FY 2013 Operating Plan  

_______________________________________  

North Atlantic Regional Collaboration Team

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

       

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 

Maryland, Virginia  

 

October 2012 

 

 

 

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TableofContents 

RegionalCollaboration ....................................................................................................................................... 2 

TheNorthAtlanticRegion ................................................................................................................................. 3 

NOAAintheNorthAtlantic ................................................................................................................................ 4 

HealthyOceans ................................................................................................................................................... 5 

SeascapesIIWorkshop .................................................................................................................................. 6 

RegionalEcologicalForecastingWorkshop ................................................................................................. 7 

DataVisualization ........................................................................................................................................... 8 

ResilientCoastalCommunities&Economies ................................................................................................... 9 

NOAACapacitytoImpactOceanPlanningintheNorthAtlantic ..............................................................10 

SupportingtheStates:NewEnglandRoundtables ....................................................................................11 

CoordinatingGuidanceforBOEMonOffshoreRenewableEnergySurveys ............................................12 

Weather‐ReadyNation .....................................................................................................................................14 

PromoteandEvaluateaNWS/NOSWaveRun‐UpStudy ..........................................................................16 

SeaGrantEngagementforaWeather‐ReadyNation(AnnualNART/SeaGrantProject) ......................17 

Mid‐AtlanticRiverForecastCenterCapabilitiesandPartnershipOpportunities ...................................18 

IntegratedWaterResourcesScienceandServicesNortheastDemo .......................................................19 

ClimateAdaptation&Mitigation .....................................................................................................................20 

RefiningEasternRegionStakeholderNeedsforClimateChangeProductsandServices ......................22 

NIDISPilotProjectintheChesapeakeBayRegion ....................................................................................23 

ParticipationinNortheastClimate/RISAWorkshop .................................................................................24 

ProtectedSpeciesClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment ..................................................................25 

Climate&CoastalHabitatsWorkshop ........................................................................................................26 

AppendixA.FY13Budget ................................................................................................................................27 

AppendixB.NARTMembership ......................................................................................................................28 

AppendixC.NARTOutputs,Outcomes ...........................................................................................................29 

 

 

 

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RegionalCollaboration NOAAestablishedtheRegionalCollaborationeffortin2006tosupportintegrated,regionally‐tailoredimplementationofNOAA‐wideprogrammaticprioritiesandtoprovideamoresystematicapproachtobothinternalandexternalcommunications.NOAAhasaresponsibilitytoproducerelevant,reliableandtimelyscientificinformationtosupportdecision‐makersandfulfillitsstewardshipmandates.RegionalCollaborationenablesNOAAtoachievethisbyidentifyingandapplyingNOAA'sfullrangeofcapabilities,withinandacrossregionstoimproveourproductivityandvaluetostakeholders.

TheRegionalCollaborationTeam(RCT)networkcreatesameansforpeopletointeractatageographicscalethatinvitesgenerationofnewideasonwaystobetterperformourmissionanddevelopnewproductsandservicesthatareresponsivetoachanginglandscape(e.g.changingwithrespecttosociety,economics,politicalpressures,etc.)

ThegoalsofRegionalCollaborationare:

StakeholderneedscontinuallyandadequatelyassessedforNOAAscience,service,andstewardship; IntegratedproductsandservicestailoredtotheneedsofNOAA’sregionalstakeholdersandcustomers; Organizationalresponsivenesstostakeholderneedsthroughtheevaluationofandadjustmentstoproducts

andservices; Two‐waycommunicationwithregionalstakeholders,includingregionalgovernanceinitiatives,tobuild

understanding,trust,andpartnerships;and Aworkforceoperatingwithsharedawarenessandunderstandingofitscross‐agencymissionsand

capabilities.NOAA’sNorthAtlanticRegionalCollaborationTeam(NART)isoneofeightregionalteamsnationwide.MembershipreflectsthediversityofNOAAwithintheregionandmayincludeNOAApartnersinadditiontoNOAAemployees.CurrentNARTmembersarelistedinAppendixB.

RCTsreachbeyondteammemberstoaccessexpertisewithintheregiontomeettheirgoals.TheNARTdoesthisthroughstandingsub‐teamsbasedonanassessmentofkeyregionalissuesandneeds,includingfeedbackfromstakeholders.NARTsub‐teamsbroadenawarenessofNOAAcapabilitiesandencouragecoordinationofproductsandservicesaroundmajorprioritiesareasfortheNorthAtlantic.

ThecurrentsetofNARTsub‐teamsinclude:Climate,Coastal&OceanUses,Ecosystems,HazardResilienceandWaterResources.Leadsofsub‐teamsareNARTmembers,andsub‐teammembershipisopentotheNART,otherNOAAstaff,partners,andstakeholders,inordertotakeadvantageofawiderangeofexpertiseintheregion.Sub‐teamsmeetregularly,developandproposeannualactivitiestotheNART,andareresponsiblefortrackingprogressoftheseactivitiesthroughmonthlyreporting.TheNARTevaluatestheuseofexistingsub‐teamsandtheirleadership/membershipannually.

InFY13,theNARTdraftedoutputsandoutcomesforbothinternalandexternalprojectstoguideouroperations.TheselogicmodelswerereferencedbysubteamsduringprojectdevelopandareincludedasAppendixC.

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TheNorthAtlanticRegion PopulationNOAA'sNorthAtlanticregionextendsfromMainetoVirginia.Itencompassesthemarinecoastlinesof11states,aswellasVermontandPennsylvania,andishometo70millionpeople.Onehundredeightycoastalcounties(andtheDistrictofColumbia)constitute40percentofthetotallandarea,and58millionresidents,approximately82percentoftheregion’spopulation1.EconomyTheNorthAtlantichasfouroftheNation’stenlargestmetropolitanareas,threeofthetopfiveU.S.ports(valueoffishlanded)andfiveoftheNation'stop20ports(internationalcargovolume).TheMid‐Atlantic(NY,NJ,MD,DEandVA)isarelativelyaffluentpartofthecountry,having43ofthe100highest‐incomecountiesinthenationbasedonmedianhouseholdincomeand33ofthetop100basedonpercapitaincome.Theregionaleconomyisdiverse:fromdairyfarmsinlandtofishprocessingandmarineconstructionandtransportationonthecoasts.Theregionisalsoperhapsthebusiestportionofthecountryfortourism.NewYorkCity,Boston,PhiladelphiaandWashington,D.C.attractbusiness,andarecentersofartandculture.Thecities’largepopulationsdrivetourismintherestoftheregion,includingmountainandseasidegetawaysliketheBerkshires,Newport,LongIsland,CapeCod,andtheWhiteMountains.Theregionhassignificantcoastal‐dependentindustries.InNewEngland,theoceaneconomyaccountsfor200,000jobs,$6.1billioninwagesand$11.2billionofGrossDomesticProduct(GDP)withseventy‐fivepercentofthejobsintourismandrecreation2.IntheMid‐Atlantic,theoceaneconomyaccountsforover600,000jobs,$20.3billioninwagesand$40.2billionofGDP,withseventy‐ninepercentintourismandrecreationandanother12percentfrommarinetransportation3.PoliticalLandscapeGubernatorialraceswilltakeplaceinthreeoftheregion’s12statesin2012–Delaware’sJohnMarkell(D)andVermont’sPeteShumlin(D)arebothupforre‐election.NewHampshire’sJohnLynch(D)isretiring.Thereareatotalof98membersofU.S.HouseofRepresentativesintheNorthAtlantic,withthevastmajority(77)intheMid‐Atlantic(theMid‐Atlanticishometo18percentoftheU.S.Housemembership,comparedtofivepercentinNewEngland.)Congressionalredistrictingasaresultofthe2010censuswillgointoeffectforthe2012elections.Massachusetts,NewJerseyandPennsylvanialostoneseat;NewYorklosttwo.TheMAseatisofinteresttoNOAAsinceredistrictingwasafactorintheretirementofBarneyFrank(MA‐4),whohasbeeninofficesince1981.BeforeredistrictingFrankrepresentedthesignificantcommercialfishingportofNewBedford,MA.TherearethreeU.S.Senateretirementsintheregionin2012:Four‐termincumbentIndependentJoeLiebermanCT)(whocaucuseswiththeDemocrats),one‐termincumbentDemocratJimWebb(VA),andthree‐termincumbentRepublicanOlympiaSnowe(ME).ThereareeightadditionalU.S.Senateseatsupin2012,sevenDemocrat(DE,MD,NJ,NY,PA,RI,VT)andoneRepublican(MA).

                                                            1 National Association of Counties. 2 “Ocean Economy” is comprised of the following six sectors: Living Resources, Marine Construction, Marine Transportation, Offshore Mineral Resources, Ship and Boat Building and Tourism and Recreation. Source: ENOW. 3 Ibid. 

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NOAAintheNorthAtlanticNOAA’sregionalworkisdoneinconcertwithahostofgovernmentalandnon‐governmentalpartners,ensuringweapplythefullsuiteofNOAAcapabilitiestoaddresstheenvironmentalchallengesinthisgeography.FocusingandintegratingthesecapabilitiesintheNorthAtlanticregionwillimproveourabilitytoprovideproductsandservicestoourconstituents.

Fortunately,NOAAhassubstantialassetswithintheregionthatcanbefocusedonaddressingthechallengesnotedabove.Assetswithintheregionincludesignificantworkforceconcentrationsin:

HamptonRoads,VA(OMAO,NOS,NWS,NMFS) SilverSpring,MD(NOS,NESDIS,NWS,NMFS) Annapolis,MD(NMFS,NOS,OAR,NESDIS) Bohemia,NY(NWS) Narragansett,RI(NMFS,NOS,OAR) WoodsHole,MA(NMFS) Gloucester,MA(NMFS) Durham,NH(NOS)

There is oneNationalMarine Sanctuary located at StellwagenBank andmanagedoutofScituate,MA. TheMonitorNationalMarineSanctuary islocated off the coast of North Carolina and is managed out of NewportNews,VA.

TheregionishometotheEasternRegionheadquartersofNOAA’sNationalWeatherService,13WeatherForecastOffices,twoRiverForecastCenters,andstategeodeticadvisorsarelocatedintwostates(VTandDE).TheNOAAMarine Operations Center‐Atlantic is located in Norfolk, Virginiawhich is also the homeport of the NOAA shipThomasJefferson.TheNOAAshipDelawareIIishomeportedinWoodsHole,MA,whilethenewestship,theHenryB.Bigelow is currently based out of Newport, RI. TheOkeanosExplorer is homeported out of Davisville, RI. Inaddition,portagents, lawenforcementpersonnel,andothersaredistributedthroughoutthecoastalareasof theregion.NOAA also enjoys close partnerships with entities in the region,including:

Fourregionaloceangovernancestructures that include theGulfofMaineCouncil,theNortheastRegionalOceanCouncil(NROC), the recently formedMid‐Atlantic Regional CouncilontheOceans(MARCO)andtheChesapeakeBayProgram

Northeast Regional Climatic Data Center located at CornellUniversityinIthaca,NY

NineNationalEstuarineResearchReserves(NERRs) 11CoastalZoneManagementPrograms

13SeaGrantPrograms FourCooperativeInstitutes Tworegionalassociationsofcoastaloceanobservingsystems(NERACOOS,MARACOOS) OneRegionalIntegratedScience&Assessment(RISA)

RegionalCollaborationworkstoimprovecooperationamongtheseNOAAandpartnerentitiestomoreeffectivelyaddressourcollectivechallenges.

Eastern Region Headquarters, NWS Bohemia, NY 

NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow 

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HealthyOceansPrioritiesinfluencingNOAAexecutioninFY13includemanagementimpactsoncommercialfisheriesandcommunities,movingforwardonecosystem‐basedfisheriesmanagement,newdevelopmentsinharmfulalgaebloomforecasting,nativeoysterrestoration,andaquaculture.ManagementImpactsonCommercialFisheries&Communities:SeveralfisherieswillbethesubjectofintensescrutinyinFY13:Northeastgroundfish,includingGulfofMainecodandGeorgesBankyellowtailflounder;monkfish;butterfish;andAmericanlobster.Duetomanagementmeasures(includingmeasurestoreducetheincidentalcatchoffederallyendangered/threatenedAtlanticsturgeon)andimplicationsfromstockassessments,thesestockswillsummonconsiderableattentionbothwithinNOAAandbythepublicinFY13.Moving Forward on Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management: FisheriesmanagementcouncilsintheNorthAtlantichavebegunmulti‐yearplanstodevelopandincorporateecosystembasedapproachestofisheriesmanagement(EBFM)andareturningtoNOAAforthescience.TheNewEnglandFisheriesManagementCouncilwillconsiderthescopeandformoffisheriesecosystemplansandecosystemproductionlimitsinitsinitialEBFMworkandthenlookatwhetheritisfeasibletocombinemanagementplansasatransitionstrategy.TheMid‐AtlanticCouncilplanstoexploreexplicitEBFMenhancementstoexistingfisheriesmanagementplans.BothstrategiesareongoingduringFY13andwillrequireintegratedNOAAdata,information,andmodeling,whichdovetailswithmanyoftheregion’soceanplanningneeds.Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs): Bloomsinthelastseveralyearsunderscoretheneedtohaveprotocolsinplacetomoreefficientlymeasureandpredicttheseeventsinthefuture.InLongIslandSoundintheSpringof2012,alargetoxicAlexandriumbloomimpactedshellfishbeds.ItappearedearlierintheyearthaneverandNewYorkexpandedshellfishbedclosuresintoareasneverpreviouslyimpactedbyalgaltoxins.AnadvancementinHABtoxintestingknownasthePSPdocksidetestingprotocol,pilotedbyNOAAHABfunding,mayhelpre‐openhighlyvaluableGeorgesBank

shellfisheriesaccordingtotheMidAtlanticFisheriesManagementCouncil.Thisyear,scientistsattheWoodHoleOceanographicInstitutionwillbegintestingthefirstregional‐scaledeploymentoftheenvironmentalsampleprocessor(ESP)inafiveyearNOAAMonitoringandEventResponseforHarmfulAlgaeBlooms(MERHAB)project.NOAA‐supportedHABresearchintheregionhasalreadyproducedaHABforecastingandtrackingcapabilityintheGulfofMaine.CurrentNOAAHABinvestmentsintheregionaremakingthiscapabilityoperationalwithinNOAAanddemonstratingthevalueofaddingHABbiosensorstoregionalobservingsystems.Native Oyster Restoration: Since1996,theNOAARestorationCenterhassupportedapproximately874communityrestorationprojectsintheregion,benefitingalmost1,500acresofestuarineandriparianhabitat.Oysterrestorationintheregionisemergingasthefavoredapproachtoreducenitrogen‐loadingincoastalbaysandestuaries.HarrisCreekisthefirsttributaryoftheChesapeakeBayselectedforrestorationbythefederalagenciesworkingundertheChesapeakeBayExecutiveOrder.ThisisanimportantdemonstrationprojectshowinghowFederalagenciescancollaboratewithstatepartnersandthecommunitytosupportplace‐basedpriorities.Aquaculture: Encompassingmanyfacetsincludingoceanmapping,communityresilience,shellfishresourcerestorationandrelievingpressureonwildfishstocks,aquacultureisagrowingpresenceintheregion.TheindustryrangesfromVirginiatoMaine,helpingtomaintainviableworkingwaterfrontcommunities,andprovidingneededjobs.NARTResponseTheNARTidentifiedthreeprojectsindirectsupportofNOAA’shealthyoceansgoalinFY13.

1. SeascapesIIwillpickupwheretheNART’sFY12SeascapesIworkshopleftoff,advancingthedevelopmentofcoordinatedcooperativemonitoringactivitieswithintheIOOScontextwithspecialemphasisontheeffectsofclimatechange.

2. AregionalecologicalforecastingworkshoptoexplorethepotentialtomergeNOAAregionalcapabilitiesinweatherandhydrologicalforecasting,coastaloceanforecastingandecosystemmodelingintoaframeworkthatwouldadvanceregionalecologicalforecasting.

3. Across‐lineofficeinformationexchangeondatavisualizationtoenablemoreeffectivecommunicationsandillustratehowecosystemsareimpactingstocks.

Atlantic cod 

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SeascapesIIWorkshopStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Oceansobjectives:Improvedunderstandingofecosystemstoimproveresourcemanagementdecisions(Increaseduseofecosysteminformationinnaturalresourcedecisions);Healthyhabitatsthatsustainresilientandthrivingmarineresourcesandcommunities.Contact/email:JohnP.Manderson,NMFS/NEFSC,John.Manderson@noaa.govJonHare,NMFS/NEFSC,Jon.Hare@noaa.govKevinFriedland,NMFS/NEFSC,Kevin.Friedland@noaa.govSummary:TemperaturesandotherimportantclimatedriverswereatextremelevelsontheNortheastshelfthroughout2011and2012withsea‐surfacetemperaturesrangingfrom2to5degreesabovenormal.Springphytoplanktonbloomsduringbothyearswereexceptionalandoccurredearly,whilethe2011fallphytoplanktonbloomwasweak.Furthermorein2011sawastronglatesummerphytoplanktonbloomintheMiddleAtlanticBight.Observationsmadebyfishermanandscientistsindicateimportantchangesinthedistributionandabundanceoffish,invertebratesandotherorganismhaveoccurredinthemid‐AtlanticBightandGulfofMaineecoregionsthatmaybeassociatedwiththeserecentchangesinclimateandproductivity.TheoverallobjectiveofsecondseascapesworkshopwillbetodevelopplaybooksforhypothesisdrivencooperativemonitoringactivitieswithintheIOOScontextinmid‐AtlanticBightecoregionwithspecialemphasisontheeffectsofclimatechange.Theseactivitiesshouldallowustoallowtrackphysicalandbiologicalchangesintheecoregionsinamoreformalandtimelymannerwithspecialemphasisontheimpactsofclimatechange.Toachievethisobjectivewewill:

1. DiscussobservationsofrecentphysicalandbiologicalchangesintheMid‐AtlanticBightandGulfofMaineEco‐regionsmadebyfishermanandscientists;

2. DevelophypothesesaboutdominantbiophysicalmechanismsdrivingecosystemchangeintheMid‐AtlanticBightandGulfofMaineEcoregions;

3. DevelopcooperativemonitoringprioritieswithintheMid‐AtlanticBightandGulfofMaineEcoregionsusingobservationsandhypothesesdevelopedin#2asaguide;and

4. ReviewthestatusandprogressofseedprojectsproposedinSeascapesIworkshop.

WhyNART?TheNART’scross‐lineofficeparticipationwillworkwithNMFSstafftobringtogetheradiversegroupofNOAAandacademicscientiststohelpNOAAfurtherdiscussandconsiderecosystembasedmanagement.TheNARTistheonlycross‐lineentityintheregionthatcanprovideaframeworkforcross‐linesciencediscussionstooccur.Partners:JoshKohut,MARACOOS,kohut@marine.rutgers.eduRuMorrison,ru.morrison@neracoos.orgPeterMoore,MARACOOS,pmoorefish@gmail.comGregDiDomenico,GardenStateSeafoodAssociation,Gregdi@voicenet.comParticipatingNOAAentities:NOS,NMFS,OAR,NESDISKeymilestones(byquarter):Q1:Reviewofoutcomes/workshopreportfromSeascapeEcologyI(March2012).Q2:FormSteeringCommittee,draftagendaforSeascapeEcologyII.Q3:Workshopheld.Q4:Workshopsummaryproduced,developplantoimplementworkshopoutcomes.NARTFunding:$4K

 

Participants at the March 2012 Seascape Ecology workshop at Rutgers University.  

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RegionalEcologicalForecastingWorkshopStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Oceansobjective:Improvedunderstandingofecosystemstoimproveresourcemanagementdecisions(Increaseduseofecosysteminformationinnaturalresourcedecisions)CoastalCommunitiesobjective:Resilientcoastalcommunitiesthatcanadapttotheimpactsofhazardsandclimatechange(Appropriatescience‐basedtoolsandinformationforassessinghazardrisk,vulnerabilityandresiliencethatcoastaldecisionmakersandcommunityleaderscanunderstandanduse).

Contact/email:BethTurner,NOS/NCCOS/CSCOR,Elizabeth.Turner@noaa.govKevinFriedland,NMFS/NEFSC,Kevin.Friedland@noaa.govTonySiebers,NWS/NCEP,Anthony.Siebers@noaa.govSummary:ThisworkshopwillfocusonecologicalforecastingintheGulfofMaineregion.Severallong‐termresearchprogramshaveresultedinawealthofknowledgeandcoupledphysical/ecologicalmodelsthathavesomeskillinpredictingecosystemconditionssuchasharmfulalgalbloomsandmarinepopulationdynamics.Insomeinstances,thesemodelsareatthecuttingedgeofpresentecologicalforecastingcapabilities.However,thepathwayforthesemodelstobeusedforoperationalforecastsisnotstraightforward.ThisworkshopwillexplorethepotentialtomergeNOAAregionalcapabilitiesinweatherandhydrologicalforecasting,coastaloceanforecastingandecosystemmodelingintoaframeworkthatwouldadvanceregionalecologicalforecasting.Itbuildsonpreviousworkshopsintheregion,notablytheRARGOMthemesession“ModelingNeedsRelatedtotheRegionalObservingSystemintheGulfofMaine”(http://www.rargom.org/theme/RARGOM_Report%200

5‐1.pdf),aworkshoponECOHAB‐GLOBECGulfofMaineModeling(http://www.cop.noaa.gov/ecoforecasting/workshops/GulfofMaine_wksp_report.pdf),andaCINARworkshoponClimateandEcosystemChangeintheNWAtlantic(https://www.whoi.edu/fileserver.do?id=106104&pt=2&p=106529).Attheworkshop,regionalstakeholders,academicpartnersandNOAAscientistsandmanagerswillexplorewhattypesofforecastsaremostneeded,temporalandspatialdomainsofmostinterest,dataandinteroperabilityneedsforongoingforecast,potential“homes”fortheoperationalmodelsandforecastingteam,andpotentialdeliverysystems.WhyNART?NARTisuniquelypositionedtoprovideacross‐NOAAregionalperspectiveonthedevelopmentandtransitionofecologicalforecasts.NWShasexpertiseinoperationalforecastinganddeliveryaswellasweatherandhydrologicaldataforforecastdevelopment.NOShaslongsupportedecosystemresearchprogramsintheregionthatprovideascientificfoundationforecologicalforecastdevelopment,andhasexpertiseinoperationalcoastalmodelingandHABprediction.NMFSprovideslongtermecologicaldataandexpertiseinecosystemmodeling.OurpartnersinCINARandNERACOOSprovidelinkagestotheexternalacademiccommunityandobservationaldata,andhavelongexperienceinfacilitatingsimilarworkshopsintheregion.InadditionNERACOOSfundstheNortheastCoastalOceanForecastSystem(NECOFS),anoperationalhydrodynamicmodelingsystemfortheregionwithnestedinundationdomains.Partners:Regionalcoastalmanagersandstakeholders,identifiedinassociationwithNARTandotherexternalpartnerssuchastheRegionalAssociationforResearchintheGulfofMaine.CINAR:DonAnderson,DennisMcGillicuddy;IOOS/NERACOOS:RuMorrisonParticipatingNOAAentities:NOS:BethTurner,QuayDortch,FrankAikman,JohnKelley;NWS:DavidVallee,DavidGreen,TonySiebers;NMFS:KevinFriedlandKeymilestones(byquarter):Q1:AttendanceofprincipalsatEcologicalForecastingRoadmapworkshop.Q2:Planningteamassembled,agendadrafted.Q3:Workshopheld.Q4:Workshopsummaryproduced,planningtoimplementworkshopadvice.NARTFunding:$4K

Ecological forecasts predict the impacts of chemical, biological and physical changes on ecosystems. 

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DataVisualizationStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Improvedunderstandingofecosystemstoinformresourcemanagementdecisions.Contact/email:KevinFriedland,NMFS/NEFSCKevin.Friedland@noaa.govSummary:AsNOAAmovestoanecosystembasedmanagementapproach,itwillbeimportanttoensureanunderstandingofthescienceavailable,itsapplicationtomanagementandhowtobestcommunicatethistothepublic.NOAAofficeshavevaryingcoreresponsibilitiesthathaveledtothedevelopmentofadiverserangeofdatavisualizationtoolswithintheagency.ManyofthesetoolshavethepotentialtohelpsolvethedatavisualizationproblemsofotherNOAAoffices;however,researchersandmanagersoftendonothaveaworkingknowledgeofdatavisualizationcapabilitiesdevelopedoutsidetheirownoffice.InFY13,theNARTwillinitiateadatavisualizationworkgroupdesignedtofacilitateinformationexchangebetweenNOAAunitsthathavedatavisualizationcapabilitiesand/orrequirementstoinstituteecosystembasedapproachestomanagement.Theexchange,alongwithseveralwebinars,shouldprovideanopportunityforunitsandpractitionerstoshareinformationanddevelopsynergiesforintra‐NOAAcooperation.WhyNART?TheNART’scross‐lineofficeparticipationwillworkwithNMFSstafftobringtogetheradiversegroupofNOAAandacademicscientiststohelpNOAAfurtherdiscussandconsiderecosystembasedmanagement.TheNARTistheonlycross‐lineentityintheregionthatcanprovideaframeworkforcross‐linesciencediscussionstooccur.Partners:NAParticipatingNOAAentities:NESDISEnvironmentalVisualizationLaboratory,NOS/CSC,NOS/NCCOS,NMFS/NEFSCKeymilestones(byquarter):Q1:SteeringCommitteeestablished.Q2:InitialmeetingtodiscussingvisualizationneedsforEBM.Q3:Demonstrationwebinar(s)tosharecapabilitiesfromwithinNOAA.Q4:Finalreportdistributed.NARTFunding:$3500

Sea surface temperature at Boothbay Harbor, ME 

(blue line), Woods Hole, MA (red line), and 

Gloucester, VA (green line). Boothbay Harbor 

temperature courtesy of the Maine Department of 

Marine Resources. Woods Hole temperature courtesy 

of Jim Manning, NEFSC. 

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ResilientCoastalCommunities&EconomiesPrioritiesinfluencingNOAAexecutioninFY13includethedemandforoffshoreenergydevelopmentandthosedataandmanagementproductsneededtomakethemostinformeddecisionstosupportit. Offshore Wind Development: TheU.S.DepartmentofEnergyestimatesthatthereisasmuchwindenergyavailableoffU.S.coastsasiscurrentlyproducedbytheexistinglandwardpower‐productioninfrastructure.Thecostsassociatedwithtransmissioninfrastructureandtechnologydevelopmentarehigh.ThebestU.S.examplescurrentlyexistintheNorthAtlanticregion;stateslikeRhodeIslandandMassachusettsareleadingthecountryindevelopingtheinformationneededtoeffectivelyplanforthedevelopmentofoffshorewindenergysites.

Locationisakeycomponentforoffshorerenewableenergyplanning,soacomprehensiveunderstandingoftheecosystemparameters(physical,ecological,biological)andtheexistingor

potentialfuturehumanusesthatoccupyoceanspacebecomecritical.Oceanplanninganditsintegrated,multi‐objectiveapproachtooceanresourcemanagementisneededtoguidetherenewableenergyplanningprocessandotheremerginguses.National Ocean Policy: TheNorthAtlanticregionhasbeentaskedtoestablishtworegionalplanningbodies(NortheastandMid‐Atlantic)todevelopregionalcoastalandmarinespatialplansforthesegeographiesstretchingfrommeanhighwateroutto200milesoffshore.NOAAiscloselyaffiliatedwithtworegionaloceanpartnershipsintheNorthAtlantic(NROCandMARCO)thathavereceivedover$4millioninfinancialsupportfromNOAAandothersourcestobeginthefoundationalelementsofoceanplanningintheirgeographies,primarilythroughpublicengagementanddatadevelopmentactivities.WorkbeganinFY12andwillcontinueinFY13.Regional Ocean Planning Supports Baseline Characterization: Therecontinuestobeastrongneedforanunderstandingoftheoceanecosystem,bothintermsofitsnaturalandsocio‐economicstateandhowwemightexpecttheseecosystemstochangeinthefuture.Regional

oceanplanninghasbecomeaopportunitytocompileourunderstandingoftheseecosystems,andtocollectnewinformationwhereourknowledgeislacking.ThroughouttheNorthAtlantic,NOAAisprioritizingthesedatagapsthroughpartnershipswithNROCandMARCO.FY11grantfundswillsupportinformationcollectionaroundseveralmajorhumanusesinthisgeography,e.g.commercialfishingactivityandrecreationalboatingtrips.Inaddition,engagementwithmajorindustriessuchasenergy,aquacultureandshippingoverthenextyearwillyieldimportantinformationaboutcurrenttrendsandgatherinsightsonhowtheseusepatternsmaychangeovertimeandinteractwithotheruses.ThisbroadpictureofkeyhumanusesinNorthAtlanticwaters,andtheabilitytoviewthisinformationalltogetherondataportalsinbothNewEnglandandtheMid‐Atlantic,willgivemanagersandindustryalikeamuchbetterideaofthehumanlandscapetheywishtoshapewitheachprojectproposedandmanagementdecisionmade.Inadditiontonewdatacollectiononhumanuses,NOAAalsocontinuesimportantongoingstudiestocharacterizethebiological,ecologicalandphysicalaspectsoftheNorthAtlanticecosystems.TheAtlanticMarineAssessmentProgramforProtectedSpecies(AMAPPS)projectisakeyexampleofworkwherefundsarebeingallocatedtocollectingdistributionandabundanceinformationformarinemammals,turtles,andseabirds.AMAPPSdatastressestheimportanceofaregionalscaleapproachtothisinformation,itsmanagementapplication,andthevalueofpartnerships(BOEM,USFWS,Navy)‐criticaltoagenciesthatarepermittingandreviewingoffshoreexplorationandwinddevelopmentprojects.Finally,thereisalsoagrowingrecognitionoftheroleofsoundintheunderwatermarineenvironment.GiventhatleasesforoffshoreenergydevelopmentmaybegrantedintheNorthAtlanticduring2013,newandimprovedscienceontheregionalcontinentalshelfwillbeneeded.NARTResponse:TheNARTidentifiedthreeprojectsindirectsupportofNOAA’sresilientcoastalcommunitiesandeconomiesgoalinFY13.

1. TheNARTwillcontinueitssupportforcross‐NOAAdialoguetounderstandourjointcapacityandsharelessonslearned,aswellasidentifyFY13initiativesthatcancontributetoregionaloceanplanning.

2. TheNARTwillbroadenlineofficerepresentationinanOCRMefforttofurthercollaborativeopportunitieswithourstatepartners.

3. TheNARTwillcoordinateNOAAinputonBOEMdevelopmentofSiteAssessmentPlansurveyrequirementsforoffshorewind/renewableenergydevelopmentintheOuterContinentalShelf.

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NOAACapacitytoImpactOceanPlanningintheNorthAtlanticStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Comprehensiveoceanandcoastalplanningandmanagement.Contact/email:BetsyNicholson,NOS/CSC,Betsy.Nicholson@noaa.govTomBigford,NMFS/OHC,Thomas.Bigford@noaa.govSummary:NOAAiscommittedtotheexecutionoftheNationalOceanPolicy,andinparticularforleadingtheimplementationofcoastalandmarinespatialplanningintheNewEnglandandMid‐Atlanticregions.InpreparationfortheestablishmentofRegionalPlanningBodiesinourgeographythereisaneedtoexploreandidentifyhowNOAAcapacity,throughourmissionareas,skillsetsandexperienceinvariousaspectsofoceanplanning,canimpactthisinteragencyinitiativetoourbenefit.Thisprojectwouldsupportcontinuedcross‐NOAAdialoguetounderstandourjointcapacity(mission,skillsets),toidentifyongoingornewlyfundedinitiativesinFY13thatcoulddirectlycontributetoregionaloceanplanning(e.g.,IEAs,habitatclassification,humanusedatacollection,biogeographiccharacterizations,ENOWdataandtools,NEFSChabitatworkwithBOEM),andtosharepastcasestudiesthatcouldinformregionaloceanplanninggoingforward(SBNMShumanusemappingandpublicprocess,NEFSCecosystemassessmentgroupmappingproducts,NCCOSbiogeographiccharacterizationofMABay/GOM).Therehasalsobeenincreasingdemandforcross‐lineNOAApresenceatmeetingstosupportsmallerscaleefforts,liketheLongIslandSoundPlanningPartnership.

Methodsforaccomplishingtheseobjectivesinclude:

A. Capacityassessment‐>surveyNOAAprogramsandconvenemeetingtoconfirmNOAAprioritiesforoceanplanninginNAtltoenableproperrepresentationinRPBandotherefforts

B. FY13projectalignment‐>in‐depthconferencecallsorin‐personmeetingswithappropriateNOAAprogramofficeandNOAACMSPregionallead.

C. Casestudyapplicationstooceanplanning‐>webinarshostedbysubteamopentoNOAAprogramsandperhapsotherfederalandstatecolleagues.

D. ModesttravelsupportforNOAAtoparticipateinLISPlanningPartnershipandlikeefforts.

WhyNART?TheNARTSubteamisinauniquepositiontoserveasthesoundingboardandliaisontotheirownprogramstoshareNOAA’spositionsandcontributionstooceanplanningintheNorthAtlantic.Thereisnoothercross‐NOAAgroupthatissoappropriatelycastforthistaskandtoconnectNOAACMSPleadstotheirprogramsforassistanceandinsights.OceanplanningremainsatoppriorityforNOAAandtheNARTencompassesthegeographymostinterestedinpursuingoceanplanningintheU.S.asaresultofanorganicneedinourregiontoresponddifferentlyandmorethoughtfullytomanagingouroceansandourhumanuses.Partners:CTSeaGrantandLongIslandSoundPlanningPartnership,NROCfederalandstateagencies,NewEnglandFederalPartners,MAPFOfederalagenciesNote:thefocusofthisprojectisprimarilyoninternalNOAAaudience.ParticipatingNOAAentities:

A. CapacityAssessmentworkwouldinvolveallsubteammembers(ledbyNOS/CSC:KLundforNE,NMFSHabitat:TBigfordinMid‐Atl)

B. Projectalignmentworkwouldinvolveallsubteammembers(ledbyNOS/CSC:BNicholson,KLundandNMFSHabitat:TBigford)

C. CaseStudySharingwouldinvolve:○ NMFS/NEFSC:MFogarty,JSamson○ NMFS–Southeastregion:GFay○ NOS/SBNMS:BHaskell(overviewof

sentinelsite,highresolutionhoninginonparticularproblem)

○ NOS/NCCOS:CMenza/TBattista○ Others

Keymilestones(byquarter):Q2:CapacityassessmentscompletedforNEandMid‐Atlregions.ProjectalignmentinventoryandcommentarycompletedinNEandMid‐Atlregions.NOAAprioritysettingin‐personmeeting. Q3:CasestudiessharedacrossNOAAlineoffices,includingsubteammembersandotherinterestedNOAAstaff.NARTFunding:$2K

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SupportingtheStates:NewEnglandRoundtablesStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:ThisprojectwillsupportmultipleNGSPgoalsincluding,resilientcoastalcommunities,healthyoceansandclimateadaptation.Thespecificstrategicoutcomeswillbeidentifiedastheroundtablesubjectsareselected.Contact/email:RebeccaNewhall,NOS/OCRM,Rebecca.Newhall@noaa.govAdrianneHarrison,NOS/CSC,Adrianne.Harrison@noaa.govSummary:TheprojectisfocusedonidentifyingcollaborationopportunitiesamongNOAAstaffworkingwithNewEngland’scoastalzonemanagementprogramsandresearchreserves,andprovidingaforumtoseedfuturepartnershipsbetweenthestatesandNOAA.Itisdesignedtobroadenmutualunderstandingofourpartners’needs,interestsandprioritiesaswellasNOAA’sregionalcapacityandcapabilities.NOAAhasreviewedthestatecoastalzonemanagementprioritiesandidentifiedcurrentneedsandgaps.ThesewillbematchedwithNOAAcapabilitiesandcorrespondingNOAArepresentatives(nomorethan6‐8)willbeinvitedtoahalf‐dayroundtablediscussionwithstatepartnerstobeheldattherespectivestate’soffices.One3‐hourstateroundtablewillbeheldeachmonthfromOctober2012throughFebruary2013.Theaudiencewillinclude(butwillnotbelimitedto)thestateCoastalManagementProgramandNationalEstuarineResearchReserve.Partnersmayinviteotherstatecolleaguesthatmightbeinterestedtobroadenparticipation(e.g.emergencymanagement,fishandwildlife).NOAAparticipantswillreportoutatWinterNOAAinNewEnglandmeeting(March2013).WhyNART?NARTprovidesavenueforidentifyingandcreatingNOAApartnershipswithstatecoastalmanagementprograms.ThegoalofthisprojectistoconnectmultipleNOAAofficesandprogramswithcoastalmanagementpartnersinameaningfulwayandbuildrelationshipsthatservebeyondthissingleevent.NARTalsocanprovidethecapacityforNOAAtoattendtheroundtablesinpersonandfillpotentialgapsinindividualtravelbudgets.Partners:StatecoastalmanagementprogramsandNERRprogramsinNewEngland.

ParticipatingNOAAentities:TheSteeringCommitteeincludesstafffromNOS(CSC,CPD,ERD,NCCOS),NMFS(NERO,NEFSC),NART,andNWS.WeexpectadditionalparticipationfromNOS(OCS,NGS)andOARintheroundtables.Keymilestones(byquarter):Q3:5Roundtablescompleted,includingevaluationsofNOAAandstatepartnerparticipation.NARTFunding:$3K

Chilmark Pond Land Bank Beach by Martina

Mastromonaco. 

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CoordinatingGuidanceforBOEMonOffshoreRenewableEnergySurveysStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:ResilientCoastalCommunitiesandEconomiesCoastalandGreatLakescommunitiesareenvironmentallyandeconomicallysustainable.Contact/email:JenniferSamson,NMFS/NEFSC,Jennifers.Samson@noaa.govSusanTuxbury,NMFS/NERO,Susan.Tuxbury@noaa.govSummary:TheBureauofOceanEnergyManagement(BOEM)isresponsibleforoffshorerenewableenergy(ORE)permittingintheOuterContinentalShelf(OCS).AsdescribedintheFinalRulethatgovernsthedevelopmentofrenewableenergygenerationontheOCSpublishedintheFederalRegisteronApril29,2010(74FR19638),allOREpermitholdersmustsubmitaSiteAssessmentPlan(SAP)whichincludes“physicalcharacterizationsurveys(e.g.,geologicalandgeophysicalsurveysorhazardssurveys),resourcesassessmentsurveys(e.g.,meteorologicalandoceanographicdatacollection),andbaselineenvironmentalsurveys(e.g.,biological,archaeological,orsocioeconomicsurveys).”BOEMhasreachedouttodifferentindividualswithinNOAAaskingforsupportinthedevelopmentofsomeoralloftheSAPsurveyrequirementsforoffshorerenewableenergyfacilities.Dr.MaryBoatman(EnvironmentalStudiesChiefforBOEM’sOfficeofRenewableEnergyPrograms),recentlysentabulletedlistofissues/questionsthatBOEMwouldlikeinputonfromNOAAtosomeFisheriesstaff,including“Surveydesign–specificallyforseafloorhabitatcharacterization,butthiscouldbeexpandedtothewatercolumn.BOEMispreparingguidancefordevelopersforsurveysandwouldappreciateinputfromtheNEFSCtoensurethatscientificallyvaliddataisbeingcollectedinanefficientmannerandmeetstheneedsofEFHconsultations.”BOEMhascontactedotherNOAALineOffices,butitisnotclearwhoorwhetherallrelevantpersonneland/orLO’sarecurrentlyengagedinprovidinginputintothisprocess.Moreover,BOEMintendstoannouncethefirstoffshorewindenergyleasesalebytheendofDecember,2012.OnceOCSblocksareleasedtowinddevelopers,theregulatoryclockbeginsrequiringthemtosubmitSAPsforapprovalandbeginconductingsurveys.ThereisstilltimeforNOAAtohavesubstantiveinputintothesurveydevelopmentprocess,butweneedtoengagequickly.

NOAAhasamandateto“conserveandmanagecoastalandmarineecosystemsandresources”thatrequiresustounderstandhowOREdevelopmentwillimpacttheecosystemandresources.WealsohavetheexpertisenecessarytoprovideBOEMwithvaluableinputonallproposedsurveys(physicalcharacterization,resourceassessment,baselineenvironmentalandsocioeconomics).Therefore,NOAAneedstoactivelyparticipateinthedevelopmentofSAPsurveyrequirementtoensuretheyproduceconsistent,reliable,highqualitydatafromallwindfacilities,asthesedataareessentialtoinformsiteselectiondecisions,evaluateimpactsfromOREonhabitat,fisheriesandothermarineresourcesfromconstructionthroughoperationandcompareimpactsofdifferentfacilitiesandtechnologies.TheopportunitytoprovideinputtoBOEMontheserequirementsearlyintheprocesswillnotonlyallowNOAAtoensurethequalityandquantityofdataproducedbyindividualdevelopers,butshouldmakeitmucheasiertoincorporatethesedatainlarger‐scalemodelingeffortsandtoassesscumulativeimpactsofmultiplefacilitiesduetotheconsistencyofthedatacollectioneffort.Furthermore,providinginputonbiologicalstudiesupfrontwillbebeneficialforNMFSregulatoryroleintheBOEMleaseprocess.ThiswillensurestudyrecommendationsareconsistentthroughouttheregionandwillhelpalleviateNMFS’workloadduringreviewandcommentofeachindividualSAP.NART’srolewouldbetofacilitatebothcross‐linecoordinationwithinNOAAandcommunicationswithBOEM.Initially,NARTprojectleadswouldreachouttotheappropriateNOAALOstodeterminewhoshouldbeinvolvedinthesurveydevelopmentprocess,thenproducealistofinterestedandqualifiedindividualstoBOEM.ThisgroupofNOAAscientificandtechnicaladvisorsshouldbepreparedtoproviderecommendationsonthescale,scope,andextentofdatanecessaryforaparticularsurveyinordertoaccuratelypredictrisktoorganismsandhabitatsandtoensureprotocols,criteriaandmodelsarebasedonobjective,scientificallyvalidinformation.TheNARTprojectleadsshouldcontinuetomaintaincommunicationwithBOEMandNOAAadvisorstoensurerecommendationsarebeingdeveloped,informationisbeingsharedandprogressisbeingmadeonthedevelopmentofSAPsurveyrequirements.WhyNART?TheNARTUsesSubteamprovidesauniquecross‐linedialoguethatenablesefficientidentificationofproblemareas,andcontainsthemembershiptohelpsolvethem.Inthiscase,BOEMiscommunicatingwithseveralmembersofthesubteamindividually,andthereisaneedtotakedeliberatestepstobringtheseNOAAprogramstogether,andidentifyothers,whoseexpertiseisneededtoappropriatelyguideBOEMintheirsurvey

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requirementsfordevelopers.Thereisnoothergroupestablishedtopursueregionalproblemsolvingofthiskind,andthereisanurgencytohandlethisfromthefieldinacoordinatedwayacrossNOAAprograms.

ScreenshotfromMid‐AtlanticDataPortal.Partners:BOEM(essentiallytheaudience/customerforthisproject)ParticipatingNOAAentities(participatingNOAAprogramsarebinnedaccordingtosurveytypestheybringknowledgeto):PhysicalCharacterizationSurveys(e.g.,geologicalandgeophysicalsurveysorhazardssurveys):NOS/NCCOS/CCMA(TBattista)forexperienceforbiogeographiccharacterizations.Resourcesassessmentsurveys(e.g.,meteorologicalandoceanographicdatacollection):NMFS/NEFSCOceanographyBranch(JHare)tocontributeinputontheoceanographicdatacollectioneffort,‐NWS(TBD)Baselineenvironmentalsurveys(e.g.,biological,archaeological,orsocioeconomicsurveys):NMFS/NEFSCEcosystemAssessmentProgram(MFogarty)tohelpensuretherecommendedsurveyrequirementswillprovidetheneededdatatosupport(oratleastallowfor)cumulativeimpactanalyses,aswellastheNELMEIntegratedEcosystemAssessmentprocess,NEFSC'sEcosystem'sSurveyBranch(RJohnston)fortheirthoroughknowledgeofavailablesurveydata,butalsoimportantexpertiseinLarge‐Scalesurveydesign,NMFS/NERO/OHC(STuxburyandothers),NEFSCSocialSceinceBranch,StellwagenBankNMS

Keymilestones(byquarter):Q1:Identifyappropriate,qualifiedNOAApersonneltoserveonORESurvey.RecommendScientific/TechnicalCommitteebytheendof1stquarterFY13.Q2:SubmitlistofScientific/TechnicalexpertstoBOEMbyearly2ndquarterFY13(includeddelayinsubmittinglistincasesomeNOAApersonnelrequireapprovalfromSupervisorstoparticipate).Q3:WorkwithBOEMandNOAAS/Tmemberstodeveloptimelineforsubmittingrecommendationsforeachsurveytypebyearly3rdquarterFY13.DeadlineswillbebasedonBOEM'sscheduledleasesalesandregulatoryrequirements.Q4:Schedulefollow‐upconferencecallswithBOEMandNOAAS/Tmemberstoensuredeadlinesarebeingmet.Conferencecallschedulewillbebasedondeadlinesdevelopedin#3.(throughoutremainderofFY13).NARTFunding:None

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Weather‐ReadyNationPrioritiesinfluencingNOAAexecutioninFY13areprimarilymajorweathereventsthatdidsignificantdamageintheregioninFY12,the75thanniversaryofthe1938Hurricane,thenationwidewatercensus,Marcellusshaleexploration,andwatergagingnetworks.

Image from 1938 hurricane. 

HurricaneIrene/TropicalStormLee/Springfield,MATornadoAftermath:OnJune1,2011,anEF3#tornadokilled3andinjuredatleast72inadramatic39mileswathacrosssouthcentralMassachusetts.Theforestdamagecontinuestobeastarkreminder.InAugust2011,HurricaneIrenestrucktheU.S.asaCategory1hurricane(lowestdesignation)ineasternNorthCarolina,thenmovednorthwardalongtheMid‐AtlanticCoast.IrenemadeanadditionallandfallasatropicalstormintheNewYorkCityareaandprogressedinlandoverCT,centralMA,andintoVT.IrenedroppedtorrentialrainsacrosstheNortheastthatcausedwidespreadfloodingfromwhichseveralstates,includingVermont,arestillrecovering.Morethan7millionhomesandbusinesseslostpowerduringthestorm,andIrenecausedatleast45deathsandmorethan$7.3billionindamages.TropicalStormLeefurtherimpactedtheregioninSeptember2011.MoisturefromoffshoreTropicalStormKatiaduringhelpedsetthestageforflashfloodinginportionsofsouthernNewEngland.TherewasalsoconsiderabledamagefromrecordfloodingacrosstheNortheast(PA,NY,NJ,CT,VA,MD).PennsylvaniaandNewYorkweremostaffected.Totallossesexceed$1.0billion,with21deaths.Finally,althoughthe2011‐2012winterprovedtobeexceptionallymildasawhole,anunprecedentedOctobersnowstormdumpedheavysnowacrossmuchofinteriorsouthernNewEnglandupto2feetdeepinthehigherterrainandcausedpoweroutagescomparabletowhatonemightexpectfromastrongtropicalstormorcategory1hurricane.75thAnniversaryofthe1938Hurricane:ResilienceeffortsforFY2013willleveragelessons

learnedfrompastevents.September21,2013willmarkthe75thanniversaryofthe1938Hurricane,whichdevastatedlargetractsofNewEnglandandeasternLongIsland.Effortsin2013toenhancehurricaneawarenessintheNortheastwillinvolvemediapartnerships,publicforums,web‐basedinformation,postingonsocialmediasites,etc.NationwideWaterCensus:The2009SECUREWaterActprovidedaroadmapfortheUSGSWaterCensus,whichispartoftheWaterSMARTinitiative.NOAAisbothapartnerandastakeholderinthiseffort.TheDelawareRiverBasinhasbeenidentifiedasoneofthreepilotregionsnationallyforafocusedwateravailabilityassessment.WhiletheWaterCensuswillbeadetailedcatalogofwateravailabilityinover100,000watershedsacrossAmerica,ithasnoforecastcomponenttoit.NOAA/NWSdoesnotcurrentlyprovidetheforecastcomponentatthespatialscalethattheWaterCensusaimstoward.TheIntegratedWaterResourcesScienceandServices(IWRSS)projectidentifiesauserrequirementforhigherresolutionrangeandscaleofinformationneededtotacklecomplexwaterresourcesissue.MarcellusShaleGasExplorationandProductionTheMarcellusShaleformationextendsdeepundergroundfromOhioandWestVirginianortheastintoPennsylvaniaandsouthernNewYork.Geologistsestimatetheformationcontainstrillionsofcubicfeetofnaturalgas.Recentenhancementstogaswelldevelopmenttechnology,suchashorizontaldrillingandhydraulicfracturing,hassubstantiallyincreasedinterestintheregion.Thehydraulicfracturingprocessrequireslargevolumesofwater.USGShasdevelopedadraftplanthatdefinesasetofkeyscienceissuesandtopicsthatareintheFederalinterestofresponsibledevelopmentofdomesticenergyresources.TheplanseekstogaininputandconcurrenceonFederalrolesonresearchtopicsandperspectivesonhowtofocuscollectiveeffortstoensuretheplanisacceptabletoall.FundingShortfallsThreatenCriticalGagingNetworks:Gagemeasurementshaveawidevarietyofusesbeyondfloodwarningandlong‐termmapping.The

Natural gas well pad in Pennsylvania.

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dataisalsoused,butnotlimitedto,thedesigningofnewbridgestowithstandexpectedwaterflows,monitoringthequalityofthewaterinstreams,understandingandmanaginghabitatneeds,helpingrecreationaluserswithfishingandboatingplans,advancingsciencetohelpunderstandfutureimpactsduetoclimatechange,assistinggovernmentagenciesandbusinessesmanage,conserveandutilizewaterresources.Theneedtoincreaseawarenessoftheimportanceofstreamgagesisaconstantchallenge.FederalagenciessuchasNOAAarewellpositionedtohelptheU.S.GeologicalSurveyincreaseawareness.TheInterstateCouncilonWaterPolicy(ICWP)isthenationalorganizationofstateandregionalwaterresourcesmanagementagencies;NOAA’scontinuingpresencewithICWPmembersiscritical.AddressingtheVulnerabilityofourCoastline:Coastalinundationfromstormsurgefloodingprovidesextremedisruptiontothelivesandlivelihoodsofpeopleinourcoastalcommunities,sendsshockwavesthroughtheregionalandevennationaleconomy,andcatastrophicallyaltershabitats.Sealevelrise,undisputedlyunderwayandprojectedtocontinue,setsthestakeshigherwiththeexpectationofmorefrequentcoastalinundationandwavebattery.Infact,RhodeIslandSeaGrantandtheCoastalResourcesManagementCouncilencouragedpeopletodocumentfloodingJune2‐3,2012simplyfromhighspringtides.Multi‐yearcollaborativeeffortsacrossNOAAofficesintheNorthAtlanticRegionwillservetoenhancetheresponsetohighimpactcoastalevents.NWSandNOSexpecttocompletealibraryofreferencemapsforvariousstormtidesalongtheMassachusettscoastbytheendofFY2013.Inrealtime,NWSiscalledupontoassistotherfederal,state,andlocalgovernmententitiestorespondtocriticalweatherthreats.Adatacollectiontoolforcoastalimpactevents,calledStormReporter,hasbeenimplementedinNewEnglandandjustthisyearintroducedtotheMid‐Atlanticregion.Recruitmentandtrainingofemployeesandvolunteersalikecontinuinginto2013willmakethisNOAAconceivedtoolavaluableassetforrealtimedecision‐makingandcoastalscienceinitiativesinthefuture.

NARTResponseTheNARTidentifiedfourprojectsindirectsupportofNOAA’sweather‐readynationgoalinFY13.

1. TheNARTwillcontinuetosupportdevelopmentofawaverun‐upmodelforselectedpointsalongtheMid‐AtlanticandNewEnglandcoasts.Aninter‐agencyagreementwasestablishedbetweenNOAAandUSGSinFY12andwillsupportthisimportantcross‐region,cross‐Agencyeffort.

2. TheNARTwillundertakeanewefforttoenhancecollaborationbetweentheNWSandSeaGrant

usingaSeaGrant/RegionalCollaborationTeammini‐grant.

3. TheNARTwillincreaseawarenessoftheMid‐AtlanticRiverForecastCenter’sproductsandservices.Thisprojectwillalsofundastudentintern(10‐weekgraduatestudentor12‐weekundergraduatestudent)throughtheChesapeakeResearchConsortiumtoexplorehydrologicrelationshipsbetweentheSusquehannawatershedandtheChesapeakeBay.

4. TheNARTwillbroadenawarenessofandNOAAsupportforanIntegratedWaterResourcesScience&Services(IWRSS)demonstrationprojectinthenortheastUSformallyengagingtheInterstateCommissiononthePotomacRiverBasin,theDelawareRiverBasinCommission,theSusquehannaRiverBasinCommission,andtheHudsonRiverFoundation.

A strong cold front continues to drop temperatures well below mid‐September normals as it crosses the United States. This image was taken by GOES East at 1815Z on September 13, 2012. 

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PromoteandEvaluateaNWS/NOSWaveRun‐UpStudyStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Weather‐ReadyNation:Reducedlossoflife,property,anddisruptionfromhigh‐impactevents

Contact/email:BobThompson,NWS/WFO,Robert.Thompson@noaa.govJesseFeyen,NOS/CSDL,Jesse.Feyen@noaa.govRichardOkulski,NWS/WFO,Richard.Okulski@noaa.govSummary:Waverun‐upisanimportantbutcomplexcomponenttocoastalinundation.Waverun‐upcontributestothetotalwaterlevelbehindbarrierbeachesanddeterminestheincursionofthevelocityzone,wherethegreatestriskfromwavebatteryoccurs.Thecomplexityoftheforeshoreenvironmentandimmediateshoretopographycanmakewaverun‐upcalculationstooresourceintensiveforoperationalapplications.ThisprojectincorporatesaparametizationschemebasedonalgorithmsdevelopedbyDr.HilaryStockdonoftheUSGSforselectedpointsalongthemiddleAtlanticandNewEnglandcoasts.Theprojectgoalistoproduceastand‐aloneexecutableprogramthatwilldeterminewhetherduneerosion,overwash,orinundationcanbeexpectedbasedonbeachmorphologyandwaveconditionsinput.NART’sroleistoevaluatearudimentaryversionofthisnewtoolandrecommendfutureapplicationsofthistoolforoperationalprototypeuse.ThisisajointprojectwiththeSoutheast&CaribbeanRegionalCollaborationTeam(SECART).AnadvisorygroupofNWSandNOSstakeholdersistoprovideperiodicoversightandguidancetothisproject.Theboardismadeupofthefollowingindividuals:

● JohnCannon(NWS)● JesseFeyen(NOS)● BobThompson(NWS)● DougMarcy(NOS/CSC)● AndrevanderWesthuysen(NCEP/EMC)● RichardOkulski(NWS)

WhyNART?ThiscollaborativeNWS/NOSefforthasthepotentialtofulfillanimportantmissingpuzzlepiecetothecoastalinundationpredictioncapabilityalongtheNorthAtlanticcoast.Waverun‐uphaslongbeenidentifiedasanimportantareaforfuturework,andtheFY13milestoneslistedinthisdocumentwouldbuildofftheaccomplishmentsofFY12.Supportofthisprojectleveragespastcoastalinundationworksupportedbythe

NART,inadditionto$12KinFY12($10KbyNART,$2KbySECART).Partners:USGS.TheUSGSExtremeStormsandHurricanesgroupiswellsuitedtocreatethistool.Themethodologywillbebasedonover10yearsofpeer‐reviewedresearchand5yearsofalgorithmdevelopment.TheUSGSalreadyusesthecodesthatwillserveastheengineofthistoolforreal‐timemonitoringofcoastalchangehazardsduringapproachinghurricanes.Thesecodesarealsobeingusedtocreateacomprehensiveanalysisofstorm‐inducedcoastalchangehazardsontheGulfofMexicoandAtlanticcoastlines.

ParticipatingNOAAentities:NWSEasternRegionHeadquarters,NOS‐ledStormSurgeRoadmapTeam,selectedWeatherForecastOffices,NOSCoastalServicesCenter,NationalCenterforEnvironmentalPrediction

Keymilestones(byquarter):Q1:SurveyselectedsitestodevelopparameterizationQ2:CollectdataandfeedbackattestsitesaftersignificantwinterstormsQ3:WaveRunUpteamevaluatesresultsfromtestsiteswithDr.StockdonQ4:Surveyadditionaltestsitesinpreparationor2013‐14winterseasonNARTFunding:$4K

Diagram illustrating wave run‐up.  

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SeaGrantEngagementforaWeather‐ReadyNation(AnnualNART/SeaGrantProject)StrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Weather‐ReadyNation:Reducelossoflife,property,anddisruptionfromhigh‐impactevents;ClimateAdaptation&Mitigation:Helpresiliencyofcommunitiesviaadaptationtotheimpactsofhazardsandclimatechange;Seektocreateaclimate‐literatepublicthatunderstandsitsvulnerabilitiestoachangingclimatetoenablemoreinformeddecision‐making;HealthyOceans:ImproveunderstandingofecosystemsforbetterinformedresourcemanagementdecisionsContact/email:BobThompson,NWS/WFO,Robert.Thompson@noaa.govPaulAnderson,MESeaGrantDirector,panderson@maine.eduNicoleBartlett,NARTCoordinator,nicole.bartlett@noaa.govSummary:TheUnitedStatesissubjecttoavarietyofweatherdisasterseveryyear.Theseincludecripplingsnowstorms,powerfulhurricanes,devastatingflooding,temperatureextremes,damagefromseverethunderstormsandtornadoes,severedrought,etc.NOAA’sWeatherReadyNationeffortseekstobroadenournation’sabilitytorespondtoextremeweather.NWSprovidesweatherinformationprimarilyfortheprotectionoflifeandpropertyandworkswithpartnerstoenhancetheresilienceofcommunitiestoextremeweather.Inturn,SeaGrantisNOAA’sprimaryuniversity‐basedprograminsupportofcoastalresourceuseandconservation.IntheNorthAtlanticRegion,anumberofSeaGrantprogramshavebeenactivelyengagedinresilienceplanningforinfrastructure,stormsurge,andwavepredictionmodeling.Infact,SeaGranthasmadehazardresilientcoastalcommunitiesanationalpriority.Thus,theNWSandSeaGranthaveoverlappingobjectivesofenhancingcoastalresiliencybuthavetendedtooperatemoreinparallelwithlimitedcollaboration.Historically,NWSandSeaGranthaveworkedwithdifferentsetsoflocaldecision‐makersonadaytodaybasis.TheNWScloselyinteractswiththeemergencymanagementcommunity,andSeaGrantworksmoreconsistentlywithcoastalprogrammanagers,townlanduseplannersandconservationagents.Thetwosetsofcustomershavedifferentareasoffocusbutshareverysimilarneedsandservetoachieveacommongoalofcommunityresilience.

ThisprojectisdesignedtoincreasecollaborationbetweenSeaGrantandNWSforamoreintegratedapproachtoachievingcoastalresiliency,animportantdimensionoftheWeatherReadyNationinitiative.ThisprojectseekstoknittogethertwopartsofNOAAinawaythatwillseedlongtermcollaboration,helpNOAAgetclosertothecustomer,andelevatecommunityresilience.Morespecifically,thisprojectwillidentifythespecificissuesanddecisionsrelevanttoabroadercommunityofNOAAstakeholdersandtargetproducts,tools,orservicesthatrequirefeedback.TheResiliencySubteamwillfacilitateaseriesofinformationalbriefingsforSeaGrantandNWSasameansofachievinggeneralorientation.WiththeResiliencySubteammaintainingafacilitatorrole,SeaGrantwillsubsequentlymakerecommendationsonthebestwaytoobtainfeedbackontheseproductsandservices.ItishopedthataportionofthiseffortwillleadtomoreeffectivecollaborationoncommunityoutreachforvariousNOAAproductsandservicesWhyNART?NARTiswell‐positionedtobetterintegratetheeffortsoflineofficestoachieveNOAAstrategicobjectives.Thereare14NWSWeatherForecastOffices(WFOs),2RiverForecastCenters(RFCs),and13SeaGrantProgramsintheNorthAtlanticregion.NART’smissionistofostergreaterintegrationofNOAAeffortswitharegionalfocus.CoastalresiliencyisanimportantareaoffocusfortheNorthAtlanticregionthatcutsacrossNOAAlineoffices.NARTwillbeabletoleverageitsnetworkingcapabilitiestofacilitatemoreeffectivemeansforNOAAtoaddressregionalcoastalresiliencystakeholderneedsviaamorecollaborativeapproachbetweentheNWSandSeaGrant.Partners:Non‐NOAApartnerswillpotentiallyincludeNERACOOSand/orMARACOOS.

ParticipatingNOAAentities:NWS,OAR/SeaGrantKeymilestones(byquarter):Q1:InformalsurveyofWFOs,RFCs,andSeaGrantoffices;Identificationofpertinentproductsandservices;EstablishscopeofprojectQ2:InformationalbriefingsforSeaGrantandNWSonproductsandservices,customers,andhowcustomerneedsareassessedQ3:ConductstakeholderengagementsQ4:CompileandshareprojectresultsNARTFunding:$3K

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Mid‐AtlanticRiverForecastCenterCapabilitiesandPartnershipOpportunitiesStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:EngagementEnterpriseobjective:Integratedservicesmeetingtheevolvingneedsofregionalstakeholders.Organization&administrationenterpriseobjective:DiverseandconstantlyevolvingcapabilitiesinNOAA’sworkforce

Contact/email:PattiWnek,NWS/MARFC,Patricia.Wnek@noaa.govGeorgeMcKillop,NWS/ER,George.Mckillop@noaa.govSummary:RiverfloodforecastingisessentialtoNOAA’smissionofsavinglivesandreducingpropertydamage.Topredictfloods,theMiddleAtlanticRiverForecastCenterutilizestheCommunityHydrologicPredictionSystem(CHPS),acomplexhydrologicforecastmodel,whichusesobserved,estimatedandpredictedhydro‐meteorologicaldata.Modeloutputhelpshydrologistsinpredictingwaterlevels.HydrologicinformationthengetsdisseminatedthroughNOAAWeatherRadioAllHazards,television,commercialradioandtheinternet.TheAdvancedHydrologicPredictionServices(AHPS)provideuserswithweb‐basedgraphicalforecast,guidanceandobservationalinformation.AHPShydrologicinformationassistswaterresourcemanagers,emergencymanagers,andotherusersinvolvedinfloodanddroughtmitigationprojectsinmakingbetterinformeddecisions,includingwhentoevacuatepeopleandmoveproperty.TheRFCprovidesnumerousotherservices,includingprovidingflashfloodandheadwaterguidance,winter/springfloodpotentialoutlooks,droughtguidance,five‐daysignificantfloodoutlooks,multi‐sensorprecipitationestimatesandprecipitationdepartureinformation.InformationproducedbytheRFCalsohelpssupportecosystemmanagementprogramssuchastheStateofMaryland’sShellfishHarvestingProgram,theStateofNewJersey’sMarineMonitoringProgram,andtheStateofPennsylvania’sBlackFlySuppressionProgram.TheRFCcooperateswithnumerousfederal,state,andlocalgovernmentagenciesandprivateorganizations,includingotherNOAAagencies,theU.S.GeologicalSurvey,theU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,regionalriverbasincommissions,andacademicorganizations.

InFY13,MARFCstaffwillinvitestaffmembersfromtheNMFSNortheastRegionalOfficeandtheChesapeakeBay

Officetoaseriesofwebinarsdesignedtoprovideanoverviewofriverforecastoperations,toinclude:theCommunityHydrologicPredictionSystem;theAdvancedHydrologicPredictionServices;servicesanddataprovidedbyandavailablefromtheRFC;andareviewofsomeoftheRFC’suniqueecosystem‐basedmanagementpartnerprograms.

Thisprojectwillalsofundonestudentintern(10‐weekgraduatestudentor12‐weekundergraduatestudent)throughtheChesapeakeResearchConsortiumtoexplorehydrologicrelationshipsbetweentheSusquehannawatershedandtheChesapeakeBay.

WhyNART?NART’sregionalnetworkofpartnersandconstituentsspanawidespectrumofservicesectors(e.g.,rivercommerce,emergencymanagement,reservoirmanagement,agriculture,hydropower,watershedmanagement,fishandwildlife,municipalandindustrialwatersupply,recreation,energyproduction,andwaterquality)andreachesintoallfourwatersheds(e.g.,Potomac,Susquehanna,DelawareandHudson).

Partners:NA

ParticipatingNOAAentities:NWS/MARFC,NWS/ER,NMFS/NCBO,NMFS/NERO,NMFS/NEFSC

Keymilestones(byquarter):Q1:Assemblesteeringcommitteeforproject.Draftinternprojectdescription.Q2:Webinar#1.Solicitinternship.Q3:Webinar#2.Internship.Q4:Webinar#3:Studentinternpresentation.NARTFunding:$5K

An internship will make use

of data collected by a new 

NOAA Smart Buoy 

deployed at Havre de 

Grace on the Susquehanna. 

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IntegratedWaterResourcesScienceandServicesNortheastDemoStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Weather‐ReadyNation:Improvedfreshwatermanagement;EngagementEnterpriseobjective:Integratedservicesmeetingtheevolvingneedsofregionalstakeholders.Contact/email:GeorgeMcKillopNWS/ER,George.Mckillop@noaa.govSummary:NOAAplanstoconductanIntegratedWaterResourcesScience&Services(IWRSS)demonstrationinthenortheastUSformallyengagingtheInterstateCommissiononthePotomacRiverBasin,theDelawareRiverBasinCommission,theSusquehannaRiverBasinCommission,andtheHudsonRiverFoundation.

Thefirstpre‐demonstrationphaseofthiseffortwillbetoconductin‐basinengagementswiththerespectivecommissionsandtheirstakeholdersto:

Validateexistingandidentifynewgapsinwaterresourceservices

Quantifythesocioeconomicbenefitofaddressingthesegaps

DemonstratenewIWRSScapabilitiestoaddressstakeholderneeds

TheIWRSSpartnersplantoidentifyanddocumentwaterresourcedecisionsmadebythecommissionsandtheirrespectivestakeholdersfromaspectrumofservicesectorsincludingrivercommerce,emergencymanagement,reservoirmanagement,agriculture,hydropower,watershedmanagement,fishandwildlife,municipalandindustrialwatersupply,recreation,energyproduction,andwaterquality.BasedupontheresultsofthestakeholderengagementactivitiesinFY13,NOAAwilldevelopademonstrationprojectplanwhichwillenabletheIWRSSpartners(USGS,USACE,andNOAA)toaddressstakeholderrequirementsthroughtheprovisionofnewIWRSSinformationandservices.ThedemonstrationprojectisprojectedtobegininFY14.InFY13,NARTwaterresourcessubteamandthelargerNARTteamwillsupportEasternResearchGroupandNOAAProjectManagementTeamidentifyingandcompilingstakeholderlistsforfocusedin‐basin

engagementsandforabroaderinformationgatheringsurvey.WhyNART?NART’sregionalnetworkofpartnersandconstituentsspanawidespectrumofservicesectors(e.g.,rivercommerce,emergencymanagement,reservoirmanagement,agriculture,hydropower,watershedmanagement,fishandwildlife,municipalandindustrialwatersupply,recreation,energyproduction,andwaterquality)andreachesintoallfourwatersheds(e.g.,Potomac,Susquehanna,DelawareandHudson).Partners:Regionalriverbasincommissions,EasternResearchGroup(ERG)ParticipatingNOAAentities:NWS/ER,NART,NWS/OCWWSHSD&OHD,NOSKeymilestones(byquarter):Q1:Providerepresentativeservicesectorstakeholderlists;attendstakeholderengagementmeetings.Q3:ParticipateininformationgatheringsurveysNARTFunding:None

Stormwater run‐off in Annapolis.

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ClimateAdaptation&MitigationClimateprioritiesinfluencingNOAAexecutioninFY13aretheneedforenhancedclimateinformationinthefisheriesandcoastalsectors,impactstocoastalcommunitiesandextremeevents.IntegrationofClimateScience,Fisheries,andProtectedSpecies:Incorporatingclimatechangeinformation(e.g.,oceanacidification,temperaturechange,projectedhabitatshifts)inthemanagementoftrustresourcesisahighpriorityforNOAA.CurrentworkbetweenOARandNMFSisprojectingtheeffectofclimatechangeoncusk,afisheryspeciesthatisalsoaspeciesofconcern.Theresultssuggestthatthedistributionofcuskwilldecreaseandfragmentasaresultofwarming.Thesetypesofdetailedstudieswillcontinue,butamoregeneral(applicabletomultiplespecies)climatevulnerabilityassessmentprocessisalsobeingdeveloped.Apilotforthatprocesswillbeconductedinthenortheastregionduringthesummer2012andafullassessmentofallmanagedfisheryspeciesintheregionisplannedfor2013.Inaddition,anupcomingworkshopwithNMFS/PRD,NESDIS/NCDC,OAR,andinvitedfederalpartnerswillexploremethodstoeffectivelyintegrateclimatechangescienceandimpactsintomanagementactivitiesundertheEndangeredSpeciesandMarineMammalProtectionActs.Theworkshopwillfocusonanexchangeofinformationregardingongoingandplannedclimatechangeresearch,aswellasclimatechangeeffectsonprotectedspeciesandthestatusofregionalandnationaleffortstoincorporateclimatechangeintonaturalresourcemanagement.TheworkshopwillalsobenefitfromlessonslearnedwiththeUSFishandWildlifeServiceandtheirneedforclimatedatatomanagewildlifeonlandscapescaleswiththeLandscapeConservationCollaborative.

Coddistributionmovingnorth,NMFS/NEFSC.ClimateChangeandImpactstoCoastalCommunities:NESDIS/NCDCisworkingwithNOSandtheregionaloceanpartnershipsplanforandrespondtotheimpactsofclimatechange(primarilysealevelrise)oncoastalcommunities,regionalinfrastructure,coastalhabitats,andshorelinemanagementefforts.Theobjectiveistoprovidefederal,state,andmunicipalprogramswith

state‐of‐the‐artdataandtoolstoadvanceplanningandresponsetostorms,shorelineerosion,andcoastalinundationduetoprojectedsea‐levelriseandclimatechange.

NWS visualization at Scituate, MA. 

NumerousopportunitiesexistinFY2013toleverageNOAAprogramsandcapabilitiestoaddressimpactstocoastalcommunitiesintheNorthAtlantic,including:

supporttheNationalOceanPolicy’s“ResiliencyandAdaptationtoClimateChangeandOceanAcidification”implementationplan;

implementstrategiesandactionsarticulatedintheNationalFish,WildlifeandPlantsClimateAdaptationStrategy(Summer2012);

workwithNortheastandMid‐Atlanticstatecoastalmanagementprogramsandoceanpartnershipstoaddresstheirclimate‐relatedpriorities;

continuesupportforNERRSSentinelSiteactivitiestobetterunderstandsealevelchange,coastalfloodingandinundation,andfacilitateintegrationintoNOAASentinelSiteProgram;

expandpublic‐privatepartnershipsonclimatechange;

integratestormsurge,inlandfloodingandsealevelriseinformation;

anddesigncoastalandinlandinundationproductstoimprovedecision‐supportandcalibrateforecasts.

TwoDepartmentofInterior(DOI)regionalinitiatives‐theNorthAtlanticLandscapeConservationCooperativeandtheNortheastClimateScienceCenter‐willbesupportingresearchaddressingourcommoncoastalneedsforclimateinformation.ExtremeEventsandClimate:Underallclimatechangescenarios,extremeevents(e.g.,severestorms,drought,flooding,andheatwaves)arepredictedtoincreaseinfrequencyandintensity.Planningforandadaptingtotheprojectedimpactsfromextremeeventsisamajorpriorityfortheregion.NWSandNESDIS/NCDCarecollaborating

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toensureinformationonfreshwaterextremes(droughtandflooding)isdeliveredtostatesanddecision‐makersinatimelyfashion..Inaddition,NESDIS/NCDCandNWSarepartneringtoensurethatforecastsandinformationaredeliveredtostates,includinginformationfromNOAA’sRegionalClimateCenters,thedrought.govportal,andprecipitationfrequencyestimatesfortheNewEnglandstates.Also,NOAAandourfundedpartnerswillbereleasingregionalclimateoutlookproductstoaddressthisandothersectoralimpactsfromachangingclimateandregionalimpacts.NARTResponseTheNARTidentifiedfiveprojectsindirectsupportofNOAA’sclimateadaptationandmitigationgoalinFY13.

1. TheNARTwillsupportrefinementofEasternRegionstakeholderneedsforclimatechangeproductsandservices.

2. TheNARTwillraiseawarenessandprovidecross‐linesupportforaNationalIntegratedDroughtInformationSystem(NIDIS)droughtearly‐warningpilottakingplaceintheChesapeakeBay.

3. TheNARTwillenhanceNOAA’sparticipationinaRegionalIntegratedScience&Assessments(RISA)waterworkshop.

4. Buildingonatwo‐dayNART‐fundedworkshopinFY12thatexploredmethodstoeffectivelyintegrateclimatechangescienceintomanagementactivities,theNARTwillsupportthedevelopmentofaprotectedspeciesvulnerabilityassessment.

5. TheNARTwillsupportparticipationbyotherLOsinanNCCOS‐initiatedworkshoptoidentifyspecificthresholdeventsofinterestandhabitatimpactsresultingfromclimatechange.

Predicted changes in temperature by 2080, assuming continued high emissions of carbon pollution. Source: Rosenzweig et al. (2011) 

 

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RefiningEasternRegionStakeholderNeedsforClimateChangeProductsandServicesStrategicObjectivesfromtheNGSP:Climate:Mitigationandadaptationchoicessupportedbysustained,reliable,andtimelyclimateservices;Aclimate‐literatepublicthatunderstandsitsvulnerabilitiestoachangingclimateandmakesinformeddecisionsWeather‐ReadyNation:AmoreproductiveandefficienteconomythroughenvironmentalinformationrelevanttokeysectorsoftheU.S.economyHealthyOceans:HealthyhabitatsthatsustainresilientandthrivingmarineresourcesandcommunitiesResilientCoastalCommunities&Economies:ResilientcoastalcommunitiesthatcanadapttotheimpactsofhazardsandclimatechangeEngagement:AnengagedandeducatedpublicwithanimprovedcapacitytomakescientificallyinformedenvironmentaldecisionsIntegratedservicesmeetingtheevolvingdemandsofregionalstakeholdersContact/email:EllenMecray,NESDIS/NCDC,Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.govDarleneFinch,NOS/CSC,Darlene.Finch@noaa.govAdrianneHarrison,NOS/CSC,Adrianne.Harrison@noaa.govSummary:Overthepastyeartherehasbeenarobustefforttocollect,compile,andreviewdocumentsthatarticulateneedsforclimateproductsandservicesintheEasternRegion,includingtheNorthAtlantic.ThesewrittenmaterialsarebeingenteredintoarelationaldatabasethatwillallowNART’sclimateteamtoaccess,filterandsynthesizetheinformation.Collectingandreviewingthismaterialprovidesanessentialfoundationforaregion‐wideneedsassessment,whichisasystematicprocessfordeterminingandaddressingneeds,or"gaps"betweencurrentconditionsanddesiredconditionsor"wants."Togainamorecomprehensiveunderstandingofregionalneeds,it’scriticaltoenterintoadialoguewithkeyregionalstakeholders.Thestartingpointforthatdiscussioncomesfromsynthesizingwhat’sbeenlearnedfromreviewingallthedocuments:TheendpointiscomingupwithamorerefinedunderstandingofspecificneedsandidentifyingwaysthatNOAAcanaddressthoseneeds.Insomecases,it’saseasyasmakingstakeholdersawareofproductsandservicesthatNOAAisalreadydelivering.Inothercases,theidentificationofaregionalneedcanmobilizeNOAAtoworkacrossorganizationallinestoaddressthespecificneed.

TheNARTclimatechangeteamisproposingtoholdtwotothreefocusgroupswithkeyregionalstakeholderstoreview,focusandprioritizesomeoftheneedscapturedintheliteraturereview.It’sexpectedthatonemeetingwouldoccurintheNortheast,withanothertwointheMid‐Atlantic.Approximately10‐15stakeholderswouldparticipateineachsession.ThemeetingswouldbeorganizedandledbyERCTmembers,whowillberesponsiblefordevelopingasynthesisofregionalneedsforreviewatthemeeting.Fundingwouldbeusedtosupporttravelforkeystakeholders.Thesemeetingswouldalsoprovideanopportunitytoshareclimatechangeadaptationlessons,whichisfrequentlyidentifiedasaneedforNorthAtlanticstakeholders.WhyNART:TheERCTrepresentsawiderangeofNOAAcapabilitiesforprovidingclimatechangeproductsandservices.Teamparticipationisdesignedtoincreaseeachindividual’sunderstandingofthekindsofclimateproductsandservicesneededbyNOAAoffices,partnersandstakeholder.Theproposedfocusgroupswillinsurethatteammembersareoperatingwiththemostup‐to‐dateandinformedinputfromourstakeholders.ThereisnootherNOAAgroupthatbringstogethersuchalargeswathofNOAAclimateexpertiserelativetotheNorthAtlantic.Non‐NOAAPartners:NorthAtlanticLandscapeConservationCooperative,RISApartners,stateclimatologists,stateclimatechangeadaptationrepresentatives.ParticipatingNOAAentities:NOSCoastalServicesCenter,NESDISRegionalClimateServices,OARClimateProgramOffice,NOSOfficeofOceanandCoastalResourceManagement,NOSNationalCentersforCoastalOceanScienceKeyMilestones:Q1:Surveytorefinestate‐levelpriorities.Q2:Compileresults,selecttopicsandlocations,andfindNOAAreps.Q3:Face‐to‐facemtgs,(verifyandreceivefinerresolutionfromstates).NARTFunding:$6500

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NIDISPilotProjectintheChesapeakeBayRegion StrategicObjectivefromNGSP:EngagementEnterpriseobjective:Integratedservicesmeetingtheevolvingdemandsofregionalstakeholders.Contact/email:EllenMecray,NESDIS/NCDC,Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.govGeorgeMcKillop,NWS/ER,George.Mckillop@noaa.govChadMcNutt,OAR/NIDIS,Chad.McNutt@noaa.govPeytonRobertson,NMFS/NCBOPeyton.Robertson@noaa.govSummary:TheNationalIntegratedDroughtInformationSystemActof2006prescribesaninteragencyapproach,ledbyNOAA,forthedevelopmentandcoordinationofinformationtosupportproactivedecision‐makingthatreducestheimpactsrelatedtodrought.NIDIShasthreegeneraltasksunderitsauthorization:(I)Provideaneffectivedroughtearlywarningsystem;(II)CoordinateFederalresearchinsupportofadroughtearlywarningsystem;and,(III)Builduponexistingforecastingandassessmentprogramsandpartnerships.NIDIShasundertakingseveralpilotprojectstoprototypeanddevelopregionaldroughtearlywarninginformationsystems(RDEWS)aroundtheU.S.TheseincludetheUpperColoradoRiverBasin,theApalachicola‐Chattahoochee‐FlintRiverBasin,andCalifornia.NIDISisexploringotherpossibleareastoexpand.TheChesapeakeBay(CB)isalikelycandidategivenitsimportanceasthelargestestuaryintheU.S.andthediverseandconflictingdemandsforwaterresourcesintheregion.ExecutiveOrder(EO)13508requiresfederalagenciestodraftawayforwardforprotectionandrestorationoftheChesapeakeBayWatershed.NIDISseestheEOasanopportunitytostartscopingsomeoftheissuesrelatedtodroughtintheCB.NIDISwouldliketoholdaworkshopinsupportoftheEOthatfocusesonunderstandingdroughtmonitoringgaps,howforecastarebeingused,whatindicatorsandtriggersarebeingusedtomakemanagementdecisions,andrelateimpactstothetimingandseverityofdrought.TheworkshopcouldeventuallybethefirststepindevelopingaChesapeakeBayRDEWSPilot.InFY13,NIDISprogramstaffatOAR/CPO/CASDwillcontinueworkwithasteeringcommittee,whichincludestheNARTteamleaderandtheclimate&waterresourcessubteamleads,toplanforascopingworkshoptodeterminedroughtplanningneedsfortheChesapeakeBayRegion.

WhyNART?NART’sregionalnetworkofpartnersandconstituentswillinformnewpartneringopportunitiesintheNIDISpilotproject.Atthesametime,NIDISactivitiesandaccomplishmentswillbesharedwithabroaderregionalaudienceintheNorthAtlantic.Partners:InterstateCommissionPotomacRiverBasin(ICPRB);SusquehannaRiverBasinCommission(SRBC);NDMC;State(VA,MD,PA,De)DroughtrepresentativesParticipatingNOAAentities:NWS/ER;NESDIS/NCDC;OAR/CPO/NIDIS;NMFS/NCBOKeymilestones(byquarter):Q1:Re‐engageOAR/CPO/NIDISprojectmanagerandexistingsteeringcommittee.Q2:Engagethestate(VA,MD,PA&DE)droughtpeople;participateinsearchfor“asponsor.”Q3:Attendscopingworkshop.NARTFunding:None

Seasonal outlook, NIDIS program.

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ParticipationinNortheastClimate/RISAWorkshopStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:EngagementEnterpriseobjective:Integratedservicesmeetingtheevolvingdemandsofregionalpartnersandstakeholders.Contact/email:EdCapone,NWS/NERFC,Edward.Capone@noaa.govGeorgeMcKillop,NWS/ER,George.Mckillop@noaa.govEllenMecray,NESDIS/NCDC,Ellen..L.Mecray@noaa.govSummary:TherainfallfrequencyatlasesandtechnicalpaperspublishedbyNOAAserveasde‐factonationalstandardsforrainfallintensityatspecifiedfrequenciesanddurationsintheU.S.UpdatedprecipitationfrequencyestimatesarepublishedinNOAAAtlas14.NOAAAtlas14isaweb‐baseddocumentavailablethroughthePrecipitationFrequencyDataServer:http://hdsc.nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/index.html).NOAA/NWS/OHDHydrometeorologicalDesignStudiesCenter(HDSC)iscurrentlycalculatingthisinformationfortheNorthAtlanticregion.RevisionsfortheMiddleAtlantic(PA,NJ,DE,MD,&VA)havebeenpublished.WorktosignificantlyupdatetheNortheast(ME,NH,VT,MA,CT,RI,&NY)hasbegun,butisnotexpectedtobepublisheduntilSep2015.TheNortheastRegionalClimateCenter(NRCC)recentlyupdatedrainfallextremesinNYandNewEnglandbasedondiscussionswithNYStateDEC,NRCSregionaloffice,andNewEnglandstates(precip.net).ProponentsofstormwatermanagementanddamsafetyhavebeenexpressingastronginterestingettingupdatedprecipitationfrequenciesintheNortheast.TherearedifferencesinthemethodologiesoftheapproachesusedbyNRCCandNWS/HDSCintheirupdatingoftheprecipitationfrequencydata.NESDIS/NCDChasinvestedfunds($10k)withthenortheastRISA(CCRUNatUMass)fortheirassistanceinhostingaworkshopinFY13fordataprovidersofwater‐relateddecisioninformation.WithNARTassistance,NWSwillsendthreehydrologiststotheworkshoptobeheldattheUniversityofMassachusettstodiscusstheprecipitationfrequencyupdatingoccurringintheNortheast.WorkshopparticipantswillincludewaterdataproviderssuchasUSGS,NRCC,NOAA,USACE,NRCS,andsomeothers.TheintentionisforparticipantstobenefitfromadiscussionofNOAA’sexpectedcompletiontimeline,differencesinthetwoupdatingapproaches,andwhatdataarecurrentlyavailablefordistributionto

decision‐makers.ThisdiscussionwillalsoinformtheRISA’scurrentfundedworktomeetwithwatermanagerstodiscussclimateimpactsanddecision‐tools.WhyNART?LeveragingaNOAA‐sponsoredworkshoptakesadvantageofNART’sregionalnetworkofpartnersandconstituentsandwilleffectivelyinformandraiseawarenessofNOAAscience,productsandservices.Partners:NRCC,USGS,USACE,NRCS,AcademicsParticipatingNOAAentities:NWS/RFC;NWS/OHD/HDSC;NESDIS/NCDCKeymilestones(byquarter):Q1:CoordinateNWShydrologistsparticipationQ3:AttendworkshopNARTFunding:$3K

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ProtectedSpeciesClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessmentStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Improvedunderstandingofecosystemstoinformresourcemanagementdecisions.(Note:Theoutcomefromthisproposalwillbeusedinternallyatfirst,butalsohasexternalbenefits.)Contact/email:DianeBorggaard,NMFS/NERO,Diane.Borggaard@noaa.govTimothyCardiasmenos,NMFS/NERO,Timothy.Cardiasmenos@noaa.govSummary:TheNMFSNortheastRegion’sProtectedResourcesDivision(PRD)recentlyconvenedatwo‐dayNART‐fundedworkshopexploringmethodstoeffectivelyintegrateclimatechangescienceintomanagementactivities.Oneinformationgapidentifiedbyparticipantswastheneedforaprotectedspeciesclimatevulnerabilityassessment.AsimilarassessmentiscurrentlybeingdevelopedjointlybytheNMFSOfficeofSustainableFisheries(F/SF)andOfficeofScienceandTechnology(F/ST)largelyformanagedfishspecies,althoughthe

assessmentdoesincludesomeprotectedfish.Asthemodelingworkisframedonfishandshellfishlifehistories,theassessmentwillassistmanagersinbetterunderstanding

andhandlingthereactionsoffisherypopulationstotheeffectsofclimatechange.Workshopparticipantsagreedthatvulnerabilityassessmentsshouldbeexpandedtoincludeotherprotectedspecies,includingmarinemammalandseaturtlespecies.Thelifehistoryofmarinemammalsandseaturtlesisverydifferentthanthatofmostmarinefishandshellfish,sotheapproachunderdevelopmentbyF/SFandF/STwouldneedtobereviewedandmodified.DevelopingaprotectedspeciesvulnerabilityassessmentwillassistNMFSinmakingscientificallyinformedmanagementdecisionsinrespecttoobservedandprojectedeffectsofclimatechangeonprotectedspecies.Therefore,thisproposalrequestsNARTfundingtobringtogetherNOAAlineofficestaffwithexpertiseinboth

climatescienceandprotectedspeciesscienceandmanagementinafocusedworkshoptodiscussmodificationstothecurrentfishvulnerabilityassessmentsuchthatitcanbetailoredtoassessthevulnerabilityofmarinemammalsandseaturtles.Additionally,theexistingmodelwillbeconsideredforconductingavulnerabilityassessmentofprotectedfishspeciesthathavenotbeenincludedinthecurrentassessment.NextstepswillalsobediscussedbasedontheoutcomesfromtheprotectedspeciesfishconsideredintheF/SFandF/STvulnerabilityassessment.NMFShasbeencommunicatingwithotherNOAAlineofficesforservicedeliveryofclimateinformationtobeusedinfisheriesmanagement.ThisneedisevidencedbytheformationandfunctionoftheDOILandscapeConservationCooperatives(forthefishandwildlifesector),theSoutheastCommunityofPractice(aswellastheNortheastRegionalOceanCouncilandtheMid‐AtlanticRegionalCouncilfortheOcean)(formanagersinthecoastalsector),aswellasothersectorsincludingtransportationandenvironmentalmanagers.Additionally,thisevidencealsoincludesthesuccessofthePRDclimateworkshopwhichbroughtvariousNOAAlineofficestogether.ThisproposalwillhelpNMFSmanagerscontinuetocoordinatewithandutilizeNOAAclimatework.Additionally,itwillallowforcontinuedservicedeliveryofNOAA’sclimateproductsandservicesbyprovidingfundingforoneoftheoutcomesofthePRDclimateworkshop.WhyNART?NMFSisanimportantinternalcustomerofNOAAclimatework.TheNARThasalreadyinvestedresourcesintoaPRDclimateworkshopandshouldcontinuetosupportaworkshopoutcomewithregionalimportance/scope.TheproposedworkwouldhelpprovideneededfundstoequipPRDwithimportantinformationinconsideringclimatechangeeffectsonprotectedspeciestoassistwithmanagement.Additionally,PRDwouldbringtogetherNOAAlineofficeswithexpertiseonthetopic.Partners:Nonon‐NOAApartnersidentifiedatthistime.ParticipatingNOAAentities:NMFS(e.g.NERO,NEFSC,Headquarters),NOS(e.g.SBNMS),OARKeyMilestones(byquarter,FY13):Q1/Q2:Developmeetingideas,agenda,dates,andlocation;identifyandcontactinvitedparticipantsQ2/Q3:Sendformalinvitations;completetravelarrangementsQ3/Q4:Conveneworkshop;develop,finalize,anddistributeworkshopreportNARTFunding:$4K

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Climate&CoastalHabitatsWorkshopStrategicObjectivefromNGSP:Climateobjective:Assessmentsofcurrentandfuturestatesoftheclimatesystemthatidentifypotentialimpactsandinformscience,serviceandstewardshipdecisions(NationalandregionalassessmentsaddressparticularneedsofNOAA’suniquestewardshipresponsibilitiesforoceanandcoastalecosystems,livingmarineresourcesandwaterresources)Oceansobjective:Improvedunderstandingofecosystemstoimproveresourcemanagementdecisions(Increaseddevelopmentanduseofclimateconsiderationsinfisheryandprotectedresourcedecisionsandincoastalandmarinespatialplanningprocesses)Oceansobjective:Healthyhabitatsthatsustainresilientandthrivingmarineresourcesandcommunities(Climatechangeimpactsaddressedinconservationactionstopromotelong‐termresilienceandadaptation)CoastalCommunitiesobjective:Resilientcoastalcommunitiesthatcanadapttotheimpactsofhazardsandclimatechange(Healthynaturalhabitats,biodiversityandecosystemservicessupportlocalcoastaleconomiesandcommunities)Contact/email:BethTurner,NOS/NCCOS/CSCOR,Elizabeth.Turner@noaa.govEllenMecray,NESDIS/NCDC,Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.govSummary:NOShasundertakenanewprocesstoprioritizeactivitiesinNCCOSthatinvolvestheinputofotherNOSofficestoNCCOSprojects.Aspartofthatprocess,aproposalforaworkshopinCharleston,SCon“ImpactsofClimate‐relatedThresholdEventsonCoastalHabitats”washighlyranked.Thisactivitywould:

1. Examinespecificclimate‐relatedthresholdeventsandhabitatimpacts

2. Identifyrelevantresearchquestions,approachesanddesiredproductswhichNCCOScandelivertoNOSofficesandregionalstakeholders.

3. DevelopanongoingframeworkofNOScollaborationstoaddresspriorityclimateimpacts.

Thresholdeventsmayincludehighstandsofsealevel,storms,hightemperatures,droughtsorfloods,allofwhichmaybringaboutabrupthabitatchangeandassociatedconsequencestoecosystemservices,includingwaterquality,habitatfunction,andCsequestration.

Throughthisprocessweanticipatedevelopmentofaframeworkofcollaborationstoaddresspriorityclimateimpacts.NOSwouldconveneaworkshopcomprisedofNOS/NCCOSscientists,stateorregionalmanagers(incoordinationwithCSC),ReserveandSanctuarymanagers,NOAAregionalteamcoordinators,andIOOSregionalassociationstoidentifyspecificthresholdeventsofinterestandhabitatimpactsresultingfromclimatechange.TheoutcomeoftheworkshopwillidentifytheresearchapproachanddesiredproductswhichNCCOScandelivertoNOSofficesandregionalstakeholders.ThisrequesttoNARTistoexpandparticipationintheworkshoptootherLOrepresentativesandprovideenhancedcross‐NOAAcoordination.WhyNART?TheNARTwillextendtheutilityoftheworkshopandprovideforbettercross‐NOAAintegrationandplanning.Theworkshopwillhelptosetprioritiesforcoastalhabitatworkinrelationtoclimateimpacts,whichcanbenefitallofNOAAinplanningforfutureresearchactivities.Itwillalsoprovideinputonthedevelopmentofusefultoolsandproductsforintegratingclimateimpactsintocoastalhabitatandresourcemanagement.

Coastal wetlands provide critical habitat. 

Partners:Regionalcoastalmanagersandstakeholders,identifiedinassociationwithCSCandotherpartnersParticipatingNOAAentities:NCCOS:BethTurner,otherinternalscientists;CSC:ToddDavison;NERRS:MarieBundy;COOPS:SteveGill;NMFS:RogerGriffis,HelenMcMillanKeymilestones(byquarter):Q3:Workshopheld.Q4:Workshopsummaryproduced,includingNOSplanforaddressingidentifiedpriorities.FY14:ResearchbyNCCOStoaddressidentifiedprioritiesFY15:Productionofresearchsynthesis,disseminationofresultsandproductsinconjunctionwithCSC.NARTFunding:$4K

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AppendixA.FY13BudgetFY13NARTFunding

OtherFunding

A. Healthy Oceans  1) SeascapesIIWorkshop(ContinuationofMarch2012workshop)(Manderson,Friedland)

4,000

2) EcologicalForecastingWorkshop(Turner) 4,000 $4,0003) DataVisualization(Friedland) 3,000 B. Resilient Coastal Communities & Economies 4) NOAACapacitytoImpactOceanPlanningintheNorthAtlantic(Nicholson,Bigford) 2,000 5) SupportingtheStatesNewEnglandRoundtables(Harrison,Newhall)

3,000

C. Weather-Ready Nation 6) WaveRun‐Up(Thompson) 4,0007) NART/SeaGrantWRNpilot(Thompson) 2,500 30,0008) MARFCWebinars(Wnek,McKillop) 4,000 1,0009)LeverageClimate/RISAWorkshopintheNortheasttoInformWaterResourcesPartnersandStakeholders(Capone,McKillop,Mecray)

3,000 10,000

D. Climate Adaptation & Mitigation 10) ProtectedSpeciesClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment(Cardiasmenos,Borggaard) 4,000 11) RefiningEasternRegionStakeholderNeedsforClimateChangeProductsandServices(Mecray,Finch,Harrison) 6,500 12) Impactsofclimate‐relatedthresholdeventsoncoastalhabitats(Turner,Mecray) 4,000 28,000

E. Engagement Enterprise

13)NorthAtlanticRegionalTeamAdministration 12,000

Total $56,000 $73,000     

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AppendixB.NARTMembership 

Name  Email  Affiliation  Location 

1 

Team Lead                                 Robertson, Peyton  Peyton.Robertson@noaa.gov  NMFS  Annapolis, MD 

2 

Coordinator                    Bartlett, Nicole  Nicole.Bartlett@noaa.gov  NMFS  Woods Hole, MA 

3  Antoine, Adrienne  Adrienne.Antoine@noaa.gov  OAR/Climate  Silver Spring, MD 

4  Cardiasmenos, Tim  Timothy.Cardiasmenos@noaa.gov  NMFS  Gloucester, MA 

5  Deguise, Sylvain  Sylvain.Deguise@uconn.edu  Sea Grant  Groton, CT 

6  Friedland, Kevin  Kevin.Friedland@noaa.gov  NMFS  Narragansett, RI 

7  Harmon, Michelle  Michelle.Harmon@noaa.gov  NOS  Silver Spring, MD 

8  Larkin, Andrew  Andrew.W.Larkin@noaa.gov  NMFS/NOS  Norfolk, VA 

9  Martinez, Catalina  Catalina.Martinez@noaa.gov  OAR  Narragansett, RI 

10  McKillop, George  George.McKillop@noaa.gov  NWS  Bohemia, NY 

11  Mecray, Ellen  Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.gov  NESDIS  Taunton, MA 

12  Nicholson, Betsy  Betsy.Nicholson@noaa.gov  NOS  Durham, NH 

13  Rule, Erica  Erica.Rule@noaa.gov  OAR  Miami, FL 

14  Schlitz, Ron  Ron.Schlitz@noaa.gov  NMFS  Woods Hole, MA 

15  Siebers, Tony  Anthony.Siebers@noaa.gov  NWS  Camp Springs, MD 

16  Thompson, Bob  Robert.Thompson@noaa.gov  NWS  Taunton, MA 

17  Ticco, Paul  Paul.Ticco@noaa.gov  NOS  Silver Spring, MD 

 

 

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AppendixC.NARTOutputs,Outcomes

 

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