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GOMA WEB RESOURCES
Check it out! GOMA's website now contains useful regional resources:
Events calendar lists upcoming conferences, symposia, and meetings.
Employment Opportunities lists job postings from regional partners.
Gulf Observations & Monitoring information is now available.
DWH Project Tracker provides access maps and key information about projects funded through oil spill settlements (currently under development).
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Restore Americas's Estuaries
November 1-6, 2014 Gaylord National Convention Center Washington, DC 
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Coastal GeoTools
March 30 - April 2, 2015 Sign up here
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PRIORITY ISSUE TEAM CONFERENCE CALLS:
CCR Call Tues, Oct 7 10am CST
Education Call Tues, Oct 14 10am CST
WQ Call in planning stage - contact the team coordinator for details.
To contact Team Coordinators, see Quick Links below.
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Mapping Regional Restoration:
DWH Project Tracker
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GOMA's Restoration Project Map is being enhanced to the future DWH Project Tracker. It will allow users to view restoration projects as well as research activities in progress across the Gulf. Click here to see the site!
Currently, the site contains projects from GOMA, GoMRI, NFWF, and NRDA. The DWH Project Tracker will be inclusive to all settlement funding programs.
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Come See Us!
We love visitors! With our new
sign out front, you can't miss us. Stop by 1151 Robinson Street in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and we'll show you around.
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Gulf of Mexico Alliance Oversees Expansive Effort to Conduct and Share Oil Spill Science
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Since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill an unprecedented 10-year, $500 million research effort has been underway to understand oil spill impacts and improve response. To date, 2,400 individuals including scientists, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students are working towards this common goal. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) administers this effort through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), an oil spill and ecosystem science research program funded by BP.
A Master Research Agreement between GOMA and BP governs GoMRI and an independent, 20-member Research Board makes the decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of GoMRI-funded science. A testament to the GoMRI Research Board, staffers, and management team is the award of nearly $175M in research funding to over 100 institutions nationally and internationally. Some 75% of the awards go to institutions located in the Gulf of Mexico region. Currently, GoMRI is in the process of evaluating new proposals and anticipates funding $112M in research later this fall.
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Grad student assesses oil impacts on Louisiana oysters
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Public Availability of Data
One requirement of all research awards is the public availability of project information and scientific data as soon as possible. This mandate began the joint efforts of the Gulf Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative or "GRIIDC". It is the data management engine for all GoMRI scientific datasets. The Research Information System or "RIS" contains all information about GoMRI-funded projects, people, institutions, and publications. The GOMA partners of the Harte Research Institute, the Northern Gulf Institute, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission built and maintain the GRIIDC and RIS. GRIIDC now holds over 550 scientific data sets and the RIS holds detailed information on over 200 funded projects.
Understanding and Using GoMRI Science
With excellent research resulting from the program, GoMRI pursues an aggressive outreach effort to ensure that the public understands and can use its science. To date the GoMRI program has published 368 refereed journal articles, 11 book chapters and 1 book. Recently, GoMRI contracted the Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant programs to reach specific audiences with whom they have already developed strong relationships. Other expanded outreach includes developing a PBS documentary similar to the Journey to Planet Earth series and the Smithsonian Ocean Portal who is developing topical content and an interactive infographic that shows oil movement.
These efforts complement existing outreach activities such as the quarterly GoMRI newsletter and an annual oil spill and ecosystem science meeting (2015 information found here). The GoMRI website, twitter(@gulfresearch) and Facebook feeds are also excellent ways to stay up to date on published research such as Oil Indicator Species in Surf Zones, Dispersant Impacts on Food Webs, and Ocean Current Prediction Modeling. With an ultimate goal to improve society's ability to understand, respond to and mitigate the impacts of petroleum pollution, the GoMRI program has increased the amount of ecosystem science in the Gulf of Mexico exponentially.
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Gulf of Mexico Alliance Transitions and New Faces
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The Gulf of Mexico Alliance would like to extend a huge thank you to Steve Wolfe who has been the Water Quality Team Coordinator since 2008. Steve has stepped down from the position but we are pleased he'll continue to participate and contribute his years of knowledge. We're excited to announce that Florida Sea Grant Fellow Kayleigh Michaelides will assume some of the team's coordination needs.
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Hypoxia Task Force Public Meeting and Webcast
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The Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force (aka Hypoxia Task Force) is holding a Public Meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, in Godfrey, Illinois.
For the first time ever, a webcast has also been set up for off-site participation. Webcast attendees have no deadline but need to register to receive information on how to join the webcast. The meeting will provide updates on the progress of task force members and others to reduce excess nutrient loads to the Mississippi River. A special focus will also be on Illinois' approach to nutrient reduction.
Registration is required for either in-person attendance or for the webcast. Click here to register or to learn more about the meeting.
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Risky Business: The Economic Risks of Climate Change Webinar
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On October 17, 2014 the Southeast, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico Climate Communities of Practice will hold a webinar to look at the potential economic consequences of climate change for the Southeast region of the country. The webinar, identified as "Risky Business: The Economic Risks of Climate Change in the United States," features guest speaker Jamesine Rogers, who will share background information about the drivers that led to this study, report findings that are specific to the Southeast region, recommended actions, and next steps.
For more information and to learn how to join the webinar visit the GOMA events page.
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NOAA Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research - Multiple proposal opportunities are available. Deadlines range October 14-21, 2014.
NOAA Bay-Watershed Education and Training (Gulf B-WET) Program - Funding opportunity closes October 24, 2014.
USFWS North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants - Provides matching grants to organizations/individuals who have developed partnerships for wetlands conservation projects in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to benefit wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife. Deadline is November 7, 2014.
Provides funding to catalyze the implementation of locally-driven, community-based marine debris prevention, assessment, and removal projects that will benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and NOAA trust resources. Closes November 17, 2014.
NOAA 2015 Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Program - Funding opportunity will close November 18, 2014.
NFWF and Wells Fargo Announce 2015 Environmental Solutions for Communities Grant Program - Funding opportunities to promote sustainable communities by supporting highly-visible projects that link economic development and community well-being to the stewardship and health of the environment. Deadline is December 10, 2014.
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REGIONAL INITIATIVES
Gulf Restoration Updates
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RESTORE Council: The Gulf Restoration Council (5 Gulf States and 11 Federal Agencies) has updated their website. It is actively recruiting subject matter experts to serve as panelists to review proposals submitted to the Council; download the instructions and RESTORE Council Science Reviewer Invitation form to apply by October 17, 2014.
Council members are currently nominating projects for funding consideration. The projects and programs selected by the Council will be included in a draft Funded Priorities List that will be published in 2015. The Council requests feedback through three questions related to funding priorities. For additional information on the submission and evaluation process and to get other materials go here.
Alabama: The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC) is accepting project ideas. For information on this process go to their website here. A public meeting will be held October 9, 2014 at the City of Daphne Center. Time to be announced. Go to the AGCRC web page to sign up for updates.
Mississippi: The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) released a map of project ideas submitted through their Making Mississippi Whole website. The map that displays the project ideas submitted to date can be found here.
Florida: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) recently released it's Restoration Project Story Map identifying all projects in Florida currently funded through the different restoration funding programs. The user-friendly story map can be found here. Thousands of submittals for RESTORE funding were received through their online project portal, but officials are asking that projects be updated or new projects be submitted through the portal as soon as possible. A public meeting is planned for October 22, 2014 in Panama City, Florida. For more information on meetings and to access the online project portal visit the website.
Louisiana: T he Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) addresses RESTORE Act through the state's Master Plan. A second call for project proposals to the 2014 Coastal Master Plan Project Development Program is open until October 31, 2014.
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NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program: The NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program anticipates the release of a funding opportunity. Information is available in the Federal Register. For those planning to attend the 7th National Summit on Coastal and Estuarine Restoration, a session on science initiatives in the Gulf of Mexico will be share the latest information on the Program. The annual conference is scheduled November 1-6, 2014 in National Harbor, MD.
National Academy of Sciences' Gulf Research Program (NAS):
The National Academy of Sciences recently released their Strategic Vision found here. To follow the NAS Gulf Research Program and register for updates, go to their website. Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA): The NRDA Trustees have released, " Assess Plan Restore." It is a guide to projects and planning contained in the Final Phase III Early Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. Get a copy of the plan. Learn more about NRDA through NOAA here or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service here. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (NFWF): On August 22, 2014 NFWF announced a $34.5 million award to support Historic Powerhorn Ranch Acquisition in coastal Texas. A significant portion of the funds are coming from the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. Read more about this and other NFWF projects here.
North American Conservation Wetlands Act Fund (NAWCA):
As part of the criminal plea agreement involving the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, this Fund will receive $100,000,000. The purpose is for wetlands restoration and conservation benefiting migratory bird species and other wildlife affected by the oil spill. Click here to learn more. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has a "Vision for a Healthy Gulf of Mexico Watershed" and it can be found here. A U.S. Small Grants deadline is November 7, 2014.
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Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Update
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The 2015 Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference is scheduled for February 16-19 in Houston, Texas. Registration and conference information can be found here. Abstract submission closes October 3, 2014. Also consider the special sessions and workshops.
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