NROC News – December 2013

NROC News – monthly news and updates from NROC, its member agencies and partners.

NROC would like you to know –

  • NROC is pleased to announce its new state and federal Co-Chairs. Jeff Willis (Rhode Island) and Mel Cote (EPA) took over the reins in November and will serve in these positions for the next 12-18 months. Many thanks to Bruce Carlisle (MA) and Bob LaBelle (BOEM) for their wonderful leadership since September 2011!
  • The Ocean and Coastal Ecosystem Health Committees for NROC and the Northeast Regional Association of Coastal and Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS) are sponsoring their second workshop on January 16, 2014, at the NERACOOS offices at the Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH, to continue working on an “Integrated Sentinel Monitoring Network for Climate Change in New England Marine and Estuarine Waters.” Over 50 scientists, resource managers, and policy experts from Connecticut to Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces have formed a steering committee and three working groups (pelagic, benthic, and estuarine) and begun developing an inventory of monitoring and indicator programs in the northeast region, criteria to select indicators and sentinel sites for the regional network, and preliminary lists of indicators and sentinel sites.  The workshop will be used to plan next steps, including writing a science and implementation plan for how to conduct an integrated sentinel monitoring system, building on several established and ongoing programs.
  • A reminder that a webinar series has been developed by NROC to share the results of the first Coastal Community Resilience Grant program projects. Each webinar will highlight the municipal perspective for developing a coastal resilience initiative in their communities.  The first webinar will take place on December 17th  from 12-1pm. Peter Britz from the City of Portsmouth (NH) and George Kral from the Town of Guilford (CT) will share their experiences developing a coastal resilience initiative for their communities, including steps they took to develop necessary information and public engagement. For additional information on the NROC Coastal Community Resilience Grants, please visit http://necca.stormsmart.org/municipal-grants.  Future webinars are planned for March 18 and June 17, 2014. To join the webinar – Audio: 877-680-1673, passcode 1993954; Web: http://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?sigKey=mymeetings&i=744921075&p=4927573&t=c
  • Please note that the proposal deadline for the RFP to develop products characterizing spatial patterns of commercial fishing activity in marine waters of New England has been extended to December 6th. See Request for Proposal for further details.

NROC Partners would like you to know –

  • RenaissanceRe and FLASH to Present 10th Leadership Forum in October 2014: The Northeast Risk & Resilience Leadership Forum will take place on October 8-9, 2014 at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. The Forum will bring together experts and stakeholders to explore lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy with special emphasis on smart rebuilding and the role of the insurance industry in community resilience. Mark your calendars for this dynamic event. Additional details will be available in early 2014. Via Betsy Nicholson (NOAA)
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