Weekly Report

Sept. 26, 2014

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On the Hill In the Administration At the Agencies In the Courts In the States and Regions In the News Announcements

From CSO

Dear CSO Members:

Today begins the final countdown to the annual Fall meeting in Astoria on Oct. 1 - 3. Our honored guests include NOS Deputy Assistant Administrator Russell Callender, our close partner at the Army Corps of Engineers Charley Chesnutt, and Jeff Payne, who leads the new Office for Coastal Management. Many other folks from NOAA and other agencies and organizations will join us during our Guest Session. Our business meeting will be equally worthwhile, including an engaging strategic planning exercise, as well as some "roll up your sleeves" work on a new beach and inlet management policy.

Next week is also a chance say a fond farewell to two of our favorite and talented CSO staffers, Lindsey Kraatz and Rebecca Jablonski-Diehl, who were snapped up by NOAA leadership! Lindsey will become a policy advisor for Commerce Assistant Secretary of Conservation and Management, where she is likely to cover NOAA's resilience strategy, the Sandy Task Force and California water issues, among others. Rebecca will become Program Coordination Officer for the National Ocean Service, providing senior staff support to, and representing NOS within, the Office of the Under Secretary and NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan. We will miss them greatly, but our loss is our federal partner's gain. We intend to remain in touch, and are overjoyed that they will be at the Fall meeting next week. Both are helping recruit new people and have come up with some outstanding candidates. We have already hired Rebecca's replacement - stay tuned for the announcement when she starts in mid-October. We also have indication this may possibly lead to an enhanced partnership with NOAA.

A big thanks to Bradley Watson, who delivered useful comments at the USACE WRRDA Listening Session. In addition, our Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, Bari Greenfeld, returned last week from a UN meeting in Apia, Samoa. She did some outreach there to gauge interest in a possible CSSF project, which she and CSSF Board Member Mike Peloquin will describe at next week's meeting.

We also welcome CSO's new intern-extraordinaire, Anthony Torres, a member of the Honors Program at American University School of Public Affairs. He has a long list of scholastic achievements, but on top of that, a commitment to public interest projects. His latest accomplishment was organizing over 200 students to join him at the People's Climate March in New York City last Sunday. Anthony put together this edition of the CSO Weekly Report, and I am sure you will join me in welcoming him to the CSO family.

Finally, we just learned that USACE would like to partner with us again next year on a joint Knauss Fellow. Bari's tremendous success and great work convinced us that the arrangement is valuable to both of us. Although Bari's year with CSO continues through January, interviews for next year's fellows begins shortly. We appreciate Bari for setting such a great precedent, and will report on whether we are selected to get a new fellow.

See you next week! And whether you intend to join us or not, please do not forget to send in your ballot for CSO Officers.

With regards,

Mary Munson, CSO Executive Director

On the Hill

Headlines

Local Leaders Gather Climate Change Experts for Summit at UCSB

Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and county Supervisor Salud Carbajal join the roundtable discussion on ways to work together to combat sea level rise.

House committee OKs plan to increase Indian River Lagoon funding

On Wednesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved by unanimous vote, legislation (H.R. 5266) to reauthorize funding for the National Estuary Program (NEP). Rep. Bill Posey, one of four principle co-authors of H.R. 5266, was able to secure the inclusion of his bipartisan plan (H.R. 5117) to increase available funding for estuaries with critical needs like the Indian River Lagoon. In July, Posey and Rep. Patrick Murphy introduced the Estuary Urgent Needs Priority Program Act to meet high priority needs across the nation's 28 national estuaries.

In the Administration

Obama Calls For More Ambitious Approach To Climate Change In U.N. Speech

In a speech at the U.N. Climate Summit, President Obama calls for a more ambitious global approach to environmental issues, The president also notes a new push to boost what the White House calls "global resilience" in the face of climate change.

President Obama to Designate Largest Marine Monument in the World Off-Limits to Development

As part of this Year of Action, President Obama will sign a proclamation tomorrow to designate the largest marine reserve in the world that is completely off limits to commercial resource extraction including commercial fishing. The proclamation expands the existing Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, one of the most pristine tropical marine environments in the world, to six times its current size, resulting in 370,000 square nautical miles (490,000 square miles) of protected area around these tropical islands and atolls in the south-central Pacific Ocean. Expanding the Monument will more fully protect the deep coral reefs, seamounts, and marine ecosystems unique to this part of the world, which are also among the most vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification.

OMB Chief Vows Continued Action on Climate Change

Agencies have managed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from direct sources by about 17 percent over 2008 levels and are on track to meet its goal of 20 percent renewable energy use by fiscal 2020, But the government can always do more. OMB will be making sure that agency budgets and policies reflect the realities of climate change and the added costs of inaction, Director Shaun Donovan said.

At the Agencies

Report: EPA Proposal To Expand Clean Water Protection Is Scientifically Sound

A controversial proposal to expand the Environmental Protection Agency's authority over United States waters is based on scientifically sound evidence that pollution in streams and wetlands can have a big impact on larger, downstream bodies of water, according to a draft report released by the EPA's independent Science Advisory Board (SAB) last week.

Secretary Jewell, Director Ashe Announce $35 Million in Grants to Boost State Endangered Species Conservation Efforts

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe announced nearly $35 million in grants to 20 states to enable collaborative efforts to conserve many of America's imperiled species, ranging from the red cockaded woodpecker in the Southeast to a variety of bat species in the Midwest to a colorful flower in the Rocky Mountains. A list of the projects by state is available here.

NOAA expands Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron

NOAA released a final rule and environmental impact statement expanding the boundaries of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron from 448 square miles to 4,300 square miles. The new boundaries now include the waters of Lake Huron adjacent to Michigan's Alcona, Alpena and Presque Isle counties to the Canadian border.

Departments of the Navy, Energy and Agriculture Invest in Construction of Three Biorefineries to Produce Drop-In Biofuel for Military

As part of a 2011 Presidential directive, the Departments of Navy, Energy, and Agriculture announced that three companies have been awarded contracts to construct and commission biorefineries capable of producing "drop-in" biofuels to meet the transportation needs of the military and private sector. Made through the Department of Defense's (DOD) Defense Protection Act (DPA) of 1950, the awards support the Administration's goals to boost and diversify the domestic fuel supply base, make American warfighters less beholden to volatile oil markets, and strengthen national security.

In the States and Regions

East Coast

In Maine, scientists see signs of climate change

With milder winters sparking a surge in deer ticks, park rangers now duct-tape their ankles while combing the wilds of Acadia, where native flowers are disappearing at alarming rates and invasive species are thriving. In a state with the highest percentage of forested land and a long, famously scenic coastline, where timber and fisheries remain at the heart of the economy, climate change has become an immediate concern.

Dredging a wake-up call to Fairhaven residents about harbor cleanup

In spring of 2013, meetings about harbor dredging practices were suddenly inundated with Fairhaven residents asking about Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) cells. The specially designed holes dug in the harbor floor that are then filled with toxin-contaminated sediment had been keeping them up at night.

Coconuts and oysters save Rhode Island marshes

Oysters and coconuts seldom go together as a meal, but they are an excellent combination for helping the environment. Coconuts, in this case, aren't the kind you eat. Instead, they are large coconut-fiber logs that provide a foundation for a barrier to stop erosion.

Governor Cuomo Signs Community Risk and Resiliency Act

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed into law the Community Risk and Resiliency Act to strengthen New York State's preparedness for the effects of climate change and help protect communities against severe weather and sea level rise. The Community Risk and Resiliency Act advances a number of important recommendations of the NYS 2100 Commission, which the Governor convened after Superstorm Sandy to develop more resilient infrastructure systems across the state.

De Blasio Unveils Ambitious Plan To Cut NYC Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 80%

On the day of the People's Climate March, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan for NYC to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% (over 2005 levels) by 2050, starting with huge efforts to improve the energy efficiency of public and private buildings. De Blasio said, "Climate change is an existential threat to New Yorkers and our planet. Acting now is nothing short of a moral imperative."

NJ Pilot Project To Study Resiliency Benefits Of New Approach For Restoring Salt Marshes

The Christie Administration, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and environmental and academic partners, has launched an $8 million pilot project that will evaluate the effectiveness of a new process that uses clean dredge materials to restore salt marshes to make coastal communities more resilient against future storms.

$9.8 million to improve water quality in Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay Program and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) have announced the recipients of $9.8 million in grants for restoration, conservation and environmental outreach initiatives across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The 45 projects will leverage more than $19.6 million in matching funds to lower pollution and improve the health of rivers, streams and the Bay.

Panel: Effects of rising sea levels likely to vary along NC coastline

North Carolina scientists on a panel tasked with predicting future sea levels expect the Atlantic Ocean to rise between 4 inches and 11 inches on the state's coast over the next three decades. But the effect of rising sea levels will be much less pronounced in Wilmington than in northern coastal areas, likely resulting in as many as four sea-level predictions for different parts of the North Carolina's coastline.

Beach Renourishment Project Set to Begin on Tybee

Tybee Island will gain greater protection against storms from additional sand reinforcing the beach there. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District awarded a $10 million contract Monday for the next shoreline protection project at this coastal Georgia community. Shoreline protection is also known as beach renourishment.

Gulf Coast

Florida lawmakers urge action on Everglades: 'Get it done'

Florida lawmakers in both the U.S. House and Senate today signaled they want to accelerate action on a major Everglades restoration project that has been stalled by red tape.

Vicksburg District Awards Dredging Contract

The US Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District is pleased to announce the award of a contract to dredge on the Mississippi River for $4,390,701 to Weeks Marine, Inc., of Covington, Louisiana. The work consists of furnishing, delivering and operating one cutterhead, hydraulic pipeline dredge, of which Weeks Marine owns seven.

Louisiana - How This Looming Threat Could Devastate the U.S. Energy Industry

There is an impending energy crisis looming that almost no one has heard of, but could have dire consequences for America's energy industry. According to Tim Osborn of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Steve Gill, senior scientist at the agency's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, by 2100 much of southeastern Louisiana will be under 4.3 feet of water. This area faces the fastest rate of sea level rise in the world

Texas scuttles derelict ship Kinta S to make artificial reef for marine life

The Kinta S was sunk off the coast of Texas in order to serve as an artificial reef. The retired freighter was scuttled in the Gulf of Mexico so that it can serve as a new home for marine life in the area.

West Coast and Pacific Islands

Study: SF may need to build levee to protect Mission Bay from rising sea levels

San Francisco may get a wall on the waterfront after all. But this barrier would not be a block of condominiums for the rich to live in, as the former 8 Washington St. project proposed. This wall is needed to keep the ocean from flooding The City's newest hospital complex and the Warriors' new arena.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breach Steamboat Slough dike

The Columbia River has reclaimed part of the old bottomland area west of town - and endangered salmon should be slightly better off because of it. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is finishing up a 68-acre, $6 million tideland restoration project at the Columbian white-tailed deer refuge. Its contractor has built a new dike to replace a failing section of the Steamboat Slough levee. Last week, workers made the first of two planned cuts in the old levee, allowing the Columbia to pour into land it has been barred from for decades.

NextGen to target state legislature races in Washington, Oregon

NextGenClimate is turning its attention to elections for state legislatures in an attempt to get environmental lawmakers into Washington's and Oregon's state capitol. Wednesday's announcement is the first foray into state legislature politics for NextGen, which up until now has focused its spending and advocacy on United States Senate races in Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan, and gubernatorial races in Florida, Pennsylvania and Maine.

Marshall Islands Speaker Tells U.N. 'We Are Drawing The Line Here' On Climate Change

If any country understands the urgency of acting on climate change, it's the Marshall Islands. The small island nation has become the poster child of climate change's real, visible impacts - it sits, on average, just about 6 feet above sea level, and has already had to battle with extreme drought and flooding that has come close to destroying its capital city.

Interior announces over $300,000 to protect, manage and preserve coral reef ecosystems critical to Pacific Island livelihoods, traditions, and cultures

Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia'aina has announced more than $300,000 in coral reef initiative grants to American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Ulithi Atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia. The funds are made available through the Office of Insular Affairs Coral Reef Initiative program for various projects intended to help protect and preserve coral reef ecosystems and educate communities and students on management of these natural resources.

Great Lakes

Illinois - Federal Agencies Announce 5-Year Great Lakes Restoration Action Plan

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy today released a new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan that lays out steps that federal agencies will take during the next five years to protect water quality, control invasive species and restore habitat in the largest surface fresh water system in the world. McCarthy, who chairs the federal Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, released the plan at a meeting of Great Lakes Mayors in Chicago.

Indiana erosion plan set for lakeshore; funding a question

There's sand on the beach, but there should be more, and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has a plan to do something about it. The plan calls for sand and small, natural stones to be replaced along the beach near Mount Baldy, at a cost of $26 million over 20 years, and for sand to be replaced at the Portage Lakefront and Riverfront at a cost of $25 million over 20 years.

Blooms buck prediction, pop up in Lake Erie

It's Jeff Reutter's fault. Well, not really. But the very day after one of Ohio's best-known science communicators told more than 100 people in Toledo on Monday that he thought western Lake Erie's annual algae threat was winding down, the noxious green menace - almost on cue from Murphy's Law - reared its ugly head and formed another bloom in Lake Erie's Maumee Bay near Toledo, as well as one near Monroe.

In the News

Taking a Call for Climate Change to the Streets

Legions of demonstrators, totaling nearly 400,000, frustrated by international inaction on global warming descended on New York City on Sunday, marching through the heart of Manhattan with a message of alarm for world leaders set to gather this week at the United Nations for a summit meeting on climate change.

Philanthropies, Including Rockefellers, And Investors Pledge $50 Billion Fossil Fuel Divestment

The Rockefellers, who made their vast fortune on oil, and other philanthropies and high-wealth individuals on Monday will announce pledges to divest a total of $50 billion from fossil fuel investments.

Flooding Risk From Climate Change, Country by Country

More than a quarter of Vietnam's residents live in areas likely to be subject to regular floods by the end of the century. Four percent of China's residents - 50 million people - live in the same kind of areas. Across the globe, about one person in 40 lives in a place likely to be exposed to such flooding by the end of the century, absent significant changes.