Moving Forward on Gulf Hypoxia Tho Witcrahcd Academy Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Eastern: l:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Central: 12:00p.m.- 2:00p.m. Two-hour audio Web broadcast Mountain: ll:00a.m.-l:00p.m. Pacific: 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m. A Watershed Academy Webcast In 2008, the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico was the second largest on record - bigger than the State of Massachusetts, and the second largest in the world, after the Baltic Sea. This oxygen-depleted water, referred to as the hypoxic zone, is largely caused by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution mainly from the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River Basins. In 1997, a partnership of federal, state, and tribal agencies established the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force to understand the causes and effects of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and to coordinate activities to help reduce the hypoxic zone. The Task Force developed a 2001 Action Plan for Reducing, Mitigating, and Controlling Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. In spring 2008, they completed a reassessment of the science, and in June released an updated 2008 Action Plan. Join us for this Webcast to learn more about the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico, improvements in the 2008 Action Plan, and how EPA and other federal agencies and state agencies are implementing actions to reduce nutrient pollution and improve water quality in the Mississippi River Basin. Instructors: Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water, USEPA Mr. Grumbles is the Assistant Administrator for Water at the U.S. EPA as well as the Chair of the Mississippi River/ Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force. Prior to coming to EPA, Mr. Grumbles was Deputy Chief of Staff and Environmental Counsel for the Committee on Science in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served for over 15 years in various capacities on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including Senior Counsel for the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. Nancy Rabalais, Executive Director and Professor, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Dr. Rabalais has conducted research on hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico for the past 25 years and received several research and environmental awards for her work on Gulf hypoxia. Dr. Rabalais first identified and mapped the Gulf hypoxic zone in 1985. She is an author of 3 books, 26 book chapters, and over 80 peer-reviewed publications. Her research interests cover a wide range of coastal and estuarine topics. Darrell Brown, Associate Director, USEPA's Oceans & Coastal Protection Division Mr. Brown is the leader of EPA's Gulf Hypoxia Team, responsible for coordinating EPA's efforts to reduce the hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In addition, his division is responsible for overseeing a broad range of coastal programs, including the National Estuary Program for habitat restoration, coastal research and monitoring, aquatic nuisance species, and impacts of growth on estuarine water quality and the Marine Pollution Program, including marine and vessel discharge, marine debris, and ocean dumping and dredged material management. m^f John Kessler, Assistant Chief, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Mr. Kessler spent 12 years with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in the Division of Surface Water before moving to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, where he has spent the past four years. His work at DNR deals with the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force and the Ohio River Basin Steering Committee. The Watershed Academy The Watershed Academy is a focal point in EPA's Office of Water for providing training and information on implementing watershed approaches. The Academy sponsors live classroom training and online distance learning modules through the Watershed Academy Web at www.epa. gov/watertrain. For more information, visit www.epa. gov/watershedacademy. Registration You must register in advance to attend this Webcast. Register at the Watershed Academy Webcast Web site at www.epa. gov/watershedwebcasts Note: The Watershed Academy is using a NEW Webcast vendor, and your computer must have the capability of playing sound in order to attend this Webcast. To view archived Webcasts, go to www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/webcasts/archives.html Questions? Please contact Adrianna Berk at adrianna.berkfgjtetratech.com or 703-385-6000. The materials in this Webcast have been reviewed by EPA staff for technical accuracy. However, the views of the speakers and the speakers organizations are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of EPA. Mention of commercial enterprises, products, or publications does not mean that EPA endorses them. ------- |