Mass ECAN October News
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Happy Fall! It’s been wonderful seeing many of you at in-person events and looking forward to connecting during the rest of our Fall Series!
Unfortunately, hurricane season continues to be heartbreaking with record-warm oceans supercharging storms and tragedies playing out across the Southeast. The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene is raising awareness that climate disasters can happen anywhere. Hopefully, there will be lessons that can be applied moving forward about adaptation planning, building social resilience in communities, and the dangers of developing in floodplains. For now, there are stories of heroes emerging everywhere and many ways to support those in need, such as here and networks such as here. Thanks to everyone in the climate adaptation community providing support pre and post disasters.
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 are excited to announce the second year of our Peer Learning Program! This Program brings together a small cohort of climate adaptation practitioners over an 8-month period to learn from each other and foster collaboration.
See the Call for Applications and apply here by October 14 to be considered. Please share the announcement with colleagues!
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Thanks to everyone who attended our first two field trips! We can’t wait for the next two:
North Branch Hoosic River Field Trip
Oct. 21 (rain date Oct. 28), 10am-1pm
Visit the Beaver Mills Dam in North Adams, and the former Briggsville Dam in Clarksburg, to learn about dam removal benefits, including flood mitigation, stream continuity, and fish passage. Explore how watershed-scale partnerships, community engagement, and the prioritization of climate justice are all essential parts in increasing resiliency. Stay for optional lunch/networking time from 12pm-1pm. If you’re interested in attending, email us to join the waitlist.
West Boylston Field Trip
Nov. 12 (rain date Nov. 13), 10am-1pm
Join us to explore the Quinapoxet Dam removal project in construction alongside a rail trail. Learn about West Boylston's recent climate resilience planning and explore the co-benefits from dam removal, including for fisheries, flood resiliency, and water quality and control related to the Wachusett Reservoir. Stay for optional lunch/networking time from 12pm-1pm. Thanks to our local hosts including MWRA and DCR. Register here.
These are organized by Mass ECAN, the MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, the MA Division of Ecological Restoration, and local project partners.
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Collaborative Leadership Workshop Series
Join us to strengthen your leadership and facilitation of collaborations through a three-session online series on Leading with a Network Mindset, designed for Mass ECAN and facilitated by the Institute for Conservation Leadership.
Oct. 22, 24, and 29, from 1-2:30pm on Zoom- please plan to attend all.
● Use the network mindset framework to identify opportunities for evolution and action that support your partnership’s goals.
● Leave with tools and approaches you can use to cultivate a network mindset in your partnership.
● Consider your network’s needs and next steps based on its maturity and evolution.
● Tap the expertise and support of colleagues to get fresh perspectives, ideas, and inspiration to address a challenge or opportunity in your partnership.
Spots are limited. RSVP 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!
Cathy Bozek
National Fish Passage Program Coordinator for the Northeast Region
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Bio: Cathy works with agency staff and partners to prioritize, implement, and communicate about projects that restore aquatic connectivity through  barrier removal and bring climate change adaptation benefits for both natural systems and human communities. Cathy has nearly 25 years of experience in coastal and freshwater aquatic habitat restoration, policy, and outreach at the local, regional, national, and international levels. She has a BA in Geology and a MS in Water Resource Management, and has also worked at The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts and the NOAA Restoration Center.
Climate Adaptation Project: The National Fish Passage Program works with partners to remove aquatic barriers, such as dams and undersized road-stream crossings, to restore natural flows, processes, and aquatic species movement. These projects are designed to provide sustainable and lasting benefits through changing conditions, and help aquatic species and human communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. In MA and surrounding states, projects have included dam removals that restore natural river and floodplain connections and allow migratory fish to reach important spawning habitat, as well as culvert replacements that enable freshwater mussels to grow in newly accessible habitat and restore brook trout passage to cold water refugia.
The recently completed High Street Dam removal project in Bridgewater, MA, restored natural river processes, reopened 10 miles and 350 acres of habitat for migratory fish, and improved public safety for the local community.
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Expert Work Group Spotlight
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We're highlighting our Expert Work Groups so you can learn about their latest activities! Our affiliated Work Groups are for experts on various climate adaptation topics that require cross-organizational collaboration for success.
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The Salt Marsh Working Group (SMWG) formed in 2018 to 1) Facilitate a coordinated forum between scientists and coastal natural resources managers, 2) Share best practices in assessing and monitoring salt marshes and restoration efforts, 3) Identify research gaps and priorities, and 4) Design collaborative approaches to support priority research, thus increasing the overall resilience of marsh systems.
The Group has grown from 20 to nearly 140 state and federal government, nonprofit, and academic institutions and includes participants spanning MA, NH, ME and RI. The SMWG meets quarterly and has hosted over 40 lightning talks on new science and restoration techniques and findings, bringing salt marsh researchers, regulators, and practitioners together to learn, and coordinate across organizations on the Commonwealth’s most pressing issues.
At our Fall 2023 workshop, four themes emerged to activate a collective research agenda and strategic coordination:
1. Assemble data and make it available: Define current “central data repositories”
A. Build from partners with existing frameworks
B. Identify dedicated funding mechanisms for long-term maintenance
C. Conduct a data gap analysis and fill the gaps
2. Gather data to understand who is valuing what
A. Consider replicating our workshop process of identifying actions under each of the three SMWG Research Priorities with different audiences (e.g., local decision-makers, regulators, funders)
B. Build communication, connection, and shared knowledge to advance strategic communication and translate understanding
3. Develop a decision-making tool that considers ecological, economic, and social tradeoffs for adaptive management (salt marsh site-specific decision-making).
A. Establish a phased approach, starting with assessments and modeling for each component (ecological values, socioeconomic values, economic valuation), and then analyzing tradeoffs, informed by different value sets
4. Learn from the past to inform efficient planning, execution and monitoring
A. Develop an accessible, communal repository on salt marsh restoration approaches and outcomes, specifically in MA, with relevant case studies and lessons learned
B. Create standardized monitoring metrics
To get connected or learn more, reach out to Katie Kahl or Adrienne Pappal or visit the new website which hosts SMWG progress to date!
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Funding Opportunity - Habitat Management Grant, MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Applications are being accepted for projects that improve habitat on lands open to outdoor recreation, including in ecological communities disproportionally susceptible to climate change. Applications due 10/17.
Funding Opportunity - Action Grant, EEA's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. The MVP Program is accepting Expression of Interest (EOI) forms for FY26 Action Grant project ideas. The EOI is not mandatory, but serves as a resource. Due: 11/1.
Event - Fall Webinar Series, Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. Join this webinar on Introducing CAFE: The Calculation Assistant for Flow Extremes (A Decision Support Tool) to learn about research efforts to forecast climate impacts on hydrologic extremes in the Northeast. 4pm on 10/09.
Event - ResilientCoasts Public Meetings, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management. CZM will host two virtual public meetings to provide an update on the ResilientCoasts Plan, present the Coastal Resilience Districts, and receive input on the project's approach. 6pm-7:30pm on 10/09 and 10am-11:30am on 10/11.
Event - Public Meeting, ResilientMass, Zoom. EEA Staff and consultants will provide an overview of the ResilientMass Metrics initiative thus far and seek input on prioritization of the initial draft slate of resilient metrics. 3pm-5pm on 10/15.
Event- Climate Beacon 2024, UMass Boston Club and Boston Society of Architects. Corporate, municipal, institutional, and community leaders all come together with experts to chart paths to more sustainable futures and action on climate change. 10/16-10/18.
Event - Fall Conference, MA Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC). A day full of water-related workshops, MACC Fundamentals courses, a keynote speech from Beth Lambert - DER Director, and plenty of networking opportunities. 8am-3:30pm on 10/19 at Devens Common Center.
Event - Pre-Request for Responses Webinar, Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program. During this webinar, the MVP team will discuss the upcoming FY25 MVP 2.0 round, which opens for applications in early November 2024. 10:30am-11:30am on 10/22.
Event - Dambusters Site Visit. Join for an insightful visit to the River Street dam removal site in Acton. Register here for 10/23.
Event - Webinar, Environmental Business Council. The Time is Now to Apply for Climate Funding: An Introduction will describe federal and state funding programs available to support planning or construction of climate and resiliency-related projects. 10:30am-12:00pm on 10/24.
Job - Senior Director of Nature in the City Program, MassAudubon, Lincoln. Implement and grow the Nature in the City Program in communities across the Commonwealth while working within the Conservation Division.
Job - Director of Climate Policy and Planning, City of Boston. Implement the next generation of Boston’s climate agenda including through regulatory strategy, long-range planning, and intergovernmental coordination.
Job - ORISE Fellowship, Improving Decisions in the Context of Climate Adaptation, Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. Use decision analysis tools and techniques to advance climate adaptation for natural resource managers. Be mentored by a team of decision scientists and adaptation professionals.
Job - Position opening soon for Assistant Regional Administrator, Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. Work with federal, university, and NGO partners to foster partnerships in climate science and technical assistance and provide leadership in program planning and evaluation.
Job - Climate Resilience Manager, Groundwork Southcoast, New Bedford. Lead land, water and food stewardship, and climate resilience efforts.
Job - Urban Forestry Specialist, Weston and Sampson. New England Based. Provide comprehensive resilient stormwater and urban forest planning and design services to municipal clients.
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In case you've been wondering what to read next..
- Climate Literacy: The U.S. Global Change Research Program recently released the third edition of the nation’s climate literacy guide. It presents information that is important for individuals and communities to know and understand about Earth’s climate, the impacts of climate change, and solutions.
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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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