2015 annual report2015 annual report gulf of mexico alliance 1151 robinson street ocean springs, ms...

2015

Annual Report

Gulf of Mexico Alliance 1151 Robinson Street

Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228-215-1246

www.GulfofMexicoAlliance.org

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/

TOC

Gulf of Mexico Alliance

2015 Annual Report to Management

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1

Alliance Management 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

Communication Strategies…………………………………………………………………………………………… 18

Boards and Committees………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19

Key Regional Partnerships……………………………………………………………………………………………. 19

Regional Initiatives………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 20

GOMA/GoMRI Budget and Expenses………………………………………………………………………………. 22

ORGANIZATION

PROGRAMS

ENGAGEMENT

FINANCIAL

1

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 2006. 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 2009.

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

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/pdfs/gap_final2.pdf#view=Fit&toolbar=1

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/pdfs/gap_final2.pdf#view=Fit&toolbar=1

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/pdfs/ap2_final2.pdf#view=Fit&toolbar=1

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/pdfs/ap2_final2.pdf#view=Fit&toolbar=1

2

ORGANIZATION

ORGANIZATION

Alliance Management Team

The Alliance Management 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 Management Team serve in advisory capacity and are vital to

the cooperative decision-making process of the AMT.

2015 GOMA Management 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

Department of Commerce

Todd Davison Office of Coastal Management

Russ Beard National Environmental Information Center

Kristen Laursen National Marine Fisheries Service

Department of Interior

Linda Walker U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Greg Steyer U.S. Geological Service

Pat Roscigno Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

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

3

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)

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)

GoMRI Chief

Science Officer

(C. Wilson)

GoMRI

Program Manager

(K. Shaw)

GoMRI

Project Manager

(C. Kirby)

Event Coordinator

(D. Pressley)

Summary:

Total Staff – 17

Total FTEs – 10

4

ORGANIZATION

2015 STAFF SUMMARY

Staff Position Name Contact Information % FTE

Funding Support

Executive Director

Laura Bowie [email protected] 1.0 GOMA Reserve

Business Manager

Connie Thrift [email protected] 1.0 GOMA Reserve

GOMA Program

GOMA Program Manager

Tracie Sempier [email protected] 0.5 GOMA Reserve

GOMA Communications

Lee Yokel [email protected] 0.25 GOMA Reserve

Coastal Resilience Team Coordinator

Kristen Holley [email protected] 0.25 MS Dept. of Marine Resources

Coastal Resilience Team Coordinator

Daphne Viverette

[email protected] 0.25 MS Dept. of Marine Resources

Data & Monitoring Team Coordinator

Kayleigh Michaelides

[email protected] 0.5 FL Dept. of Environmental Protection

Ed & Engagement Team Coordinator

Lee Yokel [email protected] 0.25 AL Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources

Habitat Resources Team Coordinator

Lauren Pourciau [email protected] 0.5 LA Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority

Water Resources Team Coordinator

Ann Porter [email protected] 0.5 MS Dept of Environmental Quality

Wildlife & Fisheries Team Coordinator

Allison Knight [email protected] 0.25 TX General Land Office

Wildlife & Fisheries Team Coordinator

Katy Gerard [email protected] 0.25 TX General Land Office

GoMRI Program

GoMRI Chief Science Officer

Chuck Wilson [email protected] 1.0 BP

GoMRI Program Director

Mike Carron [email protected] 0.5 BP

GoMRI Program Manager

Kevin Shaw [email protected] 1.0 BP

GoMRI Project Manager

Chris Kirby [email protected] 1.0 BP

GoMRI/GOMA Event Coordinator

Devany Pressley [email protected] 1.0 BP

mailto:[email protected]

















5

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

Management 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.

6

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 Management 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 Mississippi-Alabama Sea

Grant & Louisiana Sea Grant

NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

In progress

Resilience Index for Tourism and Resilience Index

Fisheries

Mississippi Dept of Marine

Resources & Gulf Shores and

Orange Beach Tourism

Mississippi-Alabama

Sea Grant

In progress

Small Grants for Community Resilience Mississippi-Alabama Sea

Grant

GOMA Headquarters In progress

Mississippi Homeowners Handbook to Prepare

for Natural Hazards

Mississippi-Alabama Sea

Grant & Mississippi DMR


Management

Complete

7

PROGRAMS

Alabama Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for

Natural Hazards


Grant & AL ADCNR


Management

Complete

Louisiana Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for

Natural Hazards

Louisiana Sea Grant EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete

Texas Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for

Natural Hazards

Texas General Land Office &

Texas Sea Grant

EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete

Florida Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for

Natural Hazards

Florida Sea Grant &

Apalachicola NERR


StormSmart Coasts Network BlueUrchin EPA Gulf of Mexico,


Management, & NOAA

Coastal Storms Program

Complete &

Ongoing

Clean and Resilient Marina Program Mississippi Dept of Marine

Resources


Management

Complete &

Ongoing

Resilient Coastal Development Through Land Use

Planning


Grant


Management

Complete

Coastal Community Resilience Index Gulf Sea Grant Programs MS-AL Sea Grant, NOAA

Office of Coastal

Management, EPA Gulf

of Mexico, & NOAA

Coastal Storms Program

Complete &

Ongoing

Coastal CHARM Resilience Tool Texas Sea Grant EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete

Coastal IQ Northern Gulf Institute NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

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.


DHW Project Tracker The Trust for Public Land &

Ducks Unlimited

Knobloch Family Foundation

& U.S. Endowment for

Forestry and Communities

In Progress

GOMAportal Harte Research Institute

NOAA Office for Coastal

Management

Ongoing

8

PROGRAMS

GecoServ Harte Research Institute NOAA Office for Coastal

Management & EPA Gulf of

Mexico

Ongoing

Gulf of Mexico Master

Mapping Plan

US Army Corps of Engineers NOAA Office of Coastal


Mexico

In Progress

Emergent Wetlands Status

and Trends Report

US Geological Service & EPA

Gulf of Mexico


Gulf of Mexico

Complete

SeaGrass Status and Trends

in the Gulf of Mexico


Gulf of Mexico


Gulf of Mexico

Complete

Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas NOAA National Center for

Environmental Information

NOAA National Center for


Ongoing

Gulf of Mexico Data

Acquisition Planning Tool

(GDAPT)

Harte Research Institute


Management

Complete

Metadata Enterprise

Resource Management Aid

(MERMAid)





Complete

Metadata Transforms NOAA National Center for




Ongoing

Ecowatch NOAA National Center for




Ongoing

GAME (Geospatial

Assessment of Marine

Ecosystems)

Florida Institute of

Oceanography, Florida Fish

and Wildlife Conservation

Commission, & Fish and

Wildlife Research Institute



Mexico

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.


Connecting Scientists to

Citizens Regarding Sea Level

Rise

Grand Bay and Weeks Bay

National Estuarine Research

Reserves (NERRs)

GOMA Headquarters In Progress

9

PROGRAMS

Environmental Education

Listserv

Dauphin Island Sea Lab NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Ongoing

Regional Coastal Training

Workshops

Grand Bay NERR

Weeks Bay NERR

Apalachicola NERR

Rookery Bay NERR

Mission-Aransas NERR


Management, Gulf Sea

Grant, & EPA Gulf of Mexico

Ongoing

Coastal Ecosystem Learning

Centers (All 5 states and

Veracruz, Mexico)

Coastal America Foundation

& EPA Gulf of Mexico


Smart Yard, Healthy Gulf

Campaign


Grant


Management

Complete

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance

Environmental Awareness

Campaign: Social Marketing

Plan

Dauphin Island Sea Lab &

University of South Florida

EPA Gulf of Mexico &

Northern Gulf Institute

Complete

NBII Online Digital Library US Geological Service NBII US Geological Service Complete

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 Complete

K-12 pilot program with

B-WET

Various Education &

Engagement Team Members

NOAA Office of Education Complete

Underserved and

Underrepresented

Populations Student

Networks

Florida Department of

Environmental Protection &

Gulf of Mexico Foundation


Management

Complete

Mini-Grants Alabama (12) Various NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Mini-Grants Florida (9) Various NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Mini-Grants Louisiana (8) Various NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Mini-Grants Mississippi (7) Various NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Mini-Grants Texas (10) Various NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

The Education & Engagement Team is supported by the State of Alabama, Department of Conservation

and Natural Resources, and coordinated by Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

10

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.


Living Shoreline Site Suitability

Modeling

Mississippi State University GOMA Headquarters In Progress

Regional Living Shorelines

Construction Technical Bulletins for

Contractors

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 of Mexico Foundation &

Mexican Consortium of Marine

Investigation Institutions of the

Gulf of Mexico


Management & EPA Gulf

of Mexico

Complete

Gulf Regional Sediment

Management Master Plan

Gulf of Mexico Foundation NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Recommendations for Beneficial

Use of Dredged Sediments to the

Federal Standard

State of Alabama, State of

Florida, State of Louisiana,

State of Mississippi, State of

Texas


Management

Complete & Ongoing

Regional Sediment Management

Master Plan Update for Beneficial

Uses of Dredged Material along

Coastal Mississippi

CH2M Hill NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Analysis of State and Federal Policy

& Regulatory Programs that Provide

Protection to Coastal Habitats in the

Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico Foundation,

Environmental Law Institute, &

the Mexican Center for

Environmental Law


Management

Complete

Modeling and Abating the Impacts

of Sea Level Rise on Five Significant

Estuarine Systems in the Gulf of

Mexico

The Nature Conservancy EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete

Sea-level rise Affecting Marsh

Model (SLAMM) Analyses for Gulf

National Wildlife Refuges

Warren-Pinnacle Consulting NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

SLAMM Runs and Conservation

Planning Data Platform

Development

The Nature Conservancy NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Application of the SLAMM Modeling

to Southeastern Louisiana

Warren-Pinnacle Consulting NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

11

PROGRAMS

Gulf Regional Sediment

Management Master Plan Case

Study Compilation

Applied Coastal Research &

Engineering


Management

Complete

Assessment of Changing Ecosystem

Services Provided by Marsh Habitat

in the Galveston Bay Region

Harte Research Institute NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Analysis and Recommendations for

Increasing Restoration and

Conservation on Private Lands

Land Trust Alliance NOAA Office of Coastal

Management

Complete

Assessment & Prioritization of

Ecosystems Affected by Altered

Freshwater Inflows

Harte Research Institute EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete

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).


Nutrient Datasets into Gulf Coast Ocean

Observing System (GCOOS) Data Portal

Texas A&M University GOMA Headquarters In Progress

Trophic Transfer of Mercury Along Salinity

Gradients in Estuaries

Florida Gulf Coast University GOMA Headquarters In Progress

Molecular Marker Registry

Univ. of South Florida, EPA, Univ. of California-Davis, & Univ. of Southern MS


Management

Complete

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Prediction

Warning System

NOAA, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, GCOOS, Texas A&M, Texas Dept of Health, Sarasota Co. Health Dept., FL Fish & Wildlife, TX Parks & Wildlife, Mote Marine Lab, & Collier County


Management

Ongoing

Mercury Fate and Transport White Paper NOAA, Wright State Univ., Florida State Univ., FL Gulf Coast Univ., Texas A&M, & Florida Institute of Oceanography


Management

Complete

12

PROGRAMS

Series of Round Robin Events to identify variability in sampling techniques, equipment, and standards.

AL Dept of Env Management, 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


Management

Complete

Gulf of Mexico Water-Quality Monitoring White Paper

MS Dept of Env Quality, FL Dept of Env Protection, AL Dept of Env Management, EPA Gulf of Mexico, FL Institute of Oceanography, Gulf Univ Research Collaborative, & Tetra Tech, Inc.


Management

Complete

Development of a Benthic Index of Biotic

Integrity for Estuarine and Near-Coastal

Waters of the Gulf of Mexico

MS Department of

Environmental Quality


Management

Complete

Development of Pilot Nutrient Criteria for

an Estuary in the Western Gulf of Mexico

(Mission-Aransas Bay, TX)

University of Texas EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete

Effects of Nutrients on Downstream

Ecological Processes in the Galveston Bay

Estuary

TX Commission on

Environmental Quality, TX

Water Development Board,

TX Parks and Wildlife, and

Texas Sea Grant


Development of Pilot Nutrient Criteria for

a Mississippi Estuary (St. Louis Bay, MS)

MS Department of



Characterization of Nutrient Sources,

Fate, and Transport across the Gulf

Region (Weeks Bay, AL)

AL Department of

Environmental Management


Management

Complete

Development of a Primer on Gulf of

Mexico Hypoxia

GCOOS, Mississippi-Alabama

Sea Grant, LUMCON, &

Hypoxia Task Force


Management

Complete

Decision Support Toolbox for Nutrient

Reduction

MS Department of



Management

Complete

Development of a Coastal Nutrient

Reduction Strategy Template

MS Department of



Management

Complete

The Water Resources Team is supported by the State of Mississippi, Department of Environmental

Quality.

13

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.

14

PROGRAMS

GULF OF MEXICO RESEARCH INITIATIVE - GoMRI is a research program

developed by BP shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in May 2010.

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

2020. 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.

2015 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 Creating a Predictive Model of Microbially Mediated Carbon

Remediation in the Gulf of Mexico

University of Miami Monitoring of Oil Spill and Seepage Using Satellite Radars

Univ of Southern Mississippi Resolving DWH Impacts on Highly Variable Ichthyoplankton and

Zooplankton Dynamics in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Univ of LA-Lafayette The Effect of Sediment Bioturbators on the Biological

Degradation of Petroleum in Coastal Ecosystems

Woods Hole Weathering of Petroleum and Dispersant Components in the

Aftermath of the DWH Oil Spill

Troy University Effects of the DWH Oil Spill Investigated during a Long Term

Community Study

Johns Hopkins Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Dispersion of Oil in the Ocean

Surface Layers: Testing of Subgrid-Scale Parameterizations

University of LA-Lafayette Environmental Effects of an Oil Spill on Blue Crabs in the Gulf of

Mexico and the Dynamics of Recovery

University of Houston Novel Sensor System for the Early Detection and Monitoring of

Offshore Oil Spills

Medical Univ of South Carolina 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 Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center – Gulf Ecological

Monitoring and Modeling

University of Southern Mississippi Oil Exposure Pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Critical Living Resources that Underpin the Productivity of the

Gulf of Mexico Fertile Crescent

15

PROGRAMS

Committees and Working Groups

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

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/about-

us/alliance-partnerships/federal-partners/.

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

GOMA’s public relations strategy can be found

in the Engagement section of this document.

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.

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/about-us/alliance-partnerships/federal-partners/

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/about-us/alliance-partnerships/federal-partners/

16

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 Management 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.

2015 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

18

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

Internal External

TO WHOM


HOW


Measures of Success:

Approximately 900 Team members

(State and Federal agencies, NGOs, Academia, and Businesses)

13 Federal Agencies – 150 people on Federal Workgroup email list

400-500 in attendance at All Hands

3000 people on GOMA email list

Over 700 twitter followers; 575 Linked In connections; 8000 blog views

Priority Issues Coastal Training Restoration GoMRI

Regional Events Stewardship Facts Job Postings

General

Public

Resource

Managers

Legislators &

Politicians

Researchers &

Academia

Website E-Newsletters Conference Calls Webinars

E-Blasts Emails Social Media Print Materials

19

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 Management Team (Tracie Sempier)

Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Management 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 non-

governmental expertise and input on all six

Priority Issue Teams; strong partner on Habitat

and Resilience Teams in particular.

20

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:

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/learn-more/gulf-restoration/.

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: www.dwhprojecttracker.org.

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 2015. However,

strides in management plans as well as science and monitoring shows that the overall goal to

reduce the hypoxic zone remains reasonable.

http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/learn-more/gulf-restoration/

http://www.dwhprojecttracker/

21

ENGAGEMENT

The Hypoxia Task Force holds semi-annual meetings that are open to the public. More

information can be found at http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/named/msbasin/.

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 2014. A third meeting is

scheduled for June 16, 2015. 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.

http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/named/msbasin/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/marine-planning

22

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.

$320,361

$82,611

$150,000

$139,517

$100,000

2015 GOMA Program Budget

AdministrativeTeam Coordination GrantsTeam Coordination (in-kind)Team Project GrantsTeam Meeting Support

$5,214,991

$1,784,862$13,873,969

2015 GoMRI Program Budget

Administrative

Data Management

Research Grants

2015 annual report2015 annual report gulf of mexico alliance 1151 robinson street ocean springs, ms...

Documents