Gulf of Mexico Alliance  
Building Partnerships for a Healthier Gulf   

All Hands 

We're coming down to the wrack line. Here are a few details to help you finish your All Hands plans. 

Workshops
Esri Drone2Map - there are a few spots left. Sign up now. All the rest of our workshops are full. 

We are going live!
Join us on Thursday, June 13th at 10:30am for a Facebook live session to learn more about "Leave Only Footprints". Our partner the Texas State Aquarium is sharing this award winning marine debris reduction program with the region. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/TXStateAquarium/

Accommodations
Our room blocks are full! 

Tools Cafe' Demonstrations
Get a sneak peak of all the tools being demonstrated at the Esri sponsored Tools Cafe' and GOMA Reception on Monday, June 10th. 

Let us know you are attending. We are still taking last minute registrations

 
 2019 All Hands Sponsored By  
 


Clean Gulf Associates Joins Gulf Star Program

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (Alliance) is pleased to announce that Clean Gulf Associates, Inc. (Clean Gulf) is the newest member of the Gulf Star Program. They are a not-for-profit cooperative that provides expert support in the mitigation of marine incidents and protecting natural resources. Clean Gulf is joining the Alliance's Gulf Star partnership to support the Alliance's campaign, "Embrace the Gulf 2020," to positively promote the value of the Gulf of Mexico to the region and our nation.


Embrace the Gulf 2020

This month the Texas House Culture, Recreation and Tourism committee passed a resolution to Embrace the Gulf of Mexico in 2020. A similar resolution was passed by the Water and Rural Affairs committee of the Senate.  The different committee interests are a testament to the importance of the Gulf of Mexico across many issues.

We need you. Please help us by contributing a Gulf fact to the messages we're going to push through social media all throughout 2020. Provide something related to your organization, state, or GOMA Team as it connects to tourism, community, economy, education, or the environment. Provide a source that backs up your fact (we have QA/QC protocol). Then, email it to messages@gomxa.org.

We are gaining momentum. What are you planning for 2020?

#EmbraceTheGulf
Hess Gulf Star Contribution Expands Water Watch to Louisiana

 
The kickoff was held at the LPBF's new Canal Lighthouse that includes their Lakefront Learning Lab. Alliance Headquarters staff present were Becky Ginn, Development Coordinator, and Christina Mohrman, Program Coordinator. The Louisiana Water Watch builds on successful Gulf Star funded citizen science monitoring programs in other states. This is an example of using Alliance state connections to spread tried and true programs where they are needed in other regional states thus eliminating "recreating the wheel".  

View and share this brief kick off video. 
City of Orange Beach Develops Risk Communication Plan

Communicating clearly about the risks of coastal flooding and notifying residents of approaching disasters is an essential responsibility of local government. Proper flood communication is not merely about reaching as many people as possible, good flood communication should build upon other plans and procedures the city has to guard against future flood hazards. The City of Orange Beach developed a Program for Public Information (PPI) to accomplish these goals by providing for continual evaluation and monitoring of the communication process.
 
This project is part of the larger Climate and Resilience Community of Practice capacity building grant awarded to the Alliance by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Gulf Research Program. The creation of a PPI will enhance the city's education and outreach efforts and increase the city's Community Rating System (CRS) score under the National Flood Insurance Program (an incentive program that will lower flood insurance rates for their residents).
glasses_on_book.jpg
Resources

2018 Annual Report NAS Gulf Research Program
The annual report covers activities and accomplishments including grants, fellowships, collaborations, and other programs.

Recreational Water Quality Criteria and Methods
The EPA has issued the final Recommended Recreational Ambient Water Quality Criteria or Swimming Advisories for two Cyanotoxins, Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin. The agency identified recommended concentrations these cyanotoxins at or below which human health is protected while swimming or participating in other recreational activities.

Peeking Inside the Anatomy of a Derelict Vessel
The NOAA Office of Response and Recovery provides a cross-section of a typical abandoned and derelict vessel; identifying some of the hidden hazards.

Restoration

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


Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council)  
In April, the RESTORE Council opened a public review and comment period for the Planning Framework draft. Public meetings are scheduled around the coast through May. The Council also approved the Alabama State Expenditure Plan. See details below. Complete information on RESTORE Council activity 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.
 
Alabama - The State has an updated website Alabama Coastal Restoration that includes a map of all funded projects. 
 
Mississippi - Visit the Office of Restoration web page for announcements, procurement opportunities, project updates, and more.
 
Louisiana - The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) manages restoration activities for the state in conjunction with the State's Master Plan. All restoration information is available on the CPRA website.

Texas - For information on Texas activities go to 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 Science Program - This month, the program announced the Bryde's whale designation as an endangered species. The designation is due in part to research conducted by Dr. Lance Garrison and his team via funding through the NOAA RESTORE Science Program competitive funding opportunities. Current information on this program is available through the RESTORE Science Program website.  

National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Gulf Research Program - This month the program released its 2018 Annual Report. There are two open funding opportunities: Healthy Ecosystems 4 and Understanding Gulf Ocean Systems 2. The program maintains active Facebook and Twitter pages. Learn more about these and other program activities.  

Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) -  The Deepwater Horizon Trustees will hold an annual public meeting on June 6th and an outreach and education workshop on June 5th. Both are in Pensacola, Florida. The Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) announcements this month are: 
  • On May 17th, the Florida TIG announced that two new ferries have a new home port in Pensacola. The project aims to improve access to the Gulf Islands National Seashore by reducing auto traffic on roads.
     
  • On May 7th, the Open Ocean TIG released the Monitoring and Adaptive Management Strategy. The strategy lays out processes to assist with identifying and prioritizing information gaps and data needed to successfully plan, implement, evaluate, and adaptively manage Open Ocean restoration.
     
  • On May 15th, the Open Ocean TIG released the Draft Restoration Plan 2 and Environment Assessment for public comment (see below). It covers 18 projects in 4 restoration types: fish and water column invertebrates, sea turtles, marine mammals, and mesophotic and deep benthic communities. 
Comprehensive Gulf NRDA information is available on  www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.   
 
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) - For information on NFWF supported projects, go to their website.  

North American Conservation Wetlands Act fund (NAWCA) - The Mexican Standard Grants cycle closes on June 24th and the U.S. Standard Grants cycle closes on July 3rd. Information for this program is available on the NAWCA website.

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) - The 2020 GoMOSES Conference is now accepting submissions for scientific sessions. The deadline is June 21, 2019. Comprehensive GoMRI information is on gulfresearchinitiative.org. 

crowdfunding.jpg
Funding

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

Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Grant Program - Grants are intended to fund environmental concerns within the coastal zone and promote sustainable economic development. Mandatory Pre-proposals are due June 12, 2019.

NEH Division of Public Programs Digital Projects for the Public - The Digital Projects for the Public program supports projects that interpret and analyze humanities content in primarily digital platforms and formats, such as websites, mobile applications and tours, interactive touch screens and kiosks, games, and virtual environments. The projects must be designed to attract broad public audiences. The deadline is June 12, 2019.

Spencer Foundation Large-Scale Education Projects - Grants of up to $1 million will be awarded to support intellectually ambitious large-scale education research projects. To create much-needed space for creative and ambitious research projects that promise to advance our understanding of educational practice and its improvement, the program encourages proposals from scholars across a variety of disciplines and fields. The application deadline is June 20, 2019.

Woodard & Curran Foundation 3 Year Impact Grant - These address innovative projects for technology advancement and climate change. The letter of intent is due June 30, 2019.

People for Bikes Grant Program  - Program accepts grant applications from non-profit organizations with a focus on bicycling, active transportation, or community development, from city or county agencies or departments, and from state or federal agencies working locally. The Fall 2019 Grant Cycle letter of interest interest opens  June 17, 201 and closes July 26, 2019   with full applications due October 18, 2019.
   
NOAA RESTORE Science Program 2019-2021 Funding Calendar 
colors_people_group.jpg
Events

Our events page lists workshops, conferences, symposia, trainings, webinars, and other notable activities. Please email us with things to post and share.

Selected events:
  • Capitol Hill Ocean Week
    June 4-6, Washington, D.C.
  • Gulf Spill Restoration Outreach and Education Workshop
    June 5, 2019, Pensacola, FL
  • Public Meeting: NRDA Trustees Annual Meeting
    June 6, 2019, Pensacola, FL
  • World Oceans Day
    June 8, 2019
  • Gulf of Mexico Alliance All Hands
    June 10-13, 2019, Gulf Shores, AL
  • National Marine Educators Association NMEA 2019
    July 21-25, 2019, Durham, NH
  • Gulf Coast Land Conservation Conference
    September 9-11, 2019, Point Clear, AL
handsome_journalist_wtite.jpg
Comment Periods

Click here to request a comment period to be shared in our next newsletter.   

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council is seeking public review and comment on the Planning Framework draft. Public comments are due June 12, 2019. 

NOAA NMFS T aking and Importing Marine Mammals: U.S. Navy Training and Testing in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Area. Public comments are due June 12, 2019

The NRDA Open Ocean TIG is seeking public comment on the Draft Restoration Plan 2 and Environment Assessment. Public comments are due by July 1, 2019.
   
For all federal rules, comments, adjudications or supporting documents visit regulations.gov.

The NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office maintains a bulletin of public notices and news releases related to topics of importance on many Gulf of Mexico issues.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has a website that includes fish regulations, amendments, and meeting announcements. See their Public Hearings for updates on sea turtle release protocol, venting tools, state management of recreational Red snapper, and other pertinent fishery management issues.

Gulf of Mexico Alliance
1151 Robinson Street, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
  www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org 
For newsletter submissions contact Lee.Yokel@gomxa.org
May 2019

STAY CONNECTED