GOMESA Application Details

Internal Project Number: 1176
1. Title of Project: Phase II: Nature-based Tourism with Increased Management & Stewardship for Beach-nesting & Foraging Birds
2. Location of Project: Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties, MS
3. Requesting Organization: Audubon Delta
4a. Name: Caitlin Lill - Senior Program Manager
4b. Position
4c. Phone Number: 773-951-4900
4d. Fax Number
4e. Address Line 1: 5107 Arthur St.
4e. Address Line 2
4e. City, State Zip: Moss Point, MS 39563
4f. Email: caitlin.lill@audubon.org
5. FundingRequested: $526,879
Awarded Amount:: $0
6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources: No
7a. Amount of Additional Funds
7b. Source of Additional Funds
8. Total Project Funds Amount: $526,879
9. Project Description/Overview: We are pleased to submit Phase II of this project for consideration of additional GOMESA funding that would expand our program into Hancock and Jackson counties as well. The research and BMPs that we completed in Harrison County will easily transfer to all three coastal counties. We are requesting $526,879.09 over two years to increase our capacity to protect coastal birds species and their habitats and boost nature tourism through new educational and recreational opportunities for coastal communities and visitors. Phase II builds on our Phase I accomplishments with a focus on implementing many of the recommendations proposed in the three white papers. Phase II’s primary goals will be: 1) To continue enhanced bird monitoring and stewardship across all three coastal counties in accordance with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment Strategic Framework for Bird Restoration Activities and the Mississippi State Wildlife Action Plan; and 2) To increase public, private, and governmental support of and engagement in coastal conservation through new educational, recreational, and bird-based tourism opportunities. We propose a multifaceted approach of monitoring, stewardship, habitat restoration, research, strategic planning, public engagement, education, and local community partnerships to reach our conservation goals. Specific objectives, action plans, and budget components can be found in our long-form narrative. Some budget items are for general grant administration, including salary and fringe for program managers to supervise these projects, mileage and fuel for travel, and office and storage space; others are directly linked to specific objectives and are highlighted below.
10. Project Goals/Objectives: Goal 1: Continue enhanced bird monitoring and stewardship across all three coastal counties in accordance with the MDEQ's NRDA Strategic Framework for Bird Restoration Activities and the MS State Wildlife Action Plan. Objective 1: Expanded migration and winter stewardship at new locations. Objective 2: Enhance foraging habitat for wintering endangered and threatened shorebirds. Objective 3: Improve stewardship opportunities for coastal residents, beach visitors, and volunteers by investing in accessible infrastructure. Objective 4: Engage in next steps identified in our three Best Management Practices white papers by developing action plans to implement them through National Audubon Society's "Bird Friendly Communities" initiative. Goal 2: Increase public, private, and governmental engagement with coastal conservation through educational, recreational, and bird-based tourism opportunities. Objective 1: Revitalize the Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail to promote community access, involvement, and investment in local conservation efforts. Objective 2: Connect with local businesses and governments to build sustainable partnerships around nature-based tourism and conservation efforts. Objective 3: Pursue public outreach campaigns that center around Audubon Delta’s conservation work, especially around new housing and business developments on the coast. Objective 4: Continue the interpretive story trail, expanding into Hancock and Jackson Counties with local government support. Objective 5: Develop and install permanent exhibits on coastal stewardship at PRAC, interpreting Audubon Delta’s research and the needs of vulnerable bird species.
11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?

(A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses: Yes: This project will include many programs and activities for coastal conservation, including bird monitoring and research, enhanced stewardship of vulnerable species, and increased public engagement with conservation efforts in all three coastal counties. Audubon Delta will engage in expanded stewardship of wintering and migratory birds, and research foraging habitat for endangered and threatened shorebirds. We will also revitalize the Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail with help from the Coastal Mississippi tourism agency to promote bird-based tourism to conservation properties across all three coastal counties, continue the interpretive story trail, and install permanent conservation exhibits at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.

(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.: Yes: Goal 1, Objectives 1 and 2 will directly work to mitigate damage to vulnerable bird species that occurred during the 2020 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

(C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.: Yes: This project will contribute towards federal plans for the endangered and threatened populations of Piping Plovers.

(D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.

12. Project Timetable/Milestones: 1) January 2023: Project begins, kick-off meetings for individual objectives, particularly the MS Coastal Birding Trail. 2) Spring 2023: Hiring of Stewardship Assistant and Outreach & Volunteer Assistant, analysis of Piping Plover foraging grounds, survey of local bird watchers through MSU Social Science Research Center. 3) Summer 2023: ADA Accessible stewardship equipment purchases and pilot program, analysis of needed outreach campaigns during beach-nesting bird season, engage in partnership development with local businesses and government agencies. 4) Fall 2023: Hiring of consultants for interpretive signage, PRAC exhibit development, birding trail website development. 5) Winter 2024: Winter Stewardship, shorebird monitoring, BMP Action Plan kick-off, design coastal birding trail signage. 6) Spring 2024: Assess expansion of ADA offerings, finalize birding trail website design. 7) Summer 2024: Launch birding trail website, marketing of trail, continue assessing other outreach campaigns. 8) Fall 2024: PRAC exhibit installation, interpretive story trail installation, finalized BMP Action Plans, last analysis of shorebird monitoring. 9) Winter 2024: Project closeout, reporting to MDMR.
13. Project Timing: Short-term
14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):

15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?: This project significantly advances MDMR’s goals and objectives of protecting and conserving marine bird species for present and future generations. Our goal at Audubon Delta is to increase populations of vulnerable coastal bird species to sustainable numbers. Not only does this project take direct conservation action to research and protect endangered and threatened shorebirds, but it expands active stewardship for migratory and winter foraging species. As an example, analysis of the first season of winter stewardship data demonstrated that human activity, typically in the form of people walking the beach, were the most common source of disturbance to both roosting flocks and foraging shorebird flocks. Human disturbance was also the most common cause of birds departing a site during observation. However, it is unknown whether the present extent of disturbance results in long-term harm to bird health or survival. Continuation of this project is needed to collect additional years of data, and will be complementary to an upcoming project to use satellite telemetry to track Black Skimmer movements, site fidelity, breeding productivity, and survival. In addition, having an active steward at foraging grounds can help discourage human disturbance and increase public outreach opportunities to educate the community about giving birds the space they need to rest and recuperate. Community engagement is also critical to the success of conservation goals, especially as humans and birds co-exist in these coastal environments. We will engage in public education from a variety of approaches, including the revitalization of the Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail, working with businesses and local governments along the coast, continuing the interpretive story trail, and installing permanent exhibits at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center (PRAC). In these ways we will reach local bird watchers, tourists, beachgoers, schoolchildren on field trips to PRAC, and families across the coast. Educating the public will continue to create goodwill towards conservation issues, especially those faced by birds and the places they live, and will engage younger generations to carry forward conservation goals into adulthood. In summary, “Phase II – Enhanced Coastal Conservation of Beach-Nesting and Foraging Birds through Monitoring, Stewardship, Public Engagement, and Bird-Based Tourism” will significantly build on Audubon Delta’s progress from the Phase I GOMESA grant. If awarded the requested $526,879.09 in funding, we will be able to maintain our diverse portfolio of stewardship, research, and outreach to achieve our conservation goals and support a healthy coast for birds and people.

16. Estimated Years To Completion: 2
17. Estimated Completion Date: 12/31/2025

Budget:

Salaries,Wages, Fringe: $259,253
Travel: $19,000
Architecture & Engineering: $0
Legal: $0
Consulting: $80,000
Construction: $0
Site Work: $0
Equipment: $56,000
Indirects: $104,226
Other: $8,400
Total: $526,879


Application Submission Date: 07/01/2022
Fiscal Year: 2024
Project Status: Not Awarded
Application Status: Accepted
Meets Criteria: Yes
Internal Notes:
Attachments:
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