Welcome to CZ-Mail, the monthly electronic newsletter from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). Each issue provides information on major CZM initiatives, available tools and publications, upcoming workshops and events, grants, contracting opportunities, job openings, 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. To subscribe to CZ-Mail, send a blank email (please be sure that the email is completely blank, with no signature line) to join-env-czmail@listserv.state.ma.us. Also, feel free to share CZ-Mail with colleagues and friends—and if you have any suggestions for future editions or would like to make a change to your subscription, email your request to CZ-Mail@mass.gov. For periodic updates from CZM between CZ-Mail editions, follow us on Twitter/X.
All links on this web page were current and working on the date of publication.
Highlights
COASTSWEEP 2025 - Cleanups Start this Month! - From late August into November, thousands of volunteers in Massachusetts turn out for COASTSWEEP, the statewide beach cleanup sponsored by CZM. COASTSWEEP is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by Ocean Conservancy, and participants all over the world collect trash and other marine debris and record data to help find solutions. A great way to get involved in COASTSWEEP is to organize a cleanup. All supplies (bags, gloves, data cards, pencils, etc.) are provided free of charge, and cleanups can be scheduled at your convenience. Everyone is also welcome to volunteer at scheduled public cleanups—the cleanup list will be posted later this month and updated regularly. For more information on getting involved as a cleanup coordinator or volunteer, see Sign Up to Volunteer for COASTSWEEP.
Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities
STREAM Grants - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sea Grant is seeking proposals for Solutions Through Research, Education, and Art in Massachusetts (STREAM) Awards, which provide up to $9,999 in grant funding for small, one-year research projects. Proposed projects must meet objectives of the MIT Sea Grant Strategic Plan in one or more of four focus areas (healthy coastal ecosystems, environmental literacy and workforce development, resilient communities and economies, and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture). The grants can be used for educational initiatives, small research projects, seed funding for innovative efforts, and rapid response projects to tackle an existing challenge. Preschool through grade 12 educators, Massachusetts university faculty and students, nonprofit organizations, museums, Tribes, and artists affiliated with these groups are eligible. To meet with MIT Sea Grant staff to discuss proposals, complete the Optional STREAM Interest Form by September 2. Proposals are due by September 15 at 5:00 p.m.
Brownfields Job Training Grants - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization is seeking applications from state and local governments, Tribes, and nonprofit organizations for Brownfields Job Training Grants to recruit, train, and place local, unemployed, and under-employed residents with new skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field. For application details, see the FY 2026 Brownfields Job Training Grants page. Applications are due by September 26.
Climate Resilient Fisheries Engagement Grants - The Blue Convergence Fund is seeking applications for Climate Resilient Fisheries Engagement Grants for projects that advance the understanding of climate resilient fisheries, including management practices and strategies around the world. Grants will support science-based efforts focusing on the exchange of existing knowledge. Projects should be 18-24 months long with a maximum budget of $150,000. A Q&A webinar will be held for potential applicants on August 19. Proposals are due by September 4.
Community Grow Grants - The New England Grassroots Environment Fund, Inc. (Grassroots Fund) is seeking applications for Grow Grants for environmental justice efforts. Priority is given to projects from community groups who represent a broad range of voices, have implementation experience, and are not reached by other funders. Grants of $1,000-$4,000 will be awarded. Applications are due by September 16.
Online Tools and Resources
ResilientMass Maps and Data Center - The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) ResilientMass Maps and Data Center provides climate change science and tools, featuring interactive applications to view and explore up-to-date statewide climate data and projections developed to support climate resilience in Massachusetts. Users can check out the ResilientMass Climate & Hazards Viewer, browse data by theme, explore topic-specific applications, or find details on grants with the EEA Climate Grant Viewer.
New Resources and Data from NOAA Digital Coast - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Digital Coast has posted these new resources:
- Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer - An online viewer with graphical, six-day forecasts of total water levels for the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coastlines, which can be used to predict coastal change.
- National Sea Level Explorer - An online tool built to inform coastal communities on current and future sea level rise scenarios out to the year 2150.
- New and updated data sets (PDF, 115 KB)
Products/Publications
Report on Plastic Pollution Laws - Ocean Conservancy has released United States of Plastic, a new report that examines and rates each state’s progress in addressing plastic pollution through legislation.
2024 Beach Cleanup Report - The Surfrider Foundation has released the 2024 Beach Cleanup Annual Report (PDF, 12 MB), which highlights results from the more than 1,250 Surfrider beach cleanups last year.
Newsletters and Other Periodicals
Coastal & Estuarine Science News - The third 2025 issue of Coastal & Estuarine Science News, the newsletter of the Coastal & Estuarine Research Foundation, includes articles on the recovery of macrofauna in coastal wetlands after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the performance of four types of living shorelines to support oyster reefs, the use of a marine heatwave and increased sea level to understand estuarine habitat responses, and other coastal and estuarine research topics.
DMF News - The latest issue of DMF News, the twice-yearly newsletter of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), features articles on the recent launch of passive acoustic monitoring of large whales in state and adjacent federal waters, efforts to build capacity for seed-based eelgrass restoration in Massachusetts, the first meeting of the Massachusetts Commercial Fisheries Commission, and more.
Ebb & Flow - The Spring 2025 issue of Ebb & Flow, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration eNewsletter, includes items on a town hall discussion and culvert replacement site visit with Governor Healey, the Herring River Restoration project, and other restoration project highlights and updates.
Massachusetts Lobstermen’s News - The July/August 2025 Newspaper (PDF, 16 MB) from the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) includes pieces on a scientific research project to assess the environmental impacts of ocean alkalinity enhancement (a potential climate solution that accelerates the natural transfer of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the ocean, reducing atmospheric carbon levels while also reducing ocean acidification), a public education day with DMF on marine sciences, MLA updates, and other lobster news.
Neponset River Watershed News - July news from the Neponset River Watershed Association includes information on the new Neponset River Greenway Trail connection between Tenean Beach and Morrissey Boulevard, the Annual Water Quality Report Card for the river, and other Neponset River news, jobs, upcoming events, and watershed updates.
NOAA HabitatNews - The July 2025 issue of HabitatNews, a newsletter of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation, includes items on a dam removal that opened fish habitat in southeast Washington, restoring habitat in collaboration with recreational fishers, rebuilding fisheries after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and other marine fisheries habitat news.
Urban Harbors Institute E-News - The July 2025 issue of Urban Harbors Institute E-News, the newsletter of the Urban Harbors Institute (UHI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston, include items on the new Nantucket Eelgrass Management Plan, harbor management plans in four coastal communities, a project on collaborative planning for managed retreat and relocation funded through CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grants, and other news and updates from UHI.
Public Notice/Public Comment
Please note: All official CZM requests for public comment are published in the Public Notices section of the Environmental Monitor, the bi-weekly publication from the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office.
Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan - The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) is seeking comments on the draft 2025 Update of the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), which contains goals and objectives and provides a long-term framework for action to protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its watershed. This draft plan revises the 2013 CCMP update to reflect recommendations in the 2023 Buzzards Bay CCMP Climate Vulnerability Assessment, new information or conditions, changes to laws and regulations, new EPA CCMP guidelines, comments by reviewers, and other concerns. The 2025 Update also better reflects agency climate resilience objectives. Submit comments to Joe Costa at joe.costa@mass.gov by September 29 at 4:00 p.m.
Decisions
Gloucester Harbor Plan Decision - On July 7, the Decision on the Request for Approval of the Gloucester Municipal Harbor Plan Renewal and Designated Port Area Master Plan (PDF, 1 MB) was issued by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The 2025 renewal planning area includes Gloucester’s Inner Harbor, Harbor Cove, Smith Cove, and adjacent landside areas extending from the Rocky Neck peninsula to the Blynman Canal, as well as access roads including Western Avenue, Commercial Street and Fort Square, Rogers Street and Main Street, East Main Street, Rocky Neck Avenue, and Horton Street. The 2025 renewal addresses pressures on commercial fishing operations from changes in fisheries management and global competition, as well as risks to existing and aging infrastructure associated with climate change and rising sea levels. It also guides Gloucester’s harbor economy to capitalize on new “blue economy” opportunities in fisheries, marine research and biotechnology, and ocean and seafood product development to diversify and expand economic activity while maintaining the centrality of the harbor to the city’s identity. The plan also includes a Designated Port Area Master Plan that details a strategy to preserve and enhance the capacity of the DPA to accommodate water-dependent industries and prevent substantial displacement of these activities by non-water-dependent uses. For questions, please contact Kathryn Glenn, CZM North Shore Regional Coordinator, at kathryn.glenn@mass.gov.
Jobs/Internships
Executive Director - The Massachusetts Bays National Estuarine Partnership (MassBays) is seeking an Executive Director to oversee and manage all the program's operations in support of the MassBays Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and in coordination with EPA Region 1 and host, University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston School for the Environment. This includes fiscal management, planning, funds development and communication, annual budget and work plan development, MassBays staff supervision, and regional service provider contract management. This position will remain open until it is filled. For additional details, see the job listing.
Boston Harbor Now Positions - Boston Harbor Now is seeking applicants for three full-time positions: 1) Senior Manager, Harborwalk, Access and Resilience, 2) Manager of Corporation and Foundation Relations, and 3) Communications and Operations Coordinator. For additional details, see their Careers page.
Metropolitan Area Planning Council Positions - The Metropolitan Area Planning Council is seeking applicants for four full-time positions: 1) Executive Director, 2) Assistant Director of Transportation, 3) Municipal Services Specialist, and 4) Senior Economic Development Planner. For details and application instructions, see their Employment Opportunities page.
Neponset River Watershed Positions - Neponset River Watershed Association is seeking applicants for two permanent positions: 1) a full-time Social Marketing Specialist and 2) a part-time Education Coordinator. For more information, see their Employment page.
Senior Director of Offshore Wind - The Environmental League of Massachusetts is seeking a Senior Director of Offshore Wind to lead New England for Offshore Wind, a coalition that supports offshore wind development. For more information, see the position posting.
Calendar - Individual Events and Announcements
Woods Hole Science Stroll - August 9, annual event held in Woods Hole featuring family-friendly, hands-on activities to showcase the major science institutions, U.S. Coast Guard, and environmental and education-focused nonprofits operating in Wood’s Hole.
Living Seawall Field Trip - August 15, visit to a living seawalls site at the Condor Street Urban Wild in East Boston presented by the Stone Living Lab and the Massachusetts Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network.
Resilient Moakley Park: Case Studies in Flood Modeling and Adaptation - August 19, webinar presented by the Environmental Business Council of New England as part of its Resilient Waters Series.
Neponset Day - August 23, family-friendly community celebration along the Neponset River sponsored by the Neponset River Watershed Association with free boating, kid’s games and activities, music, food trucks, environmental and science exhibits, and more, to be held at the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Neponset River Reservation.
Orleans Conservation Trust Annual Meeting - August 25, annual meeting covering new projects, including restoration planning, ongoing work in Orleans schools, stewardship projects, and recent land acquisitions.
Living Shorelines Tech Transfer Workshop—Call for Poster Abstracts - October 29-30, event hosted by Restore America’s Estuaries and Save the Sound on living shorelines to be held in New Haven, Connecticut. Submit poster abstracts by August 31 to be notified of acceptance before the close of early bird registration.
OneCape Summit - September 16-17, annual summit sponsored by the Cape Cod Commission on climate adaptation, water quality, natural resources, sustainable development, community resilience, and the economy on Cape Cod to be held in Harwich.
North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium Annual Meeting - October 21-23, annual meeting and workshops to share and discuss right whale conservation topics to be held in New Bedford, with a virtual option.
Calendar - Multiple/Ongoing Events
Association to Preserve Cape Cod Events - Free events and webinars on natural resources, gardening, and more. Links to free films, recordings of previous webinars, and information from past events are available.
Barnstable Clean Water Coalition Events - Activities and events for all ages throughout Barnstable.
Barnstable Land Trust Events - Programs for children and adults across Barnstable.
Boat Safety Course - Free, in-person course from the Massachusetts Environmental Police held in Commonwealth communities. This course will meet the mandatory boater education requirements for all motorized vessel operators that will begin April 1, 2026.
Boston Harbor Islands Calendar - Upcoming events and activities in the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park.
Boston Harbor Now Events - Events throughout the Boston Harbor area.
Buzzards Bay Coalition - Bay Adventures - Free, guided activities across the Buzzards Bay watershed.
Cape Cod Bird Club Walks and Activities - Free birdwatching field trips across Cape Cod.
Cape Cod Field Schools - Multi-day field courses offered by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
Cape Cod Maritime Museum Events & Lectures - Upcoming events and lectures for all ages at the museum in Hyannis. Links to recordings of past lectures are also posted.
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Events - A calendar of events at the museum in Brewster.
Center for Coastal Studies Events - Events and summer educational programs across the Cape Cod region.
Charles River Watershed Association Events - Upcoming events throughout the Charles River watershed.
Chatham Conservation Foundation Events - Activities and events across Chatham.
Climate Conversations: Pathways to Action - Monthly webinars from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on national policy action on climate change. Recordings of past webinars are also available.
Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation Webinar Series - Monthly science webinars, with recordings of previous webinars available to Federation members.
Conservation Commission Education - Workshops, webinars, and trainings scheduled across Massachusetts and posted by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC). See the MACC Complete Education Catalog and Events Calendar.
Dam Busters 201 Webinars Series - Lunchtime webinars on dam safety, dam removal financing, and community engagement in Massachusetts sponsored by the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, and Charles River Watershed Association, with links to past webinars and related material.
Ecological Landscaping Alliance Events - Webinars, workshops, tours, and conferences on natural landscaping options, with recordings of past webinars available to Alliance members.
Floodplain Management Training - Various training opportunities compiled by DCR’s Flood Hazard Management Program.
Friends of Herring River Events - Upcoming Herring River watershed events in Truro and Wellfleet.
Harwich Conservation Trust Walks & Events - Birding and nature activities.
Healthy and Resilient Communities Research Webinar Series - Periodic community resilience webinars from EPA for local decision makers, with links to Past Webinar Recordings.
Ipswich River Watershed Association Events - Events throughout the watershed focusing on natural resources.
Keep Massachusetts Beautiful Events - Talks and volunteer opportunities across the Commonwealth on litter prevention and cleanup, waste reduction and recycling, beautification and community greening, and environmental education. See the Great Massachusetts Cleanup page for community-wide litter cleanups and park maintenance opportunities.
Lloyd Center for the Environment Calendar - Birding and nature walks and other activities for all ages at the center in Dartmouth.
Marion Natural History Museum Programs - Community and summer programs at the museum in Marion.
Mass Audubon Program Catalog - Programs for children and adults hosted at the following Mass Audubon coastal locations:
- Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary
- Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
- Joppa Flats Education Center
- Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
- North River Wildlife Sanctuary
- Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Mudflat Mania - Hikes to Cape Cod Bay to explore the Brewster sand flats led by the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History through August 29.
Mystic River Watershed Association Calendar - Volunteer events, festivals, learning opportunities, public meetings, and more throughout the watershed.
Nantucket Conservation Foundation Events - Walks, workshops, and community events across Nantucket.
National Marine Sanctuaries Webinars - Webinars hosted by the sanctuary system. See Past Webinar Recordings for descriptions of and links to previous webinars.
Native Plant Trust Classes & Field Studies - Events on plants and landscaping throughout the region.
Neponset River Watershed Association Events - Calendar of opportunities throughout the watershed.
New England Aquarium Events and Programs - Upcoming events, lectures, and programs at the aquarium in Boston. Recordings of past lectures are available on the Aquarium Lecture Series page.
NOAA Digital Coast Training Calendar - A range of NOAA training opportunities, with links to on-demand resources available on the Training page.
NOAA Planet Stewards Programs - Webinars, workshops, and book club sessions from the NOAA Planet Stewards Education Project. See the Webinar Archives for links to selected presentations.
NOAA Science Seminars - Webinars and seminars on science and climate issues from several NOAA partners. Past seminars are catalogued and available.
Nonpoint Source Pollution Technical Exchange Webinars - Periodic webinars from EPA on a variety of nonpoint source pollution topics, with links to previous webinars.
North and South Rivers Watershed Association Events - Event listings on the South Shore.
Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Webinars - Webinars on climate change, adaptation, and resilience from this center at the UMass Amherst with links to Archived Webinars.
Northeast Monthly Climate Updates - Free webinars from the Northeast Regional Climate Center to address timely weather and climate concerns. Recordings of previous webinars are also available, along with PDF copies of presentation materials.
Northeast Waste Management Officials Association Events - Upcoming webinars and events, with links to past presentations.
Open Communications for the Ocean Webinars - Periodic webinars on ocean topics, with links to past webinars.
Orleans Conservation Trust Events - Guided walks, programs, and talks in Orleans.
Rainwater Readiness Stormwater Workshops - Free public workshops on municipal stormwater management strategies and financing in Massachusetts presented by the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, with links to previous workshop resources.
Salem Sound Coastwatch Events - Activities and events posted in the Salem Sound region.
Soak Up the Rain New England Webinar Series - Periodic webinars from EPA that highlight innovative ways to address stormwater, with links to archived webcasts.
Sound in the Sea Webinars - Webinars on underwater sound hosted by the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. See the Webinar Archives for links to past presentations.
Stone Living Lab Events - Free climate-focused events around Boston Harbor from the lab at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Summer Professional Teacher Development - Opportunities for K-12 educators and administrators from the Wade Institute for Science Education.
Trustees Programs - Experiences and opportunities at The Trustees of Reservations properties across the Commonwealth.
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Events - Activities for all ages at the reserve.
Westport River Watershed Alliance Events - Upcoming opportunities in the watershed.
Other Items of Interest
Mystic River Summer Photo Contest - The Mystic River Watershed Association is seeking photos for the Capture the Mystic: 2025 Mystic River Photo Contest. Submissions are due by August 15 under the following categories: people in parks, recreation on the water, wildlife, landscape, and extreme weather.