NART Newsletter 1 Summer/Fall 2017 ------members on a tour of the Reserve a tour members on image). (right NART members who attend the Annual Meeting the Annual NART (far left who attend members image). Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve Estuarine Research National NART (middle image). Delaware NART Meets in Delaware and Plans for Fiscal Year 2018 Year Fiscal in Delaware and Plans for NART Meets

Regional Team (NART) newsletter highlights recent NOAA collaborative activity in our region. highlights recent NOAA newsletter (NART) Regional Team NOAA’s North Atlantic region includes all or part of twelve states and the District of Columbia. The quarterly North Atlantic Atlantic region includes all or part of twelve states and the District of Columbia. The quarterly North Atlantic North NOAA’s

Please contact [email protected] for more information. more information about these projects and their progress. more information about these projects and their progress. looks forward to sharing The NART integrated NOAA. is working toward a unified and regionally The NART dent command system model. Whether inclement weather, terrorism, or other natural disasters, regional disasters, regional terrorism, or other natural dent command system model. Whether inclement weather, line offices. collaboration plays a valuable role in increasing awareness across for the implementation during an emergency following the Federal Emergency Management Agency inci Emergency Management for the implementation during an emergency following the Federal NART will help to draft an emergency response plan that will identify an organizational structure and es will help to draft an NART The plan will assign the roles and responsibilities tablish procedures for response to major emergencies.

posing a series of webinars, tutorial workshops, and a summer internship to assist the Northeast Fisheries internship to assist the Northeast Fisheries posing a series of webinars, tutorial workshops, and a summer compliant. Science Center in making their data PARR As part of NOAA’s Plan for Increasing Public Access to Research Results (PARR) initiative, NART is pro initiative, NART Access to Research Results (PARR) Plan for Increasing Public As part of NOAA’s reau, and data from city and county Geographic Information System services. reau, and data from city and county Geographic Information System risk for the Northeast. The program will use historical climate information combined with readily available with readily available The program will use historical climate information combined risk for the Northeast. in-formation from the Census Bu health information from Centers for Disease Control, social vulnerability New NART initiatives include development of a regional pilot program to produce a unified view of heat development of a regional pilot program to produce a unified view of heat initiatives include New NART in the Choptank River complex of Delaware/Maryland, a designated NOAA Habitat Focus Area. Habitat Focus Delaware/Maryland, a designated NOAA in the Choptank River complex of The NART has supported a Chesapeake Research Consortium Internship into its sixth year. This project This project year. a Chesapeake Research Consortium Internship into its sixth has supported The NART on oyster reefs in our ability to investigate impacts of river flow and runoff has made noticeable advances tributions NOAA is making in their state and/or community and connect with valuable NOAA and partner and partner and connect with valuable NOAA is making in their state and/or community tributions NOAA resources. known services and products that NOAA provides. Using partner pairings (NOAA plus an end user or plus an end user or partner pairings (NOAA provides. Using NOAA known services and products that allow participants to better understand the con product or service), the roundtables customer of a NOAA leaders on the latest science, successful partnerships and known gaps, with an emphasis on the lesser- partnerships and known gaps, with an emphasis on the leaders on the latest science, successful meetings that will take place in New York and Maryland. NART convened other federal, academic, state, convened other federal, academic, state, and Maryland. NART York New meetings that will take place in congressional delegation and tribal partners to educate each state’s municipal, and non-governmental Many projects continue existing work, including NART’s support of congressional and tribal engagement support of congressional and tribal engagement work, including NART’s Many projects continue existing a projects to focus NOAA’s regional collaboration efforts for FY18. for FY18. regional collaboration efforts a projects to focus NOAA’s The team learned about NOAA’s activities in and around the St. Jones River watershed and vetted and and vetted and activities in and around the St. Jones River watershed The team learned about NOAA’s settled on a suite of members fiscal year 2018 (FY18). In the end, NART discussed possible activities for

Danielle Haulsee and Matthew Breece from the University of Delaware, NOAA Headquarters Liaison Mer Headquarters from the University of Delaware, NOAA Danielle Haulsee and Matthew Breece Coordinator Bethany Perry. Team Central Regional Collaboration edith Cameron, and NOAA DNERR Staff Assistant Colleen Holstein, Dr. Dwayne Fox from Delaware State University, Drs. Matt Oliver, Drs. Matt Oliver, Dwayne Fox from Delaware State University, Assistant Colleen Holstein, Dr. DNERR Staff Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) in Dover, DE on August 7-9. Invited guests August 7-9. Invited guests on DE (DNERR) in Dover, Estuarine Research Reserve Delaware National Kim Cole, DNERR Environmental Scientist Matthew Messinger, included the DNERR Reserve Manager The North Atlantic Regional Team (NART) held its annual meeting at the St. Jones Reserve on the at the St. Jones Reserve on the held its annual meeting (NART) Team Regional Atlantic The North NART Continues with Congressional Did You Know? & Tribal Roundtables Joint Polar Satellite System-1 NART NewsletterNART

The NOAA Joint Polar Satellite System-1, the first in a new series of highly advanced polar-orbiting satellites, is scheduled to lift off Nov. 14, at 1:47 a.m. PST from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Califor- nia.

“The new JPSS satellite will join GOES-16 as we are confronting one of the most tragic hurricane Image: Congressional staffers & NART members during the NH Roundtable

2 seasons in the past decade,” said Secretary of This summer and fall, the NART continued its engage- Commerce Wilbur Ross. “JPSS will provide ad- ment with Congressional-district staff and tribal elders vanced forecasting on not only hurricanes, but also

Summer/Fall 2017 in the region on relevant local topics. Staffers and Tribal Summer/Fall 2015 dangerous weather events threatening communi- members continue to voice their gratitude for these in- ties across the United States.” depth, interdisciplinary portrayals of NOAA’s work and its relevance to their state or tribe. The team has now The satellite, called JPSS-1, will provide meteorolo- sponsored twelve congressional roundtables in ten states gists with a variety of observations, such as atmo- (CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, PA, RI, VA, and VT). The team spheric temperature and moisture, sea-surface has also done two roundtables with the Mashpee Wam- temperature, ocean color, sea ice cover, volcanic panoag Tribe and the Maliseet Indians. ash and fire detection. Forecasters will be able to use the data to better predict weather events and The NART sponsored a roundtable in NH on September hazards, such as a hurricane’s track and intensity, 6th at the Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth. Attend- as well as identifying power outages and locating ees included representatives from the offices of Sens. and evaluating damage following a storm. Shaheen and Hassan, Reps. Shea-Porter and Kuster; NOAA colleagues from the National Weather Service, Na- JPSS-1, will join the Suomi National Polar-orbiting tional Ocean Service, Fisheries, National Environmental Partnership, a joint NOAA-NASA weather satellite, Satellite Data and Information Service, National Estuarine giving the U.S. the benefit of two, sophisticated Research Reserve Association, Gulf of Maine Research polar satellites in the same orbit. Each will circle the Institute, NH Department of Health and Human Services, globe 14 times a day, 50 minutes apart and provide NH Fish and Wildlife, NH Sea Grant, NH Coastal Pro- full, global observations for U.S. weather prediction. gram, and the University of New Hampshire. “Having two advanced polar satellites in the same A roundtable with the Houlton Band of the Maliseet Indi- orbit will ensure our numerical weather models ans was also sponsored by the NART on September 21st have the necessary, critical data to support fore- in Littleton, ME. Developing a common understanding of casts up to seven days ahead of extreme weather restoration needs and determining a series of steps for events,” said Stephen Volz, Ph.D., director of collaboration in the Meduxnekeag River and Wolastoq/St NOAA’s Environmental Satellite, Data, and Informa- John Watershed was the theme for the day-long meeting. tion Service. The roundtable was attended by NOAA scientists and staff from the Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife, US Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and members of the tribe. This assembly attracted nearly 30 people to evaluate awareness of tribal issues that inter- sect the NOAA mission. The discussion paved the initial steps for development of a Fish Habitat Management and Restoration Plan.

POC: [email protected] Image: Rendering of JPSS-1 NOAA Place in the North Atlantic Profile NART Study on NOAA’s NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler

Resilience Tools NewsletterNART NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler is a hydrographic survey vessel whose primary mission is to map coastal waters to update nautical charts. The ship also supports other activities, including testing of autonomous un- derwater vehicles, buoy deployment and recovery, and general oceanographic research.

The ship’s side scan sonar collects imagery of the sea floor to identify obstructions or wrecks that could be navigational hazards. To obtain accurate depth mea- 3 surements (within 10 cm), the ship uses multibeam Image: Survey meetings at CT Sea Grant echo sounders. The bathymetric data can be converted Summer/Fall 2015 into three-dimensional models to provide accurate depth As one of the most important FY17 projects, Summer/Fall 2017 data and detailed images of the sea floor and objects. the NART studied ways to improve the usabil- ity of NOAA’s resilience tools. There are many The ship is one of NOAA’s most valuable assets follow- different resilience tools across all line offices. ing a severe weather event or ocean emergency. Even Because of this, the NART wanted to determine before it was officially commissioned in 2012, the ship what makes a tool useful or not. This project was deployed in response to a U.S. Coast Guard re- surveyed current resilience tool users in the quest for assistance following Hurricane Irene. The ship NART region to gather insight and feedback on conducted hydrographic surveys around the clock in several NOAA resilience tools. Primary survey Hampton Roads, VA, applying its state-of-the-art assets design and implementation was provided by to looking at seafloor changes, searching for underwater Ian Yue (CT Sea Grant) while Diana Payne (CT hazards that would pose a danger to ships, and helping Sea Grant) also helped in design and evalua- to restore port operations to its full capacity. tion. The surveys received good response from users. As one stated, “Glad to see surveys like The ship was named for Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, a this - sometimes we don’t think hard enough visionary scientist who planned the Survey of the Coast about applications and users”. after President Jefferson signed the enacting legisla- tion in 1807. Hassler became the first superintendent of The study concluded that resilience tool users Coast Survey, serving until his death in 1843. The ship desire tools that ensure ease of to and within is homeported in New Castle, NH. the tool, provisions for users’ technical abilities and decision-making needs, and confidence in For more information check out: omao.noaa.gov the tool’s underlying data and outputs. Addition- ally, the study recommended that those building or improving resilience tools clearly communi- cate how their tools meet these three criteria when promoting them to stakeholders. Finally, many survey respondents stated a need for guidance in choosing, using, or making deci- sions with resilience tools.

Many thanks to the NART Resilience Toolkit Sterring Committee to bring the project to life. The committee is comprised of LCDR James Brinkley (NART Coordinator), Peter Burns (NMFS), Sylvain DeGuise (CT Sea Grant), George McKillop (NWS), Ellen Mecray (NES- DIS), Betsy Nicholson (NOS) and Joe Sienkow- itz (NWS). Image: NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler POC: [email protected] - - - I recommend that they talk to employees to learn about the I recommend that they talk to employees to learn about the does so many types of jobs that are available. NOAA different things and requires a workforce with a broad range of different questions and learn from Ask skills to help get the work done. others how they became employed in the agency and map out the types of skills needed to get on the intended career path. Networking, internships, and informational interviews are great in the agency happening ways to stay in touch with what’s a is blessed with and find out when jobs are available. NOAA smart and committed workforce so work hard so you can stay competitive when jobs come up. hope to be part of that process moving forward. forward. hope to be part of that process moving that you of NOAA Do you have any achievements outside would like to mention? a daughter and a son, I am the proud father of two teenagers, a small have We water. who love to be outside and on the during the summer. boat that we use to get out to the beach in Plum also like to fish for striped bass and other species We Massachusetts. Island Sound near our home in northeastern Maine, every summer to take our boat up to Casco Bay, We wildlife, and weather, explore the many islands and beautiful scenery. And/or your favorite hobby? What is your favorite motto? My favorite motto that I think of when things get tough is “Just Keep Swimming” from Finding Nemo, which is one of our favorite family movies. In any endeavor that we undertake, This motto there are bound to be problems and complications. helps me to remember to keep at it and never give up. If you hit a snag, figure out what you need to do to overcome it. What would you recommend to those who want to begin a career at NOAA? of management measures measures of management the to conserve in place is climate change resource, our ability to complicating fisheries. manage effectively New England The southern is experienc lobster stock due ing recruitment failure Scien to warming waters. that even tists are telling us would closing the fishery the stock not guarantee that levels. can rebuild to historic the Gulf On the other hand, is of Maine lobster fishery experiencing record-breaking high year and the stock is at historically harvests year after believe that warm scientist However, levels of abundance. the development of baby ing waters are negatively impacting for the Gulf of Maine lobsters, which may become a problem Scientists and managers lobster industry in the coming years. the lobster industry to need to continue to work closely with and ways to manage lobster find more innovative and effective I of climate change. other fisheries in the wake of the impacts ------NART Background NOAA People in the in the People NOAA North Region Atlantic Despite these efforts and the complex network and the complex network Despite these efforts funded buyout for fishermen who want to sell their funded buyout for fishermen who want to sell their while provid allocations and get out of the fishery, ing opportunities for smaller business that want to expand. ity that allows fishermen to buy and sell parts of ity that allows fishermen to buy and sell parts of their trap allocations to optimize the size of their This program serves as an industry- businesses. fort in check and reduce the danger to whales by fort in check and reduce the danger to whales by have We removing lobster lines from the water. also implemented a system of trap transferabil closely with the states and the lobster industry, industry, closely with the states and the lobster we have implemented limited-access programs to reduce traps in the fishery to help keep fishing ef programs now in place to help address problems problems programs now in place to help address in with the lobster stocks and assist fishermen Working keeping their businesses sustainable. I have been involved with the lobster manage I have been involved with the lobster assisted in ment program for 18 years and have and the development of many of the regulations What do you consider your most significant significant What do you consider your most employee? achievements as a NOAA acts regulations and programs in Federal waters waters acts regulations and programs in Federal and support that complement state regulations the management plan. ies Commission’s Lobster Management Board. Lobster Management Board. ies Commission’s developing the The Commission is responsible for Under the authority management plan for lobster. Fisheries en Act, NOAA Atlantic Coastal of the lead analyst for the lobster management program program lead analyst for the lobster management I represent and other fisheries. In this capacity, Atlantic States Marine Fisher the agency on the scientists, and others to develop management to develop management scientists, and others to ensure healthy and plans and regulations I am the sustainable fisheries. More specifically, As a fishery policy analyst in our regional office, analyst in our regional office, As a fishery policy state personnel, industry, I work with the fishing Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Greater and areas of What are your duties responsibility? Peter Burns Regional Coordinator. For more information on team members and on team information more For Coordinator. Regional activities visit: http://www.regions.noaa.gov/north_atlantic The NART is one of eight regional teams created by NOAA’s Regional Regional NOAA’s by created teams NART regional The one of eight is line effort. five composed of 17 members from Collaboration It is James Brinkley Tuell. is the NART by Jason led and is currently offices NART Newsletter 4 Summer/FallSummer/Fall 2017 2015