Text Box: Course announcements:   FINAL EXAM—Dec. 20 at 11:30a in East Hall Auditorium.  
You can pick up graded ASSN 4 today  (WED DEC 19) at 223 Washburn Hall before 2p.

Home        Course Requirements         Schedule at a Glance

Course readings**

Date        Class description

Sept. 6          Setting the context

                                  Course overview

Environmental history in the United States

Ocean management history               

 

                                  Readings: none

 

Sept. 11         Introduction to ecosystem management and coastal management

                     What is coastal and ocean management?

 

Readings: Coastal Management, Chapter 1 (pp. 1-12)

Pew Oceans Report—America’s living oceans (Executive Summary ONLY, pp. v-xii):

<www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Protecting_ocean_life/env_pew_oceans_final_report.pdf>

 

 

Sept. 13/18   Overview of the Natural Environment

Coastal and ocean ecosystems

Biological properties

 

Readings: Coastal Management, Chapter 2 (pp. 13-46)

   Oceans, Atmosphere and the oceans pp. 64-65 (on reserve)

   Oceans, Biology of the oceans pp. 84-89 (on reserve)

 

Sept.  20       Human Connection to the Marine Environment

                                  Federal government and federal programs, laws

                                  Readings: Coastal Management, Chapters 4 and 5 (pp. 91-133)

U.S. Coastal Zone Management Act (Sections 302 and 303 only)

                                                                    <coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/czm/czm_act.html >

 

Description of legislative process (U.S. House of Representatives):

<www.house.gov/house/Tying_it_all.html>

 

NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management:

<www.nos.noaa.gov/programs/ocrm/welcome.html>

EPA’s National Estuary Program:

<www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/>

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Barrier Resources Act:

<www.fws.gov/cep/cbrfact.html>

                                                   NOAA’s Fisheries Service:

<www.nmfs.noaa.gov/what.htm>

 

 Sept. 25        Human Connection to the Marine Environment (cont’d)

                                  State and regional management

                                  Readings: Coastal Management, Chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 135-157; 173-174; 188-196)

                                                      History of RI laws:

<www.rilin.state.ri.us/lawrevision/lawsumry.htm>

   R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council:

<www.crmc.ri.gov/whatis/index.html>

   R.I. Dept. of Environmental Management:

<www.dem.ri.gov/topics/index.htm>

   Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Program--NOAA website on Stellwagen

Bank (Introduction):

<sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/faqs/welcome.html>

                                                  

 

Sept. 27        Human Connection to the Marine Environment (cont’d)

                                  Local government and public involvement

                                  Readings: Coastal Management, Chapter 8 (pp. 197-248)

                                                      South Kingstown town council:

<www.southkingstownri.com/code/towncouncil.cfm>

   Local organization--Save the Bay:

<www.savebay.org/about_stbhistory.asp>

                                                      Aquidneck Island Planning Commission:

<www.aquidneckplanning.org/background.html>

 

ASSIGNMENT #1 HANDED OUT

 

Oct. 2            Human Connection to the Marine Environment (cont’d)

 

 

Oct. 4            Conservation & Development

 

                      Case study: Block Island

For all case studies in this course, think about these questions: Who makes decisions? What is the history of the issue? What has been the outcome? How has the outcome been reached? Can we improve upon the outcome?

Readings:

The Providence Journal.  June 5, 2005. Lord, Peter. Saving Block Island.  Part one: Not for sale.

                 <www.projo.com/extra/2005/blockisland/content/day1.htm>

The Providence Journal.  June 6, 2005. Lord, Peter.  Saving Block Island.  Part two: Coming aboard.

                 <www.projo.com/extra/2005/blockisland/content/day2.htm>

The Providence Journal.  June 10, 2005. Lord, Peter. Saving Block Island.  Part six: All together now.

                                                                    <www.projo.com/extra/2005/blockisland/content/day6.htm>

The Nature Conservancy website (Private Lands Conservation).

<www.nature.org/aboutus/howwework/conservationmethods/privatelands/>

The Block Island Times.  Nov. 22, 2007 (May 23, 2007). Tarbox, Heidi.  Block Island Land Trust history.

<http://www.blockislandtimes.com/articles/2004/11/22/news/021.txt>

 

 

                      Case study: New London, CT

Readings:

The Associated Press. February 14, 2005. Apuzzo, Matt. Residents ask Supreme Court to block eminent domain in New London.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe/>

The Associated Press. February 23, 2005. Yost, Pete. High court takes up New London’s eminent domain case.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Associated Press. June 23, 2005. Yen, Hope. Supreme Court says cities can seize homes for private developers.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

 

ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE

ASSIGNMENT #2 HANDED OUT

 

 

Oct. 9                  Vessel Sewage Discharge                               

                                  Readings:

  Vessel Area requirements and regulations: Sewage Discharge Program:

<www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/>

                                                     No Discharge Zones—how they work:

<www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdarticle.html>

                                                     EPA New England: No Discharge

<www.epa.gov/region01/eco/nodiscrg/require.html>

 

 

                                  Case Study: No discharge zone in RI         

Readings:

The Providence Journal. July 30, 1996. Lord, Peter. Bay mantra: “Pump it, don’t dump it:”

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Providence Journal. April 7, 1998.  Lord, Peter. Tide turns on bid to ban discharge from boats:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

 

OUTLINE DUE ASSIGNMENT #2

 

Oct. 11          Oil and oil spills

Readings: NOAA State of the Coast Report--Managing spills (Introduction, National Picture,

   Contrasts, Case Studies):

<oceanservice.noaa.gov/websites/retiredsites/sotc_pdf/HMS.PDF>

   Clean Water Act:

                  <www.epa.gov/oilspill/cwaover.htm>

     Oil Pollution Act overview:

<www.epa.gov/oilspill/opaover.htm>

                                                     Oil Pollution Act text (Section 2702 Elements of Liability):

                                                                  <www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/33/2702.html>

 

 ASSIGNMENT #2 DUE

 

Oct. 16          Case study: North Cape Oil Spill in South Kingstown 1996

                                  Readings:

The Providence Journal. Jan. 21, 1996. Lord, Peter. Grounded barge leaks 700,000 gallons of heating oil:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Providence Journal. Jan. 22, 1996. Lord, Peter. Oil Spill devastation spreads:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Providence Journal. Jan. 28, 1996. Smith, Gregory. Salvaging the economy (Oil in the water):

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>             

The Providence Journal. Jan. 20, 1997. Abbott, Elizabeth.  One year later--spill produces flurry of new regulation (Oil in the water):

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Providence Journal. Aug. 7, 2006. Lord, Peter. A decade after spill, R.I. coast has healed.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

 

 

Oct. 18                                           MID-TERM EXAM

 

 

Oct. 23         Marine transportation

Readings:

1998 Year of the Ocean. The U.S. marine transportation system (pp. A1-A15):

<www.yoto98.noaa.gov/yoto/meeting/mar_trans_316.html>

U.S. Ports—Accepting the challenges of the 1990s. Coastlines publication:

<www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/coastlines/96winter.pdf>

Trade and Transportation: A Study of North American Port and Intermodal Systems:

<www.uschamber.com/NR/rdonlyres/eqhctra2ubms6lzvvxnhubfnaaspxwilbnk2x23uepwz55wc4jino66p64dkargku6baqqznmpgt722aklfndhubhzg/portstudy_toc_0304.pdf>

 

 

Oct. 25         Case study: Liquefied natural gas terminals

Readings:

What is LNG?  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC):

<www.ferc.gov/for-citizens/citizen-guides/lng.asp>

Project review process. FERC:

<www.ferc.gov/industries/lng/gen-info/rev-proc.asp>

 

About the Project. Weavers Cove Energy:

                 <www.weaverscove.com/proposal-about.html>

The Providence Journal. July 1, 2005. McKinney, Michael. LNG Controversy-‘We’ll continue this fight as long as we need to’

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Providence Journal. July 2, 2005. Barmann, Timothy. Many hurdles remain for Fall River LNG plans.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Providence Journal. May 11, 2007. Barmann, Timothy. Guarded pessimism—Coast Guard letter cites safety issues for LNG port.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Providence Journal. August 11, 2007. Kuffner, Alex. DEM rejects dredging permit for LNG facility.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

 

 

Oct. 30         Renewable energy sources

                 Alternative energy sources 

Readings:

                 National Renewable Energy Laboratory--What is renewable energy?:

                                  <www.nrel.gov/learning/re_basics.html>

                 EPA sources of renewable energy and environmental impacts:

<www.epa.gov/cleanrgy/renew.htm>

 

                 U.S. Dept of Energy--wind energy:

<www.nrel.gov/learning/re_wind.html>

<www.nrel.gov/wind/animation.html>

 

 

                 Case study: Proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound

Readings:

Cape Wind—Project at a glance:                       

<www.capewind.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=24&page=1>

 

The Boston Globe. November 8, 2004. Daley, Beth. Report sees few drawbacks on wind farm:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Boston Globe. December 7, 2004. Daley, Beth. Wind farm plan stirs passions:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Boston Globe. May 11, 2005. State board approves wind farm cables:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Boston Globe. April 7, 2007. Ebbert, Stephanie. Wind farm project dealt setback by U.S. agency:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

 

                                 ASSIGNMENT #3 HANDED OUT

 

Nov. 1           Coral reefs

                 Readings: NOAA’s State of the Coast Report--The extent and condition of U.S. coral reefs

   (Introduction, National Picture, Contrasts, Case Studies):

<oceanservice.noaa.gov/websites/retiredsites/sotc_pdf/CRF.PDF >

                                                       NOAA’s Coral Reef Information System--What are corals and coral reefs?

<www.coris.noaa.gov/about/what_are/>

 

 

Nov. 6           Case study: Wellwood reef restoration

                                  Readings:

Marine Sanctuaries Habitat Page--Coral reefs of the sanctuaries (Florida Keys section):

<sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/ecosystems/coral_fk.html>

Marine Sanctuaries Habitat Page—Natural and anthropogenic influences:

<sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/ecosystems/coralimpacts.html>

                                                   Wellwood coral reef restoration project

                                                   The Project:

<sanctuaries.noaa.gov/special/wellwood/project.html>

The Design:

<sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/special/wellwood/restoration.html>

 

OUTLINE DUE ASSIGNMENT #3

 

Nov. 8           Invasive species

Readings:

What is an invasive species?

<www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/whatis.shtml

National Invasive Species Act (1996):

<www.nemw.org/nisa_summary.htm>

National Management Plan Executive Summary:

<www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/council/execsumm.shtml>

 

Case Study: Invasives in Narragansett Bay

Readings:

The Providence Journal. Oct. 25, 1998. Sabar, Ariel.  A new menace: zebra mussels:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Boston Globe August 9, 2003. Haynes, Tim. Underwater invaders eyed:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Providence Journal. July 11, 2006.  McKinney, Michael. Phragmites a costly opponent at country club.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

                                                   The Providence Journal. July 20, 2006. Davis, Paul. Beetles do battle with invasive weed.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

 

ASSIGNMENT #3 DUE

 

 

Nov. 13         Ecosystem management

Readings:

                                  R. E. Grumbine. 1994.  Conservation Biology.  What is Ecosystem Management?

 

 

Nov. 15         Marine Protected Areas

Readings:

                   Coastal Management, p. 116

  Developing a national system of MPAs in the U.S.:

< http://mpa.gov/national_system/national_system.html>

  National Marine Sanctuary program:

<www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/about/faqs/welcome.html>

                                                  National Marine Sanctuary Act (Section 301 only):

<www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/library/National/NMSA.pdf>

 

Case study: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

                                 Readings:

  Stellwagen Bank (FAQs):

<stellwagen.nos.noaa.gov/about/faq.html >

                                                  Stellwagen Bank Advisory Council:

<stellwagen.nos.noaa.gov/management/sac/sachome.html>

  Public participation:

<seagrant.gso.uri.edu/scc/tools/participation_tips.pdf>

 

 

 

Nov. 20         Role Playing Exercise: Advisory Council

 

ASSIGNMENT #4 HANDED OUT

 

Nov. 27         Watersheds

Readings:

                   Coastal Management, pp.175-180

  EPA’s introduction to watersheds:

<www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/index2.html>

                                                     EPA Watershed approach:

<www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wa1.html>

  RI DEM Sustainable Watersheds Office:

                                                                   <www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/index.htm>

                                                      RI Rivers Council (Added 11-26-07):                                                             

                                                                    <www.ririvers.org/about.htm>

 

 

Nov. 29         RI Bays, Rivers, and Watershed Planning

Readings:

The Providence Journal. August 21, 2003. Greenwich Bay hit by huge fish kill:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

 

The Associated Press. October 22, 2003. Carcieri to form Narragansett Bay Commission:

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

The Governor’s Narragansett Bay and Watershed Planning Commission:

                 <www.ci.uri.edu/GovComm/Default.htm>

 

Rhode Island Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds Coordination Team. CHAPTER 46-31, Sections 1-5.

<www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE46/46-31/INDEX.HTM>

Timeline leading to creation of Coordination Team:

<www.ci.uri.edu/RIBayTeam/Docs/Timeline.gif>

                                                  

The Providence Journal. August 5, 2006. Carbone, Gerald. Bay bottom is starved for oxygen; fish can’t live.

<0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe>

 

ASSIGNMENT #4 DUE

 

 

Dec. 4          RI Bays, Rivers, and Watershed Planning (cont’d)

 

 Dec. 6          Course wrap-up

 

Dec. 20 Final Exam, 11:30am, East Hall Auditorium

 

**readings, assignments, and due dates subject to change