a boat sewage No Discharge Area (NDA) Forum at Nahant Town Hall. There are currently plans to designate Salem Sound and Boston Harbor as NDAs, prohibiting the discharge of treated or untreated sewage from boats and ships. SWIM is facilitating a discussion to begin the process to protect the coastline between these two proposed NDAs (from Marblehead to Revere). Join speakers from CZM, EPA, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and others to discuss the details of NDAs. For more information, visit SWIM's website. Smart Growth Workshop - On November 8 from 7:00-9:00 p.m., the Essex County Forum is holding the free workshop, Moving Toward Smart Growth, at Beverly Public Library. This workshop will explore tools to provide transportation options and encourage pedestrian and bicycle travel. Advanced registration is required. For details, see the workshop brochure (PDF, 190 KB). Community Preservation Act Conference - On November 10, the Community Preservation Coalition will hold the southeastern Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA) Conference at Bridgewater State College from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Conference workshops will tackle topics related to both CPA implementation and CPA adoption. The conference, including lunch, will be free of charge to all participants. For more information, contact the Coalition at (617) 367-8998 or at katherine.roth@communitypreservation.org. Marine Debris Lecture - On November 18, the Harvard Museum of Natural History will host author Loree Griffin Burn for "Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion." Burn will tell the story of scientists who track trash spilled into the ocean, such as sneakers and rubber ducks that have drifted thousands of miles from the Pacific into the Atlantic. For more information, see the museum website. Global Warming Conference - On November 18, the Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) will hold the Sixth Annual Global Warming Conference at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. For details, see the MCAN conference website. Great Marsh Talk - On November 19 at 7:00 p.m., the Topsfield Town Library will host a talk by Dorothy Kerper Monnelly, author of Between Land and Sea: The Great Marsh. Monnelly will discuss her book, photography, techniques, and the Great Marsh region. For more information about Ms. Monnelly, see her website. Climate Change Workshop - On December 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Massachusetts Coastal Training Program (CTP) will hold the workshop Climate Change and Cape Cod: Understanding Coastal Impacts and Adaptation Strategies at the Cape Cod and Islands Association of Realtors Conference Center in Yarmouth. The goal of the workshop is to enhance understanding about the state of the science related to global climate change and what impacts can be expected on land, water, and ecological resources in coastal regions like Cape Cod from sea level rise, extreme weather events, and other factors. The target audience includes coastal managers, municipal officials, municipal staff, town board members, and environmental organizations. For details, see the CTP website. StormCon—Call for Papers - StormCon, the world's largest conference on stormwater pollution prevention, is seeking abstracts for its 7th annual conference to be held August 3-7, 2008, in Orlando, Florida. For details, see the StormCon website. Abstracts are due by December 5. Massachusetts Smart Growth/Smart Energy Conference - On December 7, the 2007 Smart Growth/Smart Energy Conference will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester. This annual event provides an opportunity for elected and appointed officials, public agency staff, nonprofit agencies, private groups, and individuals to learn about and discuss a variety of topics related to land use, development, and conservation. The conference is sponsored by: the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, and the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works, in partnership with and through the generous support of The Urban Land Institute-Boston, the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association, and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Stay tuned to the Smart Growth/Smart Energy web page for registration and session details. Cape Cod Natural History Conference—Request for Presentations - The 13th Annual Cape Cod Natural History Conference will be held on March 8, 2008, at Cape Cod Community College. Mass Audubon is seeking presentations on professional or personal studies or observations concerning the identification, ecology, behavior, status, or distribution of local plants, animals, or natural communities, and studies pertaining to local environmental issues. For details, contact Melissa Lowe at mlowe@massaudubon.org or call (508) 349-2615. Proposals are due by December 19. Reminders - The following calendar items, posted in the last CZ-Mail, are still to come:
CZM Mourns Passing of Long-Time CRAB Member, John Moynihan - It is with sadness that we report that long-time member of CZM's Coastal Resources Advisory Board (CRAB), John Moynihan, lost his battle with cancer on October 21. John recently retired as director of policy and resource development in the Planning Office for Urban Affairs of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. CZM extends our heartfelt condolences to his family. See the Boston Globe's obituary for more on John and his life. Walter B. Jones Awards - NOAA is seeking nominations for the 2008 Walter B. Jones Memorial Awards for Coastal and Ocean Resource Management. The program is open to individuals, organizations, state and local government agencies, and their employees. There are several award categories including the Susan Snow-Cotter Award for Excellence in Ocean and Coastal Resource Management named for the former CZM Director. All nominations must be received by November 15. Winners will be notified in early February 2008 and honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, later that month. Sea Grant/NMFS Joint Fellowships - Woods Hole Sea Grant is seeking applicants for the Population Dynamics and Marine Resource Economics Graduate Fellowship, which is designed to help Sea Grant fulfill its broad educational responsibilities and strengthen the collaboration between Sea Grant and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The Fisheries Fellowship is available to U.S. citizens enrolled in Ph.D. programs in the United States and its territories. Applications are due by January 25, 2008. Marine Policy Fellowships - Wood Hole Sea Grant is accepting applications for the 2009 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program. This one-year program is open to any student enrolled in a graduate or professional program in a marine or aquatic-related field at a U.S.-accredited institution of higher education. The program, sponsored by the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program, matches highly qualified graduate students with "hosts" in the legislative and executive branches of government located in the Washington, DC area, for a one year paid fellowship. Applications are due by February 29, 2008. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boston, MA 02114