CZ-Mail - May 2021

The monthly electronic newsletter from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM).

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, 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. To subscribe, send a blank email (please be sure that the email is completely blank, with no signature line) to [e-mail]. Also, please feel free to share CZ-Mail with colleagues and friends—and if you have any suggestions for future editions, or would like make a change to your CZ-Mail subscription, please email your request to [e-mail]. For daily updates from CZM, please follow us on Twitter.

All links on this web page were current and working on the date of publication.

Highlights

CZM Announces Availability of Coastal Resilience and Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grants - In April, CZM announced the availability of $3.5 million in funding through the Coastal Resilience and Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) grant programs. CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program will provide up to $3 million in grants to coastal communities and eligible nonprofit organizations to reduce risks associated with coastal storms and sea level rise impacts. Eligible coastal resilience initiatives include planning and public outreach, redesigning and retrofitting vulnerable municipally owned facilities and infrastructure, and non-structural shoreline restoration approaches (such as beach, berm, and dune building; fringing salt marsh restoration; and coastal bank stabilization using bioengineering techniques). CZM’s Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program will provide up to $500,000 to municipalities for projects that address local nonpoint source pollution issues, including assessment, design, and construction of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to treat stormwater runoff and the design and implementation of commercial boat pumpout facilities. Related capacity-building activities—such as development of local stormwater bylaws, operations and maintenance trainings for municipal staff, and demonstration projects—will also be considered. For details on the Requests for Responses for these grant programs, see Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities below.

CZM Celebrates Earth Week in Salem - On April 20, CZM joined representatives from the City of Salem and Salem Sound Coastwatch to tour a rain garden at Winter Island Park in Salem, funded through the Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program, and to announce the availability of the newest round of CPR grants. The event was an opportunity to celebrate successful partnerships with cities, towns, and local groups working to address stormwater pollution through CPR grant program funding. The site visit also highlighted the City of Salem’s current project, funded under the capacity-building category of CPR—the first such CPR grant in the state. Through this grant, Salem is creating an innovative database tracking system that records where stormwater infrastructure is located and when/where/how this infrastructure has been maintained. In addition, the City and Salem Sound Coastwatch are creating a series of videos in English and Spanish targeted to municipal staff that describe and demonstrate maintenance procedures for green stormwater infrastructure, featuring Salem’s very own rain gardens and other project elements constructed through CPR funding. The videos and an associated story map will be publicly available and transferable to other communities to support the implementation of green stormwater infrastructure across the Commonwealth. The connections created through the CPR program are also featured in a column by CZM Director Lisa Berry Engler entitled Community Connections for Clean Coastal Waters, which was published in the Salem News on April 22. For more on the Earth Week event and the new CPR grant round, see the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) press release and the Salem News feature article published on April 21.

Routine Review of the Massachusetts Coastal Program Underway - As required by Section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management is in the process of conducting a routine review of the Massachusetts coastal program for the period of June 2014 through April 2021. NOAA is evaluating the performance, operation, and management of the federally approved Massachusetts Coastal Management Program and assessing how CZM is addressing the coastal management goals of the CZMA, as well as adhering to the terms of federal funding awards. The review includes a three-day virtual site visit, a public meeting on April 28, consideration of written public comments, and consultations with interested federal, state, and local agencies, stakeholders, and members of the public. Written comments are encouraged, and participation at the public meeting is not required for submission. Written comments should be emailed to Ralph Cantral at [e-mail] no later than May 7.

CZM Offices Remain Closed - Due to COVID-19, all CZM offices remain closed for in-person services. During this time, CZM staff are working remotely and available to assist with coastal management issues. See Contact CZM for details.

CZM Staff and People

Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Specialist - In April, CZM welcomed Sean Duffey in a new role as the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Specialist. In 2019, Sean completed a two-year NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship with CZM, which focused on coastal habitat resiliency and vulnerabilities in Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. More recently, Sean supported the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Team in researching and developing guidance to support the resiliency of salt marshes across the Commonwealth. As the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Specialist, Sean will be expanding his role to also support CZM’s water quality work. Congratulations Sean!

Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities

Coastal Resilience Grant Program - CZM is seeking proposals for innovative and transferable local and regional projects to address coastal flooding, erosion, and sea level rise impacts through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, CZM will provide technical assistance and up to $3 million in grants to coastal communities to assess vulnerabilities and risks and redesign and retrofit vulnerable municipally owned facilities and infrastructure. Additionally, both coastal communities and certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that own vulnerable coastal property that is open and accessible to the public are eligible for shoreline restoration, public outreach and communication, and proactive planning projects. Applicants may request up to $1 million in funding per project. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2022—or projects may be selected for an extended contract end date up to June 30, 2023 (FY23), depending on the proposal and EEA funding decisions. See the Request for Responses (RFR) on the COMMBUYS website for eligibility requirements, project categories, and evaluation criteria. Proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. on May 24.

Coastal Resilience Pre-RFR Webinar - On March 30, CZM hosted an informational webinar on the Coastal Resilience Grant Program to review the goals and requirements of the grants, cover anticipated funding levels and timelines, highlight recent projects, and answer questions and discuss potential project ideas. Links to the recording of the webinar and the PowerPoint presentation are available below.

• Coastal Resilience Grants Webinar Video
• Coastal Resilience Grants Webinar Presentation

Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program - CZM is also seeking proposals for the Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program. For FY 2022, the CPR program will provide up to $500,000 to municipalities located in the Massachusetts Coastal Watershed to assess and remediate stormwater pollution and to design and construct commercial boat-waste pumpout facilities. Related capacity-building activities, such as development of stormwater bylaws, maintenance trainings for municipal staff, and project case studies, will also be considered. As much as $175,000 may be requested and a 25 percent match of the total project cost is required. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2022. To view the RFR and download required forms, see the COMMBUYS website. Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on June 11. Please note: Only electronic submissions will be accepted for the FY22 CPR Grant Program.

CPR Pre-RFR Webinar - On April 6, CZM hosted an informational webinar on the CPR Grant Program to review the goals and requirements of the grants, cover the anticipated funding levels and timelines, highlight recent projects, and answer questions and discussion of potential project ideas. Links to the recording of the webinar and the PowerPoint presentation are available below.

• CPR Grants Webinar Video
• CPR Grants Webinar Presentation

§319 Grants - The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is seeking proposals for the §319 Nonpoint Source Competitive Grants to fund comprehensive projects that address nonpoint sources of pollution affecting water quality. For more information, including a link to the RFR, see the MassDEP website. Proposals are due by June 30.

Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Revitalization Priority Projects - The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is seeking proposals for the next round of aquatic habitat restoration and revitalization priority projects, specifically cranberry bog wetland restoration, dam removal and river restoration, and coastal wetland restoration projects. Selected Priority Projects are eligible to receive technical assistance from DER staff, technical services from consultants, and/or grant funding throughout the life of the project. For more information, including application details, see the Become a DER Priority Project web page. Applications are due by May 17.

Research on Co-Existence of Ocean Energy with Northeast Fishing and Coastal Communities - The Northeast Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies and Water Power Technologies Offices and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, is seeking proposals for community-focused research on the interactions of ocean renewable energy with fishing and coastal communities in the Northeast United States. More than $1 million is available to fund projects in these areas: fisheries and fishing community resilience, coastal community and economic resilience, and co-location management of ocean renewable energy with other marine activities. For more information, see the funding announcement. Preproposals are due by May 14.

Stone Living Lab Request for Proposals - The Stone Living Lab (SLL), a partnership of the School for the Environment at University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston Harbor Now, National Park Service, and City of Boston, is seeking proposals for research projects that will provide information about the social and economic benefits and impacts of nature-based solutions for coastal flood protection in urban areas in the Northeast. SLL will fund two to three projects from diverse candidates and partnerships from nonprofit and governmental organizations at $30,000-$50,000 per project. For details, see the SLL website. Preproposals are due by May 15.

SNEP Pilot Watersheds Initiative - The Southeast New England Program (SNEP) is seeking applications for the Pilot Watersheds Initiative, which will establish up to four Pilot Watersheds to demonstrate how collaborative efforts and watershed-scale planning can address environmental challenges in the SNEP area. Proposals should support the goals and priorities of SNEP's Five-Year Strategic Plan. For more details, potential applicants are encouraged join the May 6 informational webinar. Applications are due by May 28.

National Estuary Program Coastal Watersheds Grant Program - Restore America’s Estuaries in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking proposals for the 2021 National Estuary Program Coastal Watersheds Grant Program for projects that address urgent and challenging issues affecting coastal and estuarine areas of national significance (see map). Approximately $1 million is available to fund projects that support priorities including harmful algal blooms, loss of habitat, and flooding and coastal erosion. Grant amounts will range from $75,000 to $250,000. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to join an informational webinar on May 5. Proposal Letters of Intent should be submitted through this online form by June 7, and full proposals will be by invitation only.

Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grants - The Fort Point Channel Operations Board are seeking proposals for the Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grant Program to fund capital improvements and public programming (events for the general public) in and along the Fort Point Channel. These grants support the goals outlined in the Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan, which was developed through a collaborative effort to promote cultural activities and year-round programming in Fort Point. Approximately $50,000 is available for the 2021 grant cycle. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt, sponsored by a tax-exempt nonprofit, or a for-profit organization proposing a nonprofit, public project. For details, including application instructions, see the 2021 RFR. Proposals are due by June 4.

Grants to Reduce Toxic Chemical Use - The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) is seeking proposals from Massachusetts companies to offset the costs of technology, equipment, and safer products that will reduce the use of toxic chemicals. Small Business Grants provide up to $10,000 to businesses that offer services directly to consumers and Industry Grants fund up to $30,000 to manufacturing facilities. Applications for these grants are due by June 25.

Reminders - These opportunities, listed previously in CZ-Mail, are still available:

• Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Planning Grants - EEA is seeking proposals for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Planning Grants, which provide support for Massachusetts cities and towns to complete vulnerability assessments and develop action-oriented climate resiliency plans. The program helps communities define extreme weather and natural and climate related hazards; understand how their community may be impacted by climate change; identify existing and future vulnerabilities and strengths; and develop, prioritize, and implement key actions. State-trained MVP providers offer technical assistance to communities in completing the assessment and resiliency plans. Communities that complete the MVP planning grant program become certified as an MVP community and are eligible for MVP Action Grant funding. For details, see the new MVP website. To view the RFR and download required forms, see the COMMBUYS website. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on June 4 for MVP planning processes that must be complete by June 30, 2022.
• Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Action Grants - EEA is also seeking one- or two-year project proposals for MVP Action Grants, which provide designated MVP Communities funding to implement priority adaptation actions identified through the MVP planning process or similar climate change vulnerability assessment and action planning that has led to MVP designation after EEA review. Projects are required to use best available climate data and projections. Projects that propose nature-based solutions or strategies that rely on green infrastructure or conservation and enhancement of natural systems and that have robust community engagement plans are preferred. Applicants can request up to $2 million in funding (regional proposals may request up to $5 million), and a 25 percent match of the total project cost is required. For more information, see the new MVP website. EEA recommends reading the Action Grants RFR in full as there have been several updates since the last grant round. Significant changes are outlined on page one. To view the RFR and download required forms, see the COMMBUYS website. Proposals are due by 2:00 p.m. on May 7 for projects that must be completed by June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023.
• Hazard Mitigation Grants Application Assistance - The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is offering assistance with developing applications for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and/or Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) project, scoping, and planning grants. This assistance will help prospective applicants with project formulation, benefit-cost analysis development, limited project scoping, and programmatic guidance. To request this assistance, prospective applicants must submit an online statement of interest (SOI) for Construction Projects or Capability & Capacity Building/Planning Activities, which will be accepted for the 2021 grant round on a rolling cycle, and assistance will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Once an SOI is submitted, a member of the MEMA Hazard Mitigation Unit will be in contact to provide additional technical assistance. If an SOI was submitted for the 2020 grants, please submit an updated form for 2021. For questions, contact the Hazard Mitigation Unit at [e-mail].
• Parks and Conservation Grants - EEA’s Division of Conservation Services (DCS) is seeking applications for the FY 2022 Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC), Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND), and Conservation Partnership grants. PARC grants help communities acquire parkland, develop new parks, and renovate existing parks. LAND grants provide funds to municipal conservation commissions to purchase conservation land and conservation restrictions. Conservation Partnership grants provide funds to nonprofit organizations for land acquisitions. DCS has scheduled a Zoom grant workshop on the PARC and LAND grants—on May 13 at 2:00 p.m. If interested in the LAND program, please RSVP to Nathaniel Thomas at [e-mail] for workshop login information. If interested in the PARC program, please RSVP to Melissa Cryan at [e-mail] for the login details. PARC and LAND grant applications are due by 3:00 p.m. on July 14. Conservation Partnership applications are due by 3:00 p.m. on July 19.
• Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grants - MassDEP is seeking proposals for Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grants to fund short-term waste reduction projects. Up to $5,000 is available to for-profit and nonprofit organizations, regional authorities, and eligible municipalities to implement projects that specifically promote source reduction, reuse, or repair in Massachusetts. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
• Aquatic Animal Conservation Grants - The Massachusetts Environmental Trust is seeking proposals for the Aquatic Animal Conservation Grants Program to provide reimbursement funding for projects that proactively support aquatic animal species and ecosystems, with emphasis on endangered marine animals including North Atlantic right whales, sea turtles and seabirds, and coldwater fish species. For more information, to view the RFR, and download required forms, see the COMMBUYS website. Full proposals are due on May 21 for projects that begin in January 2022.
• Small Communities Grants - DCS is seeking applications for the Small Communities Grant Program, which provides funding to municipalities with 6,000 or fewer residents to produce Open Space and Recreation Plans, complete other plans to facilitate land conservation, and/or prepare appraisals as required to apply for the other DCS grant programs. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of May 7. See the application instructions for details.
• Environmental Justice Funding - EPA is seeking proposals for up to $6 million in grant funding under the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program and the Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) Program. The EJCPS Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations for projects that address local environmental and/or public health issues, with an emphasis on projects that address COVID-19 impacts and climate and disaster resiliency, and proposals from new applicants and grantees. The EJSG Program anticipates funding five projects of up to $50,000 per EPA region to support community-driven efforts to better understand local environmental and public health issues and develop strategies to address those issues. This program also includes the EPA’s Ports Initiative, which will fund projects that address diesel pollution at coastal and inland ports or rail yards. For more information, including details on pre-application assistance calls and webinars, see each program’s website. Proposals are due by June 1 for projects that begin on October 1.
• Offshore Renewable Energy Research - The Northeast Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office and Water Power Technologies Office and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, is seeking research proposals to better understand how offshore renewable energy projects interact with fishing and coastal communities. More than $1 million is available to support one- or two-year projects up to $200,000 ($100,000 maximum per year). For more information, see the funding opportunity web page. Pre-proposals are due by May 14.

Online Tools and Resources

New Digital Platform to Support Climate Resilience Planning Across Massachusetts - On April 21, the Baker-Polito Administration launched the Resilient MA Action Team (RMAT) Climate Resilience Design Standards Tool, a web-based platform that will help integrate climate projections and climate resilience design standards into state and local projects. This tool will use up-to-date climate projections to provide users a preliminary climate change risk level and recommendations to increase the resiliency of project design. Through a series of site-specific questions and location information, the web-based platform generates a preliminary climate exposure and risk rating and recommended design standards for projects. The tool also provides guidelines and forms to help municipalities integrate site suitability, regional coordination, and flexible adaptation considerations into climate resilient planning and design. The tool is being piloted through this year’s MVP Action Grant round, and feedback is requested. Users and stakeholders can submit feedback on the beta tool by 5:00 p.m. on June 11. For additional details, see the press release issued by EEA.

NOAA Marine Debris Blog - Recent posts in the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Marine Debris Blog include a three-pronged approach to address marine debris in California and using citizen science to address and understand marine debris. All blog topics can be searched by category and date. To receive notifications of new posts, sign up for email updates.

New Resource and Data from NOAA Digital Coast - NOAA’s Digital Coast has posted these new resources:

• Funding and Financing: Options and Considerations for Coastal Resilience Projects - This quick reference can inform planning for these projects.
• Economic Guidance for Coastal Management Professionals - This training webinar for coastal managers focuses on project economics, such as benefits-cost analysis, economic impact analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
• New and Updated Data (PDF, 152 KB)

Products/Publications

Division of Ecological Restoration 2020 Annual Report - The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration has released its 2020 Annual Report: Restoration in Action for People and Nature, which highlights the accomplishments of the agency in 2020, presents DER’s goals for the future and the economic and climate change resilience benefits of ecological restoration, and an overview of DER projects and programs from 2020 that restored wetland habitats and water quality across the Commonwealth.

Newsletters and Other Periodicals

Coastal & Estuarine Science News - The March 2021 issue of Coastal & Estuarine News, the newsletter of the Coastal & Estuarine Research Foundation, includes stories on the benefits of managed ponds for juvenile salmon in the San Francisco estuary, nutrient loading levels and sources in Chesapeake Bay, and other coastal and estuarine research news.

Coastal Impacts - The April edition of the Woods Hole Sea Grant Newsletter, Coastal Impacts, covers an effort to partner local seafood operations with food banks during COVID, storm damage of homes in Sandwich, and additional updates.

Ebb & Flow - The Spring 2021 issue of Ebb & Flow, the DER eNewsletter, reports on the 2021 RFR soliciting priority restoration projects, new DER staff, and other priority and restoration project highlights.

MVP Program Newsletter - The Spring 2021 newsletter from EEA’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program covers the recently released RFRs for MVP Action and Planning Grants, the new EEA Climate Grant Viewer, an MVP stormwater and land use project in Agawam that engaged middle and high school students, as well as MVP program resources, upcoming events, and opportunities.

NOAA HabitatNews - The April 2021 issue of HabitatNews, a newsletter of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation, includes articles on a nearly $100 million draft restoration plan to address the Deepwater Horizon spill, flood protection achieved from habitat restoration projects, and other marine fisheries habitat news.

Northeast Ocean Data Portal Newsletter - The April 2021 issue of Northeast Ocean Data, which provides updates on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal, includes details on new data available on the portal, new and/or updated maps of the New York Bight Wind Energy Area, proposed South Fork Wind Farm, and fisheries management areas, and other northeast ocean data, events, and news.

The Sandbar - The April 2021 issue of The Sandbar, a quarterly publication from the National Sea Grant College Program on U.S. ocean and coastal legal issues, covers a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that protects “draft” documents from Freedom of Information Act disclosure, a January appeals court ruling in California on a public access easement denial and the sovereign immunity of Tribes, and other ocean- and coastal-related legal issues.

The Skimmer on Marine Ecosystems and Management - The February 2021-March 2021 edition of The Skimmer on Marine Ecosystems and Management, the monthly newsletter on ocean planning and ecosystem-based management from the University of Washington School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, discusses the positive impact of decreased sound levels in the oceans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and COVID-19, and other ocean resources and news.

USGS Sound Waves - This December 2020-March 2021 issue of Sound Waves, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) newsletter, includes articles on a national assessment of salt marsh vulnerability using an unvegetated/vegetated ratio, tracking male sea turtles with satellites, and other coastal and marine research news.

Jobs/Internship Postings

Scituate Coastal Management Officer - The Town of Scituate’s Department of Planning and Development is seeking a Coastal Management Officer to administer and coordinate efforts to address current and future impacts of coastal effects throughout the Town in accordance with federal and state regulations and local bylaws and policies. For details, see the job description.

Education Coordinator - Mass Audubon is seeking an Education Coordinator to coordinate Mass Audubon school programs for a subset of Cape Cod communities and assist the Education Coordinator with school programming across the region. Major duties will include coordinating, teaching, and overseeing school programming and program development for preschool through high school students, with a focus on local ecology topics. For more information, see the job posting.

Day Camp Instructor at Wellfleet Bay Nature Day Camp - Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is seeking full-time, seasonal educators for their Nature Day Camp this summer. See the job description for additional information.

Southcoast Terrapin Internship Program-Spring/Summer Season - The New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) is still seeking high school, college, and graduate students for our Southcoast Terrapin Internship Program, which focuses on the Northern diamondback terrapin, a threatened species of marsh turtle found in coastal waters of Massachusetts. Interns are involved with a variety of educational, research, and conservation activities. Summer Internships are typically 3-month commitments with a 30-hour work week. Internship positions are non-paid and can be coordinated privately or through a school or university program. NECWA also provides additional internships focused on: program development and marketing, fundraising and social media, financial planning and accounting, graphic design, business management, computer programming and software manipulation and GIS/Drone Applications. See their Marine Wildlife Internships page for application information.

Cyanobacteria Internship - The Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) is seeking an intern to assist with the APCC Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program, which analyzes this toxin-producing organism in the freshwater ponds of Cape Cod. The intern will collect and process samples and assist APCC staff with field research, communications, and program outreach. This unpaid internship runs from mid-May through October. For details, see the internship posting.

New England Marine Science Opportunities List - New England Marine Science Opportunities is a Google Group that provides a moderated platform for sharing jobs, scholarships, funding, and other opportunities from industry, government, academia, and nonprofits based in New England. Anyone seeking or advertising positions in marine science in New England is welcome to join the group. See the posting guidelines for more details.

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.

Routine Review of the Massachusetts Coastal Program - As required by Section 312 of the CZMA, the NOAA Office for Coastal Management is conducting a routine review of the Massachusetts coastal program for 2014-2021. For additional information, see the entry in the top section of this CZ-Mail. Written public comments are encouraged and should be emailed to Ralph Cantral at [e-mail] no later than May 7.

Cape Cod Commission Climate Action Plan - The Cape Cod Commission is seeking public comment on its draft Cape Cod Climate Action Plan, which was developed to identify, study, and monitor the causes and impacts of climate change on Cape Cod to guide future policies, strategies, and actions to improve hazard resilience and climate change mitigation. Submit comments by email to [e-mail]; in writing to Cape Cod Commission, P.O. Box 226, 3225 Main Street, Barnstable MA 02630; or by phone at [phone]. Comments are due by May 24.

Calendar - Individual Events and Announcements

Please note: Due to COVID-19, social distancing protocols are in place. Consequently, many events are conducted virtually. For this edition of CZ-Mail, events are listed in date order with a link to more information.

Virtual Herring River Run 5K - May 1-31, virtual run, walk, swim, or paddle event sponsored by Friends of Herring River in Wellfleet and Truro.

Refugia Are Important, But Are They Connected? Mapping Well-Connected Climate Refugia for Species of Conservation Concern in the Northeastern U.S. - May 5, webinar presented by the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, which will discuss areas that are buffered from the impacts of climate change and can remain suitable habitat for vulnerable species.

25^th Annual Mystic Herring Run and Paddle - May 9-23, virtual run and paddle event sponsored by the Mystic River Watershed Association.

Climate Change Resiliency and Chemical Safety Training - May 10, virtual training from the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Technology (OTA), which will focus on reducing the risk of hazardous chemicals spills due to the extreme weather events associated with climate change.

MS4 Construction Site Inspections: Key Elements and Best Practices - May 12, EPA Region 1 webinar focusing on the site inspection component of a municipal construction site stormwater runoff control program.

Financing Green Infrastructure: Best Practices from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund - May 12, webinar from EPA’s Greenstream Program.

Three Steps to Better Risk Communication - May 12, May 26, and June 9, a three-session workshop from NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management for local government staff and community partners on planning for natural hazards.

EBC Ocean and Coastal Resources Webinar: Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) Cells; Wanted: Seeking a Disposal Site - May 13, webinar presented by the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) on the disposal of contaminated sediments from coastal projects.

Mass Audubon Bird-a-thon - May 14-15, annual fundraiser and celebration of nature from Mass Audubon.

Post-Storm Damage Assessments: Documenting High Water Marks from Storm Surge Impacts - May 17, webinar from NOAA and the National Weather Service.

EBC Leadership Webinar: Meet the MEPA Office Director Tori Kim - May 19, webinar presented by EBC.

EBC Water Resources Webinar: “What Keeps You Up at Night?” A Discussion with Water Utilities in New England - May 21, webinar from EBC on the challenges faced by drinking water providers in the region.

AEES Virtual Conference - May 25-26, annual meeting of the American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES), held online.

Identifying Important Areas for Conservation: A Gap Analysis of US Marine Biodiversity Protection and Knowledge - May 26, webinar presented by Open Communication for the Ocean (OCTO).

BUAR Public Meeting - May 27, hosted by the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources (BUAR).

Annual EBEE Awards Celebration - June 10, an online event from EBC that recognizes companies, organizations, and individuals for achievements in environmental management, energy resources and management, and climate change.

SNEC 2021 Annual Summer Meeting - June 18, online meeting of the Southern New England Chapter (SNEC) of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, which will focus on “environmental justice in relationship to soils in our region.”

Reminders - The following calendar items posted previously in CZ-Mail are still to come:

• EBC New England State Water Resources Leadership Conference—New Date - May 5, webinar sponsored by EBC with speakers from leadership of EPA and New England state water programs.
• CERF 2021—Call for Abstracts - November 1-4 and 8-11, virtual conference conducted by the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF). Abstracts are due by May 5.
• Planning for 30×30 in the US: Assessing Protection in US Waters - May 6, webinar sponsored by the National Marine Protected Areas Center and OCTO on the goal to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030 and how this goal is being addressed in the United States.
• City Nature Challenge 2021 - Through May 9, a citizen-science opportunity organized by the Natural History Museum Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences and held virtually. See the City Nature Challenge Boston Area website for local activities from Salisbury to Cape Cod cohosted by the MassBays National Estuary Partnership.
• 45^th Annual National Flood Conference - May 10-14, virtual conference sponsored by the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
• EBC Professional Development Webinar: MA Wetland and Stormwater Regulatory Update and Best Practices for Construction Sites - May 11, webinar sponsored by EBC.
• EBC Emerging Contaminants Webinar: PFAS Legal Issues - What Do We Need to Be Aware Of? - May 12, webinar from EBC on legal considerations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
• EBC Energy Resources Webinar: Update from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Leadership - May 14, webinar from EBC.
• River Rally 2021 - May 17-20, virtual conference on equitable and sustainable water resources sponsored by the River Network.
• EBC Emerging Contaminants Webinar: Beyond PFAS - What Other Emerging Contaminants Should We Be Concerned With? - May 18, webinar presented by EBC.
• 31^st Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference - May 20, 25, and 27, virtual conference sponsored by NEIWPCC.
• Run of the Charles - Through May 23, virtual canoe, kayak, paddleboard, and running race sponsored by the Charles River Watershed Association.
• 2021 Science Showcase - June 7-13, a week of events sponsored by the Nantucket Biodiversity Committee, including field trips, research data collection, and invasive species work that showcases biodiversity research on Nantucket.
• Capitol Hill Ocean Week - June 8-10, online conference hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation that will bring together policymakers, scientists, managers, business leaders, conservationists, students, and educators to discuss issues that impact the oceans and the Great Lakes.
• Managed Retreat Conference - June 22-25, virtual conference sponsored by the Earth Institute at Columbia University on planned home relocation due to environmental conditions.
• Buzzards Bay Swim - June 26, fundraiser for all ages and abilities to support the Buzzards Bay Coalition. Registration is required.
• Community Resilience to Climate Change - July 5-29, virtual professional development workshop on climate change impacts and building resilience for all educators from NOAA Planet Stewards.
• NMEA 2021 Virtual Conference - July 14-17, conference sponsored by the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA), which will focus on the theme “Your Connection to Water.”
• AWRA Summer Conference: Connecting Land & Water for Healthy Communities - July 19-21, virtual conference from the American Water Resources Association (AWRA), which will focus on programs to better connect land and water planning and policy.
• Stormwater Conference - September 13-15, annual conference sponsored by StormCon and held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Calendar - Multiple/Ongoing Events

Please note: Due to COVID-19, social distancing protocols are in place. Consequently, many events are being conducted virtually. For this edition of CZ-Mail, listings are presented alphabetically with a link to more information.

Barnstable Land Trust Events - Programs for children and adults across Barnstable.

Boston Harbor Now Events - Events throughout the Boston Harbor area.

Buzzards Bay Events - Events in the Buzzards Bay area compiled by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Programs - A calendar of events at the museum.

Congressional Climate Camp Briefing Series - Webinars from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute that focus on addressing climate change issues through the congressional legislative process.

Conservation Commission Education - Workshops, webinars, and trainings scheduled across Massachusetts and posted by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions. See the MACC Complete Education Catalog and Community Calendar.

Ecological Landscaping Events - Webinars, walks, and classes from the Ecological Landscape Alliance.

Great Massachusetts Cleanup - Volunteer and coordinator opportunities through the spring from Keep Massachusetts Beautiful.

Ipswich River Watershed Events - Events throughout the watershed compiled by the Ipswich River Watershed Association.

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.

Mass Audubon Cape Cod Walks, Lectures, and Events - Programs for children and adults hosted by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary.

Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary Programs and Activities - Programs for children and adults in and around Ipswich.

Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center Programs and Events - Programs for children and adults in and around Newburyport.

Mass Audubon North River Wildlife Sanctuary Activities and Events - Programs for children and adults in and around Marshfield.

Mystic River Watershed Events - Events throughout the watershed compiled by the Mystic River Watershed Association.

National 303(d)/TMDL Webinar Series - Webinars from NEIWPCC on the §303(d) and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) requirements of the Clean Water Act.

National Marine Sanctuaries Webinars - Periodic webinars hosted by the sanctuary system.

NOAA Coastal Training and Learning Resources - A range of training opportunities from NOAA’s Digital Coast.

NOAA Live! - Webinars on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. sponsored by NOAA’s Regional Collaboration Network, Woods Hole Sea Grant, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, developed during COVID-19-related school closures.

NOAA Planet Stewards Educator Events - Webinars, workshops, and book club sessions from the NOAA Planet Stewards Education Project.

North and South Rivers Watershed Association Events - Events listings on the South Shore.

OneNOAA Science Seminars - Webinars and seminars on science and climate issues from several NOAA partners.

The Practical Side of Implementing Stormwater Management - A four-part series in May on stormwater management from the International Erosion Control Association.

Salem Sound Coastwatch Community Calendar - Events posted in the Salem Sound region.

Spring 2021 Climate Adaptation Webinars - Monthly webinars presented by the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Underwater Acoustics Webinars - Webinars on underwater sound hosted by the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography.

Watershed Wednesday - Lunchtime webinars presented by the Neponset River Watershed Association.

Wednesday Walks in the Garden - Weekly green gardening webinars from the Ecological Landscape Alliance.

Other Items of Interest

Hurricane Preparedness Week - May 9-15 is Hurricane Preparedness Week, an annual reminder from the National Weather Service to help residents prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, which begins on June 1. See the Hurricane Preparedness Week website for information on hurricane safety, preparedness videos, current forecasts, social media ideas, COVID-19 considerations, and other resources.

Marine Shrink Wrap Recycling Initiative - Seaside Sustainability, a nonprofit based in Gloucester, has launched the Marine Shrink Wrap Recycling Initiative, which gives boat owners in Gloucester and surrounding communities an opportunity to recycle marine shrink wrap for free. Boat owners can drop their bundled shrink wrap at the Gloucester Public Works Department at 28 Poplar Street. Please see this Good Morning Gloucester article for details and instructions. The program runs through June 4.

Climate Adaptation Leadership Awards - The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is seeking nominations for the 2021 Climate Adaptation Leadership Awards, which recognize “outstanding efforts to increase the resilience of America’s valuable living natural resources and the many people, businesses, and communities that depend on them.” Individuals, businesses, groups, organizations, and government agencies are eligible to apply. Submit nominations online by May 16.

Recycling Assistance - RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts is a program funded by MassDEP that provides free recycling assistance to businesses and institutions in the Commonwealth. RecyclingWorks offers customized technical assistance as well as education resources to help businesses comply with state waste bans while maximizing recycling, reuse, and food recovery. For more information, see the RecyclingWorks website.

Westport River Watershed Alliance Calendar Photo Contest - The Westport River Watershed Alliance (WRWA) is seeking landscape and nature photos that show the Westport River watershed in all four seasons for the WRWA Photo Contest. Thirteen winners will be selected for the 2022 WRWA calendar. Please submit images to [e-mail] (limit five per person) by June 1.

CERF Legacy Fund Scholarship - The Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation is seeking applications for the CERF Legacy Fund Scholarship program, which provides scholarships for student and early-career members of the Federation to enhance the research and career development. CERF anticipates awarding a single $1,000 scholarship in 2021. Applications are due by June 30.

Girls in Science Summer Fellowship - The Earthwatch Institute, in coordination with Woods Hole Sea Grant and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is seeking applications for the Girls in Science Summer Fellowship, which is open to female Massachusetts High School students (rising juniors and seniors) with an interest in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Fellows will participate in a week-long research expedition at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from August 8-14 or August 15-21, working with a predominantly female team of scientists/mentors to develop skills and build confidence for the pursuit of a STEM education and/or career. Apply online by May 14.