2015 Annual Report. Gulf of Mexico Alliance 1151 Robinson Street Ocean Springs, MS

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1 2015 Annual Report Gulf of Mexico Alliance 1151 Robinson Street Ocean Springs, MS

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3 Gulf of Mexico Alliance 2015 Annual Report to Introduction. 1 ORGANIZATION PROGRAMS ENGAGEMENT Alliance Team.. 2 Staff Organization.. 3 Staff Summary.. 4 Position Descriptions 5 Coastal Resilience 6 Data and Monitoring. 7 Education and Engagement.. 8 Habitat Resources 10 Water Resources.. 11 Wildlife and Fisheries. 13 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative 14 Committees and Working Groups. 15 FINANCIAL Communication Strategies 18 Boards and Committees. 19 Key Regional Partnerships. 19 Regional Initiatives. 20 GOMA/GoMRI Budget and Expenses. 22 TOC

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5 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Who We Are The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) is a partnership of the five U.S. Gulf States, federal agencies, academic organizations, businesses, and other non-profits in the region. Our mission is to significantly increase regional collaboration to enhance the environmental and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico. Within the GOMA, a large network of partners work collaboratively on teams to address priority issues in ways that a single entity cannot. Leadership from the five Gulf States forms the foundation of the Alliance and each of the Gulf States has committed time and resources to its successful implementation. The success of GOMA is also based on leadership from 13 federal partners who have come together as a Federal Workgroup to support the priorities of the region. In addition, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance relies heavily on non-governmental partners, such as academic organizations, non-profit organizations, and businesses. Where We ve Been and Where We re Going In 2004, former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida reached out to the other four Gulf State Governors to encourage collaboration for the protection and restoration of their shared body of water. Two years later the five Gulf State Governors signed the first Governors Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts in Ninety-nine percent of the objectives of Action Plan I were realized in just three short years. Building on the tremendous success of the first plan, GOMA released its second plan, the Governors Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts II in Today, 95 percent of the objectives of Action Plan II have been accomplished and the Gulf States have begun the process of developing the Action Plan III. It will be a five-year plan combining new and ongoing objectives, including: - Provide forums for collaboration on regional priority issues - Develop and modify tools to address regional issues - Track regional restoration efforts - Identify opportunities for comprehensive regional monitoring - Expand the partner network to enable strategic partnerships to fill needs - Administer the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), a large oil-spill research program 1

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7 ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION Alliance Team The Alliance Team (AMT) was established in 2004 as the governing body of GOMA. Because GOMA is state-led, the five Gulf States serve as the Board of Directors having sole voting authority in accordance with GOMA s By-Laws. Chair and Chair-Elect positions of the AMT rotate among the five states, every two or more years, in the following order: Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Florida. Other members of the Alliance Team serve in advisory capacity and are vital to the cooperative decision-making process of the AMT GOMA Team Organization Name Agency / Department Alabama (Chair) Phillip Hinesley Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources Patti Powell Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources Texas (Chair-Elect) Toby Baker Commission on Environmental Quality Stephen Tatum Commission on Environmental Quality Mississippi Jamie Miller Dept. of Marine Resources Gary Rikard Dept. of Environmental Quality Louisiana Kyle Graham Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Jim Pahl Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Florida Kevin Claridge Coastal Office Kelly Samek Fish and Wildlife Commission Environmental Protection Agency Diane Altsman Gulf of Mexico Program John Bowie Gulf of Mexico Program Todd Davison Office of Coastal Department of Commerce Russ Beard National Environmental Information Center Kristen Laursen National Marine Fisheries Service Linda Walker U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Department of Interior Greg Steyer U.S. Geological Service Pat Roscigno Bureau of Ocean Energy NASA Duane Armstrong Applied Science Program, Stennis Space Center Ted Mason Applied Science Program, Stennis Space Center Department of Defense Bruce Cwalina Navy Region Southeast Camille Destafney Navy Region Southeast Department of Agriculture Michele Laur Natural Resources Conservation Service Sea Grant LaDon Swann Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Northern Gulf Institute Steve Ashby Mississippi State University Shell Kent Satterlee Exploration & Production 2

8 ORGANIZATION Staff Organization The GOMA staff serves as the backbone for implementing the mission and vision developed by the five Gulf State governors. Programmatically, GOMA administers two primary programs: Priority Issues identified in the Governors Action Plan as water quality, habitat conservation, ecosystems assessment, nutrient reduction, community resilience and environmental education and more recently wildlife and fisheries and data and monitoring. Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) in accordance with the Master Research Agreement, a voluntary contract between GOMA and BP to administer a 10-year, $500 million oil spill research program as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. GOMA s staff includes personnel dedicated to the two programs and operates out of the headquarters office in Mississippi as well as partner offices in each of the five Gulf States. The staff coordinates on a monthly basis to fulfill the objectives established by the Governors Action Plan and the Master Research Agreement between BP and GOMA. ALLIANCE MANAGEMENT TEAM Executive Director (L. Bowie) GoMRI Chief Science Officer (C. Wilson) Program Manager (T. Sempier) Communications Coordinator (L. Yokel) Business Manager (C. Thrift) GoMRI Program Director (M. Carron) Priority Issue Team Coordinators (A. Knight - TX) (K. Gerard TX) (L. Pourciau LA) (A. Porter MS) (K. Holley MS) (D. Viverett MS) (L. Yokel AL) (K. Michaelides FL) Summary: Total Staff 17 Total FTEs 10 Event Coordinator (D. Pressley) GoMRI Program Manager (K. Shaw) GoMRI Project Manager (C. Kirby) 3

9 ORGANIZATION 2015 STAFF SUMMARY Staff Position Name Contact Information % Funding Support FTE Executive Laura Bowie Laura.Bowie@gomxa.org 1.0 GOMA Reserve Director Business Manager Connie Thrift Connie.Thrift@gomxa.org 1.0 GOMA Reserve GOMA Program Manager GOMA Communications Coastal Resilience Team Coordinator Coastal Resilience Team Coordinator Data & Monitoring Team Coordinator Ed & Engagement Team Coordinator Habitat Resources Team Coordinator Water Resources Team Coordinator Wildlife & Fisheries Team Coordinator Wildlife & Fisheries Team Coordinator GoMRI Chief Science Officer GoMRI Program Director GoMRI Program Manager GoMRI Project Manager GoMRI/GOMA Event Coordinator GOMA Program Tracie Sempier Tracie.Sempier@gomxa.org 0.5 GOMA Reserve Lee Yokel Lee.Yokel@gomxa.org 0.25 GOMA Reserve Kristen Holley Kristen.Holley@dmr.ms.gov 0.25 MS Dept. of Marine Resources Daphne Daphne.Viverette@dmr.ms.gov 0.25 MS Dept. of Marine Viverette Resources Kayleigh Kayleigh.Michaelides@dep.state.fl.us 0.5 FL Dept. of Environmental Michaelides Protection Lee Yokel Lee.Yokel@gomxa.org 0.25 AL Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources Lauren Pourciau lauren.pourciau@la.gov 0.5 LA Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority Ann Porter ann_porter@deq.state.ms.us 0.5 MS Dept of Environmental Quality Allison Knight allison.knight@tamucc.edu 0.25 TX General Land Office Katy Gerard kathryn.gerard@tamucc.edu 0.25 TX General Land Office GoMRI Program Chuck Wilson Chuck.Wilson@gomri.org 1.0 BP Mike Carron Michael.Carron@gomri.org 0.5 BP Kevin Shaw Kevin.Shaw@gomri.org 1.0 BP Chris Kirby Chris.Kirby@gomri.org 1.0 BP Devany Pressley Devany.Pressley@gomri.org 1.0 BP 4

10 ORGANIZATION Staff Descriptions GOMA Executive Director (Laura Bowie) Provides vision for the implementation of the Governors Action Plan, identifying opportunities for collaboration and creative methods for project execution in accordance with the priorities established by the five Gulf States and at the direction of the Alliance Team. GOMA Business Manager (Connie Thrift) Manages business affairs of the organization including payroll and employee recordkeeping; purchasing, invoicing, and contract management; and file management and compliance. GOMA Regional Program Manager (Tracie Sempier) Assists the Executive Director in implementation of the Governors Action Plan, including coordination of the Priority Issue Teams and management of GOMA regional grant programs. GOMA Communications Coordinator (L. Yokel) Implements the GOMA communications strategy, including generating new content for website, developing social media presence, developing and publishing e-newsletters and e- news blasts, and chairs the GOMA Public Relations Committee. GOMA/GoMRI Event Coordinator (Devany Pressly) Plans and coordinates GoMRI and GOMA meetings, events, and conferences, including bidding processes, venue rental, audio-visual support, speaker support, and onsite logistics. GOMA Priority Issue Team Coordinators (A. Knight, K. Gerard, L. Pourciau, A. Porter, K. Holley, D. Viverette, L. Yokel, K. Michaelides) Coordinates Team conference calls and meetings, tracks and leverages available resources, manages team contractual obligations, builds relationships among team members, and broadens stakeholder support and participation. GoMRI Program Director (Mike Carron) Directs the activities of the GoMRI Program, serving as the primary interface between the parties of the GoMRI Master Research Agreement (GOMA and BP) and serving as an ex-officio member of the GoMRI Research Board. GoMRI Program Manager (Kevin Shaw) Oversees the daily operations of the GoMRI Program related to contracts and grants management, budget and compliance, representation at scientific conferences, and preparation of quarterly and annual GoMRI reports. GoMRI Project Manager (Chris Kirby) Provides support to daily operations of the GoMRI Program related to management of GoMRI grants, preparation of quarterly and annual reports, and document retention. GoMRI Chief Science Officer (Chuck Wilson) Serves as the interface on scientific issues between the GoMRI Research Board and GOMA Administrative Team. Also advises the Research Board on new themes and need for research in specific thematic areas. 5

11 PROGRAMS GOMA PROGRAMS Priority Issue Programs GOMA s priority issues are determined by the Gulf States as those common to all five states: Community Resilience Data & Monitoring Education & Engagement Habitat Resources Water Resources Wildlife & Fisheries We addresses the region s priorities by bringing together diverse talent, coordinating capabilities, and maximizing the impact of funding. Specific Priority Issue Teams are formed around the issues identified by the Gulf States. The teams address the issues through a collaborative approach with scientific, technical and resource management experts who have a broad knowledge base and considerable experience. Specific actions associated with addressing the priority issues are developed by the teams themselves, with approval from the Alliance Team. The following sections provide a brief overview of past and current Priority Issue Team projects. COASTAL RESILIENCE Defined as the capacity of human and natural/physical systems to adapt to and recover from change, GOMA s Coastal Resilience Team focuses its actions on our regional ability to respond to natural and manmade hazards, including risk communication techniques and resilience assessments as well as a variety of coastal adaptation and planning methods. Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status Resilience Index for Ports and Harbors Resilience Index for Tourism and Resilience Index Fisheries Small Grants for Community Resilience Mississippi Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant & Louisiana Sea Grant Mississippi Dept of Marine Resources & Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant & Mississippi DMR 6 Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant GOMA Headquarters In progress In progress In progress

12 PROGRAMS Alabama Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards Louisiana Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards Texas Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards Florida Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant & AL ADCNR Louisiana Sea Grant EPA Gulf of Mexico Texas General Land Office & Texas Sea Grant Florida Sea Grant & Apalachicola NERR EPA Gulf of Mexico EPA Gulf of Mexico StormSmart Coasts Network BlueUrchin EPA Gulf of Mexico,, & NOAA Coastal Storms Program Clean and Resilient Marina Program Resilient Coastal Development Through Land Use Planning Mississippi Dept of Marine Resources Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Coastal Community Resilience Index Gulf Sea Grant Programs MS-AL Sea Grant, NOAA Office of Coastal, EPA Gulf of Mexico, & NOAA Coastal Storms Program & Ongoing & Ongoing & Ongoing Coastal CHARM Resilience Tool Texas Sea Grant EPA Gulf of Mexico Coastal IQ Northern Gulf Institute The Coastal Resilience Team is supported by the State of Mississippi, Department of Marine Resources. DATA & MONITORING - This new team incorporates the water quality monitoring efforts and many of the data acquisition efforts of the former Ecosystems Team. Comprehensive Gulf-wide monitoring will be a large focus of this team as well as the DWH Project Tracker, data gathering, populating GOMAportal, and continuation of Gulf of Mexico mapping efforts. Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status DHW Project Tracker The Trust for Public Land & Ducks Unlimited Knobloch Family Foundation & U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities GOMAportal Harte Research Institute NOAA Office for Coastal In Progress Ongoing 7

13 PROGRAMS GecoServ Harte Research Institute NOAA Office for Coastal & EPA Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Master Mapping Plan Emergent Wetlands Status and Trends Report SeaGrass Status and Trends in the Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas Gulf of Mexico Data Acquisition Planning Tool (GDAPT) Metadata Enterprise Resource Aid (MERMAid) Metadata Transforms Ecowatch GAME (Geospatial Assessment of Marine Ecosystems) US Army Corps of Engineers US Geological Service & EPA Gulf of Mexico US Geological Service & EPA Gulf of Mexico NOAA National Center for Environmental Information Harte Research Institute NOAA National Center for Environmental Information NOAA National Center for Environmental Information NOAA National Center for Environmental Information Florida Institute of Oceanography, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, & Fish and Wildlife Research Institute & EPA Gulf of Mexico US Geological Service & EPA Gulf of Mexico US Geological Service & EPA Gulf of Mexico NOAA National Center for Environmental Information NOAA National Center for Environmental Information NOAA National Center for Environmental Information NOAA National Center for Environmental Information & EPA Gulf of Mexico Ongoing In Progress Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing The Data & Monitoring Team is supported by the State of Florida, Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Sea Grant. EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT - This existing team is shifting its focus to providing education, outreach and engagement to the other team projects and programs. It incorporates a wide variety of audiences including coastal trainers, outreach and extension specialists, and K-12 educators. This team will also take the lead on the Marine Debris Cross-Team initiative. Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status Connecting Scientists to Citizens Regarding Sea Level Rise Grand Bay and Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) GOMA Headquarters In Progress 8

14 PROGRAMS Environmental Education Listserv Regional Coastal Training Workshops Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (All 5 states and Veracruz, Mexico) Smart Yard, Healthy Gulf Campaign The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Environmental Awareness Campaign: Social Marketing Plan Dauphin Island Sea Lab Grand Bay NERR Weeks Bay NERR Apalachicola NERR Rookery Bay NERR Mission-Aransas NERR Coastal America Foundation & EPA Gulf of Mexico Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Dauphin Island Sea Lab & University of South Florida, Gulf Sea Grant, & EPA Gulf of Mexico EPA Gulf of Mexico EPA Gulf of Mexico & Northern Gulf Institute Ongoing Ongoing NBII Online Digital Library US Geological Service NBII US Geological Service Deepwater Horizon Education Project for Formal and Informal Educators within the Gulf of Mexico Institute for Marine Mammal Studies & Dauphin Island Sea Lab NOAA Office of Education K-12 pilot program with B-WET Underserved and Underrepresented Populations Student Networks Various Education & Engagement Team Members Florida Department of Environmental Protection & Gulf of Mexico Foundation NOAA Office of Education Mini-Grants Alabama (12) Various Mini-Grants Florida (9) Various Mini-Grants Louisiana (8) Various Mini-Grants Mississippi (7) Various Mini-Grants Texas (10) Various The Education & Engagement Team is supported by the State of Alabama, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and coordinated by Dauphin Island Sea Lab. 9

15 PROGRAMS HABITAT RESOURCES - The existing Habitat Conservation and Restoration Team will continue many of its successful actions and incorporate some issues previously addressed by the Ecosystems Team. Focus areas will include regional sediment management issues, continued sea-level rise modeling, living shorelines, and additional habitat status and trends. This team will also take the lead on the Comprehensive Restoration and Resilience Planning and the Ecosystem Services Assessment Cross-Team initiatives. Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status Living Shoreline Site Suitability Modeling Regional Living Shorelines Construction Technical Bulletins for Contractors Mississippi State University GOMA Headquarters In Progress Baldwin County Soil and Water Conservation District GOMA Headquarters In Progress Habitat Practitioners Forum Gulf of Mexico Foundation GOMA Headquarters In Progress International Integration Workshops between U.S. and Mexican counterparts Gulf Regional Sediment Master Plan Recommendations for Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediments to the Federal Standard Regional Sediment Master Plan Update for Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material along Coastal Mississippi Analysis of State and Federal Policy & Regulatory Programs that Provide Protection to Coastal Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico Modeling and Abating the Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Five Significant Estuarine Systems in the Gulf of Mexico Sea-level rise Affecting Marsh Model (SLAMM) Analyses for Gulf National Wildlife Refuges SLAMM Runs and Conservation Planning Data Platform Development Application of the SLAMM Modeling to Southeastern Louisiana Gulf of Mexico Foundation & Mexican Consortium of Marine Investigation Institutions of the Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Foundation State of Alabama, State of Florida, State of Louisiana, State of Mississippi, State of Texas CH2M Hill Gulf of Mexico Foundation, Environmental Law Institute, & the Mexican Center for Environmental Law & EPA Gulf of Mexico & Ongoing The Nature Conservancy EPA Gulf of Mexico Warren-Pinnacle Consulting The Nature Conservancy Warren-Pinnacle Consulting 10

16 PROGRAMS Gulf Regional Sediment Master Plan Case Study Compilation Assessment of Changing Ecosystem Services Provided by Marsh Habitat in the Galveston Bay Region Analysis and Recommendations for Increasing Restoration and Conservation on Private Lands Assessment & Prioritization of Ecosystems Affected by Altered Freshwater Inflows Applied Coastal Research & Engineering Harte Research Institute Land Trust Alliance Harte Research Institute EPA Gulf of Mexico The Habitat Resources Team is supported by the State of Louisiana, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. WATER RESOURCES - By combining focus areas of the Water Quality Team and the Nutrients Team, the new Water Resources Team will be able to address multiple focus areas related to water quantity and quality, including fresh water in-flows, human health issues (pathogens and mercury), and aquatic health issues (hypoxia, excess nutrients, harmful algal blooms, and impaired streams). Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status Nutrient Datasets into Gulf Coast Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) Data Portal Trophic Transfer of Mercury Along Salinity Gradients in Estuaries Molecular Marker Registry Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Prediction Warning System Mercury Fate and Transport White Paper Texas A&M University GOMA Headquarters In Progress Florida Gulf Coast University GOMA Headquarters In Progress Univ. of South Florida, EPA, Univ. of California-Davis, & Univ. of Southern MS NOAA, Alabama Department of Environmental, GCOOS, Texas A&M, Texas Dept of Health, Sarasota Co. Health Dept., FL Fish & Wildlife, TX Parks & Wildlife, Mote Marine Lab, & Collier County NOAA, Wright State Univ., Florida State Univ., FL Gulf Coast Univ., Texas A&M, & Florida Institute of Oceanography Ongoing 11

17 PROGRAMS Series of Round Robin Events to identify variability in sampling techniques, equipment, and standards. Gulf of Mexico Water-Quality Monitoring White Paper Development of a Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity for Estuarine and Near-Coastal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico Development of Pilot Nutrient Criteria for an Estuary in the Western Gulf of Mexico (Mission-Aransas Bay, TX) Effects of Nutrients on Downstream Ecological Processes in the Galveston Bay Estuary AL Dept of Env, FL Dept of Env Protection, LA Dept of Env Quality, MS Dept of Env Quality, TX Com on Env Quality, Hillsborough County, Lee County, & Sarasota County MS Dept of Env Quality, FL Dept of Env Protection, AL Dept of Env, EPA Gulf of Mexico, FL Institute of Oceanography, Gulf Univ Research Collaborative, & Tetra Tech, Inc. MS Department of Environmental Quality University of Texas EPA Gulf of Mexico TX Commission on Environmental Quality, TX Water Development Board, TX Parks and Wildlife, and Texas Sea Grant EPA Gulf of Mexico Development of Pilot Nutrient Criteria for a Mississippi Estuary (St. Louis Bay, MS) Characterization of Nutrient Sources, Fate, and Transport across the Gulf Region (Weeks Bay, AL) Development of a Primer on Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Decision Support Toolbox for Nutrient Reduction Development of a Coastal Nutrient Reduction Strategy Template MS Department of Environmental Quality AL Department of Environmental GCOOS, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, LUMCON, & Hypoxia Task Force MS Department of Environmental Quality MS Department of Environmental Quality EPA Gulf of Mexico The Water Resources Team is supported by the State of Mississippi, Department of Environmental Quality. 12

18 PROGRAMS WILDLIFE & FISHERIES - This new team was developed out of a need to provide a venue for agencies and organizations working directly with wildlife and fisheries issues on a regional basis. Initial interest for this team includes regional biological objectives and monitoring for living marine resources. Team members will have an opportunity to develop additional focus areas. Project Ideas Synthesis of species documentation for habitat restoration (proposal submitted to NFWF for funding) Standardized monitoring program Species vulnerability assessment (continuation of Gulf Coast Vulnerability Assessment) At-risk species, including biological end-points Communication of fish stock assessments to wildlife and fisheries agencies Hatcheries & emerging fisheries technologies Migratory birds and/or waterfowl Marine mammals and sea turtles centralized regional database for strandings; data Seagrass Wildlife Recovery Artificial reefs Oysters The new Wildlife & Fisheries Team is supported by the State of Texas, General Land Office, led by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and coordinated by the Harte Research Institute. 13

19 PROGRAMS GULF OF MEXICO RESEARCH INITIATIVE - GoMRI is a research program developed by BP shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in May At that time, BP voluntarily committed $500 million to an open research program designed to study the impact of the oil spill and its associated response on the environment and public health in the Gulf of Mexico. The program is being implemented over a period of ten years from 2010 to GOMA administers the GoMRI program through the BP Master Research Agreement, a contractual agreement between GOMA and BP. An independent Research Board solicits and competitively selects research programs and projects for the GoMRI program. The Consortium on Ocean Leadership also provides administrative support for the GoMRI program. Some of the larger consortia grants are awarded directly through Consortium on Ocean Leadership; smaller consortia and individual grants are awarded through GOMA. In addition to the administrative functions of GoMRI, below are the research awards currently managed by GOMA RESEARCH PROGRAMS MANAGED BY GOMA RFP Round Lead Institution Program/Project Title RFP II University of Delaware Dynamics of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon and Dissolved Carbon Following Natural or Manmade Petroleum Release LUMCON How do Low Levels of Exposure to Oil and Dispersants Affect Performance and Survival of Larvae in Gulf Nekton University of Chicago University of Miami Univ of Southern Mississippi Univ of LA-Lafayette Woods Hole Troy University Johns Hopkins University of LA-Lafayette University of Houston Medical Univ of South Carolina Creating a Predictive Model of Microbially Mediated Carbon Remediation in the Gulf of Mexico Monitoring of Oil Spill and Seepage Using Satellite Radars Resolving DWH Impacts on Highly Variable Ichthyoplankton and Zooplankton Dynamics in the Northern Gulf of Mexico The Effect of Sediment Bioturbators on the Biological Degradation of Petroleum in Coastal Ecosystems Weathering of Petroleum and Dispersant Components in the Aftermath of the DWH Oil Spill Effects of the DWH Oil Spill Investigated during a Long Term Community Study Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Dispersion of Oil in the Ocean Surface Layers: Testing of Subgrid-Scale Parameterizations Environmental Effects of an Oil Spill on Blue Crabs in the Gulf of Mexico and the Dynamics of Recovery Novel Sensor System for the Early Detection and Monitoring of Offshore Oil Spills Using Embryonic Stem Cell Fate to Deteremine Potential Adverse Effects of Petroleum/Dispersant Exposure RFP IV RAND Corporation Assessment of the Impacts of the DWH Oil Spill on Health, Social, and Economic Wellbeing of People in the Gulf Coast Region University of LA-Lafayette University of Southern Mississippi Dauphin Island Sea Lab Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center Gulf Ecological Monitoring and Modeling Oil Exposure Pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems Critical Living Resources that Underpin the Productivity of the Gulf of Mexico Fertile Crescent 14

20 PROGRAMS Committees and Working Groups GOMA s public relations strategy can be found in the Engagement section of this document. Federal Work Group Thirteen federal agencies committed to supporting GOMA have come together as a Federal Workgroup under the leadership of the NOAA, EPA Gulf of Mexico Program, and the U.S. Department of Interior DOI. The goals of the Federal Workgroup are to support the Gulf States and to coordinate an integrated federal response to priority regional issues identified by GOMA. The Federal Workgroup brings diverse expertise and established experience. By coordinating and integrating these capabilities, the impact of federal resources is fully maximized. NOAA leads monthly Federal Work Group calls; notes and presentations can be found at Public Relations Committee The Public Relations Committee was established in June 2009 to promote the identity of GOMA, its mission, and the Priority Issue Teams to stakeholders and the general public. The Public Relations Committee is chaired by the GOMA Communication Coordinator and is composed of volunteers from partner organizations who dedicate a portion of their time to public relations activities. More information regarding Regional Research Funders Forum The recently established Regional Research Funders Forum (RRFF) serves as an open platform for all funding programs who support science and research in the Gulf of Mexico to increase collaboration and coordination among research funding entities in the region. The RRFF is chaired by LaDon Swann with the Mississippi- Alabama Sea Grant and is open to any group that financially supports research or issues research grants, contracts or cooperative agreements, including but not limited to organizations created in the wake of the DWH oil spill. The RRFF meets quarterly at meetings of opportunity. It held its initial meeting in December 2014 and has over 35 participants. The RRFF is currently developing an online survey to document and compile the research priorities of the participants. 15

21 PROGRAMS Business Advisory Council Business and industry involvement is vital to successfully achieving GOMA s mission of healthy ecosystems and economies. For this reason, GOMA established a Business Advisory Council (BAC) in order to partner with industry members on priority issues and regional initiatives as well as to deepen a sense of stewardship for the Gulf of Mexico. The role of the BAC is to facilitate communication between the Alliance Team and the diverse groups of industries that are dependent upon the common resources of the Gulf of Mexico. GOMA s BAC meets on a quarterly basis via conference call and once annually in person. Representatives of the largest industries in the region are represented on GOMA s BAC GOMA BUISNESS ADVISORY COUNCIL Industry Name Company Tourism Reuben Watkins Gulf Divers, Inc. Gary Ellis Compass Media Colette Boehm Alabama Tourism and Visitors Bureau Ron Wright Golf Course Superintendents Association Oil & Gas Kent Satterlee Shell Exploration & Production Sandra Werner ExxonMobil Doug Bannerman Statoil Felicia Frederick Chevron USA Manufacturing Steve Hoey Sherwin Alumina Stephen Carville Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association Utilities Mark Loughman Southern Company Fishing Mike Colby Florida Coast Charters Marine Transportation Mark McAndrews Gulf Ports Association of America John Pasch Port of Corpus Christi Seafood Chris Nelson Bon Secour Fisheries Agriculture Bryan Grantham Local Farmer 16

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23 ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT Communication Strategies Recognizing that it is vital to present GOMA s work consistently and effectively to its stakeholders and the public, the Public Relations (PR) Committee is chaired by the GOMA Communication Coordinator and is composed of volunteers from partner organizations and several grant funded staff who dedicate a portion of their time to public relations activities. Since 2009, the PR Committee has provided consistent oversight for GOMA s communication strategy, including all GOMA press releases, media events, print publications, and internet presence. WHAT we are communicating Priority Issues Coastal Training Restoration GoMRI Regional Events Stewardship Facts Job Postings Internal External TO WHOM we are communicating Resource Managers Researchers & Academia General Public Legislators & Politicians HOW we are communicating Conference Calls Webinars E-Newsletters Website E-Blasts s Social Media Print Materials Measures of Success: Approximately 900 Team members (State and Federal agencies, NGOs, Academia, and Businesses) 13 Federal Agencies 150 people on Federal Workgroup list in attendance at All Hands 3000 people on GOMA list Over 700 twitter followers; 575 Linked In connections; 8000 blog views 18

24 ENGAGEMENT Boards and Committees As part of their role in representing regional collaboration, GOMA staff hold the following professional leadership and committee positions: Regional Ocean Partnership Council (Laura Bowie) National Ocean Policy Governance Committee (Laura Bowie) Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Advisory Council (Laura Bowie) Gulf Coast Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative Steering Com (Laura Bowie) Gulf Coastal Ocean Observing Systems-Regional Association Advisory Committee (Laura Bowie) Ex Officio member GoMRI Research Board (Mike Carron) Gulf Coast Business Council, Higher Learning Study Committee (Mike Carron) National Ocean Science Bowl, Host Committee (Mike Carron) Gulf Restoration Science Programs Ad Hoc Coordination Forum (Mike Carron) Gulf of Mexico Climate Community of Practice Planning Team (Tracie Sempier) Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Stakeholder Committee (Tracie Sempier) NOAA Sentinel Site Cooperative Team (Tracie Sempier) Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Team (Tracie Sempier) Southern Impacts and Planning Program Stakeholder Committee (Tracie Sempier) Key Regional Partnerships Successfully implementing the Governors Action Plan I and Action Plan II required strong and enduring partnerships with programs that align priorities and share a desire for collaboration. Below are some key partnerships that are the foundation for successful regional collaboration: Dauphin Island Sea Lab provides coordination of GOMA s Education and Engagement Team as well as a part-time Communications Coordinator for GOMA. Gulf Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) ensures academic expertise and input on all six Priority Issue Teams; strong partner on Data & Monitoring and Water Resources Teams in particular. Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant Programs co-funds a part-time Regional Program Manager through the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, provides a coordinator for GOMA s Data and Monitoring Team through the Florida Sea Grant, and provides support for GoMRI oil spill outreach. Gulf of Mexico Foundation provides coordination and project implementation for GOMA s Habitat Resources Team. Harte Research Institute provides coordination for GOMA s Wildlife and Fisheries Team and database management for the GoMRI Gulf Research Initiative Information Data Center (GRIIDC). Northern Gulf Institute provides website and communications support for the GoMRI program. The Natura Conservancy ensures nongovernmental expertise and input on all six Priority Issue Teams; strong partner on Habitat and Resilience Teams in particular. 19

25 ENGAGEMENT Regional Initiatives As the Gulf s regional ocean partnership, GOMA serves as a nexus for a variety of regional efforts, including the Gulf Restoration, Hypoxia Task Force, and National Ocean Policy initiatives: Gulf Restoration - Many members GOMA are involved in the unprecedented restoration efforts resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. GOMA maintains a web page and a section of our monthly newsletter dedicated to regional restoration activities including Natural Resource Damage Assessment, RESTORE Act, National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, and National American Wetlands Conservation Act. The webpage can be found here: In addition, GOMA recently released the DWH Project Tracker to help stakeholders track projects funded by the various oil spill-related funding programs. The DHW Project Tracker is a centralized directory of projects funded as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It is the most comprehensive picture of the location, type, cost, funding sources, and scope of Gulf of Mexico oil spill-related recovery, restoration, and research projects. Each project snapshot includes a brief project description, a point of contact, and a link to access detailed project information. The DWH Project Tracker can be accessed here: Hypoxia Task Force The Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force (a.k.a., Hypoxia Task Force) was established in 1997 to reduce and control hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Sponsored by EPA, they Hypoxia Task Force consists of 5 federal agencies and 12 states and tribes within the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin. Both Mississippi and Louisiana are heavy participants on the Hypoxia Task Force, each serving as the Chair at some point. The Hypoxia Task Force published their Action Plan in 2008 and have been making progress toward reducing nutrients in the Basin. According to a recent progress report, member states are making progress in by finalizing their nutrient reduction strategy documents. The next step will be implementation. The Hypoxia Task Force also concludes that despite the incremental improvements and significant investments to reduce nutrient pollution, the goal of reducing the size of the hypoxic zone to 5,000 square kilometers is unlikely to be achieved by However, strides in management plans as well as science and monitoring shows that the overall goal to reduce the hypoxic zone remains reasonable. 20

26 ENGAGEMENT The Hypoxia Task Force holds semi-annual meetings that are open to the public. More information can be found at National Ocean Policy The National Ocean Policy outlines challenges facing our nation s oceans and coastal areas subdivides the United States into nine regions to address those issues. In the Gulf of Mexico region, GOMA was established before the National Ocean Policy and already had the structure in place to address six of the nine challenges: (1) ecosystem-based management, (2) informed decision-making and improved understanding of the ecosystem, (3) coordination and support of federal, state, and local authorities, (4) coastal resilience, (5) ecosystem restoration and protection, and (6) water quality. The three priority objectives of the National Ocean Policy that are not addressed by the Gulf region are not applicable, although informational marine planning meetings were held in 2013 and A third meeting is scheduled for June 16, GOMA continues to lead the collaborative effort to address the issues of concern and the federal agencies working in the Gulf region participate in an unchartered Regional Planning Body, chaired by the U.S. Navy. 21

27 FINANCIAL FINANCIAL GOMA s annual budget represents both GOMA programs and GoMRI programs. Below is a depiction of the break-out of the programs. Distribution of GOMA funds according to GOMA expenses including administrative functions, Team coordination, Team projects and a small regional project. Distribution of GoMRI funds according to anticipated expenses including administrative functions, data management, and research grants GOMA Program Budget 2015 GoMRI Program Budget $100,000 $139,517 $150,000 $320,361 $13,873,969 $5,214,991 $1,784,862 $82,611 Administrative Team Coordination Grants Team Coordination (in-kind) Team Project Grants Team Meeting Support Administrative Data Research Grants 22