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Volume 2, Issue
6 |
June
2010 | |
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IN THE ZONE
is a service from the Maryland Department
of
Natural Resources' Chesapeake & Coastal
Program
that
delivers timely information, tools and
resources to those
who live, work and play in
Maryland's coastal
zone.
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| CCP SPOTLIGHT:
MARYLAND'S
COASTAL
ATLAS
Governor Martin O'Malley
Celebrates World
Oceans Day With The Launch Of New
Online Mapping
Tool
Screen capture of
Coastal Atlas' Ocean mapping
tool.
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On
June 8th, in recognition of World Oceans Day, Governor
Martin O'Malley released Maryland's Coastal Atlas, an online
mapping and planning tool that allows users to visually
analyze and explore data for coastal and ocean planning
activities, including renewable offshore energy
development.
"The
Gulf Oil spill is a stark reminder that we need the
tools and information to protect our ocean resources and
the jobs that depend on them, from even the most severe
disaster," said Governor O'Malley. "By having a
real understanding of where resources are located and
what they provide to us, the Coastal Atlas will help us
balance the many commercial and recreational demands
they face."
The
Coastal Atlas provides direct access to available
information needed for coastal and ocean planning
efforts. Whether finding the best location for renewable
energy projects, locating sand resources needed for
beach replenishment or helping local communities
identify areas vulnerable to sea level rise and erosion
- the Coastal Atlas will identify potential conflicts so
that they can then be avoided early in the planning
process.
To
help concerned citizens address specific coastal issues,
the Coastal Atlas offers several mapping applications
that examine Maryland's
ocean, shorelines, bays and streams. The State will
offer training opportunities to help citizens make the
most of the data and tools found on the Coastal
Atlas.
"The
Coastal Atlas represents a major step forward in
evaluating opportunities for responsible development of
clean, renewable power off of Maryland's
coast," said Maryland Energy Administration
Director Malcolm Woolf.
The
State is interested in receiving comments on the Coastal
Atlas as well as feedback on the data and tools needed
to help users address specific coastal issues.
To access Maryland's
Coastal Atlas, visit: http://dnr.maryland.gov/ccp/coastalatlas.
For additional information or questions about the
Coastal Atlas e-mail Chris Cortina with the Chesapeake
& Coastal Program or call 410.260.8774.
Click here for more information on
Maryland's ocean planning efforts or
to provide comments. Another way
to submit comments or questions related
to ocean planning and offshore renewable energy is to
e-mail oceanplanning@dnr.state.md.us.
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MARYLAND
LAUNCHES NEW COASTSMART
ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER
State Grants Thousands of
Dollars to Local Governments to Prepare for Impacts of
Climate Change
Screen
capture of new CoastSmart webpage and online resource
center.
 | On
June 17th, Governor Martin O'Malley announced the launch
of the CoastSmart website at the start of what
is predicted to be an "active to extremely active" 2010
hurricane season, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction
Center. The website, located at
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/CoastSmart,
will serve as a single source for available products and
services to help local communities address the current
risks associated with coastal hazards and the potential
increased impacts of those hazards in the future due to
climate change.
"More and more,
we have to prepare for the impacts of climate change in
our own backyards, including widespread coastal
flooding, shoreline erosion, sea level rise and salt
water intrusion into our drinking water," said
Governor Martin O'Malley. "By providing critical
planning assistance and resources that our businesses
and our communities need, the State will help tackle
head-on the challenges of adapting to climate change and
the many challenges it presents for our environment,
security, and economy."
In
addition to the CoastSmart Online Resource
Center, and in partnership with NOAA, the State will
provide over $150,000 in local grants to the City of
Annapolis and Anne Arundel, Queenstown, and Talbot
Counties to implement CoastSmart strategies.
If you would like to learn more about how
your community can become CoastSmart, you can e-mail Gwen Shaughnessy or
call 410.260.8743.
Click here to view the full press
release. |
28 PROPOSALS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO
CHESAPEAKE & ATLANTIC COASTAL BAYS TRUST FUND
RFP
Final Awards To Be Announced in April
2011
 On June 1st, the State of Maryland
received 28 proposals in response to the Local
Implementation Grant RFP released in March. These
proposals totaled over $82 million in
requests.
Part of the Chesapeake & Atlantic Coastal Bays
Trust Fund, the Local Implementation Grant seeks to
fund local governments and organizations who wish to
implement nonpoint source nutrient and sediment
reduction projects in targeted areas as part of
Maryland's 2-Year Milestone goals.
The proposals will
be subject to several reviews, including the Governor's
Scientific Advisory Panel. Final awards will be
announced in April 2011 when the State Legislature
finalizes the Trust Fund budget.
For more
information or questions related to the Trust Fund
Local Implementation Grant, please
e-mail Jenn Raulin with the Chesapeake &
Coastal Program or call
410.260.8745. |
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MARYLAND'S
COASTAL AND WATERSHED
RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(CWRAC)
Next Meeting:
Friday, June 25,
2010
 The Coastal and Watershed Resources Advisory
Committee (CWRAC) is scheduled
to meet on Friday, June 25 from
10
a.m. to
12:30
p.m. at the
Calvary
United
Methodist
Church in
Annapolis,
Maryland. The
main topics are the Draft 309 Assessment & Strategy,
Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) and election of
officers. The Committee will also
get updates on the following: the Coastal Policy
Update Project, the Chesapeake and
Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Request for Proposals
(RFP), the Innovative Technology Fund Offshore Wind
Energy and the Coastal Atlas.
CWRAC, established in 1976, is comprised
of representatives of local government, concerned local
citizens, special interest groups, state and federal
agencies and academic institutions. CWRAC acts as
an independent advisory body to the Secretary of Natural
Resources and to Maryland's
Chesapeake &
Coastal Program on policy issues affecting the coastal
areas of Maryland. Funding is
provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration under the Coastal Zone Management
grant.
If you are
interested in attending the upcoming meeting or in need
of more information on CWRAC, e-mail
Joe Abe or call
410.260.8740. | |
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 Please feel free to contact us
with any comments, questions or ideas for future IN THE
ZONE e-mails.
Sincerely,
Your Chesapeake & Coastal Program
Team
Maryland Department of
Natural Resources |
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A publication of the
Maryland Coastal Zone Management Program pursuant to National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No.
NA09NOS4190170. This publication is funded (in part) by a
grant/cooperative agreement from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The views expressed herein
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the
views of NOAA or any of its
sub-agencies.
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