On January 13th 2021, H.R.4044, the Protect and Restore America’s Estuaries Act, was signed into law. Introduced to the House in 2019 through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and sponsored by Rep. Tom Malinowski (D – NJ), the act reauthorizes appropriations for the National Estuary Program until 2026 and nearly doubles the annual…
Looking ahead to continued success in 2021 Each year, salmon, striped bass, shad, and a host of other anadromous fish return from the ocean to the streams where they were born to spawn. However turbulent their individual journeys may be or severe the storms along the way, their reappearance after years at sea is welcomed as a sign of…
As 2020 comes to an end with optimism for a vaccine and a return to normal on the horizon, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the year that was. Like most of you, we did not have global pandemic in our contingency plan when we met in January…
By Arielle Ostry Thanksgiving is a time for gratefulness and reflection, and we are beyond thankful to all those dedicated to restoring and preserving our nation’s estuaries. During this year’s Estuaries Week, we partnered with our friends at NERRA and ANEP to celebrate our “Estuary Heroes.” These are people who go above and beyond in advocating for our estuaries and bays and educating others…
Knauss Fellowship paves pathway for conservation leaders Building the next generation of conservation leaders, one fellow at a time, is the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program. Supported by the National Sea Grant College Program, this fellowship provides graduate students a unique opportunity to those passionate about ocean, coastal…
Ghosts of estuaries present haunting our local waterways By Arie Ostry, Mollie Russell, and Katie Tanner It’s almost Halloween and we’re taking a deep dive into the scariest monsters haunting our local estuaries. From man-made intrusions to mother nature herself, there are plenty of threats to some of our most delicate and profitable ecosystems. Some of these hauntings are clearly dangerous. Others have…
Wins in Washington, D.C. propel estuary restoration The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) took a huge leap forward in their flood prevention policy by moving away from floodwalls and towards nature-based solutions to aid in flood prevention in coastal states. The new policy says that mitigation projects can include the ecosystem service…
Scholarships offer new access, opportunities to university students at 2020 Summit By Heidi Ziegenmeyer, Land Grant Director, Cankdeska Cikana Community College Coming from a small tribal community in North Dakota, attending a “real conference” is often out of reach for my students at Cankdeska Cikana Community College, especially one in Rhode…
Iconic cranberry bogs get new lease on life, fish and wildlife benefit By Tom Ardito Cranberry bogs are Southeastern Massachusetts’ iconic form of agriculture. If you’ve ever visited Cape Cod in late summer or early fall, you’ve probably seen the bogs of blood-red berries, waiting to grace Thanksgiving tables or…
Solutions driven approach produces most successful Summit to date By Daniel Hayden It’s hard to believe the 2020 Summit has already come and gone. After two years of planning, a leap into a virtual platform, and a lot of trust, you produced three days of enlightening conversation and more than 500 solutions–focused presentations. On behalf of the entire Summit planning team,…
