Gulf of Mexico Alliance
e-Newsletter November 2018
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Upcoming Alliance Meetings
Coastal Resilience Team Fall Meeting
There is still time to register for this meeting scheduled December 11-13, 2018 in Austin, Texas. The two and a half day agenda includes FORTIFIED training, project updates, and a discussion on future actions.
Marine Debris Cross-Team Initiative Mid-Year Meeting
The multi-team initiative is meeting December 12-13, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. The workshop goal is to strengthen regional effectiveness by bringing stakeholders together to work on actions that address both everyday marine debris and debris generated by severe weather.
Registration and draft agenda information is available on the
group's webpage.
Monitoring Community of Practice (MCoP) Meeting
The MCoP will meet January 14-16, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The focus of this workshop is to coordinate with monitoring and mapping experts to support the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council's Monitoring and Assessment Program (CMAP) through review and feedback of water quality and habitat focused objectives. This workshop is followed by GOMA Teams Water Resources, Habitat Resources, and Data and Monitoring Team mid-year meetings.
Register here.
Data & Monitoring / Habitat Resources / Water Resources
Mid-Year Meetings
For the following Teams, contact their Coordinator for agenda information.
- Data and Monitoring Team Mid-Year Meeting
January 14 - 16, 2019
- Habitat Resources Team Mid-Year Meeting
January 15 - 16, 2019
- Water Resource Team Mid-Year Meeting
January 14 - 15, 2019
Use the MCoP link above to register for these meetings.
Education and Engagement Team Winter Meeting
The Team is meeting January 23-24, 2019 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Meeting topics will cover action priorities, the Embrace the Gulf campaign, workforce development informational session, and visual messaging 101 for social media. Complete information will be posted soon on the
Team's webpage.
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Fall Alliance Activity
ESRI Hosts GOMA Data and Monitoring Team at Recent Ocean GIS Forum
This month, GOMA Data and Monitoring Team members participated in the Esri Ocean GIS Forum at the Esri Headquarters in Redlands, California. Seven GOMA representatives from four states spent a week learning about new technologies and applications. They participated in a private whiteboard session with Esri staff, technical workshops, and two days of presentations. This year's conference theme was "How and Why We Map the Ocean" and topics included bathymetry, citizen science, and ocean health.
GOMA's trip to the Ocean GIS Forum is part of a larger industry engagement effort, supported by a NAS Gulf Research Program capacity building grant.
Business Advisory Council (BAC) Luncheon
In conjunction with the Clean Gulf conference in New Orleans, GOMA's Business Advisory Council recently held a BAC meeting on November 14th. The agenda included updates on Capitol Hill actions, oil and gas industry highlights, Gulf Star projects, eco-tourism engagement, the Embrace the Gulf campaign for 2020, and restoration projects. This group offers GOMA communication and insight into the private sector that has a common interest in the Gulf.
The BAC holds quarterly webinars or in-person meetings to discuss regional topics of interest. For more information on membership and/or future meetings, please contact Laura Bowie at Laura.Bowie@gomxa.org.
Alliance Coordination Team (ACT) Meeting
The ACT acts as a liaison between the priority issue teams, cross-teams, and the Alliance Management Team. It is comprised of key Team leadership and federal facilitators who work with Alliance Headquarter's staff to manage the day to day decisions of GOMA. This month, the ACT held their annual meeting in Pensacola, Florida. Topics included the 2019 Gulf Star program, remaining Action Plan III priorities, and the 2019 All Hands Meeting.
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Save the Date!
2019 All Hands Meeting
The Lodge - Gulf State Park
Gulf Shores, Alabama
June 10-13, 2019
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Detailed information coming in January 2019.
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GOMA is spreading the word. Among the many #EmbracetheGulf activities this month, partners convened at the Clean Gulf conference.
Pictured are new Development Director Becky Ginn, Executive Director Laura Bowie, Program Coordinator Christina Mohrman, long time GOMA partner Ken Satterlee of Satterlee & Associates, and campaign initiator Melissa Pringle with Allen Engineering and Sciences.
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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) -
This month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service began planning the Louisiana Bayou DuLarge Ridge, Marsh and Hydrologic Restoration project, funded by the RESTORE Council. The project will benefit a total 540 acres of habitat restoration. 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. Check these for regular program updates.
Alabama - This month, Governor Ivey announced the U.S. Department of Treasury's approval of the state's Multiyear Implementation Plan for Gulf Coast Recovery. The plan proposes 15 activities for Direct Component RESTORE funding (Bucket 1) for an estimated cost of $192,416,759. The Governor also announced the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has approved over $48 million for eight new projects, which focus on the restoration and conservation of Alabama's natural resources.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources opened a Request for Qualifications for restoration planning support and other activities. The State has an updated website
Alabama Coastal Restoration that includes a map of all funded projects.
Mississippi - On November 13th, Mississippi held a restoration summit. Governor Bryant provided a funding summary that identified current and new restoration projects. The summary is available
here.
The state also announced 10 new and supplemental restoration projects that totaling approximately $37.8 million.
In addition, the state released the
2018 Mississippi State Expenditure Plan Amendment and the Multiyear Implementation Plan Amendment. Both documents have public comment periods closing January 18, 2019. Visit the Office of Restoration web page for announcements, procurement opportunities, project updates, and more.
Louisiana - Governor Edwards announced this month that the state will receive $161.4 million from NFWF for the Terrebonne Basin Barrier Island System. The State of Louisiana is represented by the 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 -
The state has three December public meetings planned to gather input on priority issues along the Texas coast, as well as Gulf-wide. To attend these meetings and get other restoration information go to
www.restorethetexascoast.org
.
NOAA RESTORE Science Program -
Current information on this program is available through the RESTORE Science Program website.
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Gulf Research Program -
The program has a Thriving Communities Grant open with a full proposal deadline for December 5, 2018. Two fellowship opportunities are anticipated to open in December. Learn more about these awards and other program activities.
Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) -
The Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) announcements this month include:
- The Louisiana TIG announced on October 31st, the intent to consider location and design changes to improve access, and increase visitation and recreational use benefits of the Lake Charles Science Center and Educational Complex (Lake Charles SCEC) project.
- The Texas TIG held an annual meeting on October 15th. The materials and results from that meeting are now available online.
- The Open Ocean TIG held an annual meeting on November 14th. The materials from the meeting are now available.
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) -
On November 19th, NFWF announced its sixth round of awards for the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. More than $280 million will go to 21 projects across the five Gulf states. A complete list of the NFWF supported projects can be found on their website.
North American Conservation Wetlands Act fund (NAWCA) - Information for this program 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 planned for February 4-7, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in New Orleans, LA. Registration is now open. Comprehensive GoMRI information is on
gulfresearchinitiative.org.
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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.
NPS
Save America's Treasures - Preservation - Grants provide preservation and/or conservation assistance to nationally significant historic properties and collections. The deadline is December 3, 2018.
NOAA
Marine Debris Program Research Funding Opportunity - Applications are for research funding in any of three areas of focus: research that explores the ecological risk associated with marine debris and determines debris exposure levels; research that examines the fate and transport of marine debris; and/or research that quantifies habitat impacts resulting from marine debris and the gains in ecosystem services that result when debris is removed. The deadline is December 14, 2018.
Walmart Foundation
Community Grant Program - Through the annual program, grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to support local nonprofit organizations within the service area of individual Walmart stores in the areas of hunger relief and healthy eating, sustainability, women's economic empowerment, and/or career opportunities. The deadline is December 31, 2018.
Gulf of Mexico Climate and Resilience Community of Practice (CoP) is requesting letters of intent for
Climate Adaptation Projects. Funding is to assist a community effort to plan for climate change and natural hazards. The deadline is January 15, 2019.
NOAA NOS 2019 Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Program - The purpose is address regional and local effects of sea level rise and coastal inundation through targeted research on key technologies, natural and nature-based infrastructure, physical and biological processes, and model evaluation. Search grants.gov for NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2019-2005813. The deadline is January 16, 2018.
NFWF
Five Star Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program 2019 Request for Proposals - This program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support. The full proposal deadline is January 31, 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:
- Texas Public Meetings - Brownsville
December 3
- Texas Public Meetings - Corpus Christi
December 4
- NAS/GOMRI/Sea Grant Collaborative Workshop - Houma
December 4
- Webinar Gulf of Mexico Guidebook
December 5
- GOMA Data and Monitoring Team Call
December 7
- Texas Public Meetings - Galveston
December 10
- GOMA Coastal Resilience Team Mid-Year Meeting - Austin
December 11-13, 2018
- GOMA Marine Debris Cross-Team Initiative Mid-Year Meeting - Mobile
December 12-13, 2018
- GOMA Monitoring Community of Practice Meeting - Baton Rouge
January 14-16, 2019
- GOMA Data and Monitoring Team Mid-Year Meeting - Baton Rouge
January 14 - 16, 2019
- Habitat Resources Team Mid-Year Meeting- Baton Rouge
January 15 - 16, 2019
- Water Resource Team Mid-Year Meeting - Baton Rouge
January 14 - 15, 2019
- Education and Engagement Team Winter Meeting - Biloxi
January 23-24, 2019
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Comment Periods
Click here to request a comment period to be shared in our next newsletter.
Research Needs
The RESTORE Act Center of Excellence for Louisiana released a draft
Research Needs document for public comment. Those are due November 30, 2018.
Rules and Policies
The Florida RESTORE Act Center of Excellence Program is soliciting public comment on this updated Rules and Policies document. The document became available for a minimum 45 day review on November 1, 2018; deadline tentative December 15, 2018.
Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs)
2018 Mississippi State Expenditure Plan (MSEP) Amendment
This
MSEP is available for public review and comment by January 18, 2019.
Mississippi Multiyear Implementation Plan Amendment
This
amended MIP is available for public comment through January 18, 2019.
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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