At the Agencies
NOAA Fisheries has issued regulations and letters of authorization to the U.S. Navy requiring they use measures to minimize impacts to marine mammals while conducting training and testing activities in Navy ranges in state waters off Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
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EPA is seeking public comment on the effectiveness of existing programs to address water quality impacts associated with forest road stormwater discharges. After considering these comments, EPA will publish an additional notice on or before May 26, 2016, with its determination as to whether stormwater discharges from forest roads are required to be regulated under Clean Water Act section 402(p)(6).
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In the News
The state of Hawaii is gathering information from the scientific community and local stakeholders to create a comprehensive coral reef management plan, but officials said Monday they will not yet impose a requested moratorium on collecting aquarium fish. Officials said that after gathering more information they hope to be able to start implementing a management plan by the end of 2016. Their goal is to emphasize resilience and restoration of reefs that are suffering in the face of global warming.
On November 18, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA). The MOU aims to facilitate joint efforts concerning science, stewardship, and management related to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The MOU also includes a sister MPA program to foster conservation and understanding of natural marine resources in both countries, sharing technical and scientific data, and promoting education and outreach initiatives.
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In the States and Regions
East Coast
The National Fish and Wildlife is awarding nearly $20 million from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund to six state projects designed to remedy harm and reduce the risk of future harm to natural resources affected by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Five projects will directly impact the marine life and waterways surrounding Escambia County. Commissioner Grover Robinson IV (District-4) said the projects will benefit the local economy and recreational opportunities for the community by improving the environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico.
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The North Carolina Resources Commission met in Atlantic Beach Wednesday to talk about issues affecting the entire coast.One of the biggest issues on the coast is sand bag regulations. Wednesday's meeting laid out new rules for homeowners to protect their homes. "We have to come up with some way to help property owners protect their properties and this in North Carolina is the best way we found to do that," said Michele Walker, a spokeswoman for the NC Division of Coastal Management.
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Gulf Coast
The America's WETLAND Foundation (AWF) announced a partnership of diverse interests to restore four miles of embankment along both sides of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) in Lafourche Parish, LA, bringing private investment to restoration to protect both environmental and economic interests and serving as a new model of cooperation in coastal restoration efforts.
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Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley announced that in a third round of grants from the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has approved more than $21 million for five Alabama projects to restore some of Alabama's natural resources affected by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon
explosion and oil spill.
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West Coast and Pacific Islands
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official discussed with acting governor Ralph DLG Torres on Thursday [November 12] the status of feasibility studies for repairs and upgrades to the Tinian and Rota harbors. Derek J. Chow, chief of the Civil and Public Works branch, said they need a local match to federal fiscal years 2015 and 2016 dollars to move ahead with the study.
Great Lakes
The Obama administration has approved $1.35 million in funding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requested for a cost-benefit study of an additional shipping lock on the river that connects Lakes Huron and Superior.
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The U.S Environmental Protection Agency announced on November 9 the award of new funding for major Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects in the Clinton River Area of Concern totaling nearly $20 million. Senior Advisor to the EPA Administrator Cameron Davis was joined by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, Clinton River Public Advisory Council Chair Lynne Seymour and representatives of the grantees. They announced the projects at the Harbor Club South Apartments near the Clinton River Spillway, which connects the two congressional districts.
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Announcements & More
NOAA's Digital Coast Training
Great lakes Section
Let NOAA's Digital Coast help your community plan and build smarter with the
Contact the training team for more information.
GIWiz is an interactive web application that connects communities to EPA Green Infrastructure tools & resources. Green infrastructure uses natural landscapes to manage water and provide environmental and community benefits.
For more information, please click here.
Guidance on Interpreting Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Massachusetts CZM has developed
Interpreting Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Maps and Studies in the Coastal Zone, which provides guidance on how to use these Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tools to better understand the potential effects of flooding on buildings, properties, and the underlying natural resource areas. This information can be used by homeowners and consultants to ensure that the safest possible coastal projects are designed, as well as by public officials to successfully evaluate projects to ensure they are designed to minimize storm damage, protect public safety, and reduce the financial burden on individuals and municipalities from losses due to coastal storms. For more information, please
click here
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OneNOAA Science Seminars, 2015 and 2016
Title:
Vulnerability Assessment of California Current Food Webs and Economics to Ocean Acidification
Date & Time: Tuesday,
November 24, 12pm - 1pm
Title: Using the US Clean Water Act to Develop Biocriteria for Coral Reefs
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 1, 12pm - 1pm
Title: Upland Development & Shoreline Hardening Negatively Impact Estuarine Benthos, Fish and Waterbirds
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 8, 12pm - 1pm
Title: Maps and Datasets for Blue Carbon Habitats
Date & Time: Thursday, February 11, 1pm - 2pm
Seminars are open to the public. For remote access, location, abstracts and more, visit the OneNOAA Science Seminar Calendar at:
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/seminars/
Seminars are posted in Eastern Time and subject to changes without notice; please check the web page for the latest seminar updates.
Events
December 1- 2, 2015
December 8, 2015
December 16, 2015
March 14 -17 , 2016
April 2 - 5, 2016
June 19 - 24, 2016
December 10 -15, 2016
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