Three Coastal Waters Announcements of Interest to Coastal Caucus Members

Attention Coastal Caucus members! Here are three announcements related to coastal waters that may interest you:

1. Learn about the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, an exciting new designation and program that helps preserve and interpret our state’s maritime heritage. The virtual event will occur on September 17.
2. Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead Fall Forum: Planning for sea level rise and climate-related hazards to nearshore habitat in Puget Sound. The event occurs October 24-25
3. Shellfish Strategic Initiative Lead (SIL) is excited to announce a new funding opportunity to increase harvestable shellfish bed acreage in Puget Sound. Applications are due October 23.

1. Maritime Washington National Heritage Area

You are invited to join a virtual info session on Tuesday, September 17, from 6:00-7:00 pm to learn about the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, an exciting new designation and program that helps preserve and interpret our state’s maritime heritage. This info session—meant for elected officials and government employees—will provide an overview of Maritime Washington and discuss what the designation means for our state’s cities, counties, ports, and other local government bodies.

We encourage you to attend and share this invitation with your colleagues to learn more about what Maritime Washington means to you. Register here.

Please note that this session will cover the same information as the previous Maritime Washington Government Info Session on March 20, 2024, with a few updates on recent progress.

Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
1204 Minor Avenue | Seattle, WA 98101
206-624-9449 | mwnha@preservewa.org
www.maritimewa.org

2. Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead Fall Forum

Registration is now open for the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead Fall Forum: Planning for Sea Level Rise and Climate-Related Hazards to Nearshore Habitat in Puget Sound.

When: Thursday October 24 - Friday October 25, 2024
Where: In Person - Lynnwood, Washington (tentative)

The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) invites you to participate in a unique event to discuss the protection and restoration of nearshore habitat and biodiversity in Puget Sound in the context of sea level rise and climate change-related hazards. The two-day in-person program will be highly interactive and include a mixture of presentations, panels, and breakout sessions focused on creating a shared space to learn and catalyze collaboration.

Registration Required

Participants will have the opportunity to:  

• Build community among practitioners responding to sea level rise in Puget Sound.  
• Understand current and projected impacts of sea level rise on nearshore habitat (e.g., coastal squeeze, erosion, and flooding). 
• Identify barriers, needs, and opportunities for short-term and long-term strategic planning. 
• Amplify innovative approaches, tools, networks, funding, and nature-based solutions.  
• Address Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA) best practices and principles in resiliency planning. 

This is a free event, and we welcome Puget Sound recovery planners, practitioners, decision-makers, researchers, influencers, and partners. Space is limited, so registration is required. Additional information and a detailed program will be shared prior to the event. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Check out the HSIL webpage for updates, and reach out to Matthew.Lurie@dfw.wa.gov or Rebecca.Brown@dnr.wa.gov if you have any questions. 

The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) is a cross-agency team co-led by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and supported by the Departments of Ecology and Commerce. 

This work has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J89501 to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

3. Shellfish Strategic Initiative Lead

The Shellfish Strategic Initiative Lead (SIL) is excited to announce a new funding opportunity to increase harvestable shellfish bed acreage in Puget Sound.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) targets work that addresses fecal pollution impacts on shellfish growing area classification protection and restoration, including supporting innovative solutions, regional-scoped work, and impacts from wastewater treatment plants. See the RFP for a full list of investment priorities and objectives.

Overview

• Applications are due October 23, 2024, by 11:59pm PT.
• Shellfish has at least $5.3 million to award EPA Puget Sound Geographic Program funds.
• The project duration is 2-2.5 years.
• Eligible applicants include local governments, non-profit organizations, state agencies, tribes, tribal consortia, institutions of higher learning, special purpose districts, and municipal or domestic (sewage) wastewater treatment plant owners and operators.

Save the date for an overview of the 2024 RFP investment priorities and instructions on developing and submitting a competitive application.

• Applicant Webinar: September 5, 2024, from 10:00 – 11:30am (Zoom Link)

Learn about more applicant resources by visiting the Shellfish RFP webpage. Sign up for the SILs blog to stay up to date on everything the Strategic Initiative Leads are working on. For questions related to the RFP, please contact Audrey Coyne at Audrey.Coyne@doh.wa.gov or at 360-236-3319.