Pacific Northwest Coastal Hazards Resources Newsletter - July 2024

Your monthly newsletter about upcoming events (e.g., webinars, meetings and conferences), publications, online resources, grant opportunities, and more.

Hello everyone,

Please find our monthly newsletter which is the result of joint efforts between Oregon Sea Grant’s Oregon Coastal Hazards (OCHR) Library & Mapper, the Cascadia Coastlines & People Hazards Research Hub (Cascadia CoPes Hub), and the Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network (CHRN).

The newsletter issues will be archived in the OCHR Mapper, the Cascadia CoPes Hub, and the CHRN websites.

If you have anything to add to the next newsletter please share with Felicia by July 24, 2024. If you want to receive the newsletter, please subscribe to the OCHR Mapper listserv here or to the CHRN listserv here. If you have an event that is happening from now until the next issue, please send your message directly to the OCHR Mapper listserv, the CHRN listserv, or to Felicia.

Other comments and suggestions are appreciated, as well.

Sincerely,

Felicia Olmeta Schult, Extension Coastal Hazards Specialist, Oregon Sea Grant

Ali Burgos, Project Manager, Cascadia CoPes Hub

Chandler Countryman, Resilience and Adaptation Specialist, WA Sea Grant

Noah Linck, WA Sea Grant Hershman Fellow, WA State Department of Ecology

Announcements

National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA): Communications and Innovative Water Projects Nominations Open. NAFSMA recognizes projects each year that raise public awareness for flooding and water quality. It also highlights clever water projects that achieve multiple benefits. This could include water conservation, recreation, and environmental justice. The goal of this work is to advance innovation and teamwork in water infrastructure projects. The nomination application deadline is July 31, 2024. Learn more here.

Union of Concerned Scientists Releases New Coastal Resilience Report

Union of Concerned Scientists released a report titled “Looming Deadlines for Coastal Resilience: Rising Seas, Disruptive Tides, and Risks to Coastal Infrastructure”. The report, accompanying spreadsheets, and interactive map outline future sea-level rise and the associated risks for infrastructure in 2020, 2030, 2050, and 2100. Themes of affordable housing, science-based decision-making, and critical infrastructure impacts are also explored.

Washington’s Climate Resilience Strategy - Public comment draft available now Washington's Climate Resilience Strategy identifies ways state agencies can aid climate response activities through both existing and new proposed work to address the greatest climate risks facing our state like extreme heat, smoke, and changing water availability. The public comment period closes July 11 (11:59 p.m.). Click here to view the draft strategy and click here to make a comment.

NOAA Invites Public Comment on Draft Regional Ocean Partnership Designation Guidance. NOAA invites public comment on guidance on designating new regional ocean partnerships under the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (16 U.S.C. § 1468) (NDAA). The NDAA authorizes coastal states, Indian Tribes (including Alaska Native villages), and other entities to form new partnerships and to apply to NOAA as a regional ocean partnership. The designation guidance is proposed to address the membership, organization, and required elements of new partnerships. NOAA proposes to include the following information: introduction and background; instructions on submitting a new partnership application to NOAA; requirements for new regional ocean partnerships; and funding eligibility. The proposed designation guidance document and instructions for submitting comments may be found in the Federal Register. Comments may be submitted until Thursday, July 11 2024.

Upcoming Webinars, Meetings & Events

July 11, 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Exploring Creative Roles States Are Playing to Get People out of Harm’s Way (Acquisition Webinar 4) Many states are already experiencing levels of flooding that far exceed, but are illustrative of what is to come in Washington. Learn from Courtney Wald-Wittkop, Manager of the Blue Acres program, how New Jersey has built an innovative, state-led acquisition program to cope with the increasing pace and magnitude of flooding and help move people out of harm’s way quicker and with more ease for both administrators and those experiencing flooding. Register here

July 24, 12:00 PM: NIHB and FEMA: Introduction to Tribal Mitigation Planning Webinar. Register here.

October 24 – October 25: Save the Date for the Washington Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead Sea Level Rise Forum. HSIL is hosting a forum on understanding and planning for sea level rise and climate related hazards to shorelines in Puget Sound. HSIL is inviting habitat restoration and protection practitioners from across Puget Sound to connect with tools, programs, and people to advance planning for climate impacts and resilient habitat in the Puget Sound. Please visit the Habitat RFP page for updates and specific information about registration and venue later this summer.

How Hazard Mitigation and Water Resource Planning Flow Together. Recorded Webinar, FEMA. Access here.

Workshops & Training

NEW - Washington Coastal Training Program courses announced! Registration is open for the Coastal Training Program classes scheduled for August 2024 - December 2024. All classes are eligible for Certification Maintenance (CM) credits through the American Planning Association and the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals. Members of the Society of Wetland Scientists may also apply class hours towards re-certification.

July 14 - 17, 2024. 49th Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop. Broomfield, CO. This year’s theme is The Stories We Tell: Creative Strategies for Understanding and Communicating Disaster Risk. Learn more and register here.

NEW - Community-Based Disaster Preparedness and Resilience. Online course offered by University of South Florida. This course is designed to empower participants to promote and apply best practices before, during and after disasters. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills training, participants learn how to effectively coordinate community-based responses, mitigate risks, and facilitate recovery efforts. Learn more and register here.

NEW - Creating Co-Benefits Through Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Nonpoint Source program and Watershed Academy announced the release of this web-based training. The training helps water quality and hazard mitigation professionals work water quality issues, water resource management, and nature-based practices into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs). Access here.

NEW - California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services: California Helping Community-Based Organizations and Tribes Access Public Grants and Philanthropic Funding. Philanthropy California and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services have partnered to build resilience in the state. They will provide virtual and in-person grant writing training, events, and one-on-one technical assistance. This work will support nonprofits, community-based organizations, and tribal organizations that work in climate and disaster resilience. Learn more here.

Upcoming Conferences

Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR), University College London, UK invites you to save the dates for London:

(a) 25 June, Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR) Annual Conference.

(b) 26-27 June, UK Alliance for Disaster Research (UKADR) Annual Conference.

July 26 - August 1, 2024 - National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program 2024 Summer Meeting (Pago Pago, American Samoa). Learn more here.

August 11-16, 2024. Changing Currents: Tribal Water Summit. North Bend, Oregon. Changing Current Water summits are inter-tribal convenings designed to bring together staff and leadership from Northwest Tribes and Native communities to foster dialogue & collaboration around common water interests and work toward a shared agenda. Learn more here.

September 9-12, 2024. National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference. Anchorage, Alaska. Learn more here.

NEW - September 10-14, 2024. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists. 67th Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. Learn more here.

NEW - September 22-25, 2024. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (Anaheim, CA). Learn more here.

October 6-10, 2024 - Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) Coastal & Estuarine Summit. Washington, D.C. Region. For more information, visit the 2024 RAE Coastal & Estuarine Summit webpage.

October 9-10, 2024. Pre-Conference: October 7-8. Engagement Scholarship Consortium International Conference. Pathways To Prosperity: Building Sustainable Futures Through Community Engagement. Hosted by Oregon State University and the member institutions of the ESC Western Region. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunities

NEW - The Washington Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) Request For Proposals. Deadline to Apply August 27th. The HSIL will invest up to $1 million to fund near term activities that increase long-term strategic coastal resiliency planning for existing and projected sea level rise and other climate related hazards for nearshore habitat across Puget Sound. The HSIL will also invest up to $1 million in proposals to improve our understanding of the effectiveness of different soft shore designs on allowing physical processes to maintain shoreline structure and function to increase confidence and adoption where appropriate for habitat protection and restoration activities in Puget Sound. Learn more here.

NEW - CZM Habitat Protection and Restoration Competition Funding - Dept. of Ecology Now Recruiting Projects. The Department of Ecology is soliciting project proposals for the recently announced FY 24 CZM Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Competition. Ecology invites interested partners to submit project ideas that align with the competition funding priorities for consideration. Project categories are: Habitat Restoration; Restoration Planning, Engineering, and Design; or Ecosystem Conservation/Land Acquisition. You can also view descriptions of previously funded projects here. Ecology intends to work with project partners to submit the maximum of three (3) Letters of Intent (LOIs) to NOAA by the August 15, 2024 deadline. Priority will be given to projects that are led by or closely partner with Tribes and/or underserved communities. If this sounds like work your community or organization is currently engaged in and you are interested in partnering with the CZM Program to submit a Letter of Intent, please reach out to the project coordinators Olivia Zimmerman (ozim461@ecy.wa.gov) and Naomi Gebo (ngeb461@ecy.wa.gov) no later than by Wednesday July 17th to discuss your project in more detail or feel free to e-mail a brief summary to determine if it is a good fit.

USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support: Tribal Access to Emerging Private Markets for Climate Mitigation and Forest Resilience. Deadline to Apply: August 21, 2024. This forecasted funding opportunity will solicit proposals for IRA provision Subtitle D, Sec. 23002 (a)(2) and (a)(3) which provide the USDA Forest Service with funding to support the participation of underserved and small-acreage forest landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience. Learn more here.

EPA Announces NOFO for Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant Programs. Deadline: November 21, 2024. EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy. Awards vary depending on application track. Technical assistance available. Learn more here.

Swift Current, a subprogram of FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program. Deadline: January 15, 2025. This program aims to speed up the award of FMA funding to reduce the damage-repair cycle of repetitively flooded or substantially damaged properties. Another $300 million is available in this, the second round of Swift Current funding. Examples of eligible projects include property acquisition and demolition, elevation, and relocation. For this round, FEMA expanded criteria so more places could benefit. Learn more here.

Highlighted Media, Publications, and Online Resources

Hazards Around the Nation:

With Heat Waves, an Increased Risk For Heart Problems, New Research Shows. June 19, 2024. By Victoria Martin, InsideClimate News. Read more here.

Oregon Wildfire grows to nearly 4,000 acres, prompting new evacuations. June 27, 2024. By Hutchinson, ABC News. Read more here.

Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc Across the US - From Midwest Flooding to Deadly Northeast Storm. June 27, 2024. Associated Press. Read more here.

Millions Swelter as Temperatures Soar Across the US, While Floodwaters Inundate the Midwest. June 23 2024. Associate Press. Read more here.

Climate Change & Coastal Hazard Science & Resilience:

Saltwater from rising sea levels threatens future of farming along Chesapeake Bay. June 27, 2024. By William Brangham and Sam Weber, PBS News. Read more here.

Rocky shores of Pacific Northwest show low resilience to changes in climate, research shows. Steve Lundeberg - Oregon State University Jun 25, 2024. The World Link. Read more here.

Climate change is causing low-oxygen levels in Pacific Northwest ocean, report says. By Roman Battaglia (JPR). June 16, 2024. OPB. Read more here.

Gray whales in the Pacific Northwest are getting shorter, study says. Whales born after 2000 were significantly shorter than those born during the 20th century, the researchers found. By Erin Blakemore. June 23, 2024. The Washington Post. Read more here

Earthquake & Tsunami Science & Disaster Resilience:

Scientists map one of Earth’s top hazards in the Pacific Northwest. A catastrophic earthquake and tsunami will one day hit the Pacific Northwest as tectonic plates slip at the Cascadia subduction zone. This study was conducted by several Cascadia CoPes Hub researchers. By Carolyn Y. Johnson. June 7, 2024. The Washington Post. Read more here

Why Washington is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. By Loren Michelman and Linda Zaleskie, CNN. Read more here

‘The difference between alarming and catastrophic': Cascadia megafault has 1 especially deadly section, new map reveals. The Cascadia subduction zone is more complex than researchers previously knew. The new finding could help scientists better understand the risk from future earthquakes. By Stephanie Pappas. June 7, 2024. Live Science. Read more here

FEMA: Climate Adaptation Planning for Emergency Managers. FEMA released the “Climate Adaptation Planning: Guidance for Emergency Managers.” The goal of the guide is to walk state, local, tribal, and territorial partners through the Six Step Planning Process. Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans describes this process. The climate guide also highlights existing climate mapping tools, trainings, and potential funding resources.

Job, Scholarship, and Fellowship Opportunities

Oregon:

Oregon Sea Grant fellowship application deadline extended. Oregon Sea Grant has extended the application deadline for the Oregon Natural Resource Policy Fellowship (NRPF) from June 30th to July 8, 2024. This one-year, full-time fellowship provides a student first-hand experience in natural resource policy at the state level and is open to graduate students and recent graduates with interest and experience in coastal policy from any U.S. university or college (preference will be given to eligible applicants from a college or university with a physical campus located in Oregon).

Oregon Coast STEM Hub Coordinator, Oregon State University/Oregon Sea Grant. This employee will plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and participate in activities for the OCSH. They will provide communications support and will monitor and report metrics against program goals and will interact with internal and external collaborators and stakeholders to build program support. The role requires interaction with a diverse group of stakeholders and partners. Application review starts July 8. Learn more here.

Faculty Research Assistant: OSU Marine and Geology Repository Instrumentation Specialist. Oregon State University. Corvallis, OR. This position facilitates the mission of the OSU Marine and Geology Repository (OSU–MGR) by managing day-to-day activities related to collecting, processing, and archiving data from geological samples in the OSU–MGR collections for scientific research. Read more here.

Washington:

Clean Energy Aquatic Permit Lead. Application Closes July 8, 2024. The Department of Ecology is looking for a Clean Energy Aquatic Permit Lead that will lead aquatic perimeter for clean energy projects, you will complete reviews for compliance with the Clean Water Act, Shoreline Management Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act. Apply here.

Climate Change Manager. Application closes July 22, 2024. Bellingham, WA. The Lummi Natural Resources (LNR) Climate Change Coordinator directs and coordinates the implementation LIBC’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan (CCMAP) within the Natural Resources Department and the community with the goal of creating climate resilience in Lummi Nation’s built and natural environments. The Climate Change Coordinator also supports the implementation of the LIBC’s Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) within the Natural Resources Department and the community with the goal of reducing carbon emissions to mitigate future climate change. Learn more and apply here.

Climate Resilience Specialist. Application closes July 29, 2024. Bellingham, WA. The Lummi Natural Resources (LNR) Climate Resilience Specialist provides support for LNR’s Climate program. The Climate Resilience Specialist will work with the LNR’s divisions to synthesize climate related literature, coordinate meetings with partners and other departments in the Lummi Indian Business Council (LIBC), conduct outreach and education to the Lummi community including students, assist the Climate Change Manager (CCM) with the implementation of projects, and track carbon projects in the Lummi Nation’s Usual and Accustomed Grounds. Learn more and apply here.

Research Scientist, NW Climate Adaptation Center. This full-time position at the University of Washington will play a crucial role in the NW CASC’s efforts to link science with practice to support regional climate resilience. The position will lead the planning and implementation of our Actionable Science Deep Dives and coordinate the Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (NW RISCC) Network. They are seeking candidates with science synthesis experience and strong organization and communication skills. Learn more here.

Director of Climate, Carbon and Forestry. HP. Vancouver, WA. The Director of Climate, Carbon, and Forestry will lead several of HP’s key global climate teams, creating a center of excellence and best practices around carbon reduction. As the Carbon Leader, this role will be responsible for leading a global organization of subject matter experts to develop and drive the implementation of HP’s decarbonization roadmap end to end across the entire value chain. This role is based centrally within the Supply Chain but actively works globally across functions and business units. You would be a key member of the Sustainable Impact Operations & Compliance (SIOC) leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Sustainability Officer. You will have accountability for spearheading the global efforts to ensure HP meets our short-term 50% absolute carbon reduction by 2030, and longer-term net zero by 2040 climate goals. Learn more and apply here.

Emergency Management Specialist. FEMA. Application Closes July 3rd, 2024. In this position, you will serve as an Emergency Management Specialist performing mitigation program work involving risk analysis, risk reduction, and risk insurance. Assisting communities in marketing the National Flood Insurance Program. Apply here.

Pacific Northwest/ Other:

Community Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinator, American Red Cross. Monterey, CA. This position reports to the Monterey County Community Disaster Risk Reduction Manager. This position will lead a groundbreaking new program and is responsible for building and overseeing a community partner network and workforce to help cope with the climate crisis. Learn more here.

Physical Scientist. NOAA. Multiple locations possible. Application Closes July 8, 2024. Duties include: Conduct standard analysis on developing tools and products to synthesize ocean exploration data. Apply knowledge of the theories, principles, and methods of ocean exploration data acquisition and processing to refine data pipelines from ship to archives. Evaluate data and report on findings, working with higher level scientists on unusual situations. Learn more and apply here