Partnership Update
Tampa Bay Conservancy Joins Partnership
The Tampa Bay Conservancy protects land and water resources in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Manatee Counties with the potential to explore protection initiatives beyond these boundaries. Welcome, Tampa Bay!
Call Your Congressional Delegation
Now is the time to act to extend the incentive before it expires on December 31. The time for emails and letters is past – persuading your senators and representative to co-sponsor S. 339/H.R. 1964 will take personal phone calls to their tax staffers from constituents like you. Call 202-224-3121 today. Not sure what to say? The Land Trust Alliance has talking points and supporting materials to make it easy for you to check this off your to-do list in less than 20 minutes.
Early Restoration Projects Announced
Public Comment Period Begins. The Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (DERP/EA) has been released and public comments are encouraged. The DERP/EA describes eight proposed projects for the initial round of Early Restoration, two each in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Visit www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov to view the projects, access public meeting details, and submit public comment. The public comment period will end Feb. 14, 2012.
The Partnership staff will review the plan and develop talking points that Partners may use.
Task Force Releases Strategy
The Strategy to increase the health of the Gulf of Mexico was released December 5, 2011. The key priorities are:
- Stopping the Loss of Critical Wetlands, Sand Barriers and Beaches
- Reducing the Flow of Excess Nutrients into the Gulf
- Enhancing Resiliency among Coastal Communities
New Gulf of Mexico Initiative Announced
The US Department of Agriculture has announced an investment of up to $50 million in conservation assistance to farmers and ranchers in priority areas along seven major rivers that drain to the Gulf. View more information.
Coastal Training Programs from the NERRs at Weeks Bay and Grand Bay seek input. Those working in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida panhandle are encouraged to complete an on-line survey by December 21, 2011 to determine the scope and content of future training opportunities.
Complete the survey online.
Southeast Region Conference Announced
The Alliance's 2012 Southeast Regional Land Conservation Conference has been announced for March 14-16, 2012. This terrific regional gathering will take place at the beautiful Sea Palms Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The conference website will be live in early January and will feature the conference agenda, registration fees and instructions for registering. Save the dates on your 2012 calendars now.
Partnership Funding Request
The Partnership is currently funded by a seed grant from the Mott Foundation. This grant will be exhausted early in 2012. We need YOUR help in order to secure future funding. Please forward ideas and contact information regarding individual, corporate or government donors to Chuck Roe at croe@lta.org or 919-515-0760. We want the Partnership to be your voice in the Gulf Restoration process, so please help us build a sustainable organization.
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Update
The February meeting in Biloxi will be a management meeting. A better opportunity for land trusts to participate will be at the All Hands meeting June 17 in Corpus Christi, TX.
Contact
Julia Weaver
Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation
Ocean Springs, MS
228-219-2279
jweaver@lta.org
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