Bi-Weekly Report

February 17, 2015

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At the Agencies In the States & Regions In the News Announcements

At the Agencies

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Releases Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2015 Civil Works Appropriations

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) delivered to Congress its Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) work plans for the Army Civil Works program.

Statement from Dr. Kathryn Sullivan on NOAA's Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request

NOAA is America's environmental intelligence agency. We provide timely, reliable, and actionable information - based on sound science - every day to millions of Americans. NOAA's products and services are used by decision makers around the country to better understand risk and prepare for the future. We're helping people, communities, businesses, and governments make smart decisions that directly impact the future of society, the economy, and the environment. The demand for products and services that NOAA provides continues to increase - from the daily weather forecast to seasonal drought outlooks, to decadal sea level rise projections, and much more.

President's FY 2016 Budget Includes $170.9 Million for BOEM

President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2016 (FY 2016) budget includes a request of $170.9 million to fund the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) mission to safely and responsibly manage the Nation's offshore energy and mineral resources. The request would provide BOEM with resources needed to effectively manage oil and gas development, renewable energy, and mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in a way that promotes efficient and environmentally responsible development.

Communicating Hurricanes' Real Risks

A hurricane is heading toward the coast. Weather forecasters predict strong winds, massive waves and intense rainfall. But what does that mean for you? Will your neighborhood be flooded? Should you evacuate?

In the States and Regions

East Coast

Corps moves up $62.5 million for Delaware deepening

The Army Corps of Engineers has approved a $62.5 million fast-forward for the Delaware River main channel deepening, sweeping extra money into the project's current year budget to assure a finish of the entire 102.5 mile project by 2017.

New Detail on Massive Montauk Seawall

A United States Army Corps of Engineers erosion-control project planned for the Montauk oceanfront will be larger than previously thought and could require as many as 3,000 truckloads of sand, according to bid documents.

FEMA revises flood maps for some Cape May and Atlantic County towns

Thanks to the work of local governments, many properties that were once in the area in the restrictive V zone are now being moved into the A zone, according to updated flood insurance rates.

Major funders support George Perkins Marsh Institute research on coastal risks and climate-change adaptation

The vulnerability of coastal communities is gaining urgent attention in the face of climate change and devastating weather-related flooding and erosion. Clark University Professor of Economics Robert Johnston, director of the George Perkins Marsh Institute at Clark University, is leading vital research into the environmental and economic impacts of coastal hazards and adaptation along Northeast shores.

New York Releases Draft Ocean Action Plan

New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of State (DOS) recently released for public comment a draft comprehensive ten-year New York Ocean Action Plan (OAP) which seeks to promote the restoration, conservation, resiliency and sustainable use of the state's ocean ecosystem.

Maryland Takes Action to Address Ocean Acidification

The State of Maryland has become one of the first states to take decisive action to address the impacts of ocean acidification. A newly released report issued by a State Task Force outlines the impacts that acidification has on Maryland waters and calls for monitoring, industry partnerships and collaboration with federal agencies to address the threat.

Gulf Coast

Army Corps of Engineers to pump $27.6 million into Mississippi dredging, construction, maintenance

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will allocate an additional $27.6 million to Mississippi this year to supplement its dredging, construction and maintenance work.

Vitter Announces $62.4 Million for Louisiana Projects

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced that several Louisiana projects received additional funds in the Army Corps of Engineers' FY 2015 spending plan, which is a requirement of Congress in the FY 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Coastal authority could make decision on sediment diversion construction by year's end

Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority could take a vote by the end of 2015 on whether to move forward with plans to build and operate a major diversion of Mississippi River sediment and water to rebuild wetlands on both sides of the river.

14 new reefs planned for the Gulf

In the next few months, the city of Mexico Beach and the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) will build 14 new artificial reefs off the coast of Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe with the support of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

West Coast and Pacific Islands

GH Navigation Channel funded for deepening in 2015

Federal funding for the second phase of the project known as Deeper Draft has been secured, clearing the way to dredge the Grays Harbor shipping channel to a depth of minus 38 feet, Port of Grays Harbor officials said Wednesday. The Port has been working on the project for decades and 38-foot depth has been authorized by Congress since 1977.

Crumbling Seawall surrounding Naples Island gets $9M repair job

Naples Island in Long Beach has been turned into a construction zone as crews repair a crumbling seawall to withstand an earthquake. The waterways that wrap around the neighborhood have been around since the turn of the century. But those concrete canals are deteriorating fast. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said the city is planning to build new seawalls around the entire island, which is located on the southeastern edge of the city.

Cities get ready for global warming disasters

Eroding beaches and the seawater that lap onto the Embarcadero waterfront in San Francisco during high tide - not to mention severe storm flooding - were sending a clear message to a city surrounded by water on three sides.

Dealing with sea level rise becomes real in Marin

By next year work should be underway on National Park Service property at Stinson Beach to gird against rising seas that are predicted to swallow part of Marin's coast sometime this century. The threat of sea-level rise is the primary reason why the park service is planning a $2.3 million revamp of a waste water treatment system that serves more than 1 million people annually at various facilities along the beach and adjacent areas.

Great Lakes

Multi-million dollar Duluth Port Authority project will boost port's cargo capabilities

The largest project the Duluth Port Authority has taken on since the port was created is closer to reality. The Duluth Port Authority handles on average 38 million short tons of cargo a year, mostly coming and going by ship.

Obama's budget plan includes $2.8 million for Saginaw River dredging; deepening study

The shipping lane running down the Saginaw River will see improvements if Congress approves $2.8 million to dredge the channel as part of President Barack Obama's proposed budget.

Governor's budget includes water quality goals

As the House and Senate agriculture committees continue to work on new water quality legislation, the issue is getting the governor's attention, as well. He released a draft of the state fiscal budget Feb 2, which contains language that supports the main principles lawmakers are considering, while adding a few new provisions designed to keep farm nutrients out of the lake and in the fields.

Michigan DEQ releases State of the Great Lakes report

In the News

ASBPA - A new direction in federal flood protection

The face of federal flood protection and risk management is changing, and coastal communities and residents need to watch, learn and adapt.

The most recent manifestation of this change was well documented in the recent North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS), the result of Congress authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to study and learn from the devastation left by Superstorm Sandy.

Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal Brings Ocean Planning to You

Every map tells a story. The Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal wants to help you share yours - and connect with other users - through data-driven, multi-media explorations of the Mid-Atlantic. Never made a map? No problem. You can be an ocean mapping expert in no time.

Momentum Builds for Ocean Change

There's been a recent spate of good news about people dealing with the global problem of ocean acidification at the local level. Over the past month, the Maryland Ocean Acidification Task Force and Maine Ocean Acidification Commission have reported on what ocean acidification means for their states, and what each state can do to protect its local ocean. These are the first comprehensive state reports on the east coast to put forth suggested actions addressing acidification.

Humans are putting 8 million metric tons of plastic in the oceans - annually

Late last year we learned that, thanks to human beings, the oceans are carrying at least 5 trillion pieces of floating plastic - or nearly 700 pieces per human alive on the planet. In weight, that's some 250,000 tons of the stuff. But new research suggests that even that haul is probably a serious underestimate. In a paper published this week in the journal Science, Jenna Jambeck of the University of Georgia and a group of colleagues tried to estimate the total amount of plastic going into the oceans annually from 192 coastal countries, whose total population is 6.4 billion. People in these countries within 50 kilometers of the coast, the study estimates, produced 99.5 million metric tons of plastic waste in 2010 - and 31.9 of those million tons, the study estimates, were in some way mismanaged.

Announcements

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Implementation

Please join FEMA and federal partners during a series of Listening Sessions on the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Implementation. These sessions provide the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and provide feedback on how federal agencies implement the Standard.

Listening Sessions:

March 3, 2015 - 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (CT)

Iowa Water Conference Venue

Iowa State University

Scheman Building

Lincoln Way

Ames, Iowa 50011

March 5, 2015 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (CT)

Mississippi Recovery Office

220 Popps Ferry Road

Biloxi, Mississippi 39531

March 11, 2015 - 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (PT)

California Office of Emergency Services

3650 Schriever Ave

Mather, CA 95655

March 11, 2015 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (ET)

Old Dominion University

Ted Constant Convocation Center

4320 Hampton Blvd

Norfolk, VA 23529

Note: Due to space constraints of the facilities, seating may be limited. To reserve a seat in advance, please provide a request via email at least three days in advance with the contact information of the participant (including name, mailing address, and e-mail address), and the meeting to be attended to FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov and include the subject/attention line: Reservation Request for FFRMS. For anyone attending the meetings who is hearing or visually impaired, or who requires special assistance or accommodations, please also contact FEMA-FFRMS@fema.dhs.gov.

RESCHEDULED** Cape Cod and Islands Regional Public Hearing on the Draft Coastal Erosion Commission Report

The Cape Cod and Islands regional public hearing originally scheduled for February 12 to solicit public comments on the draft report released by the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Commission has been rescheduled.

The public hearing will now be held on March 25, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Barnstable Town Hall Hearing Room, 367 Main Street, Hyannis 02601.

For more information, see the Coastal Erosion Commission Draft Report web page. Submit comments to erosion-commission@state.ma.us by April 7.

2015 NOAA Satellite Conference

The 2015 NOAA Satellite Conference (NSC 2015) for environmental satellite users will be held April 27-May 1, 2015, in Greenbelt, Maryland. The conference will bring together users and providers of polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite data, products, and applications and provide them with a venue and opportunity for greater collaboration. NSC 2015 will consist of invited oral and poster presentations with an emphasis on environmental satellite technological, scientific, educational, and training opportunities and services to raise awareness of upcoming enhancements and prepare for their use. Participation is expected from 40 countries and will include members of NOAA, NASA, Department of Defense, Environment Canada, EUMETSAT, and the Hydrometeorological Services of countries in North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and Asia.

Michigan - DEQ releases State of the Great Lakes report

The DEQ recently released the 2014 Michigan State of the Great Lakes Report. Prepared by its Office of the Great Lakes, this report highlights state priorities and accomplishments in Great Lakes protection, restoration and economic development. The report brings together authors from state agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to analyze the top issues presently affecting Michigan's Great Lakes and coastal areas. The themes encompass Michigan's water heritage, revitalization and stewardship.

Calling all Coastal Planners

Are you a member of APA and planning to attend the National Conference in Seattle, WA? Is your focus shoreline and coastal planning? Join us to discuss creation of an APA Shoreline and Coastal Planner Interest Group on April 20, 2015 at 2:45 p.m. Look for session S825 in WSCC-211. Topics include roundtable discussions about climate change, working waterfronts, Coastal Zone Management and waterfront planning and design.

Proposed Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary in Wisconsin

Added to NOAA Inventory for Future Designation Consideration

The Cities of Port Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Two Rivers jointly announced today their Regional Nomination for a National Marine Sanctuary, submitted by Governor Walker on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin, has been officially added by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to the inventory of areas under consideration for future Sanctuary designations.

This Regional Nomination as submitted to NOAA detailed a proposed 875-square mile area National Marine Sanctuary, stretching from Port Washington to Two Rivers. The Sanctuary would be only the second the Great Lakes and the 14th in the United States.

100 New Case Studies Show How Communities Are Preparing Our Roads, Airports, and Transit Systems for Climate Change

One hundred case studies released today by the Georgetown Climate Center demonstrate how leaders are responding to the growing threats that climate change impacts pose to America's roads, airports, transit systems, and infrastructure. The case studies highlight some of the most innovative approaches being adopted around the country for considering climate change at all stages of decision-making: planning, design, construction, and operations and maintenance.

Job Openings

Oceana: Seafood Science Internship

Fisheries Development Director, International Pole & Line Foundation

Oceans Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund

Operations Director, Waitt Institute

Special Assistant to the President, Ocean Conservancy

2015 Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Research Fellowship; Maryland Sea Grant

International Relations Specialist, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Environmental Science Division Associate, The PEW Charitable Trusts

Specialist, The North American Association for Environmental Education

Location: Washington, DC
Description: The Affiliate Relations and Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for providing leadership and support to NAAEE and the NAAEE Affiliate Network and to help with all aspects of our collective work to advance EE. Activities will involve providing support to the Affiliate Network, drafting MOUs with each state affiliate, working with diverse affiliates to develop a dynamic website presence, promoting professional development through our website and other platforms, fundraising to build the capacity of NAAEE and the Affiliate Network, and other strategies to strengthen the field. The Specialist will also be responsible for helping to advance NAAEE's advocacy agenda, including professional development opportunities focused on advocacy and outreach.

For more information and to apply: drew@naaee.org with Affiliate Relations and Advocacy Specialist as the subject line

International Association for Great Lakes Research, Job Board

MG: Business Operations - formerly Coastal Resources Program Manager - GA/DNR's Coastal Resources Division

National Wildlife Federation, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Specialist

Upcoming Events

February 22-25, 2015