Project Grant 98685820

DESCRIPTION:SECTION 320 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA) AUTHORIZES THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) TO CONVENE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR ESTUARIES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT ARE THREATENED BY POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT, OR OVERUSE. THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO COASTAL BEND BAYS AND ESTUARIES PROGRAM (CBBEP) FOR NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (NEP) TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEP COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) AND EPA STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 5: ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES AND OBJECTIVE 5.2: - PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY, PROTECT THE NATURAL HABITAT AND LIVING RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE HUMAN USES IN THE ESTUARY. THE MAJORITY OF THIS AWARD WILL ALLOW CBBEP TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO TOWARD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR CCMP AND THE REMAINING FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION IN SUPPORT OF GRANT ACTIVITIES AND THE ESTUARY COUNCIL. ACTIVITIES:THE PROJECTS INCLUDED WILL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS THE KEY CHALLENGES FACING THE ESTUARY INCLUDING ASSESSING TRENDS IN WATER QUALITY, HABITATS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND USES; COORDINATING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) BY THE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (NEP), ALONG WITH THE STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL AGENCIES, STAKEHOLDERS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS), CITIZENS, PARTNERS, AND OTHERS; AND MONITORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED UNDER THE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE APPROVED CCMP AND ANNUAL WORKPLAN. THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED BY THE COASTAL BEND BAYS AND ESTUARIES PROGRAM (CBBEP) INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: 1) CBBEP COASTAL BIRD MANAGEMENT - THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO 1) CONTINUE COASTAL BIRD POPULATION RESTORATION EFFORTS THROUGH MANAGEMENT OF COLONIAL WATERBIRD NESTING SITES, 2) IMPLEMENT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROMOTING STEWARDSHIP OF COASTAL BIRDS AND THEIR HABITAT, 3) ASSIST PARTNERS IN OBSERVATION AND MONITORING IN COASTAL BIRD POPULATIONS, AND 4) PROVIDE STAKEHOLDERS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EXPERTISE ON COASTAL BIRD ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH TAGGING MIGRATORY BIRDS. 2) DELTA DISCOVERY - THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE (K-12) STUDENTS, AND TO AID TEACHERS IN INCREASING THEIR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO EFFECTIVELY TEACH SCIENCE TO STUDENTS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS. 3) NATIONAL SPILL CONTROL SCHOOL 40-HOUR OIL AND HAZARDOUS SPILL RESPONSE COURSES - THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED OIL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE TRAININGS FOR DREDGE, VESSEL, AND TERMINAL OPERATORS IN THE TEXAS COASTAL BEND IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE RESPONSE TIME DURING SPILL EVENTS AND LESSEN POTENTIAL ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS. 4) MONITORING SUCCESS OF DREDGE MATERIAL PLACEMENT AT THE NUECES DELTA - THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO (1) CONDUCT PRE/POST ELEVATION AND VEGETATION SURVEYS RELATED TO AN UPCOMING DREDGE PLACEMENT PROJECT AT THE NUECES DELTA PRESERVE, AND (2) DEVELOP AN ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT WILL ASSIST CBBEP IN THEIR LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DREDGE PLACEMENT PROJECT. 5) LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP - THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE THE STEWARDSHIP OF COASTAL RESOURCES THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES ON CBBEP PROPERTIES. SUBRECIPIENT:NATIONAL SPILL CONTROL SCHOOL 40-HOUR OIL AND HAZARDOUS SPILL RESPONSE COURSES: SUBAWARDEES WILL PROVIDE OIL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE TRAINING FOR DREDGE, VESSEL, AND TERMINAL OPERATORS IN THE TEXAS COASTAL BEND. THE SUBAWARDEE WILL CONDUCT FOUR, 40-HOUR COURSES OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR WITH UP TO 20 ATTENDEES IN EACH COURSE. COURSES WILL INCLUDE SAFETY AND OIL SPILL RESPONSE BASICS IN A CLASSROOM SETTING, AS WELL AS HANDS SPILL RESPONSE EXERCISES WITH BOATS IN COR