text: Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program FY 2007 Comprehensive Annual Work Plan Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Inc. 1305 N. Shoreline Blvd., Suite 205 Corpus Christi, TX 78401 www.cbbep.org Submitted August 2006 COASTAL BEND BAYS & ESTUARIES PROGRAM FY 2007 Comprehensive Annual Work Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction............................................................................................. 1 II. Starting Date ........................................................................................... 2 III. Federal & State Program Coordinators and Project Officers............... 2 IV. Accomplishments to Date ...................................................................... 3 V. Goals for FY 2007.................................................................................... 4 VI. Implementation of Projects ................................................................... 5 VII. Project Deliverables/Schedule ............................................................... 5 VIII. Program Administration ....................................................................... 39 IX. Project Management ............................................................................. 39 X. Program Expenses ............................................................................... 39 XI. Working Capital..................................................................................... 40 XII. Summary ............................................................................................... 40 Table 1: FY 2007 Comprehensive Annual Work Plan Outline....................... 41 i I. Introduction History In its 1987 reauthorization of the Water Quality Act, the U.S. Congress established the National Estuary Program (NEP) to promote long-term planning and management of nationally significant estuaries threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was given authority to convene Management Conferences and to award Federal financial assistance grants to approved state programs for the purpose of developing and implementing a CCMP. The Act defines criteria by which Management Conferees are charged with balancing the conflicting uses in target estuaries, while restoring or maintaining their natural character. The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (formerly the Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program) was formally established in October 1992 with committee meetings beginning in late 1993. The CBBEP was one of the first NEPs to use a streamlined approach to the development of a CCMP. The goal of the CBBEP to complete a Preliminary CCMP within 12 to 18 months (from 09/01/94) and a Final CCMP in approximately four years (by September 1998) was achieved. A State-EPA Management Conference Agreement detailing this and other specific outputs of the four-year program was signed in May 1994 by the Regional Administrator of the EPA and the Chairman of the State-lead agency for the Program, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - TCEQ). The Program Office had been established as a program of the TNRCC since December 1993. In 1999, CBBEP became a non-profit organization to lead implementation. CBBEP Operations The project area encompasses the estuarine environment of 75 miles of the south-central Texas coastline, and includes the 12 counties of the region known as the Texas Coastal Bend. This 514 square mile area of water includes all bays, estuaries, and bayous in the Copano, Aransas, Corpus Christi, Nueces, Baffin, and upper Laguna Madre bay systems, which together represent three of the seven major Texas estuaries. The Priority Issues for the CBBEP are: ∞ Alteration of Freshwater Inflow into Bays and Estuaries ∞ Condition of Living Resources ∞ Loss of Wetlands and Estuarine Habitats ∞ Degradation of Water Quality ∞ Altered Estuarine Circulation ∞ Bay Debris ∞ Selected Public Health Issues The Coastal Bend Bays Plan has been developed to address each of these priority issues under the following categories of action plans: Human Uses; Maritime Commerce and Dredging; Habitat and Living Resources; Water and Sediment Quality; Freshwater Resources; and Public Education and Outreach. The projects selected for implementation reflect a combination of priority and readiness or feasibility for implementation. Implementing Partners for other actions of the Bays Plan will likewise be called upon to begin and continue to implement their own 1 portions of the Plan. The role of Program staff is multi-faceted, but will include at a minimum the following tasks: (1) acquire, manage, and disperse funds to implement the Bays Plan; (2) develop and implement partnership projects with local governments, state and federal agencies, and private organizations; (3) monitor, track, and report on implementation performance by implementing partners, and work to maintain implementation commitments; and (4) coordinate the environmental monitoring and assessment of Plan implementation effectiveness. Work Plan Development The FY 2007 Comprehensive Work Plan will allow the CBBEP to continue the implementation of the Coastal Bend Bays Plan. This Work Plan describes implementation projects and administrative support that will be undertaken pending approval and receipt of funds by the funding entities. All data and information produced under the auspices of the CBBEP will adhere to standardized formats and be made publicly accessible. A public participation strategy, refined under the 'public education and outreach' chapter of the Bays Plan, will continue to guide public participation efforts in Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) implementation. The list of Priority Issues, refined through public input and characterization projects will continue to serve as the focus for implementation. II. Starting Date The starting date for this FY 2007 Comprehensive Work Plan will be September 1, 2006. III. Federal and State Program Coordinators and Project Officers Federal Ms. Barbara Keeler CBBEP Program Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 6 Marine and Wetlands Section (6WQ-EM) 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75202-2733 Ms. Betty Ashley CBBEP Project Officer U.S. EPA Region 6 Office of State & Tribal Program Section (6WQ-AT) 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75202-2733 State Mr. Jeff Foster CBBEP Program Coordinator Texas Commission for Environmental Quality NRC Bldg, #3300 6300 Ocean Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78412 Mr. Frank Fuller 2 CBBEP Project Officer Texas Commission for Environmental Quality P.O. Box 13087, MC 205 Austin, TX 78711-3087 IV. Accomplishments To Date The CBBEP achieved its primary goal for FY 2006, which was to continue the successful initiation and completion of projects developed to implement the Coastal Bend Bays Plan. The Program and its partners achieved programmatic progress on 94 percent of CCMP actions. Action-specific environmental progress directly attributed to CBBEP activities has resulted in thousands of acres of restored or protected habitat. The Program's success in leveraging funds for CBBEP projects has also been noteworthy. Broad support for the Program's activities is evidenced by the range of contributors, including local governments, industries, NGOs and state and federal agencies. The CBBEP Estuary Council has not made any changes in the priorities as listed in the CCMP. All project deliverables identified during the FY 1999 through FY 2002 implementation years have been completed. FY 2003, 2004 and FY 2005 projects are expected to be complete by August 31, 2007, with several projects likely requiring no-cost time extensions beyond the expected completion date. FY 2006 projects are expected to be completed by August 31, 2008. The Estuary Council committees have undergone restructuring to better focus on particular subject areas. The new structure includes five distinct implementation teams. These teams continue to identify, initiate and select project ideas for inclusion in the Program work plans. The teams are: Habitat & Living Resources, Human Uses Team; Maritime Commerce and Dredging Team; Water & Sediment Quality Team; and Environmental Education & Outreach Team. The Bays Plan Coordination Team, consisting of all the chairs of the Implementation Teams and key members of the Bays Council, coordinates the annual work plan recommendations to the CBBEP Bays Council, and reviews and proposes update recommendations to the Bays Plan. In FY 2006 the CBBEP initiated numerous projects funded by various state, federal and local support. The following brief discussion highlights several of these projects. Learning on the Edge (LOTE) - CBBEP received the Coastal Bend Community Foundation's largest single grant to implement this area's most unique project to date - Coastal Bend Environmental Science: Learning on the Edge (LOTE). The CBBEP has provided funding for the well-regarded science education programs of the Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contest (Kritters 4 Kids), Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (Teaching Environmental Science), and Texas State Aquarium (Keepers of the Coast) over the last several years and merged the projects to launch LOTE. This exceptional partnership integrates these successful programs to provide teachers with the skills, resources, and supporting materials to strengthen science teaching and relate it to the environmental treasures that make up the Coastal Bend while enhancing their ability to fulfill the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements. The LOTE training launched two summer week-long teacher academies that included: 30 CPE credits, hands-on science activities, outdoor adventures including water quality testing gear, seines, nets, and other supplies, resource guides with activities on coastal wildlife/habitats, wetlands and marshes, a class set of Wildlife in Focus II photography books along with a curriculum guide, and integrated science networking opportunities. 3 Various Public Outreach and Education Projects – One of the goals of the public outreach strategy is to take action to position the CBBEP in a way that improves communication and behavioral changes in the Texas Coastal Bend community. The CBBEP has become a clearinghouse for information related to the state of the bay, a network hub of information for media journalists on environmental issues, and established a strong brand name recognition in the community through the communication of media coverage. Colonial Waterbird / Avian Resources Project –The Program continues to a focus on the management of Colonial Waterbirds and their habitat through the implementation of the Rookery island Management Plan. Management for nesting sites has proven successful as evidenced by marked increases in nesting birds at various managed sites. Colonial Waterbird populations are a key indicator of the health of the estuary. V. Goals for FY 2007 Environmental Indicators The CBBEP has as a priority goal for FY 2007 to complete development of environmental indicators and a summary scorecard. Indeed, the CBBEP and its partners have already made great progress in developing the required scientific data and information that will be incorporated into the environmental indicators report and scorecard. Much of that information is being reported to the public as it becomes available. The CBBEP has worked with EPA ORD and OW (Barry Burgan) to collect extensive water quality data, sediment quality data, benthic community data, and fish tissue contamination data for use in the National Coastal Condition Report and in a report soon to be published by EPA prepared specifically for the CBBEP area. Our partners at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Coastal Fisheries Division have been systematically collecting fisheries data for years and are in the process of updating a fisheries status and trends report specifically for the CBBEP project area. A draft version of the summary report has been received and will be finalized over the next few months. Texas Parks and Wildlife has already released information to the public regarding important recreational species and the local newspaper has reported that information to the public. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Colonial Waterbird Society are helping the CBBEP develop status and trends data for colonial waterbirds in the program area. The results of that work indicate a major decline of some species while others have maintained their population levels. Again, that information is being shared with the public as it become available. The CBBEP has been working with our partners at the University of Texas and Texas State University to assess seagrass coverage in the program area and the health of those seagrasses. That report is nearly complete and will provide the information needed to develop a seagrass-specific indicator and report card. Most importantly, the CBBEP has invested in improving our public input process with the development of new priority issue specific "Implementation Teams" and the "CBBEP Coordination Team" to help select indicators most appropriate for our area. Continued Implementation of the Coastal Bend Bays Plan 4 The overarching goal for FY 2007 is to continue the successful initiation and completion of projects developed to implement the Coastal Bend Bays Plan. The CBBEP is continuing to focus on core Clean Water Act (CWA) priorities with both EPA funds and other funds under the management of the CBBEP. The CBBEP FY 2007 Comprehensive Annual Work Plan further details other projects being implemented to address core CWA priorities. This fiscal year, CBBEP is proposing to focus funding in five priority areas: protection, restoration and enhancement of wetlands and associated wildlife habitat; establishment of real- time water quality monitoring stations in the Mission-Aransas Estuary; colonial waterbird habitat management; continuation of our ongoing public education and outreach efforts; and refinement of environmental indicators. Wetland protection and restoration will be addressed by projects working on the loss of wetlands along the Nueces delta shoreline and by a project to develop a comprehensive habitat management plan focused on ecosystem needs including the beneficial use of dredged material and establishing mitigation priorities. The CBBEP is please to report a strong partnership with the new Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve. The organizations are already cooperating on a variety of issues including the establishment of real-time water quality monitoring stations. CBBEP will continue its efforts to protect and restore colonial waterbird populations through our efforts to actively manage nesting habitat for species of concern. These efforts include vegetation and substrate management, predator control – including fire ants, coyotes, raccoons, etc., and the placement of nesting platforms for species such as the Great Blue Heron and Reddish Egret. The continued implementation of our public outreach and education strategy through an assortment of projects including the Coastal Bend Environmental Sciences: Learning on the Edge project and supporting development of the Nueces Delta Preserve Conservation Science Center. Further development and refinement of Environmental Indicators will be a priority goal for CBBEP staff and Implementation Teams. VI. Implementation of Projects Project activities for FY 2007 have been selected for their contribution towards implementation of the Coastal Bend Bays Plan. Twenty-three projects will be implemented in FY 2007. A comprehensive list of projects outlining project numbers, titles, action items, performing party(s), and budget can be found in Table 1: FY 2007 Comprehensive Annual Work Plan Outline. VII. Project Deliverables/Schedule Specific project deliverables and schedules for completion are to be negotiated with the sub- contractor of the project and will be included in the scope of work of the project contract. The project contract and any amendments will be subject to review by funding entities and are incorporated into this annual work plan by reference. 5 Project #0701 Nueces Bay Total Maximum Daily Load – Zinc Uptake in Oyster Tissue Study Performing Organization: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Center for Coastal Studies Total Project Funding $100,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: PH-2, WSQ-1, WSQ-3, WSQ-4 Nueces Bay (Segment 2482) is included on the 2000, 2002, and draft 2004 Texas Clean Water Act 303(d) List of impaired waters for not meeting the oyster water use due to elevated zinc levels in oyster tissue. In April 2004, the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) began quarterly sampling for total and dissolved zinc in water and semi-annual sampling for zinc in sediment to provide additional data for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) team. Data collected will aid TCEQ in determining if the water body use is being met and track the effect reduced zinc loadings to the bay (i.e. TMDL implementation) will have on water quality and ultimately in oyster tissue. In the most recent Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) assessment (March 2005) of potential heath risks associated with consumption of oysters in Nueces Bay, mean oyster tissue concentrations were above the Health Assessment Comparison Value of 700 mg/kg; with the Whites Point site having the highest mean concentration of 1093.33 mg/kg. TDSHS concluded that consumption of oysters in Nueces Bay still constitutes a public health hazard due to elevated zinc levels. Although elevated zinc concentrations persist in oyster tissue, water and sediment data do not support these elevated concentrations, as CCS sites recorded zinc concentrations well below TCEQ Tidal Water criteria and sediment Screening Levels. As a result, more information is necessary to determine if a relationship exists between water, sediment, and oyster tissue for zinc in Nueces Bay. This year-long study will place oysters in cages at pre-determined sites within Nueces Bay (Segment 2482). Oysters will be removed from the caged sites quarterly, and tested for uptake of zinc in their tissue. In addition, growth and mortality rates will be evaluated along with basic water quality data (dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, and temperature) being collected at each of the sites during the period of the study. Concurrent with the oyster sampling, water and sediment samples for zinc analysis will be collected at CCS sites previously identified for the TMDL evaluation. Water samples for total and dissolved zinc will be collected quarterly with the oyster tissue analysis and sediment samples will be collected semi-annually for zinc analysis. Project Objective: To implement an Oyster Cage study in Nueces Bay and continue the current TCEQ sampling program (Phase III) for total and dissolved zinc in water and zinc in sediments within Nueces Bay (Segment 2482), the Nueces River (Segment 2101), and the Corpus Christi Inner Harbor (Segment 2484) in order to, 1. Determine if a relationship exists between water, sediment, and oyster tissue for zinc in Nueces Bay. 2. Determine the uptake rate of zinc in oysters in Nueces Bay. 3. Geographically identify the greatest accumulation of zinc in oysters in Nueces Bay. 4. Assist the TCEQ TMDL Team in arriving at a viable TMDL solution. 6 Project #0702 Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Stations Equipment in Aransas / Copano / Mission Bays Performing Organization: Texas A& M University-Corpus Christi, Conrad Blucher Institute, Division of Nearshore Research Total Project Funding: $23,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: PH-1, WSQ-1, WSQ-5 The Conrad Blucher Institute, Division of Nearshore Research (CBI-DNR) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi currently operates 53 near real time water quality monitors in the coastal waters of Texas and Mexico. Data from these monitors includes basic water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen (D.O.), pH, conductivity/salinity, temperature, and tidal height. The data is retrieved from the field via phone systems and is stored on computers and made available to the scientific community and the public via web site connection at (http://lighthouse.tamucc.edu). Currently, Aransas, Copano, and Mission Bays do not have established real time water quality monitoring stations. The Aransas, Copano, and Mission Bay system is included within the boundary of the newly established Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (MANERR). Establishment of monitoring stations in this bay system will provide continuous data regarding water quality that would provide valuable information that is crucial in determining the condition of the bay system. This project will establish and operate four (4) real time water quality monitors in the Aransas, Copano, and Mission Bays through the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Conrad Blucher Institute, Division of Nearshore Research (CBI-DNR), for the first year. The following year's operational costs for the monitoring stations are expected to originate from the MANERR. Basic water quality parameters that will be measured at each station include salinity, conductivity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity. The data will be transmitted to CBI-DNR via Freewave line of sight radio. The data will then be downloaded into CBI-DNR computer system and made available, near real time, to data users via the web. Without support of the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, the data would not be made available on a near real-time basis, but rather on an annual basis. Project Objective: To establish and operate four (4) monitoring stations in the Aransas/Copano/Mission Bay system for a period of one year that will provide "real-time" monitoring data. 7 Project #0703 Colonial Waterbird Management Performing Organization: CBBEP Total Project Funding: $175,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: HLR-1, HLR-4 The Living Resources Characterization Report prepared for the Estuary Program documented the declining populations of certain colonial waterbird populations. Some species of colonial waterbird have experience a 90% reduction in breeding pairs since the 1960's. Colonial waterbird populations are indicators of the overall health of the estuary. Bird watching, especially viewing colonial waterbirds, is an important and growing component of ecotourism and the local economy. Building on the efforts of the CBBEP Colonial Waterbird projects in previous years, this project will continue the implementation of specific management actions of the CBBEP Colonial Waterbird Rookery Island Management Plan. Management actions will include efforts to reduce human-disturbance, nesting substrate management, vegetation management to enhance rookery island habitat, and predator control where necessary. Outreach will continue to be a crucial component in achieving project objectives. Project Objectives: 1. Continue efforts on enhancement and construction of nesting habitat. 2. Continue to promote public programs to protect colonial waterbirds. 3. Monitoring of Colonial Waterbird populations. 4. Install signage to reduce impacts of human disturbance on waterbird colonies. 5. Management of predator control efforts. 8 Project #0704 Matagorda Island Marsh Restoration Performing Organization: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Total Project Funding: $100,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: HLR-2 Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 56,000 acres along 38 miles of the Texas coast. Habitat types within the refuge include grassland, sand dunes, beaches and tidal marshes. An estimated 15,000 acres of marsh on Matagorda Island were negatively impacted when, from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, large portions of the marsh were sectioned off, blocked with levees, drained, and utilized for cattle production. Since the 1970s, multiple culverts installed throughout the marsh have failed, resulting in the continued degradation of natural flow/circulation patterns, marsh habitat, wildlife abundance and diversity, and water quality. An effort to restore circulation to these impacted areas is needed to restore the area to functional wetland habitat. An assessment of the island with a focus on identifying and prioritizing areas for levee removal and culvert installation is crucial to restoration efforts. Project Objectives: 1. Identify priority locations where levee removal and/or other earthwork actions will provide the greatest ecological benefit, and develop a Restoration Plan that can be implemented in discrete phases as funding becomes available. 2. Implement the first phase of the Restoration Plan based on available funding in order to: a. Restore natural flow/circulation patterns to tidal stream segments, marshes, and bays; b. Restore tidal marsh habitat; c. Increase the diversity and abundance of wildlife utilizing marsh habitat; and d. Improve water quality within and adjacent to Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge. 9 Project #0705 Whooping Crane Habitat Restoration Along St. Charles Bay Performing Organization: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Total Project Funding: $35,500 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: HLR-2, HLR-4, HLR-10 Primary habitat types along St. Charles Bay consist of coastal salt marsh, wetland, forest, and prairie. These coastal environments have experienced significant declines since the turn of century. All along the U.S., coastal habitat is being developed at an increasing rate, which has resulted in coastal prairie habitat being less then 1% of what it once was. This loss of coastal habitat reinforces the notion that existing coastal habitat should be protected through active management that may require efforts to enhance and/or stabilize an area. The importance of the St. Charles Bay area is further recognized by its designation as critical habitat for the only wild flock of federally endangered whooping cranes in the world. While public ownership of portions of the Bay helps to control development, colonization by invasive plants is quickly converting critical tracts into monocultures of invasive plant stands. Historically, in this environment, floral conversion by invasive plants renders habitat unsuitable for whooping crane use. This project will provide significant information on the distribution, density, and composition of the nonnative invasive plants within the St. Charles Bay system. It will also serve to control the spread and stop the loss of habitat to invasive species. Currently several invasive species (salt cedar, China berry, and Chinese tallow) have been reported from the Bay area. In addition, several new invasive species (guinea grass, Brazilian pepper) have just begun to be reported from the area. It is anticipated that this project will provide the means of early detection and eradication for these new invaders. Project Objectives: 1. Detect, map, and identify all invasive plant species within the Bay area (2,000 acres). 2. Develop long-term treatment and control plans for targeted invasive species. 3. Reclaim 60-75 acres through the eradication of invasive plants within the treatment zone. 4. Educate local landowners and agency staff regarding invasive species identification and control methods. 10 Project #0706 Nueces Delta Shoreline Wetland Protection (Engineering) Performing Organization: Coastal Technology Corporation Total Project Funding: $100,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: HLR-2 The Bays Plan calls for efforts to identify and conserve at-risk habitats. Funds frequently become available to CBBEP for habitat conservation projects, especially wetland conservation projects. Unfortunately, once funding does become available, it is often not possible to prepare documents that sufficiently detail project parameters and justify receipt of the funding in the short time frame available. Therefore, it is important that potential projects be identified and delineated well prior to the availability of funding. Prior projects funded by CBBEP (#0319 and #0412) have identified the Nueces Delta Shoreline as potential habitat restoration site. Substantial erosion along the Nueces Delta is causing the on-going loss of emergent intertidal and subtidal marsh habitat. Furthermore, stabilization of the Delta's fringe will allow CBBEP to focus on inland restoration projects. Potential wetland habitat conservation projects require planning that could include development of project descriptions, goals, objectives, preparation of feasibility studies, alternatives analysis, conceptual design, cost analysis, and permitting from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Objectives: 1. Conduct the studies necessary to sufficiently document the need for conservation activities to include current conditions, and project goals & objectives. 2. Evaluate and prioritize habitat restoration and enhancement alternatives. 3. Develop a Conceptual Plan (with cost estimates) for the restoration and enhancement of habitat along the Nueces Delta Shoreline. The plan should be capable of being implemented in discrete phases as funding becomes available. 4. Obtain (if required) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permitting, and Texas General Land Office Lease. 11 Project #0707 Habitat Restoration Site Database Performing Organization: To Be Determined Total Funding: $70,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: HLR-1, HLR-2, SM-1 Over the years, CBBEP has funded numerous projects with goals towards developing databases with habitat restoration/mitigation site inventories and related data. ∞ FY 1997, Task 1.5: Species-Habitat Relational Database, ∞ FY 1999, Task 2.1: Riparian Corridor Assessment and Habitat Protection, ∞ #0019, #0205, #0306: Oso Bay/Oso Creek Habitat Acquisition and Protection (included identifying and listing priority locations within the Oso Watershed), ∞ #0318, #0531: Development of Geographic Information System, ∞ #0319: Identify Potential Habitat Restoration & Enhancement Sites, and ∞ #0412: Coastal Bend Conservation Project Inventory. This large list of funded projects is strong evidence of the fact that resource agencies and environmental professionals place a high value on the availability of this type of information. While these past projects were successful in achieving their stated goals, they remain largely as independent reports that will have more accessibility if the information is incorporated into a single clearinghouse. This information would be invaluable to both resource and research organizations because it could identify completed restoration and mitigation projects (possibly preventing duplication of effort), prioritize potential restoration and land acquisition sites according to type of restoration activity and provide some amount of baseline data for analysis. This project seeks to 1) gather historical data from previous studies by both CBBEP and other agencies, 2) collect new data to fill in any gaps and bring previous studies up-to-date, and 3) combine all the data into a usable database that is accessible to the regional resource/research organizations. The project's initial focus would be on database development, inventorying and prioritizing sites, and making the database available to resource/research organizations via the Internet. Continued efforts would focus on supplementing the site inventories with additional baseline data. Project Objectives: 1. Determine initial parameters to be included in a database for the following categories: a. Previous Mitigation Sites b. Completed Habitat Restoration Project Sites c. Potential/Priority Habitat Restoration Project Sites d. Current Land Ownership of Conservation Organization e. Potential/Priority Land Acquisition Sites 2. Gather both historical and new data as needed. 3. Develop a searchable database (housed on a dedicated server) that includes an inventory listing and/or baseline data for the above categories. 4. Make the database available to resource/research organizations via the Internet. Make recommendations for continued development and maintenance of the database. 12 Project #0708 Comprehensive Habitat Management Plan for Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Performing Organization: To Be Determined Total Funding: $65,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: D-1, D-2, D-3 Dredging is an ongoing activity necessary to maintain navigable waterways and berthing facilities in the CBBEParea. There is often a lack of consensus about the benefits and adverse effects of dredging and placement of dredged material. The CBBEP Maritime Commerce and Dredging Implementation Team believes that an analysis (or consensus from resource agencies and the scientific community) identifying current ecological resource needs (e.g. more rookeries, more emergent marsh, more submergent aquatic vegetation, more reefs) could be used to identify uses for material, should it become available. The recognition for the needed ecological resources could then be used as guidance for the development of a plan that identified specific projects that were acceptable and could be implemented with the use of dredged material. This plan would be available for use by resource agencies and industrial users alike in planning for maintenance, growth and development within the Coastal Bend area. This project addresses elements of D-1 and D-2 and D-3 of the Bays Plan. The beneficial uses work group (D-1) would develop a long-term (D-2) regional beneficial uses plan using dredged material from a variety of private and public sources including new marine terminals (D-3). The basis of the plan is to be determined but as generally discussed would include a range of applications. The primary focus would be on habitat creation, habitat restoration, or conversion of one aquatic habitat type for another aquatic habitat type deemed to be of higher ecological and social value in order to meet resource management and societal needs, and to facilitate economic development and reduce permit processing time by providing a pre-coordinated buy- in for regulatory/mitigation decisions. The Coastal Bend Bays Plan identifies the need to develop consensus on a long-term management plan for dredged material management that will use sound dredging practices and maximize the use of dredged materials. Although CBBEP has participated in planning efforts for dredged material management with the US Corps of Engineers and the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, a comprehensive management plan to address activities stemming from other organizations currently does not exist. Project Objective: Develop a consensus based comprehensive management plan that identifies habitat enhancement, creation and conversion opportunities in Coastal Bend area and includes opportunities created from future dredging and dredged material placement activities. 13 Project #0709 CBBEP Nueces Delta Preserve Management Performing Organization: CBBEP Total Funding: $10,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: HLR-1 The CBBEP Nueces Delta Preserve is located 3 miles from the City of Odem and 20 miles from downtown Corpus Christi. The CBBEP Nueces Delta Preserve consists of approximately 5,400 acres in San Patricio and Nueces Counties that are owned and managed by the CBBEP as a conservation site for the purpose preserving natural habitat, function and species diversity in the Nueces River delta. The preserve is rich in diversity that can be characterized by Tamaulipan thorn scrub, grasslands, lomas, freshwater wetlands, riverine riparian habitat, brackish wetlands, coastal wetlands mud flats and shoreline. The CBBEP's secondary goal for the preserve is for the property to be used for a variety of educational and research opportunities. The funds provided by the project support the necessary management and routine maintenance of the property, including property Project Objective: Provide for the ongoing maintenance and management of the Nueces Delta Preserve. 14 Project #0710 Keepers of the Coast Performing Organization: Texas State Aquarium Total Funding: $14,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: PEO-3, PEO-5 Work Plan Project Description: The Texas State Aquarium's Keepers of the Coast (KOTC) was developed to address Action Items included in the CBBEP Bays Plan and needs identified in elementary science instruction. Traditionally, the average elementary classroom receives very little science instruction. In 2003, the Texas Education Agency implemented a first-ever elementary science test, administered at Grade 5. The changes in the standards increase the need for science and math skills for educators at the elementary level. The need for sustained instruction across grade levels is intensified by the new middle school science test that will be administered in Spring 2006. KOTC was developed as a multi-component, multi-grade level program to offer sustained, targeted instruction for area schools. It was successfully implemented in FY2001 and originally targeted grades 3, 5, 6, and 8. Concepts introduced in lower grades form the foundation of the program, and are progressively built upon as students advance into middle school (properties of water, water conservation, wetlands, watersheds, water quality). KOTC now involves all students in grades 3-8. KOTC emphasizes the connection among inland environments, coastal waters, and the Gulf of Mexico. Participating districts are distributed across the CBBEP project area and include coastal and inland communities: Alice, Aransas Pass, Benavides, Ingleside, and Woodsboro. School campuses that participate are required to take action to ensure the sustainability of local resources, wetlands, watersheds, and waterways. KOTC has five main components: 1. Teacher workshops that focus on area watershed and coastal resources. 2. A teacher resource guide that includes background information on water, wetlands, watersheds, and coastal resources; classroom and field activities; support materials for outreach and field trip programs; documentation of support of state education standards; and resources for community projects. 3. Outreach programs that were developed to address CBBEP priority issues. 4. Field trips that include programs that reinforce outreach programs. Community packets that include information from local, state, and federal resources on schoolyard habitats, water use monitoring, water quality monitoring, and habitat cleanups. Continued participation in KOTC is contingent on a school's successful implementation of a community project. Status: Project not yet started. 15 Project #0712 Coastal Bend Environmental Science: Learning on the Edge Performing Organization: CBBEP Total Funding: $40,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: BTR-1, PEO-2, PEO-3, PEO-5 The CBBEP's Environmental Education & Outreach Implementation Team (EEOIT) identified challenges that teachers face with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state requirements. The team understands how vital an Environmental Educator is and needed to assist teachers in the CBBEP's 12-county area. Coastal Bend Environmental Science: Learning on the Edge will continue to work on the following goals. Summer Teacher Workshops The CBBEP will deliver a locally based environmental science curriculum to area teachers by integrating some of the Program's well-regarded science education programs. Teachers will learn the curriculum in an interactive manner, designed to go beyond what conventional textbooks and TEKS currently provide, so that they can see the actual presentation of the material with real students. Grades 3-5 will be targeted to support preparation for the state- mandated TEKS assessment in Grade 5. The summer workshops will include delivery of the Kritters 4 Kids curricula, 40 classroom sets of books and training for teachers. This curriculum teaches school children about the importance of wildlife and habitat, the threat of urbanization, local ecosystems, food webs, and includes an interactive learning tool called the Treasure Hunt. In-Classroom Curriculum Instruction During the School Year This project will address the gap that exists between the delivery and implementation of new curriculum by teachers. Follow-up visits to assist teachers further with implementation of the curriculum in their classrooms would be conducted throughout the school year by the Environmental Educator. Coordinated field trips to area sites will provide hands-on experiences in the local environment. Education partners will coordinate with the Educator to provide in- class curriculum instruction and implementation. 2006 Summer Teacher Academy Follow-up The Environmental Educator will schedule follow-up visits throughout the school year to help team-teach with the teachers who completed the 2006 Summer Teacher Academy. Project Objective: Teachers in the community will have increased knowledge, skills and resources to more effectively teach science in local schools as measured by teacher reported implementation of new techniques in classrooms. 16 Project #0713 CBBEP / Coastal Bend Bays Foundation Community Outreach Partnership Performing Organization: Coastal Bend Bays Foundation Total Funding: $40,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: PEO-1, PEO-2, PEO-3, PEO-4, PEO-5 The CBBEP is constantly working to promote public/private partnerships as stated in the Coastal Bend Bays Plan to help achieve its educational goals. One of the benefits of the partnership between the CBBEP and Coastal Bend Bays Foundation (CBBF) is addressing the need for continued dialogue between competing user groups and the need for an engaging, public forum to allow for individual input into the public policy debate. The Bays Plan calls for continued involvement from the Bays Foundation, as the region prepares itself for ever- increasing numbers of people wanting to make use of the bays and estuaries. Minimizing conflict through informed discussion will help achieve the overall objective of ensuring the public's safety, health, and enjoyment of our bays and estuaries. The CBBEP will work closely with the CBBF on the project objectives outlined below. The environmental education and outreach activities will include: monthly Coastal Issues Forums, bay-resource/related workshops, the Adopt-A-Beach program, the continuation of the Earth Day celebration held in April, and the coordination of the annual CBBF Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Awards. The CBBEP will be acknowledged as one of the major funding partners at the various events and activities. The Coastal Bend Bays Foundation is a public interest organization (non-profit 501(c)(3)) dedicated to the conservation of freshwater and coastal natural resources through communication, advocacy, research and education. Project Objectives: 1. Host, organize and coordinate turnkey operation of Earth Day festival. 2. Host, organize and coordinate turnkey operation of Adventure Bay at Bayfest. 3. Host, organize and coordinate CBBF Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Annual Awards Banquet. 4. Conduct monthly Coastal Issues Forums to increase communication between resource managers, users and general public. 5. Organize and coordinate local Adopt-A-Beach beach clean ups. 6. Organize and coordinate bay-resource/related workshops with CBBEP's approval such as the Oso Creek Watershed workshop. 17 Project #0714 CBBEP Public Outreach Events & Activities Performing Organization: CBBEP Total Funding: $40,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: PEO-1, PEO-2, PEO-3, PEO-4, PEO-5, BTR-1 One of the most important goals of the Bays Plan is to educate citizens about the ecology of the bay system, its many environmental and economic values, and how an individual can make a positive difference to ensure its long-term health. To accomplish this, the Public Education and Outreach Action Plan is designed to: raise the public's environmental awareness; foster community stewardship of bay resources; and increase individual involvement in bay resource management issues. Helping residents and visitors to understand the complex issues concerning bay resource management will be a priority. In addition to understanding how the bay system functions, it is important that citizens develop a sound appreciation for the significant value and economic impact derived from the renewable resources of the bays. As a result of the need for the Public Outreach Events and Activities, the CBBEP will participate in the following: a) Community Events and Festivals – Events may include: Crab Trap Removal Project, Flat Out Fishing, Botanical Gardens NatureFest, Keep Ingleside Beautiful, Aransas Pass Shrimporee, Bayfest, Great Texas Birding Classic, International Migratory Bird Day, and other area events. b) CBBEP Educational Materials – The CBBEP will print an educational poster and will continue to update and develop materials that will serve as general information and/or overview about the Program. The materials will be distributed at all events, meetings, outreach, schools, etc. c) CBBEP Website – One of the CBBEP's most informative and interactive tools has become a tremendous resource for the general public. The CBBEP will continue to update the website, improve navigation, information flow, and increase interactivity. d) CBBEP E-Newsletter – This informational electronic newsletter will serve as an important outreach tool and help keep CBBEP members, legislators, government officials, and the general public informed about local environmental issues and CBBEP activities. e) Other Outreach Opportunities - Public outreach continues to be a key element of the CBBEP to educate Coastal Bend residents about the importance of bays and estuaries to their communities. Program staff will utilize local and regional media (newspapers, television, radio stations, websites, etc.) other public events, exhibit ideas, and other CBBEP materials to implement the goals of the CBBEP Public Outreach Strategy. f) National Ocean Sciences Bowl - This event provides the opportunity to increase knowledge of the aquatic environment on the part of high school students, their teachers and parents, as well as to raise public awareness of ocean-related concerns Project Objective: To provide the public with the environmental science knowledge to make sound decisions regarding the effective management of bay resources and to promote environmental stewardship through increasing awareness of the resources and the issues regarding their use. 18 Project #0715 CBBEP Public Outreach Media Campaign Performing Organization: CBBEP Total Funding: $25,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: PEO-1, PEO-2, PEO-3, PEO-5, BTR-1 Public outreach continues to be a key element of the CBBEP to educate Coastal Bend residents about the importance of bays and estuaries to their communities. The CBBEP will utilize local, and regional media, which includes television, radio, print, and websites, to implement the goals of the CBBEP Public Outreach Strategy The priority issues for this media campaign as identified in the Coastal Bend Bays Plan are: - Seagrass Protection Campaign - Altered Freshwater Inflow Into Bays and Estuaries - Non-point Source Pollution - Loss of Wetlands and Estuarine Habitats - Degradation of Water Quality - Condition of Living Resources - Altered Estuarine Circulation - Public Health Issues Some or all of the priority issues listed above will be considered for public outreach through media. Project Objective: To use the media to provide the public with the environmental science knowledge to make sound decisions regarding the effective management of bay resources and to promote environmental stewardship through increasing awareness of the resources and the issues regarding their use. 19 Project #0716 Restoration of Public Boat Ramps Along the JFK Causeway Performing Organization: Texas Park & Wildlife Department Total Funding: $50,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: BTR-1, PEO-1 The Coastal Bend Bays Plan identifies the need to provide appropriate, well-managed public access sites. One of the goals listed in the Bays Plan is to maintain and expand tourism and recreational opportunities in a way that enhances the local economy while protecting the environment. Two public boat ramps located along the JFK Causeway, in the vicinity of Billing's Bait Stand and Clem's Marina, provide free access to the Laguna Madre. These boat ramps are in very poor condition and need to be repaired and expanded. The recent opening of Packery Channel is expected to increase the number of boaters using these ramps. Between May 2002 and April 2003, usage of the ramps accounted for 13,679 trips made by 5,471 anglers, which is 23% of the total upper Laguna Madre fishing pressure. Texas General Land Office has identified the need to evaluate existing structures and perform improvements at the previously mentioned boat ramps. This will be accomplished by: ∞ Repairing boat ramps due to broken down concrete and difficulty in launching boats. ∞ Adding timber walkways, cleats, and bump-guards to protect boats from concrete walkways. ∞ Protecting against increased erosion on uplands adjacent to boat ramps in the form of consolidated rip-rap, bulkhead installation, etc. ∞ Install educational signage at both boat ramps thus promoting safe boating and educating boaters about colonial waterbirds nesting on islands. Additional funding from other "local" partners will be needed to satisfy the required 25% funding match for Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's State Boating Access Program. Project Objectives: 1. Improve both boat ramps to a condition in which they can be used safely during all seasons and tide cycles. 2. Respond to projected increase in use of boat ramps as a result of the development of Packery Channel and expected growth of population in the Coastal Bend. 20 Project #0717 Fish Pass Road Improvements at Mustang Island State Park Performing Organization: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Total Funding: $50,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: BTR-2, BD-1 The Coastal Bend Bays Plan identifies the need to provide appropriate, well-managed public access sites. One of the goals listed in the Bays Plan is to maintain and expand tourism and recreational opportunities in a way that enhances the local economy while protecting the environment. Shore based access to Corpus Christi Bay from Mustang Island is Limited to a few sites. The general public commonly accesses several areas along the Corpus Christi Bay shoreline by trespassing (either knowingly or unknowingly) on private land. One of the few free public access sites is along the north side of Fish Pass. This 1.1-mile road with garbage receptacles is maintained by Mustang Island State Park. Past heavy rainfall, high tides, and maintenance budget restraints have caused the road to degrade thus limiting its use to only high-clearance vehicles and foot traffic. Annually, an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 visitors (including many out of town tourists) use the site for nature watching, off-road bike riding, kayaking, and fishing. Currently, Mustang Island State Park staff maintains garbage pick up along the road, but little other maintenance is performed on the site. Improving access to the site would improve the aesthetic value of the site and provide an opportunity to educate the public on the barrier island ecosystem. Project Objectives: 1. Improve vehicular access by creating a 1.1-mile x 16' road to be maintained by TPWD Mustang Island State Park staff. 2. Construct one or more educational stations/signs along the 1.1-mile road. 21 Project #0718 Oso Bay / Mud Bridge Wetland Protection and Public Access Management Performing Organization: CBBEP Total Funding: $22,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: BTR-2, BD-1, HLR-1 The Yorktown Boulevard Bridge over Oso Bay, commonly referred to as Mud Bridge, is an access spot for area residents to fish and recreate from the shores of Oso Bay. Anglers often pull off the road and drive on the mud flats to target fisheries at the outfall of the Barney M. Davis Power Plant's cooling reservoir and points beyond. Others use the site as a 4x4 recreation site, damaging mudflats and vegetation common to the area. Illegally dumping of large household garbage (such as old appliances, dilapidated vehicles, etc.) further degrades land around the site. This area is a common feeding ground for the Reddish Egret and loafing ground for shore birds such as the Snowy Plover. Estimates of greater than 100 acres of state-owned mudflats on the southeast and southwest side of Mud Bridge have been negatively impacted for years. This continued degradation of the marsh habitat affects wildlife abundance, diversity, and water quality. Project Objectives: 1. Identify and protect priority habitats, natural tidal mud flats, and marsh habitat from vehicular access. 2. Create ecologically safe public access opportunities at the site that provides the greatest ecological benefit and still allows access to all users. 3. Install educational signage about the Oso Bay ecosystem in "parking areas". 22 Project #0719 Nueces Delta Preserve Conservation Science Center Performing Organization: CBBEP Total Funding: $80,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: PEO-3, PEO-5, FW-4 The CBBEP Nueces Delta Preserve (NDP) consists of approximately 5,400 acres in San Patricio and Nueces Counties that are owned and managed by the CBBEP as a conservation site for the purpose preserving natural habitat, function and species diversity in the Nueces River delta. The preserve is rich in diversity that can be characterized by Tamaulipan thorn scrub, grasslands, lomas, freshwater wetlands, riverine riparian habitat, brackish wetlands, coastal wetlands mud flats and shoreline. , The CBBEP's secondary goal for the preserve is for the property to used for a variety of educational and research opportunities. The NDP is located 3 miles from the City of Odem and 20 miles from downtown Corpus Christi. This preserve provides excellent opportunities for the implementation of environmental education programs. The NDP currently lacks facilities that would provide an outdoor classroom atmosphere. The construction of a covered facility to serve as the Conservation Science Center will create an area for the staging of various educational programs, while providing protection from the elements. The versatility of the structure will allow for year round use. Project Objective: Design and Build the Nueces Delta Preserve Conservation Science Center suitable for use as an outdoor classroom for use by area educators conducting environmental education programs at the NDP. 23 Project #0720 Packery Channel Post-Opening Nekton Fisheries Recruitment Study Performing Organization: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Total Funding: $40,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: WSQ-4, HLR-1, HLR-2 Packery Channel is located in the southeast corner of Corpus Christi Bay near the upper portion of the Laguna Madre. Prior to the construction of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Packery Channel was an open inlet allowing the exchange of water between the Upper Laguna Madre/Corpus Christi Bay System and the Gulf of Mexico. Since that time, is has been closed except for brief periods following hurricanes. It is anticipated that by August of 2006, this pass will be fully dredged open to the Gulf of Mexico and fortified with stone jetties into the Gulf. Many of the estuarine species in the Upper Laguna Madre and Corpus Christi Bay have a portion of their life cycle where adults of the species spawn offshore, typically near passes, and their larvae enter the bay system through the pass. With the opening of Packery Channel, a new, permanent means of ingress to the local estuarine system will be made available to fish and crustaceans. This should result in more fisheries productivity from adjacent habitats that are currently isolated from other passes. One factor defining, or limiting, the environmental influence of Packery Channel is the extent of the tidal prism. For this portion of the project, basic water quality data will be collected concurrently with each of the nekton sampling events. In addition to the water quality data, this project will conduct a characterization of nekton fish and crustacean juveniles in the vicinity of Packery Channel and will compare size and density at sites near the inlet with more distant, unaffected sites, to evaluate the impact of the opened inlet. The fish and crustaceans will be sampled semi-monthly at sites that vary in distance from the pass, both southward into Laguna Madre and northward to Corpus Christi Bay. Samples will be transported to a lab for sorting and identification to species. Statistical analyses (t-test, Linear Regression, and ANOVA) will be performed to characterize the species using these areas and the potential impacts of opening the pass to the Gulf of Mexico. Project Objectives: The main objective of this project is to determine the impact of opening Packery Channel on water quality, nekton fish and crustacean populations in the vicinity of the pass. These objectives include: 1. Monitor seasonal changes to fish and crustacean abundance and recruitment after Packery Channel has been opened to the Gulf of Mexico. 2. Measure direct effect of Packery Channel on important water quality parameters. 3. Determine whether the opening of Packery Channel Pass has produced an improvement in the fish and crustacean populations in the surrounding estuarine system. 24 Project #0721 Packery Channel Post-Opening Plankton Fisheries Recruitment Study Performing Organization: University of Texas Marine Science Institute Total Funding: $50,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: WSQ-1, HLR-1, HLR-2 Packery Channel is located in the southeast corner of Corpus Christi Bay near the upper portion of the Laguna Madre. Prior to the construction of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Packery Channel was an open inlet allowing the exchange of water between the Upper Laguna Madre/Corpus Christi Bay System and the Gulf of Mexico. Since that time, is has been closed except for brief periods following hurricanes. It is anticipated that by August of 2006, this pass will be fully dredged open to the Gulf of Mexico and fortified with stone jetties into the Gulf. Many of the estuarine species in the Upper Laguna Madre and Corpus Christi Bay have a portion of their life cycle where adults of the species spawn offshore, typically near passes, and their larvae enter the bay system through the pass. With the opening of Packery Channel, a new, permanent means of ingress to the local estuarine system will be made available to fish and crustaceans. This should result in more fisheries productivity from adjacent habitats that are currently isolated from other passes. One factor defining, or limiting, the environmental influence of Packery Channel is the extent of the tidal prism. For this portion of the project, basic water quality data will be collected concurrently with each of the plankton sampling events. In addition to the water quality monitoring, this project will also perform a characterization of fish and crustacean larvae and juveniles in the vicinity of Packery Channel, and will compare size and density at sites near the inlet with more distant, unaffected sites to evaluate the impact of the opened inlet. Larvae and juveniles will be sampled semi-monthly at sites that vary in distance from the pass, both southward into Laguna Madre and northward to Corpus Christi Bay. Samples will be transported to a lab for sorting and identification to species. Statistical analyses (t-test, Linear Regression, and ANOVA) will be performed to characterize the species using these areas and the potential impacts of opening the pass to the Gulf of Mexico. Project Objectives: The main objective of this project is to determine the impact of opening Packery Channel on larval fish and crustacean populations in the vicinity of the pass. Other objectives include: 1. Monitor seasonal changes to larval fish and crustacean abundance and recruitment after Packery Channel has been opened to the Gulf of Mexico. 2. Measure direct effect of Packery Channel on important water quality parameters. 3. Determine whether the opening of Packery Channel Pass has produced an improvement in the larval fish and crustacean populations in the surrounding estuarine system. 25 Project #0722 Status and Trends of Wetlands and Aquatic Habitats in the CBBEP Area Performing Organization: University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology Total Funding: $100,000 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: HLR-1, HLR-2 The Coastal Bend Bays Plan identifies the need to monitor the condition and amount of wetlands and aquatic habitats in the program area. Certain wetland types, such as freshwater pothole wetlands have experienced significant declines over the years as these areas have been converted for agriculture use and development. Other areas around the bay have seen the decline of brackish wetlands as freshwater inflows have been reduced. The last comprehensive look at wetlands for most of the Coastal Bend area was published in 1998 (CCBNEP – 29) and was based on 1992 aerial photography. This effort will include an analysis of new imagery (28 DOQQ's) and a re-evaluation of older imagery using the latest techniques and GIS technology. This study will address three critical issues: 1) The status of coastal wetlands in the Coastal Bend, their extent, locations and trends, 2) The probable causes for rates and locations of changes in wetlands 3) Identify which wetland types have been impacted the most and should be a higher priority for restoration efforts. Project Objectives: 1. Interpret and map wetlands and aquatic habitats on historical and recent aerial photographs, using and revising historical data where acceptable. 2. Process habitat delineations and enter into Geographic Information System. 3. Field-check (ground-truth) mapped wetlands and aquatic habitats. 4. Conduct detailed quality control analysis of all (historical and current) GIS databases. 5. Analyze wetland trends, determine probable causes and write up results. 26 Project #0723 Digital Elevation Model of the Nueces Delta Performing Organization: University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology & University of Texas Marine Science Institute Total Funding: $143,718 CBBEP Bays Plan Actions: HLR-1, HLR-2, FW-1, FW-3 The Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) proposes to use airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) and shallow-water echo sounding to provide terrain elevation data of approximately 1000 ha of wetlands, ponds, and adjacent uplands on the Nueces River Delta, Texas (fig. 1). The objective of this collaborative research effort between UT's Marine Science Institute (MSI) and the BEG will be to develop a research-quality digital elevation model that will be used to (1) better understand how vegetation assemblages are correlated with elevation, (2) map habitats in conjunction with aerial photography, and (3) design freshwater diversion projects. In addition to acquisition of conventional first and last return lidar data, which will be used to create the DEM's, we will acquire experimental wave-form data. The acquisition of wave-form data will not add additional cost to this project, and the BEG will seek other funding to process and analyze these data on an experimental basis. Project Objectives: 1. Obtain and analyze lidar data, including the placement of targets at known elevations with ground-truthing of additional areas. 2. Completion of bathymetric survey to provide water depth data in areas not addressed by the lidar survey focusing on the main channels within the Rincon bayou and other priority areas in the delta. 3. Development of a digital elevation model for the Nueces Delta. Design potential freshwater diversion projects using the digital elevation model. 27 VIII. Program Administration CBBEP administrative staff (3 FTE's) will provide organizational and logistical support for Estuary Council and subcommittee meetings, and coordinate/communicate as necessary with appropriate groups, including stakeholder groups, state and federal agencies, local governments, and professional groups relevant to CCMP implementation. Staff will: 1. Acquire, manage, and disperse funds to implement the Bays Plan; 2. Monitor, track, and report on implementation performance by implementing partners, and work to maintain implementation commitments; 3. Develop a prioritized biennial work plan and budget for Estuary Council review and approval; 4. Coordinate the periodic update of the Bays Plan, the State of the Bay report, the Implementation Strategy, and other key documents of the program; 5. Provide logistical support for all meetings, workshops, symposia, and special events related to program mission; 6. Provide for overall program coordination with EPA Region 6 and TCEQ. 7. Participate in regional, state, and national conferences and meetings relevant to estuarine management. 8. Develop policies and procedures for an emergency contingency plan which will include: protecting financial records, office equipment, computers, and other vital records and equipment; employee responsibilities; backup and storage of data; and recovery actions to be completed by 9/30/06. 9. Develop and implement a management system to track and assess Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) and determine required corrective actions and follow-up to be completed on date determined by TCEQ. IX. Project Management CBBEP Project Management staff (9 FTE's) will coordinate/communicate as necessary with appropriate groups, including stakeholder groups, state and federal agencies, local governments, and professional groups relevant to Bays Plan implementation. Staff will: 1. Develop and implement partnership projects with local governments, state, and federal agencies, and private organizations; 2. Monitor, track, and report on implementation performance by implementing partners, and work to maintain implementation commitments; 3. Provide communication and coordination with the Texas Coastal Management Program and the Coastal Coordination Council, the Gulf of Mexico Program, the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and other relevant coastal/watershed programs; 4. Coordinate the review of proposed actions of federal, state, and local projects in an open process for consistency with the Bays Plan; 5. Develop a prioritized biennial work plan and budget for Estuary Council review and approval; 6. Provide for overall program coordination, including quality control/quality assurance procedures with EPA Region 6 and TCEQ. 7. Participate in regional, state, and national conferences and meetings relevant to estuarine management. X. Program Expenses CBBEP funds will be used to support continued program implementation, evaluation, and reporting. Funds are also necessary to provide logistical support for Estuary Council and subcommittee meetings. Expense categories are as follows: 28 1. Travel – allows Program staff to attend state, regional and national meetings, workshops, and conferences; 2. Supplies – as needed, for the day-to-day operations of the Program; 3. Equipment – purchase of items over $1,000, i.e. computers; 4. Other – copier rental, temporary staff, postage, communication services, accounting services, printing, etc. XI. Working Capital The CBBEP Board of Directors has established working capital out of local funding. The funds will be set aside for possible future projects, matching funds and/or emergency funding. XII. Summary On September 1, 2006, the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program will begin Year 9 of implementing the Coastal Bend Bays Plan. This FY 2007 Work Plan describes the proposed work to be initiated during FY 2007. Of the total funds identified in the Work Plan budget, $492,600 are new (FY 2007) federal funds, $849,777 are new (FY 2007) state funds, $275,733 are new (FY 2007) project-specific funds, and $275,000 are new (FY 2007) local partner funds. When combined with carryforward from previous unspent federal and state funds, the total budget for this FY 2007 Work Plan is $2,319,138. 29


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Intermediate ascents
by Amod Lele on Nov.23, 2014, under God, Jainism, Monasticism
It seems to me that the concepts of ascent and descent allow relatively easily for intermediate positions between them, compromises that attempt at a synthesis. I suspect that in this respect they are different from the related binary of intimacy and integrity. Thomas Kasulis tries to argue that intimacy and integrity are incommensurable – one may experience elements of each at once, but it is difficult to take a moderate position between them, let alone to establish a synthesis. I am not convinced that Kasulis is right about this, but I do think that at least middle grounds on intimacy and integrity are harder to establish than on ascent and descent.
For relatively few seek the pure transcendence of the Yoga Sūtras, abiding in a pure universality outside the changing world. It is an uncompromising and drastic ascent that demands we act and be with a higher universal, leaving the particulars of the world behind us. Jain monks, following a similar path, deliberately renounce dependence to all particulars up to and including food – they often end their lives through sallekhanā or santhara, intentional slow starvation. (continue reading…)
Reading the Zhuangzi as a composite text
by Amod Lele on Nov.09, 2014, under Confucianism, Daoism, M.T.S.R., Metaphilosophy
This week's post follows the previous one and should be taken in the same light: namely, that while my views expressed in it have developed in response to a thoughtful and valuable exchange between me and Chris Fraser, it should not be taken to imply any views on Fraser's part that are not already expressed in his published works.
I have long noted how for a philosopher, the most productive way to examine a text from another time is to examine the mind behind that text – so that one can follow Thomas Kuhn's advice to "ask yourself how a sensible person could have written" that text with all of its apparent absurdities. This approach runs into trouble with composite texts, which are not the work of a single author. In thinking about the composite work attributed to Śāntideva, I had found it quite satisfactory to instead identify a single redactor. Last time, however, I noted how such an approach may be problematic for a text like the Zhuangzi, where the redactor of the edition known to us, namely the commentator Guo Xiang, has a Confucian agenda that appears to be at odds with some of the statements in the text itself.
But if that's so, the next question is: what then is the best approach to take, as philosophers and not just philologists, to a composite text like the Zhuangzi? (continue reading…)
Philological and philosophical approaches to the Zhuangzi
by Amod Lele on Oct.26, 2014, under Daoism, M.T.S.R., Metaphilosophy
Last year, I made several posts criticizing Chris Fraser's interpretation of the Zhuangzi, supported by a previous post on interpretive method. Fraser was kind enough to reply at length to my posts by email, for which I am very grateful, and his replies have provoked my own thoughts further. I have not received his express permission to quote my exchange with him, however, so what follows should not be taken to imply any views or lack thereof on his part – beyond what is in his published papers. Rather, it should be taken solely as a description of how my own views on related subjects have developed and evolved.
Where my views have shifted above all is on the question of how one may best interpret a text – and especially a composite text. The approach I previously outlined for approaching such a text stems from my dissertation on Śāntideva. While it may well be that the works we now associate with Śāntideva are the product of multiple authors, it seemed to me that we can plausibly use the name "Śāntideva" to name the redactor who put them together in the forms we now know through the tradition. I still believe that to be the case. I am, however, far less confident now that that approach can be generalized to other composite texts – most notably the Zhuangzi itself. Is it appropriate to describe that text as the work of an author (or redactor) named Zhuangzi? (continue reading…)
Śabda and the sciences
by Amod Lele on Oct.12, 2014, under Epistemology, Foundations of Ethics, Natural Science, Prejudices and "Intuitions", Sāṃkhya-Yoga
One of the key debates in Indian philosophy is what counts as a pramāṇa: an instrument of knowledge, a "reliable warrant", a means of knowledge reliable enough that one can be reasonably confident to take its conclusions as true. What counts as a pramāṇa? Many Indian philosophers will provide a numbered list of them.
In the empiricist tradition that remains popular in the West, boosted by the discoveries of natural science, only experience is admitted as a pramāṇa: to a full-blown empiricist, nothing counts as knowledge if it doesn't ultimately have its roots in experience, based in some sort of direct perception. (Ken Wilber's thought has come to take this position more and more over the years, to its detriment.) The debate over pramāṇas in modern Western philosophy is often framed as one between empiricism and rationalism. That is, where empiricists admit only experience as a pramāṇa, rationalists also allow reasoning an independent validity: some things can be rationally known a priori, independently of sense experience.
Some Indian philosophers have agreed with these views. (continue reading…)
On justice and activism in Pali Buddhism
by Amod Lele on Sep.28, 2014, under Early and Theravāda, Monasticism, Politics
My discussion with Justin Whitaker continues after my last post, which was a response to his original post about trans* inclusiveness in Buddhism.
There followed a discussion back and forth between Justin and myself. The discussion has moved away from anything to do with trans* issues, which is fine with me because my point, and I think Justin's too, was about something bigger: the role of justice and activism in Buddhist tradition. I won't try to recap the discussion here because the link is available for those who haven't seen it. I'll just refresh your memory by quoting Justin's most recent comment: (continue reading…)
Towards an Institute for Cosmopolitan Philosophy
by Amod Lele on Sep.24, 2014, under Metaphilosophy
Jonardon Ganeri, the renowned scholar of Indian philosophy, has recently posted an online blueprint for an "Institute for Cosmopolitan Philosophy in a Culturally Polycentric World". He suggests an institute with autonomy from the traditional academy's disciplinary and area-studies boundaries, structured as a network spanning different cultural locations.
Ganeri is reflecting on what sort of institution would best encapsulate the ambitions and promise of the cross-cultural approach in philosophy, and is openly seeking discussion – whether privately (his email address is on the blueprint), or publicly in a blog forum like this one. I'm posting it here to spread the word; he and I would both like to hear your thoughts.
Trans* inclusiveness as an innovation to Buddhism
by Amod Lele on Sep.14, 2014, under Early and Theravāda, Monasticism, Politics, Sex, Yavanayāna
On his American Buddhist Perspective blog, my friend Justin Whitaker recently posted an interesting interview on the experience of trans* people in American Buddhism. Justin uses "trans*" as a shorthand for "transgender", "transsexual", "transvestite" and similar terms – to denote people who have become or attempted to become, in some respect, a gender different from the one associated with their biology at birth. It is clear to me that trans* people in the US face various forms of unjust discrimination. Where the tricky questions get raised is when the struggle against that injustice intersects with Buddhism – as, for that matter, when the struggle against any injustice intersects with Buddhism. Justin and I began a conversation about this in the comments to that post, and I'd like to continue that conversation in more detail here. (continue reading…)
The double standard of misinterpretation
by Amod Lele on Aug.31, 2014, under M.T.S.R., Modern Hinduism, Vedas and Mīmāṃsā, Yavanayāna
I have recently welcomed the corrective force of books like Andrew Nicholson's Unifying Hinduism, which remind us that modern appropriations of Indian tradition have their own continuity with the evolving past tradition. I now find myself regularly reminded just how much such a corrective is needed. I have noted plenty of examples before, as with respect to Gregory Schopen and Donald Lopez. But I recently found perhaps the most striking example in the works of the contemporary Sanskrit scholar Herman Tull. (continue reading…)
Paradigms in Wilber and MacIntyre
by Amod Lele on Jul.20, 2014, under Epistemology, Metaphilosophy, Natural Science
I have juxtaposed the works of Ken Wilber and Alasdair MacIntyre against each other more than once here. They are at odds in many respects, and MacIntyre often has the best illustration of Wilber's weak points. MacIntyre's anti-modernism is the most potent antidote to the ever-increasing modernist tendency of Wilber's thought. So too, MacIntyre effectively skewers what was perhaps always the weakest point in Wilber's work, his "worldcentric" ethics. Finally, the uses they have made of non-Western thought are in drastically different directions, related closely to the content of their thought, such that MacIntyre's intimacy orientation leads him to China and not India, and Wilber's occasional interest in ascent leads him to India and not China.
(Wilber refers to refers to MacIntyre's After Virtue once in a passing footnote to Sex, Ecology, Spirituality (684n21), but not in a way that comes to terms with MacIntyre's challenge to Wilber.)
But there are at least two influences the two thinkers have in common. One is Hegel: especially in his earlier work, Wilber has often cited Hegel as an influence for his project of synthesis (although he doesn't really get Hegel's dialectical approach), while MacIntyre takes himself in After Virtue to be doing philosophical history in a sense deriving from Hegel. The second influence, which I want to talk about here, is Thomas S. Kuhn. (continue reading…)
First principles of paradigms
by Amod Lele on Jul.06, 2014, under Dialectic, Economics, Epistemology, Logic, Metaphilosophy, Natural Science, Prejudices and "Intuitions", Social Science
There are two different ways to apply the distinction between dialectical and demonstrative argument, and it's important to be aware of the difference. I draw the terms dialectical and demonstrative argument from Alasdair MacIntyre in Three Rival Versions of Moral Inquiry (pages 88-9), who in turn takes the distinction from Boethius's De topicis differentiis and ultimately from Aristotle's Topics. The key point is that dialectical argument argues to first principles, and demonstrative argument from first principles.
But what are those first principles? Are they first principles for knowledge in general, or merely first principles within a single paradigm? (continue reading…)

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome at the counter of the Bannes, rooms d Ranc ' hosts, room hire and Gîte d ' step to the edge of the Gard and l ' Hérault at the foot of the cevennes at halfway of the Mediterranean, the Camargue and the ski slopes of Mont Aigoual you will be captivated by this former colony of holidays and building of the nobility, with its great southern full esplanade, overlooking the Crieulon Valley and the village of Sumène. .After a year of work, we are finally ready to receive our first guests, and to receive sympathy and conviviality. You can choose and settle you into one of our five spacious rooms different themes and very neat decoration. The owners being upholsterers for several generations, the keys to everything in fine arts, antique, painting, sewing, etc etc novelty: apartment b & b into the pigeon-House Pool will delight you by its size and its beach. 14 m x 6 • Between (Ranc de Bannes) mountain view or the swimming pool, this will only be felted comfort and well being. • Table d ' host the day of your arrival if you wish but 2 restaurants local cuisine 5 km or it will be reserved for you a warm welcome. For breakfast, a brunch can be served with an extra charge of 5. If you do not wish to have breakfast, there are a coffee maker, kettle and microwave at your disposal near the rooms.
Countryside, Mountains, Village, Wine country
Montpellier, France (MPL-Frejorgues)
a la perpendiculaire de montpellier
Historical interests, National/State parks, Nature area, Picnic area, River, Vineyard
Private Home Bed and Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast
Amenities Basket, BBQ grill, Board games, Computer, Copier, In-room internet, Fireplace, Internet Service, Private entrance, Radio, Satellite/Cable TV, Secretarial services, TV, Telephone, Washer/dryer, Wedding Facilities, Wet bar
Fridge, Hairdryer, Turndown Service, Wi-Fi
Bicycle rental, Bicycle riding trails, Bicycles, Canoeing, Fishing, Golfing, Hiking trails, Horseback riding, Kayaking, rafting, canioning, Sight-seeing, Ski rentals, Swimming, Swimming pool, Water sports, Whitewater Rafting
pierre et chris guerlus
retraités tapissiers, des touches à tout appréciant la peinture et les beaux arts, la bonne cuisine et le bonheur de vivre.
specialité cevenoles


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Thank you Paul for the offer but I am a casual family searcher.
I do have my direct line from Etienne Pasquier & Jeanne Pousard to Mathurin & Marie Fremillon to Isaac & Elizabeth Musnier to Charles & Jeanne Coulombe to Charles & Charlotte D'Allaire to Joseph & Marie Louise Charon to Joseph & Therese Tetro/Tetreault to Gabriel & Reine Lucier/Lussier to Gabriel Francois & Domithilde Archembault to Dmithilde Lavallee & Francois X Bedard to Ida Bedard & Joseph Hamilton to Marion Hamilton & Ernest Smith to ME.
I have not followed branch lines altho I have tried to discover the origins of the female/wives lines & any interesting history about them.
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What does IMGN mean in NASDAQ Symbols?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand IMGN in the Business field in general and in the NASDAQ Symbols terminology in particular.
Immunogen, Inc.
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Headed to Seattle
I am the hardest working ancap in show business. After being told that Down Is Up, I'm off to another Mises Circle, this one in Seattle.
I have a backlog of blogging to do; I hope to catch up in the hotel. So much economic ignorance; so little time.
Speaking of which, in today's Mises Daily I take on that NYT article praising fiat money for allowing the Union to wage the Civil War. (Remember Carlin? "Can a war really be civil? 'Excuse me sir, I'm going to shoot you now!'")
(All joking aside, in the linked article there is a chart showing the loan information I was referring to on Kudlow's show, when the other guy told me we all knew what the alternate universe looked like.)
Murphy on Kudlow Discussing Geithner
I hadn't put two and two together… It wasn't until I was sitting in the chair with the mic in my ear that I realized I was going to be on Kudlow's show. (It was probably all for the best, since the adrenaline would have been pumping even more had I known for two hours beforehand.) Anyway, I walked out of the studio feeling pretty good about the points I made. I was disappointed when I discovered I had said, "It's glad to be here…" right out of the gate, but hey I just wanted to make sure you were listening.
Thanks so much to "Minnesota Chris" for posting this. It was actually ready by the time I got back to my computer and checked my email. These Austrian computer geeks are taking over!
UPDATE: I forgot to mention–and I'm not making this up–the camera man had to adjust the camera up a few notches when we were getting situated. The previous interviewee had been a lineman for the Tennessee Titans and apparently I was taller from the butt up. Yeah, what's up.
UPDATE 2: BTW, in case anyone actually wants to hear what others had to say, here is the full Kudlow segment:
Murphy on Panel to Discuss Geithner Town Hall
OK kids, someone needs to set your TiVo or whatever wacky new gadgets you use nowadays, because I just found out I'm going to be on CNBC tonight on a panel discussion following Geithner's town hall. So if I understand correctly, Geithner's thing starts at 7pm EST and then our panel discussion begins at 8pm EST. It would really be cool if someone could capture this for YouTube.
Geithner Says It's Time to De-Fascize
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday the economy has regained enough strength to allow a shift in the government's strategy from rescue to preparing for future growth.
Appearing before the Congressional Oversight Panel for the $700-billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, Geithner said the economy was in far better shape now than a year ago when it was "on the verge of collapse," though it still had problems.
"As we enter this new phase, we must begin winding down some of the extraordinary support we put in place for the financial system," Geithner said.
He said banks that received capital injections in the form of taxpayer-provided funds have repaid more than $70 billion, reducing the government's total investment to $180 billion.
"We now estimate that banks will repay another $50 billion over the next 12 to 18 months," he added.
Another senior Treasury official told reporters earlier that Treasury will allow its money market mutual fund guarantee program to expire on Sept. 18.
The backstop program was created a year ago to prevent panic withdrawals of $3.4 trillion in savings after a key fund "broke the buck" when its net asset value per share fell below $1.
The program took in $1.2 billion in fees from funds, but has not had any payouts.
Geithner boasted that the economy now was "back from the brink" of a free fall that it was in when the Obama administration took office in January, though he cautioned recovery will be gradual at best.
Still, he cited several signs of progress, including the fact that the government no longer feels it needs a contingency in the budget for another $750 billion in stabilization funds.
"Today, we believe that money is unlikely to be necessary and we have removed it from budget provisions, lowering this year's deficit," Geithner said.
Treasury does intend to press ahead with so-called public-private investment funds to buy toxic assets.
The senior Treasury official predicted that the first purchases should occur by early October.
The official said there was a "great deal of interest" in purchasing toxic assets among investors and money managers running the funds, but the appetite among banks to sell their toxic assets has been less than anticipated.
"We thought it would be necessary for banks to sell some of these assets in order to attract private capital.
It turned out that they were able to raise the capital without selling the assets," the official said.
Geithner said that by providing support for U.S. automakers, the government avoided substantial job losses and that a specially assembled Auto Task Force had avoided intervening in day-to-day decisions by management of General Motors Corp and Chrysler Corp.
"Such intervention could seriously undermine the companies' long-term viability and, consequently, their ability to repay the taxpayer for its investment," Geithner said.
He cited a litany of problems still facing the economy, including "unacceptably high" unemployment, a shaky mortgage market outside those covered by mortgage finance sources Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, strained financing for commercial real estate enterprises and tight credit for small business.
Given those conditions, "it is realistic to assume recovery will be gradual, with more than the usual ups and downs," Geithner warned.
I've put some of the predictions or promises in bold above. Let's check in periodically to see how they hold up.
* Bob Roddis passes along a good anti-Fed point about GDP volatility.
* Here and here conservative Christian Jared Wilson actually decides not to vote anymore, because of the hysteria over Obama's talk to school kids. I agree that my talk radio boys really blew this one. I can't remember who said specifically what, but I know that before the speech, the generally theme was, "Don't get me wrong, folks, it's fine if the President of the United States wants to give a generic speech about hard work and staying in school. But that's not what Barack Obama is up to with this. If he brings up health care…" And then when Obama gave a speech that Ronald Reagan could have (and actually did), there was of course no recognition of, "OK I overreacted" or "I guess we scared them back into line with our protests." No, it was, "You see folks? This is all conservative philosophy. The left has to steal our principles when they want to appeal to the American people. If Obama said what he really believes in that speech, you can bet it would have made parents run." (Just to clarify, I TOTALLY OPPOSE the president of the US giving a speech directly to kids, during school hours. But my point is, Obama did exactly what a bunch of the AM guys said they would have no problem with, and they proceeded to have a problem with it.)
* Time to jack up alcohol taxes?
* Tom Woods gets medieval on some poor leftist blogger.
Obama to Head UN Security Council?
So, for those who are convinced that Obama is the Manchurian Candidate, this certainly isn't reassuring:
President Barack Obama will make history later this month when he takes the head seat at the table of the United Nations 15-member Security Council. Amazingly, President Obama will become the first United States president to chair the important international council, which deals with issues of global security, including nuclear disarmament.
Now here's the really odd thing. I wanted to link to this story at a news site more reputable than "ChattahBox." But doing a google news search for "obama un security council," I couldn't find any mainstream publications covering this. It was only ChattahBox and a few other political blogs.
So, is the story a fabrication? If not, isn't that just a bit odd, that the first time in history the US president is going to head the UN Security Council, and no major news organization even mentions it? Do I just need to refine my google skills, or is this Point Set Match for the Bilderberg Group?
Congressman Joe Wilson Heckles Obama
How do you guys and gals feel about this? I can't decide. On the one hand, I think it's great that someone shatters the mystique of a presidential address. On the other hand, how incredibly tacky.
Watch Biden and Pelosi during this short clip. Biden looks crushed; "I can't believe these Republicans." Pelosi is more pro-active, trying to find who said it and presumably preparing a list of 5 ways he can accidentally die.
One last thing: Of all the lies Obama told during this speech–I didn't watch it, so I'm going out on a limb–was the funding of health care for illegal immigrants really the most outrageous? Why do so many right-wingers object doubly so when their paychecks are raided in order to pay for Mexicans as opposed to Texans?
My Perceptive Son
My son has lately been in the habit of assigning gender to everything in sight. E.g. "The table, it's a girl." (When he's a bit older I can explain that they do this in France. But we're Americans!)
He is also at that awkward stage where he can take care of his potty business but needs adult supervision. After relieving himself, he pointed in the potty and said, "The poopy, it's a boy."
How astute! I've heard many women state this truism (or actually its reverse), but never at such a young age.


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Charlotte seeks to increase uptown retail
December 5, 2014
(The Charlotte Observer)
With the number of residents living in uptown Charlotte approaching 25,000, a local economic-development group is looking for new ways to attract more retail to the area. One idea proposed by Charlotte Center City Partners' director of retail Christopher Hemans is to require new buildings to include first-floor retail.
Craven County approves incentives for Moen warehouse
December 5, 2014
(Sun Journal, New Bern)
Moen will break ground on a new 203,000-square-foot component warehouse at Craven County Industrial Park in the first quarter of 2015. County commissioners unanimously approved $650,000 in incentives for the project, which is expected to be operational by fall 2015. The Ohio-based faucet-maker employs 700 at a local manufacturing plant.
Southern Pines' K2 Solutions could lay off 70 workers
December 5, 2014
(The Pilot, Southern Pines)
K2 Solutions, which trains dogs for military operations, could lay off as many as 70 of its 170 employees next month as military contracts that began in 2009 are expiring. Most of the layoffs will be at the company's Richmond County training center. The Southern Pines-based company's founder says the government is investing more in developing technological replacements for canines in the military.
Dollar General still committed to buying Family Dollar
December 5, 2014
(The Charlotte Observer)
Dollar General reaffirmed on Thursday its commitment to acquire Matthews-based Family Dollar Stores. The Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based retailer reported third-quarter net income of $236.3 million, below analysts' projections. Family Dollar shareholders are scheduled to vote Dec. 23 on a pending acquisition by Chesapeake, Va.-based Dollar Tree.
No layoffs in Fayetteville call-center consolidation
December 5, 2014
(The Fayetteville Observer)
A spokeswoman for Sykes Enterprises says the consolidation of two Fayetteville call centers will not result in layoffs. In a letter to the state Department of Commerce, the company had said the consolidation could lead to 226 layoffs, but all employees at the location that is scheduled to close by Dec. 11 were offered jobs at the company's new office.
Self-Help Credit Union opens first Triangle branch
December 5, 2014
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Self-Help Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of its first full-service branch in its hometown of Durham. The nonprofit community lender operates 20 branches across North Carolina.
Duke conference center to close for renovations
December 5, 2014
(The Herald-Sun, Durham)
Foodservice provider Aramark will close a conference center at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business for renovations in late January, affecting 67 employees. The center will reopen after 18 months.
GSK to cut 900 jobs at RTP
December 4, 2014
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
London-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline will cut 900 jobs at Research Triangle Park as part of a global corporate restructuring. Half of the affected employees will be offered jobs in a newly created business unit GSK is creating with Boston-based contract research organization Parexel. GSK employs 4,500 workers in RTP. Employees at a Zebulon manufacturing plant will not be affected by the cuts.
PPD founder Eshelman donates $100M to UNC
December 4, 2014
Fred Eshelman pledged $100 million to create a new research institute at UNC Chapel Hill's pharmacy school that bears his name. It's the largest individual donation the university has ever received. Eshelman founded Wilmington-based Pharmaceutical Product Development, which was sold in 2011 for $3.9 billion.
Wilmington completes riverfront land sale to hotel group
December 4, 2014
(Greater Wilmington Business Journal)
Despite a pending legal challenge, the city of Wilmington completed the sale of a .76-acre riverfront property to Harmony Hospitality, which plans to build a $33.6 million Embassy Suites hotel there. The site is adjacent to the Wilmington Convention Center, which opened in 2010. A rival hotel group had challenged the sale, contending the city was offering to sell the land to Harmony below market value.


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(Prior to Fall 2010, this course was known as ENG 50.71.The information below might still reflect the old course numbers. Bracketed numbers, if any, are the old course numbers. Learn more...)
3 hours; 3 credits
How to read lyric poetry effectively. A comprehensive acquaintance with traditional imagery, traditional versification, lyric structure, lyric ?concentration,? traditional themes, and conventional forms (e.g., sonnet, quatrain, couplet). Representative lyrics of the sixteenth to twenty-first centuries, including those that conform to lyric traditions (e.g., Marvell, Frost), rebel against them (e.g., Donne, Eliot), and put both conformity and rebellion in play at once (e.g., Dickinson, Williams). The genre?s diversity, aesthetic value, and the values it implies.
Prerequisite: English 1010 [1] or 1.7.
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