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 join-env-czmail@listserv.state.ma.us. 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 CZ-Mail@mass.gov. For daily updates from CZM, please follow us on Twitter.
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Highlights
EEA Announces Availability of Coastal Resilience and Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grants as Part of Earth Week 2018 - On April 20, as part of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Earth Week events, EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton joined Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, CZM Director Bruce Carlisle, and other state and local officials to announce the availability of $3 million in funding through CZM’s Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) and Coastal Resilience grant programs. The event also showcased the successful grant projects implemented by Gloucester over the years. As part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to combat and prepare for climate change, Governor Baker recently filed legislation to authorize over $1.4 billion in capital allocations for investments in safeguarding residents, municipalities, and businesses from the impacts of climate change, protecting environmental resources, and investing in communities. The legislation would put into law essential components of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569, which established an integrated strategy for climate change adaptation across the Commonwealth, including the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program and the Statewide Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation Plan—a blueprint to protect residents, communities, and local economies. Supported by Environmental Bond Bill, the funding available through these grant programs builds on the Baker-Polito Administration’s ongoing efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. See the EEA press release for more information on the event. For details on the Requests for Responses for these grant programs, see Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities below.
EEA Launches Climate Clearinghouse - On April 13, the Baker-Polito Administration and EEA launched the resilient MA: Climate Change Clearinghouse for the Commonwealth, a new website developed to assist communities in planning for climate change impacts. The Clearinghouse will provide communities access to the most up-to-date science and data on expected climate change impacts, information on planning and actions communities can implement to build resiliency and avoid loss, and links to important grant programs and available technical assistance. The site, which was built with data developed through a partnership between EEA, the Northeast Climate Center at UMass-Amherst, and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, provides access to statewide climate change projections showing how temperature, precipitation, and sea level rise will change through the end of the century. Clearinghouse users can then overlay this information with other data of interest, including information on emergency facilities, infrastructure, and natural resources. The features of this site will allow local planners and decision-makers and state agency staff to streamline decision-making by helping to identify problems, investigate solutions, and take action.
CZM Launches Online Viewer of Grant Awards Focusing on Coastal Resilience to Climate Change, Coastal Water Quality, and Habitat Health - The new CZM Grant Viewer is an online mapping tool for exploring grants awarded by CZM, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (BBNEP), and the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program (MassBays). The following grant programs are included: CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program and Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) Grant Program, BBNEP grants and funding, and the MassBays Healthy Estuaries Grants. The viewer’s interactive map was developed by CZM for use on mobile phones and tablets, as well as desktop computers. Points on the map are color coded by grant program and can be clicked to open up a popup box with details on each grant award. Information can be sorted by grant program, category (including Construction - Living Shoreline, Construction - Stormwater Infrastructure, Construction - Other Infrastructure, Design & Permitting, Habitat Restoration, Land Protection, Planning & Outreach, Research & Monitoring, and Vulnerability Assessment), and year that mapped data are available. The map includes grants awarded throughout the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Coastal Watershed, representing a strong investment in clean estuaries, resilient coasts, and healthy habitats. Funds for these grant programs may be from the Commonwealth or the federal government (through either the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]).
Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities
Coastal Resilience Grant Program - CZM is seeking proposals for the Coastal Resilience Grant Program. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, this program will provide up to $2.5 million in grants and technical assistance to coastal communities to advance innovative and transferable local coastal resilience initiatives to increase awareness and understanding of climate impacts, assess vulnerability and risk, conduct adaptation planning, and redesign vulnerable community facilities and infrastructure. Additionally, both coastal communities and certified 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations may seek funding for non-structural approaches (or green infrastructure) that enhance natural resources and provide storm damage protection. Applicants may request up to $500,000 in funding and a 25 percent match of the total project cost is required. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2019. To view the Request for Responses (RFR) and download required forms, see the COMMBUYS website. Proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. on May 25.
Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program - CZM is seeking proposals for the Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) Grant Program. For FY 2019, 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. As much as $175,000 may be requested and a 25 percent match of the total project cost is required. Projects may not exceed one year in duration and must be completed by June 30, 2019. To view the RFR and download required forms, see the COMMBUYS website. Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 25.
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Program - EEA is seeking proposals for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Grant Program, which will provide planning grants to cities and towns to complete a community-driven process to identify hazards and develop strategies to improve resilience. Through this program, municipalities will be better equipped to plan and prepare for climate change, and state government will gain a better understanding of the challenges communities face. Additionally, the program will help ensure coordinated statewide efforts and align programs with the critical challenges facing communities. State-certified MVP providers will deliver the program using a standardized toolkit for assessing vulnerability and developing strategies, and the best available statewide climate projections and data. Upon successful completion of the program, municipalities will be designated as a “Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program community,” which will lead to future funding opportunities. To view the RFR and download required forms, see the COMMBUYS website. Proposals are due by May 11.
MVP Action Grants - EEA is also seeking proposals for MVP Action Grants, which will provide designated MVP Communities funding and technical assistance 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. Projects that propose nature-based solutions or strategies that rely on green infrastructure or conservation and enhancement of natural systems are preferred. Applicants can request up to $400,000 in funding, and a 25 percent match of the total project cost is required. To view the RFR and download required forms, see the COMMBUYS website. Proposals are due by May 18.
§319 Grants - The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is seeking proposals for the §319 Nonpoint Source Competitive Grants Program to fund comprehensive projects that address nonpoint sources of pollution affecting water quality. Proposals are due by noon on June 1.
Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Revitalization Priority Projects - The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of the Department of Fish and Game will issue an RFR in late May seeking applications for aquatic habitat restoration and revitalization priority projects. The objective of this program is to identify proactive restoration and revitalization projects with the highest ecological and social value, as well as the highest potential for success. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss potential applications with DER staff during the pre-RFR period, which ends at 5:00 p.m. on May 23. For more information, see the DER Priority Projects pre-RFR.
Reminders - This opportunity, listed in the last CZ-Mail, is still available:
- Parks and Conservation Grants - EEA’s Division of Conservation Services (DCS) is seeking applications for the FY 2019 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 will hold two workshops for the PARC and LAND grants—on May 16 in Amherst and on May 17 in Boston. PARC and LAND grant applications are due by July 12. Conservation Partnership applications are due by July 16.
Products/Publications
Green Infrastructure and Hazard Mitigation Guide - EPA has released Storm Smart Cities, Integrating Green Infrastructure into Local Hazard Mitigation Plans, a guide that examines how communities can incorporate green infrastructure into local hazard planning efforts. The guide is a case study of efforts in Huntington, West Virginia, highlighting a local, state, and federal partnership and the collaborative effort to address local flooding and protect water quality.
Community Input in Green Infrastructure Projects - The Environmental Law Institute has released the Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating Community Input into Green Infrastructure Projects, a guide that provides details and tips to help local governments navigate the decision making process and incorporate community input into these projects.
Ocean Atlas - The Ocean Atlas: Facts and Figures on the Threats to Our Marine Ecosystems summarizes important interactions between humans, the ocean, and its coasts, covering topics such as marine debris and ocean pollution, the oceans and climate change, and the global economic and political importance of oceans.
Ocean Development White Paper - The World Ocean Council has released Ocean/Maritime Clusters: Leadership and Collaboration for Ocean Sustainable Development and Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (PDF, 4 MB), a white paper how ocean/maritime clusters—“geographic concentrations of similar or related maritime firms (such as shipping, seafood, marine technology, and/or port operations) that share common markets, technologies, worker skill needs, and are often linked by buyer-supplier relationships and operate in close interactions with another directly and through multiple networks”—can help promote sustainable ocean development.
2018 Boaters’ Guide to Tides and Pumpout Facilities - This wallet-sized pamphlet from DMF’s Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program contains information on the locations of pumpout facilities along the Massachusetts coastline and a June-September tide chart. Download a free copy from the CVA website. Limited hardcopies are also available. Email your request and mailing address to Cecil French at cecil.french@state.ma.us.
Ebb & Flow - The Spring 2018 issue of Ebb & Flow, DER’s eNewsletter, features articles on the Priority Projects Pre-RFR, the Eel River Headwaters Project, monitoring streamflow to understand stream health, and other updates, grant opportunities, events, and resource links.
The Sandbar - The April 2018 issue of The Sandbar, a quarterly publication reporting on legal issues affecting the U.S. oceans and coasts by the National Sea Grant College Program, features articles on wastewater discharges into groundwater in Maui, a court ruling on the fate of a killer whale at the Miami Seaquarium, waters of the United States litigation, and other ocean- and coastal-related legal issues.
Sound Waves - The March 2018 issue of Sound Waves, a U.S. Geological Survey newsletter, features articles on the effects of polluted groundwater on Hawaiian coral reefs, geologic history and mineral resources of the Rio Grande Rise in the southwest Atlantic, recent fieldwork, and other coastal and marine research news.
Marine Ecosystems and Management Information Service - The April 2018 edition of Marine Ecosystems and Management, the bimonthly information service on marine ecosystem-based management (EBM) from the University of Washington School of Marine Affairs, features articles on a new EBM Toolbox for ocean planners, training opportunities, and other resources and news.
HabitatNews - The April 2018 issue of HabitatNews, a newsletter of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Restoration, includes articles on migratory fish and hydropower in South Carolina, Chesapeake Bay fishing communities, and other marine fisheries habitat news.
Beneath the Surface - The April 2018 issue of Beneath the Surface, a newsletter from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), includes articles on a new project to explore and understand the “mysterious twilight zone” of the ocean, Atlantic Ocean circulation, and other news and updates from WHOI.
Marine Protected Area Newsletter - The March/April 2018 issue of MPA News features articles on challenges, successes, and lessons from building effective MPA management networks, key lessons learned from the process to rezone the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and other MPA news and notes.
Newswave - The Winter 2018 issue of NEWSWAVE, the quarterly newsletter on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes activities from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), features articles on huge landslides on the California coast, 2017 hurricane season response, and other ocean and coastal news.
Web-Based and Mobile-User Resources
Blue Carbon Calculator - Coastal wetlands capture and bury carbon at high rates, and the captured carbon is referred to as “blue carbon.” DER’s Blue Carbon Calculator can be used to determine the quantity of these greenhouse gasses that can be absorbed by healthy restored wetlands. The tool’s simple methodology helps restoration experts determine the value of wetland restoration projects.
Northeast Ocean Data Portal Updated - The Northeast Regional Planning Body, Northeast Regional Ocean Council, and Northeast Ocean Data Working Group have released a redesigned Northeast Ocean Data Portal website with a new user interface, look, and improved navigation.
Ocean Acidification Information Exchange - The Ocean Acidification (OA) Information Exchange is a new interactive website to promote understanding of ocean acidification. Members of the OA Information Exchange can use the site’s tools to share resources, hold online discussions, and interact with others to build a community working to respond and adapt to ocean acidification. Those working on these issues are invited to request access to the exchange.
EcoService Models Library - EPA has launched the EcoService Models Library, an online database of more than 150 ecological models used to estimate the benefits received from nature, such as clean air and water, pollination, and flood control. The library is designed to help users choose which models to use to understand how decisions can impact these natural benefits.
Decisions
Decision Issued on Harbor Plan for Boston’s Downtown Waterfront District - On April 30, the Decision on the City of Boston’s Request for Approval of the Downtown Waterfront District Municipal Harbor Plan (PDF, 1 MB) was issued by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). The Plan, encompassing the area from Long Wharf to the Moakley Bridge, builds on prior City planning initiatives and seeks to frame an overarching vision for a critical stretch of Boston’s waterfront, while incorporating development specific guidelines for two specific sites: the Harbor Garage and Hook Wharf. The Secretary’s Decision approves the City’s Plan with modifications and conditions and denies a request to allow private residential uses over flowed tidelands at the Hook Wharf site. The Decision also contains specific requirements to improve and activate the public realm in and along the entire harbor planning area. These requirements include: financial support for the New England Aquarium’s Blueway vision and a signature park and water transportation gateway near the Chart House on Long Wharf, measures to ensure the long-term stability of the New England Aquarium, development of Design and Use Standards to guide the creation of a unified and transformative public realm, and funding to activate the Fort Port Channel.
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.
Chelsea Municipal Harbor Plan - The city of Chelsea and CZM are seeking public comments on Chelsea’s effort to initiate the development of a Municipal Harbor Plan and Designated Port Area Master Plan for the Chelsea Creek waterfront. For more information, see the CZM Public Notice. Submit comments by May 11 to the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, Attn: Lisa Berry Engler, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston MA 02114-2136.
Future Offshore Wind Lease Locations - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is seeking public input for a high-level assessment of all waters offshore the United States Atlantic Coast for potential future offshore wind lease locations. For more information, including commenting instructions, see the BOEM website. Comments are due by May 21.
Job/Internship Postings
Coastal Marine Ecology Internships - The Coastal Systems Group of the UMass Dartmouth School of Marine Science is seeking applicants for summer internships in coastal marine ecology. Students accepted into this competitive 10-12 week program will participate in both field data collection and laboratory analyses. Research areas include estuarine water quality monitoring, nutrient cycling, and wetlands ecology.
Summer Outreach Manager - The Buzzards Bay Coalition is seeking applicants for a Summer Outreach Manger to staff and manage the Coalition’s Outreach Center in Woods Hole as well as provide outdoor programming on Falmouth area beaches and conservation properties.
Seasonal Educators - Save The Bay in Rhode Island is seeking experienced environmental educators to promote stewardship of Narragansett Bay in a variety of teaching settings, including classrooms, field/coastal locations, aboard coast guard certified education vessels, and in education centers in Providence and Newport. Student/participants range from K-12 students to adults. For more information, see the full job announcement.
Calendar
Annual Water Resources Conference—Call for Abstracts - From November 4-8, the American Water Resources Association will hold its annual Water Resources Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The Conference Planning Committee is seeking abstracts for both oral and poster presentations on water resources topics. See the Call for Abstracts, which are due by May 7.
Aquarium Lecture Series - The New England Aquarium Lecture Series features free lectures and films by scientists, environmental writers, photographers, and others. The next session, on May 10, will include a film screening and discussion of Atlantic Salmon: Lost at Sea with producer Deirdre Brennan.
Science Communication Workshop - From May 16-18, the Boston Harbor Ecosystem Network (BHEN) will offer Killer Graphics and Compelling Narratives, a Science Communication Professional Development Workshop at Northeastern University in Boston. This 2.5-day course will provide participants with a science communication toolbox to communicate their research.
Boston Harbor Symposium - On May 24 and 30, Boston Harbor Now will hold Boston Harbor for All in Boston. Through this interactive series, public, private, and nonprofit partners will address Boston Harbor challenges and opportunities with a focus on collaboration. The first session, The Mayor’s Perspective, will include mayors from Salem and Lynn to discuss the harbor’s role in the regional economy, climate resilience, public access, water transportation, and more. The second session, Advancing Collaborative Action, will feature New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver as Keynote Speaker, along with tours of Boston-area sites, panel discussions, and more.
Mudflat Mania Guide Training - In May and June, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History will hold Mudflat Mania Guide Training. Attendees can become a guide for the museum’s popular Mudflat Mania hikes on the Brewster sand flats. Guides must attend two mandatory class sessions on May 23 and May 30 and one of three outdoor sessions on June 18, 20, and 22.
BUAR Public Meeting - On May 31 at 1:30 p.m., the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources (BUAR) will hold its bi-monthly public meeting in the CZM Large Conference Room. The preliminary agenda includes discussion/approval of minutes for the March 29, 2018 meeting, renewal of five permits, and discussion of permittee, outreach, and research activities. For more information, contact BUAR Director, Victor Mastone, at victor.mastone@state.ma.us.
Ocean Literacy Summit—Call for Presenters - From November 15-16, the New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative will hold the 2018 Ocean Literacy Summit in Boston. The focus will be Ocean Literacy Principle 2: The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth. This biennial conference brings together educators and scientists from New England and surrounding states to share developments in marine science and oceanographic and approaches to teaching ocean science in school and informal educational settings. See the Call for Presenters; proposals are due by June 1.
Capitol Hill Ocean Week - From June 5-7, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will hold Capitol Hill Ocean Week in Washington, D.C. This annual conference examines current marine, coastal, and Great Lakes policy issues.
Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Conference - On June 6, Woods Hole Sea Grant, in coordination with the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and CZM, will hold the Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Conference in Edgartown. Topics to be discussed include coastal resilience, alternative energy (water and wind), sea level rise, ocean acidification, storm flooding, water quality, and erosion . For more information, contact Greg Berman at gberman@whoi.edu or Steve McKenna at stephen.mckenna@state.ma.us.
World Oceans Day - World Oceans Day is June 8 and activities celebrating oceans and coasts are held across the world throughout June. The 2018 focus is Prevent Plastic Pollution and Encourage Solutions for a Healthy Ocean. See the World Oceans Day website.
One Ocean, One Cape Cod: A Marine Celebration! - On June 9, to celebrate World Oceans Day, Ocean Protection Advocacy Kids, Inc., will hold a free screening of Sylvia Earle's documentary Mission Blue at the Chatham Orpheum Theater, followed by a panel discussion on ocean advocacy moderated by Monomoy Regional High School’s STEMinist Club. For information, see the event web page.
Hurricane Preparedness Webinar - On June 9, the Hurricanes: Science and Society team at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, in partnership with the NOAA National Hurricane Center and the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center, will present a hurricane preparedness webinar for 4th-6th grade classes. The webinar will cover hurricane hazards, forecasting, observing hurricanes with airplanes, and hurricane preparedness. Schools and classes must register in advance.
Spectacle Island 5K - On June 16, Boston Harbor Now will hold the eighth annual Spectacle 5K and Fun Race. Enjoy panoramic views of Boston Harbor and the city from this historic island. Race day festivities feature a 5K Race, half-mile Kids Fun Run, picnic lunch for participants, music, yoga, and kids’ activities.
Boston Short Course on Coastal Resiliency - From June 17-23, Sustainable Adaptive Gradients in the Coastal Environment is offering a Boston Short Course on Coastal Resiliency for graduate and PhD students to understand the fundamentals and complexities of coastal adaptation in the Boston area. This free course, which combines classroom instruction, team project-based learning, and field work, will focus on the planning, design, and management of coastal-adaptation measures, short- and long-term flood and sea level rise events, nature-based infrastructure solutions, and other topics.
Buzzards Bay Swim - On June 30, the Buzzards Bay Coalition will host the 2018 Buzzards Bay Swim. Join hundreds of swimmers of all ages and ability levels for a 1.2-mile open-water swim across outer New Bedford Harbor. Funds raised as a swimmer, supporter, or volunteer support the work to protect and restore Buzzards Bay.
Boat Safety Course - Through the summer, the Massachusetts Environmental Police will offer Boat Safety Courses. These free, state and nationally approved courses for boaters age 12 and older concentrate on the equipment and operating guidelines needed to enjoy boating in a safe and responsible way. All graduates ages 12-15 will receive a safety certificate that allows operation of a motorboat without adult supervision, as required by state law. All graduates ages 16-17 will also be allowed to operate a personal watercraft (jet ski, wave runner, etc.).
Science Seminars - The OneNOAA Science Seminar web page provides listings and details on NOAA science and climate seminars and webinars that are available across the nation.
Ocean Science Course - In July and August, the New England Aquarium will hold several continuing education workshops for K-12 educators. For more information or to register, see the Aquarium’s Professional Development Courses web page.
MACC Education - The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) offers a variety of specialized education programs. Visit the MACC workshops page for an overview of upcoming wetland delineation and soil science courses and shrub identification workshops. The MACC online calendar provides a schedule of programs.
Buzzards Bay Walks and Events - The Buzzards Bay Coalition maintains an Events page with walks and other nature-based events hosted by numerous organizations and land trusts in the region. May events include lectures, nature discoveries, and hikes, and events can be filtered by town, month, host, or select topics, such as kid-friendly, volunteering, and more.
Cape Cod Field Schools - Through December, Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is offering a variety of 2-, 3-, and 4-day field courses for adults that focus on the unique coastal environment and wildlife of Cape Cod. Cape Cod Field Schools emphasize active, outdoor, "in-the-field" experiences and are taught by professional naturalists and scientists. The next course is Coastal Birding for Beginners from May 11-13.
Cape Cod Bird Club Walks - The Cape Cod Bird Club holds free bird watching walks throughout Cape Cod. The next walk will be in Provincetown on May 12.
Barnstable Land Trust Walks and Talks - This spring, the Barnstable Land Trust has scheduled several events as part of its Walks & Talks nature series. The first walk in May, a Spring Crocker Neck Walk in Cotuit on May 19, is an interpretive hike led by Professor Gil Newton, who will discuss the ecology of the area.
Tuesday Tweets - The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History’s Tuesday Tweets are bird watching walks with Gretchen Moran Towers. Whether experienced or a beginner, bring binoculars, wear appropriate footwear, and come prepared to watch, study, and enjoy birds in their natural habitats. The next session is on May 22.
Birdwatching for Beginners - The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History’s Birdwatching for Beginners with Gretchen Moran Towers presents basic skills designed to enable bird identification through sight and sound. Each session is followed by an outdoor venture to view birds in their natural habitat. The next session is on May 24.
Plum Island Morning Birding and Other Events - This spring, the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center will host a Wednesday and Saturday morning birding series to explore some of Plum Island’s most productive birding hotspots. The center also hosts numerous other events, classes, and education activities listed in the Joppa Flats program catalog.
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary Programs and Activities - Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary provides numerous nature walks, talks, and adventures. See the programs, classes, & activities page and search the program catalog for event and schedule information on topics such as gardening education, edible seashore plants, and evening paddling.
Cape Cod Walks, Lectures, and Events - Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable offer a variety of educational programs for children and adults. For more information, search the calendar of programs, classes, and activities for Wellfleet Bay and Long Pasture.
Reminders - The following calendar items posted previously in CZ-Mail are still to come:
- Working Waterways Symposium - From May 14-17, the National Working Waterfronts & Waterways Symposium, Keeping Waterfronts Working for the Next Century: Sustainability, Recovery and Prosperity, will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This 5th national symposium will focus on issues faced by working waterfronts throughout the United States.
- Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle - On May 19, the Mystic River Watershed Association will hold the 22nd annual Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle. This event consists of a 5K Run/Walk along the Mystic River Bike Path and a 3-, 9-, or 12-mile Paddling Race up the Mystic River.
Other Items of Interest
New England Environmental Merit Awards - EPA is seeking nominations for Environmental Merit Awards in New England. This program honors teachers, citizen activists, business leaders, scientists, or others who have made outstanding contributions on behalf of New England's public health and natural environment. Applications are due by May 11.
Summer Science School - In July and August, the Waquoit Bay Reserve holds a Summer Science School offering week-long, full- and half-day educational experiences for students entering grades 2-12. These sessions introduce kids and teens to coastal ecology while having fun.
Sea Education Association Programs - This summer and fall, the Sea Education Association (SEA) in Woods Hole will offer programs for high school and pre-college students. This summer, SEA will offer two field-based experiences for high school students. SEA Science on the Cape (SEASCape) is a 3-week, field-based academic summer program that offers motivated students the opportunity to study the marine environment while living and learning in Woods Hole. Also this summer, SEA Expedition puts students at the helm of the research vessel SSV Corwith Cramer for a 2-week oceanographic research and sailing voyage in the waters off Cape Cod. Pre-college students planning a gap year or second semester start can spend the fall semester exploring the North Atlantic Ocean while earning college credit. SEA Semester: Ocean Exploration challenges students to take their learning out of the classroom and into the field, combining six weeks of shore study in Woods Hole with a six-week offshore research voyage from Woods Hole to the Caribbean.