[NEW] BIA Calls for Input from Coastal Tribes Facing Relocation Due to Climate Impacts
The Bureau of Indian Affairs' Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (TCR) has been asked by Congress to provide information on the "estimated unmet need of coastal Tribes in the lower 48 states that are facing relocation due to climate impacts." TCR is collaborating with Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals to produce an associated report due December 2023. For this report, they are considering both protect-in-place and relocation responses and the combination and/or spectrum between those two. In addition, they consider coastal Tribes to include those whose trust lands are on the shores of the Great Lakes. Input can be shared via the input form. You can fill the form out online, or you can email unmetneed2023@nau.edu to request a form. Learn more about the report here. Input is due Friday November 3, 2023.
[NEW] National Working Waterfronts Network Accepting Proposals for Spring 2024 Graduate Internship Applied Research Projects
The NWWN has partnered with Urban Harbors Institute (UHI), an applied research institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, focused on addressing ocean and coastal issues through research, policy, and planning. They have created an internship program that focuses on applied research to advance the resilience of commercial fishing communities. This internship program will be managed through UHI at UMass Boston and will provide three internships during the winter/spring of 2024. The opportunity to submit a proposal is open to any for-profit, non-profit, academic, association/coalition, NGO or government organization with offices in the United States. Applicants must submit a single-spaced, two-page research project proposal (in size 11 font or larger) by Monday October 23, 2023 to Shannon.Hogan@umb.edu with the subject line “NWWN Applied Research”. Learn more here.
[NEW] Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Holds Hearing on Sackett Descion
The US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing this week on the implications of Sackett v. EPA for Clean Water Act protections of wetlands and streams. There was testimony from Dr. Mažeika Patricio Sulliván, Director of Clemson's Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science; Kourtney Revels a justice organizer from Bayou City Waterkeeper; and Susan Bodine a partner with Earth & Water Law. Watch the hearing and read written testimony here.
[NEW] EPA Provides Toolkit to State and Local Governments on Community Engagement
The “Capacity Building Through Effective Meaningful Engagement Booklet” is a tool intended to help create or expand plans for engaging meaningfully with communities. No two approaches to meaningful engagement will be exactly alike. The EPA hope this tool helps spark ideas on how to build trust within communities through meaningful engagement.
[NEW] Azul Publishes Article on Coastal Justice Lessons
Azul, a Latinx-led and serving grassroots environmental justice organization, has published an article entitled Coastal Justice: Lessons from the Frontlines. Co-authored by Marce Gutierrez-Graudiņš, the article highlights lessons learned from the frontlines of the movement for coastal justice. It provides guidance for federal and state programs to take advantage of unprecedented opportunities and pursue responsible governance that "avoids community erasure, accounts for variance in community formation and racialization, and ensures community ownership over process and systems." It calls for the necessary reversal of "historical injustices that are magnified by ongoing policies and practices," and the need to "re-articulate what it means to integrate environmental justice principles within state and federal policy.” Read the full article here. And learn more about Azul, the only U.S. ocean conservation organization in the nation to focus specifically in working with Latinx communities to protect the ocean and coasts, here.
White House Hosts First-Ever Climate Resilience Summit and Releases National Climate Resilience Framework
Last week, the Biden-Harris administration hosted the first-ever White House Summit on Building Climate Resilient Communities, which included representatives from more than 25 states, territories, and Tribal Nations. In conjunction with the Summit, the Biden-Harris Administration released the National Climate Resilience Framework, a vision for a climate resilient nation designed to guide and align climate resilience investments and activities by the federal government and its partners. The Framework identifies common principles and specific actions to accelerate progress towards six objectives. Federal agencies also announced new actions – including the awarding or availability of more than $500 million in dedicated funding – to build climate resilience. Read more here.
NOAA Announces $12.7 Million in Funding to Advance Climate Smart Communities
The Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $12.7 million in funding to advance the Climate-Smart Communities Initiative. This funding, which is available as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda under the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest climate investment in history — will bring climate adaptation expertise to communities across the U.S. over the next four years. Read more here.
NOAA Fisheries Releases New Interactive Tool Consolidates Data from Climate Vulnerability Assessments
NOAA Fisheries has launched its new Climate Vulnerability Assessment Tool. It provides easy access to vulnerability information from all of the current Climate Vulnerability Assessments in one convenient location. Previously, these assessments were only available as individual reports on the NOAA Fisheries website or via scientific journals. As part of its commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change, NOAA Fisheries conducts Climate Vulnerability Assessments on fish stocks, protected species, habitats, and fishing communities. The Climate Vulnerability Assessment Tool provides an easy way for scientists, academia, and decision makers to find vulnerability information on nearly 400 marine-related species and habitats. Read more here.
FEMA Releases New Guide on Making The Economic Case for Coastal Resilience
FEMA developed the Economic Case for Coastal Resilience guide for communities thinking about how to reduce their risks from coastal hazards. It gives background on coastal natural disasters and their effect on communities nationwide. It then explains how to reduce risks. The guide also contains two infographics that you can use in explaining coastal risks and resilience options. They are available as PDFs and JPGs for your use.
Wisconsin Coastal Management Program Opens Annual RFP
WCMP is seeking proposals to enhance, preserve, protect and restore resources within the state’s coastal zone – all counties adjacent to Lakes Superior and Michigan, with their nearly 1000 miles of shoreline. They anticipate awarding up to $1.6 million in grant funding. WCMP Grants are available for coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, coastal resource and community planning, Great Lakes education, public access and historic preservation. The due date is Friday, November 2, 2023. There will be a virtual grant workshop September 19, 2023 (A recorded presentation will be made available and posted at http://coastal.wisconsin.gov.) Application materials are available on the WCMP Grants Program webpage. For more information please contact staff at coastal@wisconsin.gov.
NOAA Releases FY2024 Federal Opportunity for Effects of Sea Level Rise Program
For this opportunity, the ESLR Program is soliciting proposals to improve adaptation and planning in response to regional and local effects of sea level rise (SLR) and coastal inundation (storm surge, nuisance flooding, and/or wave actions) through targeted research on nature-based solutions (NBS), modeling of physical and biological processes, and testing mitigation strategies for implementation. The overall goal of the ESLR Program is to facilitate informed adaptation planning and coastal management decisions through funding multidisciplinary research that results in integrated models capable of evaluating vulnerability and resilience under multiple SLR, inundation, and management scenarios. The opportunity has two focal areas; General Coastal Resilience and Alaska Regional Coastal Resilience. A more detailed summary of the two focal areas can be found below. A letter of intent is required to submit a full proposal. The letter of intent (LOI) is due by Monday November 13, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET, while full proposals will be due by Wednesday January 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. The LOI is for guidance purposes only, and all teams that submit a LOI may submit a full proposal. Please see the funding announcement for information on the requirements and process for submitting a LOI and full proposal. There will be an informational webinar at 3:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, October 6. See registration link below. If you are not able to make the webinar, a recording will be available on the ESLR website after the event.
NOAA Marine Debris Program Releases Two New Funding Opportunities
The NOAA Marine Debris Program announced two Fiscal Year 2024 Notices of Funding Opportunity for both Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These are two separate funding opportunities, and they have different application requirements. Applicants wishing to compete under both funding opportunities must submit separate letters of intent (LOI) for each. Applicants who submit successful LOIs will be invited to submit a full proposal following the LOI review period. The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $28 million across the two funding opportunities. The Marine Debris Removal letters of intent deadline is Friday October 27, 2023, and an applicant webinar will be offered on September 12, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET (registration required). The Marine Debris Interception Technologies letters of intent deadline is Wednesday November 15, 2023, and an applicant webinar will be offered on September 13, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET (registration required).
NOAA Calls for Nominations to the Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee
NOAA is soliciting applications for membership on the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee. The Committee provides advice on the planning, integrated design, operation, maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS). U.S. IOOS promotes research to develop, test, and deploy innovations and improvements in coastal and ocean observation technologies and modeling systems, addresses regional and national needs for ocean information, gathers data on key coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes variables and ensures timely and sustained dissemination and availability of these data for societal benefits. Nominations should be submitted by Tuesday January 2, 2024 via email. Read the full call for nominations here.
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