March 2023 SNEP Newsletter

Save the Date! On June 13, SNEP will host its next biennial Forum at the Bristol Community College. The goal of the Forum is to engage with our community members and program partners through an introspective look at the work of SNEP; and to provide input on the work that our Program has completed, the work ongoing, and the work still to be done. Make your voice heard by joining us for this free event. Registration is now open.

SNEP hosts Ecosystem Service Subcommittee meeting. On February 9, SNEP hosted its Q2 Ecosystem Services (ES) subcommittee meeting. During this meeting, subcommittee members discussed how SNEP could better engage environmental justice (EJ) communities and begin implementing SNEP’s equity plan. Additionally, subcommittee members discussed, and prioritized subcommittee research needs and continued work to identify representative habitats for future informational outreach efforts.

SNEP hosts second quarter Steering Committee meetings. On February 6 and 27, EPA held their Q2 Steering Committee meetings. Discussion topics across both meetings included: FY23 budget allocation, news about the SNEP equity plan, and updates from our Monitoring and Ecosystem Services subcommittee chairs. Meeting notes from the February 6 meeting are now posted to the SNEP website. February 27 meeting notes to be posted soon.

SNEP Project Featured by Mass Audubon. The Mass Audubon Society was funded via a SNEP Watershed Implementation Grant (SWIG) award to restore salt marshes at the Great Neck and Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuaries. Project partners included Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, Save the Bay, the Town of Wareham, Wareham Land Trust, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the Town of Dartmouth, and Bristol County Mosquito Control. For more information on the project, please reference the following story map.

Program Update: SWIG23 Applications are Open!

Since 2018, SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants (SWIG) has provided more than $12 million in funding for nearly 60 environmental restoration projects in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Now, applications are open for the 2023 funding round of SWIG grants (SWIG23).

This year, SWIG will award $2.9 million in grants to programs and partnerships working to restore clean water, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable communities throughout Southeast New England. SWIG23 is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through a partnership with Restore America's Estuaries (RAE). The initial application step is an on-line Letter of Intent, due by Friday, April 7th. To read the SWIG23 Request for Proposals and submit a Letter of Intent, or to learn more about the SWIG program and past grants, click here.

Program Highlight: Land to Sea Speaker Series

In addition to funding on-the-ground restoration projects, SWIG awards Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Learning Grants. These grants support initiatives that share information about environmental solutions among restoration practitioners, scientists, and community members in order to improve and expand the practice of restoration throughout Southeast New England.

One such SWIG P2P Grant supports the Land to Sea Speaker Series, hosted by Clean Ocean Access of Newport, RI. The goals of these virtually-hosted presentations are to break down barriers that exist between environmental projects and the public, raise awareness, and expand education along themes of stormwater remediation, green infrastructure, the greater watershed, and water quality sampling. This year, the Series is featuring several SNEP-funded projects working on stormwater management and Narragansett Bay water quality monitoring. To register, visit Clean Ocean Access's website.

Revamped SNEP Network Tools and Resources Page

Over the years, the SNEP Network has worked closely with SNEP communities to help build capacity to move their climate resilient projects to implementation. Based on the communities’ needs, the Network has developed a suite of tools and resources that help support communities to advance their projects toward implementation and maintenance. Visit the revamped SNEP Network Tools and Resources page to view the tools and resources!

BMP Accounting and Tracking Tool (BATT) Training Videos

SNEP Network Partner, The University of New Hampshire (UNH)- Stormwater Center, along with EPA Region 1, Paradigm, and the Consensus Building Institute worked together to develop training tutorials that help support municipalities in using EPA’s BMP Accounting and Tracking Tool (BATT). BATT is a spreadsheet-based tool that provides accounting, tracking, and reporting for pollutant (nutrients and sediment) load reduction. Download the tool, and view the videos produced by the SNEP Network on the SNEP Network’s BMP Accounting and Tracking Tool (BATT) Resources webpage.

Funding Nature-Based Community Resilience in Southeastern Massachusetts

On February 15, the SNEP Network held a 1-hour webinar that featured many state and federal funding programs. The webinar highlighted key grant programs available in Massachusetts and the priorities of each, in order to help identify the best program for a project and what makes a competitive application. The recording of the webinar is posted on the SNEP Network website along with handouts and contact information for each participating grant program.

Emerging Stormwater Technologies in Rhode Island: FocalPoint

On February 13, the SNEP Network, in partnership with the Stormwater Innovation Center, provided a webinar that gave an overview on the design, implementation, and maintenance of FocalPoint stormwater systems. FocalPoint is an on-line stormwater BMP that utilizes regionally acceptable vegetation planted in a high-flow rate biofiltration media layer that treats stormwater pollutants such as total suspended solids (TSS), nutrients, metals, and bacteria. To learn more about FocalPoint Stormwater Systems, watch the recording on the SNEP Network website or visit the Stormwater Innovation’s website!

SWIG23 Virtual Application Workshops
March 1 and March 7, 2023; times vary | Virtual
Restore America’s Estuaries will host an online workshop for prospective applicants interested in applying to the SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants (SWIG) program’s new Request for Applications. Specific times and participation links can be accessed on the SWIG23 web page.

Funding Water Quality Restoration and Climate Resilience Projects in Rhode Island
March 15, 2023 (10AM-12PM EST) | Virtual
One of the challenges that communities face when addressing water quality, flooding and/or other climate change impacts is identifying funding mechanisms to support their projects. With unprecedented funding available for this work, this workshop offered by the SNEP Network will provide a roadmap by highlighting key funding opportunities for water quality and climate resilience projects. This workshop will allow participants to also speak with funders about their specific projects.

SNEP Monitoring Subcommittee Meeting
March 22, 2023; 10:00a – 12:00p | Virtual
The SNEP Monitoring subcommittee is scheduled to meet for their Q2 discussion. The goal of the Monitoring subcommittee is to 1) Investigate prospects to align and connect monitoring efforts; 2) identify gaps in regional monitoring, equity, and outreach efforts; and 3) contribute to increasing regional long-term monitoring capacity. Main agenda topics include discussion on the Water Quality Exchange (WQX) data portal, updates on SNEP’s 2023-2024 contractor-supported monitoring plans, and a presentation on the Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP).

Zosterapalooza XXXII
March 29, 2023 | Virtual
Zosterapalooza is an annual conference hosted by EPA marine biologist, Phil Colarusso. Each year, this all-day event highlights eelgrass research throughout New England and beyond. All are welcome to attend this free, informative, and engaging event. Please use the hyperlink provided to email Phil and ask to be added to the guest list.

33^rd Annual Nonpoint Source Conference
April 12-13, 2023 | In-person
Since 1990, NEIWPCC, in partnership with its member states, has been coordinating the Annual Nonpoint Source (NPS) Conference. The Annual NPS Conference is the premier forum in the Northeast for sharing information and improving communication on NPS pollution issues and projects.
Registration is now open.

13^th National Monitoring Conference
April 24-28, 2023 | Hybrid
The National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) is hosting its thirteenth conference on water quality monitoring in Virginia Beach, VA. This conference provides opportunities for water stakeholders – federal, state, tribal and local water professionals, non-profits, academia, industry and water consultants, and volunteer and community scientists – to network, develop new skills and partnerships, and exchange information. The proposed sessions and a short description of each are available at https://www.nalms.org/2023nmc/proposed-sessions/

2023 Local Solutions: Climate Migration
May 16-17, 2023; Keene, NH | In-person
The goal of NOAA’s Climate Adaptation Partnerships program (formerly RISA) is to build capacity for socially just and equitable migration and enhanced regional climate resilience. This event will be a culmination of the Northeast Safe and Thriving for All (NEST) project. Funded by the NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships program, the event will convene stakeholders working in the Northeast towards climate refugia that is resilient, revitalized, socially just, and decarbonized. This convening will kick-off in the early evening of May 16, 2023, with a Keynote Speaker in Keene, New Hampshire.

EPA has announced two new EPA grants programs open for applications:

EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Program Cooperative Agreements - https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-collaborative-problem-solving-cooperative-agreement-5
EJ Government-to-Government Program – https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-government-government-program

Applications are due April 10, 2023. Please share this information with all interested parties.
The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program is Seeking Proposals. The FY23 Buzzards Bay Watershed Infrastructure and CCMP Grant Support Program, with $769,339 in U.S. EPA funding available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), is now accepting proposals. Eligible projects must implement a recommendation in the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) and be principally located within the Buzzards Bay watershed.

The MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is hiring a social media and outreach coordinator! This position will play a critical role within DER, strengthening and expanding the Division’s communications and outreach capabilities to communicate the value of DER’s ecological restoration work and to build public support for ecological restoration. If you know anyone who may be interested, please pass this posting on to them!

More information and instructions to apply can be found at https://massanf.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=22000F8Y

Have an idea for a story or something you’d like to see in our newsletter? Contact our Communications Coordinator, Adam Reilly at Reilly.Adam@epa.gov

About the Program

Copyright © 2023 Southeast New England Program, All rights reserved.

The SNEP Mailing address is:
EPA Region 1
5 Post Office sq.
Boston, MA 02109
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.