Virginia Coastal Program: 2006 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
1.04
Grantee:
Virginia Marine Resources Commission - Habitat Management
Project Title:
Submerged Lands Management Conference Support
Project Description as Proposed:
The International Submerged Lands Management (ISLM) Conference will be held in Williamsburg, Virginia on October 28 through November 2, 2007. The Conference spotlights the issues surrounding the administration of submerged lands and adjacent uplands. Conference sessions will focus on the opportunities, successes, and challenges facing managers of submerged lands and resources. The conference is targeted at state and provincial managers and other specialists who deal with issues pertaining to the administration of submerged lands and adjacent uplands. Objectives of the conference are to:
• Increase awareness of the management issues surrounding submerged lands.
• Provide a continuing forum to discuss and exchange information about those issues and, in the process, uncover possible alternatives and solutions to conflicting uses.
• Through panel discussions, papers, and workshops, disseminate information about current statutes, regulations, and other management frameworks of continuing value to managers and conference participants.
• Improve and encourage communications between submerged lands managers. Facilitate information and ideas exchange among participating states, provinces, and nations, as well as groups with similar interests.
• Identify and maintain a current contact list of submerged lands managers from participating states, provinces, territories, and nations.
This project will provide conference support in the form of contractual facilitation services. A contractor will be retained to provide accurate recording of conference discussions and to develop a series of text pages reflecting the high points, common themes, and case studies discussed during each conference session. The contractor will circulate draft text pages to a steering committee for approval and post a final copy of the text to the ISLM conference website with appropriate links.
Federal Funding:
$5,000.00
Project Contact:
Tony Watkinson - Tony.Watkinson@mrc.virginia.gov - Tony.Watkinson@mrc.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Project Completed
Final Product Received:
Conference Summary (PDF)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The 26th International Submerged Lands Management Conference (ISLMC) was held in Williamsburg, Virginia from October 28 - November 2, 2007, at the Colonial Williamsburg Woodlands Conference Center. The conference was hosted by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission with assistance and support from others including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science-Sea Grant Program, the Virginia Coastal Program, NOAA Coastal Services Center, Minerals Management Service and The Nature Conservancy. Financial support provided by a Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, was used to contract services for a facilitator to produce conference notes for each presentation during the various conference sessions and to facilitate a session devoted to development of a website for submerged lands manager.
The conference session notes are available on the conference web site at: http://www.submergedlands2007.com/presentations.htm
The annual ISLMC has been an ad-hoc effort organized by numerous federal, state and international submerged land managers for the past 26 years. Each annual conference has been hosted by a volunteer organization, usually a state or provincial government agency, responsible for management of publically owned submerged lands.
The purpose of the annual ISLMC is to spotlight the issues surrounding the administration of submerged lands and adjacent uplands. Conference sessions focused on the opportunities, successes, and challenges facing managers of submerged lands and resources. Attendees met with land and resource managers from other states and countries, in order to share their experiences and gain new perspective.
The objectives of the ISLMC are to:
- Increase awareness of the management issues surrounding submerged lands within the United States, the Provinces of Canada, and the Caribbean basin.
- Provide a continuing forum to discuss and exchange information about those issues and, in the process, uncover possible alternatives and solutions to conflicting uses.
- Through panel discussions, papers, and workshops, disseminate information about current statutes, regulations, and other management frameworks of continuing value to managers and conference participants.
- Improve and encourage communications between submerged lands managers. Facilitate information and ideas exchange among participating states, provinces, and nations, as well as groups with similar interests.
- Identify and maintain a current contact list of submerged lands managers from participating states, provinces, territories, and nations.
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
