Every year GOMA (the Gulf of Mexico Alliance) meets in a different Gulf state to address its six priority issues (coastal resiliency, data and monitoring, education and engagement, habitat resources, water resources and wildlife and fisheries) and to address issues common to the five Gulf states.
As a GOMA Ambassador and a member of the Alliance Coordination Team and the Education and Engagement Priority Issue Team, I’m pleased to let you know that GOMA and partners will hold the 2019 All Hands meeting, June 10-13, at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. More information and registration information is available here.
About The Lodge
The new Lodge is on the Gulf of Mexico and is a model of resilient, environmental-friendly coastal development. A central focus of the facility is connectivity to the outdoors. The Lodge fosters active lifestyles, access to nature and environmental restoration. It meets LEED, Gold and Sites, Platinum Certifications along with FORTIFIED Commercial superior construction standards.
The Lodge provides access to the Gulf State Park’s 6,150 acres of pristine coastal habitat, Gulf shoreline, lakes, wetlands and abundant wildlife. The park stands out from other Gulf Coast destinations because of its size and diversity of preserved ecosystems.
During the GOMA meeting in June, we are planning various field trips to get our visitors out into the park to explore its pristine coastal environment. Trips in the works include bird watching, kayak and canoeing, and hiking and biking the 27 miles of trails.
With new trailheads and places to pause, along with interpretive and wayfinding signage along the way, it’s ideal for enjoying the stunning natural beauty of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. And it’s accessible to all levels of physical ability. So, we are encouraging our GOMA guest to park the car and leave it behind for unforgettable hikes and adventures of all types in nature.
About GOMA
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance a Regional Ocean Partnership that works to sustain the resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Led by the five Gulf States, the broad partner network includes federal agencies, academic organizations, businesses and other non-profits in the region. Sea Grant college programs from all five Gulf states are participating in this effort. The goal of the partnership is to significantly increase regional collaboration to enhance the environmental and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is also a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The Alliance started in 2004 with support of all five Gulf state governors.