Mass ECAN January News
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Happy new year! I hope this finds you rested, refreshed and looking forward to climate work in the year ahead. I'm excited to see what this year will bring and for Mass ECAN to keep offering opportunities for us to connect, share, and learn together. Hope to see you around the community soon!
See below for news specifically curated for our community of practice:
A new year is a great time to share this newsletter with a colleague and invite them to join us!
Best,
Melissa Ocana
Climate Adaptation Coordinator, UMass Amherst
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Looking Ahead: 2023 Plans
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Mass ECAN has many exciting plans in store for 2023! We'll be gathering in-person and piloting a couple new programs. More details coming soon!
- Watershed Scale Climate Collaboration Conference SAVE THE DATE for our in-person gathering on May 3rd at Clark University, Worcester
- Peer Learning Program: Brings together a small cohort of climate adaptation practitioners to learn from each other and foster collaboration
- Ambassador Awards Program: Showcases climate adaptation champions and helps mainstream exemplary practices
- More field trips to adaptation project sites across the state
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Every month, we highlight someone in our community of practice so you can learn about a variety of adaptation work and "meet" a new colleague!
Billie Li
Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership Restoration Coordinator at Housatonic Valley Association
Bio: Billie is working to build regional capacity in order to implement water restoration projects in the Berkshires. Before joining HVA, she worked as a consulting engineer focusing on municipal wastewater and stormwater projects, and as a conservation planner helping farmers mitigate their impact on natural resources. Billie has enjoyed working on a variety of projects under the goal of building a more climate-resilient world. In her spare time, Billie enjoys rock climbing and fly fishing.
Climate adaptation project: The Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership envisions a region that is ecologically resilient to climate change and a community that is interconnected with the health and well-being of our watersheds. The Partnership is currently working on a regional priority culvert replacement initiative to improve climate/flood resiliency and aquatic organism passage. There are several towns in the Housatonic Watershed that are currently in the Final Design and Permitting phase, and several towns in the Hoosic and Farmington Watersheds in the early stages of the Assessment phase. Contact Billie to learn more.
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Funding Opportunity - The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program is now accepting Expression of Interest forms for the FY24 MVP Action Grant. Submit your EOI by 1/20 for detailed feedback or 2/3 for limited feedback.
Funding Opportunity - Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program. The Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) seeks proposals from municipalities interested in replacing undersized, perched, and/or degraded culverts located in areas of high ecological value. Potential applicants are encouraged to email DER to set up a Pre-RFR Project Inquiry call by 2/1. Final applications are due in mid-March.
Call for Public Comment - NOAA, on behalf of USGCRP, has announced the availability of a draft Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) report for public comment. Click here for more information and to submit a comment by 1/27.
Call for Abstracts - 2023 Stone Living Lab Conference. The Stone Living Lab is seeking abstracts related to Nature-based Coastal Resilience in Urban Settings. Submit your abstract by 1/14 for the Conference on 4/26 - 4/28.
Award Nominations - The Environmental Business Council (EBC) is seeking nominations for companies, organizations, and individuals for outstanding accomplishments, including climate change projects, through the EBEE Awards. Submit by 2/17.
Webinars - Check out the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program's Winter Webinar Series:
Webinar - What's new with RAINE? Explore updates to the EPA Resilience and Adaptation in New England Mapping Tool. 1/27, 11:00am-12:00pm.
Job - Social Media & Outreach Coordinator, Div. of Ecological Restoration, Boston. Strengthen and expand DER's communications capabilities, including translating complex ecological restoration and climate adaptation concepts into compelling stories.
Job - Coastal Habitat & Water Quality Specialist, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management, Boston. Support Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Program initiatives, including assistance with long-term biological monitoring, support for grant programs, and advancing coastal habitat resilience.
Job - Coastal Engineer/Modeler, Woods Hole Group, Bourne. Work on climate change planning, coastal flood risk assessment, wetland restoration, and shore protection projects.
Job - Water Quality Manager, Merrimack River Watershed Council, Lawrence. Manage the water quality monitoring program, and work with partners to implement watershed-based plans and green infrastructure projects for climate resilience and water quality improvements.
Job - Environmental Fellowship Program, Mass Audubon, Lincoln. Work in departments that represent a multifaceted approach to protecting the nature of Massachusetts: conservation science, land management, policy and advocacy, marketing and communications, and environmental education.
Job - Director of Climate Resilience & Adaptation, City of Boston. Lead development and implementation of strategic initiatives and programs to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
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In case you've been wondering what to read next...
- 2022 MA Climate Assessment Released: The assessment is the result of a statewide process to understand how climate change affects people, environments, and infrastructure in our state. This will inform the 2023 update of the State Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan (SHMCAP).
- Resilient Lands Initiative: The actions outlined in the RLI Vision will help the Commonwealth achieve its climate goals, reduce vulnerability to climate impacts such as urban heat islands and coastal flooding, improve water quality, and protect wildlife and natural systems.
- Healthy Soils Action Plan: Healthy soils are critical with more flooding, droughts and heat waves. The Plan is an assessment of the condition of the state's soils and a blueprint for how we can effectively conserve, restore, and manage our soils.
- COP 15: Read about the outcomes of the UN Biodiversity Conference that took place in Montreal and this statement from The Nature Conservancy.
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In Case You Missed It....
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It was a busy year for Mass ECAN in 2022!
See our website post for highlights of what we accomplished together.
Including -- a new resource on Adaptation Actions for Resistance, Resilience, and Transformation! This resource provides an overview of climate adaptation actions across a spectrum from resisting change to active transformation, and now includes example projects in specific ecosystems. This was created by Mass ECAN, the Northeast Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network, and the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. The examples actions involved many partners (look for their logos on each page)!
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Have Something to Add?
Sharing in the Newsletters
Do you have something related to climate adaptation that you would like to see in a future newsletter? If you have project, job posting, event, outreach product, or something else that you’d like to submit for consideration, you can fill out this google form. Please note that this does not guarantee inclusion. We’ll select the climate adaptation items most relevant to our community of practice to continue to provide a curated newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Why am I getting this email?
Welcome to Mass ECAN!
You are receiving this email because you joined Mass ECAN.
Welcome to a supportive community of climate adaptation practitioners and researchers who are interested in ecosystem resilience and natural resources conservation in Massachusetts.
Mass ECAN is creating a space for us to learn from and with each other. Together, we can build capacity for climate adaptation that promotes ecosystem resilience and weaves natural resources conservation into actions across sectors. Mass ECAN is coordinated by UMass Extension. |
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