Mass ECAN November News
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As we approach a season of gratitude, this is an opportune time to reflect on what we are each grateful for. Thank you to everyone who has shared their expertise and stories with our network. Thank you to those who support their peers through challenging times as we grapple with the realities of climate change. Thank you for giving your all and keeping at it day after day to advance climate adaptation. And thank you to the ecosystems and natural wonders that keep us healthy and inspired. Gratitude is also a powerful ally and tool in our outreach about climate change and the need for climate action. I hope you are able to fill up on what you are grateful for this season!
See below for our newsletter that's specifically curated for our community of practice:
Feel free 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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We had so much fun on our Fall field trips to the Ipswich (bottom), Mystic (top left) and Mattapoisett (top right) Rivers! Thanks to our co-hosts and everyone who attended. Learn more and see photos on our website. We look forward to more gatherings in 2024!
If you attended any of these field trips, please take a minute to fill out our very short evaluation, which help us plan future events.
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These events were organized by Mass ECAN, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, Division of Ecological Restoration, local project partners and watershed collaboratives.
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It's been quite the year for our Watershed Scale Climate Collaboration initiative! Our WSCC Subgroup and partners from collaboratives across the state released an outreach toolkit, held an in-person conference, and organized three field trips. We’re closing out the year with a Zoom workshop on Funding for Watershed Collaboration to explore needs and opportunities related to funding support for the facilitation, relationship building and collaborative capacity that makes these partnerships a success. Dec. 5, 10am. Register here.
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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!
Erin Bonney Casey
Resiliency Program Director
Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA)
Bio: Erin heads up IRWA's Resiliency Program, focusing on future-proofing the Ipswich River watershed so it is resilient enough to withstand future challenges. Her work spans education, advocacy, and fostering partnerships to accelerate the pace of climate adaptation work in the region, including administering the PIE-Rivers Partnership. Before IRWA, Erin worked with Bluefield Research, a boutique market research firm focused on business opportunities in the water and wastewater sectors.
Climate Adaptation Project: The Ipswich River is one of the most-flow depleted in Massachusetts and the increasing incidence of drought due to climate change will only put more pressure on local water supplies. T o address this risk, Erin is implementing the Recipe for Resiliency, a ten-step, enhanced water conservation plan for communities. This tool helps local leaders make informed decisions on water use, and incentivize residents and businesses to conserve even more water than traditional conservation practices typically achieve. Contact Erin for more information or to get involved with water conservation.
Erin is in our Peer Learning Program and reflects on what she’s learned so far from her learning partner: "My Peer Pair Partner works in a similar role as me in terms of watershed planning and coalition building, but has a very different educational and experiential background. It has been great to hear how his previous experiences shape the way he thinks about this work and has offered a useful perspective as to how I approach my evolving role with IRWA."
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Consulting Opportunity - EEA is seeking a team to facilitate development of "ResilientMass Metrics," a statewide resilience metrics framework. Learn more here and if you are eligible, bid by Dec. 8.
Funding Opportunity - The Effects of Sea Level Rise Program (ESLR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Providing useful tools for evaluating coastal vulnerability under multiple sea level rise, inundation, and coastal management scenarios. Letters of Intent due Nov. 13.
Funding Opportunity - Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant, EEA. The MVP Program supports communities seeking to advance climate adaptation. Now accepting Expressions of Interest for FY25 Action Grant Round, with anticipation of the RFR in March/April. Submit project ideas via this form by Dec. 15.
Funding Opportunities -
Event - Crisis as Catalyst: Meeting the Moment with Transformational Investments, Climate Adaptation Forum. Learn about critical junctures in history when opportunities to do the impossible became reality by exploring infrastructure investments, safety innovations, and re-designing the urban landscape. Join in person in Boston or over Zoom from 9am-12pm on Nov. 30.
Virtual Series - Dam Busters 101, Mass Rivers Alliance/DER/Charles River Watershed Association. A series of monthly webinars on a variety of dam removal topics to give managers the knowledge they need to manage and carry out successful projects. Register here to attend at 12pm on Dec. 6.
Event/Survey - USGS-Conte, MassWildlife, and UMass Amherst, with support from the NE CASC. The first stage of building a network to advance coldwater stream habitat in the Northeast will be an online forum on Nov. 16. To participate and share about your interests, complete this form.
Survey - The Northeast Seed Network, Ecological Health Network and UMass Amherst. The goal of this project is to improve the availability of desired species and reduce shortages native seed and plant materials, e.g., for restoration. If you purchase or use these, please answer the survey.
Job - Assistant Director of Water Policy, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Boston. Develop and implement state water policy and programs. Work on all issues related to water resources protection and management.
Job - Land Protection Manager, The Nature Conservancy, Boston / Sheffield. Lead projects and strategies to achieve the organization's goals of tackling climate change and conserving healthy lands and waters.
Job - Finance Manager, Division of Ecological Restoration, Boston. Responsible for financial oversight and management. Seeking applicants with passion for collaboration. DER's projects help people and nature adapt to climate change.
Job - Land Conservation Specialist, Mass Audubon, Easthampton. Work with partner organizations and lead all aspects of land conservation projects designed to create new sanctuaries, and enhance existing ones.
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In case you've been wondering what to read next...
- Climate Chief's Recommendations: The Healey Administration released recommendations for a whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis. They make 39 recommendations regarding the climate-related practices and policies of agencies, such as strategies to finance investments needed to meet emissions reductions mandates and resilience goals, including protecting natural and working lands.
- COP28 Summit: At the end of the month, leaders across the globe will come together to address current climate efforts. To review what needs to happen, check out The Nature Conservancy's Guide to the 2023 UN Climate Conference.
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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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