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Information and Opportunities
Coastal Decision Makers: Looking for information
on Funding Opportunities, Workshops
and Training Opportunities, or new Products,
Publications, or Announcements? The Massachusetts CTP will post
information here on an ongoing basis. If you would like to have an
opportunity or announcement featured here, contact us:
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
DCR Grants Programs Now On-Line
The Dept. of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) has an updated web page that
contains details of significant grant programs including Greenways & Trails
Demontsration Grants, Heritage Tree Care, Historic Landscape Preservation,
Lakes & Ponds Program and others. Go to: www.mass.gov/dcr/grants.htm
New State Program to Protect Municipal Water Supplies
From Riverways Notes - Mass. Riverways Program
A portion of the Commonwealth's annual capital bond spending cap for FY05 is
expected to be allocated to a grants program that will provide matching
grants for protecting lands with water supply value. The funds can be used
in a number of ways: (1) Fee simple (full ownership); (2) Less than fee
simple (e.g. conservation restriction); (3) A combination of fee simple and
less than fee simple.
Although only municipalities are eligible to receive funds under this grant
program, cooperating land trusts may play an important role in negotiating
with landowners and/or helping to raise the required 50% matching funds.
Formal announcement of this grant, including eligibility, evaluation
criteria, and the response process will be made by the posting of the RFR at
the CommonwealthÕs procurement site
http://www.comm-pass.com/.
If funds are awarded, the protected parcels will be open to the general
public for appropriate outdoor recreational use while consistent with 310
CMR 22.00 and permanently protected open space under Article 97. In
addition to protecting current or future water supply, criteria for proposed
acquisitions funded through this grant also includes enhancing environmental
health by protecting wildlife habitat, improving forest management, and/or
improving historic or archeological resource protection, and providing for
appropriate public outdoor recreational uses.
CNPS 2005 Grant Program
The 2005 Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution (CNPS) Grant Program, which provides funding to public and nonprofit organizations for projects that improve coastal water quality is now available. For more information on project eligibility, go to www.mass.gov/czm/coastalnpsgrants.htm. The RFR can be found on Comm-PASS, the Commonwealth's procurement access and solicitation system, located online at www.comm-pass.com and at www.mass.gov/czm/jobsandgrants.htm.
Land acquisition and management funding guide
Conserving Open Space: A guide for funding land acquisition and management in southeastern Massachusetts and beyond, published by the Manomet Center
for Conservation Sciences, provides information on funding open space
acquisition and stewardship, and is intended for conservation commissions,
community preservation committees, open space and recreation committees,
land trusts, watershed groups, environmental educators, and others working
to conserve open space. It describes law-based conservation mechanisms;
describes nearly 100 grant opportunities from government agencies,
charitable organizations, and corporate philanthropy programs; and provides
a list of resources and links for finding additional funding. The guide is
available free of charge as a .PDF file at by contacting Manomet at www.manomet.org.
Also available for free download at this URL is a publication entitled
Planning for Wildlife: Improving Wildlife Conservation Through Better Open
Space and Recreation Plans.
PRODUCTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Directory of Cape & Islands Coastal Outreach Organizations
http://www.whoi.edu/seagrant/directory.html
Wetlands Bylaws Online
The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) has posted electronic versions of 78 Massachusetts wetland bylaws and ordinances, 47 sets of related regulations, and five wetlands policies on its website at http://maccweb.org/bylaws/bylaws_frameset2.html. The postings, which can be accessed by municipality, are part of MACC's efforts to help Conservation Commissions adopt new bylaws and regulations and improve existing ones. Also, MACC produces a bimonthly electronic newsletter with action alerts. If interested in receiving EMACC, contact Rick Chaff at rick.chaff@maccweb.org with your name, address, telephone number, and email address and request to receive the newsletter.
MACC Forum Website
The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) hosts an online Conservation Connections forum page, located at http://maccweb.org/phpBB/index.php. The forumâs focus is commission-to-commission communication and features MACC board member and staff participation on a regular basis. To learn more about the forum and to access a postings archive, go to http://maccweb.org/forum.html.
North Shore Smart Growth Circuit Rider technical assistance
The Essex County Forum's Smart Growth Circuit Rider, Susan Jones Moses, is available to provide technical assistance to the 34 cities and towns in Essex County. Examples of Sue's most recent projects include helping a municipality with their Commonwealth Capital application, providing guidance to a local Open Space Committee about the hows & whys of open space protection, helping a town create their Town Planner job description and working with a town's Community Preservation Committee to address the creation of a housing production plan. You can contact Sue directly at 978-948-3713 or susanjmoses@comcast.net.
CZM/USGS Geologic Mapping Initiative
CZM and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are producing high-resolution seafloor geologic maps of Boston Harbor, the South Essex Ocean Sanctuary, and the South Merrimack embayment. The maps, which will provide the geologic framework for future studies, are expected in Spring 2005. In order to prepare for data acquisition for future mapping initiatives, the CZM/USGS mapping initiative is being coordinated with the regional and international Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative (GOMMI) and benthic mapping of Massachusetts waters. For more information about the CZM/USGS mapping project, go to http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/html/current_map.html. To learn more about the technology behind the fieldwork, see the USGS Soundwaves article at http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2004/08/.
Low Impact Development website
Low Impact Development (LID) is an ecologically friendly approach to site development and stormwater management that mitigates development impacts to land, water, and air. A new LID website, located at http://www.mass.gov/envir/lid, features case studies and reviews important LID principles, including open space preservation, compact development, impervious surface reduction, and more.
Wind Energy and Birds
A recent issue of Audubon Naturalist Society News features an article that discusses wind energy in general and various perspectives on hazards to birds in ãHow Green Will the Wind Blow?ä The article is available online at http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/cgi-bin/mesh/naturalist_news/archives/green_wind_blowing.
Gulf of Maine Habitat and Environment Reports
NOAA and the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment have released the Gulf of Maine Habitat Restoration Strategy, which outlines the purpose and scope of regional habitat restoration in the Gulf of Maine, identifies habitat restoration needs (including addressing riverine and estuarine system flow in Ipswich), and discusses the councilâs recommendations for enhancing restoration. The report is available at http://www.gulfofmaine.org/habitatrestoration/documents/HabitatRestorationStrategyFinal.pdf.
USGS Aquatic Invasives National Alert System Website
The U.S. Geological Survey has posted a National Alert System for nonindigenous aquatic species online at http://nas.er.usgs.gov/AlertSystem/. The site is a central repository and searchable database for accounts of nonindigenous aquatic species and includes scientific reports, data sets, regional contact lists, and general information about aquatic invasives.
National Weather Service Testing Coastal and Marine Forecast Website
NOAAâs National Weather Service has posted an experimental product of the National Forecast Database. Through a series of user friendly graphic maps, users can access a host of marine, coastal, and riverine weekly forecast data, including temperature, wave height, wind speed, and river flow. Public comments are encouraged. Check out the site at http://weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sectors/index.php.
New Coast Guide Available
The new Massachusetts Coast Guide to Boston & the North Shore, Volume 1, Second Edition, is a CZM publication highlighting more than 400 coastal recreation and public access sites in 80+ pages. The full-color, spiral-bound guide contains 22 maps covering the Massachusetts coastline from Salisbury to Hingham with brief site descriptions and facility and parking information. Coast Guide is being distributed by the Urban Harbors Institute of University of Massachusetts Boston (UHI) at cost ($6.00 including shipping). For ordering information, go to http://www.mass.gov/czm/coastguide/index.htm
Model Allows Coastal Managers to Predict Boat Wake Impacts
Scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) have designed a model for coastal managers to predict the impact of boat wake on shallow water habitats. The model will be used primarily in natural resource damage assessments, but also have application in circumstances including restoration projects. The model incorporates sophisticated software for wave propagation and refraction and will be accessible through a user-friendly CD-ROM. The model is currently being tested and field verification is expected to begin in December 2004 with funding from NOAAâs Restoration Center. For more information, contact Mark.Fonseca@noaa.gov.
EPA Publishes Water Quality Trading Handbook
In recent years, water quality trading has gained increasing attention as an innovative approach for achieving water quality goals at lower cost. To facilitate water quality trading, EPA has published a handbook, titled The Water Quality Trading Assessment Handbook. This Handbook provides an analytical framework to assess the conditions and water quality problem(s) in any specific watershed and determine whether water quality trading could be effectively used. The framework is illustrated through the use of example trades in a hypothetical river basin which will familiarize managers with the requisites and potential benefits of specific trading scenarios. To download the Handbook, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/trading/handbook.
EPA Technical Support Center
Through the Watershed and Water Quality Modeling Technical Support Center, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assists regions, state and local governments, and their contractors in implementing programs that comply with the Clean Water Act by providing access to technically defensible tools and approaches that can be used in developing total maximum daily loads, waste load allocations, and watershed protection plans. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/athens/wwqtsc/index.html.
EPA Releases Latest Version of BASINS
EPA has released the latest version of the BASINS Water Quality Model (Better Assessment Science Integrating point and Nonpoint Sources) software system. BASINS facilitates the examination of environmental information, supports analysis of environmental systems, and provides a framework for examining management alternatives. For more information and to download the model, visit http://epa.gov/waterscience/basins/
EPAâs EnviroMapper Version 3
The EPA Office of Water has released a new version of EnviroMapper for Water, a web-based mapping connection to water data, located at http://www.epa.gov/waters/enviromapper. This latest release features several new data layers, including EPA's national water quality database STORET, National Estuary Program study areas, and the location of nonpoint source projects.
EPAâs Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth
EPA has released Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth, a 120-page report to assist state and local governments and water quality professionals in achieving smart growth and water quality goals. For a copy of the report, go to http://www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/waterresources_with_sg.pdf, or contact EPA at ncepimal@one.net and request EPA publication 231-R-04-002.
EPA wastewater handbook
EPA has developed a handbook to help utilities better manage their water and wastewater operations. Available at http://www.epa.gov/ems/, the handbook outlines management processes and procedures that enable a utility to examine, control, and reduce environmental impacts. The handbook also describes how an EMS can help utilities function with greater efficiency and encourage environmental performance.
Sea Level Rise Program Helps Managers Make Land-Use Decisions
The Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise is a new research program designed to prepare coastal managers and planners for changes in coastal ecosystems due to sea level rise. With the likelihood of sea level rise increasing, planners need to weigh these potential impacts when making land use decisions. The new sea level rise program will provide managers with ecological forecast modeling and mapping tools to assist in determining the impact on natural resources. For more information, contact Carol.Auer@noaa.gov or check out the website www.cop.noaa.gov.
Barnstable County Wastewater Management Report
The Cape Cod Commission has released its report Enhancing Wastewater Management on Cape Cod: Planning, Administrative, and Legal Tools. The report, available at www.capecodcommission.org/water/WastewaterToolsReport, discusses challenges to effective wastewater management, recommendations, and case studies.
Technical Assistance Available from the Essex County Forum to
Essex County Communities Applying to Commonwealth Capital
As of this fiscal year, at least ten state programs will be affected by the new Commonwealth Capital application requirements (see http://www.mass.gov/ocd for more information). This new application will affect such programs as Self-Help and Urban Self-Help, Public Works Economic Development Program, and DEP Brownfields Funding, among others. A communityâs Commonwealth Capital ãscoreä will now count towards 20% of their application to a given program, and that programâs standard application will count for the remaining 80%. Therefore, communities that have a higher Commonwealth Capital score will be more competitive for state funding.
North Shore Smart Growth Circuit Rider technical assistance
The Essex County Forumâs Smart Growth Circuit Rider is available to help the 34 cities and towns in Essex County with their Commonwealth Capital application on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to make this technical assistance as effective and efficient as possible, if you are seeking technical assistance we ask that you convene a working group for your city or town including a representative from the City Council or Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, and Conservation Commission. Our Smart Growth Circuit Rider will then meet with your working group to provide technical assistance on filling out and submitting the application to the Office of Commonwealth Development. Contact the Forumâs Smart Growth Circuit Rider, Susan J. Moses, at susanjmoses@comcast.net or 978/948-3713.
ãSmart Growth is Smart Businessä from the Smart Growth Leadership Institute
From the Smart Growth Leadership Institute
A new groundbreaking report called ãSmart Growth is Smart Businessä profiles how business leaders are supporting smart growth policies and projects, and puts forth five key smart growth business actions. This new report profiles 17 business groups that are profiting while revitalizing communities and improving livability across the nation. Quality of life, reinvestment in established communities, business involvement in regional growth management, and long-term investments in smart growth projects directly affects the bottom line. Many companies and whole new business sectors are now engaged in smart growth. Business leaders are reaping the returns of smart growth strategies. And, national leaders from government, nonprofits, and the private sector continue to tout the opportunities and benefits of smart growth. This ãSmart Growth is Smart Businessä report shows how building better communities boosts the bottom line. You can download the report at http://www.sgli.org/sgbp.html
Invasive Plant Species Assessments
NatureServe and The Nature Conservancy have developed a method to assess the impact of invasive plants on native ecosystems. A report, An Invasive Species Assessment Protocol: Evaluating Non-Native Plants for Their Impact on Biodiversity, dataset, and assessments of more than 300 other non-native plants is available at http://www.natureserve.org/getData/plantData.jsp.
Massachusetts Ocean Education Guide The Office of Coastal Zone Management is developing a directory of Massachusetts ocean education resources, including field trips, speakers, curricula, publications, parent/child interactive programs, after school programs, workshops, film/video, newsletter/periodicals, library/resource centers, volunteer opportunities, and other programs that will assist marine educators in the Commonwealth. To submit an ocean science program for the directory, please return the completed form located at http://www.mass.gov/czm/momi/oceaneducationform.doc, by Monday, September 20. Forms may be sent by email to sarah.joor@state.ma.us, mailed to ATTN: Sarah Joor, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, 251 Causeway St., Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114, or faxed to (617) 626-1240.
National Sea Grant Library's New acquisitions
http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/recent.html
Copies are usually available from originating Sea Grant Program http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/ordering.html
They also may be borrowed from the National Sea Grant Library http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/loan.html
Boatersâ Guide to Tides and Pumpout Facilities
To get the wallet-sized 2004 guide complete with pumpout information and a tide chart and printed on water-proof paper, email your request and mailing address to czm@state.ma.us. Supplies are limited. For an electronic copy, go to http://www.mass.gov/czm/potoc.htm.
Cape Cod Environmental Education Network (CCEEN)
Interested in finding out what environmental organizations are active on Cape Cod? CCEEN is your portal. Go to http://www.cceen.org, and search by clicking on any town on the Cape Cod map located on the lower left-hand side of the page. Click on an organization for more information.
Watch Out for Aquatic Invasive Stow-Aways
Aquatic invasive species can easily be transported between water bodies by boats, motors, trailers, fishing equipment, bait buckets, diving gear, and other aquatic recreational equipment. So watch out this summer and check what may be attached to your gear. Aquatic invasives can choke waterways through explosive growth and possibly harm native fish, plants, and insects, and they are nearly impossible to eradicate once they are established. Be sure to hand-remove all plant and animal material from equipment, dispose of it far away from the water, and wash and dry equipment before the next use. For more tips, and publications such as A Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species, go to http://www.mass.gov/dem/programs/lakepond/publications.htm.
Website for municipal officials of training opportunities and events.
It's becoming quite popular so if you have an event/workshop (for local officials) that you want to "advertise", think about posting it on this website.
http://www.townboard.org
GreenScapes e-newsletter
GreenScapes is newly available, which is part of a new outreach program designed to teach homeowners how to have beautiful , low-maintenance landscapes without using excess water and chemicals. If you would like to subscribe to the e-newsletter, send a blank email to greenscapes-subscribe@lists.nsrwa.org. For more information about GreenScapes, including a series of 9 downloadable fact sheets, please visit http://www.greenscapes.org. GreenScapes is sponsored by the NSRWA, Mass. Bays Program, and the water departments of seven towns on the South Shore.
These outside sections were contained in the FY05 budget the Governor signed:
Cape Cod communities can opt into the Community Preservation program and access state matching funds. Cape Cod municipalities are ineligible for Community Preservation Act matching funds unless they adopt a local property tax surcharge in excess of 3%. Barnstable County municipalities, by local vote, may now transfer from the Cape Cod Land Bank to the Community Preservation Act.
Cape Cod ORV Corridor Temporarily Reduced
The Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) corridor has been temporarily reduced to .25 miles at Provincetown/Race Point north and south, with access to the Self-Contained Vehicle camping area. Park management staff is monitoring Piping Plover chick development daily and opening and closing areas as new chicks hatch and older chicks fledge. The Piping Plover and other shorebirds are protected under the federal and Massachusetts Endangered Species acts. For more information, go to http://www.mbba.net/ptown.htm. For up-to-date information on the latest Cape Cod ORV route openings, call the ORV information line at (508) 487-3698.
Cape Cod Emergency Preparedness Handbook
The Cape Cod Commission recently published this handbook, subtitled A Guide to Natural Disasters 2004, through its Project Impact Cape Cod Grant Program, a national program funded by FEMA to address disaster resistance and hazard mitigation at the regional and local levels. The 32-page handbook includes chapters on various natural disasters, Cape Cod shelters, how to prepare your boat for a storm, safety, and more. The handbook is available as a PDF file online at http://www.capecodcommission.org/projectimpact/handbook.htm, and is also being distributed in each Cape Cod community through fire stations, police stations, libraries, and town halls. For more information contact Stacey Justus at the Cape Cod Commission at (508) 362-3828. To learn more about Project Impact Cape Cod, please visit http://www.capecodcommission.org/projectimpact.
Free ãThese Dunes Arenât Made for Walkingä Posters
Sea Grant has a limited supply of ãThese Dunes Aren't Made for Walkingä posters at no charge. The 11ä x 14ä coated posters are suitable for outdoor display, describe the importance of dunes as a first line of defense against ocean waves, and encourage beachgoers not to trample the dunes. If interested, please contact Sheri DeRosa at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Sea Grant at sderosa@whoi.edu. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
Trust for Public Land report highlights land conservation for water protection
Now available from the Trust for Public Land: 'Protecting the Source'
This all-new report from the Trust for Public Land and the American Water
Works Association explains why watershed conservation is one of the best
ways to protect water quality and details on-the-ground strategies for
watershed conservation. The report is intended for local governments, water
suppliers and agencies, and community drinking water advocates. The 56-page
report is available for free download - or can be purchased in paper for $15
- on TPL's Web site at http://www.tpl.org. Additional
information on watershed conservation - including case studies, tools, and
resources - can be found on the Land & Water section of TPL's Web site.
NOAA Coastal Services Center Launches New Coastal Smart Growth Web Site
To help states make coastal development decisions, NOAAâs Coastal Services Center developed a Web site that presents three hypothetical design scenarios in coastal Georgia and the environmental, economic, and social implications of each. The
Web site, Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three Scenarios includes maps and details of the three different design scenarios; comparisons of environmental, economic, and social indicators; three-dimensional views of each scenario; detailed project methodology; and other growth and development-related information. Coastal planners can apply the processes demonstrated on the Web site to their own areas. For more information, contact Amanda Rutherford at (843) 740-1320 or Amanda.Rutherford@noaa.gov. Web site: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/alternatives/
Restoration Monitoring Manual
The NOAA National Centers for Coastal and Ocean Science has released Science-Based Restoration Monitoring of Coastal Habitats, which provides technical assistance, outlines necessary steps, and provides useful tools to develop and implement sound scientific monitoring of coastal restoration efforts. See http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ecosystems/estuaries/restoration_monitoring.html.
NOAA Restoration Portal
This new website provides centralized information about NOAA Restoration efforts, serving as a portal to publications, websites, case studies, and other materials organized around the following themes: Collaborating with Communities, Restoring Injured Habitats and Natural Resources, Advancing Restoration Science, and the Estuary Restoration Act. See http://restoration.noaa.gov.
Additionally, NOAAâs Restoration Center has developed a restoration project database to house information on coastal restoration projects that have been carried out by federal, state, local, private, and non-governmental entities. The database is still under development but will ultimately be searchable by region, state and watershed, and will contain an interactive GIS-based mapping system. More information about the database and how to add restoration projects to it can be found at https://neri.noaa.gov.
EPA Launches New Website
EPAâs Office of Water announces a new website, http://www.epa.gov/water/waterplan, providing one stop access to a range of key information about the Office. This new website provides links to the new EPA Strategic Plan, the draft National Water Program Guidance document, Water Sub-objective Implementation Plans, and regional plans from each EPA region.
WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Call for Abstracts for Marine and Coastal Remote Sensing Conference
The 8th International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, to be held May 17-19, 2005 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is accepting abstracts through November 1. For information, go to www.waterobserver.org/event-2005-05.
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