NATIONAL ESTAURINE RESEARCH RESERVE ASSOCIATION
342 LAUDHOLM FARM RD, WELLS, ME 04090 www.nerra.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO INSPIRE THE PROTECTION OF OUR NATION'S ESTUARIES AND TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION-BASED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH THE NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE SYSTEM.

NERRA WAS ONCE AGAIN THE ORGANIZER AND FISCAL MANAGER FOR THE 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NERRS AND NERRA. THE MEETING WAS HELD FOR FIVE DAYS, NOVEMBER IN DULUTH, MN. THE LAKE SUPERIOR NERR WAS THE HOST FOR THE MEETING. OVER 225 EMPLOYEES FROM THE 29 NERRS ATTENDED THE MEETING, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATORS, SCIENTISTS, EDUCATORS, TRAINERS, AND RESOURCE MANAGERS. PERSONNEL FROM OUR FEDERAL PARTNER, NOAA, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM 15 FRIENDS AND FOUNDATION GROUPS ALSO ATTENDED. THE MEETING INCLUDED WORKSHOPS RELATED TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, CLIMATE CHANGE, K-12 EDUCATION, AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DECISION-MAKERS. THERE WERE ALSO PRESENTATIONS BY EXPERTS IN THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF THE NERRS. THE ANNUAL MEETING ALSO PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC PLANS FOR CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ONES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COASTAL MANAGEMENT COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THE 29 RESERVES ARE LOCATED.

NERRA ENTERED INTO YEAR THREE OF A FIVE YEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH NOAA'S OFFICE FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT. THE AGREEMENT INCLUDED NINE DIFFERENT TASKS. THE FIRST TASK INCLUDED DEFINING THE NERRS NICHE IN RESILIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT OF TIDAL WETLANDS CREATING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADVANCING A NERRS FOCUS ON WETLAND RESILIENCE, DRAWING ON THE SYNTHESIS AND RECENT STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS, INPUT FROM AN ADVISORY GROUP COMPOSED OF NERRS STAFF FROM ALL SECTORS AND NOAA OCM STAFF, AND ADVICE FROM A GROUP OF EXTERNAL ADVISORS. THE PROJECT GENERATED A SUITE OF MESSAGES AND COMMUNICATION PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT ROLL-OUT OF THE SYNTHESIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND HIGHLIGHT NERRS AND RELATED NOAA ACTIVITIES AND ASSETS THAT FOSTER TIDAL WETLANDS RESILIENCE.THE SECOND TASK INVOLVED ENGAGING STRATEGICALLY WITH COASTAL PARTNERS AND OTHER NGOS TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF THE NERRS. NERRA HAS BUILT COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS THE COASTAL STATES ORGANIZATION, ASSOCIATION FOR NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAMS, AND RESTORE AMERICA'S ESTUARIES TO PROMOTE SUPPORT FOR ESTUARINE AND COASTAL ISSUES NATIONALLY. ALSO, NERRA WORKED WITH OCM TO DEVELOP IDEAS AROUND PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES WITH INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE INDUSTRY THAT SEEK TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND EXPLANATION OF INDUSTRY'S DATA AND INFORMATION TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE NERRS AND WORKED AS A LEAD PARTNER OF THE DIGITAL COAST PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A STRATEGY FOR THE DIGITAL COAST CONNECTS PROGRAM. THE THIRD TASK FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ADVANCING THE NERRS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT. IN THIS TASK, THE NERRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SUPPORTED THE SYSTEM AND THE WORKGROUP IN ITS DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW GRF PROGRAM. ALSO IN THIS TASK, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE NERRA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD WILL WORK TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A STRUCTURED PLAN FOR GROWTH. THE PROCESS INCLUDED PREPARING A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE NERRA BOARD ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO GROW IN PROVIDING BETTER SUPPORT TO THE SYSTEM.THE FOURTH TASK INVOLVED ENHANCING SYSTEM-WIDE EQUIPMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE NERRS SENTINEL SITE PRIORITY WITH A GOAL OF ENHANCING AND IMPROVING THE CAPACITY OF THE NERRS. NERRA MANAGED THE PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL LEVELS FOR ALL RESERVES IN NEED. THE FIFTH TASK EXPLORED OPPORTUNITIES TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS TECHNICAL CAPACITY GAPS AND ENHANCE PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE DISASTERS. NERRA IDENTIFIED PRIORITY ROLE THAT NERRA CAN PLAY IN SUPPORTING THE SYSTEM IN DISASTERS. WORKING WITH RESERVE STAFF ALONG WITH THE NERRS SYSTEM-WIDE DISASTER TEAM AND OCM, NERRA IDENTIFIED AREAS OF FOCUS TO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM. THE SIXTH TASK INCLUDED IMPLEMENTING FOCUSED COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE NERRS AND ITS CONNECTION TO THE BROADER COAST AND OCEAN MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY.THE SEVENTH TASK FOCUSED ON PROMOTING THE WORK OF THE SYSTEM THROUGH CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE. NERRA PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO SECTORS TO OFFSET COSTS AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES. THE EIGHTH TASK ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF THE FRIENDS AND FOUNDATION NETWORK. NERRA DEVELOPED A NATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR FRIENDS AND FOUNDATIONS OF THE NERRS. FOR THE NINTH TASK NERRA WAS THE ORGANIZER AND FISCAL MANAGER FOR THE 2019 PROGRAM MANAGERS MEETING OF THE NERRS, COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND NOAA'S OFFICE FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT. THE MEETING WAS HELD FOR TWO DAYS, IN MARCH IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE MEETING HOSTED 170 MANAGERS AND FEDERAL COLLEAGUES WHO ATTENDED FROM THE 29 NERRS AND 33 COASTAL PROGRAMS, AND FROM THE OFFICE OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT.

NERRA WAS THE ORGANIZER AND FISCAL MANAGER FOR THE 2019 PROGRAM MANAGER'S MEETING IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE MEETING WAS HELD FOR TWO DAYS IN MARCH. THE MEETING WAS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 170 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FOR EACH OF THE 29 RESERVES AND THE 34 COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, MANY COLLEAGUES FROM NOAA'S OFFICE FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE MEETING.

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