index-of-stakeholder-organizations-serving-serppas-states

Coastal Resilience Index of Stakeholder Organizations Serving Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina Prepared for the Southeastern Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability1 By Grace Anne Ingham2 August 2019 This work product is part of an overall project titled ​Collaborating Towards Coastal Resilience in the Southeast​, funded by a grant from the National Sea Grant Law Center under NA18OAR4170079 Intern for the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government through the Public Service and Outreach Scholars Program Under the research direction of Shana Jones, J.D., Planning and Environmental Services Unit Manager at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia 1 Table of Contents Introduction Page Multi-State Association of National Estuary Programs Association of State Floodplain Managers Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments (CISA) Center for Hydroscience Analysis, Modeling, and Predictive Simulations (CHAMPS) Climate Ready Estuaries Program Coastal Resilience Coastal Resilience Center Dewberry Design Firm Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force: Gulf of Mexico Alliance: Coastal Resilience Team Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI) Gulf of Mexico Program Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Mosaic Company Natural Hazard Mitigation Association Northern Gulf Institute Northern Gulf of Mexico Sentinel Site Cooperative Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Sierra Club Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC) Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) Southeast Region Coastal Programs The Conservation Fund 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 18 Mississippi GoCoast 2020 Governor’s Oyster Council Gulf Regional Planning Commission Mississippi Coastal Management Program (309 Program) 18 18 19 19 19 Alabama 20 Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (309 Program) Alabama Coastal Federation Dauphin Island Sea Lab Mobile Baykeeper Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Florida Association of Florida Conservation Districts Building a Safer Florida Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve of Pine Island Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast Division of Aquaculture Florida Coastal Management Program (309 Program) Florida Climate Institute Florida Inland Navigation District Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Sea Grant Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Lemon Bay Conservancy Marine Resources Council Marine Policy Institute at Mote Marine Laboratory Northwest Florida Water Management District Office of Agricultural Water Policy Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (Florida Resilient Coastlines Program) Peace River Audubon Society Progressive Water Resources: Water Resource Consultants Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Sarasota Bay Estuary Program South Florida Regional Planning Council South Florida Water Management District Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council Southwest Florida Water Management District St Johns River Water Management District Suwannee River Water Management District Tampa Bay Estuary Program West Coast Inland Navigation District 20 21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 25 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 30 31 31 32 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 Wildlands Conservation 36 Georgia Georgia’s Coastal Management Program (309 Program) Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant 36 36 37 38 South Carolina ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve Charleston Resilience Network Marine Resources Research Institute Ocean and Coastal Resources Management South Carolina Aquarium South Carolina Coastal Information Network South Carolina Coastal Management Program (309 Program) South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium South Carolina Water Resources Center 38 38 39 39 39 40 40 41 41 41 North Carolina Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership Clean Water Management Trust Fund Coastal Adaptation and Resiliency Coastal Resources Commission Floodplain Management North Carolina Association of State Floodplain Managers North Carolina Coastal Federation North Carolina Coastal Management (309 Program) North Carolina Sea Grant The Coastal Studies Institute 42 42 42 43 43 43 44 44 45 45 45 Introduction This document was prepared as part of a project funded by the national Sea Grant Law Center for the Southeastern Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) to evaluate the scope of existing organizations, projects, and funding streams who have programs to improve coastal resilience using green infrastructure within the Southeastern United States (MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC) Green infrastructure projects are those that leverage ecological services and interactions for the benefit of humans- the creation of “green” or natural infrastructure systems This Index of Stakeholder Organizations provides an overview of local, state, federal, non-governmental (NGO), and private industry organizations that are active in coastal resilience work in the southeast region (MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC) Information presented is current to August 2019 This Index attempts to provide SERPPAS partners with an idea of those organizations active in their area in order to facilitate collaboration However, this Index is not exhaustive Many organizations both large and small exist that are not recorded here This Index is intended as a starting point for project planning Multi-State Association of National Estuary Programs Year:​ 1986-Present State:​ MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC Level: ​NGO ANEP, a 501(c)3, works with NEPs to educate key stakeholders, including elected officials, about the value and importance of clean water and healthy estuaries to coastal communities and their economies ANEP works nationally to promote and improve the effectiveness of NEPs Website:​ ​nationalestuaries.org/ Contact Information: Jennifer Hecker, Executive Director of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and ANEP Board Member, (941)575-3392, ​jennifer@chnep.org Association of State Floodplain Managers Year:​ 1976- Present State:​ MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC Level:​ ​NGO ASFPM is a respected voice in floodplain management practice and policy in the United States because it represents flood hazard specialists of local, state and federal government, research community, insurance industry and the fields of engineering, hydrologic forecasting, emergency response, water resources and others ASFPM creates policy papers and programs, as well as offering instructional workshops to professionals in the field and certification via the ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager Program Their topics of interest include coastal issues, stormwater management, and leveraging natural infrastructure and ecosystem services Website:​ ​www.floods.org/ Contact Information: Mississippi:​ Stacey Ricks, Office of Mitigation Mississippi Emergency Management, sricks@mema.ms.gov​, (601)9336610 Alabama:​ Corey Garyotis, Office of Water Resources Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, ​corey.garyotis@adeca.alabama.gov​, (334)353-0853 Florida:​ Steve Martin, Florida Division of Emergency Management, steve.martin@em.myflorida.com​, (850)815-4505 Georgia:​ Haydn Blaize, Environmental Protection Division Georgia Department of Natural Resources, ​haydn.blaize@dnr.ga.gov​, (404)463-4935 South Carolina:​ Maria Cox Lamm, Flood Mitigation Program South Carolina Department of Natural resources, ​coxm@dnr.sc.gov​, (803)734-3672 North Carolina:​ John D Brubaker, Risk Management Section North Carolina Department of Public Safety, ​dan.burbaker@ncdps.gov​, (919)825-2300 Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments (CISA) Year:​ 2003-Present State:​ SC, NC Level: ​Federal​, NOAA Climate Program Office; ​NGO​, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium The Carolinas Integrated Sciences & Assessments (CISA) works with a variety of stakeholders across North and South Carolina to incorporate climate information into water, public health, and coastal management and related decision-making processes Within each of these areas, CISA pursues cross-cutting activities that seek to advance scientific understanding of climate and hydrological processes in the Carolinas, improve the assessment of climate-related vulnerabilities and impacts, and provide timely and relevant information and tools for decision makers Efforts include working to improve drought planning and preparedness, supporting coastal climate adaptation, and assessing climate-related impacts to public health in the region Website:​www.cisa.sc.edu/ Contact Information:​ CISA Office, University of South Carolina Department of Geography, cisa@sc.edu​, (803)777-6875 Center for Hydroscience Analysis, Modeling, and Predictive Simulations (CHAMPS) Year:​ 2015-Present State:​ FL, GA, SC, NC Level:​ ​NGO​, University of Central Florida The mission of the Center for Hydroscience Analysis, Modeling, & Predictive Simulations is to educate and train tomorrow’s engineers, scientists and educators, while meeting the hydroscience challenges of today The primary research goal is to incorporate the physical system and associated processes into a computer modeling and simulation approach in order to better analyze and understand hydroscience Current hydroscience models create predictions for Florida’s Big Bend coastal region and the South Atlantic Bight coastal region Website:​ ​champs.cecs.ucf.edu/ Contact Information:​ Dr Scott Hagen, CHAMPS Founding Director and Louisiana Sea Grant Laborde Chair, ​shagen@lsu.edu​, (225)5784303 Climate Ready Estuaries Program Year:​ 2008-Present State:​ MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC Level:​ ​Federal​, EPA The Climate Ready Estuaries program works to help the National Estuary Programs and all environmental managers to address climate change in watersheds and coastal areas This effort, initiated in 2008, brings together EPA's Oceans and Coastal Protection Programs and Climate Change Programs to build additional capacity in the NEPs and coastal communities as they prepare to adapt to the effects of climate change The EPA Office of Research and Development and Climate Ready Water Utilities are supporting this effort as well Climate Ready Estuaries assists NEPs and coastal communities in becoming "climate ready" by providing tools and assistance to assess climate change vulnerability and plan for adaptation Climate Ready Estuaries provides a coastal adaptation toolkit, adaptation planning, and risk assessments Website:​ ​www.epa.gov/cre Contact Information:​ ​None Given Coastal Resilience Year:​ 2007-Present State:​ MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC Level: ​Federal​, NOAA, U.S Geological Survey; ​NGO​, The Nature Conservancy, United Nations University, The Nature Capital Project, Association of State Floodplain Managers, University of California at Santa Cruz, University of Southern Mississippi, Esri, The Alliance for Development Works, International Federation of the Red Cross, Global Disaster Preparedness Center Coastal Resilience is a public-private partnership whose niche is identifying nature-based or green infrastructure solutions, where coastal communities can increase their resilience by effectively protecting, restoring and sustainably managing their natural resources while strengthening local capacity for climate adaptation Coastal Resilience has developed a powerful spatial decision support tool and suite of web apps, called the Natural Solutions Toolkit, that puts scientific information in the hands of public agencies, communities and key stakeholders This partnership has also completed extensive green infrastructure and coastal restoration projects in Georgia, the Gulf of Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Southeast Florida and the Florida Keys, and the Southeast U.S generally Website:​ ​coastalresilience.org/about/ Contact Information: Southeast Florida and the Florida Keys: ​Chris Bergh, ​cbergh@tnc.org North Carolina: ​Lora Eddy, ​leddy@tnc.org Georgia:​ Ashby Worley, ​ashby.worley@tnc.org Southeast U.S.: ​Mary Conley, ​mconley@tnc.org Coastal Resilience Center Year:​ 2015-Present State:​ MS, FL, NC Level: ​Federal​, U.S Department of Homeland Security; ​NGO​, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Jackson State University, Florida State University Johnson C Smith University, NC, Louisiana State University, North Carolina State University, Tougaloo College, University of Central Florida, University of North Florida; ​Private Industry,​ ARCADIS Consulting, Seahorse Coastal Consulting, AECOM, WaterWonks LLC, American Planning Association, Association of State Floodplain Managers, International Association of Emergency Managers, American Shore and Beach Preservation Association CRC is a Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate Center of Excellence It conducts research and education to enhance the resilience of people, infrastructure, economies, and the natural environment from the impacts of coastal hazards CRC is a nationwide consortium led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Jackson State University CRC has more than 20 academic and private sector partners with expertise in disaster recovery and mitigation planning, coastal storm surge and flood modeling, risk communication, decision support modeling, infrastructure assessment, and engineering Two of the CRC’s tools are the Advanced Circulation (ADCIRC) Storm Surge Guidance System which predicts location and severity of coastal flooding, and the Plan Integration Method and Resilience Scorecard which assesses community plans for their ability to work collectively to reduce future flooding and storm risks Website:​ ​coastalresiliencecenter.unc.edu/ Contact Information:​ ​Coastalresiliencecenter@unc.edu​, (919)962-0344 Dewberry Design Firm Year:​ 1956-Present State:​ MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC Level: ​Private Industry​, Dewberry Dewberry is a private firm that offers services including climate change consulting, emergency management, land planning and development, risk management and vulnerability assessment, surveying, and sustainability improvements They have been frequently contracted by state and federal government agencies for projects around coastal resilience and flooding Website:​ ​www.dewberry.com/ Contact Information:​ Headquarters in Fairfax, VA, (703)849-0100 Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Year:​ 2012-Present State:​ MS, AL, FL Level:​ ​State,​ Governors of AL, Fl, LA, MS, TX; ​Federal,​ Secretaries of the US Departments of Agriculture, the Army, Commerce, Homeland Security, and the Interior, Administrator of the US EPA The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council was established by the 2012 RESTORE Act to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for recovery in the Gulf after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill The Council approved an Initial Comprehensive Plan in August 2013, which provided a framework to implement a coordinated, Gulf Coast region-wide restoration effort in a way that restores, protects and revitalizes the Gulf Coast On December 16, 2016, the Council voted to approve an update to its 2013 Comprehensive Plan (​link below​) This update provides important additional strategic guidance for the Council to follow as it makes decisions on funding projects and activities aimed at restoring the Gulf of Mexico Website:​ ​www.restorethegulf.gov/​, www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/CO-PL_20161208_CompPlanUpdate_English.pdf Contact Information: For Mississippi:​ Robbie Wilbur, ​rwilbur@mdeq.ms.gov​, (601)961-5277 For Alabama:​ Patti Powell, ​Patti.Powell@dcnr.alabama.gov​, (334)242-3484 For Florida:​ Rachel Schmalfuss, ​DeepwaterHorizon@dep.state.fl.us​, (850)245-2107 Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force: Year:​ 2010-2011 State:​ MS, Al, FL Level:​ ​State,​ Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Texas General Land Office; ​Federal,​ US EPA, Departments of Commerce, Defense, Agriculture, Justice, Transportation, Offices of Management and Budget, and Science and Technology Policy, Council on Environmental Quality, and Domestic Policy Council The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force was established in 2010 to restore and conserve habitat, restore water quality, replenish and protect living marine and coastal resources, and enhance community resilience following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill The Task Force published two guidance documents that later informed the work of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council The first was a Gulf of Mexico Regional Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, and the second Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Science Assessment and Needs (​links for both below​) The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force was dissolved in 2012 and its work was incorporated into the mission of the Council Website:​ ​archive.epa.gov/gulfcoasttaskforce/web/html/​, www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/History_GCERTFStrategy.pdf​, www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/History_GCERTF_Science%20Doc%20Final%20042 712.pdf Contact Information:​ NA Gulf of Mexico Alliance: Coastal Resilience Team Year:​ 2004-Present State:​ MS, AL, FL Level:​ ​State,​ Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, ​Federal,​ US EPA, NOAA, US Department of Interior The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) is a regional ocean partnership between TX, LA, MS, AL, and FL working to sustain resources on the Gulf of Mexico GOMA is a 501c non-profit lead by representatives from each state government The GOMA network includes federal agencies, academic organizations, businesses, and other non-profits in the region One of the priorities identified by the five Gulf states is coastal resilience, defined as the capacity of human and 10 development,watershed and stormwater management, regulatory permitting and compliance, water conservation, and strategic water resource planning Website:​ ​www.prowatersource.com/ Contact Information:​ ​aroberts@prowatersource.com​, (941)5525657 Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Year:​ 1967-Present State:​ FL Level:​ ​NGO SCCF (The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) is dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on Sanibel and Captiva and in the surrounding watershed SCCF is the largest private landowner on Sanibel Island, managing more than 1,200 acres on Sanibel plus more than 600 additional acres on Captiva and other islands SCCF also facilitated the acquisition and fundraising for an additional 470 acres currently managed by the State of Florida or the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service SCCF program areas include natural resource policy and a marine research laboratory Website:​ ​www.sccf.org/ Contact Information: Rae Ann Wessel, Natural Resource Policy Director, ​rawessel@sccf.org​; Chris Lechowicz, Wildlife and Habitat Management Program Director, ​clechowicz@sccf.org Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Year:​ 1989-Present State:​ FL Level: ​Federal​, EPA National Estuary Program Every five years SBEP produces a State of the Bay Report that characterizes the progress made toward its management goals as well as updating its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) SBEP receives funding from the Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) program of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency to support local planning for climate change The CRE program supports National Estuary Programs and coastal communities by providing special tools and assistance to assess climate change vulnerabilities, engage and educate community stakeholders, develop and implement adaptation strategies, and share lessons learned with other coastal resource managers As part of the CRE Program, SBEP has conducted a climate change vulnerability assessment, produced a brochure, ​Sea Level Rise: Tips for Adaptation Planning,​ and partnered with Mote Marine Laboratory to create a Sea Level Rise Web Viewer for the estuary and surrounding areas Website:​ ​sarasotabay.org/ Contact Information:​ Christine Quigley, Research and Outreach Assistant, (941)955-8085 South Florida Regional Planning Council Year:​ 1969-Present 32 State:​ FL Level: ​State Regional Planning Councils (RPCs) in Florida exist as a response to area wide or regional circumstances and needs The general purpose of the South Florida Regional Planning Council is articulated in its mission, which is to identify the long-term challenges and opportunities facing Southeast Florida and assist the Region’s leaders in developing and implementing creative strategies that result in more prosperous and equitable communities, a healthier and cleaner environment, and a more vibrant economy The South Florida Regional Planning Council staff aids in understanding the climate change challenges occurring in our local area, as well as experience with understanding the best possible resiliency practices, and mapping the changing shoreline As part of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, the Council actively participates in climate change related pre-planning and coordinating efforts across Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach Counties It prepares for social, environmental and economic disturbances related to changes in climate, such as sea level rise, flooding and more Additionally, Council staff provides climate change resilience technical assistance to municipalities throughout the Region Website:​ ​sfregionalcouncil.org/ Contact Information:​ Corey Aitken, Resiliency Planner, ​caitken@sfrpc.com South Florida Water Management District Year:​ 1961- Present State:​ FL Level: ​State,​ Florida Water Management Districts The South Florida Water Management District works to protect and preserve four unique watersheds: the Kissimmee Basin, Lake Okeechobee and its watershed, the Everglades and our region's coastal systems A comprehensive effort is underway to protect and restore these ecosystems Planned and ongoing restoration projects are improving regional water quality, hydrology and ecology – all of which were fundamentally altered by public and private development projects begun more than a century ago A series of planning studies is underway to develop the next generation of ecosystem restoration projects as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is leading these planning efforts in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District, which is providing technical support Website:​ ​www.sfwmd.gov/ Contact Information:​ (561)686-8800 Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council Year:​ 1973-Present State:​ FL Level: ​State 33 The SWFRPC was formed to enable local jurisdictions to make the most efficient use of their powers to cooperate for mutual advantages The Climate Change Planning Section of the SWFRPC is involved in a variety of research and planning activities designed to provide technical assistance and decision services based upon the best available contemporary science Projects include vulnerability assessments, restoration plans, resiliency strategies, and adaptation plans Website:​ ​www.swfrpc.org/ Contact Information:​ James Beever, Resiliency and Climate Change Planner, (239)938-1813 ext 224, ​jbeever@swfrpc.org Southwest Florida Water Management District Year:​ 1961- Present State:​ FL Level:​ ​State,​ Florida Water Management Districts The Southwest Florida Water Management District (the District) is one of five regional agencies established in 1961 by Florida State Law to protect and preserve water resources within its boundaries Its original mission was a major flood control project, but since its inception that has expanded to a more broad-based policy of resource management and service to the public All told, the District’s responsibilities now include water supply, flood protection, water quality management, and natural systems management, as well as regional planning around the intersection of these topics The District covers Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Sumter counties as well as portions of Charlotte, Highlands,Lake Levy, Marion, and Polk counties The District creates and administers a strategic plan, as well as programs and projects across the region that advance the goals set in the strategic plan Website:​ ​www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ Contact Information:​ Jennette Seachrist, Director of Resource Management, (352)796-7211 ext 2210; Dr Brandt F Henningsen, Chief Advisor Environmental Scientist for SWIM, brandt.henningsen@swfwmd.state.fl.us​, (813)985-7481, (800)836-0797 ext 2202 St Johns River Water Management District Year:​ 1961- Present State:​ FL Level:​ ​State,​ Florida Water Management Districts The St Johns River Water Management District is an environmental regulatory agency of the state of Florida whose work is focused on ensuring a long-term supply of drinking water, and to protect and restore the health of water bodies in the district’s 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida The district employs both structural and non-structural techniques to provide flood protection The district is the local sponsor of two federal flood control projects: The Upper St Johns River Basin Project and the Ocklawaha River Basin portion of the Four River Basins, Florida Project Non-structural flood protection is achieved through stormwater management 34 rules, purchase and conservation of floodplain wetlands to provide floodwater storage and the collection and dissemination of hydrologic data to guide flood preparedness and responses The district is the lead manager of more than 425,000 acres of public land it has purchased, while it manages another 335,000 acres through a variety of partnerships with numerous agencies and local governments Important activities include hydrologic restoration of altered drainage, invasive species management, use of prescribed fire for restoration and wildfire prevention, and providing resource-based recreation opportunities Website:​ ​www.sjrwmd.com/ Contact Information:​ Steve Fitzgibbons, Comprehensive Planning, (386)312-2369, sfitzgibbons@sjrwmd.com​; Dean Dobberfuhl, Environmental Sciences, (386)329-4461, ddobberfuhl@sjrwmd.com Suwannee River Water Management District Year:​ 1961- Present State:​ FL Level:​ ​State,​ Florida Water Management Districts The Suwannee River Water Management District manages water and related natural resources in north-central Florida by providing water quality and quantity monitoring, research, regulation, land acquisition and management, and flood protection The District’s Excellence in Land Management (ELM) Program encompasses a wide range of responsibilities—water management and nonstructural flood protection, public access and use, habitat management, and hydrologic restoration The ELM program objectives fall into four categories: ❖ Protect, enhance and/or restore natural and cultural resources ❖ Provide opportunities for high quality, compatible recreation ❖ Coordinate with public and private stakeholders ❖ Manage District lands in an efficient manner  Website:​ ​www.mysuwanneeriver.com/ Contact Information:​ Marc Minno, Office of Water Resources, ​Marc.Minno@srwmd.org​; Fay Baird, Office of Water Resources, ​Fay.Baird@srwmd.org Tampa Bay Estuary Program Year:​ 1990-Present State:​ FL Level: ​Local,​ Hillsborough County, Manatee County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, City of Tampa, City of St Petersburg, City of Clearwater; ​State,​ Southwest Florida Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection; ​Federal,​ ​EPA National Estuary Program The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) is an intergovernmental partnership across local, state, and federal agencies It was formed in 1990 to develop a conservation and management plan for Tampa Bay In addition to conducting research and implementing strategies for bay restoration, 35 TBEP also develops programs to educate citizens about ways to prevent water pollution and protect Tampa Bay Website:​ ​www.tbep.org/​, ​www.tbeptech.org/ Contact Information:​ Ron Hosler, Program Administrator, (727)893-2765 West Coast Inland Navigation District Year:​ 1947-Present State: ​FL Level: ​State The West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) is a multi-county special taxing body, covering Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties It’s mission is to preserve and enhance the commercial, recreational, and ecological values of District waterways WCIND supports county and local governments in maintaining and enhancing public navigation channels and inlets, boating access facilities, waterfront parks, and piers and special structures WCIND participates in ecological shoreline restoration projects Website:​ ​wcind.net/ Contact Information:​ (941)485-9402, ​admin@wcind.net Wildlands Conservation Year:​ 2003- Present State:​ FL Level:​ NGO Wildlands Conservation is a non-profit organization specializing in conservation planning and policy, land management, land protection, research, education and outreach Wildlands Conservation works with landowners and others around the state to maximize conservation and minimize impacts, which can be costly to landowners Website:​ ​www.wildlandsconservation.org/ Contact Information:​ David Sumpter, Director of Research and Management, DSumpter@wildlandsconservation.org Georgia Georgia’s Coastal Management Program (309 Program) Year:​ 1998-Present State:​ GA Level: ​State,​ Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division;​ Federal​, NOAA It is the mission of the Georgia Coastal Management Program (GCMP) to balance economic development in Georgia's coastal zone with preservation of natural, environmental, historic, archeological, and recreational resources for the benefit of Georgia's present and future 36 generations The GCMP offers technical assistance to local governments, property owners, developers, and the public to provide expertise on coastal issues, minimize environmental impacts, clarify regulatory requirements, and identify agency contacts GCMP provides information on Best Management Practices and technical guidance on planning and design as well as information on habitat and endangered species GCMP serves as a liaison among various agencies and institutions and maintains a list of contacts GCMP provides forums for local governments, developers, and citizens to discuss potential resource issues and permit requirements with the appropriate agencies The goals of GCMP Coastal Specialists are to promote sustainable development, to work with local governments to address natural resource issues, and to create a central source of information on coastal management issues The Coastal and Ocean Management Program (COMP) administers the non-regulatory functions of the Coastal Management Program Its functions include program and grant administration, technical assistance to local governments, outreach and education, facilitation of stakeholder processes, coastal water quality monitoring for beaches and shellfish, and implementation of the Coastal Incentive Grant Program which passes through nearly $1 million annually for local projects and coastal research The COMP is also the States' lead for the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program.​ ​Although coastal hazards is a fairly new issue area for the Georgia Coastal Management Program (GCMP), there has been a significant shift in focus over the last two years There has been a high demand from educators, researchers, local, state and federal governments for more data, information and planning The GCMP has established Specialty Areas of study, which were developed based on regional and national priorities One specialty area that has been developed is Coastal Hazards including Climate Change/Sea-Level Rise in Coastal Georgia, which will address many of the needs in this category Website:​ ​coastalgadnr.org/CoastalManagement Contact Information:​ Jennifer Kline, Coastal Hazards and Disaster Resiliency, jennifer.kline@dnr.ga.gov​; Jordan Dodson, Living Shorelines, ​jordan.dodson@dnr.ga.gov Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve Year:​ 1976-Present State:​ GA Level: ​State,​ Georgia Department of Natural Resources; ​Federal​, NOAA The 6,100 acres of the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve (SINERR), located along the western perimeter of Sapelo, is dedicated to research, education, stewardship, and sound management of coastal resources The Reserve’s outreach and research initiatives focus on the island’s natural ecosystems and the cultural and historical resources of Sapelo Island and the greater Altamaha River estuary The first demonstration living shorelines in Georgia were constructed on Sapelo Island in 2010 – 2011 at two sites, Ashantilly and Long Tabby, and on Little St Simons Island in 2013 The lessons learned from the demonstration sites have been applied to three additional sites on the Georgia coast on St Simon’s Island, Skidaway Island and Tybee Island On its website, SINERR hosts links to trainings provided my diverse entities on various coastal management topics and practices Website:​ ​sapelonerr.org/ 37 Contact Information:​ Suzanne VanParreren, Stewardship Coordinator, Suzanne.VanPerreren@dnr.ga.gov UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Year:​ 1970-Present State:​ GA Level: ​Federal​, NOAA; ​NGO​, University of Georgia UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant provide research, education, training and science-based outreach to assist Georgia in solving problems and realizing opportunities for its coastal and marine environments By advancing research, education and training, and outreach, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant promote the economic, cultural and environmental health of Georgia’s coast and prepare citizens to become good stewards of coastal ecosystems and watershed resources UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant are units of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia UGA Marine Extension serves a diverse coastal constituency and educates citizens about Georgia’s marine resources and the importance of being good environmental stewards It provides assistance to marine industries by finding ways to increase their efficiency and effectiveness and encourages the development of new, environmentally sustainable industries Website:​ ​gacoast.uga.edu/ Contact Information:​ Jill Gambill, Coastal Community Resilience Specialist, (706)542-3463, jgambill@uga.edu​ ; Mark Risse, Director, (706)542-5956, ​mrisse@uga.edu South Carolina ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve Year:​ 1992-Present State:​ SC Level: ​State,​ South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; ​Federal,​ NOAA The ACE Basin, located 45 minutes south of Charleston, SC, is one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the east coast of the United States The ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) was designated in 1992 as a partnership program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) The ACE Basin NERR aims to protect the natural beauty, abundant wildlife and unique cultural heritage of the area through long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education and coastal stewardship Website:​ ​www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/NERR/index.html Contact Information:​ Denise Sanger, ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve, sangerd@dnr.sc.gov 38 Charleston Resilience Network Year:​ Present State: ​SC Level: ​Local,​ City of Charleston, Charleston County, City of North Charleston, Charleston Water System, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments; ​State,​ South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control; ​Federal​, U.S Department of Homeland Security, NOAA, US Army Corps of Engineers; ​NGO​, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, South Carolina Aquarium, The Nature Conservancy, Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments; ​Private Industry​, Wells Fargo, SCANA The Charleston Resilience Network (CRN) is a voluntary network of organizations throughout Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties with a commitment to increasing resilience of communities, critical infrastructure, and socioeconomic continuity to episodic natural disasters and chronic coastal hazards The CRN is composed of an Organizing Committee, which coordinates the work of CRN participants, and Advisory agencies that provide technical expertise and publicly available information or resources regarding matters of mutual interest The CRN also includes several Partnering Organizations, and a number of Participating Organizations Website:​ ​www.charlestonresilience.net/ Contact Information:​ Dan Burger, Director, (843)953-0251, ​burgerdj@dhec.sc.gov Marine Resources Research Institute Year:​ Present State:​ SC Level:​ ​State,​ South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Marine Division The Marine Resources Research Institute (MRRI) provides the scientific expertise and facilities to support the Marine Division’s resource management and educational programs MRRI scientists work closely with the Office of Fisheries Management (OFM) to conduct research and monitoring programs to assess the condition of our coastal resources and provide data required to address policy and management issues related to those resources Website:​ ​www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/mrri.htm Contact Information:​ Michael R Denson, Director, (843)953-9820, ​densonm@dnr.sc.gov Ocean and Coastal Resources Management Year:​ Present State:​ SC Level: ​State,​ South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Ocean and Coastal Resources Management is a Division of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control DHEC is responsible for managing development, alterations, and shoreline stabilization activities in coastal and estuarine "tidelands" (land at or below high tide including coastal wetlands, mudflats and similar areas adjacent to coastal waters and integral to estuarine systems) DHEC carries out these responsibilities through various research and policy 39 development initiatives, planning, regulation and enforcement, restoration, and extension and education activities The Division is also in charge of the state’s Coastal Zone Management Program, coastal planning initiatives, and other coastal regulatory actions Website:​ ​scdhec.gov/environment/your-water-coast/ocean-coastal-management-ocrm Contact Information: ​Barabara Neale, Senior Program Analyst and Constituent Services, (843)953-0245, ​nealeb@dhec.sc.gov South Carolina Aquarium Year:​ Present State: ​SC Level: ​NGO As part of its education mission, the South Carolina Aquarium includes Resilience education to prepare communities for rising seas and collaboratively find solutions The Aquarium partnered with South Carolina ETV and the Medical University of South Carolina to conduct a series of town hall meetings and create a documentary addressing resilience This initiative, known as Resilience Initiative for Coastal Education (RICE) seeks to move beyond elite scientific and policy discussions and make the topic of resilience accessible to everybody, providing individuals with the information they need to keep their families and communities safe The Aquarium also hosts an interactive tool where users type in their address to discover how they will be affected by rising seas Environmental and population overlays allow users to dive deeper into what sea rise means to the community and allows citizens to contribute their own data Website:​ ​scaquarium.org/conservation/resilience/ Contact Information:​ ​scaquarium.org/directors-email-form/ South Carolina Coastal Information Network Year:​ 2006-Present State:​ SC Level: Federal​, NOAA; ​NGO​, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium The South Carolina Coastal Information Network (SCCIN) grew out of the shared goals of coastal institutions and organizations to enhance coordination of community outreach efforts in the state Lead by the S.C Sea Grant Consortium, the Network includes partners from more than 20 federal and state agencies, regional government entities, and private organizations seeking to coordinate and/or jointly deliver outreach programs that target coastal community constituents As the Network has developed and expanded, it has fostered inter-agency communication and cooperation The SCCIN website delivers quality training and educational material to coastal decision-makers, community planners, local officials, and the public SCCIN organizes conferences, seminars, workshops, and training events for coastal community officials and others Website:​ ​www.sccoastalinfo.org/ Contact Information:​ April Turner, (843)953-2078, ​april.turner@scseagrant.org​; Liz McQuain, liz.mcquain@scseagrant.org 40 South Carolina Coastal Management Program (309 Program) Year:​ 1979-Present State:​ SC Level: ​State,​ Department of Health and Environmental Control; ​Federal,​ NOAA The South Carolina Coastal Management Program was established under the guidelines of the national Coastal Zone Management Act (1972) as a state-federal partnership to comprehensively manage coastal resources It was authorized in 1977 under SC's Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Act (CTWA) with the goal of achieving a balance between the appropriate use, development, and conservation of coastal resources in the best interest of all citizens of the state DHEC's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management is the designated state coastal management agency and is responsible for the implementation of the state's Coastal Management Program Implementation includes the direct regulation of impacts to coastal resources within the critical areas of the state including coastal waters, tidelands, beaches and beach dune systems; and indirect certification authority over federal actions and state permit decisions within the eight coastal counties Website: www.scdhec.gov/about-dhec/laws-regulations-and-regulatory-updates/dhec-laws-and-regulations /dhec-laws-and Contact Information: ​Barabara Neale, Senior Program Analyst and Constituent Services, (843)953-0245, ​nealeb@dhec.sc.gov South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium Year: ​1978-Present State:​ SC Level: ​State,​ S.C Department of Natural Resources; ​Federal​, NOAA; ​NGO​, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, Medical University of South Carolina, S.C State University, The Citadel, University of South Carolina The S.C Sea Grant Consortium supports integrated research, education, and extension programs that align with the mission of generating and applying science-based information on issues and opportunities to enhance the practical use and conservation of coastal and marine resources to foster a sustainable economy and environment Focus areas are healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable coastal development and economy, weather and climate resilience, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and scientific literacy and workforce development Website:​ ​www.scseagrant.org/ Contact Information:​ Sarah Watson, Coastal Climate and Resilience Specialist, (843)953-2097, sarah.watson@scseagrant.org​; M Richard DeVoe, Executive Director, (843)953-2078, rick.devoe@scseagrant.org South Carolina Water Resources Center Year:​ Present 41 State: ​SC Level: ​Federal​, U.S Geological Survey, National Institutes for Water Resources; ​NGO,​ Clemson University Public Service and Agriculture The South Carolina Water Resources Center is one of 54 institutes established by the U.S Congress through the Water Resources Research Act of 1964 These institutes work collectively through the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) The Center receives an annual federal matching grant administered by the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) and serves as a research facilitator through two annual USGS grants competitions In South Carolina research emphasis includes watersheds, water policy, and emerging problems Website:​ ​www.clemson.edu/public/water/scwater/ Contact Information:​ Lori Dickes, Associate Director, (864)656-7831, ​lorid@clemson.edu North Carolina Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership Year:​ 1987-Present State:​ NC Level: ​Federal​, EPA National Estuary Program The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, or APNEP, works throughout the river basins that drain into the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system The Partnership strives to bring together diverse groups to identify how we can act together to create a healthy region, from headwaters to the coast Initiatives that APNEP leads or supports include research studies, measures to protect or restore ecosystems, environmental monitoring programs, and education and outreach efforts APNEP's comprehensive approach is designed to preserve the integrity of the entire estuarine ecosystem, with a special emphasis on improving water quality in the region's rivers and sounds APNEP’s systems approach considers the hundreds of human and natural elements in the Albemarle-Pamlico ecosystem, as well as the relationships between them APNEP’s management plan is based on a model of these relationships, ensuring that management actions directly target improvements in ecosystem services and are linked to explicit conservation goals The website hosts a database of research, scientific, and policy reports Website:​ ​apnep.nc.gov/ Contact Information:​ Stacey Feken, Policy and Engagement Manager, (919)707-8657, stacey.feken@apnep.org​; Jimmy Johnson, Coastal Habitats Coordinator, (252)948-3952, jimmy.johnson@apnep.org Clean Water Management Trust Fund Year:​ 1996-Present State:​ NC Level: ​State 42 North Carolina's Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) was established by the General Assembly in 1996 as a non-regulatory organization with a focus on protecting and restoring the State’s land and water resources We award grants to non-profit and governmental organizations to protect land for natural, historical and cultural benefit, limit encroachment on military installations, restore degraded streams, and develop and improve stormwater treatment technology Website:​ ​cwmtf.nc.gov/ Contact Information:​ Justin Mercer, Eastern (Coastal) Region Manager, (919)707-8105, justin.mercer@ncdnr.gov Coastal Adaptation and Resiliency Year:​ Present State:​ NC Level:​ ​State,​ North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality; ​Federal​, NOAA Coastal Adaptation and Resiliency is a subset of the Division of Coastal Management within the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality The Division receives oversight and funding from both the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management and the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (NOAA) Coastal Adaptation and Resiliency provides relevant forecasts, data, tools, planning guidance, and funding opportunities Website:​ ​deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/coastal-adaptation-and-resiliency Contact Information:​ Christian Kamrath, DCM Coastal Resilience Specialist, christian.kamrath@ncdenr.gov​, (252)808-2808 ext 230 Coastal Resources Commission Year:​ 1974- Present State: ​NC Level:​ ​State,​ North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality The Coastal Resources Commission establishes policies for the North Carolina Coastal Management program, and adopts rules for both the Coastal Area Management Act and the North Carolina Dredge and Fill Act The commission designates areas of environmental concern, adopts rules and policies for coastal development within those areas, and certifies local land use plans Website:​ ​deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/coastal-resources-commission Contact Information:​ Trace Cooper, Commissioner for Coastal Property Owners and land Development, ​Trace.Cooper@ncdenr.gov​, (252)222-0033; Doug Medlin, Commissioner for Coastal Property Owners and land Development, ​Doug.Medlin@ncdenr.gov Floodplain Management Year:​ Present State:​ NC Level:​ ​State,​ North Carolina Department of Public Safety 43 North Carolina administers three floodplain management programs that provide a number of tools directly relevant to assessing coastal flood hazard risk and developing policies intended to reduce flood hazard vulnerability The state is widely recognized as having the best floodplain mapping program in the country In fact, the state has assumed the creation and update of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), traditionally a federal responsibility The three programs are the National Flood Insurance Program, North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, and Community Rating System (Community Rating System has now been integrated into the Coastal Resilience Decision Tool,​ see above)​ Website: National Flood Insurance Program:​ ​flood.nc.gov/ncflood/ncfip.html North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program:​ ​flood.nc.gov/ncflood/ Contact Information: National Flood Insurance Program:​ Dan Brubaker, ​nfiphelp@ncdps.gov North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program: ​(919)715-5711, ​frishelp@ncdps.gov North Carolina Association of State Floodplain Managers Year:​ 1989-Present State:​ NC Level: ​NGO The National Association of Floodplain Managers is a non-profit organization consisting of Planers, Engineers, Land Surveyors, Zoning Officials, Community Officials, Emergency Management Coordinators, private sector individuals, and others In addition to policy review activities, NCAFPM offers trainings, workshops, certification programs, and conferences for those working in the field of floodplain management Website:​ ​www.ncafpm.org/ Contact Information:​ Tonda Shelton, Program Manager, (919)825-2345, Tonda.Shelton@ncdps.gov North Carolina Coastal Federation Year:​ 1982-Present State:​ NC Level:​ NGO The North Carolina Coastal Federation is a member-supported 501(c)3 that focuses on protecting and restoring the North Carolina coast Since 1982, the federation has been in the field restoring miles of coastline; training and educating students, adults and communities to take actions that result in cleaner coastal waters and advocating for an accessible, healthy, productive coast Created to give a united voice to the need for long-term coastal management, the federation remains a collaborative, grassroots organization at its heart and brings together traditional and nontraditional organizations, government agencies and businesses in order to achieve what is best for the North Carolina coast and to leave a legacy of clean water for future generations Website:​ ​www.nccoast.org/ 44 Contact Information:​ Lexia Weaver, Manager of the Central Regional Office, (252)393-8185, lexiaw@nccoast.org North Carolina Coastal Management (309 Program) Year: ​1978-Present State:​ NC Level: ​State,​ Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Management; ​Federal​, NOAA The Division of Coastal Management works to protect, conserve and manage North Carolina's coastal resources through an integrated program of planning, permitting, education and research DCM carries out the state's Coastal Area Management Act, the Dredge and Fill Law and the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 in the 20 coastal counties, using rules and policies of the N.C Coastal Resources Commission, known as the CRC The division serves as staff to the CRC Coastal Management is part of the Department of Environmental Quality, which is responsible for keeping the state's environment healthy The division also receives oversight (and part of its funding) from the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Website: ​deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management Contact Information:​ Tancred Miller, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, (252)808-2808, ​tanred.miller@ncdenr.gov North Carolina Sea Grant Year:​ Present State:​ NC Level: ​Federal​, NOAA; ​NGO​, North Carolina State University North Carolina Sea Grant provides research, education and outreach opportunities relating to current issues affecting the North Carolina coast and its communities As part of a national network of Sea Grant programs, we align our focus with national goals set by the National Sea Grant College Program This research fuels outreach and education programs that promote discovery, learning, new research and awareness across the state and the nation Project Areas are coastal hazards, fisheries and aquaculture, healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable communities, and education and workforce development Website:​ ​ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/ Contact Information:​ Gloria Putnam, Coastal Resources and Communities Specialist, (919)513-0117, ​gloria_putnam@ncsu.edu​; Susan White, Executive Director, (919)515-2455, snwhite3@ncsu.edu The Coastal Studies Institute Year:​ 2012-Present State:​ NC 45 Level:​ ​NGO​, University of North Carolina System, North Carolina Sea Grant Located along the shores of Roanoke Island on East Carolina University’s Outer Banks Campus, the Coastal Studies Institute is a multi-institutional research and education partnership of the UNC system CSI’s research focuses on thematic areas including estuarine ecology, coastal engineering and ocean energy, public policy and coastal sustainability, maritime heritage, and coastal processes Website:​ ​www.coastalstudiesinstitute.org/ Contact Information:​ Dr Reide Corbett, Executive Director, ​corbettd@ecu.edu​, (252)328-1367 46