Publications:
ANEP Update

August 2002

NEP NEWS

The first issue of a new quarterly publication about Narragansett Bay and its watershed was released in June 2002.  The Narragansett Bay Journal (NBJ), modeled after the successful Chesapeake Bay Journal, is a production of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP), published on behalf of the Partnership for Narragansett Bay (PNB), a diverse bay stakeholder group.  The publication was inserted in the state newspaper of record and reached a readership of 175,000.  An additional mailing list of over 5,000 and distribution of bundled Journals ensured that readers in all parts of the watershed would receive the NBJ.  Future issues will be distributed via mail with newspaper inserts for special issues.  Private sector firms and organizations have shown an interest in supporting the NBJ and should provide additional funding.  The journal is intended to cover environmental, economic, cultural and historical issues regarding the bay and watershed.  It will seek out and report on the different perspectives on the issues with a mission of including the voices of many interests.  The NBJ is overseen by a PNB-based editorial board, made up of environmental professionals, state policy officials, news media professionals, educators, and citizens.  The second issue, slated for early September, identifies key bay and watershed issues that will be pressure points for the new administrations coming into office in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  Themes for future issues include urban waterfront development, introduced species, watershed restoration, Bay islands and smart growth.  For a free subscription to the NBJ, sign up at www.nbep.org.

The Mass. Bays Program, in conjunction with the Mass. CZM Office, has published "A Volunteer's Handbook for Monitoring New England Salt Marshes".  Two years in the making, this manual was developed as a tool to help local volunteer groups collect and record data on salt marsh health in a consistent and scientifically sound manner. The manual is used in conjunction with hands-on, on-site training for volunteers at the beginning of the summer monitoring season, and the data collected is currently compiled and analyzed by staff at the Salem Sound 2000 Office, which coordinates the program.  The manual is being used to evaluate the success of several salt marsh wetlands restoration projects, as well as the impacts to salt marshes from surrounding land uses.  To access the on-line version of the manual, visit www.mass.gov/envir/massbays and click on "What's New".

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program is among the sponsors of a major new exhibit on invasive species at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa. Titled "Invaders!" the exhibit features 20 species of invasive animals commonly found in Florida - including walking catfish, Asian swamp eel and squirrel monkeys - as well as several invasive plants. The 2,400-square-foot exhibit is highly interactive, with a variety of puzzles and games such as the "Vine Leaf Match Game" and the "Who's Out of Control?" game table. Additionally, Aquarium staff and docents present fun daily programs -- such as "Good Pet, Bad Pet," which explains responsible pet selection and care.   The exhibit explains how species become invasive, why they are harmful and what can be done to solve the problems they create. The exhibit and related educational programming are being funded by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Tampa Port Authority and the Pinellas County Environmental Foundation.

1. Environmental Protection Agency Region III Director Don Welsh visited with members of the Center for the Inland Bays' (Delaware Inland Bays NEP) Board of Directors and staff at the James Farm Ecological Preserve. The Regional Director also toured the Center's new office facility at Indian River Inlet to review restoration and design plans for the building.
   
   

2. Sussex County's updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan now identifies areas around Delaware's Inland Bays as a "sensitive development zone." This change addresses the need to assess and review the impacts of development projects on these impaired waterways.

3. Til Purnell has been elected chair of the Delaware Inland Bays Citizens Advisory Committee. Mrs. Purnell has been involved with the Inland Bays Estuary Program for more than a decade and is a strong advocate for the protection and preservation of Delaware's Inland Bays. 
   
   

The Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP), under a grant provided by the EPA, is working to produce a documentary featuring four National Estuary Programs: Narragansett Bay NEP, Maryland Coastal Bays NEP, Mobile Bay NEP, and Puget Sound NEP. The Teaching Learning Network is producing the documentary which plans to be aired on PBS in the fall 2002. The half-hour program will highlight an NEP in each region of the country and will provide information on the environmental, cultural, economic and aesthetic importance of our nations bays and estuaries. Look for future information on the schedule for airing this exciting documentary. For more information contact Dawn Volk, ANEP, at drvolk@erols.com.

The Partnership for Narragansett Bay at the University of R.I. Coastal Institute, supported by the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, has received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency to complete studies and analyses for the development for a decision-making framework for Narragansett Bay. The federal funds were secured through the efforts of Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.). These funds are supplemented by an additional $34,000 in state bond funds designated by the R.I. Governor to support CCMP revisions. The grant funds will support four tasks: a study of previous regional and local planning initiatives to determine characteristics of successful efforts; collection and synthesis of ecological data produced since the last State of the Bay report in the early 90s (this will be used to create an updated State of the Bay report); a characterization study of economic activity in the Bay and watershed linked to the National Oceans Economics Project; and development of a public vision and set of core principles for bay planning efforts (former Chesapeake Bay Program director Bill Matuzeski is part of the project team for this task). All of these elements will support revisions to the Narragansett Bay CCMP and will result in a bi-state agreement that policy-makers can adopt to guide planning efforts throughout the bay watershed. Building on the recommendation from the NBEP Bay Summit 2000 that a new, more effective and integrated planning framework is needed, the R.I. Legislature recently passed a resolution creating a commission to ensure that a strategic plan for the bay is produced; the sponsors of the legislation are linking this effort to the PNB project. For information, contact Richard Ribb at rribb@gso.uri.edu.


MEETINGS & CONFERENCES

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program is partnering with Florida Sea Grant to sponsor a two-day workshop on invasive species scheduled for November 5-6, 2002 at The Florida Aquarium. The first day of the workshop will summarize the current status of research, management and outreach efforts related to saltwater invasives in Florida. On the second day, participants will be put to work developing a strategy for identifying and addressing future needs for scientists, managers and educators. More information about the workshop is available on TBEP's website at www.tbep.org or by calling Nanette Holland at (727) 893-2765.

Come to the Fall ANEP/NEP/EPA National Meeting to be held in Ocean City, MD on October 15 - 18, 2002. For a registration form, hotel registration and travel information, and a draft agenda, please contact drvolk@erols.com or the ANEP's website at www.anep-usa.org.

Call for Presentations! Session proposals are due by September 13, 2002. The Inaugural National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration will be held April 13-16, 2003, in Baltimore, Maryland. Restore America's Estuaries will host the conference, to be held at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor Hotel. This will be the first nationwide forum focused solely on the goals and practices of coastal and estuarine habitat restoration. Incorporating the non-profit, government, business and academic sectors, the Conference will enable networking and communication throughout this growing movement. Visit www.estuaries.org for more conference information and the full "Call for Presentations."