CZ-Mail - December 2022

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 periodic updates from CZM between CZ-Mail editions, please follow us on Twitter.

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

Highlights

Buzzards Bay Municipal Mini-Grants - On November 23, Baker-Polito Administration announced $195,000 in federally funded grant awards for projects that will protect drinking water supplies, preserve important habitat, and address pollution from stormwater runoff in the Buzzards Bay watershed. The five grants to four towns, which are being matched by over $132,000 in private contributions and in-kind services, are being awarded by the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) through CZM, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Southeast New England Program. Funded projects include developing plans to treat stormwater pollution, purchasing 288 acres of land including sea run brook trout habitat, and protecting drinking water supply wells.

• Rochester - $70,000 to work with the Towns of Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, Marion, and Acushnet, along with the Buzzards Bay Coalition, to purchase and permanently protect 240 acres of land important to protect the Mattapoisett River Valley aquifer. This land acquisition is part of a larger coordinated project that aims to protect thousands of acres in the Mattapoisett River Valley. The newly purchased land will protect a multi-town public drinking water supply resource, as well as wetlands, fields, forests, and habitat for fish and wildlife, and it will provide outdoor recreational opportunities for the public. In addition, the project will benefit the resiliency of the aquifer by preventing land use change and associated activities that impact water quality and disrupt groundwater recharge.
• Mattapoisett - $35,000 to establish a strategic master plan for stormwater management in the Shipyard Lane area, which lies east of Mattapoisett Village and is a town priority for stormwater remediation. Stormwater runoff from this area discharges into Mattapoisett Harbor and contributes to shellfish bed closures. The town will inventory the existing infrastructure and develop a master stormwater plan specifically for the Shipyard Lane area. This master plan will serve as a vital planning tool for the design and construction phase. The project will focus on mapping the watershed to identify target areas for stormwater treatment prior to discharge into Mattapoisett Harbor.
• Mattapoisett - $35,000 to work with the Mattapoisett Land Trust to purchase and permanently protect two parcels of undeveloped land totaling 14 acres in the Brandt Island Cove area of Mattapoisett. The properties consist of forested wetlands and upland coastal forest and also contain important state-designated habitat, including habitat for rare species. The Mattapoisett Land Trust intends to create a trail system, which will connect to a larger network of trails, as well as a small parking area on the property to allow for public access.
• Westport - $30,000 to work with the Buzzards Bay Coalition to purchase and permanently protect 25 acres of land associated with the headwaters of Snell Creek, a tributary of the East Branch of the Westport River. Snell Creek is one of only a handful of coldwater streams in Westport that support a native population of sea run brook trout, a climate-vulnerable species that is declining throughout its range due to land use changes, habitat loss, and interactions with non-native species. Coldwater streams, such as Snell Creek, and their habitats are particularly sensitive to temperature increases, which could greatly impact sea run brook trout populations. Protection of this property will ensure the vegetated shading of the stream remains, as well as protecting vital habitats, wetlands, and water quality of Snell Creek.
• Fairhaven - $25,000 to work with the Buzzards Bay Coalition to permanently protect 9 acres of land that provide a key upland buffer to wetlands and that protect important wildlife habitats, including state-designated habitat. Protection of the land will also ensure existing saltmarsh can migrate to an undeveloped area as sea-level rise begins to flood adjacent low gradient, low elevation uplands. Once acquired, the land will be open to the public for passive recreational purposes and will provide coastal public access to outer New Bedford Harbor.

For more information, see the EEA Press Release.

Great Marsh Symposium - On November 3, the Great Marsh Coalition held the annual Great Marsh Symposium at Woodman’s of Essex, with the focus on the theme, The Future of Roads through the Great Marsh: Balancing Access with Natural Resource Protection. The symposium began with introductory remarks by CZM and Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA) staff members. Representatives from the communities of Ipswich and Essex then discussed successes and challenges facing projects to address roadway inundation and a panel of experts from Greenbelt, Mass Audubon, IRWA, and The Trustees joined a moderator from Essex National Heritage Area to discuss how local non-governmental organizations are working with communities to balance access needs with impacts to resource areas. Participants heard perspectives from local residents and students from the Climate Café, representing Ipswich High School and Governor’s Academy. The day ended with round-table discussions to brainstorm skills that the next generation of Great Marsh stewards will need, including how to engage a wider diversity of stakeholders. The popular annual event attracted more than 150 participants from the Great Marsh area and surrounding communities. See the Great Marsh Coalition website for links to more information about the Great Marsh. Also, for some press coverage of this year’s symposium, see Area students take part in Great Marsh Symposium from the Daily News of Newburyport.

Thank You COASTSWEEP Volunteers! - Every fall, thousands of people in Massachusetts volunteer for COASTSWEEP—the statewide beach cleanup sponsored by CZM that is part of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. While the numbers are still coming in for COASTSWEEP 2022, preliminary reports show that more than 3,300 volunteers scoured 130 miles of coastline to collect over 6 tons of trash since August. CZM plans to start signups for next year’s COASTSWEEP cleanups in June 2023. If you are interested in receiving information about volunteering or coordinating a cleanup, please send your contact information to [e-mail]. And thank you to all our volunteers throughout the years for your enthusiasm and commitment!

Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities

Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants - The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Division of Conservation Services (DCS) is seeking proposals for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants, which provide up to $1,000,000 in matching funds to state agencies and local governments to acquire and develop public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the final virtual grant workshop on December 1 at 11:00 a.m. Please RSVP to Melissa Cryan at [e-mail] to receive the Teams meeting link. For more information, see the DCS website. Applications are due by January 23, 2023, by 3:00 p.m.

Conservation Partnership Grants - DCS is also seeking applications for the FY 2023 Conservation Partnership Grant Program to fund to nonprofit organizations for land acquisitions, conservation restrictions, and assistance with due diligence costs associated with gifts. This is a second round of funding made available for FY 2023. For more information, see the DCS website. Applications are due by February 1, 2023.

MassTrails Grants - Communities, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations can apply for reimbursable, matching grants of $5,000-$500,000 to design, create, maintain, and support recreational trail and shared-use pathway projects in Massachusetts through the MassTrails Program. See the MassTrails Grants Guide for application details and grant documents. Proposals must be submitted online by February 1, 2023.

Woods Hole Sea Grant Biennial Request for Proposals - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant (WHOI Sea Grant) has released the 2024-2026 Biennial Request for Proposals to fund research projects beginning February 1, 2024. WHOI Sea Grant is requesting proposals from investigators at Massachusetts academic, research, and educational institutions to fund projects to address coastal issues in Massachusetts, with a focus on healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and resilient communities and economies. Approximately $1 million is available to support four to six, two-year research projects. Proposals require a match of $1 of non-federal funds for every $2 of federal funds requested. For more information, potential applicants are encouraged to attend an informational webinar on December 14. Pre-proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. on January 25, 2023.

Reminders - This opportunity, listed previously in CZ-Mail, is still open:

• FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants - The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is seeking applications for these Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant opportunities: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Programs. These grants provide hundreds of millions in funding for the development of hazard mitigation plans and the implementation of hazard mitigation projects in Massachusetts to reduce or eliminate the loss of life and property due to natural hazards. The federal cost-share for the HMGP has been increased to up to 90%, and MEMA’s cap for projects is $15 million. Interested applicants are encouraged to view recordings of 2021 and 2022 grant webinars, which provide an overview of requirements. Full applications for all these grant programs are due to MEMA by December 5. Technical assistance is available from MEMA to assist potential applicants. Email questions regarding the 2022 funding opportunities to [e-mail].

Online Tools and Resources

Ocean Lesson Plans - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Ocean Service, in partnership with K2 Studios, has released a series of eight elementary school level lesson plans inspired by the IMAX film Ocean Odyssey. The lessons cover ocean biodiversity, marine mammal ecology and migration, ocean currents and climate, sustainable fishing, and marine debris. All lessons are aligned to major national education standards and can be adapted for different grade levels.

Model Marine Ecosystems with Virtual Reality Education Modules - NOAA’s National Ocean Service and NOAA Fisheries have released Modeling Marine Ecosystems with Virtual Reality, a new series of educational modules for high school students to explore how scientific models work. Three themed modules—Ocean Food Webs, Observations and Models, and Predators and Prey—present 21 interactive investigations that are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and allow students to use scientific data and NOAA models to explore human-caused changes in ocean ecosystems.

Clean Water Podcast - For the 50^th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, NEIWPCC launched The Clean Water Pod, a podcast that explores the challenges and successes of restoring and protecting water quality. In each episode, the host speaks with environmental professionals from across the country to discuss how to meet the goals of the Clean Water Act.

NOAA Marine Debris Blog - Recent posts in the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Marine Debris Blog cover new tools for collecting and analyzing marine debris data and efforts to tackle marine debris on Saint Paul Island in Alaska. All blog topics can be searched by category and date. To receive notifications of new posts, sign up for email updates.

Newsletters and Other Periodicals

Coastal & Estuarine Science News - The October 2022 issue of Coastal & Estuarine Science News, the newsletter of the Coastal & Estuarine Research Foundation, includes articles on how blue crabs successfully and quickly invaded Portugal, the use of coconut fibers to aid in oyster reef restoration, and other coastal and estuarine research topics.

Ebb & Flow - The Fall 2022 issue of Ebb & Flow, the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) eNewsletter, reports on $4.6 million recently awarded for restoration projects through three DER programs, $22.7 million awarded to Wellfleet for the Herring River Estuary Restoration Project, DER staff changes, and other restoration project updates.

Massachusetts Lobstermen’s News - The November 2022 Newspaper (PDF, 16 MB) from the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) includes stories on the Draft North Atlantic Right Whale and Offshore Wind Strategy recently released for public comment by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), MLA comments on the BOEM Request for Interest in commercial leasing for wind energy in the Gulf of Maine, MLA updates, and other lobster news. The December 2022 Newspaper (PDF, 20 MB) from MLA includes articles on a recent court ruling allowing the lobster fishery to remain open while NMFS drafts final rules to protect the North Atlantic Right Whale, recent comments by MLA on proposed trap fishery rules for Massachusetts, MLA updates, and other lobster news.

The Sandbar - The October 2022 issue of The Sandbar, a quarterly publication from the National Sea Grant College Program on U.S. ocean and coastal legal issues, covers the history of the National Sea Grant Law Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law, a new proposed National Marine Sanctuary 100 miles offshore of New York City in Hudson Canyon, a court ruling to uphold the requirement that the fishing industry pays for required at-sea monitoring, and other ocean- and coastal-related legal issues.

Jobs/Internship Postings

Fiscal Coordinator - Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is seeking a Fiscal Coordinator to carry out fiscal administrative duties in support of the DER Finance Manager and DER restoration projects. Duties include administering fiscal transactions, preparing and analyzing fiscal and accounting reports, budget tracking, maintaining inventory records, and tracking and analyzing spending as needed. For details, see the position posting.

Technical Services Branch Manager - DER is also seeking a Technical Services Branch Manager to start a new Technical Services Branch to support DER and partners with restoration planning, GIS, engineering, development of best practices, knowledge management, and other mission-critical services. The Branch Manager will work closely with DER directors and other branch managers and staff to identify technical service needs, develop strategies to meet those needs, and provide guidance and resources to create and implement solutions. For more information, see the job posting.

Barnstable County and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Positions - Barnstable County and the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension is seeking applications for two full-time positions: 1) Coastal Resilience Specialist to provide professional, technical, educational work and public outreach relating to coastal resilience; and 2) Marine Resource Specialist to provide professional, technical, and educational work relating to aquaculture, shellfisheries, and water quality.

Environmental Educator - The Ipswich River Watershed Association is seeking a full-time Environmental Educator to manage all aspects of IRWA’s in-person education programs for youth and adults focused on water conservation, climate change, water quality, wastewater treatment, and other issues that support the IRWA mission. For details, see the job posting (PDF, 653 KB).

Community Engagement Intern - The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) is seeking a Community Engagement Intern to assist with developing and maintaining a database of regional stakeholders to help manage MAPC relationships with significant individuals and organizations in the region and to assist with engaging these stakeholders on new projects. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students studying regional or urban planning, community engagement, communications, public policy or public administration, or another related field. This is a paid internship from January through May 2023. For details, see the internship posting.

Reminders - These job postings, listed previously in CZ-Mail, are still open:

• MVP Deputy Director - The EEA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program is seeking a Deputy Director to assist with grant administration; oversee MVP staff, interns, and consultants; implement special MVP projects on program improvement; coordinate communication; support statewide resiliency project management; coordinate MVP and statewide initiatives; and work to improve and expand the Resilient MA website.
• DER Positions - In addition to a Fiscal Coordinator and a Technical Services Branch Manager, DER is seeking applications for these positions: 1) Cranberry Bog Restoration Program Manager to lead a partnership of DER, landowners, nonprofit organizations, communities, and agencies to secure funding and prioritize, plan, and carry out potential cranberry bog restoration projects; 2) Dam Removal Program Manager to lead a partnership of DER, landowners, nonprofit organizations, communities, and agencies to prioritize, plan, and carry out potential dam removal projects; and 3) Restoration Partnerships Program Manager to lead this DER program and develop, coordinate, and oversee DER partnerships with watershed groups and other regional organizations.
• Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Positions - The Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is seeking applications for these positions: 1) Information and Education Coordinator in DMF’s Gloucester office to coordinate all information and education activities of the Fisheries Biology Section, contributing to other DMF information and education activities as needed; and 2) Fisheries Habitat Specialist to support DMF in environmental review of coastal alteration projects and conduct field and laboratory studies on the impacts of human activities on marine fisheries habitats.
• National Estuarine Research Reserve Liaison for New England - Lykner Technologies is seeking a contract liaison position to serve the Wells, Great Bay, and Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves, supporting coordination of NOAA Office for Coastal Management work in New England to build community and coastal resilience and promote nature-based solutions. This is a fully remote position, but candidates must live in New England and have access to the coast for partner meetings and events.
• Research Assistant - The Buzzards Bay Coalition is seeking a full-time Research Assistant to work on water quality monitoring and salt marsh monitoring around Buzzards Bay, including desktop research and data management/statistical analysis, fieldwork, and equipment preparation and deployment. For details, see the job opportunities web page.
• Water Resources Restoration Program Manager - The Cape Cod Conservation District (CCCD) is seeking a Program Manager to primarily assist the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) with the management and administration needs to implement the Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project (CCWRRP), as well as provide leadership to complete all activities and deliverables assigned to CCCD.
• MAPC Positions - In addition to a Community Engagement Intern, MAPC is seeking applicants for additional full-time positions, including Civic Web Developer, Environmental Planner, Grants Coordinator, and Regional Planning Data Analyst. For details, including application instructions, see the MAPC Employment Opportunities page.
• Director of Finance & Administration - The Sea Education Association (SEA) in Woods Hole is seeking a full-time Director of Finance & Administration to provide direction and management of financial resources as well as provide fiscal expertise and leadership in all SEA planning efforts.
• Fundraising and Marketing Manager - Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) in Plymouth is seeking a full-time Fundraising and Marketing Manager to work to grow and manage annual revenue and oversee the development, delivery, and management of WDC’s fundraising campaigns, marketing, and communications efforts. For details, WDC Employment Opportunities page.

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.

EEA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy - EEA is seeking public comment on its draft Environmental Justice (EJ) Strategy, a requirement of Executive Order 552 that is included in EEA’s EJ Policy. Developed by a Secretariat-wide EJ Task Force convened in September 2020, the draft strategy—available in English and seven translated versions—contains individual chapters that address the unique mandate of each environmental agency and office. It also provides a consistent approach to common issues, including the development of EJ metrics to measure progress, staff training for awareness of EJ issues, commitment to diversity in hiring, inclusion of EJ criteria in grant disbursement, and commitment to provide languages services. The draft strategy, information about upcoming public meetings and listening sessions, and commenting instructions are available on the EEA website. Comments are due by January 27, 2023.

Reminder - This Public Comment opportunity from the last CZ-Mail is still available:

• Draft North Atlantic Right Whale and Offshore Wind Strategy - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service are seeking public comments on the Draft North Atlantic Right Whale and Offshore Wind Strategy, a joint effort to protect and promote the recovery of North Atlantic right whales while responsibly developing offshore wind energy. The draft strategy identifies the agencies’ goals and objectives to better understand the effects of offshore wind development on the whales and their habitat. Comments are due by December 4.

Calendar - Individual Events and Announcements

PIE-River Annual Meeting - December 1, meeting of the Parker, Ipswich, and Essex-Rivers Partnership (PIE-Rivers) to be held at the Parker River Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport.

RARGOM Annual Science Meeting - December 2, virtual meeting sponsored by the Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine (RARGOM) with talks on key topics for the Gulf of Maine and a session on undergraduate and graduate Gulf of Maine student research.

New England Environmental Industry Summit - December 2, in-person event from the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) on issues affecting regional environmental and energy industries to be held in Boston.

Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Virtual Open House - December 5, interactive, one-hour event to learn about Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NE CASC) projects with NE CASC researchers.

EBC Solid Waste Management Webinar: MassDEP Regional Solid Waste Section Chiefs & Leadership - December 6, virtual event sponsored EBC.

Cascading Failures, Compounding Risks, and Social Instability: Exploring the Geographical Dimensions of Extreme Climate Change - December 8, fall 2022 meeting of the Geographical and Geospatial Sciences Committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to be held in Washington, DC, with a virtual option.

Climate Adaptation Forum: Nature-Based Adaptation - Getting to Scale - December 9, event presented by EBC and the Sustainable Solutions Lab at UMass Boston on prospects and challenges to scaling up nature-based approaches to climate adaptation to be held in Boston with a virtual option.

AWRA Summer Conference: Connecting Land & Water for Healthy Communities - July 17-19, 2023, conference from the American Water Resources Association (AWRA), which will focus on programs to better connect land and water planning and policy, to be held in Denver, Colorado. Abstracts are due by January 6, 2023, and Student Poster Abstracts are due by April 14, 2023.

MEES Conference—Call for Proposals - March 8, 2023, annual conference of the Massachusetts Environmental Education Society (MEES) to be held in Worcester. Workshop proposals are due by December 12.

2023 National Watershed and Stormwater Conference—Request for Abstracts - April 24-27, 2023, conference sponsored by the Center for Watershed Protection to be held in San Diego, California. Abstracts are due by January 6, 2023.

2023 Stone Living Lab Conference—Call for Abstracts - April 26-28, 2023, event presented by the Stone Living Lab at UMass Boston to be held in Boston with the theme “Nature-based Coastal Resilience in Urban Settings.” Abstracts are due by January 14, 2023.

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

• BUAR Public Meeting - December 1, virtual public Board meeting hosted by BUAR.
• Understanding Disaster Finance: New Tools for a More Resilient Future - December 1, webinar from Open Communications for the Ocean on new insurance tools to help create resilient coastal communities.
• 33^rd Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference—Call for Abstracts - April 12-13, 2023, conference sponsored by NEIWPCC with theme “Environmental Justice, Equity & Climate Change,” to be held in Saratoga Springs, New York. Abstracts are due by December 2.
• 2022 National Coastal and Estuarine Summit - December 4-8, annual conference sponsored by Restore America’s Estuaries to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a virtual option. The 2022 summit will include a presentation on nature-based cobble nourishment used for shore protection in Winthrop and Duxbury by CZM’s Coastal Geologist, Rebecca Haney, as part of the dedicated session: Balancing Infrastructure Resilience and Natural Coastal Habitat Protection in the Face of Climate Change.
• 2022 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit - December 9-10, conference for participants from upper elementary school through college, in partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory, to be held in Sarasota, Florida, with a virtual option.
• Ecosystem Services Conference - December 12-15, conference sponsored by A Community on Ecosystem Services (ACES) at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences with a focus on the “Future of Ecosystem Services” to be held in Washington, DC.
• 23^rd AEES Meeting—Call for Abstracts - June 6-9, 2023, annual meeting of the American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES) with the theme “Nature-based Solutions for Resilient Communities,” to be held in Tampa, Florida. Abstracts are due by January 31, 2023.
• International Erosion Control Conference - February 5-8, 2023, conference and exposition sponsored by the International Erosion Control Association on erosion, sediment control, and stormwater to be held in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Coastal GeoTools - February 6-9, 2023, hosted by the Association of State Floodplain Managers to be held in Charleston, South Carolina.
• National Monitoring Conference - April 24-28, 2023, 13^th National Monitoring Conference sponsored by the National Water Quality Monitoring Council to be held in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with a limited virtual option.
• National Floodplain Managers Conference - May 7-11, 2023, 47^th annual conference sponsored by the Association of State Floodplain Managers to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a virtual option.
• Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds - June 5-8, 2023, periodic federal interagency conference on watershed science to be held in Corvallis, Oregon.
• CERF 2023 Conference - November 12-16, 2023, biennial conference sponsored by the Coastal Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) to be held in Portland, Oregon.

Calendar - Multiple/Ongoing Events

APCC Events - Free virtual events on landscaping, gardening, and more from the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC).

Aquarium Lecture Series - Upcoming lectures at the New England Aquarium by scientists, environmental writers, photographers, and others. Recordings of past lectures are available on their archive page.

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

Boston Harbor Islands Events - 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 Events - Regional events compiled by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

Cape Cod Bird Club Walks and Activities - Free bird-watching 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 - Upcoming events at the museum in Hyannis.

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

Center for Coastal Studies Events - Events across the Cape Cod region.

Climate Adaptation Science Fall Webinar Series - Webinars on climate change, adaptation, and resilience from the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center at UMass Amherst.

Climate Conversations: Pathways to Action - Monthly webinars from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on national policy action on climate change. Recording of past webinars are also available.

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 Community Calendar.

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

Mass Audubon Program Catalog - Programs for children and adults hosted at the following Mass Audubon coastal locations:

• Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
• Joppa Flats Education Center
• Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
• North River Wildlife Sanctuary
• Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

MBL Falmouth Forum Lecture Series - Free public lectures at the Marine Biological Lab (MBL) in Woods Hole.

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

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

Native Plant Trust Events - Classes, field studies, and webinars across Massachusetts.

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

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

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

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

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

Trustees Activities - Programs and activities at The Trustees of Reservations properties across the Commonwealth.

Walks & Events in Harwich - Birding and nature walks from the Harwich Conservation Trust.

Walks & Events in Orleans - Guided walks, programs, and talks from the Orleans Conservation Trust.

Other Items of Interest

Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowships - NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management is seeking applicants for these two-year fellowship programs—the Coastal Management Fellowship and Digital Coast Fellowship. Both fellowships provide education and training opportunities in coastal resource management and policy for post graduate students. Each year, up to nine Coastal Management Fellows are placed in state coastal programs to work on projects proposed by the states and selected by NOAA. Also, up to three Digital Coast Fellows are placed in partner organizations every two years to work on partner projects selected by NOAA. Fellowship applications are considered for both programs, and any U.S. citizen that has received or will receive a graduate degree in environmental studies, natural resource management, marine science, or other related fields between August 1, 2021, and July 31, 2023, is eligible to apply. Applications are due by January 27, 2023.

Marine Policy Fellowships - The NOAA Sea Grant College Program is accepting applications for the 2024 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program. This one-year paid fellowship matches graduate students studying ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and policy with hosts in the legislative and executive branches, or appropriate associations and institutions in and around Washington, DC. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact their state Sea Grant Program to notify them that they intend to apply and to receive assistance with the application process. Applications are due by February 16, 2023.

Foster Scholarship Program - NOAA is seeking applications for the 2023 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, which provides support for master’s and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology, and ocean and coastal resource management. Women and minority students, in particular, are encouraged to apply. The scholarship provides up to $42,000 per year for tuition and living expenses, with additional funds available to support collaboration at a NOAA office. Applications are due by December 22.

Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee—Call for Nominations - NOAA has announced the establishment of a new Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee to advise the agency on science-based approaches to area-based protection, conservation, restoration, and management in coastal and marine areas, including the Great Lakes. The scope of the Committee’s advice will include America the Beautiful initiative efforts to restore, connect, and conserve 30 percent of United States lands and waters by 2030. For more information, including details on membership, see the NOAA website. Nominations and applications are due by January 17, 2023.

Fifth National Climate Assessment - The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is seeking comments on the draft Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5). All feedback received will be considered by authors for future drafts of the assessment. The final version of NCA5 is expected to be released in late 2023. To review the draft report and submit comments, see the USGCRP Review and Comment System (registration required). An informational webinar will be held on December 1 from 5-6 p.m. All comments must be submitted by January 27, 2023.

NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassadors - NOAA is seeking enthusiastic youth aged 12-18 with a passion for conservation and stewardship of the oceans to apply to become NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassadors. Accepted Ambassadors will attend quarterly webinars to learn about the National Marine Sanctuary System, lead an environmental and ocean conservation project in their community, and share knowledge and skills with their peers and community. For more information and to apply, see the Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassadors web page. Applications are due by January 6, 2023.

Woods Hole PEP Program - The Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP) is seeking applicants for 10-week summer internships in Woods Hole for undergraduate students in the natural sciences or any science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) discipline, with a desire to gain practical experience in marine and environmental sciences. The program consists of a four-week course in global climate change and a 10-week research project in Woods Hole. Applications are due by February 10, 2023.

Coastal Wetlands Scholarship - The Garden Club of America is seeking applicants for the Coastal Wetlands Studies Scholarship, which will provide a $5,000 stipend to one graduate student to support field-based coastal wetland research in the United States. Applications are due by January 15, 2023.

Thoreau Foundation Scholarships - The Henry David Thoreau Foundation is now accepting applications from top Massachusetts high school seniors who plan to study environmental issues in college. Selected Thoreau Scholars will receive a four-year scholarship up to $25,000, eligibility for an environmental internship stipend, and access to the scholar alumni network. Applications are due by February 1, 2023.