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CZ-Mail All links on this web page were current and working on the date of publication.
CZM Launches StormSmart Coasts Program In May, CZM will launch its new StormSmart Coasts program with a series of regional workshops. StormSmart Coasts is designed to support local efforts to protect people and property in coastal floodplains from erosion and storm damage. The program features an extensive StormSmart Coasts website that includes regulatory tools, case studies, planning strategies, and other technical assistance materials. StormSmart Coasts will target municipal officials, including staff and members of Planning Boards, Conservation Commissions, Zoning Boards of Appeals, Departments of Public Works, Building/Engineering Departments, Boards of Health, and emergency management planners. For more information about StormSmart Coasts, contact Wes Shaw at wes.shaw@state.ma.us. For details about the upcoming workshops, see the calendar section below. Aquatic Habitat Restoration Task Force Report and Recommendations Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Ian Bowles has released the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Task Force's final report and recommendations. Entitled Charting the Course: A Blueprint for the Future of Aquatic Habitat Restoration in Massachusetts, the report includes six recommendations to guide the efforts of EEA and its partners to achieve greater restoration results for the next several years and into the next decade. In May 2007, Secretary Bowles launched the Task Force, which included broad and balanced membership and equal representation from government and non-government entities. For more information, see the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Task Force web page, which includes links to the Task Force final report and a fact sheet providing an overview of the report and the work of the Task Force. Salem Sound NDA Application Submitted to EPA EEA, through CZM, has recommended that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approve designation of the coastal waters of Salem Sound as a vessel No Discharge Area (NDA). The proposed ban on discharge of all boat sewage would apply to the coastal waters of Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, and Manchester. "This effort to keep boat sewage out of Salem Sound complements recent efforts by state, federal, and local agencies to track down sources of pollution and reduce the frequency of beach closures," CZM Director Leslie-Ann McGee said. "By designating Salem Sound as a No Discharge Area, the communities around the Sound have signaled their ongoing commitment to cleaner coastal waters." This would be the Commonwealth's tenth NDA, with an ultimate goal of all state waters designated as NDAs. Related efforts to authorize NDAs are currently under way for the South Shore, Cape Cod Bay, and Boston Harbor. See EEA's NDA press release (PDF, 41 KB). For details about NDAs, see CZM's NDA website. WRP Awards FY 08 Wetland Restoration Grants CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program (WRP) has selected nine proposals to receive awards totaling $200,000 under its Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) Wetland Restoration Grants for Priority Projects. Funds will be used by recipients to support construction-related activities and monitoring at designated Priority Project restoration sites. Construction-related grants were awarded to the towns of Cohasset, Marshfield, and Plymouth, and monitoring grants were awarded to the Association to Preserve Cape Cod in Barnstable, the Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research, the Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth, Mass Audubon in Wenham, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, and Salem Sound Coastwatch in Salem. For more information, including summary descriptions of each grant award, see EEA's WRP Grants press release (PDF, 42 KB). Charlestown Navy Yard Harbor Plan Amendment Decision On April 4, EEA Undersecretary Philip Griffiths issued a decision on the City of Boston's Municipal Harbor Plan Amendment for the Charlestown Navy Yard. The plan lays out a conceptual framework to improve public access and allows for year-round access to the Harborwalk and waterfront areas of the Navy Yard. The plan includes provisions for new public destination facilities linked through the use of contextual themes (e.g., Seamanship, Environment, etc.) that are accessible from the existing sections of the Harborwalk. The plan also calls for an enhancement to the end of Pier 4, which will highlight the Pier's unique characteristics as a deep-water dockage site for visiting naval vessels and tall ships, and includes amenities such as a visitor staging area, interpretive exhibits, and other public-realm improvements. EEA's decision on the Municipal Harbor Plan (MHP) focuses on the 1991 MHP approval requirements triggered by the waterfront development at Pier 5. This approval sets enforceable conditions used by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) in licensing the project under the waterways regulations of Chapter 91. See the full EEA decision (PDF, 253 KB). CZM Celebrates Earth Day by Entering the CarbonRally Challenge! Are you looking for a fun, easy, and social way to have a positive (and measurable) impact on the environment? Then join CZM with dozens of other teams and thousands of individuals who are committing to take small, positive actions over time that make a big collective difference in addressing climate change. See www.carbonrally.com for details! CZM Staff & People Andrea Cooper Is CZM's New Coastal Shoreline and Floodplain Manager - On April 22, Andrea Cooper became CZM's new Coastal Shoreline and Floodplain Manager and will serve as the lead for developing and implementing state policy and municipal technical assistance programs to promote sound land-use principles in areas threatened by coastal erosion and flooding. For the last three years, Andrea was the Smart Growth Coordinator for CZM and EEA. In this role she catalogued, developed, and distributed planning, technical, regulatory, and outreach tools to community officials and development industry professionals for real-world growth management—receiving a 2007 Commonwealth Employee Performance of the Year Award for her efforts. Before that, Andrea was CZM's North Shore Regional Coordinator for nine years. Her accomplishments included co-founding the Green Neighborhoods Alliance, which received a 2004 EPA New England Environmental Merit Award for its work to reshape suburban growth by promoting open space and environmental resources protection through creative and flexible cluster development approach. Congratulations Andrea! Mary-Lee King Moves to Department of Fish and Game - Moving onward but not too far away, Mary-Lee King left CZM on April 30 to join the Department of Fish and Game team as Legislative Director. In her four years at CZM, Mary-Lee focused on a variety of legislative issues and special projects, including the ocean management legislation, the Coastal Hazards Commission, and No Discharge Areas. We wish Mary-Lee all of the best and look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role! Grants/Funding Opportunities Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Funding - CZM is seeking applications for funding under the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP). CELCP provides state and local governments with matching funds to purchase significant coastal and estuarine lands, or conservation easements on such lands, that are considered important for their ecological, conservation, recreational, historical, or aesthetic values. Applications will be reviewed and ranked for nomination to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for evaluation and potential Federal Fiscal Year 2009 CELCP funding. To view the Request for Responses (RFR), visit the Comm-PASS Website and search for document number "ENV 08 CZM 03." Applications are due by July 2. Parks Grants - EEA's Division of Conservation Services (DCS) is seeking applications for the FY09 Parkland Acquisition and Renovation for Communities (PARC) Grant Program (formerly the Urban Self-Help program). The PARC Program assists communities with the acquisition of parkland, as well as construction of new parks and renovation of existing parks. A "How To" grant workshop will be held on May 21 from 10:00 a.m.-noon at 100 Cambridge Street, Boston. Please RSVP to Melissa Cryan at melissa.cryan@state.ma.us. For more information, please visit the PARC Grants web page. Applications are due by July 15. Conservation Land Grants - DCS is seeking applications for the FY09 Local Acquisition for Natural Diversity (LAND) Program (formerly the Self-Help program). The LAND Program provides funds to municipal conservation commissions for the purchase of conservation land. A "How To" grant workshop will be held on May 21 from 10:00 a.m.-noon at 100 Cambridge Street, Boston. Please RSVP to Nicole Sicard at nicole.sicard@state.ma.us. For more information, please visit LAND Program web page. Applications are due by July 15. Gulf of Maine Council Contract - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment is seeking a contractor for core services, which include production of the Gulf of Maine Times, internal coordination and meeting facilitation, fund development, and information technology support. For the full Request for Proposals and application instructions, visit the Council's website. EPA Equipment Loan Program - EPA's New England office is offering an equipment loan program for volunteer water monitoring groups. For details, see the EPA New England website. Applications are due by May 27. NOAA Special Project and Program Funding - NOAA is seeking proposals for its annual Broad Agency Announcement to fund special projects and programs associated with the NOAA's strategic plan and mission goals. This announcement is a mechanism to encourage research, technical projects, or sponsorships (conferences, newsletters) that are not normally funded through competitive discretionary programs. For more information, see the Grants.gov website. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis until September 30, 2009. Reminders - These funding opportunities listed in the last CZ-Mail, are still available:
2008 Boaters' Guide to Tides and Pumpout Facilities - The 2008 Boaters' Guide to Tides and Pumpout Facilities will be available in May. 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. To reserve a free copy, email your request and mailing address to czm@state.ma.us. Additional information about pumpouts, including an online list of pumpout facilities is available on CZM's website. Gulf of Maine Salt Marshes Publication - The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment has published the new booklet—Salt Marshes in the Gulf of Maine: Human Impacts, Habitat Restoration, and Long-term Change Analysis. Developed with support from the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), this booklet offers a reader-friendly look at marsh ecology and ways to bring these ecosystems back to health. This publication explores the science behind salt marsh function; the connections between marshes, fisheries, and the Gulf of Maine ecosystem; innovative approaches to restoration; and the need for regional monitoring. Coastal Programs and Sea Level Rise - Rhode Island Sea Grant and NOAA's Coastal Programs Division have developed Summary of Coastal Program Initiatives that Address Sea Level Rise as a Result of Global Climate Change (PDF, 267 KB), which summarizes policies and initiatives aimed specifically at addressing the effects of climate change and sea level rise being carried out by Coastal Management Programs, including Sea Grant programs and others. Estuarine Monitoring Reports - The National Estuarine Research Reserve System's (NERRS) System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) provides environmental data to support the assessment of coastal resource management challenges at the national, regional, and local levels. With funding from CICEET, NERRS research teams applied SWMP data to priority coastal management issues in four regions: the Pacific Coast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. See the reports for these studies on the CICEET website. Gulf of Maine Ecosystem-Based Management Survey Report - In 2007, the Gulf of Maine Council conducted a survey to help determine the types of tools and information needed to put Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) into practice. The survey included 55 people involved in ocean and coastal management in the Gulf of Maine (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts). The Gulf of Maine Ecosystem-Based Management Toolkit Survey Report provides region-specific information on EBM issues, critical obstacles to implementing EBM, and tools and information needed to put EBM into practice. Coastal Needs Assessment - NOAA's Coastal Services Center (CSC) has released a new Summary Report for the Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Course Needs Assessment (PDF, 280 KB), which looks at results from about 250 respondents regarding their EBM knowledge, attitudes, use, and obstacles, as well as data, tools, and training needs. For more information, contact CSC's Steve Gilbert at Steve.Gilbert@noaa.gov. Greenscapes E-Newsletter - The mid-spring 2008 issue of the Greenscapes E-Newsletter is now available online. This issue features the 2008 Greenscapes Guide, a 20-page booklet that offers helpful suggestions for beautiful yards that protect water resources. This issue also details a number green yard care workshops coming up in May on the North and South Shores. Greenscapes is a multi-partner outreach effort sponsored by the Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association, 31 municipalities, and many other sponsors and supporters. To receive the e-newsletter directly, subscribe online. Coastal Management Newsletter - The April 2008 edition of NOAA's Coastal Programs Division's National Coastal Management Program News features a piece on Virginia's dune and beach protection efforts, and includes stories about managing South Carolina's changing shorelines and Sea Grant research initiatives. Pollution Source Control Manual - The Center for Watershed Protection's (CWP) publication Pollution Source Control Practices is now available for free download. Released in 2005 as part of the Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual Series, it outlines methods to discover pollution sources in your community and details strategies to tackle these sources. See the CWP website. Riverways eNewsletter - The April issue of Riverways NewsNotes, an eNewsletter from the Massachusetts Riverways Program, is now available online. This edition details the Adopt-A-Stream Program's Stream Team Implementation Awards and the River Instream Flow Stewards Restoration Grants. Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports - The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has released the 2007 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports. Check them out on the NMFS website. Websites No Discharge Area Website - CZM has updated its No Discharge Area (NDA) website to provide convenient access to information about NDAs in Massachusetts. The website also includes location and contact information for more than 100 boat pumpout facilities all along the Commonwealth's coast. USGS Online Flood Information - The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed an online, user-friendly map that tracks flood conditions in the United States. This real-time water monitoring is part of a continuing effort by the USGS to assist the National Weather Service (NWS) in making accurate and timely flood forecasts. Information for surface and ground water from 1.5 million sites across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam is available on the National Water Information System: Web Interface. Scientific Data for Classrooms - The NOAA Ocean Data Education Project (NODE) has developed Data in the Classroom—a new online resource for K-12 teachers interested in using real scientific data in their classrooms. NODE is creating curriculum designed to help teachers and students use scientific data to explore dynamic earth processes. Modules on El Nino and sea level are now available. EPA Environmental Indicators Gateway - EPA has launched an Environmental Indicators Gateway website to provide a single catalog of EPA's indicator work to enhance access to environmental and health information generated by EPA. Underwater Tour of Long Island Sound - The Long Island Sound Resource Center has launched a website that provides an underwater tour of Long Island Sound. This website uses slide shows, still photos, and videos to show off this area's flora and fauna. Public Comment No Discharge Area - EPA is seeking comments on a Massachusetts request to designate the coastal waters of Scituate, Marshfield, Cohasset, and the tidal portions of the North and South Rivers as a vessel No Discharge Area. Within the NDA, the dumping of all boat sewage, even that which is treated, will be prohibited. For details about the NDA request, see the Federal Register Notice. Submit comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R01-OW-2008-0212, by May 12 to Ann Rodney at rodney.ann@epa.gov. LNG Port Navigation Restrictions and Safety Zones - The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) proposes to establish restricted navigation areas around the recently constructed liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port facility located in Massachusetts Bay, and to establish safety and security zones around LNG carriers calling on these deepwater port facilities. For details, including commenting instructions, see the Federal Register Notice. Boston Harbor Dredging - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New England District, in partnership with the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), is seeking comments on the joint Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Environmental Impact Report (DSEIS/DEIR) that examines improvements to deep-draft navigation channels in Boston Harbor. For details, including commenting instructions, see the Federal Register Notice or the USACE's Boston Harbor Navigation Projects web page. Proposed Flood Elevation Determinations for Areas of Revere - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated the Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) for areas of Revere. 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 at Revere City Hall. For more information, contact FEMA's William R. Blanton Jr. at (202) 646-3151. Reminders - The following comment opportunities listed in the last CZ-Mail are still open:
Ocean Services Manager—Deadline Extended - CZM is seeking applications for an Ocean Services Manager to provide critical policy, planning, and coordinating functions for CZM and EEA. In addition, the manager will organize and coordinate an inter-agency ocean planning team and will lead CZM's external efforts on ocean management (see CZM's Ocean Management Initiative website). Applications are due by May 9. Reminder - The following internship opportunities listed in the last CZ-Mail are still open:
StormSmart Coasts Regional Workshops - In May, CZM will hold a series of regional StormSmart Coasts workshops that will be held from 9:00 a.m.-noon at:
Low Impact Development Conference and Vendor Exhibit—Rescheduled - The 2nd Annual Massachusetts Low Impact Development (LID) Conference and Vendor Exhibit—Where Are We Today and Are We Ready for Tomorrow?—has been rescheduled to avoid a conflict with the 19th Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference on May 19-21. The conference will now be held on June 23 at the Burlington Marriott. This year's conference will provide the latest information on innovative LID residential and commercial "big box" projects, Best Management Practice (BMP) performance analysis, and the revisions to state and local permitting requirements. The conference will also discuss the future of LID in Massachusetts, including the LID role in climate change adaptation, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and LEED Neighborhood Design (ND), and green solutions (green design and green buildings). Registration will be available soon at www.ebcne.org, or contact Andrea Cooper at andrea.cooper@state.ma.us to be mailed the registration forms. May Is American Wetlands Month - EPA will celebrate American Wetlands Month in May. This annual celebration recognizes and highlights the benefits that wetlands provide to the natural environment. For more information, see EPA's Wetland's Month web page. Massachusetts Marine Educators Conference - On May 3, the Massachusetts Marine Educators (MME) will hold the 32nd Woods Hole Conference and Annual Meeting in the Redfield Auditorium at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The 2008 conference will focus on the International Polar Year with a discussion of research efforts in the Arctic and Antarctic. For details, see the MME website. Spring Wildflowers Botanical Walk - On May 3 at 3:00 p.m., the Harwich Conservation Trust will hold a botanical walk at Bank Street Bogs in Harwich. This free walk is led by Rich Eldred, an environmental journalist for The Cape Codder. For details, see the Trust's website. Natural History Speaker Series - On Tuesday evenings from May 6-27, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (CCMNH) is presenting a Natural History Speaker Series. For details, see the CCMNH website. Coastal Wetlands Lecture - On May 9 at 7:00 p.m., the Marion Natural History Museum will hold a talk by WHOI scientist emeritus, John Teal, author of the classic book, Life and Death of the Salt Marsh. Dr. Teal's current efforts involve constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and marsh restoration in fresh, brackish, and salt wetlands. Coastal Construction and the New Building Code -In May and June, the MassDEP Wetland Circuit Riders will hold a series of workshops for Conservation Commissions, Building Inspectors, and other interested individuals. These workshops, entitled Flood Resistant Construction in Coastal Dunes and the Floodplain, will feature Lealdon Langley, Director of MassDEP's Wetlands and Waterways Program, who will discuss recent revisions to the Building Code and the role of Conservation Commissions and Building Inspectors for projects in coastal dunes and floodplains. Workshops will be held at:
Maritime Days Presentations - On May 24, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History will present a special free Maritime Days program. Bring a pail, notebook, and water shoes at 10:00 a.m. for Mudflat Mania, a beachside exploration where visitors learn about the fascinating world of animals that live in and on the flats. At 1:00 p.m. the Cape Cod Stranding Network and the National Marine Life Center will talk about strandings and rehabilitation efforts on the Cape. Climate Change Workshop - On June 3-5, the Climate Change in the Northeast: Preparing for the Future workshop will be held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The workshop will focus on oceans and forests and explore climate change management approaches in the Northeast. For details, contact Sheela Doshi at sdoshi@fs.fed.us. Marine Educators Conference - On July 21-25, the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) will hold the NMEA 2008: One World, One Water conference in Savannah, Georgia. For details, see the NMEA conference website. Reminders - The following calendar items, posted in the last CZ-Mail, are still to come:
EPA Honors Quincy Volunteer - On Earth Day, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson honored P.J. Foley of Quincy with the President's Volunteer Service Award for his contributions to the restoration of degraded salt marshes in his community. CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program has partnered with P.J. and many others on several Quincy restoration projects and congratulates him on this well-deserved recognition. See the EPA press release. National Boating Safety Advisory Council Vacancies - The USCG is seeking applications for membership on the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC). The 21-member NBSAC advises the Coast Guard on matters related to recreational boating safety. The application deadline is June 27. Clean Water Act Recognition Award Nominations - EPA is seeking nominations for the 2008 National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards. The awards recognize municipalities and industries for outstanding and innovative technological achievements in wastewater treatment and pollution abatement programs. For more information, see the Recognition Awards web page. Nominations are due by May 30. |
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Boston, MA 02114