Florida and Alaska local governments
win NOAA awards

Mike Navarre, Kenai Peninsula Borough (Alaska) mayor, and Charles Hunsicker, Manatee County (Fla.) ecosystems administrator (r), display their excellence awards with NOAA Administrator James Baker. Photo by Abigail Friedman

Volusia and Manatee counties in Florida and Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska recently received awards for "Excellence in Local Government" from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Rep. Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-N.C.) and D. James Baker, undersecretary of commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA administrator, presented the awards to 17 winners at a ceremony Oct. 22 on Capitol Hill. NOAA uses the awards, in part, to raise awareness of issues threatening coastal areas, such as habitat loss, coastal hazards, loss of public access, waterfront decay and run-off pollution.

Volusia County Council Chair Pat Patterson and County Manager Larry Arrington accepted an Excellence in Local Government award, which recognized the county's leadership in protecting the Indian River Lagoon. The county also recently received an Outstanding Innovation Award from the Florida Planning and Zoning Association for its habitat conservation plan.

"We've been blessed with wonderful natural resources," said Patterson. "It's our job to do everything we can to preserve and enhance Volusia's environment. We're honored to be chosen for these awards. There are many people who rightly deserve to be proud."

The Manatee County Planning Department received an award for the Emerson Point Restoration and Conservation Project. The county is restoring mangrove wetlands and preserving Native American artifacts to create a new park on Tampa Bay.

In accepting the award, Manatee County Ecosystems Administrator Charles Hunsicker praised the efforts of project volunteers. "The recognition should also go to the many volunteers who are working to improve the park and protect its natural resources and cultural history. We have such few opportunities in Southwest Florida for restoration work. I am hopeful that NOAA recognition and future partnerships will help others learn about our efforts in Manatee County."

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre accepted the award recognizing the borough's leadership in working with federal and state governments to create the Kenai River Center. The center streamlines the permitting process, provides funding for river protection and restoration projects, and provides a clearinghouse for information about the river.

NOAA's awards program honors excellence in unique coastal and ocean resource management programs, as well as in public and private endeavors to conserve the Nation's coasts. For 1997, NOAA received more than 100 nominations in ten award categories. Several of the awards are named for the late Rep. Walter B. Jones, former chairman of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, who provided leadership on legislation addressing coastal and ocean issues, including the 1972 Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA).

The CZMA created the National Coastal Zone Management Program, a voluntary partnership of federal and state governments, to provide a balance between land and water uses in coastal zones and conservation of fragile coastal resources.

The CZMA also created the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, a national system of estuarine reserves that represent coastal and estuarine habitats and provide long-term research and education to improve coastal management decision making.

NOAA's Excellence in Local Government Award recognizes local governments' efforts to stem coastal threats and highlights their critical role in managing the nation's coastal heritage.

To learn more about the award winners, check NOAA's homepage at <www.nos.noaa.gov/ocrm/>. For more information about the awards program, contact Vickie Allin, NOAA: 301/713-3086.

Introducing NOAA ...
Then National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducts research and gathers data about the global oceans, atmosphere, space, and sun, and applies this knowledge to science and service for the Nation. A Commerce Department agency, NOAA provides services through five major organizations: the National Weather Service, the National Ocean Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, and Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; and numerous special program units. In addition, NOAA research and operational activities are supported by the Nation's seventh uniformed service, the NOAA Corps, a commissioned officer corps of men and women who operated NOAA ships and aircraft, and serve in scientific and administrative posts.

For further information contact NOAA Office of Public Affairs by calling 202/482-6090 or visit NOAA's Web page at <www.noaa.gov>.