Welcome MACOORA Annual Meeting October 22-23, 2008 Fall River, Massachusetts Carolyn Thoroughgood

FY2007 Regional Integrated Ocean Observing System Development Letters of Intent (LOIs) due January 31, Top LOIs were recommend to go forward. Full Proposals due April 17, “NOAA views this announcement as an opportunity to demonstrate the regional observing system concept.” Three Focus Areas 1.Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (RCOOS) development $500,000 to $2,000,000 per year for up to 3 years. On March 28, 2007, years 2 & 3 were increased to $3,500,000 per year. 2.IOOS application and product development for regional stakeholders. $100,000 to $500,000 per year for up to 3 years. 3.Data management and communication by local data network nodes. $100,000 to $300,000 per year for up to 3 years. U.S. IOOS Regional Associations

MACOORA Highlights: Participated in 3 NOAA IOOS Funding Competitions 1)MACOORA was successfully renewed as 1 of 11 IOOS RAs for another 3 years 2)MACOORA had a winning proposal in all three Focal Points of FY2007 RCOOS Competition a) Established Mid-Atlantic Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARCOOS) b) Established the Chesapeake Inundation Prediction System (CIPS) as a New Product Pilot c) Initiated development of a bridge between IOOS data and GIS as a Data Management Initiative 3) MACOORA produced several high ranked proposals for the FY2008 RCOOS Competition.

MACOORA Highlights: Demonstrated the Regional Concept by Linking Federal, State, Academic and Industry Observing Systems Maritime Safety - Search And Rescue Surface current mapping network and statistical forecast models integrated into the Coast Guards operational tools. Mid-Atlantic demonstration is being scaled up to the national level. An industry weather network (over 100 stations) added to the national data servers, and High resolution weather forecasts are being coordinated between NWS and academic offices Ecosystem Decision Support - Fisheries Refined our regional satellite sea surface temperature products, Conducted the first regional underwater glider surveys, Coordinated with NOAA fisheries cruises, Provided modelers a data-assimilation test case, and Tested new products with recreational fishers.

MACOORA Highlights: Successfully Sought and Continue to Seek Additional Funding Outside of NOAA IOOS Calls 1)DHS Center of Excellence for Port Security Established at Stevens Institute of Technology. 2)NOAA National HF Radar Network organizational meeting summer 2008 – in future draft budgets. 3)Pilot Study Region for National Water Quality Monitoring Network – Delaware Bay 4)Coordination with NSF Ocean Observing Initiative – Pioneer Array in the Mid-Atlantic Cyber Infrastructure Team chose MACOORA as first user testbed 5) MACOORA, NERA & NOAA Fisheries implementing Ecosystem Based Management of the Northeast Large Marine Ecosystem