Publications:
ANEP Update
February
2001
LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE
ANEP is
working with both the Administration and Congress to make
a strong case for increasing the annual appropriation for
the NEP, consistent with its newly reauthorized funding level
of $35 million. While there are few details released in the
President's budget regarding specific programs such as the
NEP, ANEP is monitoring negotiations between EPA and OMB regarding
the President's budget request, which should be final by early
April. ANEP is also planning to meet with key legislators
and appropriators in mid-March to underscore the need for
additional NEP funding, especially in light of the NEPs explicit
authorization to utilize funds for implementation.
NEP
NEWS
The Massachusetts
Bays National Estuary Program sponsored a conference in
Boston on November 2 and 3, 2000, entitled, "Using Biology
to Signal Ecological Health." The conference focused on the
use in environmental protection of indices of biological integrity,
mostly in aquatic systems, but with some exploration of other
habitats (terrestrial and coral reefs). Conference presentations
included topics such as watershed protection, biodiversity
protection, ecosystem risk assessment, and using GIS as a
tool. The conference concluded with an open panel discussion
on what the methods and challenges are for instituting biological
monitoring. For more information or request a copy of the
proceedings, please contact Ruth Kuykendall at (617) 626-1230
or by e-mail at http://www.mass.gov/envir/massbays
The Inland
Bays Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (Delaware
Inland Bays Estuary Program) recently hosted a presentation
concerning the Tidal Activated Water Exchange System (TAWES)
for representatives from Gannett-Fleming, Inc. Gannett-Fleming
has developed an approach that uses horizontal direction drilling
to install subterranean pipes to create inlets that may improve
flushing rates, salinity, and water clarity in coastal estuaries.
Through the efforts of state Senator George H. Bunting, who
attended the presentation, the Delaware legislature recently
appropriated $100K to explore the feasibility of creating
artificial inlets for Delaware's Inland Bays.
1)
The Galveston Bay Estuary Program held its Fifth Biennial
State of the Bay Symposium January 30 through February 2,
2001 at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston,
Texas. Approximately 400 people attended and 68
presentations were made. The Mayor of Galveston and the Chairman
of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission provided
opening remarks. The Plenary Session featured a panel
discussion on the Texas Estuaries Act Panel with statements
of commitment made by the principal participating state
agencies in CCMP implementation. Results of GBEPs 5-Year
Review of the CCMP Implementation and Status and Trends updates
on key environmental indicators were also presented. Galveston
Bay Stewardship Awards were given to some of the area leaders
in conservation and education. Highlights included a
session on Sustainable Development and a Panel discussion
on Progress Made by Local Governments.
2)
The Galveston Bay Estuary Program recently received
a 17x20 framed satellite photograph NASA award. The photograph
is of the Galveston Bay taken from the space shuttle in 1999
along with an American flag flown on the shuttle.
The award of appreciation was presented on behalf of the Director
of the Johnson Space Center at GBEPs 5th Biennial State of
the Bay Symposium in January 2001 for contributions made
to our region through implementation of The Galveston Bay
Plan. "Environmental monitoring from space is one of
NASA's missions and we are delighted to see the use of remote
sensing and information system technology in natural resource
management activities of Galveston Bay," stated Dr. Kamlesh
Lulla, Chief of the Office of Earth Sciences for NASA, Johnson
Space Center in Houston. "At NASA Johnson Space Center,
we are developing earth observations and imaging capabilities
on-board the International Space Station. Remote sensing digital
imagery from this project will further aid the activities
of GBEP." Please contact Marie Nelson, mnelson@tnrcc.state.tx.us
or (281) 316-3002.
New science,
new directions and new ideas for protecting the health of
Puget Sound and the Georgia Basin were the topics of
conversation at the Puget Sound Research 2001 conference February
12-14, 2001. About 850 scientists, business and environmental
professionals, university researchers, and Puget Sound citizens
exchanged information on what they knew about the status of,
and the stressors to the Puget Sound environment and what
the road to recovery should look like. Proceedings of the
conference will be available later this year on the Puget
Sound Water Quality Action Team's website: http://www.wa.gov/puget_sound/.
The Albemarle-Pamlico
National Estuary Program's (APNEP) Roanoke River Basin
Regional Council (RRBRC) is working closely with the North
Carolina Department of Corrections (DOC) and the North Carolina
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to
restore degraded riparian lands along the Roanoke River. This
cooperative effort involves the re-pasturing of cattle on
the grounds of a nearby prison, and is an integral part of
the RRBRC's mission to rehabilitate and permanently protect
degraded riparian land on the Roanoke River through the exclusion
of cattle, rotational grazing and planting of hardwood seedlings.
A boat tour of the Roanoke River involving representatives
from the DENR, DOC and RRBRC helped to initiate this endeavor.
Charlotte
Harbor NEP is sponsoring the first annual Charlotte Harbor
Nature Festival. Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center is
hosting the event at their Alligator Creek site in Punta Gorda
on Saturday, March 31 from 10:00 to 4:00. There will be musicians,
storytellers, talks on birds, bats, flowers, etc., guided
walks, artists, food, and of course educational exhibits. It
will be a fun day to learn more about the fragile natural
environment in southwest Florida.
CONFERENCES/
WORKSHOPS/ SYMPOSIUMS
The
Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP) and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) are coordinating partners for the
National NEP Meeting to be held in Washington D.C. March 11
- 15, 2001. If you would like information on this meeting,
please contact Dawn Volk at drvolk@erols.com.
On March
15-16, 2001, the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team
is co-sponsoring the Urban Sustainability Conference in Vancouver,
B.C. The conference will demonstrate the progress that
has been made towards urban sustainability and will set the
stage for action in the next five-ten years. Innovative approaches
to urban sustainability in the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound region
will be showcased. For more information, please visit the
conference website at
http://www.marh.gov.bc.ca/GROWTH/CONFERENCE/
The second
Charlotte Harbor Watershed Summit will be October
18-20, 2001. A Technical Symposium will be held Thursday
and Friday and a Public Conference will be held on
Saturday. All will be held at the Best Western in Punta Gorda,
Florida. Abstracts will be accepted until May 7, 2001;
all topics are being considered at this time. The Call for
Abstracts is available on the program web site at www.chnep.org.
In collaboration
with the Delaware River Basin Commission, the Delaware
Estuary Program is co-hosting public workshops that will
explore the sources, risks, exposures, and potential actions
to address PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in the Delaware
Estuary. A panel of experts is speaking on the risks to human
health, the impacts on fish and wildlife, the various sources,
and the strategies being used to reduce PCBs in the environment.
One workshop will be held on March 14, 2001, in Philadelphia,
PA, and a second will be held on March 26, 2001, in Mount
Holly, New Jersey. For more information, please call the Delaware
River Basin Commission at (609) 883-9500 x 205.
