Building Partnerships for a Healthier Gulf
Gulf of Mexico Alliance
 
e-Newsletter December 2017  
Jump to our regular sections on Restoration , Funding , Comment Periods , and Events .
New year. New web look. 
GOMA Priority Issue Team Workshops & Mid-Year Meetings
 
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Priority Issue Teams are hosting workshops and holding individual team mid-year meetings over the next few months. The one or two-day meetings are intended to give the Teams an opportunity to work more closely on specific projects related to Action Plan III.   
 
Benthic Habitat Mapping Workshop
Source:  NOAA Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas

February 5 in New Orleans, LA
This workshop supports the Data and Monitoring Team's Gulf of Mexico Master Mapping Plan focus area. This year, partners hope to develop a model for alignment of the many mapping efforts already ongoing or funded for the near term. Updates from various efforts will be shared, including the Florida Coastal Mapping Program, the RESTORE Council-funded Council Monitoring and Assessment Program (CMAP), and the Alliance's Master Mapping Plan.
 
The Benthic Habitat Mapping Workshop is being held in conjunction with the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference (GoMOSES) in New Orleans, LA. The workshop will be Monday, February 5, 2018 and there is no charge for the meeting. Download the preliminary draft agenda or contact the Team for more information. 
 
Priority Issue Team Meetings 
February 7, 2018: Wildlife and Fisheries (in New Orleans in conjunction with GoMOSES)
February 8, 2018: Habitat Resources (in New Orleans in conjunction with GoMOSES)
February 27-28, 2018: Education and Engagement (in Weeks Bay, AL)
April 2018: Data and Monitoring (TBD) 

The Water Resources Team is in the planning stages. Contact your Team's Coordinator for details. If you are looking for other events, scroll through our events calendar for these and other upcoming activities.
Oil Spill Outreach Team Releases New Publication

The Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant oil spill science specialists work together on oil spill related research topics. They help distill in-depth science topics into easily communicated information.  
 
In December, the Team released a publication on corals, titled "Coral and Oil Spills. Scientists have discovered that the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill injured some deep water coral communities, while others in shallow areas appeared unharmed. The publication can be found here
 
They are conducting a free event in Lacombe, LA on Responding to oil spills: Offshore and deep sea habitats on January 9th. This is offered online or in-person. They will be holding a free workshop at the GoMOSES conference on February 5th on "Sharing science effectively: Know your audience and speak their language."  
 
Get copies of all the Team's publications, dates for upcoming workshops on their Gulf Sea Grant web pages. Sign up for their mailing list today.
restorationRestoration

Activities related to Deepwater Horizon oil spill research and restoration are updated monthly.


Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council)  T hose interested in RESTORE Council activities and notices are encouraged to sign up for eBlasts. Complete information is available on  RestoreTheGulf.gov
 
U.S. Department of Treasury - All RESTORE Act Direct Component activities administered by the Department of Treasury are listed on the official website

In the States

Florida - The Gulf Consortium and  Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) maintain  websites of related restoration information.  Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation organized to oversee the expenditure of 75 percent of all funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damages to the state that resulted from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Triumph may make awards from available funds. The application is now available. View this and other activity here.   
 
Alabama - Read about the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC) activities on their website.
 
Mississippi - This month the state received two additional RESTORE funded projects. Stream restoration projects will leverage $5 million with NFWF funds to improve water quality entering the Mississippi Sound. The William Carey University School of Pharmacy will use $1 million to support workforce development as identified in the priorities developed by the GoCoast 2020 Commission.

MDEQ maintains the Mississippi Gulf Spill Restoration Projects story map. It has been updated with newly funded projects. The amended Multiyear Implementation Plan and 2017 State Expenditure Plan are available for public input by January 15, 2018. To read about these and other Mississippi activities visit Making Mississippi Whole
 
Louisiana - The State of Louisiana is represented by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) on state and RESTORE Council activities. Restoration activities are conducted in conjunction with the State's Master Plan. The Annual Plan Public Hearings are scheduled for the second week of January. Check their calendar for dates, times, and locations. C oastal Louisiana restoration updates are available on the CPRA website.

Texas -  TCEQ Commissioner Baker announced on December 20th the Department of Treasury accepted the final Multiyear Implementation Plan. The MIP accepted differs only slightly from the one that was initially submitted. The primary difference is additional information in the question and action section of the MIP. The list of projects and requested funding amounts did not change.

The Texas Trustees and NFWF are soliciting projects for the 2018 Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund cycle. The deadline is January 3, 2018. All Deepwater Horizon related Texas restoration activities can be found on www.restorethetexascoast.org.

Centers of Excellence

Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program ( FLRACEP)
Alabama Center of Excellence (ACE)
Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence ( MBRACE)
RESTORE Act Center of Excellence Louisiana
Texas OneGulf
Texas Subsea Systems Institute

NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program -   Updates and information on this program are found their dedicated website. 

National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Gulf Research Program - The program announced on December 7th new projects totaling $10.8 million. Six projects involve research to develop new technologies, processes, or procedures that could result in improved understanding and management of systemic risk in offshore oil and gas operations. Announcements and activities related to Gulf of Mexico research and restoration can be found on the Gulf Research Program website

Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) - The NRDA Trustees are holding a public meeting today, November 30th in Mobile, Alabama, at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza.  They will provide an update on their work since the BP settlement, and describe restoration planning activities and opportunities for public engagement.  Representatives of the seven Trustee Implementation Groups (TIGs) will give updates. TIG activity this month:
  • The Louisiana TIG released the Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities for public comment. See below.
All Trustee activities and comprehensive Gulf NRDA information is available on www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) - Last month NFWF announced more than $100 million toward projects approved for restoration on the Gulf Coast. A complete listing of all Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) projects funded to date can be found here. The NFWF  website has information on all funded projects with a map of all their programs worldwide. 

North American Conservation Wetlands Act fund (NAWCA) - 2018 grant deadlines and other information are available on the NAWCA website. A meta-database is available to search for previous awards. The next grant cycle deadline is February 2018. 

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) - The 2018 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference will be February 5-8, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.  This program includes Monday workshops and the return of the Data Tools Cafe. Check the website for details. Get comprehensive information on GoMRI at gulfresearchinitiative.org. 

Visit the Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker Story Map.
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fundingFunding

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance maintains a Funding Opportunities web page of current opportunities. Below are selected opportunities from that page.

Link to Funding Opportunities page

2018   NFWF Gulf Environmental Benefit Fun Project Solicitation - The Texas Trustee agencies (GLO, TPWD, and TCEQ) and the NFWF are soliciting projects. Projects submitted via the submitter dashboard or the NOAA website by the deadline will be considered. Projects previously submitted on these websites during 2017 will continue to be considered and do not need to be resubmitted unless there have been material changes to the project scope or budget. The submission deadline is January 3, 2018.
 
NOAA 2018 Projects of Special Merit Federal Funding Announcement - Search grants.gov for announcement number NOAA-NOS-OCM-2018-2005389.  The funding is open to eligible coastal management programs, 2 applications allowed per CZM program; $250k max per project; focus on hazards or advancing comprehensive ocean and Great Lakes planning efforts. Proposals are due January 5, 2018. 
 
National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) 2018 Broad Agency Announcement N00014-17-S-B016 - The full proposal deadline is January 29, 2018.  
 
NOAA Coastal Hypoxia Research Program (CHRP) - This announcement solicits proposals to better understand the effects of hypoxia on the Nation's oceans, estuaries, coasts, and Great Lakes ecosystems; ecosystem services; and human communities. CHRP will support targeted laboratory and/or field studies and/or the development of quantitative predictive models or other relevant methods. The deadline is January 30, 2018.  
 
NFWF Longleaf Stewardship Fund Request for Proposals - Proposals are to expand and enhance longleaf pine ecosystem restoration and management across longleaf pine's historical range, as well as the restoration and enhancement of bottomland hardwood forests within priority focal areas.The deadline is February 8, 2018. 

NAS Gulf Research Program Capacity Building Grants: Education Advancing Scientific and Environmental Literacy in Children and Youth - This grant aims to support experiences that foster the development of scientific and environmental literacy, skills, competencies, and capabilities that are critical to cultivating a next generation of informed citizens, scientists, engineers, and decision-makers. Activities should focus on service-, project-, or problem- based learning opportunities. Activities may take place in formal or informal educational settings, should target children and youth in the K-12 grade range, and be complementary to formal education standards and learning objectives. Opens December 13th. Letters of Intent (LOIs) are required and due February 14, 2018. Full proposals are due April 11, 2018.  
 
Science and Restoration  Funding Calendar
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commentComment Periods

Click here to request a comment period to be shared in our next newsletter.  
  
Mississippi's amended Multiyear Implementation Plan and 2017 State Expenditure Plan Amendment are available for public review and comment by January 15, 2018. Please visit www.restore.ms to view amendments.   
 
The Louisiana TIG Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #2: Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities is available for public comment.The deadline for comments is January 19, 2018. 
 
NOAA is encouraging public review and comment on the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4). The deadline is January 31, 2018.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has an updated website. Improvements make finding fish regulations, amendments, and meetings much easier. See their Public Hearings for updates on sea turtle release protocol, deep sea coral protection areas, and other pertinent fishery management issues.

Gulf of Mexico Alliance | 228-215-1246 | www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org 
For newsletter submissions contact Lee.Yokel@gomxa.org
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