Archive for 'US Projects' Category

Abalone Advisory Group Project Update (Fall 2007-Spring 2010)

CONCUR partnered with the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) staff to support the work of the San Miguel Island Abalone Fishery Advisory Group (AAG) – a broad-based stakeholder group convened to develop management alternatives for a potential red abalone fishery at San Miguel Island. The Advisory Group, comprising commercial fishing, recreational diving, marine [...]

Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan Final Rule Amendment published

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published a final rule to amend the regulations implementing the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan (weblink). The final rule, whose measures become effective in March 2010, addresses the increased incidental mortality and serious injury of the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy stock of harbor porpoises in gillnet fisheries [...]

Peer-Reviewed Article on Marine Protected Areas Published in “Ocean & Coastal Management” Journal

CONCUR Principal Scott McCreary co-authored an article with Marine Life Protection Act Initiative colleagues entitled “Science-based and stakeholder-driven marine protected area network planning: A successful case study from north central California“, published in the current issue of Ocean & Coastal Management [53 (2010) 52-68]. Former CONCUR intern Kathryn Hoffman was a key co-author.
In [...]

Wingspread Foundation Water Funders Forum

CONCUR Principal Scott McCreary and Associate Rebecca Tuden teamed with conveners from The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread to facilitate a three-day workshop among 27 leading grant-making organizations involved in national and regional water resource efforts. The meeting was convened from January 13 – 15, 2010 at The Johnson Foundation in Racine, Wisconsin.   Participants in the [...]

Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) – BRTF Unanimously Adopts South Coast Region MPA Proposal

On November 12, 2009, the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) unanimously (5 – 0) adopted a preferred marine protected area (MPA) proposal for the south coast study region, which includes 27 state marine reserves (SMRs), 1 state marine park (SMP) and 16 state marine conservation areas (SMCAs); this recommended proposal is referred to as [...]

Strategic Planning for NSF EPSCoR Initiatives in South Dakota and Mississippi

CONCUR has been retained to support strategic planning for Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) projects funded by the National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) in both South Dakota and Mississippi. The RII projects in these two states are in the beginning phases and are intended to fund activities in eligible states to [...]

Marine Protected Areas on California’s North Central Coast

On August 5, 2009, the California Fish & Game Commission voted to place roughly 20 percent of the state’s north central coastal waters (or approximately 153 square miles) into 21 marine protected areas (MPAs) and 3 marine recreational management areas. The designated waters (map below) were identified through a CONCUR-facilitated multi-stakeholder process.

The designation – taking [...]

Alaskan Way Viaduct Project Featured in RAI Magazine (July 2009)

Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure, a monthly magazine focused on bridge and road engineering, featured the Alaskan Way Viaduct project in its July 2009 edition.

(click for PDF)
The cover feature provides a comprehensive overview of the project - from its years-long impasse to the January 2009 agreement that lays the groundwork for a new way forward.
The previous post [...]

California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative South Coast Study Region (2008 – present)

CONCUR is the lead facilitator for the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative’s Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) in its Southern California Study Region.  The MLPA provides that California will establish a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2011.  The MLPA pays particular attention to protecting representative examples of important habitats and ensuring that [...]

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (2008-present)

CONCUR is facilitating the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). CONCUR’s work focuses on (1) conducting initial stakeholder assessments, (2) convening both in-person and teleconference meetings among fishermen, conservationists, academics, researchers and various government agencies, and (3) summarizing emerging agreement. CONCUR’s work with NMFS on this effort [...]