July 13, 2022
Spotlight
New content added to hydrographic survey projects StoryMap
An image showing a screen capture of the 2022 hydrographic survey projects StoryMap.
ArcGIS StoryMaps is a story authoring web-based application that allows you to share your maps in the context of narrative text and other multimedia content. Since 2015, Coast Survey has created StoryMaps to describe and illustrate the upcoming field season. Prior to 2022, these stories included descriptions of projects that were being carried out by the NOAA white ships and contractors. The StoryMap featuring NOAA's 2022 hydrographic survey projects now includes navigation response team projects for a more comprehensive portrayal of Coast Survey activities. For more information, contact Olivia.Hauser@noaa.gov.
Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey – Empowering employees. Inspiring change.
When is the survey? Act Now! The 2022 FEVS is opened and will accept responses until Friday, July 22.
Is it confidential? Yes! All FEVS responses are confidential. Results are reported in combined form only.
Who will receive the survey link? All Federal employees who were with NOAA as of November 2021.
How do I take the survey? All eligible employees received a personalized, single-use link from an OPM email address (i.e., EVCM@opm.gpv).
How long does it take? The survey should take approximately 20-30 minutes.
Coast Survey physical scientists assist in supporting survey operations
The image here shows Hydrographic Surveys Division Physical Scientists (left to right) Steven Loy, Pearl (Steven's dog), Daniel Garatea and Surafel Abebe. This image was taken ahead of Daniel and Surafel's July deployment supporting NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson's ongoing mapping mission on Lake Erie. The ship is currently surveying around Presque Isle near Erie, Pennsylvania. The ship's davits are down at the moment, so they are conducting ship survey operations on project H13611 supporting the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Additionally, Surafel is preparing to give a presentation soon on linear nautical mile estimation tools.
Operations
NOAA Ships and Contractor Operations
Weekly Hydro Ship Activity Report – June 12 through June 18, 2022
Weekly Hydro Ship Activity Report – June 19 through June 25, 2022
Weekly Hydro Ship Activity Report – June 26 through July 2, 2022
Weekly Hydro Ship Activity Report – July 3 through July 9, 2022
Navigation Response Team Activities
NRT-New London completed surveying their assigned priority area in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. They have officially expanded their survey area to cover two additional areas of interest and are back on the water.
NRT-Seattle is currently surveying Grays Harbor, Washington at the request of the local pilots.
NRT-Fernandina Beach is surveying in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Their survey updates to the customer have been very well presented and received the following praise; "This is one of the best weekly reports I have EVER received." Thanks to Robb Mowrey, LTJG Jane Saunders, LTJG Carly Robbins, Tim Wilkinson, Dan Jacobs, and Josh Bergeron for augmenting with NRT-Fernandina Beach for this project.
Thanks to LTJG Collin McMillan, LTJG Carly Robbins, and Dan Jacobs for supporting NOAA Ship Ferdinand Hassler this summer.
Office News
This re-entry flier from the NOAA Records Management Program is a reminder to staff of their responsibility to dispose of records properly as they continue to return to the office.
Staff Updates
ENS Karl Wagner reported to MCD Staff as the Special Projects Officer. Karl's duties will include developing and coordinating MCD's plan for transitioning to producing S-101 ENCs, facilitating ECDIS familiarity training for MCD cartographers, and related activities. Karl comes to MCD from NOAA Ship Rainier, where he spent the last few years surveying Alaska and the Marianas. Before joining NOAA, Karl worked as a geologist in Nevada. Originally from western New York, he is looking forward to being back on the East Coast.
Cathleen Yung joins Coast Survey as a geospatial analyst working on spatial priorities studies with Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping. Other interests include the bluegrass mandolin, caving, and finding fossils. She is a former Geocorps Fellow and holds a degree in Geology from Saint Louis University.
diversity and inclusion
The Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program is offering training to Coast Survey, including topics of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harrassment. This training will cover definitions and overviews, impacts, reporting options, and best practices. There will also be an opportunity to ask any questions involving policies and available resources. There will be two 45-minute sessions offered for managers on July 13 and 15, and three 60-minute sessions offered for employees on July 19. Please use the registration sheet and choose one session.
The Management and Budget Office will be hosting Individual Development Plan Training for all of NOS on July 20, 2:00 p.m. (EDT). This class is for full time employees only. We will be taking a deep dive on how to establish an individual development plan and how to create a 3-5 year plan for your development. For more information, please contact your learning liaison or Adrian.Taylor@noaa.gov.
During July and August, NOAA's Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program is offering webinars to enhance self-care. Join Jenn Crawford, Yoga Instructor and Co-owner of Zen Riot Studio, for this series to learn techniques to ease stress, boost energy, and increase immunity through simple detoxifying movements. Each session will consist of breathing exercises, mindful movement practices, and guided meditation.
Yoga and Meditation to Boost Energy – July 26 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT)
Yoga and Meditation for the Immune System – August 9 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT)
There is now a new DOC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility strategic plan available, covering the years 2022 and 2023. Our own NOAA Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan will be updated to become the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Strategic Plan FY 2023. The major goal categories of our plan will shift slightly, as to include goals that align with the DOC DEIA pending plan.
The National Ocean Service welcomes LCDR George Mitzner as the chief of behavioral health and wellness in the EEO and Diversity Program Office. Mitzner is a licensed clinical psychologist and lieutenant commander in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He is available to support all NOS employees through consultation, service coordination, education, and training on behavioral health and wellness topics. If you want to coordinate training for a group, or an individual basis, think you have signs or symptoms of a mental health condition, are dealing with a lot of stress, want to improve sleep, target health behaviors, work on relationships, or just want to consult with a mental health expert; please do not hesitate to reach out at George.Mitzner@noaa.gov or 202-630-9382 for any questions or concerns.
Reminder – you can always utilize our Return to the Office Information and Resources Page to help make your transition from full-time telework a bit smoother.
