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2019 All Hands by the Numbers
- by Laura Bowie, Executive Director
This month, we hosted our 15th All Hands meeting. It is hard to capture how it feels to watch so many people working together for the good of the Gulf. To prove it, here are some of the unique things about our meeting in Gulf Shores on June 10-13:
- 6 Priority Issue Team Meetings
- 3 Cross-Team Initiative Meetings
- 19 tools at the Tools Café
- 20 different workshops or meetings
- 30 sponsors
- 425 attendees
- Countless waves crashing along the beautiful Gulf Shores beaches
Read more.
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The Esri Partnership Continues
Next month, July 8-12, 2019 is the Esri User Conference in San Diego, California. Are you or someone from your organization attending? Have you seen the agenda? Would you like suggestions on which sessions to attend? Esri has offered to create a special ocean related topics guide for GOMA/GOMA affiliated participants.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) coastal management, aerial LiDAR and imagery, coastal ecosystems, watershed management (sedimentation impacts), ocean GIS, Story Maps and much more. Esri's intent is to help you navigate the massive agenda for a better user experience. If you are interested in more information, please contact Dave Reed (
[email protected]) by July 5th.
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Deepwater Horizon Settlement-funded Ferries Provide Easier Access to the Wonders of Pensacola Bay
This August will mark 460 years since Spanish explorer and Conquistador Tristán de Luna sailed 11 vessels into what is now known as Pensacola Bay and established the nation's oldest (but short-lived) European settlement. Now two 150-passenger catamaran-style ferryboats are navigating these same waters, thanks to settlement funds resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill's Natural Resource Damage Assessment (DWH NRDA) process. The ferries, which started service last year, began running from downtown Pensacola out of a brand-new $3.5 million home port that opened for business on April 20, 2019.
Read more.
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It's Back! The Great Red Snapper Count
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium is working with a team of scientists around the region on a massive study of Red Snapper. This spring, partners released 4,000 legal-sized, tagged fish across the Gulf of Mexico. This citizen science opportunity is one where a lucky angler may be rewarded with $250 cash for each tag reported and returned. There is even a great app,
iSnapper, that allows you help enter data as part of this historic study.
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Resources
Environmental Justice Assistance Guide
A
Guide from the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ) is available to help communities find resources and assistance related to EJ issues.
Tools Cafe' Demonstrations
Download an overview of the
19 tools showcased this year during the 2019 All Hands Tools Cafe'.
GulfCorps Video
The Nature Conservancy unveiled a new
GulfCorps video that highlights the program's regional restoration efforts and young adult involvement.
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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)
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 - A Florida RESTORE Coordinator meeting is planned for September with specific information forthcoming.
The
Gulf Consortium
and
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) maintain websites
of related restoration information.
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. On June 3rd, CPRA announced a project to restore two barrier islands and a headland in Terrebonne Basin with funding from the NFWF Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. On June 21st, CPRA announced an agreement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to aid this restoration.
All restoration information is available on the
CPRA website.
Texas -
For information on Texas activities go to
www.restorethetexascoast.org
.
NOAA RESTORE Science Program -
On June 20th, the program announced it is providing supplemental funding to study the impact of Hurricane Michael on seagrass. The funding supports a larger award to the University of Southern Mississippi that measured seagrass community health and blue crab mortality across Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Current information on this program is available through the RESTORE Science Program website.
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Gulf Research Program -
There are three fellowship opportunities open. Find these and other program information on their website.
Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) -
The Deepwater Horizon Trustees held an annual public meeting on June 5-6, 2019. Outreach materials from the meeting are now available. The Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) announcements this month are:
- On June 4th, the Alabama TIG announced they initiated drafting a third restoration plan. It will address recreational opportunities and bird restoration.
- On June 25th, the Florida TIG released the Draft Phase V.3 Plan, part of the Florida Coastal Access Project. A public meeting is scheduled for July 18th and the public comment period is open until July 22, 2019.
- The Louisiana TIG is planning restoration activities for coastal wetlands, oyster reef habitat, barrier and coastal islands, and beach and dunes. Restoration project ideas may be submitted in the project portal through July 5, 2019.
- The Open Ocean TIG extended their public comment period on the Draft Restoration Plan 2 until July 15, 2019. See below.
- The Open Ocean TIG held public engagement opportunities this month. Related meeting materials are now available.
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) -
For information on NFWF supported projects, go to their website.
North American Conservation Wetlands Act fund (NAWCA) - The U.S. Standard Grants cycle 2 closes on July 3rd. Canadian Standard Grants close on August, 23, 2019. Information for this program is available on the
NAWCA website.
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Funding
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance maintains a
Funding Opportunities web page of programs. Below are selected opportunities from that page.
NRDA Louisiana TIG
Submit Your Ideas for Restoration in Louisiana - The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is planning restoration activities to address injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They would like your input regarding natural resource restoration opportunities in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard Parishes in Louisiana. The deadline is July 5, 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 opens
June 17, 201 and closes July 26, 2019
with full applications due October 18, 2019.
NOAA Fisheries
Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity FY2020 - The goal of the program is to fund projects that address the needs of fishing communities, optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries, and increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable. Preproposals are due July 30, 2019.
Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence
(MBRACE) Request for Proposals - There are two tracks: (1) Competitive Research Program, and (2) Core Research Program. The deadline is August 15, 2019.
USDA NRCS
Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program - Pilot projects will consist broadly of three coordinated components: 1) feral swine removal by APHIS; 2) restoration efforts supported by NRCS; and 3) assistance to producers for feral swine control provided through partnership agreements with non-federal partners. The deadline is August 19, 2019.
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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:
- Esri User Conference
July 8-12, 2019, San Diego, CA
- Natural Hazards & Applications Workshop
July 14-18, 2019, Broomfield, CO
- NRDA Florida TIG Public Meeting
July 18, 2019, Navarre, FL
- National Marine Educators Association NMEA
July 21-25, 2019, Durham, NH
- GOMA Wednesday Webinar - Embrace the Gulf
July 31, 2019 online
- Gulf Coast Land Conservation Conference
September 9-11, 2019, Point Clear, AL
- National Estuaries Week
September 14-21, 2019
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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.
FEMA is seeking public comment for a new Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Comments are due by July 15, 2019.
The NRDA Florida TIG is seeking public comment on the Draft Phase V.3 Plan. This is part of the Florida Coastal Access Project. Comments are due July 22, 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.
EPA specific though relevant to providing effective feedback.
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