To the Sea Grant Directors:
Although Sea Grant's FY 2010 budget appropriation was increased substantially over the FY 2009 level, much of the increase was designated for aquaculture and invasive species. Nevertheless there was an additional increase of just over $1M that gives us the opportunity to expand our programming in other areas as well. Based on input from the Sea Grant Advisory Board (attached – see p. 4), Sea Grant Association, Assembly of Sea Grant Extension Leaders, and Sea Grant experts in hazard resilience, climate change and sustainable communities, it seems clear that helping our coastal communities plan for and adapt to the many potential impacts of climate change is a worthy and challenging national goal for Sea Grant to take on. And as we work with NOAA to establish Sea Grant's role in support of the new NOAA Climate Service, moving ahead with climate adaptation will provide a strong demonstration of our capability to deliver highly useful service to our coastal stakeholders.
The attached document describes a $1M Coastal Communities Climate Adaptation Initiative (CCCAI) that will make funds available to each Sea Grant Program out of this year’s appropriation and in FY 2011 for the purpose of conducting rapid response, community-based, climate adaptation demonstration projects in each Sea Grant state. The projects’ primary objectives will be to provide the selected demonstration communities with sufficient information to consider alternatives, enable them to make better informed decisions, and ultimately develop and implement customized solutions to the hazards and climate change challenges which threaten their economic and social well-being.

Proposals for the FY 2010 funds are due May 1.

The initiative is intended to be flexible and allow diverse approaches to be tested, but there will be some common threads to these activities. A key to success will be identifying and engaging local experts as well as tapping regional and/or national expertise as needed to support these efforts. In that regard, collaboration with a variety of local, state and federal partners will be critical. These experts will form the basis of a national support network as we move forward with expanding the initiative. Continued engagement with the targeted communities will be important to help ensure success in implementing the recommendations that emerge. The suite of demonstration projects are to be completed in time for the results to be evaluated and discussed at Sea Grant Week. We can then focus our subsequent efforts on the types of activities shown to have the greatest benefit.
The CCCAI can be seen as a logical extension of the Sustainable Coastal Community Development (SCCD) program. The National Sea Grant Review Panel’s 2006 evaluation of the SCCD recognized its success and called for increased funding support, but the CCCAI represents the first significant enhancement of the program since it was initiated in 2001. The CCCAI funding will be carried in the funding allocation plan as an increase to the merit funding pool in FY 2010 and 2011, but in fact it represents a true national strategic investment. Accordingly, all Sea Grant Programs and Projects will be eligible to participate in the initiative, including those not currently receiving merit funds. If resources are available in 2012, the activities will transition from demonstration projects to become part of an expanded Sea Grant Climate Adaptation Program. The funding that was supporting the initiative will remain in the merit pool for reallocation.
I recognize this is coming to many of you without much notice, and that the timeline for both the proposal and the project are short, but we have an opportunity here to do something exciting and meaningful that should have a very positive impact for our constituents. Mike Liffmann will be responsible for the initiative within the national office and stands ready to address your questions or comments.
Regards,
Leon

Coastal Community Climate Adaptation Initiative - 3-3-10-2.docx

National Sea Grant Advisory Board Final Report Futures Committee.docx