Facilitating the first SEACAR workshop
Caroline Donovan, Katie May Laumann, and Emily Nastase traveled to St. Petersburg, FL to facilitate the first Subject Matter Expert workshop for the Statewide Ecosystem Assessment of Coastal and Aquatic Resources (SEACAR) program. More than 40 Subject Matter Experts convened for this two-day meeting, and together made significant progress toward SEACAR's objectives. The second SEACAR workshop is scheduled for April 2020, where preliminary analyses will be reviewed. The final SEACAR technical and assessment reports are expected to be completed in summer 2020.
Chesapeake and Coastal Service Innovative Technology Fund announcing new projects soon
Developing new technologies, industries, and processes is critical for the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. Maryland's Innovative Technology Fund aims to reduce non-point source sectors; support business development while creating and retaining green jobs in Maryland; and to ensure the State is on the cusp of the most cost-effective and efficient technologies. Renewable energy, energy efficiency, natural filters, urban stormwater, and agricultural water quality improvements are all eligible projects.
Revamping the Chesapeake Bay Report Card
From January 7–8, IAN staff traveled to Harrisburg, PA for a workshop to expand the Chesapeake Bay Report Card. Bill, Caroline, Alex, Sky, and Vanessa facilitated and presented at the workshop. The workshop brought together stakeholders to discuss how to include watershed and socioeconomic data in future report cards. Watershed reporting regions were developed and numerous new indicators were discussed. Moving forward, there will be another workshop held in Virginia this spring to further refine the indicators and data analysis methodology.
International Seagrass Biology Workshop 2020
In August 2020, IAN will be hosting the fourteenth biennial International Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW14) in Annapolis, Maryland. The theme of the conference is "Signs of Success: Reversing the Course of Seagrass Degradation." Visit the ISBW14 website for more information.