BTNEP Management Conference Agenda

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Management Conference
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program

Management Conference Meeting #15
9:30 AM September 13, 2000
Century Room
John L. Guidry Stadium
Nicholls State University Campus
Thibodaux, LA

AGENDA

I.   CALL TO ORDER

9:30am   A. Roll Call

9:35am   B. Reading and Approval of Minutes of the May 25, 2000 meeting

9:40am   C. Program Activities

Personnel Changes
        Andrew Barron

Presentations/Exhibits
Walmart Grand Opening for Presentation of Environmental Grant awarded to
BTEF; Davis Pond Wetlands Workshop, TORCH Workshop, DNR Coastal
Programs; Lady of the Sea Hospital Medi Camp; LaSIP; River Camps; UNO;
Tarpon Rodeo; 4-H Agents; Environmental Stewardship Retreat; Brady Canal
Dedication Ceremony; Delta Service Corp. Graduation; Coastal Society
Conference; Houma Girl Scout Troop;

Media Interviews
ITV-Hydrilla video shoot; Grist Magazine Daily Articles;Daily
Comet-Storm Drain Marking; Bayou Lafourche Initiative; exotic species;
Dying Marsh; Portrait of An Estuary and DIMS The Advocate-marsh
upwelling system; The Courier-Bayou Lafourche Initiative; Times
Picayune-Dying Marsh;

Meetings
Coast 2050 Scoping Meeting; GMPO Habitat Focus Team; Davis Pond
Technical      Group; Barataria Basin Complex Project Meeting; Coastal
Society Conference; Photoshop Conference; Shorebird Educator's
Workshop-Devil's Lake, ND; National Wetland Center Dying Marsh meeting;
Louisiana Marine Fisheries Museum Opening; NRCS Dying Marsh Meeting;
Dying Marsh Workgroup Meeting; Marsh Upwelling Demonstration at
Fourchon; Oyster Task Force

9:55am   D.    Set Date for 16th Management Conference Meeting
Suggested dates: January 18, 2001

II. ACTION ITEMS

10:00am A.     BTNEP Migratory Bird Video Script

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the Birds for BTNEP Migratory
Bird Video Script.

10:10am  B.    Scope of Services for the Continued Development And
Implementation Of The Data And Information Management System For The
Barataria-Terrebonne Estuarine Complex
This project seeks to continue the development and implementation of the
Data and Information Management System that has become a central data
source for the Barataria-Terrebonne estuarine complex. This new contract
seeks to extend certain tasks and add new tasks as well as provide for
the continued maintenance and archival of information including both
data that has been gathered through BTNEP sponsored studies and that
information which is thought to be important to implementing CCMP action
plans.  This contract also seeks to maintain and continue the
development of a completely automated web page.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for the Continued
Development And Implementation Of The Data And Information Management
System For The Barataria-Terrebonne Estuarine Complex

10:15am C.     Scope of Services for Grand Isle Migratory Bird Day
Celebration
The primary goal of this project is to coordinate an educational event
that provides BTNEP with a means to increase public awareness of the
ecological importance of maritime forest and beach habitats to
neotropical migratory birds; increase public involvement in the BTNEP,
and educate the general public regarding the economic, cultural, and
ecological importance of Barataria-Terrebonne and the actions that the
program and others are taking to address these issues. Objectives of
this effort include: 1)promote community outreach and citizen
involvement, 2) showcase the Barataria-Terrebonne region as a local,
state, and national treasure, 3) educate the public about the importance
of these habitats to the millions of neotropical migrants that utilize
them as stopover habitat, and 4) demonstrate public support for the
conservation and restoration of these habitats.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for the Grand Isle
Migratory Bird Day Celebration

10:20am D.     Scope of Services for Support for the Protection of Habitat
for Migratory and Resident Bird Action Plan and Development of the 2001
Fishing Calendar".
Tasks for this project will be three fold: 1) the animation of  maps,
etc. for the Bird Video; 2) the reformatting of the bird poster into a
Characterization Report format, and 3)the layout the fishing calendar
for 2001.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for Support for the
Protection of Habitat for Migratory and Resident Bird Action Plan and
Development of the 2001 Fishing Calendar

10:25am E.     Scope of Services for An Accelerated Program of Woody Plant
Species Selection for Conservation, Restoration, and Neotropical
Migratory Habitat Enhancement
This project will implement an accelerated study program of woody plant
species technology, applicable to coastal restoration, improved wildlife
habitat, and increased productivity of Louisiana's barrier islands and
coastal wetlands. When completed, this study will significantly
contribute to the knowledge base available to a broad spectrum of
coastal wetland users.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for An Accelerated
Program of Woody Plant Species Selection for Conservation, Restoration,
and Neotropical Migratory Habitat Enhancement and to volunteer to
participate on the Action Plan Team.

10:30am F.     Scope of Services for Development of the Environmental
Indicators for the BTNEP
BTNEP is required, for its Bienniel Review process, to monitor the
effectiveness of actions taken in pursuit of the CCMP.  This requirement
has 3 commponents: 1) to monitor and ducment progress in implementing
each Action Plan; 2) to monitor and document results of implementation
for each Action Plan; 3) to report the progress and results of Action
Plan implementation to BTNEP Management Conference, and other
stakeholers including the general public, thereby providing essential
information for refocusing and redirecting CCMP implementation efforts.
The contractor, Battelle, will provide technical expertise to 1)
facilitate a workshop to establish appropriate environmental indicators
and indices, 2) identify and coordinate with existing monitoring
programs to provide required data inputs, 3) develop a
technical manual that details BTNEP's Environmental Report Card Program,
and 4) prepare BTNEP's first Environmental Report Card report to
stakeholder's.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for the Environmental
Indicators and volunteer to participate on the Action Plan Team.

10:40am G.     Scope of Services for Jefferson Parish Local Permit
Information and Training Center
This project will assist the general public, small business and others
in applying for wetland permits and will determine the need for Wetland
Permitting Information Centers throughout the BTES. The long-term
benefits of this program will be in the area of common ground solutions
and public support for an ecologically responsible approach to economic
and social development in the BTES.  It will be one of a number of
actions designed to foster partnerships between government and the
private sector.

ACTION:  The MC is requested to approve the SOS for Jefferson Parish
Local Permit Information and Training Center and volunteer to
participate on the Action Plan Team.

10:40am H.     Scope of Services for Habitat Importance of Vallisneria Beds
This project will evaluate the role of Vallisneria beds in providing
nursery habitat for fishery species.  Densities of fishery species will
be compared among Vallisneria beds, natural marsh, and shallow
nonvegetated bottom.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for Habitat Importance of
Vallisneria Beds and to volunteer to participate on the Action Plan
Team.

10:45am I.     Scope of Services for Project STEPS (Students and Teachers
as
Educational Partners)
The purpose of this project is to conduct a workshop for teachers and
students in which the teacher and student will act as partners.  This
team will learn about estuarine ecology and the priority problems facing
the estuary.  The teams will then return to school and disseminate the
knowledge they have gained to the rest of the class.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for Project STEPS

10:50am J.     Scope of Services for Coastal Roots
Coastal Roots Nursery Program will establish six wetland nurseries at
selected schools from within the BTNEP area.  Three schools from the
lower part of the estuary (Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes) and three
schools from the upper part of the estuary (Point Coupee and Iberville
Parishes) will be involved in the project nurseries.  These nurseries
will be capable of producing native wetland plants for use in habitat
restoration projects.  Students managing these nurseries will oversee
the entire growth cycle of the plants, from seed collection to the
planting of the seedlings in the restoration projects.  Standards-based
curriculum, a newsletter, planting manual and website (with link to
BTNEP) will be produced.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for Coastal Roots

10:55am K.     EPA Volunteer Citizen Monitoring Workshop
BTNEP will be hosting a volunteer citizen monitoring workshop conducted
by the US EPA.  The workshop will tentatively take place Feb 8-9, 2001
at Nicholls State University.  The workshop will give an overview of
citizen monitoring.  Targeted participants will include those interested
in participating in the BTNEP citizen monitoring program (educators,
retired professionals, agency people, other interested citizens), as
well as people from the Gulf of Mexico region in general who are
interested in volunteer monitoring.

ACTION: The MC is requested to submit input for agenda and volunteer to
participate on the Action Plan Team.

11:05am L.     WETMAAP 2001
The WETMAAP 2000 contract will be amended to develop an additional site
in Terrebonne Parish.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve an amendment to the contract for
an additional site development.

11:10am M.     Scope of Services for the Shellfish Challenge Graphic Panels
for the BTNEP Display
These mural panels will be used as an educational tool for illustrating
the relations between a healthy environment and a healthy economy while
illustrating the facilitation of oyster restoration projects in the
BTNEP.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for the Shellfish
Challenge Graphic Panels for the BTNEP Display and solicit volunteers
for Review Team.

11:20am N.     Scope of Services for the Shellfish Challenge Webpage and
Interactive CD-ROM
A web page will be developed that focuses on the issues relevant to the
Shellfish Challenge initiative shellfish.btnep.org.  Each of the four
prioritized projects that are being implemented will have a separate
theme developed on the web page and highlighting concern and
accomplishments.

An interactive CD will be developed that focuses on the
Barataria-Terrebonne region, it's problems and solutions to those
problems.  The CD will be developed as part of the KIOSK that will be
demonstrated at various events throughout the region.  An opportunity
exists to have the CD mass produced as an educational tool for target
audiences and classrooms.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for the Shellfish
Challenge Webpage and Interactive CD-ROM and solicit volunteers for
Review Team.

11:25pm  O.    BTNEP Clean Marina Guide
The objectives of this project are 1) to increase the awareness about
the effects of pollution discharges on the region's ecology and economy;
2) build upon current efforts to raise awarenessa bout general sewage
effects and affect behavioral changes over time; 3) provide an
educational tool for illustrating the relationship between a healthy
environment and a healthy economy while illustrating the faciliation of
oyster restoration projectes in the BTE; 4) provide an educational tool
for illustrating the importance of proper sewage pumpout and dump
station facilities at marinas, oil recycling and fuel related releases
and problems, boat cleaning and maintenance, waste disposal and
recycling preactices, and hurricane preparedness.

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for BTNEP Clean Marina
Guide

11:30am  P.    Scope of Services for Monitoring and Evaluation of the
Impacts of Stormwater Discharge to Coastal Wetlands, Adjacent to the
Pointe aux Chene Pumping Station, Terrebonne Parish Louisiana
This proposed project includes stages that seek to evaluate the effects
of stormwater discharges to wetlands on: 1) submergent and emergent
biomass and aerial coverage; 2) marsh elevation, specifically local
accretion (relataive rise) and true rise; and 3) water quality,
specifically nutrient uptake, eutrophication potential, toxins and
pathogens

ACTION: The MC is requested to approve the SOS for Monitoring and
Evaluation of the Impacts of Stormwater Discharge to Coastal Wetlands,
Adjacent to the Pointe aux Chene Pumping Station, Terrebonne Parish
Louisiana

11:40     Working Lunch

A presentation, by Dr. Irv Mendelssohn, LSU, on the dying marsh issue
will be given during lunch.

III. DISCUSSION ITEMS

12:30pm A.     Non-Indigenous Species  Presentation
Marilyn Barret-O'Leary, LSU Sea Grant Office, will give presentation on
ballast water and state management plans.

          ACTION: No action required.

12:50pm B.     Environmental Stewardship Retreat
Brother Dominic Pujia, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, will give
presentation on 3 retreats that were given for high school students at
LUMCON.

          ACTION: No action required

1:00pm  C.     Delta Service Corp Member Update
Rachel Somers will give update on stormdrain marking project and the
coloring/activity book

          ACTION: No action required.

1:05pm  D.     Update on recent and upcoming Sponsored Events
Deborah Schultz will give update.

ACTION: No action required

1:10pm  F.       BTNEP Website Update
Matt Phillips will give update on website.

ACTION: No action required

1:15pm  G.     La Fete d'Ecologie Update
Sandra Kendrick will give update on festival planning progress.

IV.  NEW BUSINESS

V.   ADJOURN

For more information contact:  Sandra Kendrick  (800) 259-0869

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