This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) to university of wisconsin-madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison was awarded a $600,000 Project Grant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Non-State Member Support for the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan program (CFDA 66.487), effective January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028. The purpose of this award is to support and advance the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan through the University's work to maintain and facilitate a network of faculty and extension personnel. Key activities include:

• Coordinating with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) and Sub-Basin Committees to develop and implement a basin-wide communications strategy to advance progress towards nutrient reduction goals, including outreach, publications, and showcasing successful nutrient management projects.
• Synthesizing and sharing progress on monitoring, nutrient reduction strategy implementation, and challenges/opportunities in addressing the complexity of Gulf hypoxia, in collaboration with GHP members and affiliates.
• Supporting and expanding existing Land Grant University (LGU) initiatives, such as the Confluence for Watershed Leaders and One Good Idea, to advance nutrient loss reduction goals.
• Coordinating with Sub-Basin Committees, states, and tribal partners to help form and strengthen connections with disadvantaged communities across the basin, supporting communication and information sharing on conservation and nutrient reduction actions.

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is a sub-grantee under this award, with Dr. Speir serving as a co-PI responsible for leading strategic outcome 3, coordinating engagement activities, and directing the development of a research agenda on nutrient reduction strategies.

Specifically, the purpose of this agreement is to support and advance the gulf hypoxia action plan through implementation of university of wisconsin-madison's workplan. Through this agreement, the university of wisconsin-madison via the land grant university consortium (LGU) will maintain and facilitate a network of faculty and extension personnel that assist state and federal partners in addressing coordination, communication, research, and outreach activities advancing the gulf hypoxia action plan. Activities will help: document and communicate progress towards nutrient reduction goals at state and basin scales including actions that involve climate CO-benefits; support networks of state, tribal, and sub-basin stakeholders including disadvantaged communities, farmers, and watershed professionals; and advance the application of new research findings in support of nutrient reduction strategies. Activities:the activities include the following: - coordinate with the GHP and sub basin committees (sbcs) to develop and implement a basin-wide communications strategy to advance progress toward HTF goals. This will include direct outreach with states and stakeholders to get input and through virtual and/or in-person workshops/meetings to synthesize ideas into a shared strategy. Carry out communications and outreach tactics that will work to achieve the goals identified in the basin-wide strategy; these tactics, among others, could include publications, digital media production, news media outreach, social media, other informational materials, or outreach events. Related to this work and broader state and basin-level coordination efforts, the project will also showcase successful nutrient management and conservation projects and programs to demonstrate progress to target audiences and increase public support for such efforts. - coordinate and collaborate with HTF members and affiliates, including the sbcs, to synthesize and share progress made in monitoring, the implementation of nutrient reduction strategies and practices across the basin, and challenges and opportunities for addressing the inherent complexity of gulf hypoxia. This will include participation in meetings and workgroups, exchange information via sera-46 events, and engagement between university staff and in-state partners. Forums and platforms for conducting this work will be developed cooperatively with GHP and partners and would likely include online interactions and internet-based platforms such as project websites and webinar venues. - support, expand, and sustain existing LGU initiatives, such as the confluence for watershed leaders and one good idea, which are already collaborative efforts of sera-46 and are serving to advance progress on nutrient loss reduction goals. The confluence for watershed leaders supports a network of watershed professionals and farmer leaders, and one good idea supports a network of farmers. Delivery details for those programs are available through the website links. - through LGU networks, coordinate with sbcs, states, and tribal partners to help form and strengthen connections with disadvantaged communities throughout the basin supporting communication and information sharing about actions that advance conservation, nutrient loss reduction, and associated climate-related benefits. For example, building upon LGU relationships with tribal colleges and historically black colleges and universities (hbcus) in the region, we will seek to identify partner and joint priorities and opportunities for reporting, communication, and related mutual goals in support of disadvantaged communities. As stated above, this project will emphasize a CO-production approach, recognizing the importance of and time involved in building sustainable and trusting relationships essential for this work. The proje