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Ecosystem Protection Topics
The Ecosystems Protection Program, located in the Office of Ecosystems Protection
and Remediation, seeks to integrate a variety of EPA programs and focus toward
appropriate resources. The program stresses formation of partnerships with states,
other federal agencies, and communities to achieve collaborative goal setting.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (EMAP) - The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program is a research program to develop the tools necessary to monitor and assess the status and trends of national ecological resources.
Groundwater - The Ground Water Team in Region 8 strives to strengthen State, Tribal, local and EPA groundwater protection efforts. Our goal is to develop and implement groundwater management strategies that recognize long-term drought conditions in the Western US and increased use of and reliance on groundwater.
Nonpoint Source (Polluted Runoff) - The nonpoint source program provides states with money to award to projects within the state that are designed to control pollution from diffuse, or nonpoint, sources.
Regional Geographic Initiative - The Regional Geographic Initiative funds unique, geographically-based projects that fill critical gaps in the Agency's ability to protect human health and the environment.
Source Water Assessment and Protection - Individual states take the lead in developing and implementing Source Water Assessment and Protection Programs (SWAPP). From the assessments, the states estimate a Public Water System's (PWS) susceptibility to contaminants and create a management plan to minimize potential harm to sources of water.
Storm Water Permitting - EPA issues storm water permits to cover industrial discharges for Federal Facilities in Colorado and Indian Country Lands in the Region 8 states. Permits are required for discharges associated with specified industrial activities, construction projects, and for municipal storm sewer systems.
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) - A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. This TMDL program requires states to identify waters that are not expected to meet the national goal of "fishable, swimmable" and to develop TMDLs for them, with oversight from the EPA.
Water Quality Standards - Inividual states define the water quality goals of a water body by designating the use or uses to be made of the water, by setting criteria necessary to protect the uses, and by preventing degradation of water quality through antidegradation provisions.
Wetlands - Wetlands protection development grants provide financial assistance to States, Federally recognized Indian Tribes, and local governments to support wetlands development or augmentation and enhancement of existing programs. The Regional wetlands program manages wetlands protection development grants and reviews potential actions (Army Corps of Engineers, Section 404 permits) which involve modification, re-development, and/or replacement of wetland resources.
