CSO Newsletter
The Coastal States Organization represents the nation’s Coastal States, Territories, and Commonwealths on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource issues.
Spotlight on Coastal Management:
Happy Corals Week!
Coastal zone management balances development and protection of the vital natural resources that support thriving coastal communities and economies. Corals are an important natural resource for numerous U.S. States, Territories, and Commonwealths. CSO partners with the All Islands Committee, the EPA, and NOAA to support coral reef conservation by identifying and disseminate resources, monitoring relevant legislation, collaborating with partners, and increase awareness of the importance of coral reefs to healthy and resilient coasts.
2020 National Coastal and Estuarine Summit
Restore America’s Estuaries and the Coastal States Organization co-host  The National Coastal and Estuarine Summit . We bring together the coastal restoration and management communities for integrated discussions to explore issues, solutions, and lessons learned in their work. The Summit explores cutting-edge issues in coastal restoration and management and highlights the latest research through interactive sessions, plenary speakers, and poster presentations.  Learn more .

Be a part of the action by becoming a 2020 Summit sponsor . Exclusive sponsor benefits include:

  • National recognition as a Summit sponsor to audiences of 10,000+
  • Complimentary exhibit space and registrations
  • Opportunities to network with colleagues, potential partners, and clients

Check out the Sponsorship Brochure to learn more about the available opportunities here .
In the States and Regions
East Coast and Caribbean
As Miami Faces Threats From Sea Level Rise, Some Worry About Climate Gentrification
Miami faces a major threat from sea level rise. But there are parts of the city that don't flood, and that's becoming a selling point for real estate developers. As flooding grows worse in Miami's upscale beachfront areas, black residents living on higher ground worry they'll be displaced. The city is studying this climate gentrification. Read more

Where did replenished beaches go?
The triennial beach replenishment of Rehoboth Dewey and Dewey Beach, DE was completed roughly two weeks ago, yet some beachgoers are questioning where the 409,000 cubic yards of sand have gone. In an interview Nov. 27, Michael Powell, Shoreline & Waterway Section administrator for Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, said the sand is still there, but it’s in the shallows of the ocean immediately offshore. Read more
Great Lakes
ODNR Announces H2Ohio Wetland Projects
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) unveiled several wetland projects today aimed at improving water quality in Lake Erie and throughout Ohio as part of Gov. Mike DeWine’s  H2Ohio initiative . The wetland projects, planned throughout the Maumee River Watershed and elsewhere, are part of a plan to reduce harmful algal blooms and ensure safe, clean water for all Ohioans. Read more

FEMA updates flood risk maps for Allegan County communities
The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps were produced as part of a multiple year coastal analysis and mapping study done for counties along the Great Lakes. Officials said the updated maps would inform residents about the flood risks in their area, updating data that was more than 40 years old in some communities. Read more
West Coast and Pacific
Seattle’s working waterfront offers rare combination of maritime roots and high-tech economy
“This region made a choice a long time ago that we would be grounded in the jobs and opportunities that come with having a maritime and fishing connection,” she said Washington State Rep.  Gael Tarleton . At the Port of Seattle, industry and political leaders are optimistic that the region will remain competitive following the January rollout of the state’s  Maritime Blue 2050 strategy , which is co-chaired by Rep. Tarleton and Vigor CEO Frank Foti. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee  touted the plan as a first-of-its-kind coordinated effort  to innovate across a somewhat traditional industry in areas including electrification, decarbonization technology, software and data applications, and workforce development to bring young people into maritime careers. Read more

District tax could help fund erosion project
A new county financing tool could be used to pay for a multimillion dollar project to restore the Kahana Bay, HI coastline, which is being severely eroded by sea level rise, frequent storms and seawalls built to protect condominiums. The Kahana Bay Steering Committee, which represents nine oceanfront condominiums and one kuleana parcel in the area, and the county Planning Department are looking at establishing a Community Facilities District to help fund the beach nourishment project. Read more

Coastal flooding research funded
An Oregon State University anthropologist has been awarded $750,000 by the National Science Foundation to research issues facing coastal communities exposed to repetitive flooding, and the effectiveness of federal disaster response policies. “Communities are facing relocation, yet current disaster-response relocation policies favor solutions that focus on nuclear families and individual households, Elizabeth Marino, an assistant professor in the OSU College of Liberal Arts, said. “These policies and solutions ignore the distinct needs of tight-knit and interdependent indigenous communities, such as those in rural Alaska, or other communities with a strong sense of social cohesion.” Read more
Gulf
Texas GLO Supports Coastal Restoration Projects
Seeking to support coastal resilience, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) committed $6.6 million through the Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) to support two Ducks Unlimited shoreline protection projects in coastal Texas. The GLO granted $4.5 million in support of a living shoreline project at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge and $2.1 million for a restoration project at McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge. Read more

Jefferson Parish secures funding for 'living coastline' in Bucktown as work continues on boardwalk
Crews are building a curved, 1,000-foot boardwalk just west of the Bucktown Harbor that will enclose a 3.5-acre patch of marshland created as part of the harbor in 2001. That $1.7 million project, funded by the parish and the Environmental Protection Agency, will include benches, bird-watching stands and educational signs for visitors, and will serve as an "outdoor classroom" for educators and other groups after its completion this spring. Meanwhile, a second project to regenerate the marshlands along the shoreline on the west side of the boardwalk received partial funding last month. Read more
Events & Webinars
Announcements
Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants
$4 million in Community-based Restoration Program funding available for coastal and marine habitat restoration in 2020. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, non-profits, commercial (for profit) organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local, and Native American tribal governments. NOAA’s Restoration Center recognizes that habitat protection and restoration are essential elements of a strategy for sustainable commercial and recreational fisheries. Investing in habitat restoration projects leads to real, lasting differences for communities, businesses, and the environment. The Community-based Restoration Program supports restoration projects that use a habitat-based approach to rebuild productive and sustainable fisheries, contribute to the recovery and conservation of protected resources, promote healthy ecosystems, and yield community and economic benefits. Learn more here .

Environmental Literacy Funding Opportunities - NOAA Office of Education
The NOAA Office of Education has issued a competitive funding opportunity for projects designed to build environmental literacy of K-12 students and the public so they are knowledgeable of the ways in which their community can become more resilient to extreme weather and/or other environmental hazards, and become involved in achieving that resilience. This funding opportunity is soliciting two types of projects through separate competitive priorities. For Priority 1, pre-applications are required and will be used to determine which institutions are invited to submit full applications to this priority. The deadline for pre-applications was November 25, 2019 and the deadline for Priority 1 full applications is 1 March 26, 2020. For Priority 2, only full applications are requested and the deadline for Priority 2 applications is February 11, 2020. Learn more  here.

Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation Regional Workshops
CERF announces the availability of funding to support regional workshops in collaboration with CERF’s Affiliate Societies on high priority scientific and management issues of regional importance. These pilot workshops are intended to explore ways in which the Affiliate Societies and CERF can work together to translate and apply coastal and estuarine science to important regional issues. Workshops should take place between August 2020 and June 2021. Proposals are due May 1, 2020. Learn more here .

EPA Awards $4 Million to Protect America’s Estuaries and Coastal Waters
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $4 million cooperative agreement with Restore America’s Estuaries to help fund projects supporting National Estuary Program coastal watersheds and estuaries. Restore America’s Estuaries will operate a competition that provides entities from across the country an opportunity to apply for funding for projects that will improve the health of our nation’s waters. Learn more here .

New "Guide on How to Insure a Natural Asset" from The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy has released a new guide describing the phases and steps to designing an insurance for natural assets at risk. It is based on the experience of The Nature Conservancy and partners in developing an insurance for the reef and beaches along the Mexican Caribbean between 2016 and 2018, as part of the Coastal Risk and Resilience (CRR) Initiative. Find the guide here.

New National Council for Science and the Environment Report on Climate Science Research
The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) released a new report showing public universities are contributing significantly to America’s understanding of climate change. The report found a widespread focus on the science of climate impacts, and the regional breakdowns show that public university scientists are investigating locally relevant topics, making their work particularly important to guiding local policy in sectors ranging from agriculture to forestry to medicine. Find the report here .

Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship
NOAA is accepting applications for a new fellowship program for graduate students at the national estuarine research reserves. One two-year fellowship opportunity will be available at each of the 29 coastal sites. Through a research project, fellows will address a key coastal management question to help scientists and communities understand coastal challenges that may influence future policy and management strategies. Applications must be submitted by December 20, 2019.  Apply here.
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The views expressed in articles referenced here are those of the authors and do not represent or reflect the views of CSO.  

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