CZ-Mail - September 2019

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

Welcome to CZ-Mail, the monthly electronic newsletter from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). Each issue provides information on major CZM initiatives, available tools and publications, upcoming workshops and events, grants, contracting opportunities, job openings, coastal legislation, and other news of interest to people working on coastal issues. Additional information about CZM's programs, publications, and other coastal topics can be found on the CZM website. To subscribe, send a blank email (please be sure that the email is completely blank, with no signature line) to [e-mail]. Also, please feel free to share CZ-Mail with colleagues and friends—and if you have any suggestions for future editions, or would like make a change to your CZ-Mail subscription, please email your request to [e-mail]. For daily updates from CZM, please follow us on Twitter.

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

Highlights

$2.4 Million in Grants Awarded to Coastal Communities and Nonprofits for Coastal Resilience - On September 4 at an event in Kingston, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Undersecretary Dan Sieger was joined by legislators and local officials to announce more than $2.4 million in grants to assist local efforts to reduce the impacts from flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. CZM is pleased to support ongoing and new resilience efforts across the coast. The grants, provided through CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program, were awarded to Braintree, Chatham, Duxbury Beach Reservation, Inc., Eastham, Essex County Greenbelt Association, Gloucester, Hull, Ipswich, Kingston, Marblehead, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Scituate, Tisbury, The Trustees of Reservations, Wareham, and Wellfleet. The following communities and organizations are partners on these resilience projects: Brewster, Duxbury, Essex, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Salem Sound Coastwatch, The Nature Conservancy, and Truro. Projects funded include efforts to design and permit nature-based approaches for storm damage protection and coastal stabilization, evaluate vulnerable facilities and infrastructure, develop long-term shoreline management alternatives and plan for resilience, and engage community members on addressing coastal hazard and climate change impacts. The funding continues the commitment of the Baker-Polito Administration to safeguard residents, municipalities, and businesses from the impacts of climate change, and build a more resilient Commonwealth. For more information, see the EEA Press Release.

Coastal Water Quality Project Highlights - CZM’s Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) Grant Program helps to protect and preserve coastal habitat and water quality by funding municipalities in addressing stormwater pollutants through the assessment, design, and construction of stormwater infrastructure commonly known as Best Management Practices (BMPs). Earlier this summer, several CPR design and construction projects were completed. Milton constructed two rain gardens at the town police station, building on past CPR funding to improve water quality in the Neponset River Watershed. Provincetown developed final designs for the fifth and final phase of a porous pavement project along Commercial Street to treat bacteria in stormwater. Sandwich and Yarmouth constructed BMPs and developed designs for further work to address coastal water quality in Sandwich Harbor and Lewis Bay, respectively. We congratulate these communities for their efforts to address water quality concerns in their watersheds that ultimately impact coastal waters. Below are project highlights from Cape Cod and the North Shore:

• Barnstable - This spring, Barnstable finished construction of two stormwater green infrastructure projects in the Three Bays Watershed—a rain garden at Cordwood Landing and a sand filter at Prince Cove Marina. These BMPs treat and remove nutrients and bacteria from stormwater, the primary pollutants of concern in Barnstable’s estuaries. The constructed BMPs are part of a five-year project to assess, prioritize, design, and install green stormwater infrastructure to improve Three Bays water quality and habitat. This project, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Southeast New England Coastal Watershed Restoration Program and CPR, involves several partners, including the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, Barnstable Department of Public Works, Horsley Witten Group, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, and the Barnstable Land Trust. CZM has supported assessment and design work for this project with two past CPR grants and is currently funding the construction of BMPs at additional priority locations in the watershed. The Association to Preserve Cape Cod and the Town of Barnstable have partnered to create a series of informational videos. The first video in the series, Stormwater 101, provides a short introduction to stormwater management.
• Salem - This spring, the City of Salem completed a project at Winter Island Park, a popular city park and multi-use recreational and historical area in Salem Harbor. The project consisted of construction of a large rain garden with a biofiltration system and a small grass swale at the rain garden entrance, as well as the addition of an insert in an existing catch basin to collect trash. Prior to the project, pollutants in stormwater—including trash, oils, and sediments—flowed off the large parking lot directly into Salem Harbor. Now, the catch basin collects debris and the rain garden and swales allow rainwater (and any pollutants) to slowly seep into the ground or be taken up by plants, reducing the amount of polluted water that enters Salem’s coastal waters. Salem Sound Coastwatch, which partnered with Salem on this project, runs public outreach activities at Winter Island and has incorporated the rain gardens into their educational programming on water quality. Two CPR grants funded the design and construction of these BMPs. See Winter Island Rain Garden 2019, a video on the project produced by the Greenscapes North Shore Coalition.

See the Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant program page for more information. To view all recent projects funded by CPR as well as other CZM grants, see the CZM Grant Viewer.

Information Sessions for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Grants - EEA anticipates the release of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Requests for Responses (RFRs) for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program planning and action grants this fall. The MVP Grant Program provides planning funds 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. 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.” The MVP Grant Program also provides action grants to MVP Communities 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. Prior to the RFR release, EEA is hosting information sessions to discuss the goals and requirements of the two MVP grant programs, answer questions, and provide feedback on potential project ideas. Please register by following the link to the session you would like to attend below. Please only register for one session, as each session has a capacity limit.

• September 11 - 1:30-2:30 p.m., Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 1st Floor, 60 Congress Street, Springfield.
• September 12 - 6:30-8:30 p.m., Northborough Free Library, 34 Main Street, Northborough. Part of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission quarterly meeting.
• September 17 - 10:30-11:30 a.m., MassDEP Southeast Regional Office, 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville. Important information about parking on the Eventbrite registration page.
• September 18 - 1:30-2:30 p.m., Chelmsford Police Department, 2 Olde North Road, Chelmsford. Important information about parking on the Eventbrite registration page.
• September 19 - 2:00-3:00 p.m., Webinar.
• September 25 - 1:30-2:30 p.m., Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, 2nd Floor, Conference Room A, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston. Please bring a photo ID and allow time to pass through security.

For additional assistance, potential applicants are also encouraged to contact Kara Runsten, MVP Program Manager, at [e-mail].

Seeking Local Cleanup Coordinators and Volunteers for COASTSWEEP 2019 - COASTSWEEP, the annual statewide beach cleanup sponsored by CZM, kicks off this month—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 through early November. In addition to organizing a cleanup, volunteers can help at an existing cleanup. To get involved, see the COASTSWEEP website. The list of available cleanups 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 [e-mail].

Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities

Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Funding - The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) is seeking applications for on-the-ground habitat conservation and improvement projects that support coastal, estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fish species along the Atlantic Coast. Projects should focus on meeting ACFHP's protection and restoration objectives described in its Conservation Strategic Plan (PDF, 20 MB). The maximum amount available for an individual project is $50,000 and a 1:1 match is required. For application requirements and guidelines, see the FY2020 ACFHP Application Cycle web page. Applications must be received by midnight on September 13.

Newsletters and Other Periodicals

Internet Water Report - The July 2019 issue of Internet Water Report, the email newsletter of the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), includes articles on the NEIWPCC Youth and the Environment Program, which provides Lowell and Lawrence teens summer jobs in environmental fields, a series of national water quality webinars to share pollution budget strategies, and other New England water pollution news.

MPA Connections - The July 2019 edition of Marine Protected Areas Connections, the newsletter of the NOAA National Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Center, features articles on a new Cultural Resources Toolkit to help MPA managers understand these resources and their values, a new PBS documentary that explores the functions of humpback whale songs, and other MPA news.

NOAA HabitatNews - The August 2019 issue of HabitatNews from the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Restoration highlights the $10.4 million in NOAA funding for 19 new coastal and marine habitat restoration projects, restoration of chinook salmon in Washington’s Skagit River estuary, the winner of the Habitat Month Photo Contest, and other marine fisheries habitat news.

The SandBar - The July 2019 issue of The SandBar, a quarterly publication from the National Sea Grant College Program on U.S. ocean and coastal legal issues, covers a U.S. Supreme Court case on permits for groundwater discharges that impact waters of the United States, regulation of nonnative marine finfish aquaculture in the state of Washington, and other ocean- and coastal-related legal issues.

The Skimmer on Marine Ecosystems and Management - The July-August 2019 edition of The Skimmer on Marine Ecosystems and Management, the monthly newsletter on ocean planning and ecosystem-based management from the University of Washington School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, discusses expanding views of who are the stakeholders in marine conservation, an effort to reform fisheries subsidies to improve marine ecosystems, and other resources and news.

Web-Based and Mobile-User Resources

Preparedness Talks for Emergency Managers - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and partners have released a new episode of its PrepTalks presentations by experts on emergency preparedness. Building a Mission-Driven Culture by Brian Fennessy—Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority in California—encourages emergency management organizations to build a mission-driven culture, which can be important for success during both calm and chaotic times. Neighborfest - Building Resilience from the Block Up! by Daniel Homsey—Director of the Neighborhood Empowerment Network for the City Administrator’s Office in San Francisco—presents tools to build resilient communities at a smaller, neighborhood level, allowing neighbors to help themselves and better prepare their community for disasters. Each PrepTalks web page includes a video of the presentation and question-and-answer session, a discussion guide, and related resources.

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

• Seven Best Practices for Risk Communication, a self-guided resource that provides best practices, techniques, and examples to get more effective results when communicating risk.
• New and updated data sets (PDF, 85 KB).

Jobs/Internship Postings

Aquatic Mitigation Specialist - The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is seeking an Aquatic Mitigation Specialist to assist with development and oversight of projects funded by the In-Lieu Fee (ILF) Program, which supports aquatic resource restoration, enhancement, or preservation projects in Massachusetts. For the full job posting and application instructions, see the Aquatic Mitigation Specialist Job Description. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but first consideration will be given to applications received by September 17.

Calendar - Individual Events and Announcements

Deep Ocean Documentary Screening - On September 5 and 19, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster will present Deep Ocean: Lights in the Abyss, a documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough on the bioluminescent creatures that live in the pitch-black waters of Monterey Bay in California, including sparkling jellyfish and flashing deep sea fish.

Blue Carbon Conference - On September 10 in Plymouth, the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and partners will hold Blue Carbon in Our Backyard, a full day conference on blue carbon—carbon stored in coastal wetlands that can help to meet wetlands conservation goals and provide climate adaptation benefits. This conference will present the latest research on blue carbon along with new guidance and tools to use this knowledge for restoration decisions in New England.

National Estuaries Week - September 14-21 is National Estuaries Week, an annual celebration of the importance of coastal and estuarine regions to the national economy and local communities. Learn about special events taking place around the country, plan and register your own event, and get social media resources through Restore America’s Estuaries’ National Estuaries Week web page.

Reducing Coastal Risk with Natural Defenses Webinar - On September 17, Open Communications for the Ocean and NatureServe will present New Opportunities for Reducing Coastal Risk with Natural Defenses by Mike Beck of the University of California at Santa Cruz. This webinar will provide an overview of new research on how natural defenses, such as coral reefs and mangroves, can lessen coastal risks and protect properties from flooding.

Explore Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Live - On September 17-19, join the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for a remote exploration of the seafloor and shipwrecks in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other marine technology, WHOI will create virtual underwater tours and present real-time video broadcasts for viewers to experience ocean exploration and interact with researchers. Shipwrecks sites to be explored include the steamship Portland and the coal schooners Frank A. Palmer and Louise B. Crary. In addition to highlighting the maritime history of the region, the program will focus on the diversity of marine species that use shipwrecks as habitat. Tune in to the live 20-30 minute broadcasts on September 17 at 2 p.m., September 18 at 12:30 or 3 p.m., and September 19 at 7 p.m. A ship-to-shore direct connection for two-way audio and video interactions is also available for teachers, institutions, and organizations that fill out an application form by September 5 and are selected. To find out how to access these live-stream programs or for updates, photos, and videos, see the WHOI 2019 Expedition to the wreck of Portland web page. For more information about NOAA’s other real-time expeditions, visit their Explore Sanctuaries Live page.

Dune Enhancement Project Site Visit - On September 24 from 3:30-6:30 p.m., the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) Ascending Professionals Committee will conduct a site visit of the Duxbury Beach Reservation dune enhancement project completed last winter as the first resiliency adaptation action on the barrier beach. Online registration is open until noon on September 23 and walk-in registrations are also welcome.

Managing Contaminated Coastal Dredge Material - On September 27, EBC will hold an EBC Ocean and Coastal Resources Program: Managing Contaminated Coastal Dredge Material in Norwell, which will provide an overview of the issue, permit considerations, several case studies, and solutions to manage and dispose of contaminated sediment. The morning will conclude with a panel discussion.

Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride - On October 6, the Buzzards Bay Coalition will hold the 13^th annual Buzzards Bay Watershed Ride to support the Coalition’s efforts to restore and protect clean water. The bike ride features 100-, 75-, and 35-mile route options, which wind through farmland, villages, cityscapes, cranberry bogs, and coastal country back roads. Registration is required.

Living Shorelines Workshop - From October 8-9 in Beaufort, North Carolina, Restore Americas Estuaries and the North Carolina Coastal Federation will hold the 2019 Living Shorelines Tech Transfer Workshop, which will include field sessions and presentations on construction techniques, regulations and permitting, community engagement, costs of living shorelines versus other approaches, and effectiveness in high energy shorelines.

MACC Conference—Call for Abstracts - On February 29, 2020, the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) will hold its Annual Environmental Conference 2020 in Worcester and will feature more than 750 conservation commissioners, local officials, state and federal officials, consultants, and attorneys for the largest environmental conference in New England. Abstracts are now being accepted for workshop presentations related to Conservation Commissions and climate change and resilience planning, science and technology, wetlands and open space management, regulations and permitting, and case studies. For more information see the Call for Abstracts, which are due by October 10.

Environmental Education Research Symposium and Conference - From October 15-19 in Lexington, Kentucky, the North American Association for Environmental Education will hold its 16^th Research Symposium and 48^th Annual Conference, Educating for a Just and Sustainable Future. The Research Symposium, from October 15-16, will bring together worldwide researchers to present the current status and future of environmental education research. The Annual Conference, from October 16-19, will focus on how education can “build hope, motivate action, and help achieve the Global Sustainable Development Goals.” Both events include sessions on climate change education, community resilience, and scientific literacy.

MACC Fall Conference - On October 19, MACC will hold the 2019 Fall Conference in Devens, which will feature seven units of fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners, three workshops, and other presentations. See the MACC website for registration details.

Coastal Conference - From October 22-25 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) will hold its 2019 National Coastal Conference, which will feature three days of short courses, networking opportunities, and sessions on varied coastal science topics, regulations and policy, technology, and more. Registration discounts are available until September 28.

Professional Development Courses at New England Aquarium - This fall, the New England Aquarium will offer a three-part Professional Development Course, Full STEAM Ahead: Ocean Adventures for educators from pre-k to first grade. Educators can sign up for one, two, or three of the following courses: Ocean Movements on October 19; Ocean Sights and Sounds on November 23; and The Ocean and Us on December 14. All sessions take place from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the aquarium. A discount is available when signing up for all three workshops. Please register by October 11.

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

• Cape Cod Wildlife Festival - On September 7, the Cape Cod Wildlife Collaborative will hold their annual Cape Cod Wildlife Festival at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free event includes family friendly activities, interactive exhibits, live animal presentations, live music, book signings, and refreshments.
• Green Careers Conference - On September 20, the Massachusetts Green Careers Conference will be held at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Headquarters in Westborough. Attendees can meet employers, green-career candidates, and experts from business, education, government, and nonprofits.
• Boston Harbor Marine Educators Conference - On October 5, Massachusetts Marine Educators will hold the Boston Harbor Educators Conference, A Working Harbor: Past, Present, and Future, at the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Boston. The 2019 conference will include speakers, hands-on workshops, a panel discussion, and treatment plant tours. Registration is required.
• Gulf of Maine Climate Resilience Conference - From November 4-8, the Gulf of Maine 2050 International Symposium, Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Resilience, will be held in Portland, Maine. The conference will focus on the changes expected in the Gulf of Maine over the next 30 years to help develop ideas, next steps, and collaborations for climate resiliency throughout the region.

Calendar - Multiple/Ongoing Events

Barnstable Walks, Talks, and Events - The Barnstable Land Trust has scheduled several upcoming events, including a Sandy Neck Fall Migration Hike on September 18 and a Fall Crocker Neck Walk on October 5. For a full schedule, see their 2019 events page.

Boston Harbor Events - Boston Harbor Now hosts events throughout the Boston Harbor area. September events include weightlifting at Castle Island, a morning fitness dog walk, and a Native American perspective on the Historical and Contemporary History of Deer Island on September 14. For additional events, see the Boston Harbor Now Events page.

Buzzards Bay Walks and Events - The Buzzards Bay Coalition Events page includes outdoor and environmental offerings hosted by numerous organizations and land trusts in the region. September events include an agricultural fair, historic mill tour, astronomy night, butterfly census, full moon kayaking, fishing clinic, walks, yoga, and other opportunities for all ages. Events can be filtered by town, month, host, or select topics, such as kid-friendly and volunteering.

Cape Cod Bird Walks - The Cape Cod Bird Club holds free bird watching field trips with walks at Race Point in Provincetown and Scusset Beach in Sagamore, both on September 14, and Fort Hill in Eastham on September 20. See the full schedule on their field trips page.

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Programs - In September, the museum will host a variety of lectures, butterfly feedings, family walks, movie screenings, and other events including Sanctuary Live: Expedition to the Wreck of the Steamship Portland on September 17 and 18. Check out their calendar for additional events.

Conservation Commission Education - The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions provides specialized training programs. See their Complete Education Catalog for an overview of upcoming wetland delineation and other workshops and the Community Calendar for a schedule of additional programs in September, including Fundamentals Unit 205: Effective Erosion and Sediment Control held in Ipswich on September 28.

Ipswich River Events - The Ipswich River Watershed Association hosts events on the North Shore. September events include garden volunteer days, paddling trips, and a river warden training. See their events page for details.

Ipswich River Programs and Activities - In September, Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary will host numerous nature walks, talks, and adventures. See their programs, classes, & activities page and search the program catalog for event and schedule information on fall birdwatching, yoga, art classes, a kid’s treasure hunt, walks, paddling, and an Autumn Forest Bathing Walk on September 28.

Joppa Flats Programs and Events - The Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center hosts a variety of programs for children and adults. See their program catalog for September events and education opportunities, including bird banding, tide pooling, morning birding field trips, lectures, and a COASTSWEEP cleanup on September 14.

Mass Audubon Cape Cod Walks, Lectures, and Events - The Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in South Wellfleet and Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable offer educational programs for children, adults, and families including September kayak trips, nature/birding walks, boat tours, and a Barnstable Sea Farms Oyster Tour on September 27. Search the calendar of programs, classes, and activities for Wellfleet Bay and Long Pasture for all events.

Mystic River Watershed Events - See the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) Calendar for links to September events by date, including a Cruise in a Canoe on September 28.

National Marine Sanctuaries Webinars - The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series provides educators with resources and training to support ocean and climate literacy in the classroom. The next webinar, Where are all the fish going? Identifying patterns of genetic connectivity across the Hawaiian Archipelago, is on September 24.

New England Aquarium Youth Programs - The New England Aquarium has ocean education classes, summer camps, marine biology training, service-learning opportunities, teen internships, and other programs for kids from 12 months to 12^th grade. See the aquarium website for more information.

NOAA Coastal Training and Learning Resources - NOAA’s Digital Coast offers a range of training opportunities, from numerous self-guided resources, case-studies, videos, webinars, and publications, and online instructor-led sessions and classroom instructor-led courses—including Planning and Facilitating Collaborative Meetings from October 24-25 in Woods Hole. For the full schedule of opportunities, see the Training Calendar.

NOAA Science and Climate Seminars - The OneNOAA Science Seminar web page provides details on NOAA science and climate seminars and webinars that are available across the nation, including Human Consumption of Microplastics: An Initial Estimate on September 19.

North and South Rivers Events - The North and South Rivers Watershed Association hosts events on the South Shore. September events include paddling activities, nature and history pontoon tours, and a Tick Talk Walk At Norris Reservation on September 7. See their events page for details.

Sound in the Sea Webinars - On September 18, the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography will present Commercial Vessel Traffic, the third session of the four-part Discovery of Sound in the Sea webinar series on man-made underwater sound sources. Each hour-long webinar will provide an update on current research, a review of noise mitigation measures, and a facilitated discussion. Advanced registration is required.

Thornton Burgess Nature Program - The Thornton Burgess Society at the Green Briar Nature Center in East Sandwich is hosting their Nature Program 2019, a series of in-depth naturalist classes. The next session is Wildflowers with Janice Dill on September 7.

Other Items of Interest

September Is National Preparedness Month - Each September is National Preparedness Month, which promotes disaster and emergency planning to be prepared in the event of natural or man-made disasters. This year, National Preparedness Month will feature four weekly themes, Save Early for Disaster Costs, Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters, Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters, and Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness. See the National Preparedness Month web page for weekly theme web resources and sample social media posts. Also, you can make a plan with your family and friends for how you will stay safe and communicate during an emergency or disaster that can affect your community. Download the Family Communication Plan for Parents and Kids (PDF, 2 MB) to compile emergency contact information and meeting spots. For emergency plans, supply lists, and other information on how to be prepared, see the publications page, or find ways to get involved, such as training to be a citizen responder.

NOAA College Scholarships - The NOAA Office of Education is accepting applications for two undergraduate scholarship opportunities. The Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship, which supports undergraduate education in oceanic and atmospheric science and trains students for careers in public service and education, awards up to $9,500 per year (junior and senior years) and a paid summer internship. The Educational Partnership Program/Minority Serving Institutions Scholarship Program provides up to $45,000 in total support to students majoring in science, technology, engineering, or math and entering junior year, and includes paid NOAA research internships for two summers. Applications for both scholarships are due by January 31, 2020.

Campus RainWorks Challenge - The EPA Office of Water has announced the 2019 Campus RainWorks Challenge, a green infrastructure design competition for undergraduate and graduate students. Student teams, working with a faculty advisor, will submit designs, a project narrative, and a letter of support for a proposed green infrastructure project for their campus. Winning teams will be awarded cash prizes. Registration is open from September 1-October 15 and entries must be submitted by December 17.