Report from the Director, March, 2008 - At the March 2008 NBEP Management Committee meeting, a revised version of the Bay and Watershed status and trends narrative will be reviewed and plans will be discussed for a Fall 2008 public forum to not just present the results of the S&T work but also to engage watershed stakeholders and citizens in identifying solutions to overcoming obstacles to progress on ecosystem goals. One way of funding this event may be through a foundation grant to provide facilitation, design assistance and the development of tools that allow and promote public engagement in both designing what the event will look like and defining the outcomes that it will seek to achieve. One possible option under consideration for the event is the use of new social networking technologies to support the process. As part of this, we may consult with a Providence-based web technologies association.

NBEP Funding: The best case scenario that was mentioned in the last Quarterly Report has happened-the NBEP will receive nearly $600,000 in federal grant funding for its operations from July 2008 to June 2009. This increased funding will give the program greater capacity to implement estuary priorities. It was the result of strong support from R.I.'s Congressional delegation as well as from Congressional supporters nationwide. In fact, Appropriations Chair Norman Dicks (R-WA) recently stated that, given the value of the NEPs, in future budgets he would seek appropriations at a higher level than the $600,000 achieved this year. The NEP budget was presented by EPA at the February 2008 National Estuary Program (NEP) meeting in Washington, D.C.

The New Partners for Smart Growth conference was recently held in Washington, D.C.; EPA Headquarters Coastal Management Branch provided funding for several NEP staff, including me, to attend. I went with an eye out for information and resources that would support NBEP work particularly in the areas of green infrastructure and stormwater management. There were many excellent sessions and I reported back on the key messages I heard to participants at the February EPA National Estuary Program meeting. Climate change was a strong theme in many of the presentations. The NBEP was also able to secure federal funding to bring Carolyn LaMarre, Executive Director of the Taunton River Watershed Alliance, and one of her board members to attend both the Smart Growth conference and a special 2-day smart growth techniques training session conducted by EPA's Coastal Management Branch and NOAA's Coastal Services Center.

Climate Ready Estuaries Initiative: EPA's Coastal Management Branch in the Office of Oceans, Wetlands and Watersheds has launched a new initiative that is intended to assist states in preparing coastal areas for the effects of climate change. A small group of National Estuary Programs will be selected as pilots for this new work. The NBEP is coordinating with the other New England NEPs to possibly develop a joint application for funding and technical support under the CRE program. The concept is that it will be more efficient to apply as a group, sharing funding and technical resources and broadening participation so that several estuaries will share lessons learned and products. The NBEP will discuss with state and local partners how this effort could support R.I. and Massachusetts climate change responses.

Narragansett Bay Estuary Program Management Committee meetings in 2008 will take place on June 18, September 17 and December 17.

Richard Ribb, Director