Coastal Alabama

October 21, 2008 -- Point Clear Alabama.

Yesterday afternoon was the start of the Coastal States Organization Fall Meeting. It was a long stretch of annual budgets, dues discussions ($8174.00 for MN again in 2009), officer elections and so forth. We also got into a meaty discussion of the states' language for a proposed bill to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act. It was a line by line review of where the draft bill is now in preparation for a detailed discussion later in the week. I thought it was a worthwhile session and I was pleased to see that much of what I had suggested in September had been incorporated into the new version.

After we wrapped up the meetings for the day we were treated to a reception at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The staff and volunteers put on a very nice reception with some great food at their new education facility right on the water. For pictures of the reserve check out their photo albums here.

Today we hear from NOAA about a variety of topics, have some work group sessions and Break-out sessions. Then we get into the discussion of re-authorization again. No field trips even though the weather beg us to get outside. Does that seem right to you?