Watershed News

April 2006

Watershed News is a publication of EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. It is designed to provide timely information to groups working at the watershed level.

In this month's newsletter

1) EPA announces Region 7 Watershed Improvement Grants - Proposals Due May 11, 2006
2) News: New Wetland Mitigation Proposed Rule
3) Guiding National Ocean Research Investment: The Ocean Research Priorities Plan
4) EPA Hosts Collaborative Cleanups II Meeting in Conjunction with River Rally
5) Call for Abstracts
6) Call for Entries
7) Webcasts: EPA's Watershed Academy to Sponsor Webcast on the Clean Water Act
8) Izaak Walton League to host Wetlands Webcasts
9) EPA Sponsors New Webcast Series on Stormwater Issues
10) Charlotte, North Carolina's WCNC launches Water Wise
11) EPA Publishes New "EPA Watershed Training Opportunities" Booklet
12) 2006 Wetlands Awards Winners Announced
13) Upcoming Conferences in 2006

EPA announces Region 7 Watershed Improvement Grants - Proposals Due May 11^th, 2006

EPA intends to award an estimated $300,000 to eligible applicants to improve water quality in watersheds in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The Agency will award grants to two types of projects - Watershed Improvement Projects (single media) and Watershed Improvement with Pesticide Emphasis Projects (multi-media). These Watershed Improvement Grants will emphasize water quality improvements in agricultural watersheds by supporting innovative ways to use less and lower-risk pesticides and increase farmers´ adoption of ecologically-based approaches using integrated crop, pest, soil, and water management methods. EPA is requesting proposals that directly result in on-the-ground activities that produce chemical, physical, and/or biological improvements in water quality in a watershed. Complete details can be found at http://www.epa.gov/region07/economics/r7_grant_opportunities.htm.

News

New Wetland Mitigation Proposed Rule

Two people in wadder taking samples in a wetland

Photo by Barbara Keywood

EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have released a proposed compensatory mitigation regulation. The Agencies´ rule, published for public comment, proposes improved science and results-oriented standards to increase the quality and effectiveness of wetlands conservation practices under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The proposed rule:

Responds to the recommendations of the National Research Council by establishing equivalent, effective standards for all forms of wetland replacement projects under the CWA.
Sets clear science-based and results-oriented standards nationwide while allowing for regional variations;
Increases and expands public participation;
Encourages watershed-based decisions; and
Affirms the "wetlands mitigation sequence" requiring that proposed projects fully avoid and minimize potential wetland impacts.

For complete details about the proposed rule and for instructions on how to submit comments, please visit http://www.epa.gov/wetlandsmitigation/. A factsheet and a set of Q's and A's for the proposed rule are also available on the web site.

May is American Wetlands Month and "It Pays to Save Wetlands." Visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm/.

Guiding National Ocean Research Investment: The Ocean Research Priorities Plan

Young woman in a wet suit with surf board and the ocean behind her

The public comment period on the Ocean Research Priorities Plan (ORPP) is now open, and all interested parties are invited to review the document and provide input. http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_public_comment.html

In addition, the National Science and Technology Council Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology is holding a public workshop on April 18^th- 20^th, 2006 in Denver, CO, to solicit input from the scientific community on the development of the ORPP. http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/jsost_workshop/welcome.html

Called for in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, the ORPP, in conjunction with a follow-on Implementation Strategy, will describe a vision for U.S. ocean science and technology. Members from the research community, ocean educators, government representatives, industry groups, international representatives, non-governmental organizations, and individuals interested in helping guide national ocean research are invited to attend the workshop and contribute comments. (Contact: Shelby E. Walker, USGCRP/CCSP Office, T:202-419-3464; email:swalker@usgcrp.gov).

EPA Hosts Collaborative Cleanups II Meeting in Conjunction with River Rally

In conjunction with the 2006 River Rally sponsored by River Network, EPA's Office of Water and the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response will host a joint conference entitled, Collaborative Cleanups II: Protecting and Revitalizing America's Watersheds. The conference will be held at the Mount Washington Hotel and Resort in New Hampshire on May 4^th and 5^th. There will also be optional training sessions on May 3^rd and a welcoming reception.

The goal is to bring together diverse stakeholders involved with the protection and revitalization of land and water resources to identify common goals, showcase collaborative strategies, and recommend actions to promote:

Watershed/ecosystem management and protection
Cleanup and reuse of contaminated land, sediment, and groundwater
Protection of drinking water sources
Collaborative processes that improve land/water resource protection and revitalize communities
Coordination of inter-governmental public policy and program implementation

The meeting involves no registration fee, but attendees need to make their own hotel reservations. For more information, visit http://www.collaborativecleanups.org/

River Network's River Rally immediately follows Collaborative Cleanups II. The Rally brings together hundreds of watershed and river conservation organizations from across the country to share expertise, trade experiences and celebrate achievements. Participants can choose from nearly 100 different introductory and advanced workshops, meet with Agency representatives, and hear from a variety of speakers on cutting edge topics. On Monday, May 8^th from 3:30 to 5:00 pm, EPA will sponsor a training course on Key EPA Internet-based Tools for Watershed Management. For more information, visit http://www.rivernetwork.org/rally.

Call for Abstracts

The American Water Resources Association is soliciting abstracts for the 2006 Annual Water Resources Conference to be held November 6^th- 9^th, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland. Abstracts are due by May 15^th, 2006. The conference presents a unique opportunity for water resource practitioners from diverse disciplines to gather and interact together. In addition to offering a broad range of technical, social and legal topics, a number of sessions will focus on topics of current interest, including infrastructure asset management, water (Homeland) security, watershed management, dam rehabilitation or removal, sustainability of drinking water supplies, impacts/solutions of urbanization on water resources, drought and flood management and ecological restoration of wetlands and stream corridors. For more information, go to http://www.awra.org/meetings/Baltimore2006/index.html.

Call for Entries

EPA is now accepting applications for the fifth annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. This competition is open to local or state governments and other public sector entities that have used the principles of smart growth to create better places. Successful applicants will have incorporated the principles of smart growth to create places that respect community culture and the environment, foster economic development, and enhance quality of life and public health.

This year, applications will be accepted in five categories:

Built Projects
Policies and Regulations
Small Communities
Equitable Development
Overall Excellence in Smart Growth

Applications are due on May 1^st, 2006. For more details, visit: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards.htm.

Webcasts

EPA's Watershed Academy to Sponsor Webcast on the Clean Water Act

EPA's Watershed Academy sponsors monthly Webcasts to offer free for watershed practitioners around the globe. On Wednesday, April 19^th, Gayle Killam from the River Network will discuss opportunities for citizen involvement in the Clean Water Act. This Webcast will explore how citizens and organizations can make a difference in their watershed through an improved understanding of the Clean Water Act and other national laws addressing water resources. On March 22^nd, the Academy hosted a Webcast on Sustainable Funding for Watershed Groups. To download past Webcasts and to learn about more about upcoming Webcasts, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.

The May 19^th Webcast will feature Tom Schueler from the Center for Watershed Protection who will discuss integrating wetlands into watershed protection efforts.

Izaak Walton League to host Wetlands Webcasts

The Izaak Walton League is hosting a webcast: "Wet Spots into Wonderlands" (April 25^th, 8:00-10:00 pm, EST) to discuss the benefits of having wetlands on your property, how to protect those wetlands, and how to create vernal pools or bog gardens. Future webcasts include a four-part series on alternative practices for highway stormwater management. This series begins in May. Visit http://www.iwla.org/sos/sosweb.htm for more information.

EPA Sponsors New Webcast Series on Stormwater Issues

EPA is hosting a new series of webcast training sessions for municipal stormwater managers. Designed for those unable to attend out-of-town or multi-day workshops, this series will provide a mix of basic and advanced topics in two-hour blocks. Webcasts will occur every other month until September. Future webcast topics include Construction 101, Stormwater Utilities 201, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination and Municipal Maintenance. To download archived webcasts, to find out more information about upcoming webcasts, visit www.epa.gov/npdes/training.

a multiple county map of the Charlotte North Carolina area

Outreach and Education

Charlotte, North Carolina's WCNC launches Water Wise

Chief Meteorologist Terri Bennett from Charlotte's WCNC is now including weekly features on watersheds, as part of a partnership with StormCenter Communications and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services. The features supplement the station's website dedicated to weather and watershed information, including a "find your watershed" feature, information on local watershed events, and current environmental news stories. Check out this new outreach effort at http://wcnc.iewatershed.com/.

EPA Publishes New "EPA Watershed Training Opportunities" Booklet

EPA's updated Watershed Training Opportunities booklet highlights watershed training opportunities sponsored by EPA's Watershed Academy. The booklet provides information on live training courses, Web-based training, Webcasts, documents and videos, and Web sites. Copies are available at no charge from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) at: 800-490-9198 or 513-489-8190 (please include the document number when you request copies- EPA 841-B-06-001). The booklet is also available on the Watershed Academy Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/wtopps.html.

2006 Wetlands Awards Winners Announced

Since 1989, the Environmental Law Institute and EPA have co-sponsored the annual National Wetlands Awards Program. Co-sponsorship has recently expanded to include the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the USDA Forest Service. The Awards program honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding innovation and dedication to wetland education, research, volunteerism, private land stewardship, and program management. For more details on this year's award winners, please visit http://www2.eli.org/nwa/nwaprogram.htm.

Upcoming Conferences in 2006

NPDES Permit Writers' Training Course,
May 1^st- 5^th, 2006, Anchorage, AK;
August 7^th- 11^th, 2006, Davis, California;
September 18^th- 22^nd, 2006, Albany, NY and
October 23^rd- 27^th, 2006, Woodbridge, Virginia.
The objective of the course is to provide the basic regulatory framework and technical considerations that support the development of wastewater discharge permits as required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program. This free course is designed for new permit writers.Contact Betty Peterson at npdescourse@tetratech-ffx.com.

6th Biennial Great Salt Lake Issues Forum: http://www.fogsl.org/
May 4^th, in Salt Lake City, Utah and the 5^th & 6^th at the James V. Hansen Wildlife Education Center at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Brigham City, Utah. The focus of the Forum is Range-wide Migratory Bird Conservation and Great Salt Lake´s Role in Linking Partnerships Within the Western Hemisphere.

2006 National River Rally
The Mount Washington Resort near Bretton Woods, New Hampshire May 5^th- 9^th, 2006
http://www.rivernetwork.org/rally/

5th National Monitoring Conference-Monitoring Networks: Connecting for Clean Water
May 7^th- 11^th, 2006. San José McEnery Convention Center, San José, CA. Organized by the National Water Quality Monitoring Council. http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/nwqmc06/

Community Culture and the Environment: A Guide to Understanding a Sense of Place.
May 10^th- 11^th, 2006. Edison College, Punta Gorda, FL. Organized by the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program. This two day course will provide the tools necessary to build partnerships around environmental issues, including communication, community perceptions, consensus-building and strategic partnership analysis, with a focus on the greater Charlotte Harbor Watershed. For more information, please visit www.CHNEP.org.

EPA Science Forum 2006 Your Health, Your Environment, Your Future
May 16^th to 18^th, 2006. Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C. The Forum will highlight the relationship between our environment and public health and the complementary roles of EPA and other Federal public health agencies. For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/scienceforum.

2nd National Water Quality Trading Conference Implementation at the Watershed Scale.
Pittsburgh, PA May 23^rd- 25^th, 2006. Participants will learn specifics on how to make trading happen, including options for trading program designs. A free pre-conference workshop, Learn the Basics of Water Quality Trading, is being offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on May 22^nd, 2006. This workshop is limited to the first 100 registrants. For more information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/training and http://www.farmfoundation.org.

2006 New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference
September 20^th- 21^st, 2006, Fishkill, NY. The conference will bring scientists and technical experts together with watershed stakeholders and the public, to technically inform, present research findings and technical data, exchange ideas, and present information collected to date with regard to the protection of the nation's largest unfiltered surface water supply. For more information, visit http://www.nywea.org/.

Looking for funding to implement your watershed plan? Check out EP's New funding website at http://www.epa.gov/owow/funding.html

Be sure to check our EPA's new Watershed Discussion Forum! This new on-line message board offers watershed practitioners and citizens a platform to exchange ideas, so that innovative solutions and ideas can be easily shared. Please visit http://www.epa.gov/watershedforum/ and join in! Anyone can view the discussion, but one must register to post messages.

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Mention of any commercial enterprise, product, or publication does not constitute endorsement by EPA. Also, EPA does not endorse any group's policies, activities or positions on any federal, state or local legislation.

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