State Success Story
Through the Coastal Partnership Initiative (CPI), the Florida Coastal Management Program makes federal (NOAA) funds available, on a competitive basis, to Florida's 35 coastal counties and all municipalities within their boundaries that are required to include a coastal element in their comprehensive plan. CPI grants provide financial support to communities for the implementation of local projects that protect, enhance, and improve the management of natural, cultural, and historical coastal resources, and increase the sustainability, resiliency, and preparedness of coastal communities.
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At the Agencies
NOAA Fisheries announced final revisions to the guidelines that federal managers will use as they routinely update the nation's marine fisheries plans. The revised federal fishery management guidelines, known as the National Standard 1 guidelines of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, are intended to provide more flexibility and be more effective in ending and preventing overfishing.
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EPA awarded $1.3 million to 22 organizations in 18 states to help restore urban waters and support community revitalization. Many urban waterways have been polluted for years by sewage, runoff from city streets, and contamination from abandoned industrial facilities. Healthy and accessible urban waters can enhance economic, educational, and recreational opportunities in surrounding communities. This year's Urban Waters Grantees will inform and engage residents in stormwater management and pursue community-based plans to address pollution in waterways. To accomplish these goals, many projects will address trash in waterways; test rivers, streams and lakes for pollutants; and prepare the next generation of environmental stewards for careers in the green economy.
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The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the State of California held the inaugural meeting of the California Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force today in Sacramento, California, to begin planning for future renewable wind and wave energy development opportunities in federal offshore waters along the Golden State.
California is the 14th U.S. coastal state to form a renewable energy task force to provide critical information to the decision-making process, including how to resolve potential conflicts between development and environmental concerns and other uses. The California task force will facilitate coordination and communication between BOEM and state, local, and tribal governments and other federal agencies concerning potential renewable energy leasing for research activities and commercial development on federal submerged lands on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), offshore California. California Governor Jerry Brown requested formation of the task force in a May 12, 2016 letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
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In the News
NOAA-supported scientists working in the Hawaiian Archipelago are calling some of the deep coral reefs found in the region's so-called oceanic "twilight zone" the most extensive on record, with several large areas of 100 percent coral cover. They also found that the deep coral reefs studied have twice as many species that are unique to Hawaii than their shallow-water counterparts.
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The Clean Water Act requires EPA and the Department of Defense to develop a set of national performance standards for discharges incidental to the normal operation of military vessels in order to better protect the environment. EPA and DoD are proposing discharge performance standards for 11 types of discharges, including standards for deck runoff, graywater, and submarine bilge water. The discharges have the potential to introduce oil, metals, organics, and aquatic nuisance species into inland, coastal, and ocean waters. These standards would apply to approximately 6,000 vessels of the Armed Forces operating in U.S. inland waters, the territorial seas, and the contiguous zone. EPA is requesting public comments on this proposed action within 60 days upon publication in the Federal Register.
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In the States and Regions
East Coast
On October 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a legal agreement with Occidental Chemical Corporation, one of more than 100 parties identified as potentially responsible for contamination of the lower Passaic River, to perform engineering and design work needed to begin the cleanup of the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River.
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District has awarded a construction contract that will help to restore critical water flow to Biscayne Bay as part of its ongoing efforts to restore America's Everglades. The Corps awarded the construction contract for the L-31E Flow Way Culverts 712A and 712B to Sweat, LLC from Orange Park, Florida on Wednesday (Sept. 28) for $777,572. The work involves construction of culverts that will allow water to flow from the canal to adjacent wetlands as part of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project in Miami-Dade County.
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Gulf Coast
The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) has been awarded a $7.3 million grant from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council) for engineering and design of the West Grand Terre Beach Nourishment and Stabilization project under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act).
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As coastal development along the Gulf Coast continues to expand, tidal saline wetlands could have difficulty adjusting to rising sea levels. Tidal saline wetlands along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast, such as mangrove forests, salt marshes, and salt flats, face survival challenges as sea levels rise rapidly and development along coastlines continues to grow. But, a recently published U.S. Geological Survey study shows there is hope for some of these at-risk Gulf coast wetlands.
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West Coast and Pacific Islands
The Washington State Department of Ecology says the fastest erosion on the West Coast is happening at aptly named Washaway Beach - located between the southwest Washington towns of Grayland and Tokeland. Most places threatened by erosion try to fight back. But the erosion at Washaway Beach is so rapid, the question now is to fight - or retreat.
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Great Lakes
Thirteen cities along the Great Lakes shores will be able to expand their greening projects with $2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The money will go toward developing wetlands, creating rain gardens, and planting trees. The U.S. EPA advisor Cameron Davis says cities like Sandusky, Ohio and Duluth, Minn. were chosen because of their size.
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Announcements & More
OneNOAA Science Seminars, 2016
Date & Time: October 20, 2016 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm ET
Date & Time: November 1, 2016 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
Date & Time: November 17, 2016 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET
Title: Facilitating Collaborative Public Decisions: A video-based training tool
Date & Time: November 10, 2016 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET
Seminars are open to the public. For remote access, location, abstracts and more, visit the OneNOAA Science Seminar Calendar at:
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/seminars/
Seminars are posted in Eastern Time and subject to changes without notice; please check the web page for the latest seminar updates.
Events & Webinars
October 20, 2016
October 26 -27, 2016
November 10, 2016
December 10 -15, 2016
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