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Employee
of Month Cited For Attracting Estuarine Scientists
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With "tremendous energetic creativity," Erica Seiden keeps working
to ensure that NOAA  helps
build a national network of highly trained estuarine scientists. Responsible
for the Graduate Research Fellows Program of the National Estuarine
Reserve System, NOAA's largest fellowship program, Erica is being
honored as Employee of the Month for her steadfast dedication
to making the program successful.
In her efforts over four years, Erica has fostered creative outreach
on several levels, significantly strengthening the database, coupling
direct mail and e-mail, simplifying grant applications, crafting a
listserve for students and a high level of student service, organizing
presentations, expanding recruitment to many more universities, including
Minority-Serving Institutions, and delving into the social sciences.
At the Estuarine Reserves Division of the National Ocean Service's
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, Erica works with
up to 50 students every year - two fellows at each of the nation's
50 reserves. Beyond training new estuarine scientists, her efforts
enhance research at the reserves, heighten the visibility of NOAA's
work, and encourage future research by adding links between NOAA,
the reserves and budding scientists.
Just this year, Erica generated increased interaction among students
and added professional development opportunities. At estuarine reserves,
staff are focused on those vibrant places where fresh water from rivers
mixes with saltwater. These important coastal habitats are spawning
grounds and nurseries for at least two-thirds of the nation's commercial
fish and shellfish, which add almost $28 billion annually to the U.S.
economy.
Each reserve is a "living laboratory" where scientists conduct research
and educators communicate the outcomes. On each of the nation's 25
reserves, the staff works with local and regional groups to address
natural resource management issues, such as non-point source pollution,
habitat restoration and invasive species. Erica said she's "thrilled"
to be Employee of Month and hopes the recognition will help signal
her division's commitment to the Graduate Research Fellows Program.
But already her efforts are yielding excellent results.
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Team
Member Honored For 'Invisible' Coral Restoration
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For "sustained,
superior performance" in managing two very distinct and highly effective
coral reef restoration projects, Craig Kruempel, of Coastal Planning
and Engineering, Inc in Florida, is NOAA's new Team Member of the
Month. As project leader, Craig's "tireless, positive" approach
empowered a diverse team of professionals to accomplish the innovative,
challenging tasks in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Craig
is a contractor with NOAA's Office of Finance & Administration.
Craig led one undersea effort to design and rebuild the outside shell
of a reef, recreating four "fingers" or reef spurs that had been gouged
by a ship with large limestone rock, underwater concrete and fiberglass/ceramic
bars. He led a second effort to restore a reef that had been "decimated
like a pancake" from a ship grounding. Twenty-two concrete modules,
complete with cavities for critters, were built off-site, then attached
to the seafloor and blended into the ocean community "as if humans
had never been there."
In both restorations, Craig managed teams of environmentalists, coastal
engineers, ecologists, fisheries biologists and economists. He kept
very tight project schedules moving and introduced new insight into
the evolving design of coral restoration. His skill ensured that both
coral reef restoration initiatives are just about invisible.
Craig's efforts ranged from addressing issues tied to the Environmental
Impact Statement process and securing reviews and approvals from local,
state and federal agencies to obtaining necessary permits, presenting
the project design at public meetings and developing an outstanding
set of bidding/construction documents. He managed the on-site monitoring
of the construction contractor's performance throughout the restoration
and provided full final reports on all aspects of both projects.
On many levels, NOAA's committed to protecting coral reefs and sustaining
their health and that of the coastal economies that depend on them.
But even when there's apparent destruction, NOAA's on the scene making
every effort to help reefs regain their original majesty. For more
about both restoration efforts in the Florida Keys, please visit http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/special/reef/.
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