Building Partnerships for a Healthier Gulf

e-Newsletter
July 2015


Meadows Foundation Supports Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker
Funding allows for Tracker updates.  

The Meadows Foundation of Dallas, Texas has awarded $50,000 to the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) to help support the expansion of the Deepwater Horizon Project TrackerThe Endowment is a primary DWH Project Tracker development team member along with The Trust for Public Land, Ducks Unlimited and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. The online mapping tool provides an easy and comprehensive way to track restoration, research, and recovery projects resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 

 

"Support from the Meadows Foundation will help our team accelerate data collection for the DWH Project Tracker," said Laura Bowie, Executive Director at the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. "We'll now be able to add new features that will make information in the system even more valuable for natural resource planning, collaboration, and assessment purposes." 

 

Initial funding came from the Knobloch Family Foundation and the Endowment. The Meadows Foundation has disbursed more than $760 million in grants and direct charitable expenditures to more than 3,000 Texas institutions and agencies.  



Our Living Oceans: Habitat
NOAA Office of Science and Technology releases new status and trends report.

The 2015 Our Living Oceans: Habitat report represents the first comprehensive national status and trends summary of the various types of habitats used by living marine resources under NOAA Fisheries purview. The report is part of the Our Living Oceans (OLO) series.


OLO: Habitat provides a conceptual framework for understanding habitat-use patterns of the Nation's federally managed species of fishes, marine mammals, sea turtles, and invertebrates. A full copy of the report, two-page fact sheet, maps and infographics can be downloaded from the NOAA Office of Science and Technology website


Texas Coasts App
Texas General Land Office new tool helps the public find water access.

The Texas General Land Office unveiled a new website this month that also acts like an app on your android or iPhone. TXcoasts.com allows users to search for beaches, parks, and a host of other outdoor recreation areas. With a clean layout and easy to use, it is a one stop digital shop for anyone wanting to enjoy the coast of Texas. 
 
 
Oil Spill Outreach Then and Now
Information helps educate and answer questions.

In 2010, the National Geographic worked with artists and scientists to present the Layers of Life Gulf of Mexico via interactive online content. Several GoMRI partners and PIs contributed to its development. It is still a great education tool.

On July 15, 2015, the GoMRI release, "Capping Off the First Five Years of Scientific Research." In it, they answer ten long asked questions using the scientific research conducted.
 
 eventsEvents

Check out August events on our website. Send in your workshops, trainings, meetings, conferences, and other notable activities for inclusion on our events page.

Gulf of Mexico Alliance Team Conference Calls
  • Water Resources Full Team Call on Tuesday, August 11th from 1:30-3:00 p.m. CDT.
  • Education and Engagement Team Call on Tuesday, August 4th starting 2:30 p.m. CDT.
The NOAA Office for Coastal Management is piloting their latest product through an online training "Using Flood Exposure Maps". They are offering a blended webinar format -- participants view Part 1 online at their convenience and then join live for Part 2 on August 11 at 9:00am CDT/10:00 am EDT. Get more information.   

 

The Gulf Regional Sea Grant network is holding two oil spill science seminars. "Navigating shifting sands: Oil on our beaches," will be held August 5 in Pensacola, FL. "Impacts of Deepwater Horizon oil spill to Gulf Wetlands," will be held August 11, in Slidell, LA. Learn more.  

 

The Regional Coastal Training Program has held two Blue Carbon Workshops. These workshops stated as, "A management tool for the conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands," are also planned for Mississippi (Sept. 10), Florida (Oct. 22), and Texas (Nov. 5). Regional CTP workshops can be found on their website.   


RestorationUpdatesRestoration Updates

 

On July 2, 2015, BP Plc announced an agreement in principle to settle the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. Much legal work is ahead to complete the settlement. A selection of online news stories is available on the DWH Project Tracker website.    

 

RESTORE Council        

The RESTORE Council is anticipating the release of the Draft Funded Priorities List (FPL) in August. Once released, public comment will be solicited. Draft priorities will be those from the Council-Selected Restoration Component. Selections will be available for review on RestoretheGulf.gov

The Council Member Summary Notice of Application Process for Council-Selected Restoration Component Projects and Programs was published in the Federal Register in June. It can be viewed in the federal register. See the Council's website for more information.  

States  

Alabama The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council information and updates can be accessed here. The AGCRC is currently on hold making decisions pending additional guidance from federal officials.  

 

Mississippi held three resource summits earlier in the year to focus on three priorities: water quality, land conservation, and marine living resources. A report of those results are now available online for download.   

 

In response to questions regarding the BP Agreement in principle, MDEQ Executive Director Gary Rikard answers questions. For information on restoration activities in Mississippi go to Making Mississippi Whole.

  

Florida Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) maintains a website complete with resources, links, and newsletters, including an overview of Florida's response to the oil spill.  

 

Each impacted county will engage directly with their communities through the Gulf Consortium and the Florida Association of Counties. The Escambia County RESTORE Project Portal is open for submissions and will close September 30, 2015.  The Consortium has meetings planned for August 26 and November 18; see their website for more information.   

 

Louisiana The State of Louisiana is represented by the Coastal Protection and Rest

oration Authority (CPRA)  on state and RESTORE Council restoration activities. Recently, CPRA launched a new "Flood Risk and Resilience Viewer." View all news, activities and calendar notices on the CPRA website.  

 

Texas RESTORE The Texas Coast is the official web location for oil spill related restoration in Texas. 

 

Centers of Excellence

Alabama closed the application period for Centers of Excellence. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab was the only entity to apply. Decisions with respect to this submission and other RESTORE issues are on hold in Alabama.

The Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) is responsible for Florida's Center of Excellence. The FIO announcement for Florida Center of Excellence Research Grant Program awards is pending.

The University of South Mississippi Center for Gulf Studies is the Mississippi Center of Excellence. Learn more


The two Texas centers, Texas OneGulf at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and the Subsea Systems Institute at the University of Houston, will split an initial $4.036 million.

NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program

Information related to the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program can be found here. The Science Plan Final Version is available. They are currently reviewing proposals submitted under their recent proposal solicitation. 

 

National Academy of Sciences' Gulf Research Program (NAS)

To follow the NAS Gulf Research Program and register for updates, go to their website. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program is open. Applications are due September 9, 2015.

Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)

The Trustees recently proposed ten early restoration projects as part of Phase IV. Public comment closed on July 6 and the official project list is pending. More in
formation about NRDA can be found www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.     

 

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund

NFWF maintains a website for its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund.   

 

North American Conservation Wetlands Act Fund (NAWCA) 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a website for NAWCA programs. Standard grants programs are currently open for Canada, closing August 7. The U.S. Small Grants program is also open and closes November 5, 2015.

 

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) 

The GoMRI announced the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference will be February 1-4, 2016 at the Marriott Tampa Waterside, Tampa, Florida. Registration will open August 3, 2015. Learn more about GoMRI and their research.  

 


FundingOpportunitiesFunding Opportunities

For a complete list of funding opportunities see our new webpage. Selected opportunities: 
 
Border 2020 Program Region 6 RFP SOLTA15-010 to "protect the environment and public health in the U.S.-Mexico border region, consistent with the principles of sustainable development." The deadline is August 3, 2015.

NPS Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program - provides matching grants to states and through states to local governments for the acquisition and development of land and water for outdoor recreation purposes. Deadline is August 11, 2015

EPA Gulf of Mexico Program Regional Partnerships Request for Proposals -- Cooperative agreements may address water quality improvement; coastal habitat and ecosystems enhancement, restoration and/or protection; environmental education and outreach; and strengthen community resilience in the Gulf of Mexico region and its watersheds. The deadline is September 15, 2015.

National Endowment for the Arts Our Town 2016 Grants, "placing arts at the table with land-use, transportation, economic development, education, housing, infrastructure, and public safety strategies." The deadline is September 21, 2015.

Clif Bar Family Foundation Grants Program - Funding priorities include increasing opportunities for outdoor activity, reducing environmental health hazards, and building stronger communities. Small Grants are due August 15 and November 1, 2015.  

NOAA Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) for research and development projects that optimize the use of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and other locations. The deadline is
October 2, 2015.
 

NAWCA Grants Program - Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved funding.
US Small Grants deadline is November 5, 2015.  


CommentPeriodsOpen Comment Periods

Proposed rule: The EPA proposes to modify the use restrictions at several locations in Texas. The sites are EPA designated ocean dumping sites for the disposal of suitable dredge. For more information go here. The deadline to comment is August 3, 2015.

 

The Gulf States Marine Fisheries Council has released the draft Management Profile for the Gulf and Southern Flounder Fishery in the Gulf of Mexico for a 30-day public comment. The public comment period will run from July 20 - August 21, 2015.

 

Endangered and Threatened Species: 90-Day Findings on 31 Petitions - the US Fish and Wildlife Service announces the findings on various petitions to list or reclassify species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Scientific and commercial data is requested to ensure comprehensive reviews. For more information go here. The deadline is August 31, 2015.

Contact Us

The Alliance seeks a Grant Administrator. Check our job postings 
page for more information on this and other opportunities.

Alliance Management Team
Priority Issue Teams
Alliance Headquarters Staff  
Visit the Headquarters office located at 1151 Robinson Street in Ocean Springs, MS and we'll show you around.

Newsletter contact: [email protected]

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