CZ-Mail - July 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

Duxbury Beach Reservation Receives Best Restored Beach Award - In June, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) selected the Duxbury Beach dune restoration project as a Best Restored Beach. In 2019, with CZM’s technical assistance and $500,000 from the Coastal Resilience Grant Program, the Duxbury Beach Reservation restored approximately 3,500 linear feet of dune using over 76,000 tons of sand. CZM also supported design and permitting of the project in 2018. The dune was widened approximately 20 feet and planted with native beach grass and shrubs at one of the narrowest and most vulnerable sections of the barrier beach system. This coastal resilience project helps maintain access for emergency personnel, visitors, and landowners, and provides storm damage protection for the mainland shorelines of Marshfield, Duxbury, Kingston, and Plymouth. The dune restoration also supports the population of Piping Plovers and Least Terns that nest and raise chicks on Duxbury Beach. See the ASBPA 2022 award recipients press release and Best Restored Beaches web page for more information.

Seeking Local Cleanup Coordinators for COASTSWEEP 2022 - COASTSWEEP, the annual statewide beach cleanup sponsored by CZM, will begin in late August—and now is the time to sign up to be a local cleanup coordinator for your favorite beach, marsh, dive site, and riverbank. Volunteers throughout Massachusetts turn out in large numbers each year for this event, which is part of an international campaign organized by the Ocean Conservancy in Washington, DC. Participants all over the world collect trash and other marine debris and record what they find. This information is then used to help reduce future marine debris problems. Cleanups can be scheduled from late August into November. To get involved as a cleanup coordinator or to volunteer at a cleanup, see the COASTSWEEP website.

CZM Offices Remain Closed - All CZM offices are currently closed for in-person services, however, CZM staff are available to assist with coastal management issues. See Contact CZM for details.

Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grants - The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is seeking applications for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provide funding for hazard mitigation projects that reduce loss of life, and protect natural resources, property, infrastructure, public health, and the economy from natural hazards and climate change impacts. More than $110 million is available statewide for projects up to $15 million with an increased federal cost-share of 90%. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact MEMA for application assistance. For details, including application information, see the MEMA website and the revised Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF, 264 KB), or email questions to [e-mail]. Statements of Interest are accepted on a rolling basis (but were recommended by June 28) and final applications are due by October 9.

SNEP Community Assistance Projects - The Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Network is seeking applications for free, community-based, technical, financial, and training assistance for stormwater management, ecological restoration, and climate resiliency planning projects. Municipalities, tribes, and nonprofits are eligible to apply for a number of training and technical assistance services—see the full list (PDF, 616 KB). Additional details, including application instructions, are available on the SNEP website. Applications are due by July 12.

Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries is seeking proposals for locally led fish passage projects that will remove in-stream barriers, such as dams. Up to $65 million in funding is available in FY2022 under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reopen migratory routes and restore access to better fish habitats. For more information, see the NOAA Fisheries website. Proposals are due by August 15.

Reminders - These opportunities, listed previously in CZ-Mail, are still open or upcoming:

• Parks and Conservation Grants - The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Division of Conservation Services is seeking applications for the FY 2023 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. Conservation Partnership grants provide funds to nonprofit organizations for land acquisitions. 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 18.

Online Tools and Resources

NOAA Marine Debris Blog - Recent posts in the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Marine Debris Blog cover a United States-Canada partnership to address marine debris in the Gulf of Maine and efforts to study microplastics in oysters. All blog topics can be searched by category and date. To receive notifications of new posts, sign up for email updates.

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

• Home Elevation Program Helps Demystify the Process - This case study highlights efforts to help homeowners elevate their homes out of floodplains by providing educational materials and trainings for contractors and owners.
• Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Highway Resilience: An Implementation Guide - A how-to guide on where and how nature-based or hybrid solutions can be used to increase flooding resilience for coastal roads and bridges.
• New and updated data sets (PDF, 111 KB)

Products/Publications

Climate Risk Projections for the Greater Boston Area - The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston has released Climate Change Impacts and Projections for the Greater Boston Area, a five-year update from the Greater Boston Research Advisory Group Report that provides details on projected changes over this century to temperature, storms and precipitation, flooding, sea level rise, and groundwater in Greater Boston. For more information, see the UMass Boston Press Release.

Natural Hazards Risk Mitigation Guide - FEMA has released the Guide to Expanding Mitigation: Making the Connection to the Coast. This resource for emergency managers, community planners, coastal and floodplain managers, and other community stakeholders explores specific hazards facing coastal communities and includes methods to mitigate these natural hazard risks.

Newsletters and Other Periodicals

DMF News - The latest issue of DMF News, the twice-yearly newsletter of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), features articles on a new pilot program to retrieve abandoned fishing gear, the upcoming requirement to track lobster fishing vessels, North Atlantic right whale numbers in Massachusetts waters in 2022, and other Massachusetts fisheries updates.

Massachusetts Lobstermen’s News - The June 2022 Newspaper (PDF, 17 MB) from the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association includes stories on efforts by the Massachusetts Senate to pay lobstermen during closures to protect right whales, the new Federal American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act signed in May to support American caught seafood, and public notices, updates, and other lobster news.

NOAA HabitatNews - The June 2022 issue of HabitatNews, a newsletter of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation, includes articles on new funding to remove in-stream barriers and restore fish passage, restoring the Great Meadows Marsh along the coast of Connecticut, and other marine fisheries habitat news.

SNEP News - The June 2022 issue of SNEP News, the newsletter of the Southeast New England Program (SNEP), includes items on the first SNEP Symposium held in May, news on SNEP funding, updates on SNEP supported projects, and additional news, events, funding opportunities, and resources.

USGS Sound Waves - The April-June 2022 issue of Sound Waves, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) newsletter, includes pieces on mapping the seafloor of Nantucket Sound, new web pages that highlight the ocean science research at USGS, and other coastal and marine research news.

Jobs/Internship Postings

Restoration Costs Data Specialist - The Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game and its Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) are seeking a Restoration Costs Data Specialist to work with the In-Lieu Fee Program (ILFP) and DER staff to organize, interpret, and analyze restoration project data. The position will also analyze ecological metrics to improve understanding of the costs associated with desired ecological outcomes for various tidal and freshwater projects. For details on this six-month contract position, see the job posting.

DER Positions - DER is seeking applications for three open positions. The Grants Specialist will conduct fiscal administrative tasks under the supervision of the DER’s Finance Manager, including fiscal tracking, reconciliation, and reporting on federal grant awards; oversight of grant match commitments; coordination of applications for new federal grants; and maintenance of federal grant records and reimbursement transactions. The Fiscal Coordinator will carry out fiscal administrative duties to support the DER Finance Manager. Responsibilities include conducting fiscal transactions, preparing and analyzing fiscal and accounting reports, budget tracking, maintaining inventory records, and tracking and analyzing spending. The Operations Specialist reports to the Assistant Director of Operations and will serve a critical role helping DER transition to the Future of Work and strengthen operations by leading high-priority technology and operations projects, including development and support of digital tools, building knowledge-sharing capacity, and developing internal controls and standard operating procedures for DER.

MAPC Positions - The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is seeking applicants for 11 available full-time and intern positions, including Director of Government Affairs, Digital Services Manager, Economic Development Planner, Operations Manager, Public Health and Climate Planner, and Human Resources Intern. For details, including application instructions, see the MAPC Employment Opportunities page.

Gloucester Conservation Agent - The City of Gloucester is seeking a Conservation Agent to provide support, coordination, and professional management for the Gloucester Conservation Commission; administer and enforce the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, town bylaws, and applicable environmental regulations; and participate in long-range environmental planning for the Community Development Department. For additional details, see the job posting (PDF, 30 KB).

Communications and Administration Coordinator - The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative is seeking a part-time Communications and Administration Coordinator to support the work of the Collaborative’s Outreach & Communications and Finance & Development Committees. The Coordinator will work with chairs of both committees to implement strategic communications that support solutions to climate change issues, including management of website, social media, and newsletter content, event coordination, and donor communications.

Buzzards Bay Coalition Positions - The Buzzards Bay Coalition is seeking applicants for seven available full- and part-time positions, including Watershed Restoration Coordinator, Experiential Learning Manager, Development Assistant, Summer Land Steward, Waterfront Leaders, and Sailing Instructor. For details, including application instructions, see the Coalition’s Job Opportunities page.

TerraCorps Positions - In 2022, the TerraCorps program is seeking to fill 60 full-time AmeriCorps positions in one of five roles: Community Engagement Coordinator, Youth Education Coordinator, Land Stewardship Coordinator, Regional Collaboration Coordinator, and Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator. Members will serve in 11-month positions (August 29, 2022-July 28, 2023), and will receive a living allowance, education award, and additional AmeriCorps benefits. For more information, including application details, see the TerraCorps website.

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 Office.

Designation Report for the Chelsea Creek Designated Port Area Boundary - CZM has issued the Chelsea Creek Designation Port Area (DPA) boundary designation report for public comment. See the “attachments tab” in the Environmental Monitor notice for a PDF copy of the notice, which includes the designation report. CZM shall consider written comments received by 5:00 p.m. on July 8. Submit comments by email to [e-mail] or by mail to Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, Attention: Kathryn Glenn, North Shore Regional Coordinator, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114.

Reminder - This public comment opportunity from the last CZ-Mail is still available:

• Designation Report for the East Boston DPA Boundary—Comment Period Extended - On December 15, 2021, CZM issued the East Boston DPA boundary designation report (PDF, 2 MB) for public comment. The initial 30-day comment period ended on January 21. At the request of the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), CZM extended the comment period for an additional 28 days, ending on February 18. A second extension of 45 days was granted at the request of the BPDA, ending on April 4. At the request of the BPDA, CZM has extended the comment period for an additional 120 days, ending on August 1. CZM shall consider written comments received by 5:00 p.m. on August 1. See the Notice of this Extension (PDF, 401 KB), which was published in the Environmental Monitor on April 8. Submit comments to [e-mail] or by mail to: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, Attention: Tyler Soleau, Assistant Director, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114.

Calendar - Individual Events and Announcements

Integrating Climate Change into Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management Plans - July 6, webinar presented by Open Communications for the Ocean and the National MPA Center.

Race for Open Space - July 9, annual fundraiser for the Nantucket Conservation Foundation to support open space protection.

Nature-Based Shoreline Approaches in Cold Climates - July 13, webinar from the NOAA Office for Coastal Management.

SNEC Summer Meeting - July 20, annual meeting and field excursion of the Southern New England Chapter (SNEC) of the Soil and Water Conservation Society to be held in Kingston, Rhode Island. The focus of the 2022 meeting will be watershed conservation and wastewater management.

Building Resilience Through Private-Public Partnerships Conference - July 28-29, 11^th annual conference presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to be held in Washington, DC.

OneCape Summit - August 1-2, annual summit sponsored by the Cape Cod Commission on climate change, water quality, housing, and the economy on Cape Cod to be held in Harwich.

NALMS Symposium - November 14-17, 42^nd International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), entitled “Leveraging Experience to Manage Diverse Lakes, Landscapes, and People,” to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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

• NMEA 2022 Conference - July 9-13, conference sponsored by the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) with the theme, “Charting the Course with Perseverance,” to be held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, and online.
• The Perfect Storm: Exploring How Sea Level Rise and Storms Intersect - July 15, workshop for educators sponsored by Woods Hole Sea Grant to be held in Woods Hole.
• National Working Waterfront Network Conference - July 18-21, annual conference on working waterfronts and ports to be held in Boston. The 2022 conference will be hosted by Urban Harbors Institute and UMass Boston and co-hosted by CZM and Maine Sea Grant.
• International Sand Sculpting Festival - July 22-24, annual festival at Revere Beach.
• National State Revolving Fund Workshop - July 27-29, NEIWPCC workshop on this federal program that provides loans to cities and towns for water supply infrastructure and drinking water safety to be held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
• Marine Mammal Biology Conference - August 1-5, biennial conference sponsored by the Society of Marine Mammalogy to be held in Palm Beach, Florida, with a virtual option.
• Stormwater Conference - September 26-28, annual conference sponsored by StormCon to be held in National Harbor, Maryland.
• Sea Rovers Show - October 1-2, annual event in Danvers from Boston Sea Rovers to showcase the marine environment with a focus on diving. The event includes seminars, workshops, displays of dive equipment and services, an art exhibit, kids’ activities, and a film festival.
• U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae - October 23-28, 11^th symposium organized by NEIWPCC, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and U.S. Geological Survey to be held in Albany, New York.
• National Adaptation Forum - October 25-27, 5^th national event on climate adaptation to be held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• 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.

Calendar - Multiple/Ongoing Events

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

Boat Safety Courses - Through July, free course from the Massachusetts Environmental Police held in coastal communities.

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

Buzzards Bay Events - Regional events compiled by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

Cape Cod Field Schools - Multi-day field courses offered by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

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

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.

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 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 the Marine Biological Lab 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.

National Seashore Walks - Guided walks in July from the Harwich Conservation Trust.

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

Neponset River Watershed Association Events - Events throughout the Neponset River Watershed.

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.

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.

Wednesday Morning Garden Tours - Guided tours of the Shirley G. Cross Wildflower Garden at the Thornton Burgess Society’s Green Briar Nature Center in East Sandwich through August 24.

Westport River Watershed Alliance Events - Events presented by the Westport River Watershed Alliance.

Other Items of Interest

Science Communication Fellowship - Woods Hole Sea Grant (WHSG) is seeking applications for the Science Communication Fellowship, which provides a full-time, year-long professional development opportunity in science communication at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Candidates should have an undergraduate degree in communications, science communications, journalism, or related field. For details, see the WHSG website. Applications are due by July 8.