2015
Annual Report
Gulf of Mexico Alliance 1151 Robinson Street
Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228-215-1246
www.GulfofMexicoAlliance.org
TOC
Gulf of Mexico Alliance
2015 Annual Report to Management
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
Alliance Management Team ……………………………..………………………………………………………… 2
Staff Organization……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
Staff Summary………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………. 4
Position Descriptions…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
Coastal Resilience………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Data and Monitoring……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Education and Engagement………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Habitat Resources………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Water Resources……………………….…………………………………………………………………………………. 11
Wildlife and Fisheries……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 13
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Committees and Working Groups…………………………………………………………………………………. 15
Communication Strategies…………………………………………………………………………………………… 18
Boards and Committees………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19
Key Regional Partnerships……………………………………………………………………………………………. 19
Regional Initiatives………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 20
GOMA/GoMRI Budget and Expenses………………………………………………………………………………. 22
ORGANIZATION
PROGRAMS
ENGAGEMENT
FINANCIAL
1
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Who We Are
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) is a partnership of the five U.S. Gulf States, federal agencies,
academic organizations, businesses, and other non-profits in the region. Our mission is to significantly
increase regional collaboration to enhance the environmental and economic health of the Gulf of
Mexico. Within the GOMA, a large network of partners work collaboratively on teams to address
priority issues in ways that a single entity cannot. Leadership from the five Gulf States forms the
foundation of the Alliance and each of the Gulf States has committed time and resources to its
successful implementation. The success of GOMA is also based on leadership from 13 federal partners
who have come together as a Federal Workgroup to support the priorities of the region.
In addition, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance relies heavily on non-governmental partners, such as academic
organizations, non-profit organizations, and businesses.
Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
In 2004, former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida reached out to the other four Gulf State
Governors to encourage collaboration for the protection and restoration of their
shared body of water. Two years later the five Gulf State Governors signed the first
Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts in 2006. Ninety-nine
percent of the objectives of Action Plan I were realized in just three short
years. Building on the tremendous success of the first plan, GOMA
released its second plan, the Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and
Resilient Coasts II in 2009.
Today, 95 percent of the objectives of Action Plan II have been
accomplished and the Gulf States have begun the process of developing
the Action Plan III. It will be a five-year plan combining new and ongoing
objectives, including:
- Provide forums for collaboration on regional priority issues
- Develop and modify tools to address regional issues
- Track regional restoration efforts
- Identify opportunities for comprehensive regional monitoring
- Expand the partner network to enable strategic partnerships to fill needs
- Administer the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), a large oil-spill research program
2
ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
Alliance Management Team
The Alliance Management Team (AMT) was established in 2004 as the governing body of GOMA.
Because GOMA is state-led, the five Gulf States serve as the “Board of Directors” having sole voting
authority in accordance with GOMA’s By-Laws. Chair and Chair-Elect positions of the AMT rotate among
the five states, every two or more years, in the following order: Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas,
Florida. Other members of the Alliance Management Team serve in advisory capacity and are vital to
the cooperative decision-making process of the AMT.
2015 GOMA Management Team
Organization Name Agency / Department
Alabama (Chair) Phillip Hinesley Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Patti Powell Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Texas (Chair-Elect) Toby Baker Commission on Environmental Quality
Stephen Tatum Commission on Environmental Quality
Mississippi Jamie Miller Dept. of Marine Resources
Gary Rikard Dept. of Environmental Quality
Louisiana Kyle Graham Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Jim Pahl Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Florida Kevin Claridge Coastal Office
Kelly Samek Fish and Wildlife Commission
Environmental Protection Agency Diane Altsman Gulf of Mexico Program
John Bowie Gulf of Mexico Program
Department of Commerce
Todd Davison Office of Coastal Management
Russ Beard National Environmental Information Center
Kristen Laursen National Marine Fisheries Service
Department of Interior
Linda Walker U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Greg Steyer U.S. Geological Service
Pat Roscigno Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
NASA Duane Armstrong Applied Science Program, Stennis Space Center
Ted Mason Applied Science Program, Stennis Space Center
Department of Defense Bruce Cwalina Navy Region Southeast
Camille Destafney Navy Region Southeast
Department of Agriculture Michele Laur Natural Resources Conservation Service
Sea Grant LaDon Swann Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Northern Gulf Institute Steve Ashby Mississippi State University
Shell Kent Satterlee Exploration & Production
3
ORGANIZATION
Staff Organization
The GOMA staff serves as the backbone for implementing the mission and vision developed by the five
Gulf State governors. Programmatically, GOMA administers two primary programs:
Priority Issues identified in the Governors’ Action Plan as water quality, habitat conservation,
ecosystems assessment, nutrient reduction, community resilience and environmental education
and more recently wildlife and fisheries and data and monitoring.
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) in accordance with the Master Research Agreement,
a voluntary contract between GOMA and BP to administer a 10-year, $500 million oil spill
research program as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
GOMA’s staff includes personnel dedicated to the two programs and operates out of the headquarters
office in Mississippi as well as partner offices in each of the five Gulf States. The staff coordinates on a
monthly basis to fulfill the objectives established by the Governors’ Action Plan and the Master
Research Agreement between BP and GOMA.
ALLIANCE
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Executive Director
(L. Bowie)
Program
Manager
(T. Sempier)
Communications
Coordinator
(L. Yokel)
Business
Manager
(C. Thrift)
GoMRI
Program Director
(M. Carron)
Priority Issue Team
Coordinators
(A. Knight - TX)
(K. Gerard – TX)
(L. Pourciau – LA)
(A. Porter – MS)
(K. Holley – MS)
(D. Viverett – MS)
(L. Yokel – AL)
(K. Michaelides – FL)
GoMRI Chief
Science Officer
(C. Wilson)
GoMRI
Program Manager
(K. Shaw)
GoMRI
Project Manager
(C. Kirby)
Event Coordinator
(D. Pressley)
Summary:
Total Staff – 17
Total FTEs – 10
4
ORGANIZATION
2015 STAFF SUMMARY
Staff Position Name Contact Information % FTE
Funding Support
Executive Director
Laura Bowie [email protected] 1.0 GOMA Reserve
Business Manager
Connie Thrift [email protected] 1.0 GOMA Reserve
GOMA Program
GOMA Program Manager
Tracie Sempier [email protected] 0.5 GOMA Reserve
GOMA Communications
Lee Yokel [email protected] 0.25 GOMA Reserve
Coastal Resilience Team Coordinator
Kristen Holley [email protected] 0.25 MS Dept. of Marine Resources
Coastal Resilience Team Coordinator
Daphne Viverette
[email protected] 0.25 MS Dept. of Marine Resources
Data & Monitoring Team Coordinator
Kayleigh Michaelides
[email protected] 0.5 FL Dept. of Environmental Protection
Ed & Engagement Team Coordinator
Lee Yokel [email protected] 0.25 AL Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources
Habitat Resources Team Coordinator
Lauren Pourciau [email protected] 0.5 LA Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority
Water Resources Team Coordinator
Ann Porter [email protected] 0.5 MS Dept of Environmental Quality
Wildlife & Fisheries Team Coordinator
Allison Knight [email protected] 0.25 TX General Land Office
Wildlife & Fisheries Team Coordinator
Katy Gerard [email protected] 0.25 TX General Land Office
GoMRI Program
GoMRI Chief Science Officer
Chuck Wilson [email protected] 1.0 BP
GoMRI Program Director
Mike Carron [email protected] 0.5 BP
GoMRI Program Manager
Kevin Shaw [email protected] 1.0 BP
GoMRI Project Manager
Chris Kirby [email protected] 1.0 BP
GoMRI/GOMA Event Coordinator
Devany Pressley [email protected] 1.0 BP
5
ORGANIZATION
Staff Descriptions
GOMA Executive Director (Laura Bowie) –
Provides vision for the implementation of the
Governors’ Action Plan, identifying
opportunities for collaboration and creative
methods for project execution in accordance
with the priorities established by the five Gulf
States and at the direction of the Alliance
Management Team.
GOMA Business Manager (Connie Thrift) –
Manages business affairs of the organization
including payroll and employee recordkeeping;
purchasing, invoicing, and contract
management; and file management and
compliance.
GOMA Regional Program Manager (Tracie
Sempier) – Assists the Executive Director in
implementation of the Governors’ Action Plan,
including coordination of the Priority Issue
Teams and management of GOMA regional
grant programs.
GOMA Communications Coordinator (L. Yokel)
– Implements the GOMA communications
strategy, including generating new content for
website, developing social media presence,
developing and publishing e-newsletters and e-
news blasts, and chairs the GOMA Public
Relations Committee.
GOMA/GoMRI Event Coordinator (Devany
Pressly) – Plans and coordinates GoMRI and
GOMA meetings, events, and conferences,
including bidding processes, venue rental,
audio-visual support, speaker support, and
onsite logistics.
GOMA Priority Issue Team Coordinators (A.
Knight, K. Gerard, L. Pourciau, A. Porter, K.
Holley, D. Viverette, L. Yokel, K. Michaelides) –
Coordinates Team conference calls and
meetings, tracks and leverages available
resources, manages team contractual
obligations, builds relationships among team
members, and broadens stakeholder support
and participation.
GoMRI Program Director (Mike Carron) –
Directs the activities of the GoMRI Program,
serving as the primary interface between the
parties of the GoMRI Master Research
Agreement (GOMA and BP) and serving as an
ex-officio member of the GoMRI Research
Board.
GoMRI Program Manager (Kevin Shaw) –
Oversees the daily operations of the GoMRI
Program related to contracts and grants
management, budget and compliance,
representation at scientific conferences, and
preparation of quarterly and annual GoMRI
reports.
GoMRI Project Manager (Chris Kirby) –
Provides support to daily operations of the
GoMRI Program related to management of
GoMRI grants, preparation of quarterly and
annual reports, and document retention.
GoMRI Chief Science Officer (Chuck Wilson) –
Serves as the interface on scientific issues
between the GoMRI Research Board and GOMA
Administrative Team. Also advises the Research
Board on new themes and need for research in
specific thematic areas.
6
PROGRAMS
GOMA PROGRAMS
Priority Issue Programs
GOMA’s priority issues are determined by the Gulf States as those common to all five states:
Community Resilience
Data & Monitoring
Education & Engagement
Habitat Resources
Water Resources
Wildlife & Fisheries
We addresses the region’s priorities by bringing together diverse talent, coordinating capabilities, and
maximizing the impact of funding. Specific “Priority Issue Teams” are formed around the issues
identified by the Gulf States. The teams address the issues through a collaborative approach with
scientific, technical and resource management experts who have a broad knowledge base and
considerable experience. Specific actions associated with addressing the priority issues are developed
by the teams themselves, with approval from the Alliance Management Team.
The following sections provide a brief overview of past and current Priority Issue Team projects.
COASTAL RESILIENCE – Defined as the capacity of human and
natural/physical systems to adapt to and recover from
change, GOMA’s Coastal Resilience Team focuses its actions
on our regional ability to respond to natural and manmade
hazards, including risk communication techniques and
resilience assessments as well as a variety of coastal
adaptation and planning methods.
Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status
Resilience Index for Ports and Harbors Mississippi-Alabama Sea
Grant & Louisiana Sea Grant
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
In progress
Resilience Index for Tourism and Resilience Index
Fisheries
Mississippi Dept of Marine
Resources & Gulf Shores and
Orange Beach Tourism
Mississippi-Alabama
Sea Grant
In progress
Small Grants for Community Resilience Mississippi-Alabama Sea
Grant
GOMA Headquarters In progress
Mississippi Homeowners Handbook to Prepare
for Natural Hazards
Mississippi-Alabama Sea
Grant & Mississippi DMR
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
7
PROGRAMS
Alabama Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for
Natural Hazards
Mississippi-Alabama Sea
Grant & AL ADCNR
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Louisiana Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for
Natural Hazards
Louisiana Sea Grant EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
Texas Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for
Natural Hazards
Texas General Land Office &
Texas Sea Grant
EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
Florida Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for
Natural Hazards
Florida Sea Grant &
Apalachicola NERR
EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
StormSmart Coasts Network BlueUrchin EPA Gulf of Mexico,
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management, & NOAA
Coastal Storms Program
Complete &
Ongoing
Clean and Resilient Marina Program Mississippi Dept of Marine
Resources
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete &
Ongoing
Resilient Coastal Development Through Land Use
Planning
Mississippi-Alabama Sea
Grant
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Coastal Community Resilience Index Gulf Sea Grant Programs MS-AL Sea Grant, NOAA
Office of Coastal
Management, EPA Gulf
of Mexico, & NOAA
Coastal Storms Program
Complete &
Ongoing
Coastal CHARM Resilience Tool Texas Sea Grant EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
Coastal IQ Northern Gulf Institute NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
The Coastal Resilience Team is supported by the State of Mississippi, Department of Marine Resources.
DATA & MONITORING - This new team incorporates the water
quality monitoring efforts and many of the data acquisition efforts
of the former Ecosystems Team. Comprehensive Gulf-wide
monitoring will be a large focus of this team as well as the DWH
Project Tracker, data gathering, populating GOMAportal, and
continuation of Gulf of Mexico mapping efforts.
Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status
DHW Project Tracker The Trust for Public Land &
Ducks Unlimited
Knobloch Family Foundation
& U.S. Endowment for
Forestry and Communities
In Progress
GOMAportal Harte Research Institute
NOAA Office for Coastal
Management
Ongoing
8
PROGRAMS
GecoServ Harte Research Institute NOAA Office for Coastal
Management & EPA Gulf of
Mexico
Ongoing
Gulf of Mexico Master
Mapping Plan
US Army Corps of Engineers NOAA Office of Coastal
Management & EPA Gulf of
Mexico
In Progress
Emergent Wetlands Status
and Trends Report
US Geological Service & EPA
Gulf of Mexico
US Geological Service & EPA
Gulf of Mexico
Complete
SeaGrass Status and Trends
in the Gulf of Mexico
US Geological Service & EPA
Gulf of Mexico
US Geological Service & EPA
Gulf of Mexico
Complete
Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas NOAA National Center for
Environmental Information
NOAA National Center for
Environmental Information
Ongoing
Gulf of Mexico Data
Acquisition Planning Tool
(GDAPT)
Harte Research Institute
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Metadata Enterprise
Resource Management Aid
(MERMAid)
NOAA National Center for
Environmental Information
NOAA National Center for
Environmental Information
Complete
Metadata Transforms NOAA National Center for
Environmental Information
NOAA National Center for
Environmental Information
Ongoing
Ecowatch NOAA National Center for
Environmental Information
NOAA National Center for
Environmental Information
Ongoing
GAME (Geospatial
Assessment of Marine
Ecosystems)
Florida Institute of
Oceanography, Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, & Fish and
Wildlife Research Institute
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management & EPA Gulf of
Mexico
Ongoing
The Data & Monitoring Team is supported by the State of Florida, Department of Environmental
Protection and Florida Sea Grant.
EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT - This existing team is shifting its
focus to providing education, outreach and engagement to the
other team projects and programs. It incorporates a wide variety
of audiences including coastal trainers, outreach and extension
specialists, and K-12 educators. This team will also take the lead
on the Marine Debris Cross-Team initiative.
Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status
Connecting Scientists to
Citizens Regarding Sea Level
Rise
Grand Bay and Weeks Bay
National Estuarine Research
Reserves (NERRs)
GOMA Headquarters In Progress
9
PROGRAMS
Environmental Education
Listserv
Dauphin Island Sea Lab NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Ongoing
Regional Coastal Training
Workshops
Grand Bay NERR
Weeks Bay NERR
Apalachicola NERR
Rookery Bay NERR
Mission-Aransas NERR
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management, Gulf Sea
Grant, & EPA Gulf of Mexico
Ongoing
Coastal Ecosystem Learning
Centers (All 5 states and
Veracruz, Mexico)
Coastal America Foundation
& EPA Gulf of Mexico
EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
Smart Yard, Healthy Gulf
Campaign
Mississippi-Alabama Sea
Grant
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Environmental Awareness
Campaign: Social Marketing
Plan
Dauphin Island Sea Lab &
University of South Florida
EPA Gulf of Mexico &
Northern Gulf Institute
Complete
NBII Online Digital Library US Geological Service NBII US Geological Service Complete
Deepwater Horizon
Education Project for Formal
and Informal Educators
within the Gulf of Mexico
Institute for Marine
Mammal Studies & Dauphin
Island Sea Lab
NOAA Office of Education Complete
K-12 pilot program with
B-WET
Various Education &
Engagement Team Members
NOAA Office of Education Complete
Underserved and
Underrepresented
Populations Student
Networks
Florida Department of
Environmental Protection &
Gulf of Mexico Foundation
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Mini-Grants Alabama (12) Various NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Mini-Grants Florida (9) Various NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Mini-Grants Louisiana (8) Various NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Mini-Grants Mississippi (7) Various NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Mini-Grants Texas (10) Various NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
The Education & Engagement Team is supported by the State of Alabama, Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources, and coordinated by Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
10
PROGRAMS
HABITAT RESOURCES - The existing Habitat Conservation and
Restoration Team will continue many of its successful actions and
incorporate some issues previously addressed by the Ecosystems
Team. Focus areas will include regional sediment management
issues, continued sea-level rise modeling, living shorelines, and
additional habitat status and trends. This team will also take the
lead on the Comprehensive Restoration and Resilience Planning
and the Ecosystem Services Assessment Cross-Team initiatives.
Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status
Living Shoreline Site Suitability
Modeling
Mississippi State University GOMA Headquarters In Progress
Regional Living Shorelines
Construction Technical Bulletins for
Contractors
Baldwin County Soil and Water
Conservation District
GOMA Headquarters In Progress
Habitat Practitioners Forum Gulf of Mexico Foundation GOMA Headquarters In Progress
International Integration
Workshops between U.S. and
Mexican counterparts
Gulf of Mexico Foundation &
Mexican Consortium of Marine
Investigation Institutions of the
Gulf of Mexico
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management & EPA Gulf
of Mexico
Complete
Gulf Regional Sediment
Management Master Plan
Gulf of Mexico Foundation NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Recommendations for Beneficial
Use of Dredged Sediments to the
Federal Standard
State of Alabama, State of
Florida, State of Louisiana,
State of Mississippi, State of
Texas
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete & Ongoing
Regional Sediment Management
Master Plan Update for Beneficial
Uses of Dredged Material along
Coastal Mississippi
CH2M Hill NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Analysis of State and Federal Policy
& Regulatory Programs that Provide
Protection to Coastal Habitats in the
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico Foundation,
Environmental Law Institute, &
the Mexican Center for
Environmental Law
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Modeling and Abating the Impacts
of Sea Level Rise on Five Significant
Estuarine Systems in the Gulf of
Mexico
The Nature Conservancy EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
Sea-level rise Affecting Marsh
Model (SLAMM) Analyses for Gulf
National Wildlife Refuges
Warren-Pinnacle Consulting NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
SLAMM Runs and Conservation
Planning Data Platform
Development
The Nature Conservancy NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Application of the SLAMM Modeling
to Southeastern Louisiana
Warren-Pinnacle Consulting NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
11
PROGRAMS
Gulf Regional Sediment
Management Master Plan Case
Study Compilation
Applied Coastal Research &
Engineering
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Assessment of Changing Ecosystem
Services Provided by Marsh Habitat
in the Galveston Bay Region
Harte Research Institute NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Analysis and Recommendations for
Increasing Restoration and
Conservation on Private Lands
Land Trust Alliance NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Assessment & Prioritization of
Ecosystems Affected by Altered
Freshwater Inflows
Harte Research Institute EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
The Habitat Resources Team is supported by the State of Louisiana, Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority.
WATER RESOURCES - By combining focus areas of the Water
Quality Team and the Nutrients Team, the new Water Resources
Team will be able to address multiple focus areas related to water
quantity and quality, including fresh water in-flows, human health
issues (pathogens and mercury), and aquatic health issues
(hypoxia, excess nutrients, harmful algal blooms, and impaired
streams).
Project Title Lead Project Partner Funding Source Status
Nutrient Datasets into Gulf Coast Ocean
Observing System (GCOOS) Data Portal
Texas A&M University GOMA Headquarters In Progress
Trophic Transfer of Mercury Along Salinity
Gradients in Estuaries
Florida Gulf Coast University GOMA Headquarters In Progress
Molecular Marker Registry
Univ. of South Florida, EPA, Univ. of California-Davis, & Univ. of Southern MS
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Prediction
Warning System
NOAA, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, GCOOS, Texas A&M, Texas Dept of Health, Sarasota Co. Health Dept., FL Fish & Wildlife, TX Parks & Wildlife, Mote Marine Lab, & Collier County
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Ongoing
Mercury Fate and Transport White Paper NOAA, Wright State Univ., Florida State Univ., FL Gulf Coast Univ., Texas A&M, & Florida Institute of Oceanography
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
12
PROGRAMS
Series of Round Robin Events to identify variability in sampling techniques, equipment, and standards.
AL Dept of Env Management, FL Dept of Env Protection, LA Dept of Env Quality, MS Dept of Env Quality, TX Com on Env Quality, Hillsborough County, Lee County, & Sarasota County
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Gulf of Mexico Water-Quality Monitoring White Paper
MS Dept of Env Quality, FL Dept of Env Protection, AL Dept of Env Management, EPA Gulf of Mexico, FL Institute of Oceanography, Gulf Univ Research Collaborative, & Tetra Tech, Inc.
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Development of a Benthic Index of Biotic
Integrity for Estuarine and Near-Coastal
Waters of the Gulf of Mexico
MS Department of
Environmental Quality
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Development of Pilot Nutrient Criteria for
an Estuary in the Western Gulf of Mexico
(Mission-Aransas Bay, TX)
University of Texas EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
Effects of Nutrients on Downstream
Ecological Processes in the Galveston Bay
Estuary
TX Commission on
Environmental Quality, TX
Water Development Board,
TX Parks and Wildlife, and
Texas Sea Grant
EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
Development of Pilot Nutrient Criteria for
a Mississippi Estuary (St. Louis Bay, MS)
MS Department of
Environmental Quality
EPA Gulf of Mexico Complete
Characterization of Nutrient Sources,
Fate, and Transport across the Gulf
Region (Weeks Bay, AL)
AL Department of
Environmental Management
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Development of a Primer on Gulf of
Mexico Hypoxia
GCOOS, Mississippi-Alabama
Sea Grant, LUMCON, &
Hypoxia Task Force
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Decision Support Toolbox for Nutrient
Reduction
MS Department of
Environmental Quality
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
Development of a Coastal Nutrient
Reduction Strategy Template
MS Department of
Environmental Quality
NOAA Office of Coastal
Management
Complete
The Water Resources Team is supported by the State of Mississippi, Department of Environmental
Quality.
13
PROGRAMS
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES - This new team was developed out of a need
to provide a venue for agencies and organizations working directly
with wildlife and fisheries issues on a regional basis. Initial interest
for this team includes regional biological objectives and monitoring
for living marine resources. Team members will have an opportunity
to develop additional focus areas.
Project Ideas
Synthesis of species documentation for habitat restoration (proposal submitted to NFWF for funding)
Standardized monitoring program
Species vulnerability assessment (continuation of Gulf Coast Vulnerability Assessment)
At-risk species, including biological end-points
Communication of fish stock assessments to wildlife and fisheries agencies
Hatcheries & emerging fisheries technologies
Migratory birds and/or waterfowl
Marine mammals and sea turtles – centralized regional database for strandings; data
Seagrass
Wildlife Recovery
Artificial reefs
Oysters
The new Wildlife & Fisheries Team is supported by the State of Texas, General Land Office, led by Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department, and coordinated by the Harte Research Institute.
14
PROGRAMS
GULF OF MEXICO RESEARCH INITIATIVE - GoMRI is a research program
developed by BP shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in May 2010.
At that time, BP voluntarily committed $500 million to an open research
program designed to study the impact of the oil spill and its associated
response on the environment and public health in the Gulf of Mexico. The
program is being implemented over a period of ten years from 2010 to
2020. GOMA administers the GoMRI program through the BP Master
Research Agreement, a contractual agreement between GOMA and BP. An independent Research
Board solicits and competitively selects research programs and projects for the GoMRI program. The
Consortium on Ocean Leadership also provides administrative support for the GoMRI program. Some of
the larger consortia grants are awarded directly through Consortium on Ocean Leadership; smaller
consortia and individual grants are awarded through GOMA. In addition to the administrative functions
of GoMRI, below are the research awards currently managed by GOMA.
2015 RESEARCH PROGRAMS MANAGED BY GOMA
RFP Round Lead Institution Program/Project Title
RFP – II University of Delaware Dynamics of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon and Dissolved Carbon
Following Natural or Manmade Petroleum Release
LUMCON How do Low Levels of Exposure to Oil and Dispersants Affect
Performance and Survival of Larvae in Gulf Nekton
University of Chicago Creating a Predictive Model of Microbially Mediated Carbon
Remediation in the Gulf of Mexico
University of Miami Monitoring of Oil Spill and Seepage Using Satellite Radars
Univ of Southern Mississippi Resolving DWH Impacts on Highly Variable Ichthyoplankton and
Zooplankton Dynamics in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Univ of LA-Lafayette The Effect of Sediment Bioturbators on the Biological
Degradation of Petroleum in Coastal Ecosystems
Woods Hole Weathering of Petroleum and Dispersant Components in the
Aftermath of the DWH Oil Spill
Troy University Effects of the DWH Oil Spill Investigated during a Long Term
Community Study
Johns Hopkins Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Dispersion of Oil in the Ocean
Surface Layers: Testing of Subgrid-Scale Parameterizations
University of LA-Lafayette Environmental Effects of an Oil Spill on Blue Crabs in the Gulf of
Mexico and the Dynamics of Recovery
University of Houston Novel Sensor System for the Early Detection and Monitoring of
Offshore Oil Spills
Medical Univ of South Carolina Using Embryonic Stem Cell Fate to Deteremine Potential Adverse
Effects of Petroleum/Dispersant Exposure
RFP – IV RAND Corporation Assessment of the Impacts of the DWH Oil Spill on Health, Social,
and Economic Wellbeing of People in the Gulf Coast Region
University of LA-Lafayette Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center – Gulf Ecological
Monitoring and Modeling
University of Southern Mississippi Oil Exposure Pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems
Dauphin Island Sea Lab Critical Living Resources that Underpin the Productivity of the
Gulf of Mexico Fertile Crescent
15
PROGRAMS
Committees and Working Groups
Federal Work Group – Thirteen federal agencies
committed to supporting GOMA have come
together as a Federal Workgroup under the
leadership of the NOAA, EPA Gulf of Mexico
Program, and the U.S. Department of Interior
DOI. The goals of the Federal Workgroup are to
support the Gulf States and to coordinate an
integrated federal response to priority regional
issues identified by GOMA. The Federal
Workgroup brings diverse expertise and
established experience. By coordinating and
integrating these capabilities, the impact of
federal resources is fully maximized. NOAA
leads monthly Federal Work Group calls; notes
and presentations can be found at
http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/about-
us/alliance-partnerships/federal-partners/.
Public Relations Committee – The Public
Relations Committee was established in June
2009 to promote the identity of GOMA, its
mission, and the Priority Issue Teams to
stakeholders and the general public. The Public
Relations Committee is chaired by the GOMA
Communication Coordinator and is composed
of volunteers from partner organizations who
dedicate a portion of their time to public
relations activities. More information regarding
GOMA’s public relations strategy can be found
in the Engagement section of this document.
Regional Research Funders Forum – The recently established Regional Research Funders Forum (RRFF) serves as an open platform for all funding programs who support science and research in the Gulf of Mexico to increase collaboration and coordination among research funding entities in the region. The RRFF is chaired by LaDon Swann with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and is open to any group that financially supports research or issues research grants, contracts or cooperative agreements, including but not limited to organizations created in the wake of the DWH oil spill. The RRFF meets quarterly at meetings of opportunity. It held its initial meeting in December 2014 and has over 35 participants. The RRFF is currently developing an online survey to document and compile the research priorities of the participants.
16
PROGRAMS
Business Advisory Council – Business and industry involvement is vital to successfully achieving GOMA’s mission of healthy ecosystems and economies. For this reason, GOMA established a Business Advisory Council (BAC) in order to partner with industry members on priority issues and regional initiatives as well as to deepen a sense of stewardship for the Gulf of Mexico. The role of the BAC is to facilitate communication between the Alliance Management Team and the diverse groups of industries that are dependent upon the common resources of the Gulf of Mexico. GOMA’s BAC meets on a quarterly basis via conference call and once annually in person.
Representatives of the largest industries in the region are represented on GOMA’s BAC.
2015 GOMA BUISNESS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Industry Name Company
Tourism Reuben Watkins Gulf Divers, Inc.
Gary Ellis Compass Media
Colette Boehm Alabama Tourism and Visitors Bureau
Ron Wright Golf Course Superintendents Association
Oil & Gas Kent Satterlee Shell Exploration & Production
Sandra Werner ExxonMobil
Doug Bannerman Statoil
Felicia Frederick Chevron USA
Manufacturing Steve Hoey Sherwin Alumina
Stephen Carville Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association
Utilities Mark Loughman Southern Company
Fishing Mike Colby Florida Coast Charters
Marine Transportation Mark McAndrews Gulf Ports Association of America
John Pasch Port of Corpus Christi
Seafood Chris Nelson Bon Secour Fisheries
Agriculture Bryan Grantham Local Farmer
18
ENGAGEMENT
ENGAGEMENT
Communication Strategies
Recognizing that it is vital to present GOMA’s work consistently and effectively to its stakeholders and
the public, the Public Relations (PR) Committee is chaired by the GOMA Communication Coordinator
and is composed of volunteers from partner organizations and several grant funded staff who dedicate a
portion of their time to public relations activities. Since 2009, the PR Committee has provided
consistent oversight for GOMA’s communication strategy, including all GOMA press releases, media
events, print publications, and internet presence.
WHAT
we are communicating
Internal External
TO WHOM
we are communicating
HOW
we are communicating
Measures of Success:
Approximately 900 Team members
(State and Federal agencies, NGOs, Academia, and Businesses)
13 Federal Agencies – 150 people on Federal Workgroup email list
400-500 in attendance at All Hands
3000 people on GOMA email list
Over 700 twitter followers; 575 Linked In connections; 8000 blog views
Priority Issues Coastal Training Restoration GoMRI
Regional Events Stewardship Facts Job Postings
General
Public
Resource
Managers
Legislators &
Politicians
Researchers &
Academia
Website E-Newsletters Conference Calls Webinars
E-Blasts Emails Social Media Print Materials
19
ENGAGEMENT
Boards and Committees
As part of their role in representing regional collaboration, GOMA staff hold the following professional
leadership and committee positions:
Regional Ocean Partnership Council (Laura Bowie)
National Ocean Policy Governance Committee (Laura Bowie)
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Advisory Council (Laura Bowie)
Gulf Coast Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative Steering Com (Laura Bowie)
Gulf Coastal Ocean Observing Systems-Regional Association Advisory Committee (Laura Bowie)
Ex Officio member GoMRI Research Board (Mike Carron)
Gulf Coast Business Council, Higher Learning Study Committee (Mike Carron)
National Ocean Science Bowl, Host Committee (Mike Carron)
Gulf Restoration Science Programs Ad Hoc Coordination Forum (Mike Carron)
Gulf of Mexico Climate Community of Practice Planning Team (Tracie Sempier)
Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Stakeholder Committee (Tracie Sempier)
NOAA Sentinel Site Cooperative Management Team (Tracie Sempier)
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Management Team (Tracie Sempier)
Southern Impacts and Planning Program Stakeholder Committee (Tracie Sempier)
Key Regional Partnerships
Successfully implementing the Governors’ Action Plan I and Action Plan II required strong and enduring
partnerships with programs that align priorities and share a desire for collaboration. Below are some
key partnerships that are the foundation for successful regional collaboration:
Dauphin Island Sea Lab – provides coordination
of GOMA’s Education and Engagement Team as
well as a part-time Communications
Coordinator for GOMA.
Gulf Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS)
– ensures academic expertise and input on all
six Priority Issue Teams; strong partner on Data
& Monitoring and Water Resources Teams in
particular.
Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant Programs – co-funds
a part-time Regional Program Manager through
the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium,
provides a coordinator for GOMA’s Data and
Monitoring Team through the Florida Sea Grant,
and provides support for GoMRI oil spill
outreach.
Gulf of Mexico Foundation – provides
coordination and project implementation for
GOMA’s Habitat Resources Team.
Harte Research Institute – provides
coordination for GOMA’s Wildlife and Fisheries
Team and database management for the GoMRI
Gulf Research Initiative Information Data Center
(GRIIDC).
Northern Gulf Institute – provides website and
communications support for the GoMRI
program.
The Natura Conservancy – ensures non-
governmental expertise and input on all six
Priority Issue Teams; strong partner on Habitat
and Resilience Teams in particular.
20
ENGAGEMENT
Regional Initiatives
As the Gulf’s regional ocean partnership, GOMA serves as a nexus for a variety of regional efforts,
including the Gulf Restoration, Hypoxia Task Force, and National Ocean Policy initiatives:
Gulf Restoration - Many members GOMA are involved in the unprecedented restoration efforts
resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. GOMA maintains a web page and a section of
our monthly newsletter dedicated to regional restoration activities including Natural Resource
Damage Assessment, RESTORE Act, National Academy of Sciences’ Gulf Research Program,
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, and National American
Wetlands Conservation Act. The webpage can be found here:
http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/learn-more/gulf-restoration/.
In addition, GOMA recently released the DWH Project Tracker to help stakeholders track
projects funded by the various oil spill-related funding programs. The DHW Project Tracker is a
centralized directory of projects funded as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It is the
most comprehensive picture of the location, type, cost, funding sources, and scope of Gulf of
Mexico oil spill-related recovery, restoration, and research projects. Each project snapshot
includes a brief project description, a point of contact, and a link to access detailed project
information. The DWH Project Tracker can be accessed here: www.dwhprojecttracker.org.
Hypoxia Task Force – The Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed
Nutrient Task Force (a.k.a., Hypoxia Task Force) was established in 1997
to reduce and control hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Sponsored by EPA,
they Hypoxia Task Force consists of 5 federal agencies and 12 states and
tribes within the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin. Both Mississippi
and Louisiana are heavy participants on the Hypoxia Task Force, each
serving as the Chair at some point.
The Hypoxia Task Force published their Action Plan in 2008 and have been making progress
toward reducing nutrients in the Basin. According to a recent progress report, member states
are making progress in by finalizing their nutrient reduction strategy documents. The next step
will be implementation. The Hypoxia Task Force also concludes that despite the incremental
improvements and significant investments to reduce nutrient pollution, the goal of reducing the
size of the hypoxic zone to 5,000 square kilometers is unlikely to be achieved by 2015. However,
strides in management plans as well as science and monitoring shows that the overall goal to
reduce the hypoxic zone remains reasonable.
21
ENGAGEMENT
The Hypoxia Task Force holds semi-annual meetings that are open to the public. More
information can be found at http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/named/msbasin/.
National Ocean Policy – The National Ocean Policy outlines challenges facing our nation’s oceans
and coastal areas subdivides the United States into nine regions to address those issues. In the
Gulf of Mexico region, GOMA was established before the National Ocean Policy and already had
the structure in place to address six of the nine challenges: (1) ecosystem-based management,
(2) informed decision-making and improved understanding of the ecosystem, (3) coordination
and support of federal, state, and local authorities, (4) coastal resilience, (5) ecosystem
restoration and protection, and (6) water quality. The three priority objectives of the National
Ocean Policy that are not addressed by the Gulf region are not applicable, although
informational marine planning meetings were held in 2013 and 2014. A third meeting is
scheduled for June 16, 2015. GOMA continues to lead the collaborative effort to address the
issues of concern and the federal agencies working in the Gulf region participate in an
unchartered Regional Planning Body, chaired by the U.S. Navy.
22
FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL
GOMA’s annual budget represents both GOMA programs and GoMRI programs. Below is a depiction of
the break-out of the programs.
Distribution of GOMA funds according to
GOMA expenses including administrative
functions, Team coordination, Team
projects and a small regional project.
Distribution of GoMRI funds according to
anticipated expenses including
administrative functions, data
management, and research grants.
$320,361
$82,611
$150,000
$139,517
$100,000
2015 GOMA Program Budget
AdministrativeTeam Coordination GrantsTeam Coordination (in-kind)Team Project GrantsTeam Meeting Support
$5,214,991
$1,784,862$13,873,969
2015 GoMRI Program Budget
Administrative
Data Management
Research Grants
Top Related