U.S. State-Led OA Action Planning in the Mid-Atlantic

Co-Hosted by MACAN and OA Alliance

AGENDA

60 minutes

(1)  Welcome and Introductions

Avalon Bristow, Co-Coordinator, MARCO (5 minutes)

(2) Updates and perspectives from the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, Coastal Working Group (5 minutes)

• Brief overview of NCEL

• Update on formation of Coastal Working Group

(3) Brief overview of OA Action Plans as Envisioned by the OA Alliance and report out from U.S. State meeting

Confirmed Speaker:  Jessie Turner, Project Manager, OA Alliance (8 minutes)

• Recap of 2020 virtual meeting of U.S. states and pending CMJ OA themed edition

  • Which states participated

  • Report out from federal partners NOAA and EPA

  • Importance of regional monitoring

• What might states need from State Legislatures in OA Action Planning?

  • Engagement and support developing priorities

  • Implementation and funding support

  • Political and public awareness of the OA as a critical ocean and climate issue

(4) OA Action Planning in the State of Maryland (10 minutes)

Confirmed Speaker:  Dr. Jim George, Policy Advisor, Water and Science Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment 

• Framework and impetus for OA Action Plan

• Monitoring, data and information and supported plan

• Assessing Risks to Keystone Species

• Measures of Success and Potential Remediation Tools

• Why is it important that OA Action be reflected in existing climate, land and coastal management?

 (4) OA Action Planning in the State of New Jersey (10 minutes) 

Confirmed Speakers: Megan Rutkowski, Environmental Specialist, Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Dr. Grace Saba, Assistant Professor, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University

• Reducing and responding to climate change in New Jersey

• Engaging NJ Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University

(6) Regional Collaborations to Bridge Science, Monitoring and Research Needs that Support OA Action Planning Efforts  

• Brief description of MACAN 2021-2022 work plan and priorities

• Overview and core themes for upcoming MACAN Workshop October 2021:

• Provide a forum for researchers and state agencies to connect regarding OA action plans and associated data needs.

• Identify opportunities for Mid-Atlantic states to coordinate on monitoring and/or data sharing at the regional (water body) scale and not by state boundaries.

• Connect the Mid-Atlantic states to share their progress, lessons-learned and next steps regarding state OA Action Planning efforts.