10-1-03
PENNSYLVANIA SEA GRANT
RECEIVES $446,000 IN GRANT PROJECT AWARDS
Pennsylvania Sea Grant at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will use two new grant awards to continue its efforts to improve and protect the environmental resources found in Pennsylvania's Lake Erie and Delaware estuary coastal areas. The organization recently received a $200,000 grant from the Coastal Zone Management Program, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and a $246,056 Growing Greener grant funded by the commonwealth through the Department of Environmental Protection.
The Coastal Zone Management grant supports the addition of two staff positions at Pennsylvania Sea Grant, one to support land-use programming and outreach activities in both Lake Erie and Delaware estuary watersheds, and another to focus on matters relating to invasive species management, coastal watershed management, marine managed areas, and coastal non-point pollution. Pennsylvania Sea Grant officials recently announced the appointment of David Skellie as coastal land use and economic specialist, and they expect to fill the second position later this year.
The Growing Greener grant will be used to establish a Non-Point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) program in the Lake Erie watershed. NEMO is a non-regulatory, research-based educational program that has achieved national recognition for its non-point source pollution education. The program uses cutting-edge satellite data and GIS technology to show municipal officials how their present and future land use decisions can affect water quality.
"For example, in the Lake Erie watershed the Walnut Creek, Mill Creek, and Fourmile Creek watersheds are being heavily impacted by urban growth," said Eric Obert, extension director with Pennsylvania Sea Grant. "Municipalities in these watersheds would be targeted for initial NEMO program opportunities."
Pennsylvania Sea Grant's NEMO program will partner with Penn State's Cooperative Extension Program and other organizations in order to expand the program's impact to other parts of the state.
To learn more about Pennsylvania Sea Grant and its programs, go to www.pserie.psu.edu/seagrant/seagindex.htm.
Contact:
Loretta Brandon
814-898-6063 (O)
E-mail: lzb6@psu.edu