New York Sea Grant is launching a network to help local governments across the state's Great Lakes region respond to flooding, shoreline changes and water-resource challenges.
The program, called SHORE, will begin with daylong regional events Oct. 20 in Oswego, Oct. 27 in Hamburg and Nov. 4 in Greece. Registration is open to municipal and county officials, staff and board members who work on coastal issues.
SHORE stands for Supporting Hubs for Outreach and Resilience Exchange. The network is designed to connect municipalities with other communities, agencies, technical experts and existing resources instead of requiring local leaders to develop responses independently each time a coastal problem emerges.
New York Sea Grant Coastal Community Development Specialist Mary Austerman said the program will give communities a way to draw on experience and expertise already available across the region. The organizers said those connections are intended to continue after the launch events.
Expected participants include code enforcement, planning, emergency management, highway and public works personnel, along with municipal officials, board members and county staff. The events are aimed at people involved in local decisions about infrastructure, land use, public safety and shoreline management.
Each launch program will introduce SHORE and examine how local governments can work with agencies and resource providers on complex coastal issues. Speakers will also discuss state and regional initiatives and emerging concerns affecting Great Lakes municipalities.
Short “Lightning Talks” will allow participating communities and partner organizations to share projects, successes, lessons, new approaches and ongoing challenges. Facilitated discussions will then give attendees time to exchange experiences and resources and make contacts for future work.
Event locations, registration costs and other details are available at nyseagrant.org/shorelaunch. Lunch is included in the registration fee, and people seeking assistance can call New York Sea Grant at 315-312-3042.
New York Sea Grant said the network is supported in part by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and is being developed in partnership with the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Great Lakes Program.
The Sea Grant program is a partnership of Cornell University and the State University of New York. It provides research, education and extension services focused on coastal communities, environmental sustainability and public understanding of New York's Great Lakes and marine resources.
New York Sea Grant is one of 34 university-based programs in the National Sea Grant College Program, which is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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