Coastal America Fall '98 Update

Volume 7 - Number 3 - FALL 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. NEWS STORIES

Coastal America Recognized

Alaska Sealife Center Becomes 9th Learning 

Center

Coastal America Retreat

Awards Dinner: Duck Creek 

Presentation

National Program Update

Kenai Peninsula Field Trip

Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center 

Workgroup Recognized

II. REGIONAL UPDATE

Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

Gulf of Mexico

Southwest

Pacific Islands

Northwest

Alaska

Great Lakes

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APPENDICES

Publications

Upcoming Events

Coastal America Office

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COASTAL AMERICA UPDATE FALL 1998

COASTAL AMERICA RECOGNIZED

[FIGURE] Dr. James Baker, Mr. Robert Perciasepe, and Ms. Katie McGinty at the Hammer Award 

Ceremony

Ms. Katie McGinty, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality, presented the Coastal America Partnership with the National Performance Review’s Hammer 

Award at a ceremony in the Indian Treaty Room at the Old Executive Office Building on September 18, 1998. This award is Vice President Al Gore’s special 

recognition to teams of federal employees who have made significant contributions to reinventing government. Ms. McGinty presented the award, a plaque with 

a hammer, to Dr. James Baker, Under Secretary of Commerce, and Mr. Robert Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator at EPA, former Chair and current Chair of 

Coastal America. Ms. McGinty complimented the partnership for . . . “rightly being recognized for your leadership . . . in breaking down walls.” She noted the 

power of the partnership process in overcoming barriers among federal agencies, and in working collaboratively with communities to achieve their vision of the 

future. 

At the ceremony, Dr. Baker presented hammer plaques to the Principals of each of the federal partner agencies, and Mr. Perciasepe presented certificates and 

hammer pins to the National Implementation Team, Regional Implementation Team Chairs, and Coastal America staff. Both Dr. Baker and Mr. Perciasepe 

noted the value of the partnership, and that the recognition was well deserved. In closing, Mr. Perciasepe noted that he had enjoyed his tenure as Chair of 

Coastal America and announced that Mr. Terry Garcia had been selected by the Principals Group to be the new Chair.

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● Go to Table of Contents

ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER BECOMES 9TH LEARNING CENTER 

[FIGURE] Mr. Terry Garcia and Mr. Kimbal Sundberg (holding plaque) with Regional 

representatives at the Alaska SeaLife Center designation.

The Alaska SeaLife Center was designated as the ninth Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center on September 28, 1998. The designating official was Mr. Terry 

Garcia, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, who signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Kimbal Sundberg, Executive 

Director of the Center. “What makes this partnership so important is our ability to achieve shared educational goals,” said Mr. Garcia. The Honorable Mike 

Navare, Kenai Peninsula Burrough Mayor noted the importance of the partnership to Alaska, which has over half of the nation’s coastline. Ms. Molly 

McCammon, Executive Director of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council which provided substantial funding for the Center, also spoke. “Our future is 

definitely brighter as a result of this partnership,” she said, noting the importance of education about coastal issues. 

Presentations by regional representatives of the federal agencies included a walrus head mount, many posters, videos, books and research publications, speakers 

for Center programs, funding for a summer intern, and links with many of the federal web pages. 

At the ceremony, Mr. Sundberg presented a plaque to Ms. Elsie Whitmore, a pioneer in marine education who taught in Seward for over 40 years. He said, “she 

is an example and an inspiration to the staff.” 

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COASTAL AMERICA RETREAT 

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The annual Coastal America Retreat was held in Cooper Landing, Alaska, September 28-30, 1998. Over 40 representatives of the National Implementation 

Team, Regional Implementation Teams and the Coastal America staff discussed a wide range of issues affecting the partnership. 

Mr. Terry Garcia, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and the newly selected Chair of Coastal America, spoke to the retreat 

participants. Coastal America can assist agencies to develop crosswalks between conflicting statutes, and provide stakeholders with “one-stop shopping.” Also, 

he noted, it is important to “reject the choice between a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” because both are linked. Mr. Garcia also discussed 

several ongoing administration initiatives including recommendations from the National Ocean Conference, the Clean Water Action Plan, and reauthorization 

of the Endangered Species Act. He stressed the importance of ”sound science” as a key to successful coastal programs. 

Awards Dinner 

Duck Creek Presentation

At an awards dinner on Tuesday, September 29, 1998, three RIT Chairs were recognized for outstanding performance. William Hubbard, Chair of the Northeast 

RIT, was presented with the National Leadership Award for his support of regional team efforts across the country. James Reese and Owen Mason, past cochairs of the Northwest RIT, were given the Regional Leadership Award for re-establishing that team, and bringing the Regional Principals together twice in the 

last year. 

After dinner, Dr. K.V. Koski, with NOAA’s Auke Bay Laboratory, described restoration efforts at Duck Creek in Juneau, Alaska. This creek, suffering from 

decades of development, is impaired by sedimentation, high iron levels, low oxygen levels, and generally poor water quality. Restoration efforts to date include 

construction of ponds and wetlands, and enhancing bridges and culverts to increase stream flows for migrating salmon. 

National Program Updates

Representatives from the National Implementation Team presented updates on current partnership agency programs. Dail Brown from NOAA discussed efforts 

to characterize and map marine and freshwater habitat and species, the Sustainable Seas partnership between NOAA and the National Geographic Society and 

how to better use the Coastal Zone Management programs in project implementation. Craig Vogt from EPA pointed out opportunities for RITs to implement 

Action Plans developed under the National Estuary Program. Chris Killingsworth of the Department of the Interior followed with a discussion of the Fish and 

Wildlife Service’s Coastal and Partners in Wildlife programs to help restore habitat and the Minerals Management Service’s Sand and Gravel Program to locate 

offshore sand resources for beach replenishment restoration projects. 

Dan Smith of the Natural Resources Conservation Service discussed the use of a watershed approach to solving coastal problems and urged the RITs to 

establish relationships with local non-governmental organizations and Indian tribes. Steve Moreno of the Federal Highway Administration informed participants 

of opportunities for collaboration with State Departments of Transportation under the provisions of the Transportation Equity Act. Finally, Norm Edwards of 

the Corps of Engineers and Lew Shotton of the Navy noted opportunities including various funding sources and use of military personnel and expertise to 

implement projects as training exercises. 

Improving Collaboration: Retreat participants also heard from two partnership projects outside Coastal America. Dr. Marty Miller of Hart Crowser, Inc., 

discussed the role of a private contractor as a facilitator in a cleanup project in Washington State. Gene Augustine and Dr. Brad Andres described their work 

with Partners in Flight, a partnership formed to protect neotropical migratory birds and their habitat. They noted that Partners in Flight has used innovative 

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partnerships, including non-governmental organizations and industry, from the beginning to “keep common birds common.” They also discussed various 

institutional barriers faced by Partners in Flight, and ways to overcome them. 

Dam Removal in Maine: Bob Wengrzynek of NRCS presented status reports on several dam removal projects conducted by the Northeast RIT. The RIT 

enlisted the help of private companies to fund the projects (with the donations going to a non-governmental organization) and used NRCS’s Watershed Habitat 

Improvement Program to help fund these activities. The removal projects themselves are being conducted as training exercises for the Army. Bob noted that 

community involvement is critical to the success of these projects, as is monitoring and follow up. 

Education and Outreach Initiatives: Coastal America’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, Barbara Elkus, led a discussion about regional support to the 

Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers. In the last year, four additional centers have been added to the network. Regional teams have assisted with teacher 

sabbatical programs, provided speakers for programs, and are working on exhibits for the learning centers. The next step is for the regional teams to establish 

sub-groups of education and outreach representatives from the federal agencies to support the learning centers. 

Scientific and Technical Support: Jeff Payne, Deputy Director of NOAA’s Coastal Service Center (CSC), provided an overview of the Center’s programs and 

suggested the partners work together on their budgets to present a compelling story of the government’s environmental restoration efforts. Gary Keull, also from 

the CSC, outlined the Center’s support of Coastal America’s Homepage, and how it could be better used to market the partnership’s capabilities. Bill Klesch, 

Deputy Director of Coastal America, provided a preview of the Value Added Report, expected to be published this fall, and described the status of the newly 

established Scientific Technical Advisory Group. 

Kenai Peninsula Field Trip 

[FIGURE] Tony DeGange, US Fish and Wildlife Service, describes Kenai River restoration.

Retreat participants visited several Coastal America restoration sites on the Kenai River. Stream banks are eroded by fishermen climbing on the banks to reach 

the river. Restoration includes rebuilding shorelines with fiber logs and planting with willow and cottonwood. Elevated boardwalks are built so that fishermen 

can reach the river without destroying the revegetated stream banks. The partnership includes federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private landowners. 

During recent heavy rains, the restored stream banks withstood the flood waters better than other areas. The field trip included a visit to the Kenai River Center 

where several agencies are available to work with local landowners to develop restoration plans, and receive permits. 

● Go to Table of Contents

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COASTAL ECOSYSTEM LEARNING CENTER WORKGROUP RECOGNIZED 

[FIGURE] Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center Workgroup 

The first Coastal America 1998 Partnership Award was presented on September 8, 1998 to the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center Workgroup. At the 

ceremony, held at the Commerce Department, Mr. Terry Garcia, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, presented the awards. He 

commented that “the spirit of collaboration that they exemplified is a model for all of us.” 

Directors of two of the first learning centers joined the celebration. Dr. Jerry Schubel, President of the New England Aquarium said that the learning centers are 

a model to emulate, as we need to build more strategic alliances. Since most peoples’ interaction with the ocean happens at the coast, education is needed to 

“make people aware, and make them care.” Mr. David Pittenger, Executive Director of the National Aquarium in Baltimore noted that the challenge is to get 

more people excited about the wonder and mystery of the oceans. 

Awardees included members of the Education/ Outreach Workgroup who developed the initial proposal, and representatives of the first five learning centers. 

The group was recognized for creativity and innovation in development of the idea, and making the program materialize into a network. 

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COASTAL AMERICA UPDATE FALL 1998

REGIONAL UPDATE

At the Coastal America Retreat, the Regional Implementation Team Chairs discussed progress in their regions, and issues before their teams. Highlights of their 

discussions are included in the following sections.

Coastal America Regions

Click on region name below to see its update.

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[Northeast] [Mid-Atlantic] [Southeast] [Gulf of Mexico] [Southwest] [Pacific Islands] [Northwest] [Alaska] [Great Lakes]

● Go to Table of Contents

Northeast

Regional Chair: Bill Hubbard (617-647-8552)

The Northeast RIT is actively working to restore a number of sites on Long Island Sound which have been identified by the National Estuary Program. In 

addition, they are continuing to work to remove several dams in Maine to restore anadromous fish runs. The Northeast Regional Principals met on September 

23, 1998, in Portland, Maine, to discuss these and other issues. 

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Mid-Atlantic

Regional Chairs: John Wright (718-491-8715) and Elizabeth Gillelan (410-267-5660)

The Mid-Atlantic RIT is working to restore wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation, and habitat for horseshoe crabs and hard clams. They are also examining 

the potential of removing dams along the Cooper River in New Jersey and in the headwaters of the Delaware River in New York. 

Southeast

Regional Chair: Dennis Barnett (404-562-5225)

The Southeast RIT is working to remove additional dams in the Neuse River watershed. Most recently, the Rains Mill Dam is being examined for possible 

removal. 

Gulf of Mexico

Regional Chairs: Robert Bosenberg (504-862-2522) and Bryon Griffith (228-688-1172)

No update information provided.

Southwest

Regional Chair: Peter Seligman (619-553-5403)

In California, the Southwest RIT is expanding their interest into southern California. The next RIT meeting will be in San Diego, with the San Diego Bay 

Integrated Natural Resources Management Project, and the Tijuana Estuary Program. In addition, work continues to restore Prospect Island and Little Holland/

Liberty Island. 

Pacific Islands

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Regional Chair: TBD

No update information provided.

● Go to Table of Contents

Northwest

Regional Chair: Phil Lammi (415-977-8849)

The Northwest RIT has been reestablished and Mr. Phil Lammi (USAF) is the new Chair. Two Northwest Principals meetings were held in the last year. They 

are also working with state and local groups on watershed assessment and management to prioritize cleanups. 

Alaska

Regional Chair: Jeanne Hanson (907-271-3029) and Guy McConnell (907-753-2614)

The Alaska RIT is working on restoration projects at Duck Creek (see story) and Chester Creek in Anchorage. In addition, they are establishing an active 

partnership with the Alaska SeaLife Center. (see story)

Great Lakes

Regional Chair: Gene Fleming (312-353-6320)

No update information provided.

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COASTAL AMERICA UPDATE FALL 1998

PUBLICATIONS

The following publications are available from the Coastal America Office: 

● Coastal Challenges: A Guide to Coastal and Marine Issues - A guide for environmental reporters, managers, and other interested people, that includes 

definitions of coastal terms, information on coastal issues, key laws and associated programs. 

● Preserving and Restoring Our Coastal Heritage: 1997 Coastal America Progress Report - An annual report that outlines recent accomplishments of the 

partnership, and provides a summary of regional strategies, projects and learning center activities for 1997. 

● Coastal Restoration and Protection, Lessons Learned: Coastal America Technology Transfer Report - A report that explains the value of the Coastal 

America process and describes the key lessons learned from coastal restoration projects around the country. 

● The Fragile Fringe: Coastal Wetlands of the Continental United States - An 18-page, consensus report that describes the function and value of coastal 

wetlands. 

● Toward a Watershed Approach: A Framework for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Protection and Management - A 22-page, full color consensus 

publication on watershed management. 

● Go to Table of Contents

UPCOMING EVENTS

NIT Meeting. November 18, 1998.

Principals Group Meeting. December 9, 1998. 

Ceremonies to present 1998 Partnership Awards have been scheduled: 

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Cockroach Bay Restoration Alliance. October 7, 1998. The Florida Aquarium, Tampa, Florida. 

Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge Restoration Team. December 7, 1998. Charlestown, Rhode Island. 

Quaker Neck Dam Removal Team. November 19, 1998. New Bern, North Carolina. 

● Go to Table of Contents

COASTAL AMERICA OFFICE

Virginia K. Tippie, Director 

William L. Klesch, Deputy Director 

Barbara Elkus, Education/Outreach Coordinator 

Telephone: 202-401-9928 

Fax: 202-401-9821 

http://www.coastalamerica.gov

● Go to Table of Contents

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