Mass ECAN March News
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It may not feel like it, with snow in the forecast, but Spring is around the corner! This time of year has me thinking about how climate change affects the timing of plants' blooming and critters' behaviors. I'm keeping an eye on my backyard and findings of community science partners that track Spring, such as the National Phenology Network and recent articles on their work.
See below for news specifically curated for our community of practice:
Feel free to share this newsletter with a colleague and invite them to join us! Hope to see you at conferences this Spring!
Best,
Melissa Ocana
Climate Adaptation Coordinator, UMass Amherst
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Watershed Scale Climate Collaboration Conference
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Our free in-person gathering is taking place on May 3rd at Clark University, Worcester. Register here to attend!
Stay tuned for the full agenda, but the conference will include ample networking time and sessions on:
- sharing municipal experiences of watershed collaboration,
- getting started with new partnerships,
- centering equity in projects and community engagement, and
- prioritizing on-the-ground watershed-scale work.
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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!
Kimberly Groff
Water Resources Engineer
Throwe Environmental and SNEP Network
Bio: Kim serves as the MA liaison for the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Network, where she conducts community- and watershed-scale planning to build capacity and support long-term climate resilience. She has partnered with Throwe to support the Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) since 2021, and the National Coastal Resilience Fund as field liaison for potential applicants from New England and Mid Atlantic Coastal States as of this year (the RFP is currently open!). Kim earned a Doctorate from Georgia Institute of Technology School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Climate adaptation project: To address climate vulnerabilities, Kim is the SNEP Network lead for a regional planning effort in the Canoe River Aquifer. This effort builds off prior community planning conducted through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program. This project is designed to engage the communities in a collaborative community-driven planning process to address localized flooding, aquifer protection, improved groundwater quantity/quality, and ecosystem restoration, with an emphasis on Nature Based Solutions. Contact Kim to learn more about this project or the National Coastal Resilience Fund.
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Funding Opportunity - National Coastal Resilience Fund. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is offering funds for planning, design, and implementation of natural and nature-based solutions to enhance protections for coastal communities from the impacts of storms, floods, and other natural hazards and to improve habitats for fish and wildlife. Submit your pre-proposal here by 4/12.
Funding Opportunity - The SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants (SWIG) funds programs and partnerships working to restore coastal ecosystems throughout Southeast New England. Submit Letters of Intent here by 4/7 and learn more about the grants at a workshop on 3/7 at 2:00pm. Register here.
Funding Opportunity - The Division of Ecological Restoration's Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program is for Massachusetts local governments interested in replacing a culvert located in an area of high ecological value to meet flood resiliency and environmental design standards. Submit a Request for Response by 3/31.
Funding Opportunity - The America the Beautiful Challenge Grant Program supports locally led ecosystem restoration projects that invest in watershed restoration, resilience, equitable access, workforce development, corridors and connectivity, and collaborative conservation. Submit a pre-proposal by 4/20.
Support Opportunity - Partnership for Resilient Communities (PRC). The Institute for Sustainable Communities is seeking up to eight POC-led community organizations to receive quarterly technical assistance and be mentored to ensure leaders of color and organizations within communities of color participate fully in climate resilience planning and decision making processes. Apply here by 3/10.
Webinar - Lake Water Level Management Under Climate Change. Join the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center for this webinar about winter water level drawdown, a common lake management strategy to protect shorelines from ice damage, control nuisance macrophytes, and support recreation. 3/8, 4:00pm.
Webinar - Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Webinars. Join the MVP team for two informational sessions to give an overview of the program, review anticipated changes to this round's application, and answer questions about the anticipated release of its next Request for Response (RFR) for MVP Action Grants in late March. Register here to attend 3/13 at 10:00am - 11:00am or here to attend 3/14 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm.
Webinar - Climate Change Adaptation Checklist for Climate Smart Projects: A Tool for Natural Resource Agencies. Learn about the new Climate Change Adaptation Checklist for Climate Smart Projects, a tool to aid natural resource managers in evaluating potential climate vulnerabilities of a project or management action prior to implementation, and to improve design, optimize siting, and reduce risk to help a project deliver expected benefits under future climate conditions. Register here. 3/15, 3:00pm - 4:00pm.
Webinar - MA Coastal Resilience Grant Program Webinar. The Office of Coastal Zone Management will highlight a variety of successful projects funded in previous grant rounds, along with grant program goals, requirements, timeline, and tips for developing competitive proposals. Email Patricia Bowie to register. 3/16, 11:00am - 12:30pm.
Training - Adaptation Planning and Practices Training. The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub are offering this online training to consider climate change impacts and identify adaptation actions for a range of natural ecosystems, resource areas, and cultural perspectives. Register here by 3/9.
Job - MVP Program Coordinator, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Boston. Support program administration, metrics tracking, and regional climate-resilience projects.
Job - Assistant Climate Scientist, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Boston. Provide project management support to the Climate Scientist and newly established Office of Climate Science to ensure key initiatives advance on timeline and budget.
Job - Ecological Restoration Program Manager – Cranberry Bogs, MA Division of Ecological Restoration, Boston. Manage DER’s Program dedicated to restoring retired cranberry bogs to healthy and resilient wetlands and rivers.
Job - Ecological Restoration Program Manager – Dam Removal, MA Division of Ecological Restoration, Boston. Manage DER’s Program dedicated to helping municipal and private dam owners remove unwanted dams.
Job - Senior Environmental Planner, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Boston. Promote the protection and sustainable management of natural resources and advances climate resiliency and equity in the Metro Boston region.
Job - Clean Energy and Climate Planner II, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Boston. Support MAPC’s federal funding technical assistance for municipalities, electric vehicle (EV) projects and policy, and the Green Communities program and build a more climate-resilient, sustainable, and equitable region.
Job - Climate Adaptation Program Coordinator, American Society of Adaptation Professionals, Remote. Implement a range of ASAP programs for peer learning, collaboration and capacity building.
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Learn from fellow Mass ECAN members at these upcoming conferences!
March 18 - Massachusetts Citizen Planner Training Collaborative Annual Conference. Gather with citizens, nonprofits and government agencies dedicated to providing training to citizen and professional planners involved in municipal planning and land use. Register here by 3/14.
- 9:15am - 10:45am. Building Community Resilience - Tools and Resources
- Stefanie Covino, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative
- 11:00am - 12:30pm. Planning for Solar - Statewide Studies and Toolkit for Communities
- Heidi Ricci, Mass Audubon
March 14 - April 28 - Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference. This year's conference offers talks via Zoom, in-person sessions in Worcester, and field trips around the state. Register here.
- Mar. 15, 2:00pm – 3:00pm. The Nature Conservancy Family Forest Carbon Program
- Laura Marx, The Nature Conservancy
- Mar. 25, 8:45am – 10:10am. Restoring Old-Growth Forest Characteristics
- Paul Catanzaro, UMass Amherst
- Tom Lautzenheiser, Mass Audubon
- Mar. 25, 12:45pm - 2:10pm. Planning and Incentives for Climate-Smart Forestry
- Mar. 25, 2:30 pm - 3:55 pm. Climate Change Challenges: Dual-Use Solar, Food Production and Farmland Protection
- Heidi Ricci, Mass Audubon
- Mar. 25, 2:30 pm – 3:55 pm. Applied Urban Forestry and Urban Ecology for Land Conservation
- Apr. 28, 11:00am - 1:00pm. Forest Climate Resilience Field Trip, North Adams
- Andrew Randazzo, Mass Audubon
- Lisa Hayden, New England Forestry Foundation
April 26 - 28 - Stone Living Lab Conference. Meet and network with researchers, students, adaptation professionals, and other leaders in climate resilience in Boston at this conference focused on Nature-Based Coastal Resilience in Urban Settings. Register here.
May 3 - Our Conference on Watershed Scale Climate Collaboration! Elevate the importance of watershed-scale collaboration for climate change adaptation, amplify existing efforts by the amazing collaboratives across the state, build community among adaptation practitioners, and grow our capacity to accomplish this work together. Register here.
May 16 - 17 - Local Solutions Conference: Climate Migration. Join stakeholders in Keene, NH to create an upper Northeast region that can become a climate refugia that is resilient, revitalized, socially just, and decarbonized. Registration coming soon.
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In case you've been wondering what to read next...
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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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