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All Hands 2018 - Last Minute Details
There is so much going on this year. We are really excited. A few RSVP deadlines:
- Deadline June 1: Kayak Trip
- Deadline June 1: Blueways Trail Luncheon
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Deadline June 8th: Online Registration
walk-up registration available onsite
- Deadline June 8th: Monitoring Community of Practice - walk-up registration available onsite
New! Blueways Trail Luncheon
Are you interested in blueways/paddling/kayaking? If so, please join the luncheon at the GOMA All Hands meeting on Wednesday (June 13) from noon until 1:30 in room HTC3. There will be a discussion to develop a regional partnership to connect and expand bluewater trails in the Gulf of Mexico and the potential for a "five state paddle" event to celebrate and embrace the Gulf in 2020.
Learn more and RSVP.
Thank You to All Our Sponsors
Equinor * Shell
The Balmoral Group * GCOOS * NOAA
Gulf Regional Sea Grant
NGI * The Nature Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy * HRI* GOMURC * NatureServe
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
EPA Gulf of Mexico Program * National Audubon Society
Mote Scientific Foundation
National Wildlife Federation * Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation
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Marine Cadastre Survey
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) requested GOMA's assistance to gather feedback on the Marine Cadastre. To fill this request, we are asking all of our partners to take a short (<10 mins) survey.
In appreciation of your valuable time, GOMA is offering a chance to win prizes for those who complete this survey. The winners will be determined by a random drawing. All survey respondents qualify for a chance to win. There will also be a brief session during the Data and Monitoring Team meeting on Thursday, June 14th, to discuss survey results and provide additional feedback, discussion and a last chance to win. The random prize drawing will take place at the conclusion of the 2018 GOMA All Hands Meeting.
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GEMS: Assessing the Broad Impacts of Gulf Restoration
Billions of dollars will be devoted to restoring Gulf of Mexico ecosystems over the coming decades. However, there is no common method to assess restoration progress across the many different types of funded projects in the region, making it impossible to understand how different projects are contributing to broader environmental, social, and economic goals.
A new project, Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Service Logic Models and Socio-Economic Indicators (GEMS), led by Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, and The Nature Conservancy will address this gap by standardizing measures of restoration.
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Gulf Coastal Training
The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Training Program (CTP) is a unique collaboration between the five Gulf Coast National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Coastal Training Programs. The NERR System is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the coastal states establishing a network of protected areas for long-term research, education and stewardship. The CTP is a bridge between science, policy, and coastal resource management communities. It encourages collaboration among the many individuals, businesses, disciplines, and institutions who affect coastal and estuarine ecosystems.
The Gulf of Mexico CTP recently launched a new website to showcase their workshops, resources, and partners.
Learn more.
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National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Five-Year Report
April 20th marked the 8th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund's (GEBF) 5th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) produced the "Five-Year Report 2013-2018" and a video highlighting some of the significant conservation outcomes achieved under the program. Awards made by the NFWF benefit wildlife, habitats and coastal communities in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Since the GEBF's 2013 inception, more than $1 billion, across 122 projects, have been awarded to remedy harm and reduce the risk of future harm to natural resources that were affected by the oil spill.
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Restoration
Activities related to Deepwater Horizon oil spill research and restoration are updated monthly.
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council) - Complete information on these and other projects 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 - On May 17th, the Gulf Consortium approved the
State Expenditure Plan for RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (bucket 3) funds. The Governor will transmit the plan to the RESTORE Council for approval.
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 activity can be found
here.
Alabama - The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC) this month released the Draft Multiyear Implementation Plan (MIP) for a 45-day public comment period that ends June 4, 2018. Activities of the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC)
are on their website.
Mississippi -
Restoration in Mississippi is led by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Visit the Office of Restoration web page for announcements, procurement opportunities, project updates, and more.
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. C
oastal Louisiana restoration updates are available on the
CPRA website.
Texas - This month Texas Commission on Environmental Quality staff were directed by Commissioner Baker to submit an administrative update to the RESTORE Council. The update advises on the State's effort to develop a State Expenditure Plan (SEP). A draft SEP is underway and a public comment period is expected once the draft is complete.
Deepwater Horizon related Texas restoration activities can be found on
www.restorethetexascoast.org
.
NOAA RESTORE Science Program -
The program is anticipating the FFO-2019 release in June. The funding opportunity is looking for proposals dedicated to integrated, long-term projects. These updates and more information are found on their dedicated website.
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Gulf Research Program -
This month the program released $340,000 to assist scientific research impacted by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The program called for nominations to a Standing Committee to Advise the Gulf Research Program on the Understanding of Gulf Ocean Systems Research Campaign. They are also accepting applications for a Senior Program Officer. 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 Implementation Groups (TIGs) announcements this month include:
- The Louisiana TIG responded to public comments and proposed modifications to the Elmer's Island Access Project. Public comments are being accepted on the proposed changes in the Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Elmer's Island Access Project Modification by June 20, 2018.
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) -
A complete list of the NFWF Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund projects can be found on their website.
North American Conservation Wetlands Act fund (NAWCA) - This announcement and other pertinent information is available on the
NAWCA website.
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) - The 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference (GoMOSES) is accepting submissions for scientific sessions. The deadline is July 1, 2018. The conference is planned for February 4 - 7, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in New Orleans, LA. Get comprehensive information on GoMRI research at
gulfresearchinitiative.org.
Visit the Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker and the Story Map.
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Funding
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance maintains a
Funding Opportunities web page of current opportunities. Below are selected opportunities from that page.
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. Letter of interest acceptance begins
June 11, 2018 and closes July 23, 2018.
Texas General Land Office
Coastal Management Grant Program
- Grants are intended to fund valuable projects that improve resilience and build a stronger coastline. Mandatory Pre-proposals are due June 14, 2018.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Tribal Resilience and Ocean and Coastal Management Planning - This program supports tribes preparing for extreme events and harmful environmental trends that impact tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, infrastructure, and human health and safety. The Program will provide funding for tribal projects that support tribal resilience and ocean and coastal management planning as tribes incorporate science (including Traditional Knowledge) and technical information to prepare for the impacts of extreme events and harmful environmental trends. The deadline is July 2, 2018.
NAS Thriving Communities Grants 5 - The Gulf Research Program seeks to help bridge the gap between the knowledge and practice of community resilience. They seek approaches that will advance information exchange between resilience researchers and those that seek to implement policies and practices to enhance the resilience and well-being of their communities. This will open July 2018.
Science and Restoration
Funding Calendar
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Comment Periods
Click here to request a comment period to be shared in our next newsletter.
The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (Council) Seeks Comment on Draft Mulityear Implementation Plan (MIP) - The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (Council) recently released its Draft Mulityear Implementation Plan (MIP). The deadline is June 4, 2018.
The NRDA Louisiana TIG will receive public comments on the Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Elmer's Island Access Project Modification between May 21st and June 20, 2018.
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.
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