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ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SPRING 2005 MEETING

April 28-30, 2005
Eastham, Massachusetts

HOSTED BY

Coastal Resource Specialists
Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary
Marine Biological Laboratory

CALL FOR PAPERS & PRE-REGISTRATION

MEETING SITE:

Once again, Cape Cod beckons NEERS to gather for the Spring ’05 meeting. Although spring is often considered a state of mind and not a season on the Cape, we hope that the program will lift the spirits of those dampened by the normally miserable weather and who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky in late April and have a glorious sunny few days. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking!

The meeting will be held at the Captain’s Quarters Motel and Conference Center, Route 6, Eastham, MA on April 28-30, 2005, hosted jointly by Coastal Resource Specialists, Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary and the Marine Biological Laboratory. The Captain’s Quarters has given us a terrific room rate of $55.00/night. The center is located about 2 miles from Nauset Light Beach, one mile from the Mass. Audubon Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, 5 miles from Fort Hill, where we had our lunch field trip when last NEERS visited the Cape and lest we forget, about 15 miles from Provincetown. Speaking of which, April is prime time to see the highly endangered Northern Right Whales in Cape waters so book a whale watching trip while you’re in the area.

SPECIAL THURSDAY SYMPOSIUM: “Water to Water: Watersheds and the Estuaries They Affect”

On April 28, we are planning a full-day symposium on Watersheds beginning at 9:30 AM, aimed at synthesizing information relative to eutrophication and wastewater issues. This issue is probably the most important environmental issue on Cape Cod – all towns are in some phase of dealing with the problems of development and how it affects their embayments. In this regard, Cape Cod is a microcosm of what is happening throughout all of New England.

The vision for this one-day symposium is to present papers that synthesize work that has been on-going to show:
The concept of watersheds – groundwater and riverine contributions, inputs, and influence. What are watersheds and why are they important to estuaries?

• What it was that made watershed and wastewater questions percolate to the top of the heap to be answered,
• The research, including advances and building blocks
  
• The results and, most importantly,
• A view to where we are headed or could be headed.

Depending on the response from this initial request, another part of the vision is more lengthy talks – mostly 30 minutes, with at least 15 minutes after a group of speakers for questions and comments. We expect the symposium to begin at 9:30 a.m., so travelers from the far corners of our region may want to arrive on Wednesday evening to participate in the full symposium.

Controversial topics such as dredging for water quality improvement would be welcome and should include the pros and cons of such action or the advances in tidal flushing analyses and how they might relate to decision making. Other topics might be: tools communities can use in developing solutions to problems such as alternative septic systems or harnessing the natural power of shellfish pumping rates, or how toxics travel through the watershed to affect the estuaries. We are anticipating participation in this symposium from throughout New England and maybe even beyond and encourage folks to contact (508-255-5618) for more details.

CONTRIBUTED ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

On Friday, April 29th, the regular NEERS contributed papers session will be followed by the business meeting and banquet. A dedicated poster session will be held Friday afternoon. Contributed papers will continue Saturday morning, April 30th. Saturday morning will also feature a Mini-symposium on Salt Marsh Restoration, organized by Robert Buchsbaum and Bruce Carlisle. The intention is to begin with papers that describe some of the results of long term projects, then discuss where we are with monitoring projects, describe design and regulatory issues, and end with a discussion of where we should be heading in the future. There will be a field trip in the afternoon to visit a number of the Cape Cod salt marsh restoration sites. Please contact or if you are interested in presenting during this symposium.

CALL FOR PAPERS:

Abstract submissions for contributed oral and poster presentations are invited on any subject related to estuaries or coastal environments. Reports of work in progress as well as work in advanced stages and reviews of relevant topics are encouraged. Abstracts must be submitted through the NEERS web site by FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH (details below).

If you would like to submit an idea for the Thursday symposium, contact by February 25 – the earlier the better (508-255-5618). Many of the papers will be invited but there may be a few slots for contributed papers as well. This earlier deadline will give Sandy time before abstracts are due for the general program and will give potential presenters time to submit abstracts for the general program in case the symposium slots are filled.

All presenters must be or become a NEERS member, so give our new NEERS treasurer Steve Hale a break and be sure your dues are up to date! Information on becoming a member is included on the pre-registration form, or contact (401-782-3048).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING ABSTRACTS:

Abstracts must be submitted using the NEERS web site. Details for submitting abstracts are on the abstract submission form but basic requirements are summarized here. All abstracts have a 1750-character limit (about 250 words) including spaces. The character limit applies to the body of the abstract only, the author and title lists are excluded from the limit. Web submissions are constrained automatically to the allotted amount of text. Even if you would prefer an oral presentation, please consider checking the “oral preferred but poster okay” option if you are willing to present a poster instead. This makes things easier in making up the final program. Please indicate on the web submission form if you are submitting your abstract for presentation in the Watersheds Symposium (Thursday), General Session (Friday-Saturday morning), or Salt marsh restoration mini-symposium (Saturday morning). Author(s), address(es), and presentation title must appear in the proper format. Use footnotes to minimize the space for addresses when multiple authors are from more than one institution. Include name, e-mail address, and telephone number of presenting author. All words in the title should be CAPITALIZED. All submissions will be confirmed (although this is not automatic) and the lead author will be notified of his/her scheduled time. Contact NEERS Program Chair (207-622-8205 ext. 119) with any questions.

SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS:

Oral presentations will be limited to 15 minutes with an additional 5 minutes for discussion. Poster presentations will be on display for the duration of the meeting, and highlighted during a special poster session. Students can compete for the Ketchum and the Rankin Prizes for oral presentations or the Dean and Warren Prizes for posters (see below).

POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS:

To avoid PowerPoint presentation delays at the NEERS meeting, we will load all PowerPoint presentations onto an IBM-compatible laptop well before each session. Please bring your PowerPoint presentation on an IBM-compatible CD (NOT a zip or flash disk) to the projection desk at the NEERS meeting. We will load your presentations the evening before your talk. Please make sure your disk can be read by another computer before you hand it in.

STUDENT PRIZES:

Prizes will be awarded to students chosen by the judging panel in the following categories: graduate student oral presentation (Bostwick (Buck) Ketchum Prize, $100), undergraduate student oral presentations (John (Stubby) Rankin, $100), graduate student poster presentation (David Dean Prize, $100) and undergraduate student poster presentation (Scott Warren Prize, $100). Papers and posters are judged by a committee in terms of overall effectiveness, scientific content, and quality of the presentation. Students are encouraged to review the scoring criteria posted on the NEERS web site. Students who have won an award are not eligible for that award again. NEERS appreciates contributions towards the endowment fund for these prizes, so give generously when you pre-register. Free Banquet tickets are provided for students who are competing for the awards.

STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS:

Three $100 travel-awards will be awarded by NEERS and two awards covering full travel costs will be awarded by WHOI Sea Grant to help defray costs associated with attending this meeting. Graduate and undergraduate students who are giving presentations at this meeting may apply. Selection for all awards will be made by lottery and does not affect your student presentation prize eligibility. To apply for a travel award, send an email with your abstract attached to NEERS treasurer by MARCH 11. Provide your name, address, college or university, email, and telephone number. In addition, please have your faculty advisor send Steve an email certifying that you are a student in good standing and you would benefit from financial assistance. All applicants will be entered into the drawing for the WHOI Sea Grant travel awards; all but the two WHOI winners will be entered in the drawing for the NEERS travel awards. Recipients of the WHOI Sea Grant awards will be reimbursed for travel expenses and therefore must save all receipts. Details on how to submit receipts will be sent to the two individuals selected for these awards. As always, NEERS greatly appreciates donations to the William (Bill) Niering Student Travel Endowment fund.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

The meeting will be held at the Captain’s Quarters, Route 6, Box 1896 North Eastham, MA 02651. Room rates are $55.00/night. This is a fantastic rate and it includes a continental breakfast that will be available as the morning break too. Make your reservation directly with the hotel. We will probably be alone at the facility but identify yourself as a NEERS member for the room rate.
800-327-7769 or check their web site at www.captains-quarters.com
Directions: Pretty simple. Get yourself over one of the bridges at the Cape Cod Canal and follow Route 6 East. At the Orleans/Eastham rotary (Exit 13), go 1/2 way around (2nd exit) and follow Route 6 toward Eastham and Provincetown. Go about 7 mi. +/-. Captain’s Quarters is located after a traffic light at Brakett Road, after Willy’s Gym, a golf driving range, and Jimmy D’s restaurant, all on the right. Captain’s Quarters is also on the right. If you get to another traffic light, you’ve gone too far.

WELCOMING SOCIAL:

The Welcoming Social will be held Thursday, April 28, 2005 from 7-10 at the Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary of Mass Audubon. Dinner will be on your own. A list of restaurants in the area will be available at the hotel registration desk and at the social. Audubon is located about 1 mile past Captains Quarters on the left. Go past the Wellfleet Drive-in and look for signs on the left for the turn into the sanctuary driveway.

AWARDS BANQUET:

By popular demand, the awards banquet on Friday evening will be a clam bake – what could be more in keeping with Cape Cod? The Ketchum, Rankin, Dean and Warren Prizes will be awarded at this time and all candidates for these awards will receive a free banquet ticket. A social will be held at the Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary before the banquet. For those preferring something other than lobster, sirloin steak or vegetarian fare will be available. Cost of the banquet is $28.00.

OTHER MEALS, ENTERTAINMENT:

Lunch on Thursday and Friday is included in the registration fee. An optional box lunch is available on Saturday for $10.00. Lunches for guests may be ordered each day as well.

Dinner will be on your own on Thursday. A list of restaurants that will be open in late April will be available.

Entertainment information will be provided later or may be a surprise. Be assured, organizers know the traditions!

SPECIAL AWARD:

We are all delighted to announce that Ivan Valiella will be awarded the NEERS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD in recognition for his significant contributions over many years to estuarine science and education. Ivan will be accepting the award and will be giving a paper at the Thursday symposium and we hope he will also say a few words at the banquet.

FIELD TRIPS:

We are currently determining the extent of field trip opportunities but Robert Buchsbaum and Bob Prescott, Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary Director have both graciously accepted to lead a guided walk at the Sanctuary (see “Things to Do”, below, for description of the sanctuary). As part of the mini-symposium on Saturday, the organizing committee is sponsoring site visits to several restored sites and ones scheduled for restoration. As above, please contact Robert Buchsbaum for greater detail.

REGISTRATION:

Pre-registration for members is $65.00 and includes the Thursday symposium. Student pre-registration is only $35. The pre-registration rate for non-members is $85.00. The pre-registration deadline is APRIL 13TH. Pre-registration for the Thursday Watersheds Symposium only is $35.00. You can pre-register on the web at (www.neers.org, click on “meetings” and “Spring 2005”) and follow that with a check made out to “NEERS” and mailed to NEERS Treasurer Steve Hale at the given address. On-site registration including the Thursday symposium is $85.00 for members, $45.00 for students, and $105.00 for non-members. On-site registration for the Thursday Watershed Symposium only is $55.00. The NEERS registration desk will be open on Thursday, April 28, from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m., 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., and 5:00-7:00 p.m. The registration desk will re-open Friday, April 29, from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. NEERS members are reminded that NEERS is no longer routinely mailing paper copies of meeting announcements (like this one). Be among the first to know NEERS news by signing up for the NEERS listserve on the web site.

THINGS TO DO:

Unfortunately for Veronica, the outside pool will be under repair at the time but Nauset Light Beach is only 2 miles away and Cape Cod Bay is about 1.5 – surely she and any other spring swimmers can find some water! For those who prefer dry feet in late April, the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a bike trail that goes from the Marconi site of the Cape Cod National Seashore in Wellfleet, to Dennis, over 20 miles, is located at the rear of the property. It’s pretty flat terrain and a wonderful place to ride a bike or walk.

The Captain’s Quarters is only a mile from the Wellfleet Bay Audubon Sanctuary, the site of the NEERS Welcoming Social on Thursday evening and a post meeting field trip. Take extra time to enjoy Wellfleet Bay's 1,100 acres of salt marsh, sandy beach, pine woodland, freshwater pond, and rare heathland that attract a wide array of wildlife, especially songbirds and shorebirds. Discover the true nature of Cape Cod as you amble along the five miles of trails that traverse these habitats. The scenic trails are complemented by the Nature Center's green architecture, friendly volunteers, and a beautiful butterfly and hummingbird garden. Nature Center: hours (Columbus Day to Memorial Day) Tuesday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trails: Open every day, 8 a.m. to dusk.

The NEERS meeting is in the heart of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Don’t forget to take a short detour to the right at Fort Hill as you drive to the conference center. Located about 2 miles from the Orleans/Eastham rotary on Route 6, Fort Hill never ceases to inspire and after a long trip getting this far, seeing the magnificence of estuary, marsh, dunes and ocean beyond is food for the soul of estuarine scientists.

If you’ve never been to Wellfleet before, take some time to visit this quintessential Cape town. Much of the town will not have completely awakened from winter slumber and you get a chance to see the Cape in its natural beauty before the hordes arrive. The Marconi site, located about 2 miles form the hotel, is the site of the first trans-Atlantic radio station. Offshore is the site of the Whydah, pirate ship of “Black Bellamy” discovered in the 80’s. A museum of artifacts from the ship is located in Provincetown. Numerous art galleries, craft shops and other small businesses line the streets of Wellfleet. The town pier is one of the largest on the Cape. Take a walk on the flats beyond the pier and see shellfish aquaculturists hard at work getting ready for the new growing season. Talk to these people who are part of the largest shellfish aquaculture center in Massachusetts worth multi millions of dollars. Wellfleet Harbor is also home of the famed Wellfleet oyster and from the pier, you can see them growing on the flats. Go further beyond the pier to Chequessett Neck and Great Island. Cross the bridge that is the Herring River Dike, site of intensive research into the ramifications of opening the dike, potentially the largest salt marsh restoration project in New England. Hike one of the trails at Great Island that range from 3-8 miles round trip. The longest one takes you to Jeremy Point where you can look at what used to be a village called Billingsgate, lost to rising seas many years ago.

Luckily, the community regarded Nauset Light in Eastham as being important historically, culturally and navigationally and saved it from dropping into the sea below the cliff. The National Seashore Visitor Center should be reopened by the time of the meeting after a long-term overhaul. The bike trail from the visitor center to the Coast Guard Station is a nice glimpse into the various biomes of the region, ending at the upper reaches of the Nauset estuary.

Don’t forget – whale watches were mentioned earlier but if you’ve never done this, spring is a wonderful time for a whale watch to Stellwagen Bank. Because of the close proximity to Provincetown, the whale watch fleet spends more time on site than traveling to the site. The Dolphin Fleet hires naturalists from the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies so they can interpret the sightings and conduct research simultaneously. The two prime companies are listed below: Dolphin Fleet can be reached at 508-349-1900; Portuguese Princess: 508-487-2651

On Saturday afternoon, the Orleans Pond Coalition, an 800-member umbrella organization representing “Friends Of” groups from over 15 individual salt and fresh water ponds in Orleans and Eastham, will be sponsoring its second annual Water to Water Fair at the Orleans Elementary School, Eldredge Parkway, Orleans. The fair, organized to promote citizen awareness of water issues, will include interactive displays, continuous loop Power Point Programs, vendors and samples of environmentally appropriate products, and other educational exhibits.

QUESTIONS?

Contact any of the following:

General information, Thursday Watersheds Symposium - , Local Organizer (508-255-5618)

Mini-symposium on Salt Marsh Restoration - (978-927-1122) or (617-626-1205)

Field trips - (978-927-1122)

Abstracts or other program concerns – , NEERS Program Chair (207-622-8205 ext. 119)

Registration, Student Travel Awards – , NEERS Treasurer (401-782-3048)