x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 23 Jun 2016 15:59:11 -0400 thread-index: AdHNibYBn3c0+cCWRAuXrOoGHbeepg== Thread-Topic: National Estuaries Week 2016 From: To: Subject: National Estuaries Week 2016 Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2016 15:59:11 -0400 Message-ID: <1BB6E2F50D764F05812620E0308AD32E@IQ12> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Jun 2016 19:59:11.0997 (UTC) FILETIME=[B61C32D0:01D1CD89] CUSTOM Dr. Allison Colden Senior Manager of External Affairs Restore America's Estuaries 2300 Clarendon Blvd Suite 603 Arlington VA 22201 acolden@estuaries.org 703-524-0248 PROC National Estuaries Week 2016 173.166.149.153 Dear Governor Haley: September 17 - 24, 2016 marks National Estuaries Week. This week represents the nation's largest annual event to promote the importance of estuaries and the need to protect them while providing an excellent opportunity for the state of South Carolina to demonstrate its support for these special places like North Inlet-Winyah Bat, the ACE Basin, and Port Royal Sound, among others. Restore America's Estuaries is a non-profit national alliance comprised of 10 coastal conservation groups dedicated to restoring and preserving America's estuaries and coasts. We would be honored if you would sponsor an official proclamation to recognize September 17 - 24, 2016 as National Estuaries Week. Your proclamation would lend official recognition to the important work of education the public on restoration needs and efforts. National Estuaries Week is a terrific opportunity to learn more about estuaries and the perfect excuse to spend time exploring the South Carolina coast with family and friends. Restore America's Estuaries and its member groups will be offering volunteer opportunities all over the nation, including hands-on restoration events, guided kayaking tours, educational opportunities and more. By marking National Estuaries Week as an official celebration in South Carolina, you will be joining several other Governors working towards the same effort. We greatly appreciate your past support of National Estuaries Week, and it is our goal to secure similar Proclamations from the Governors of all coastal States. Below you will find draft proclamation language. Should you require any additional information to process this request, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from your office. We would appreciate receiving the proclamation by September 8, 2016, though we would be glad to have it earlier. Sincerely, Allison Colden Senior Manager of External Affairs Restore America's Estuaries Proposed Proclamation Text State of South Carolina Governor's Proclamation WHEREAS, the North Inlet-Winyah Bay and the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserves and Port Royal Sound are integral to the State of South Carolina; and WHEREAS, estuaries are vibrant coastal environments that support more life per square inch than any other ecosystem on earth, providing home to countless species of fish, shellfish, birds, and marine mammals, and whereas South Carolina's estuarine regions host approximately 44% of the population and 37% of the State GDP [i]; and WHEREAS, 73% of all fish harvested in South Carolina are estuarine-dependent species [ii], and preserving our local fish habitats and populations will also preserve our $276 million commercial and recreational fishing industries [iii]; and WHEREAS, millions of tourists are attracted to the beautiful South Carolina coasts every year, bringing with them $1.5 billion in added GDP [iv]; and WHEREAS, restoration projects create more than twice as many jobs as the oil and gas and road construction industries combined [v]; and WHEREAS, protecting and restoring our estuaries is vital to our local and national economy because they sustain the fisheries that feed America, ensure outdoor recreational opportunities for current and future generations, reduce the costly impacts of natural hazards, and support local jobs which cannot be exported. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Nikki R. Haley, Governor of the Great State of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 17 - 24, 2016 as NATIONAL ESTUARIES WEEK throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to join together in the appropriate celebrations. Sources: [i] Restore America's Estuaries, The Economic and Market Value of Coasts and Estuaries: What's At Stake? Edited by Linwood Pendleton. Web. 2006 http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/pdf/economic_and_market_valueofcoasts_and_estuaries.pdf p.45 [ii] Ibid, p.76 [iii] U.S. Department of Commerce. Fisheries Economics of the United States. 2009: Economic and Sociocultural Status and Trends Series. Web. 2009 http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st5/publication/econ/2009/FEUS%202009%20ALL.pdf p.110-111 [iv] Kildow, Judith T., Charles S. Colgan, and Jason Scorse. Coastal and Ocean Economic Summaries of the Coastal States. Rep. National Ocean Economics Program, 2009. Web. 17 July 2012. https://www.miis.edu/media/view/8901/original/NOEP_Book_FINAL.pdf p. 53. [v] Restore America's Estuaries, Jobs and Dollars: Big Returns from Coastal Habitat Restoration. Web. http://www.estuaries.org/images/81103-RAE_17_FINAL_web.pdf