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CZ-Mail - October 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 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 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

$12.6 Million in Coastal Resilience Grants Awarded to Communities and Nonprofits - On September 19, at a Climate Week event in Plymouth, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) announced $12.6 million in grants for 27 local projects to reduce the impacts from flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. The grants, provided through CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program, support ongoing and new resilience efforts across the coast and were awarded to Barnstable, Boston, Brewster, Chatham (2), Chilmark, Cohasset, Duxbury Beach Reservation (2), Gosnold, House of Seven Gables Settlement Association, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Marshfield, Mass Audubon, Mattapoisett, Nahant, New Bedford, Orleans, Plymouth, Provincetown, Salem, Scituate, Wareham, Wellfleet, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The following communities and organizations are partners on these resilience projects: Braintree, Chilmark, Dennis, Duxbury, Eastham, Falmouth, Truro, Winthrop, The Trustees of Reservations, Mattapoisett Land Trust, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Stone Living Lab, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Marine Biological Laboratory. Projects funded include relocation of municipal infrastructure away from vulnerable areas, enhancement of coastal beaches and dunes to buffer against storms and sea level rise, vulnerability assessments and regional proactive planning, and public outreach on coastal storm and climate change impacts. For more information, including descriptions of all the funded projects, see the EEA Press Release. Also see the links below for news coverage on the event and grant awards. (Articles may only be available for a limited time. Not working? Try copying the web address directly into your browser, rather than clicking on it.)

CZM Releases New Stormwater Solutions Fact Sheet on Minimizing Contaminants - CZM’s Stormwater Solutions for Homeowners website, which was launched in August and gives property owners a range of best practices for reducing and treating stormwater on site, now includes a fact sheet on Minimizing Contaminants. This fact sheet provides tips on reducing common household contaminants through simple changes at home—from reducing fertilizer use to maintaining septic systems to properly disposing of batteries and other hazardous household products—helping to keep inland and coastal waters clean. Other fact sheets on the website include Vegetated Buffers, “Green” Lawn and Garden Practices, Rain Gardens, and Reducing Impervious Surfaces (and Preventing Erosion and Vegetated Swales fact sheets will be coming soon).

COASTSWEEP 2022 - Still Plenty of Time to Organize or Join a Cleanup - COASTSWEEP—the annual statewide beach cleanup sponsored by CZM—officially kicked off on Saturday, September 17, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by Ocean Conservancy (See the EEA Press Release for details.) COASTSWEEP cleanups will continue well into November, so there’s still plenty of time to join a cleanup or to sign up to be a local cleanup coordinator for your favorite beach, marsh, dive site, and riverbank. As part of the International Coastal Cleanup, which draws hundreds of thousands of volunteers to coastal cleanups in more than 150 countries worldwide, volunteers remove trash and other marine debris and record data about what they find. This information is entered into Ocean Conservancy’s international marine debris database, which helps researchers and policymakers better understand the sources of global marine debris and develop solutions for prevention. See the COASTSWEEP website for details on how to organize a cleanup or to volunteer at an existing one (the cleanup list is updated every week). To receive reminders of when new cleanup lists are posted, please send a blank email (completely blank, with no signature line) to join-env-coastsweep-volunteers@listserv.state.ma.us. And for some press coverage on this year’s cleanup, see: Need some exercise? Worried about ocean debris? Help clean up the Cape Cod National Seashore this month from The Cape Cod Times and Dave Monti: Citizens pitch in to clean up with annual COASTSWEEP effort from the Sun Chronicle.

CZM Offices Remain Closed - 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.

CZM Job Posting

Offshore Project Review Specialist - CZM is seeking an Offshore Project Review Specialist to assist the CZM team with its federal consistency review responsibilities and environmental impact analysis of permits and supporting documents related to offshore development, including offshore wind, cables, pipelines, and aquaculture. To learn more about this new position and to apply, see the full posting. For clarifying questions, please contact todd.callaghan@mass.gov, and for notifications of job postings between CZ-Mail editions, follow CZM on Twitter.

CZM Staff and People

Marine GIS/Mapping Specialist - In September, CZM’s Marine GIS/Mapping Specialist, Samantha Coccia-Schillo left CZM to be closer to family and friends in upstate New York. Hired in 2016 after completing her master’s degree in Geographic Information Science for Development and the Environment from Clark University, Samantha worked on a variety of projects that touched nearly all CZM programs, including port and harbor planning, coastal access, project review, grants, as well as all manner of data development, analysis, and cartography. Three large projects encapsulate her contributions to CZM. First, Samantha took the lead in developing Coast Guide Online, CZM’s interactive map that displays the more than 1,900 sites along the Massachusetts coast owned by government agencies and nonprofits and open to the public. She also handled much of the mapping and analysis work that forms the core of the 2021 Ocean Management Plan, which provides a framework for ocean-based projects in Massachusetts waters. More recently, Samantha had been involved in helping to guide wind energy siting in the Gulf of Maine, using her experience with spatial models to conduct high-level site suitability analyses by balancing multiple competing criteria. While her mapping and analytical skills were apparent to all, so was her work ethic, flexibility, reliability, and ever friendly and professional demeanor. She will be missed. Best of luck to you Samantha in all your future endeavors!

Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants - The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is seeking applications for these FEMA grant opportunities: Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grant Programs, 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. Statements of Interest are due by October 14 and full applications for all these grant programs are due to MEMA by December 5. Email questions regarding the 2022 funding opportunities to mitigation@mass.gov.

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

  • Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers - EPA is seeking proposals to establish technical assistance centers that provide technical assistance, training, and support for communities with environmental justice concerns. These new centers will provide training; assistance; capacity building on writing grant proposals, navigating federal systems, and managing grants; community engagement; meeting facilitation; and translation and interpretation services. Up to $11 million is available to public and private universities and colleges, public and private nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments. Awards will be issued as cooperative agreements, and EPA will be substantially involved in the operation of the centers. For more information, see the EPA website. Applications are due on November 1.
  • Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grants - NOAA Fisheries is seeking applications for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program for grants or cooperative agreements to support marine mammal stranding networks for recovery and treatment; data collection; and facility upgrades, operation costs, and staffing that address these needs. For more information, see the federal funding opportunity. Applications are due by October 12.
  • STREAM Grants - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sea Grant is seeking applications for Solutions Through Research, Education, and Art in Massachusetts (STREAM) grants. This new program will provide up to $10,000 for one-year projects that meet objectives of the MIT Sea Grant Strategic Plan in one or more of four focus areas—healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development. The grants can be used for small research projects, seed funding for innovative efforts, college student research, classroom initiatives, and rapid response projects to tackle a current challenge. The grants are open to educators in preschool through grade 12, Massachusetts university faculty and students, industry, nonprofit organizations, artists affiliated with these groups, and others. For projects over $5,000, please discuss with MIT Sea Grant before submitting a proposal. All applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss potential projects with either Mary Newton Lima (Research Coordinator) or Lily Keyes (Communications Specialist) at seagrantinfo@mit.edu. For more information, see the MIT Sea Grant website. Proposals are due by November 15.
  • BoatUS Grassroots Grants - The BoatUS Foundation is seeking applications for its Grassroots Grants program to promote boater education. Up to $10,000 is available to local volunteer organizations, student groups, yacht clubs, and chapters of national organizations for creative and innovative projects that promote safe and clean boating. Applications are accepted year-round.

Online Tools and Resources

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

Newsletters and Other Periodicals

Massachusetts Lobstermen’s News - The September 2022 Newspaper (PDF, 14 MB) from the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association includes stories on the opposition to plans to dispose of contaminated wastewater from the Pilgrim nuclear power plant into Cape Cod Bay, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission annual Awards of Excellence, and public notices, updates, and other lobster news.

MVP Program Newsletter - The Summer 2022 newsletter from EEA’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program provides information on the more than $32 million in MVP grant awards presented in August, the fall field trip series, as well as MVP program resources, a project spotlight, upcoming events, and opportunities.

Neponset River Watershed News - The September Watershed Update from the Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA) includes details on an MVP grant awarded to NepRWA to help solve regional flooding issues due to climate change, Summer Water Quality Reports, current significant drought status, and other Neponset River news, events, and updates.

NOAA HabitatNews - The August 2022 issue of HabitatNews, a newsletter of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation, includes articles on NOAA’s funding of innovative coral restoration and resilience, more than $8 million in NOAA Community Project Funding to support habitat conservation projects, and other marine fisheries habitat news.

Products/Publications

SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants Impact Report - The Southern New England Program (SNEP) has released the 2018-22 Impact Report (PDF, 21 MB) for the SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants (SWIG) program, which provides details on the benefits of the program to communities in Southeast New England. Since 2018, $10.3 million in funding has been granted to more than 50 organizations and municipalities—resulting in water quality improvements, dam removals to reestablish fish passages, and coastal wetland and habitat restoration.

Jobs/Internship Postings

Offshore Project Review Specialist - CZM is seeking to fill this position focusing on review of offshore development, including offshore wind, cables, pipelines, and aquaculture. Find details in the CZM Job Posting section above, along with more in the full posting.

MVP Deputy Director - The EEA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program is seeking a Deputy Director to assist with grant administration; oversee MVP staff, interns, and consultants; implement special MVP projects on program improvement; and coordinate communications. The position reports to the MVP Director and will work with the EEA Director of Climate Adaptation and Resilience to support statewide resiliency project management, coordinate MVP and statewide initiatives, and work to improve and expand the Resilient MA website. For details, see the position posting.

DER Positions - Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is seeking applications for four open positions. The Cranberry Bog Restoration Program Manager will 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. The Dam Removal Program Manager will lead a partnership of DER, landowners, nonprofit organizations, communities, and agencies to prioritize, plan, and carry out potential dam removal projects. The Procurement and Grants Specialist will support DER’s work to implement restoration projects and other initiatives by conducting fiscal administrative duties under the supervision of the DER Finance Manager. The Restoration Partnerships Program Manager will lead DER’s Regional Restoration Partnerships Program and develop, coordinate, and oversee DER partnerships with watershed groups and other regional organizations.

Climate Resilience Program Coordinator - The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking a Climate Resilience Program Coordinator to serve under the Director of Climate Resilience to support DCR climate change mitigation and adaption planning, monitoring and research initiatives, and related projects. For complete details, see the job posting.

Waquoit Bay Positions - The Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR) is seeking applications for two open positions. The School & Interpretive Program Coordinator will plan, develop, present, and evaluate school and interpretive programs and materials for the public with a goal to promote WBNERR and improve environmental literacy. The Coastal Training Program Coordinator will administer the Coastal Training Program, which provides training and technical assistance to coastal decision-makers—anyone who makes management or policy decisions that can impact coastal resources, including state and local government officials, resource managers, environmental organizations, community groups, and business persons.

National Estuarine Research Reserve Liaison for New England - Lykner Technologies is seeking a liaison to serve the Wells, Great Bay, and Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves. This position will support coordination of NOAA Office for Coastal Management work in New England to build community and coastal resilience and promote nature-based solutions. This contract position is fully remote, but candidates need to live in New England and have access to the coast for partner meetings and events. For more information, see the position posting.

Beverly Conservation Agent - The Town of Beverly is seeking a Conservation Agent to provide technical and administrative support to the Beverly Conservation Commission and Open Space and Recreation Committee; administer and enforce the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, town bylaws, and applicable environmental regulations; and assist the Planning & Development Department. For additional details, see the job posting.

MAPC Positions - The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is seeking applicants for eight available full-time and intern positions, including Clean Energy and Climate Planner, Web Developer, Director of Clean Energy, Regional Land Use Planner, Procurement and Contract Coordinator, Revenue Accountant, Environmental Planning Intern, and Real Estate Research Intern. For details, including application instructions, see the MAPC Employment Opportunities page.

Friends of Herring River Executive Director - The Friends of Herring River in Wellfleet is seeking an Executive Director to lead this nonprofit organization that has directed a more than 20-year effort to restore over 1,100 acres of the Herring River Estuary. The Executive Director will lead this restoration project from planning and permitting into construction. For more information, see the position posting. Applications are due by November 1.

Teacher Naturalist - Mass Audubon Cape Cod is seeking a full-time Teacher Naturalist to teach environmental science in classrooms from Provincetown to Sandwich and in the field at after school programs, camps, and other public programs. This is a two-year position based primarily at Mass Audubon’s Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable with a couple of days a week at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. For more information, see the position posting.

Water Resilience Planner - The Neponset River Watershed Association is seeking a Watershed Resilience Planner to work closely with watershed municipalities, community-based organizations, and environmental justice communities to lead a new municipal climate change adaptation collaborative. The position reports to the Advocacy Director and will collaborate closely with other NepRWA staff across multiple disciplines. This full-time, permanent position requires a master’s degree in regional or urban planning, natural resource management, or a related field and at least two years of relevant work experience, or a bachelor’s degree and five years work experience. For details, see the position posting.

Fundraising and Marketing Manager - Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) in Plymouth is seeking a full-time Fundraising and Marketing Manager will 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.

Outreach Coordinator & Office Manager - The Orleans Conservation Trust (OCT) is seeking a full-time Outreach Coordinator & Office Manager to manage OCT’s guided walks and educational lectures and assist with social media and email communications with members. The position will also manage core administrative operations including donation processing, donor database maintenance, mailing preparation, assisting the OCT Treasurer with financial reporting, and responding to public inquiries. Candidates must be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends. For more information, see the job opportunity.

Environmental Educator - The Westport River Watershed Alliance is seeking a full-time Environmental Educator to assist with watershed education programs in the Westport schools and develop and provide community outreach through weekend programming for the public, school groups, and families. For details, see the job listing.

Decisions

Chelsea Creek Designated Port Area Boundary Review Decision - On September 6, CZM issued the Designation Decision for the Chelsea Creek Designated Port Area, Boston, MA (PDF, 1 MB), concluding the comprehensive Designated Port Area (DPA) boundary review process initiated in March 2021. The decision affirms the findings and proposed DPA boundary modifications in CZM’s May 23, 2022, designation report, Boundary Review of the Chelsea Creek Designated Port Area, East Boston, MA (PDF, 2 MB). The boundary modification was made in accordance with criteria governing the suitability of contiguous lands and waters to accommodate water-dependent industrial use pursuant to 301 CMR 25.00 (PDF, 87 KB). The Commonwealth’s DPA policy seeks to promote water-dependent industries as an important sector of the state’s economy and prevent the loss of areas that have certain key characteristics that make them particularly well suited to water-dependent industrial uses. CZM is responsible for mapping, interpreting, and periodic review of DPA boundaries. For more information on DPAs, see CZM’s Designated Port Area 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 (MEPA) Office.

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. At the request of the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), CZM has extended the comment period for the report several times, with the most recent comment extension ending on August 1. At the request of the BPDA, CZM has extended the comment period for an additional 90 days, ending on November 1. CZM shall consider written comments received by 5:00 p.m. on November 1. See the “attachments” tab in the submittal in the August 10 Environmental Monitor for a PDF copy of the notice of extension. Submit comments to joanna.m.yelen@mass.gov or by mail to: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, Attention: Joanna Yelen, Boston Regional Coordinator, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114.

Calendar - Individual Events and Announcements

Sewage Pollution Presentation - October 4, webinar from Ocean Communications for the Ocean (OCTO) on untreated sewage discharges into the oceans.

Macro to Microplastic in Narragansett Bay - October 7, full-day learning forum for scientists and practitioners on plastic pollution in the bay’s watershed sponsored by the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program and will be held at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Coastal GeoTools—Call for Abstracts - February 6-9, 2023, hosted by the Association of State Floodplain Managers to be held in Charleston, South Carolina. Abstracts are due by October 7.

(re)Connecting with EBC: Climate Change Professionals - October 11, networking event in Needham sponsored by the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC).

massFM Conference - October 13, annual conference of the Massachusetts Association for Floodplain Management (massFM) to be held in Milford. The agenda includes presentations on case studies of Coastal Resilience Grant projects funded by CZM and MVP projects funded by EEA and will highlight EEA and Executive Office of Public Safety and Security initiatives to proactively work to advance climate adaptation efforts in the Commonwealth, including the 2022 Massachusetts Climate Assessment, 2023 State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan Update, Massachusetts Coast Flood Risk Model, Climate Resilience Design Standards Tool, and MEPA Interim Protocol on Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency. State staff will discuss these efforts, including a synopsis on implementation, opportunities for engagement, and next steps.

MACC Fall Conference - October 15, sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) with the theme, “Climate Challenges and Opportunities for Conservation Commissions,” to be held in Devens.

Martha's Vineyard Coastal Conference - October 24, free conference hosted by CZM, The Trustees, Barnstable County, Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Martha’s Vineyard Commission, and Woods Hole Sea Grant with presentations on the impacts of sea level rise and storms on island flooding, erosion impacts and projections, salt marsh restoration, resilience planning, and more. The 2022 conference will be held in Vineyard Haven.

EBC Fourth Annual New England Energy Leadership Conference - October 25, virtual conference from EBC featuring leaders in energy policy and programs from New England states.

Fifth Annual Net Zero Conference - October 28, virtual conference from the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative on climate change issues facing Cape Cod and tools for decarbonization.

National Floodplain Managers Conference—Call for Abstracts - May 7-11, 2023, 47th annual conference sponsored by the Association of State Floodplain Managers to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina. Organizers are seeking abstracts for 30-minute concurrent sessions and/or two- to four-hour workshops on managing and communicating flood risk, making communities more resilient, and protecting floodplains and natural resources. Abstracts are due by October 31.

MICRO 2022, Atlas Edition: Plastic Pollution from Macro to Nano - November 14-18, virtual conference on plastic pollution sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

33rd 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 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.

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. Early registration discounts are available through October 22.

National Monitoring Conference - April 24-28, 2023, 13th National Monitoring Conference sponsored by the National Water Quality Monitoring Council to be held in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with a limited virtual option.

CERF 2023 Conference - November 12-16, 2023, biennial conference sponsored by the Coastal Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) to be held in Portland, Oregon.

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

  • Natural Hazards Research Summit 2022 - October 6-7, conference sponsored by the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure and the National Science Foundation to be held in Washington, DC.
  • Environmental Education Research Symposium and Conference - October 11-15, annual symposium (October 11-12) and conference (October 12-15) from the North American Association for Environmental Education to be held in Tucson, Arizona, with a virtual option.
  • U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae - October 23-28, 11th symposium organized by NEIWPCC, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and U.S. Geological Survey to be held in Albany, New York.
  • Environmental, Energy, and Engineering Career Fair - October 24, free, in-person career fair in Boston sponsored by EBC.
  • 2022 Water & Health Conference - October 24-28, annual conference presented by the University of North Carolina’s Water Institute on approaches to achieve universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services to be held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  • NARWC Annual Meeting - October 25-26, meeting of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium (NARWC) to be held in New Bedford, with a virtual option.
  • National Adaptation Forum - October 25-27, 5th national event on climate adaptation to be held in Baltimore, Maryland.
  • ClimateTech Summit - November 2-3, annual climate technology entrepreneurship conference hosted by Greentown Labs to be held in both Somerville and Houston, Texas, and online.
  • AWRA 2022 Annual Water Resources Conference - November 7-9, conference sponsored by the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) to be held in Renton, Washington.
  • Coastal & Island Symposium - November 10-11, symposium from the Center for Watershed Protection with the theme “Mitigation and Adaptation to Environmental Changes in Coastal & Island Communities” to be held in Fulton, Maryland.
  • MassTrails Conference - November 12, annual conference hosted by DCR to be held in Fitchburg.
  • NALMS Symposium - November 14-17, 42nd 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

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.

Friends of Herring River Events - Upcoming Herring River watershed events in Truro and Wellfleet.

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Engagement Series - Webinar series from FEMA to provide technical information, best practices, tools, and resources for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs.

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:

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

Mindful Nature Walks in Harwich - Guided weekly walks in October from the Harwich Conservation Trust.

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.

Neponset River Watershed Association Events - Events throughout the 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.

October Birding Walks in Harwich - On Tuesdays and Thursdays in October, the Harwich Conservation Trust will hold a series of birding walks at Bell's Neck Conservation Lands and the Cold Brook Preserve with naturalist and author Peter Trull. Registration is required.

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

Soak Up the Rain New England Webinar Series - Periodic webinars from EPA that highlight innovative ways to address stormwater in New England.

Sound in the Sea Webinars - Webinars through November hosted by the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography.

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.

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

Other Items of Interest

School Field Trips - The Penikese Island School in Woods Hole offers field trip opportunities for local school groups to the 75-acre remote island of Penikese, located 13 miles south of Woods Hole. Penikese Island is a wildlife sanctuary, and these trips are designed to get students out of the classroom and out into nature through immersive, place-based experiential learning. For more information, see the Student Day Trips page and email info@penikese.org to begin planning a field trip.

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest - Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs is now accepting submissions for the 2023 Ocean Awareness Contest. The 2023 theme is “Climate Heroes in Action,” and students ages 11-18 are invited to learn about climate change and solutions to the ongoing climate crisis. Students can work as individuals, a group, class, or club. Participants can earn cash awards and scholarships up to $1,500. Also, students in Massachusetts can win $250 cash scholarships. Submissions are due by June 13, 2023.

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