What's New: October 2012

NOS Post-Storm Operations Underway

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the National Ocean Service began a wide range of activities, to include aerial surveying, port surveys, and water level monitoring. This news story will be updated daily as new information becomes available for the duration of post-storm activities. More...

NOAA Marks 40th Anniversary of the Coastal Zone Management Act

October 27 marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), which began a new era in the U.S. and for NOAA by recognizing the importance of safeguarding our nation’s coasts, estuaries, and oceans. The act led to NOAA working with state partners to balance economic development and environmental conservation, and helps to ensure that future generations have access to our nation’s nearly 100,000 miles of shoreline. More...

Historic Shipwreck Discovered in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Seventy years after it was scuttled off Los Angeles, Calif., government archaeologists have found the wrecked remains of a rare Pacific Coast schooner in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. More...

NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program marks 40th anniversary

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, which manages a national network of marine protected areas, marks its 40th anniversary today. Established by Congress in 1972, the National Marine Sanctuary System preserves and protects the nation’s most vital coastal and marine natural and cultural resources. More...

New NOAA Manual Gives Coastal Managers Tips for Combating Invasive Lionfish

Scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and their partners have teamed up to create specific guidelines for coastal managers to control the spread of invasive lionfish. The new manual, Invasive Lionfish: A Guide to Control and Management, includes the best available science and practices for controlling lionfish in marine protected areas, national parks, and other conservation areas. By following suggestions in the publication, resource managers can develop effective local control plans. The guide is available for free online. More...

NOAA Brings New Centralized Disaster Planning, Response Expertise to Gulf Region

NOAA leaders joined members of Congress, as well as federal, state, and local emergency responders today at the grand opening of the Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center in Mobile, Ala. The new 15,200-square-foot facility will serve as a central coordination point for emergency managers and partners who rely on NOAA scientific support to make decisions to protect and restore the Gulf Coast’s communities, economies, and valuable natural resources. More...

Sanctuary Ocean Count Receives National Recognition

The Sanctuary Ocean Count, the signature outreach project for NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, was named the Take Pride in America Outstanding Federal Volunteer Program on Oct. 11 during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Take Pride in America® is a nationwide partnership program authorized by Congress to promote the appreciation and stewardship of our nation’s public lands. More...

Aerial map of Columbia River Estuary Operational Forecast System

New Systems Expand Real-Time Marine Observation Capabilities on Both Coasts

This month, the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) rolled out three new observational systems on the East and West coasts of the United States. Two new Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) locations are now online in California and Connecticut; and the Columbia River Estuary Operational Forecast System debuted—NOAA's first oceanographic operational forecast system on the West Coast. More...

Expanded Louisiana Coastal Zone Boundary Approved

The Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management recently approved a new inland boundary for the Louisiana Coastal Management Program after the state legislature revised the boundary based on the results of a two-year study. More...

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