# AA Updates

From the desk of the National Ocean Service Assistant Administrator

- Twenty Five Years of Response and Restoration In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf celebrates the 25th anniversary of NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration.
- Improving Elevations for the Nation In this video message, NOS Deputy Assistant Administrator Rachael Dempsey shares how recent advancements in the GRAV-D project will help reduce risk for coastal communities through better flood predictions and better support emergency evacuation planning.
- 2023 NOAA Restoration Settlements In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf shares the news that NOAA and partners helped recover over $92 million from polluters to restore seven waterways in six states following oil spill and industrial pollution incidents in 2023.
- New Monthly High Tide Flooding Outlook Now Available In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf shares a major advancement in NOAA’s capability to predict high tide flooding that is available for public use. Learn more about the Monthly High Tide Flooding Outlook.
- High-Resolution Coastal Land Cover Data Will Be Available In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf shares that over the next year, new coastal land cover data will be available throughout the coastal zone, and at a resolution, or level of detail, we’ve never been able to provide before.
- Over $114 million recovered from polluters to restore waterways In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf shares how in 2022 NOAA and our partners recovered over $114 million dollars to restore 6 polluted U.S. waterways.
- RICHARD Cruise Combines Mapping, Charting, and Coral Surveys This September marked the completion of the five-month expedition to the Mariana Islands on the NOAA ship Rainier. NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf is proud to share a video message about this cruise. This innovative NOAA mission combined very different and historically siloed projects – mapping and charting in conjunction with coral reef ecosystem surveying.
- Marking Our Nation's Center of Population: VIDEO Once every ten years, NOAA and the U.S. Census Bureau team up to capture snapshots of how our nation's population is changing over time. Learn about this special partnership — and our new "center of population" — in this video message from NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf.
- National Marine Sanctuaries Stamps Issuance: VIDEO Hello, I’m Nicole LeBoeuf, Assistant Administrator for NOAA’s National Ocean Service. To celebrate 50 years of ocean and coastal conservation, I’m excited to share with you that the U.S. Postal Service and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries teamed up to showcase our nation’s underwater treasures with 16 new Forever® stamps. The stamps feature scenes that showcase the diverse and abundant wildlife and ecosystems that can be found throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System. These stunning images were taken by NOAA staff and others from around the nation to share the beauty of these special places with you. The stamp booklet also features a map of the National Marine Sanctuary System on the back. From towering kelp forests off the Pacific coast and dazzling coral displays in American Samoa, to underwater banks, reefs, ledges, and seamounts in the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and the North Atlantic, to the famed shipwrecks beneath the waters of the Great Lakes and the Potomac River in Maryland, Your national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments have protected areas with special ecological, cultural, and historical significance for five decades. Whether you’re an avid stamp collector,frequent visitor, or ocean enthusiast,show your support for national marine sanctuaries and help us celebrate and save these spectacular places. Thank you.
- Celebrating National Ocean Month: VIDEO Every June, our country observes National Ocean Month. Here at NOS, we celebrate throughout the month on our website and social media channels by sharing videos, facts, trivia, and more!Our virtual celebration highlights the critical role our ocean plays, the relationship we share with it, and the steps we can take to protect and conserve it. Whether you live along a coast, on a farm, in a city, or on top of a mountain, this amazing body of water is a part of your life. Although there are five named oceans divided by region, there is only one global ocean, and we are all connected to it.
- Supporting our Geospatially Enabled World In recognition of National Surveyors Week (March 20-29), it is my honor to share some of the unique and valuable service that NOS's National Geodetic Survey provides to our geospatially enabled world. NGS creates the nationally consistent system of latitude, longitude, and heights, called the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), which underpins and helps to align geospatial data. As our nation embarks on historic investments in infrastructure across the country, you’ll find surveyors on site using the NSRS and modern, high-accuracy surveying equipment before, during, and after construction and providing critical information and mapping products throughout the process. — GUEST POST BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY GALEN SCOTT
- Over $130 Million to Restore 10 Polluted Waterways Across the Country In 2021, NOAA and our partners recovered over 130 million dollars to restore 10 polluted waterways in six states. We did this by first conducting scientific and economic studies to evaluate the impacts of pollution on these waterways. We then reached legal agreements with those responsible for the pollution to pay for the restoration projects in these areas.
- Celebrate Geography Awareness Week What is Geography? It means "to write about the Earth," derived from the Greek words geo (the Earth) and graphos (to write about). I have always loved geography, studying our world and its climates, habitats, and processes. Unfortunately many people think of geography just as studying country and state names. Geography covers so much more than that, including the Earth's physical environment and processes, as well as the people on the Earth and their activities. Geography is the most complementary of sciences, spanning physical and social science disciplines. Mapping helps us to understand and depict a variety of phenomena, from mineral deposits to population migrations to neural pathways in the brain. At NOAA, we get to do some of the most amazing geographical science in the world, including: studying the sun and its impacts on the Earth; weather modeling and forecasting; fish habitats and migration; coastal tide and water level monitoring; and measuring and defining the shape of the Earth.— Guest post by Brian C. Shaw, Rocky Mountain Regional Advisor, National Geodetic Survey
- Looking Back, Looking Forward NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf discusses the Oceans of Knowledge 2021: Climate Change and the Ocean conference, which gave international representatives the chance to discuss climate change and sustainable use of the ocean and ocean resources, the role of the ocean in natural and engineered climate mitigation, rising sea levels, and coastal vulnerability. She also notes the start of a year-long celebration leading up to the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System.
- 36th International Coastal Cleanup In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf celebrates the 36th year of the International Coastal Cleanup, which is hosted by NOS’s partner, The Ocean Conservancy. In it she shares information about this incredible event, and explains how you can get involved and make a difference..
- World Ocean Day In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf celebrates World Ocean Day and National Ocean Month; notes NOAA's participation in the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and Capitol Hill Ocean Week; and discusses how NOS is contributing to diversity, inclusion, and environmental justice.— NOS Acting Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf
- Public Service Recognition Week During the first week of May, we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week. In my latest video message, I recognize the diverse, dedicated, and talented group of professionals that cover a wide range of occupations in the National Ocean Service. I could not be more proud of the team here. It’s no easy task to concisely and accurately say what we do here at NOS because we do a lot. I am humbled to lead such an incredible organization and group of people. — NOS Acting Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf
- Earth Day and Environmental Justice Happy Earth Day! The theme this year is Restore our Earth.” One of the ways we can “Restore our Earth” for all its inhabitants is by prioritizing environmental justice. Environmental justice is also a critical part of our response to climate change and a major priority for this administration and for NOAA. I shared my thoughts on Earth Day and on our environmental justice initiatives in a new video message. I hope you take the time to give it a look.— NOS Acting Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf
- National Surveyors Week It is hard to overstate the larger-than-life presence NGS has in the surveying profession. Early in my career, I learned the many benefits to be gained by tying my surveys to the NGS National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). Here I want to focus on two related aspects of the NSRS that impacted my work as a surveyor and are undergoing changes today: the State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS) and the foot (not the body part, but the unit of measure).
- The Science We Need for the Ocean We Want The health of our world ocean is in danger. A changing climate, increasing world population, and a variety of environmental stressors threaten to further harm the ocean that we love.But there is hope. The United Nations (U.N.) has proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, to be held from 2021 to 2030. The slogan for this cross-disciplinary, collaborative, international endeavor is “the science we need for the ocean we want.” The effort aims to improve ocean health while creating better conditions for the sustainable development of our ocean and coasts throughout the world.
- 2020 Annual Report Released, Digital Coast Act This week, we celebrate the outstanding accomplishments across NOS in the newly released Fiscal Year 2020 Year in Review. Reading these accomplishments fills me with pride, and reminds me how privileged I am to lead such an incredible group of professionals. I look forward to building upon our accomplishments in 2021. This week’s Web Highlight features just a few of the activities you can read about in the report.Also of note, on December 18, 2020, a major piece of legislation revising NOS's Digital Coast program was enacted after being signed by the President. The Digital Coast Act will fill data needs and gaps for critical coastal management issues and improve the integration of key data needs, and is a cause for celebration throughout NOS.
- Geography Awareness Week Many NOAA products and services make use of and disseminate spatial data. Emergency managers rely on well-mapped evacuation routes to plan evacuation timelines and use post-event imagery to plan their response. For example, the 2020 California wildfires and accompanying heavy winds forced swift analysis and evacuation orders to escape new fires. This type of reliance on accurately aligned data and imagery will only increase as the world continues to build smart highways and smart cities.Why am I emphasizing the importance of geospatial data? Next Monday, November 16 marks the beginning of Geography Awareness Week, which was instituted to excite people about geography both as a field of study and as a part of everyday life. And there is more to celebrate! November 18 is GIS Day, when people around the world convene to highlight how Geographic Information System technology is making a difference in our society.
- NOAA Celebrates 50 Years October 3 marks NOAA’s 50th anniversary. Although NOAA is turning 50, its roots go back over 200 years to 1807, when President Thomas Jefferson founded the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. NOAA was established under the Department of Commerce in 1970 — continuing to make life better for U.S. citizens through scientific accuracy and precision.To commemorate this important anniversary, throughout 2020, NOAA’s Office of Communications has led an incredible campaign that focuses not only on where NOAA came from, but where we’re going. The National Ocean Service has played a key role in supporting the campaign’s efforts by working collaboratively with other line offices to create some truly amazing and inspirational products.
- Celebrate Estuaries Next week is National Estuaries Week, a time set aside to commemorate the remarkably productive estuaries found throughout the U.S. This year the recreational and aesthetic benefits seem particularly important, as so many of us have a renewed need for the natural environment to help sharpen our minds and nourish our souls. Hiking, biking, kayaking, and bird-watching are great ways to alleviate stress and provide a much-needed breath of fresh air.
- 30th anniversary of the Oil Pollution Act; 15 years since Hurricane Katrina This week marks two significant commemorative dates for two major historical events: the 30th anniversary of the 1990 Oil Pollution Act (OPA), and 15 years since Hurricane Katrina — one of the five deadliest hurricanes to strike the U.S.Remembering and reflecting on these events are important. They remind us of the vital work that we at NOS do to provide high quality products and services that protect our economy, the environment, and U.S. citizens.
- Highlights from the U.S. High Tide Flooding 2019 Status and 2020 Outlook My name is William Sweet and, besides being an avid Chesapeake Bay sailor, I am also an oceanographer with the National Ocean Service's (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services. I joined NOAA right before the June 2009 “high tide” flood event unexpectedly swamped Atlantic Coast communities and, since then, I have been working to bring to light the effects of sea level rise. I have been using the NOS National Weather Level Observation Network and National Weather Service local flood height thresholds to bring to light the effects of sea level rise. That work is now  helping experts to assess coastal flood risk changes along the nation’s coastline.
- National Ocean Month June 8 is World Ocean Day — part of our annual recognition of National Ocean Month. Every day, each of us plays a role in addressing evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our ocean and coasts. This month is also our eighth year of NOS’s “30 Days of the Ocean” campaign. This online effort affords us the opportunity to share the importance of our world ocean, increase awareness of online NOS products and services, and promote ocean and environmental literacy to support informed stewardship decisions.
- NOAA's Digital Coast Exemplifies How Collaborative Efforts Achieve Results In all endeavors, we are stronger when we work together. NOAA's Digital Coast provides an exemplary example of this concept. By providing information on this shared platform, all of our products and services have the potential to be seen (and used!) by a much broader audience. This month, I take a look at how collaborative efforts across NOAA line offices, other federal agencies, and partner organizations can achieve impactful results. Continue reading &rarr;
- Leadership and Empathy in Challenging Times When I started thinking about this message weeks ago, I initially planned for it to tie together NOAA's 50 anniversary, Women's History Month, and lessons I've learned throughout my career. Now, as I settle into my home office for the foreseeable future, our world is being turned upside down by COVID-19. The coming weeks and months will be difficult if not scarring for our Nation. My educational background in biology not only compels me to take the new coronavirus seriously for myself and my family, but also to feel the weight of my responsibility to the entire workforce of the National Ocean Service (NOS), here and across the country.Continue reading &rarr;
- The National Geodetic Survey's GPS on Bench Marks Campaign This month, I invited acting National Geodetic Survey director Brad Kearse to take the pen to discuss the GPS on Bench Marks campaign. NGS is the agency responsible for maintaining and modernizing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, orientation, and shoreline throughout the United States. Continue reading &rarr;
- Gulf Oil Spill Conference and Celebrating Estuaries I'd like to share my thoughts on a recent conference I attended, where experts in the field of ecosystem science shared their knowledge about impacts of oil spills in the Gulf, and how this knowledge can inform regional management and policy decisions. I also want to highlight that we are celebrating #EstuaryLove throughout the month of February via NOAA's Office for Coastal Management. #EstuaryLove is an annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of estuaries, while also celebrating the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Continue reading &rarr;
- Office of Response and Restoration Outlook I took the helm of OR&R in November of 2019, and spent the first months connecting with staff and partners that spanned the breadth of our mission. In the new year, I’m looking forward to deepening those connections, continuing our strong mission accomplishments, and conducting more joint work across OR&R’s operating divisions as a step in ensuring we are nimble in how we leverage our expertise and resources across our mission set. (Guest post by Scott Lundgren, Director, Office of Response and Restoration)Continue reading &rarr;
- Coral Reef Conservation Program Once again, NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) is finishing up a busy year. We have been setting implementation plans into motion for the new NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Strategic Plan, and working across NOAA with state and territorial partners to target our research and conservation efforts.(Guest post by Jennifer Koss, Director of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program)Continue reading &rarr;
- National Seafood Month During the month of October we celebrate National Seafood Month, and seafood is certainly worth celebrating! Seafood is not only important to our nation’s food security and coastal economies, it is a critical part of a healthy diet. Seafood production requires the sacrifice, adaptability, and innovation of our seafood industry, and so we honor those who bring savory seafood to our dinner plates from their boats and working waterfronts. (Guest post by James Morris, marine ecologist with the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)Continue reading &rarr;
- MV Conception and Hurricane Dorian September has been a challenging month here at NOS. On Monday, September 2, the dive charter MV Conception was on a three-day dive excursion within Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) when a catastrophic fire on the boat killed 34 people, including all 33 guests and one member of the boat’s crew. While the events of the boating fire unfolded, Hurricane Dorian unleashed its fury over the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island. In anticipation of the storm, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia declared a state of emergency, and some coastal counties from Florida to North Carolina issued mandatory evacuation orders. Continue reading &rarr;
- Dispatches from the Gulf I recently provided opening remarks for and participated in a panel discussion following a screening of a documentary that explores the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill through the eyes of scientists working together to better understand and mitigate its fall-out.Continue reading &rarr;
- Designation of Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary I am pleased to announce the designation of Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. The designation will be official and take effect following a review by Congress and the Maryland governor after a period of 45 days of Congressional session. Continue reading &rarr;
- Planning for Sea Level Rise NOS is making important contributions to ocean science both globally and locally. Recently, several members of the NOS leadership team traveled to Norfolk, Virginia, to meet with federal partners and regional stakeholders to hear about their experiences addressing and planning for sea level rise, as well as to discuss the impacts that sea level rise is having and will continue to have on NOS people, programs, and facilities.Continue reading &rarr;
- How Gliders Contribute to Hurricane Preparedness Guest post from Carl Gouldman, Director, U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Program: "Building off of this year's Hurricane Preparedness Week, I wanted to provide an update on some of the ocean observing plans we at the U.S. IOOS Program have in store for this hurricane season. We are fully engaged in planning with partners from across NOAA, other agencies, and international ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing programs."Continue reading &rarr;
- In Memory of Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings NOAA lost a steadfast champion and strong voice in support of its mission this month. Former Senator Ernest “Fritz” Hollings passed away on April 6 at his home in South Carolina at the age of 97. Though perhaps more widely known for his work on social and fiscal issues, here at NOAA, we know him as one of the founding figures of our agency and a true ally of the NOS mission to preserve and protect our coastal and ocean special places while supporting economic prosperity.Continue reading &rarr;
- A NOAA Salute to Women's History Month Throughout the month of March, we celebrate Women’s History Month to commemorate the invaluable role of women in American history.Continue reading &rarr;
- National Ocean Service Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report Celebrate the outstanding accomplishments across National Ocean Service programs in Fiscal Year 2018. More than 40 examples of our success appear in the newly released Fiscal Year 2018 Year in Review. Continue reading &rarr;
- Celebrate GIS Day 2018 with NOS To acknowledge the importance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the world today, we celebrate GIS Day annually on the second Wednesday of November. GIS Day provides an international forum for users of GIS technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.Continue Reading
- Hurricane Michael Last week, NOS was once again called to service as Hurricane Michael ravaged the Florida Panhandle and portions of Georgia and Virginia. I’m relieved to report that all of our personnel in the affected areas are safe and accounted for. Nonetheless, it has been a hectic and challenging time as many of us have been preparing for, responding to, and beginning to recover from hurricanes for more than four weeks now. This post is an update of our recent activities in support of response and recovery to Hurricanes Michael and Florence.Continue Reading
- Hurricane Florence The past week has been challenging for many of us dealing with Hurricane Florence. From pre-storm preparations to evacuations to damage assessments, we have weathered this major event and have accounted for all of our personnel in the affected area. However, so many people continue to face incredible hardships. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this devastating storm. Please note that FEMA is providing critical information for people impacted by Florence, as well as ways that individual citizens can help those in need. With this in mind, this post is a summary of recent NOS activities supporting response and recovery efforts.Continue Reading
- Digital Coast Academy You may know that the Office for Coastal Management’s Digital Coast website was developed to meet the unique needs of the coastal management community. What you may not be aware of is that in addition to providing data and predictive tools, the site offers a wealth of learning resources through its Digital Coast Academy.Continue Reading
- World Ocean Month June is our annual celebration of National Ocean Month. We are often asked at this time of year, how many oceans are there? There’s only one! The ocean is the defining feature of our planet, covering approximately 70 percent of Earth’s surface. Our one ocean is divided into five named ocean basins and is intricately connected to major lakes, watersheds, and waterways through a vast and complicated drainage system. No matter where you live, you are connected to our one global ocean. Continue Reading
- Real-time Data Helps Miami Seaport Safely Bring in Ships On April 3, 2018, several NOAA leaders gathered at PortMiami to dedicate a new Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) comprised of three offshore buoy-mounted current meters that will enhance navigation safety for the Miami seaport. In Miami, ship pilots face strong currents from the Gulf Stream as they enter the channel. The new PORTS provides pilots with critical real-time information that they need to make navigation decisions, using a new technology configuration that makes the meters more reliable, more cost-efficient, and extends their range offshore. The information is especially important as cargo ships and cruise ships become larger and carry more goods and people.Continue Reading
- International Year of the Reef 2018 is the third International Year of the Reef—a platform to highlight the importance of coral reefs. Covering less than one percent of the planet, coral reefs are the home to 25 percent of marine species and supply food to millions of people. They are also vital to our ocean economy, providing billions of dollars in services, such coastal protection, jobs, tourism and more.Continue Reading
- Year in Review I’d like to take a moment to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments across our programs in FY 2017. More than 40 examples of our success appear in the newly released Fiscal Year 2017 Year in Review. Here are some numbers that help tell the story of the year.Continue Reading
- Dr. Steve Thur Named New NCCOS Director I am pleased to announce that Dr. Steven Thur has been selected to serve as Director of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) effective December 10, 2017. Dr. Thur brings a high degree of scientific rigor and an emphasis on organizational excellence that we believe will advance the work of NCCOS and coastal science throughout the National Ocean Service.Continue Reading
- The U.S. Economy Relies on Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Resources The strength of the United States economy is a topic of frequent discussion. Today, I’d like to highlight the value of of a particular segment of the U.S. economy. The ocean economy includes businesses dependent on ocean and Great Lakes natural resources. A study released earlier this year demonstrates that this essential segment of the U.S. economy employs more than three million people—more than crop production, telecommunication and building construction combined—with more than two thirds of those employees in the tourism and recreation sector.Continue Reading
- NOS Hurricane Response Update Many of us have been preparing for, responding to, or beginning to recover from hurricanes for more than four weeks now. Tragically, Hurricane Maria claimed the lives of at least 30 people, leaving communities devastated across the Caribbean. Immediately after the storm, we were able to account for all of our personnel in the affected area. But we also recognize that the safety of our staff members working and living in areas hit by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria continues to be a concern in the face of high temperatures, receding water, and limited basic resources. FEMA’s websites for Harvey, Irma, and Maria provide information for people impacted by the storms as well as ways that individual citizens can help those in need.I am so proud to work with people who consistently demonstrate unwavering commitment to our mission. This post details some examples of recent activities supporting response and recovery to these storms.Continue Reading
- NOS Hurricane Harvey Response Over the past week, we have witnessed a storm that has brought historic and catastrophic flooding to communities along the Gulf Coast. Tragically, more than 30 people died as a result of the storm. That number may rise as the rains subside and first responders reach all of the affected areas. The full toll of the storm is unlikely to be known for some time. Here is a snapshot of National Ocean Service activities related to the storm over the past week. Continue Reading
- Advancing Coastal Science Our latest AA update is a guest post from Dr. Steve Thur, Acting Director of NOS's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science: "I'd like to share two recent developments from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). In June, we released a new five-year strategic science plan and officially completed an organizational realignment from five research Centers to an office with three divisions."Continue Reading
- Remembering Margaret Davidson It is with profound sadness that I share with you the news that our beloved colleague, Margaret Davidson, has passed away following a long illness.Margaret was the greatest visionary I ever had the pleasure to meet—and she was a visionary who took action. When she spoke of "now," she meant two to three years down the road because she was always thinking that far ahead of the rest of us. She was a mentor, confidant, and a friend to me and to many other in the global coastal community.Continue Reading
- Coastal Fast Facts Grab some "bite-sized" facts about coastal economics, demographics, weather, storms, ports, aquaculture, and marine debris.Continue Reading
- New NOS Publications I'm really impressed by the recent publications that NOS program offices and their partners have contributed to or produced. I'd like to share a few examples.Continue Reading
- National African American History Month In February, we celebrate America’s and NOAA’s history in two meaningful ways. First, we commemorate National African American History Month throughout the month. This is a time when we celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize their central role in our nation’s history.Continue Reading
- NOS 2016 Year in Review I'd like to take a moment to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments across our programs in FY 2016. More than 40 examples of our success appear in the newly released Fiscal Year 2016 Year in Review. In this post, I preview a few of the activities you can read about in the report.Continue Reading
- Resilient Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate The third and longest global coral bleaching event on record started in 2014 and continues to damage reefs around the globe. While it's true coral reef ecosystems have been knocked down, they have certainly not been knocked out. It is not too late to conserve coral reef ecosystems.Continue Reading
- Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap This week, NOAA rolled out the final version Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap. This effort, co-led by NMFS and NOS, is significant because it marks NOAA's first presentation of a more holistic approach to the management of ocean noise impacts on our trust resources. The Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap, which supports NOS's priority of place-based management, will guide the agency toward more comprehensive and effective management of ocean noise impacts over the next decade. I would like to thank the people in NOS who contributed countless hours in support of this important effort.Continue Reading
- Celebrating 100 Years of American Conservation One hundred years ago today, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law an act creating the U.S. National Park Service. From Yellowstone and Yosemite to the Grand Canyon and the Everglades, our national parks are magnificent places where we gather with our family, friends and neighbors to experience our nation's most stunning land- and seascapes and create memories that we'll never forget. While many of us are familiar with the national treasures managed by the National Park Service, you might not know another vast system of parks exists. Only, they're underwater.Continue Reading
- Defining and Measuring Community Resilience Every day, we are working to promote resilience in our coastal communities. However, defining and measuring the capacity of a community to be resilient is a challenge. A recent effort by the Office for Coastal Management, working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is helping with this challenge.As part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, a draft set of national-level community resilience indicators, is now available for public comment. The proposed indicators and measures identify key attributes of community resilience capacity aligned with capabilities such as housing, economic recovery, and natural and cultural resources. These factors may be considered by a variety of users when evaluating how to improve a community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The draft indicators and measures provide a consistent framework to help guide the development of useful measures, promote the identification and sharing of relevant data, and facilitate the collection of new data needed to fill critical information gaps.This initiative has been years in the making and I would like to thank all of those who have been involved in developing this effort.Continue Reading
- NOAA tool helps Charleston planners build resilience into city strategy I would like to congratulate the Office for Coastal Management for its outstanding work with the City of Charleston to support resilience in the face of sea level rise. OCM used its Sea Level Rise Viewer's flood projection maps, digital elevation models, and realistic visualizations to show city planners and engineers how local streets, landmarks, and infrastructure would be affected if sea level were to rise an additional one to three feet. City planners incorporated the information into a proposed sea level rise strategy. The Charleston City Council recently approved the strategy, and the mayor is convening a team to address its implementation.Carolee Williams, project manager for the City of Charleston in the Department of Planning, Preservation, and Sustainability said, "NOAA's data, tools, and technical assistance played a critical role in helping our officials to 'see' the problem and move ahead on a sea level rise strategy."It's great to see how our efforts directly support a community's decisions to ensure coastal resilience!      Continue Reading
- Improving Height Accuracy Measurements for the Nation Communities looking to build resilience to storms—from hurricanes to river flooding—need a lot of information. One of the key things that they need is accurate height information. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is undertaking a 15-year project called Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum, or GRAV-D, to improve height accuracy. Once the GRAV-D airborne survey is completed and the new vertical datum is released, elevations accessed through NOAA's Continuously Operating Reference Station network will be accurate to within one inch, resulting in improved inundation mapping, better monitoring of sea levels, and more accurate heights for the surveying community in support of the construction of highways, bridges, and suburban development, among other improvements.Recently, NGS reached a major milestone—50 percent of all GRAV-D data have now been collected. Congratulations to all involved in this accomplishment! Additionally, the program is exploring ways that new technologies can support the GRAV-D effort. NGS recently tested a gravity-measurement device on an unmanned aircraft. An unmanned plane can more easily obtain GRAV-D data in remote locations, and has the potential to greatly reduce the costs associated with data collection.      Continue Reading
- Tackling Harmful Algal Blooms NOAA and 12 other federal agencies are working to improve research and communications about the risks of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, twin threats to our nation's waters.      Continue Reading
- Japan Tsunami Marine Debris: Five Years Later Five years ago, Japan was hit with one of the worst natural disasters in its history. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake, and tsunami that followed, claimed nearly 16,000 lives, injured 6,000 more, and damaged or destroyed countless structures and property. Unfortunately, the effects of these natural events did not stop there. The Government of Japan estimated that 5 million tons of debris was carried into the Pacific by the massive tsunami wave. Although the magnitude of this pales in comparison to the amount of human loss and suffering brought about by these events, Japan tsunami marine debris is something that we at NOAA are still addressing five years later.  [Guest post from Nancy Wallace, Director, NOAA's Marine Debris Program]      Continue Reading
- Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request Earlier this month, President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request. The request for the National Ocean Service is just under $570 million. This request will allow NOAA to make investments to increase the resilience of the nation's coastal communities to extreme weather events, coastal inundation, climate hazards, and changing ocean conditions.        Continue Reading
- 2015 Annual Report I’d like to take a moment to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments across our programs in FY 2015. More than 40 key activities, accomplishments, and milestones appear in the newly released Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report. View highlights from the year by priority or by program office.        Continue Reading
- In Memory of Ocean Visionary John Knauss Recently, legendary oceanographer Dr. John Knauss passed away. The mark he left on National Ocean Service, NOAA, and the larger ocean community is lasting and profound. Dr. John Knauss was a driving force behind the creation of the National Sea Grant College Program. He was the only academic oceanographer on the Stratton Commission. Among the results of the Commission’s recommendations were the creation of NOAA and development of the Coastal Zone Management Act. Dr. Knauss was later served as NOAA administrator.        Continue Reading
- Handbook outlines more than 85 federal funding opportunities Looking for federal funding opportunities? Here is a handy reference to funding programs ranging from coastal wetland and wildlife and resilience to economic development. The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System, in conjunction with the White House Build America Initiative, has developed the Federal Funding Handbook for Marine Transportation System Infrastructure.        Continue Reading
- Trustees announce draft restoration plans for Gulf of Mexico following 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster More than five years ago, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil well drilling platform started the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. Tragically, eleven people lost their lives due to the explosion. This week, BP, the United States, and the five Gulf States have agreed to a settlement resolving claims for federal civil penalties and natural resource damages related to the 2010 oil spill. The settlement is now set forth in a proposed Consent Decree that includes up to $8.8 billion for natural resource damages stemming from the spill. This brings to a close one major chapter in the disaster that spilled 134 million of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days and opens a new chapter that will support long-term restoration of Gulf resources.        Continue Reading
- Holly Bamford Appointed as Coordinating Board Chair of the U.S. Committee on the Maritime Transportation System Effective July 1, 2015, Dr. Holly Bamford is Chair of the Coordinating Board of the U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS). NOAA's role within the CMTS is to help ensure the safety and efficiency of maritime commerce while protecting the environment and promoting economic growth.          Continue Reading
- NOAA Habitat Policy supports place-based conservation This week, NOAA’s efforts to promote healthy habitat — which in turn advances coastal resilience, supports place-based conservation, and stimulates our economy — have been codified in the agency’s first NOAA Habitat Policy. This Policy acknowledges the importance of habitat in NOAA’s programs and activities. It outlines a set of guiding principles that apply to all of NOAA’s habitat work and will be used to inform future agency actions and strategic priorities related to habitat conservation.        Continue Reading
- NOAA and partners announce tools to improve coastal resilience Our coastal communities are facing increased threats due to sea level change, increased development, and greater demand for environmental resources. To reduce coastal risks and improve resilience, NOS has worked with the U.S. Army Corps, other federal, local government, academic, and non-governmental organizations to launch tools for coastal decision makers. The tools, which include a  website and  primer on shoreline stabilization, promote a hybrid engineering approach that integrates "green" natural and nature-based measures with "gray" structural ones at the landscape scale. The effort is referred to as a Systems Approach to Geomorphic Engineering, or SAGE.        Continue Reading
- Connecting with Communities Few  places on Earth can compete with the beauty, cultural importance, and  ecological diversity of our National Marine Sanctuaries. To celebrate  sanctuaries as a destination, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is  hosting “Get into Your Sanctuary” events throughout the sanctuary system the  weekend of June 27-28. Want to learn which sanctuaries are best suited for  kayakers, history buffs, and divers? Where to picnic, take photos, or view  wildlife?  Learn more about visiting these iconic places here.         Place-based conservation connects with  communities in a unique way. That connection also fuels the nation’s economy  through activities like recreation and fishing. The Office for Coastal  Management provides tools to help decision makers understand the economic  importance of coastal resources, from sanctuaries to ports. For example, Economics: National Ocean  Watch (ENOW) provides data on economic sectors that  depend on the ocean and Great Lakes. Coastal County Snapshots provide easy-to-understand views of economic data at the  county level. Learn more here.        Continue Reading
- Visits to Remember Place-based conservation really hit home for me last week when I had the opportunity to visit the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. I was in Florida to participate in the Reserve’s State of the Coast meeting with federal, state, and local officials to discuss the latest coastal science and management issues.Continue Reading
- Washington Monument Height Recalculated President's Day marked a special announcement for the National Geodetic Survey (NGS). On Monday, NGS announced the results of a height measurement study of the Washington Monument. Using new international measurement standards and technology not available in the past, NGS calculated the official architectural height of the Washington Monument to be 554 feet 711⁄32 inches.Continue Reading
- NOS 2014 Annual Report Our 2014 Annual Report is now online. Enjoy!Continue Reading
- Veteran's Day 2014 Veteran's Day is a time to honor the men and women who have served in the uniformed services. While many veterans work at NOAA, here is something you may not know about our agency's legacy. Continue Reading
- Introducing the Office for Coastal Management I am delighted to announce that NOAA’s Coastal Services Center and the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management have joined forces to become the Office for Coastal Management. The new organizational structure will bring value-added services to taxpayers. The emphasis is on partnerships, as the office works to administer the Coastal Zone Management Act and the Coral Reef Conservation Act; provide products and services to the coastal management community; and bring new partners and sectors together to address coastal management issues. The alignment of these two organizations is designed to bring a new energy and focus to the business of coastal resource management through a strong regional presence coupled with refined programmatic functions. Continue Reading
- National Estuaries Week What successful coastal management program protects more than 1.3 million acres? The National Estuarine Research Reserves, featuring 28 sites across the country! And this week is National Estuaries Week. Healthy estuaries provide a wide range of benefits to coastal communities and ecosystems. These special places, where rivers meet the sea. serve as natural filters for runoff, critical habitats for commercial and recreational species, storage facilities for excessive flood waters, important centers for transportation, and fun places for millions of people to boat, swim, fish, kayak, and more. When devising ways for coastal communities to become more resilient, keeping estuaries healthy ranks near the top of almost every list. I’m proud of the outstanding work carried out in support of National Estuarine Research Reserves.Continue Reading
- Did you know that all Americans can now nominate new national marine sanctuaries? Did you know that all Americans can now nominate nationally significant marine and Great Lakes areas as potential new national marine sanctuaries? This new process, finalized earlier this year, will result in an inventory of areas NOAA could consider for national marine sanctuary designation. Nominations submitted by interested communities will describe a proposed area’s national significance and the feasibility of managing it as a national marine sanctuary.  Nominating communities can include individuals, as well as local, regional, and national interests and organizations, that believe their special place will benefit from becoming a national marine sanctuary.  Nominations that successfully complete the process and are added to the inventory will not automatically be selected by NOAA for sanctuary designation.  Any sanctuary designation would be conducted as a separate process, as described in the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.Continue Reading
- Dedication of New Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System Today, I join NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services Director Rich Edwing, leaders from the Jacksonville Marine Transportation Exchange, and other local and state officials in Florida at the dedication of the newest Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System, or PORTS®. The new Jacksonville PORTS®, second largest ever established in the system, includes a broad suite of operational sensors with water level, meteorological, visibility, salinity, air gap (under bridge clearance), and tidal currents.Continue Reading
- Capitol Hill Ocean Week: Opportunity for Discussion, Collaboration Each year, marine professionals, government officials, and ocean enthusiasts meet for Capitol Hill Ocean Week. The three-day symposium hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation brings together hundreds of policymakers, industry leaders, scientists, academics and conservationists to shape marine policy and provoke conversation about critical ocean and coastal issues.Continue Reading
- Protecting Human Health and Coastal Economies with Early Warnings The health of our coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems depend on our understanding of complex and constantly changing conditions. A key way that the National Ocean Service is addressing these challenges is by advancing ecological forecasting. Much like a weather forecast helps communities, businesses, and citizens make decisions, an ecological forecast provides information that helps decision makers prepare for and respond to changes in ecosystems. In the case of ecological forecasting, changes are driven by environmental drivers such as climate variability, extreme weather conditions, pollution, or habitat change.Continue Reading
- Saving Lives and Livelihoods: NOS Supports Weather-Ready Nation Efforts NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative is about building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events. The National Ocean Service plays an important role in advancing these efforts.Continue Reading
- How the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System is vital to advancing our priorities Here at the National Ocean Service (NOS), three priorities guide our wide range of products and services: coastal preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency; advancing coastal intelligence; and place-based conservation. The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) plays a key role in meeting those priorities.Continue Reading
- Greetings from the American Meteorology Society’s Annual Meeting This week, I’m participating at the American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. AMS is a membership organization that promotes atmospheric and related science. The theme of this year’s meeting is "Extreme Weather—Climate and the Built Environment:  New Perspectives, Opportunities, and Tools." The National Ocean Service plays an important role in helping coastal communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and be more resilient to extreme weather. Continue Reading
- Lost for More Than 150 years, How the Walker Was Found Happy New Year! As I was reviewing National Ocean Service activities over the past year, this item stuck out as particularly memorable. In August, NOAA commemorated--for the first time ever--the 20 crewmembers who lost their lives when the U.S. Coast Survey Steamer&nbsp;Robert J. Walker&nbsp;was hit by a commercial vessel and sank off the coast of New Jersey. More than 150 years after the vessel was lost, the wreck has been positively identified. Continue Reading
- Reflections on Hurricane Sandy A little over a year ago, the storm known as Sandy made landfall along the East Coast. It is impossible to reflect on the storm's lasting impact without acknowledging the tremendous loss that people in the affected area endured. Entire livelihoods--some passed down from generation to generation--were lost. Small businesses and family homes were wiped out with one storm. Sandy represents a turning point in the conversations happening among scientists, city planners, politicians, and communities on developing more resilient and sustainable coasts going into the future. Continue Reading
- Our Priorities With 90 percent of the country’s consumer goods coming through maritime ports and nearly 40 percent of society living in coastal shoreline counties, America is without a doubt a coastal nation. Given the country’s ever-changing environmental, societal and economic challenges, my utmost priority is to make sure the National Ocean Service’s (NOS) science, service, and stewardship efforts stay ahead of the storm to protect, respond, and recover life and property.Continue Reading