NOAA Team Visits Sapelo
On Tuesday, August 21, 2017, FOS hosted a dinner for members of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) evaluation team on the grounds at the Sapelo Visitor’s Center. The dinner was followed by an open meeting, which the public was invited to participate and share their comments about the reserve.
NOAA conducts periodic evaluations of state programs participating in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. In addition the Coastal Zone Management Act requires a periodic review of all federally approved estuarine reserves. The evaluation assess the operation and management of the reserve as well as how the reserve is addressing issues identified in the reserve’s management plan, NOAA regulations governing the reserve system and the terms of federal financial assistance awards. This year’s the team was particularly interested in the areas of:
- Program Administration
- Coastal Resilience
- Community Engagement
A report of the evaluation findings will be made available in early 2019. A copy of the last report can be found at www.coast.noaa.gov/czm/evaluation_finding/index.html.