Oceana, founded in 2001, is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Their offices in North America, Central America, South America and Europe work together on a limited number of strategic, directed campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return oceans to former levels of abundance. Oceana believes in the importance of science in identifying problems and solutions. The Oceana scientists work closely with teams of economists, lawyers and advocates to achieve tangible results for the oceans.

Here's a map of their work.

A pioneering deep-sea exploration robot from Woods Hole Institute—one of the first successful submersible vehicles that was both unmanned and untethered to surface ships—was lost at sea Friday, March 5, on a research expedition off the coast of Chile. The 15-year-old Autonomous Benthic Explorer, affectionately nicknamed ABE, was launched late Thursday night and had reached the seafloor to begin its 222 research dive when, in the early hours of Friday morning, all contact with the surface vessel abruptly ceased. All efforts to reestablish contact failed.

News release is here.

Stated Mission:

The primary objective of the ROW Foundation is to make all efforts to cleanup highly polluted Rivers in US, India, SE Asia, S. America, Africa, Europe, and Other Parts of the World. This corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated hereunder, including the following charitable, educational, and scientific activities:

1. Evaluate the eco-environmental status of the major rivers and tributaries of the world, primarily US, India, SE Asia, S. America, Africa, Europe, and Other Parts of the World.
2. Identify ten Rivers initially which could be easily undertaken in the program to meet the primary objectives of the ROW foundation.
3. Inform and involve the public in activities that foster the protection, enhancement, and establishment of clean rivers and sustainable development along the river banks and riparian areas.
4. Identify, evaluate, and address threats to the biological, cultural, and economic components of conservation of the river and riparian areas.
5. Acknowledge and promote the significance of the rivers, streams, and their adjacent riparian areas, including the effects on the ecosystem.
6. Facilitate cooperation between private landowners, state and federal agency personnel, and other interested parties through a non-political forum concerned with area-wide needs of conservation of the river and riparian areas.
7. Encourage voluntary participation of all potential partners to enhance and restore the biological, economic, and cultural well being of the rivers and riparian areas through educational, technical, and financial involvement.
8. To engage in any other lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Code; provided, however, that such activities would not disqualify the organization as being one described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated there under.

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Our strategy is to start with a small first step... and we have been trying to take that first to start cleaning the dranage canals that discharge to the Yamuna River, starting in Uttaranchal and flowing through northern India to Uttar Pradesh, and to create a better ecosystem in New Delhi.

NOAA's two Tsuami Warning Centers (PTWC and WC/ATWC) have separate areas of responsibility, reflecting the geographical areas within which each Center has the responsibility for the dissemination of messages and the provision of interpretive information to emergency managers and other officials, news media, and the public.

The history of tsunami warnings in the USA from their website--

The era of tsunami warnings began in the United States with Thomas Jaggar's (founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)) attempt to warn the Hilo harbormaster of the possibility of a tsunami generated by the 1923 Kamchatka earthquake. His warning was not taken seriously, and at least one fisherman was killed.

Official tsunami warning capability in the U.S. began in 1949 as a response to the 1946 tsunami generated in the Aleutian Islands that devastated Hilo. The U.S. federal government already had a sizable piece of property in ʻEwa Beach to house the Honolulu Geomagnetic Observatory. The Tsunami Warning Center was co-located with this facility, which is maintained by PTWC staff today.

In the aftermath of the 1960 Chilean earthquake and tsunami which devastated Chile, killed dozens in Hawaiʻi and perhaps as many as 200 people in Japan, the nations of the Pacific decided to coordinate efforts to prevent such loss of life from ever occurring again in the Pacific Basin due to destructive ocean-crossing tsunamis. Under the auspices of the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) established the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System (ICG/PTWS) in 1968. The U.S. offered the ʻEwa Beach center as the operational headquarters for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System, and the facility was renamed the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

PTWC issued tsunami warnings to Alaska until 1967 when the West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC) was established in response to the 1964 Alaskan earthquake and tsunami. In 1982, the WC/ATWC area of responsibility was enlarged to include the issuing of tsunami warnings to California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia for potential tsunamigenic earthquakes occurring in their coastal areas. PTWC continued to issue tsunami warnings to these areas for Pacific-wide tsunamigenic sources until 1996 when that responsibility was also given to the WC/ATWC.

Following the 1975 Kalapana earthquake and tsunami on Hawaiʻi's Big Island, PTWC began issuing official tsunami warnings to the state of Hawaiʻi for local earthquakes. In 2005, PTWC similarly began issuing local tsunami warnings to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but in June 2007 that area of responsibility passed to WC/ATWC..

PTWC was re-dedicated on December 1, 2001 as the "Richard H. Hagemeyer Pacific Tsunami Warning Center" in honor of the former U.S. Tsunami Program Manager and National Weather Service Pacific Region Director who managed PTWC for many years.

In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, PTWC has taken on additional areas of responsibility including the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, Caribbean Sea, and Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands (until June 2007). PTWC's staff size has increased from 8 to 15 as a result of the tsunami, and it now staffs the center 24 hours per day everyday.

The latest coal ash damage cases are documented in a new report by Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project titled "Out of Control: Mounting Damages From Coal Ash Waste Sites."

North Carolina has six, tying with Pennsylvania for the state with the most sites in the report. The other states where new damage cases were found are Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, with a majority of them in the South.

At 15 of the 31 sites, arsenic and other toxic contaminants have already moved off the dump-site property at levels harmful to human health -- and 25 of the problem dumps are still actively taking coal ash today. The report notes that the contamination is concentrated in communities with family poverty rates above the national median.

Administrator Jackson Unveils Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan

Release date: 02/22/2010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has released an action plan to guide the Obama Administration’s historic efforts to restore the Great Lakes. The action plan, which the administrator unveiled at a Sunday meeting with governors from the Great Lakes states, lays out the most urgent threats facing the Great Lakes and sets out goals, objectives and key actions over the next five years to help restore the lakes.

“We have an historic opportunity to restore and protect these waters. This action plan outlines our strategy to protect the environmental, human health, and economic interests of the millions of people who rely on the Great Lakes,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re committed to creating a new standard of care that will leave the Great Lakes better for the next generation.”

“The Great Lakes are our region’s greatest natural resource, and I want to thank President Obama for his commitment to making the restoration of the Great Lakes a national priority,” said Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, co-chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors. “Wisconsin is defined by the Great Lakes, and one of our greatest responsibilities is to preserve this important freshwater resource for future generations. This action plan sets a strong course of action as we confront tremendous challenges to not only protect, but also restore the Great Lakes.”

“The Great Lakes are one of our country’s greatest natural resources and economic assets,” said Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, co-chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors. “We must protect and preserve our lakes for our families and outdoors enthusiasts, as well as the industries that rely on the waterways to transport their goods around the world. I look forward to working with my fellow governors and the Obama administration to continue tackling the challenges facing the Great Lakes now and in the future.”

Some 30 million Americans get their drinking water from the Great Lakes, and the lakes also support a multi-billion dollar economy based on fishing, boating and recreational activities. The lakes face significant challenges, including pollution and the threat of harmful species that threaten their health.

President Barack Obama has committed to making Great Lakes restoration a national priority. In February 2009, President Obama proposed $475 million for a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the most significant investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. The action plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014 and was developed by 16 federal agencies as part of the federal inter-agency task force chaired by Administrator Jackson, will help guide the administration’s efforts to implement this historic initiative to restore and protect this natural and economic treasure.

The action plan directs aggressive action under five priority “focus areas” the task force has identified as vital for restoring the Great Lakes. They are:

· Protection and cleanup of the most polluted areas in the lakes: The task force will work with state and municipal partners to clean up toxic hotspots so that these critical “working waterways” are put back to work for healthy fishing and recreation.

· Combating invasive species: Invasive species pose a unique threat to the Great Lakes, and the plan outlines a number of steps to keep such species out of the lakes. For example, recognizing that Asian carp continue to be an emerging threat, we are planning to allocate additional funds under the Initiative to tackle this problem.

· Protection of high priority watersheds and reduced runoff from urban, suburban and, agricultural sources: The Great Lakes are renowned for their beaches. Initiative funding will be targeted toward, among other things, reducing pollution so they can stay open more often for people to enjoy.

· Restoration of wetlands and other habitats: The action plan includes a first-ever assessment of the entire 530,000 acre Great Lakes coastal wetland, to help the task force begin to restore troubled areas; and

· Implementation of accountability measures, learning initiatives, outreach and strategic partnerships: The task force will work closely with the Great Lakes states, non-profits, stakeholder groups and Canada to protect and restore the lakes.

The plan also provides accountability for the administration’s efforts in each of these five priority areas by including measures of progress and benchmarks for success over the next five years.

In November, EPA released a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit applications from a diverse group of participants and partnerships to support the goals of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The deadline for applications was January 29, 2010. Since then, EPA has received more than 1,000 proposals for funding to support Great Lakes restoration activities. Funding through other agencies will be announced separately.

More information on the full plan: http://www.greatlakesrestoration.us

Cambridge, MD-based GNWA describes itself as follows--

The Grand National Waterfowl Association was founded in 1981. This born and raised Dorchester association consists of a group of dedicated members. From this loyal group of members, the GNWA is run by an Executive Board. They volunteer countless hours to make sure this small town organization continues to keep giving men and women, across the nation, a weekend they will never forget. Not only does GNWA gives their guest hunters not only a complete waterfowl hunt, but the memories and contacts they will never forget or lose.

 The Grand National Waterfowl Association does give back to the community.  We give a scholarship away ever year and we have given away over $120,000 in scholarships since our creation.  We also help local business involved with hunting and environmental Groups that are making sure that waterfowl habitat and populations don’t disappear.

 

Ducks.org has long focused on conservation.

News from them regarding Colorado waters--

New report shows state's streams and wetlands endangered

WASHINGTON – Feb. 9, 2010 – A new report highlights threats to Colorado's waters and wetlands under regulatory guidance resulting from two Supreme Court cases. Compiled by the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited, the report identifies five cases where the loss of Clean Water Act (CWA) protections has put Colorado waters at risk for pollution, unrestricted drainage and destruction.

"Without these protections, Colorado's limited and precious aquatic resources are at further risk," said Dennis Buechler, director emeritus of the Colorado Wildlife Federation and author of the report. "In some instances where protections have been removed completely, the state of law has caused unnecessary confusion."

An example of this confusion is the case of Hidden Lake, an 88-acre lake in Westminster, Colo., which has had its Clean Water Act protections removed because it supposedly does not have a surface connection to waters covered by the CWA. The lake boasts an excellent small-mouth bass fishery and is used by local residents for recreation such as swimming and boating. After the City of Westminster protested, protections were restored. But protections were not in place for more than half a decade.

"There are examples of threatened waters and wetlands all over the state," said Jim Murphy of the National Wildlife Federation. "Colorado streams and wetlands provide habitat and benefits to more than 75 percent of the state's wildlife and waterfowl."

David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited, said, "Sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts spend billions of dollars in Colorado to hunt and fish for species that depend on these waters and wetlands that are threatened."

Babies may be exposed to high levels of chemicals while still in the womb.

Findings were revealed by an Environmental Working Group (EWG) study of the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborn babies in the United States. The umbilical cord is a good measure of contaminants because it pulses the equivalent of at least 300 quarts of blood each day back and forth between the placenta and the child.  The report indicates that babies are exposed to an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants while still in the womb.

While it was once thought that the placenta acted as a shield, protecting the baby from most chemicals and environmental pollutants, EWG found this is not the case. See the report here:  Body Burden – The Pollution in Newborns.

And EWG has an online petition one can sign here.

Ocean Conservationist Calls for Sea Change

New Non-fiction "Deserted Ocean" Sheds Light on Our Depleting Ocean Resources

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Feb. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- According to an official United Nations report, all of the world's oceans are projected to be overfished and depleted to the point of collapse by the year 2048. In his new non-fiction book, "Deserted Ocean: A Social History of Depletion" (published by AuthorHouse), author and Ph.D. chemist Norman Holy brings to readers a much-needed wake-up call for all who depend on the world's oceanic ecosystems for food, livelihood, or both.  

"Deserted Ocean" takes a historical look at the fishing industry in the North Atlantic Ocean and how centuries of overfishing has affected both oceanic and human life today. Holy writes:

Overfishing in the modern era, since 1960, has been covered in several books. Authors can interview people who fished then, and they have a direct link to a history that reveals changes. But many of these books miss the point that the North Atlantic was overfished well before 1960. No other book provides the numbers of fish taken over history, thereby illustrating concretely the effects of the fishery. No other book on the destruction of the Atlantic Ocean also covers the loss of many of the large whales, dolphins, and porpoises. No other book on the history of fishing also raises the new issues that affect the outcome of the North Atlantic.

"Deserted Ocean" follows the history of the fishing industry over the span of 1,000 years. Over the last 150 of those years, new threats have appeared in the oceans such as global warming, pollution, over-development of coastal areas, and acidification of the water. Holy's discussion of global warming is concise but definitive, clearly showing the anticipated impact it could have on the North Atlantic Ocean.

Professor Heike K. Lotze, Canada Research Chair in Marine Renewable Resources, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University: "There is much to learn about the ocean's past that can help us understand where we are today and manage for a better future. In this interesting and inspiring book, Norman Holy uncovers many stories untold that bring new light into the history of the sea."

Dr. Moira Brown, Senior Scientist, New England Aquarium: "Whale and fishing gear entanglements represent the struggle of finding a balance between the value of the fishery versus the risk of species extinction. Norman Holy attempts to find technological solutions that allow co-existence between humans and marine life."

About the Author: Norman Holy, born in Michigan, received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Purdue University in Lafeyette, Ind. He is the recipient of a Smartgear Award from the World Wildlife Fund for inventing gear to mitigate the loss of dolphins, porpoises and whales from gear used by commercial fishermen. Holy also received the Laureate Award from the Tech Museum in San Jose, Calif., for inventing special fishing gear for use in developing countries. To date, Holy has over 80 publications and patents.