ANEP Logo
 ANEP Image Bar
ANEP: Home How You Can Help About ANEP Contact ANEP Visit An Estuary Links Publications

Publications:
ANEP Update

July 2002

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

On July 25, 2002 the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the FY03 Veterans Affairs, Housing Urban Development and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill (VA/HUD bill) that provides funding for the NEP through EPA.  While the Senate funding level is $24.5 million, this figure does not represent and increase over the FY02 enacted level of $22.5 million. Instead, it is a recategorization. The NEP actually is receiving the same amount in FY03 as it received in FY02; the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted an accounting change that EPA implemented last year where 100% of funds are accounted for, not just highlights of major programs.  As such, an additional $2 million for coastal watershed activities was accounted for in the NEP line item.  No action has occurred on the VA/HUD bill in the House, although it is tentatively scheduled during September. Please contact Carrie Jelsma (CarrieJelsma@aol.com, 301-493-0003) with questions.   

NEP NEWS

The Mass. Bays Program, in conjunction with the MA Coastal Zone Management Office, assisted the Town of Plymouth in securing the funding for purchase and installation of a shore side boat pumpout facility as well as a pumpout boat to help in the cleanup of Plymouth Harbor waters. Alison Demong of MBP and Jason Burtner of CZM organized a waterfront event to celebrate the new boat and facility on June 21st, which was followed by a luncheon and boat tours of the Harbor. The Mass. Bays Program also provided a buoy at the mouth of the harbor informing boaters of the available pump out services.

The Center for the Inland Bays (Delaware Inland Bays Estuary Program) reports: (1) Delaware Congressman Michael Castle visited with board members and staff at the CIB's new building site at Indian River Inlet to discuss possible federal funding for renovation activities at the former United States Coast Guard facility. The Center has already obtained more than $175,000 in private financial assistance for the project. (2) A fire at the James Farm Ecological Preserve that began on Saturday, July 6 consumed more than 8 acres of marsh and woodlands. Fire officials speculate that visitors who carelessly disposed of hot charcoals from a barbecue grill set the blaze accidentally. (3) The CIB has received a $20,000 assistance award from the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Education grants program to support outdoor learning activities at the James Farm Ecological Preserve. Also, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation has awarded the CIB $11,000 for its "Shellfish Gardening" program.

Mobile Bay National Estuary Program: The concern about the methylmercury found in the Northern Gulf waters, as well as the seafood caught there and the area residents eating this seafood, prompted strong interest in learning more about the problem. The attention raised by this issue prompted several Gulf state and federal agencies, legislators, industries, and residents to seek out scientific facts regarding mercury's implications on public health, fisheries and industry.  In response, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Mobile Bay Watch and The Forum: Industry Partners for Environmental Progress hosted "The Mercury Forum: An Assessment of Methylmercury in the Northern Gulf Environment". Held May 20-21, 2002 at the Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, AL, the forum was a huge success drawing nearly 300 people from 17 states and international destinations. The Mercury Forum promised to be an even more powerful success in the future as a launching point for a pro-active program to deal with the high levels of mercury found in the Northern Gulf and elsewhere. Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions relayed his personal communication with President Bush just prior to the Forum that resulted in the establishment of a special task force to look into the Gulf Mercury issue. Senator Sessions' commitment set the tone for the meeting, and the other speakers and attendees echoed this commitment and concern in the discussions that followed each session of the meeting.

(1) Over 85 percent of the Tillamook Bay area's historic floodplain and lowland wetlands have been lost as a result of human settlement and development. Under a $750,000 grant from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership and the Trust for Public Lands are facilitating the acquisition of three parcels of land which will be restored to intertidal wetlands. Conversion of the properties will be governed by a wetlands plan developed by a broad base of community members, scientists, and policy makers. State watershed enhancement funds used as match to the USFWS grant will provide $250,000 for restoration activities. By acquiring and restoring roughly 350 acres of wetlands, this project represents a significant step toward the CCMP objective of 750 acres. (2) The Tillamook Estuaries Partnership has recently established itself as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation and has adopted the name Tillamook Estuaries Partnership. For more information, call (503) 322-2222.

The Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team (Action Team) is asking for public comments on the draft 2003-2005 Puget Sound Water Quality Work Plan. For a copy of the plan visit www.wa.gov/puget_sound or call 800-54-SOUND (in Washington). Comments on the draft plan should be sent to Harriet Beale, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, P.O. Box 40900, Olympia, WA 98504-0900 or hbeale@psat.wa.gov, by Friday, Aug. 30, 2002.

Fundraising for the Morro Bay National Estuary Program Visitor Center has recently been completed with a $50,000 grant from the California Coastal Conservancy. This generous support from the Coastal Conservancy, with $12,000 from private foundations and corporations, brings the Estuary Visitor Center funds to a grand total of $62,000. The next step is to finalize exhibit plan details and begin fabrication of the exhibits. MBNEP staff expects to have a Grand Opening in late 2002. To see and read more about the specific exhibits, go to www.mbnep.org and click on "You and the Estuary."

The Indian River Lagoon is being featured in an article of the July 2002 issue of BioScience - "Florida's Indian River Lagoon: An Estuary in Transition," by Cherly Lyn Dybas.  This six page feature article reviews the lagoon's unique and varied biodiversity and the threats from development and human impacts on the continued viability of the estuary. Fisheries, seagrasses, mangroves and other essential habitats are discussed and the importance of coordinated ecosystem management is highlighted. Copies of the feature article are available from the Indian River Lagoon Project Office at (321) 984-4950 or email Troy Rice at trice@sjrwmd.com.

New Hampshire Estuary Program welcomes Jennifer Hunter as its new Director. Prior to joining NHEP Jennifer worked for New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) where she worked with the six New England states, New York, and EPA Regions 1 and 2 and managed NEIWPCC's nonpoint source pollution programs and stormwater Phase II programs.  She also managed a multi-state Connecticut River nitrogen assessment project, as part of the Long Island Sound Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for hypoxia.  She was involved with invasive species management initiatives throughout the northeast, having served on the Northeast Aquatic Nuisance Species Panel's Steering Committee and as co-chair of its Policy and Legislation Committee. NHEP wishes former Director Cynthia McLaren well in her upcoming travels and adventures.

MEETINGS & CONFERENCES

Set your calendars for the 2003 Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference slated for Monday March 31 through Thursday, April 3, 2003 at the Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia. The international research conference will focus on Puget Sound/Georgia Basin transboundary ecosystem issues and integrating the efforts of scientists and decision-makers. Scientists from government agencies, universities, tribes, consulting firms, natural resource managers and decision-makers, students and the public are expected to make this conference even more spectacular than the 2001 conference with 800 participants. The Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team (Action Team), the partner agencies of the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, and co-sponsors in Canada and the United States are working together to put on a top-quality conference. For more information visit www.wa.gov/puget_sound, or join the Action Team's information listserv via http://listserv.wa.gov/archives/waterquality.html.