Program Researcher

JHT is hiring a writer/researcher for a six-month project on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) to conduct research and write a report to assist Great Lakes state coastal managers in developing climate change adaptation plans for their states.

Introduction and Background

Under the National Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and 35 state and territorial partners implement comprehensive programs to:

• Protect natural resources;
• Manage development in high hazard areas;
• Maintain and improve coastal water quality;
• Provide public access for recreation;
• Redevelop urban waterfronts and ports, and preserve and restore historic, cultural, and aesthetic coastal features;
• Simplify and coordinate governmental decision-making actions; and
• Assure that the public and local governments participate in coastal decision-making.

NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) provides national leadership, strategic direction, and guidance to state and territory coastal programs.

The CZMP is authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (CZMA), which declares it national policy to “preserve, protect, develop, and, where possible, restore and enhance the resources of the Nation’s coastal zone for this and succeeding generations” The CMA addresses climate change through its finding that “because global warming may result in a substantial sea level rise with serious adverse effects in the coastal zone, coastal states must anticipate and plan for such an occurrence,” (16 U.S.C. 1451, et seq.). The CZMA calls for states to protect natural resources and manage coastal development to minimize the loss of life and property caused by improper development in hazardous areas as well as those areas likely to be affected by sea level rise and other impacts of climate change.

In response to requests from state Coastal Management Programs, OCRM developed “Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for State Coastal Managers,” designed to help state coastal managers develop and implement adaptation plans to reduce the risks associated with climate change impacts in their purview. A climate change adaptation plan identifies and assesses the impacts that are likely to affect the planning area, develops goals and actions to best minimize these impacts, and establishes a process to implement those actions. The ultimate goal is coastal communities that are organized to take action, have the tools to take action, and are taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The guide, currently completed in draft form, will be distributed to state coastal managers electronically and will be posted on OCRM’s web site.

Under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), OCRM received funding to customize climate change adaptation strategies within the Great Lakes community to enable informed adaptation decisions throughout the basin. The specific product under this agreement will be a Great Lakes-focused supplement to the report: “Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for State Coastal Managers.”

Objective

The objective of this Statement of Work is to, on behalf of NOAA/OCRM, tailor the existing guide specifically to Great Lakes coastal managers to help them develop climate change adaptation plans for their states.

Task Descriptions

• Review “Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for State Coastal Managers”

• Collect information as needed from eight Great Lakes coastal managers/staff about information and management needs

• Conduct literature review of value of Great Lakes coastal resources and projected climate change impacts in the Great Lakes basin using NOAA-acceptable resources

• Conduct literature review of adaptation measures to address impacts not already or adequately addressed in original guide

• Research relevant state and regional legislative, regulatory, planning, and other mechanisms for climate change adaptation and related activities

• Research Great Lakes-specific key resources

• Research and write up appropriate case studies from Great Lakes states, communities, and Canadian provinces

• Create a draft “Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for Great Lakes Coastal Managers” incorporating original text and resources, as appropriate, and based on format of “Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for Great Lakes Coastal Managers”

• Write and submit final guide

Timeline and Products

Timeline Activity
Month 1 Review “Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for State Coastal Managers”

Collect information as needed from eight Great Lakes coastal managers/staff about information and management needs

Research Great Lakes-specific key resources (ongoing through project)

Research and write up appropriate case studies from Great Lakes states, communities, and Canadian provinces (ongoing through project)

Months 2-3 Complete literature review of adaptation measures to address impacts not already or adequately addressed in original guide

Complete literature review of value of Great Lakes coastal resources and projected climate change impacts in the Great Lakes basin using NOAA-acceptable resources

Complete research of relevant state and regional legislative, regulatory, planning, and other mechanisms for climate change adaptation and related activities

Month 4 Create a draft “Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for Great Lakes Coastal Managers”

Distribute draft Guide for review and comment
Month 5 As needed, continue research of adaptation measures, impacts, case studies, etc. for final draft of Guide
Month 6 Review comments on Guide

Write and submit final Guide

Desired Knowledge and Experience

• Knowledge of climate science, especially related to the Great Lakes basin

• Knowledge of the Coastal Zone Management Program and other NOAA programs

• Demonstrated experience in research and technical writing

Skills and Abilities

• Analytic abilities and communication skills necessary to address complex issues, policy applications, and relationships that commonly occur in networked, State-Federal partnership programs;

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing, with an emphasis on the need to tailor material to a range of audiences

Oversight

The contractor will perform work under the direction of the OCRM Coastal Programs Division Great Lakes Regional Team Lead. The Great Lakes Regional Team Lead will assume overall responsibility for oversight of work performed under this agreement, and will meet with the contractor on a periodic basis to monitor performance and provide support. OCRM’s Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) will serve as point of contact for JHT for all administrative matters. The contractor does not need to work in the OCRM headquarters office in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Travel Requirements

The award will require some travel between contractor’s duty station and OCRM headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, to consult on progress (if contractor is not located in Silver Spring). There is a potential for limited travel within the Great Lakes region as well.

If you have any specific questions please contact Josh Lott at 301-563-1178 or josh.lott@noaa.gov.