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ANEP Update

November 2002

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Both the House and Senate adjourned the week before Thanksgiving ending the 107th Congress.  The 108th Congress is slated to begin on January 7th.  Before adjourning, the House and Senate both passed a fifth continuing resolution (CR) funding federal agencies yet to receive an FY 2003 appropriation through January 11, 2003.  Of the 13 total appropriations bills, 11 remain to be passed, including VA-HUD that funds the EPA.  This CR is largely the same as the prior four in that it funds EPA at FY 2002 levels, or $22.5 million for the National Estuary Program.  Congress hopes to reconcile its differences over the next month and a half so that the remaining 11 appropriations bills can be passed quickly when the 108th Congress begins.  If Congress can not come to agreement on all or some of the remaining appropriations bills, one potential scenario is that they may pass a CR to last through the end of FY 2003, and just start over again next spring on FY 2004 appropriations.  For additional information, contact Carrie Jelsma at 301-493-0003 or at CarrieJelsma@aol.com. 

NEP NEWS

 
  Participants hold field discussion under direction of Dr. Cliff Webber

The Mobile Bay NEP partnered with several stakeholders to produce the third in a series of stream bank restoration workshops.  Based on the successful Rosgen classification system, the partners contracted with North Carolina State University Professor Greg Jennings as the lead instructor for fluvial geomorphology.  The latest workshop incorporated a bioassessment component utilizing the expertise of Dr. Cliff Webber of Auburn University and Dr. Pat O'Neil with the Geological Survey of Alabama.  By combining the aspects of stream morphology and bioassessment, participants had an opportunity to see how an ecosystem is closely tied to its fluvial system.  This workshop contained a field component so that participants could gain a better working knowledge of the subject matter.  The initial introductory workshop was so successful that additional workshops have sense been coordinated throughout the state and additional are planned for 2003.  Ultimately, partners hope to see these techniques utilized in Alabama and actual projects under way for study.

 
 
First Annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Coast Day a Big Success!  Thousands of people descended upon the banks of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia on September 28, 2002 to learn about Pennsylvania's coastal resources.  The first annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Coast Day is a family-oriented event of music, arts and crafts, learning, experimentation, and fun. Pennsylvania Coast Day was held at the historic Fairmount Water Works, a site owned by the City of Philadelphia.  It is the heart of America's first major urban water supply system and is now a National Historic Landmark. Pennsylvania Coast Day encourages people to discover the treasures of Pennsylvania's environmental, historic, and recreational coastal resources.  During this year's event, found object sculptor, Leo Sewell, created a colorful fish from dozens of recycled soda cans.  NetworkArts used the clay-sculpting talents of Philadelphia's youth to begin the creation of their next shorebird mosaic installation. More than 20 of the region's environmental organizations participated in our Treasure Hunt Area and hosted interactive booths enabling attendees to learn about watersheds, wildlife, storm water runoff, oil spills, geography, and much more.  For more information, please call the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at 1-800-445-4935.

On January 1, 2003, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project  (SMBRP) will formally become an independent state organization and renamed as the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.  This new chapter in the organization's history is the result of the passage of Senate Bill 1381, authored by California State Senator Sheila Kuehl, co-authored by State Assembly Member Fran Pavley and signed by Governor Davis on September 15.  The passage of this bill is an important step toward fulfilling the SMBRP Watershed Council's vision of an organizational structure that would be able "to accelerate the pace, extent and effectiveness of restoration activities for Santa Monica Bay".  It is anticipated that the establishment of the Commission and creation of a Santa Monica Bay Restoration Account will enhance our ability to secure funding on behalf of the Bay and to better coordinate the activities of multiple state and local agencies that drive implementation of the Bay Restoration Plan.

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program has awarded $30,000 to local schools, businesses, and groups to conduct projects that educate the community and help protect wildlife and water quality. This minigrants program also awarded $30,000 earlier this year for the first round of local projects. This round's grants include more than $92,000 in match from local sources. Sixteen groups requesting $50,000 for projects competed for the funds. Maryland, with assistance from the Coastal Bays Program, also has $100,000 available to purchase and install pollution prevention measures at marinas, boat yards, and yacht clubs in Isle of Wight, Newport, and Chincoteague bays. The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative is offering funding for up to 75 percent of the costs for items such as fish cleaning stations, oil and antifreeze recycling stations, wash water recycling systems, vacuum sanders, and oil response kits. Another $100,000 is available from the Coastal Bays Program to assist its partners in the implementation of actions outlined in the Maryland Coastal Bays Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.

The Mass. Bays Program hosted the "Eyes on the Estuaries" Conference, developed by the Northeast Region National Estuary Programs and the MIT Sea GrantProgram, on November 14 -15, 2002, at the New England Aquarium.  Interest in the conference was more than could be accommodated, and the presentations by various experts in the field of invasive species were very well received.  One particularly new and interesting presentation was made by a USDA staff person from North Carolina on the efforts that USDA has undertaken to monitor Internet trade in invasive species. The conference agenda can be viewed on the Mass. Bays Program website www.mass.gov/envir/massbays and a summary of presentations will be available at a future date.  For more information contact shannon.weigle@state.ma.us.
 

The San Francisco Estuary Project (SFEP) recently awarded a total of  $111,000 through its Small Grant Program (part of an appropriation from EPA). These one-year grants range from $3,000 to $10,000 and will fund 17 projects representing the entire Bay Area.  A total of 30 excellent proposals were reviewed, amounting to over $200,000 in requested funding.  The projects selected for funding include education and outreach efforts such as Canoes in Sloughs watershed education program, Wetlands and Woodlands Discovery Program, and Urban Creek Restoration Environmental Education Program.  SFEP is excited about the breadth and depth of these projects and look forward to their increasing the stewardship of the Bay through implementation of actions contained in the CCMP Public Involvement and Education chapter. SFEP is hoping to continue this program next year.

The Center for the Inland Bays (Delaware Inland Bays Estuary Program) would like to announce that John A. Hughes has become the newest member of the Center's Board of Directors.  Hughes was recently appointed by Governor Ruth Ann Minner as the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.  Secretary Hughes was the former Director of the State's Division of Soil and Water Conservation and had also managed the Delaware's dredging programs for a number of years.

MEETINGS & CONFERENCES

The Technology Transfer Conference - Emerging Technologies, Tools, and Techniques To Manage Our Coasts in the 21st Century - will be held on January 28-31, 2003 in Cocoa Beach, Florida at the Holiday Inn Hotel.  This Conference will examine current and emerging coastal and ocean management tools, techniques, and strategies, as well as consider mechanisms for enhancing our ability over the next 25 years to protect and manage coastal ecosystems in the face of new challenges.  The Conference will be organized around four broad themes - assessment, management, restoration, and measuring results.  One hundred and fifty-five abstracts have been received.  Please visit http://www.tech-transfer-conference.

Upcoming Seagrass and In-Bay Habitat Restoration Workshop: Call for Abstracts - The four Florida NEPs (Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and Indian River Lagoon) will be co-hosting a three-day workshop at Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, FL, on March 11-13, 2003 on in-bay habitat restoration issues.  The first day (March 11) is entitled "The Seagrass Restoration Workshop: Success, Failure, and the Cost of Both".  March 12 and 13 will include sessions on restoration issues for hard bottom substrate, tidal rivers, dredging (navigational and residential canals) and dredged material placement, regulatory issues, and integrated multiple habitats. Registration is $100 for all three days and is due by March 1, 2003.  Abstracts are due December 6, 2002.  If you would like to receive a Call for Abstracts and registration form, please contact Holly at hgreening@tbep.org.