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Get ahead in the new year and submit your early registration for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance 2020 All Hands Meeting. It is scheduled for June 23-25, 2020 at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Registration is now open.
2020 All Hands Sponsors
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Mid-Year Meeting Recap
The Alliance's six Priority Issue Teams recently held their mid-year meetings to connect with partners, share project updates, and plan for future work. In December 2019, the Coastal Resilience Team hosted approximately 50 members at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport, MS. This 100-year-old property was the perfect venue for their meeting, which focused on preservation and improved resilience of historical sites.
In January 2020, the Monitoring Community of Practice and all other Priority Issue Teams (Data and Monitoring, Education and Engagement, Habitat Resources, Water Resources, Wildlife and Fisheries) held combined meetings in Mobile, AL. Topics for the 200 attendees included targeted project discussions and early planning for Action Plan IV. The Teams also led two successful interdisciplinary workshops on oyster data sharing and harmful algal blooms.
Stay in touch with your Team for the next steps and join them at the June All Hands Meeting for further engagement.
Connect with a Team.
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Take the Action Plan IV Survey
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (Alliance) is making excellent progress on many of its goals. We invite you to help us as we are beginning the early stages of planning for Action Plan IV. Please take
this survey
to inform our progress.
Read more.
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Embrace the Gulf Photo Contest Winners!
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Best in Show by Bill Bass |
We want to thank everyone for their outstanding submissions in the Embrace the Gulf photo contest. We received nearly 300 entries!
Congratulations to Bill Bass on his best in show placement and to Helen McNally for 1st place in the under 18 category. Many of the submitted entries may be used in the Embrace the Gulf social media campaign. Be sure to engage us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You may see your photo showcased.
See all the winning entries.
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2019 Gulf Star Annual Report
The Gulf Star program is cumulative! The 2019 report boasts some impressive numbers: 50 projects, over 1000 volunteer hours, 31 organizations, 1,326 verified scientific sources, and more. The public-private partnership continues to make great strides. To become a Gulf Star partner, contact Development Director,
Becky Ginn.
Get the 2019 Annual Gulf Star report.
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Shout Out this Month to Kristina Broussard!
Meet Kristina Broussard with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. She is a valuable member of our Water Resources Team.
This summer, Kristina participated in a Q&A session on harmful algal blooms at the Ocean Springs, MS, library. She answered tough questions from concerned citizens about the then, ongoing cyanobacteria blooms.
As part of Kristina's work, water sampling the Mississippi coast, we know more about bloom concentrations, the longevity of them, and the prolific nature of cyanobacteria. Good job, Kristina Broussard.
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GEMS Project Is Making Strides
The Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Service Logic Models and Socio-Economic Indicators (GEMS) project is working to standardize measures of the socioeconomic benefits of restoration. With billions of dollars forecast over the coming decade, a set of common models and metrics relevant across projects, programs, and locations can facilitate effective project planning and evaluation.
The project team just completed Phase I involving oyster reef restoration and is moving into Phase II. If you're interested in becoming involved in Phase II, contact Katie Warnell, katie.warnell@duke.edu.
Read more about GEMS.
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Restoration
To support our varied partner network, we are sharing Deepwater Horizon-related restoration updates on the restoration page of our website. It is updated with recent announcements.
Recent restoration updates are available for:
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
- NRDA Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group
- NRDA Texas Trustee Implementation Group
- NRDA Florida Trustee Implementation Group
- NRDA Alabama Trustee Implementation Group
- NRDA Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group
- National Academies of Sciences Gulf Research Program
- NOAA Restore Science Program
- Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
- The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
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Events
Our
events page lists workshops, conferences, trainings, webinars, and other notable activities. Please
email us with things to post and share.
Selected events:
- Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference
February 3-6, Tampa, FL
- 2020 Texas Land Conservation Conference
February 26, Austin, TX
- GOMA Wednesday Webinar: Vulnerability & Adaptation Planning
March 25, Online
- 2020 Florida Coastal Mapping Summit
March 31, St. Petersburg, FL
- Texas Bays & Estuaries Meeting
April 23-24, Port Aransas, TX
- Louisiana State of the Coast
May 26-28, New Orleans, LA
- GOMA All Hands Meeting
June 23-25, Biloxi, MS
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Funding Opportunities
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance maintains a
Funding Opportunities web page of programs. Below are our top three selected opportunities this month.
USDA Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
The
Community Forest Program is to establish community benefits such as sustainable forest management, environmental benefits including clean air, water, and wildlife habitat as well as other things such as stewardship, recreation, and public access. The deadline is February 6, 2020.
DOI FWS North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Standard Grants
Standard grant projects must involve only long-term protection, restoration, enhancement and/or establishment of wetland and associated upland habitats to benefit migratory birds. The deadline is February 21, 2020.
Climate and Resilience Community of Practice 2020 Small Grant Award Competition
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, in collaboration with NOAA's Office for Coastal Management and the Gulf of Mexico Climate and Resilience Community of Practice (CoP), is
seeking coastal communities to participate in climate adaptation projects that will serve as local examples for other Gulf communities. The deadline to submit a letter of intent is February 28, 2020.
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Comment Periods
Amendment to 2015 Initial Funded Priorities List
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council is seeking public review and comment on the proposed amendment to the 2015 FPL to approve additional time and funding for the Gulf Coast Conservation Corps Program. The deadline is February 14, 2020.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Rule
The USDA seeks public comments on its interim rule for its agricultural conservation easement program. The deadline is March 20, 2020.
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