NOAA GRADUATE FELLOW RECEIVES 2003 WALTER B. JONES AWARD
FOR EXCELLENCE IN COASTAL AND MARINE GRADUATE STUDY

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced the recipients of the 2003 Walter B. Jones and NOAA Awards for Excellence in Coastal and Ocean Management. The awards honor excellence in unique coastal and ocean resource management programs, as well as public and private endeavors to conserve America's coasts. Kim Heiman, of Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station, is being recognized for her research on the impacts of invasive species in Elkhorn Slough. She is a NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research Fellow at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in California, and will be recognized at a ceremony on March 19, 2003, in Washington, D.C.

“Across our nation, remarkable people with extraordinary abilities are making a difference in our coastal communities,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “We are proud to recognize these individuals and organizations who dedicate countless hours and energy to conserving coastal resources and improving the coastal environment.”

The winners were chosen from a pool of more than 50 qualified nominees by an independent panel of judges. The criteria for evaluation are based on innovative approaches in coastal zone management - helping to maintain coasts and ocean resources and balance the needs of these resources with human use.

The ceremony will be hosted by NOAA Administrator Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., and Jamie Hawkins, acting assistant administrator for NOAA National Ocean Service (NOAA Oceans and Coasts). The awards were created to honor the late 11-term North Carolina Congressman Walter B. Jones. As chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Congressman Jones was a strong supporter of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries). He provided leadership on numerous legislative initiatives addressing coastal and ocean issues ranging from commercial shipping to oil spill clean-up and prevention to flood insurance reform.

The CZMA created the National Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP), a unique and 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 Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) administers the CZMA.

A complete list of this year’s recipients is shown below:

2003 WALTER B. JONES AWARDS

2003 NOAA EXCELLENCE AWARDS FOR COASTAL AND OCEAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

NOAA National Ocean Service (NOAA Oceans and Coasts) balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats and mitigating coastal hazards.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Internet:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA Oceans and Coasts: http://www.nos.noaa.gov

Ocean Coastal Resource Management: http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/

Coastal Zone Management Act: http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/czm/czm_act.html

Coastal Zone Management Program: http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/czm/

National Estuarine Research Reserve System: http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/nerr/