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Watershed News
February 2007
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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) Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program
2) Targeted Watersheds Grant Program Now Accepting Proposals
3) 2007 Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program Request for Proposals and Grant Workshop
4) Community-Based Watershed Management: Lessons from the National Estuary Program
5) Manatawny Creek, Pennsylvania - Stream Restoration and Dam Removal Restore Creek
6) New Success Stories Posted on EPA´s Non Point Source Page
7) Center for Watershed Protection announces release of third report in the Wetlands and Watersheds Article Series
8) USDA Provides More Than $42.5 Million for Additional Natural Disaster Recovery
9) EPA´s Watershed Academy to sponsor February 21st Webcast on Implementing TMDLs and Trading through the National
Estuary Program
10) ITRC to host free Feb 27th Webcast on Planning and Promoting of Ecological Land Reuse of Remediated Sites
11) National Environmental Education Week is April 15-22, 2007
12) Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
Funding Opportunities
Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program
The National Association of Counties, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Wildlife Habitat Council, in cooperation
with EPA, and a new partner, Southern Company, are soliciting applications for the Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program. The program provides
modest financial assistance on a competitive basis to support community-based wetland, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration projects that build
diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship. Applications must be postmarked by March 9, 2007. For more information and to
download an application, visit http://www.nfwf.org/programs/5star-rfp.cfm.
Targeted Watersheds Grant Program Now Accepting Proposals
The Chesapeake Bay Trust is now accepting Targeted Watershed grant proposals for up to $200,000 and invites Maryland non-profit organizations and
local governments to apply. The Initiative is designed to engage volunteers, public agencies and others in restoration and protection actions that
improve the health of small watersheds in Maryland´s portion of the Chesapeake Bay. The grant program supports specific on-the-ground solutions
that address the most pressing nonpoint source pollution challenges facing a small watershed, and that result in measurable improvements in water quality
and habitat. The program also seeks to support cost-effective approaches and establish replicable models of restoration that can be transferred and used
throughout the Bay region. Proposals are due by Friday, March 16 at 5:00 pm. Applicants are urged to contact
Dr. Jana Davis with questions at 410.974.2941, Ext. 5 or jdavis@cbtrust.org .
Visit www.cbtrust.org for more information.
2007 Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program Request for Proposals and Grant Workshop
The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program provides grants to organizations and local governments working on a local level to protect and
improve watersheds in Bay, while building citizen-based resource stewardship. The purpose of the grants program is to support protection and restoration
actions that contribute to restoring healthy waters, habitat and living resources in the Bay watershed. Please contact
Amanda Bassow (amanda.bassow@nfwf.org) or Brian Kittler
(brian.kittler@nfwf.org) for more information. Proposals are due April 2, 2007 A free workshop (and webcast) about the grants program will be offered on
Friday February 16, 2007 9:30 am - 12:30 pm at the Chesapeake Bay Program Office. Please RSVP to chesapeake@nfwf.org
and indicate whether you will participate in person or via webcast. If you plan to participate via webcast, instructions will be e-mailed to you. A recording
of the webcast workshop will be posted on the NFWF website and available for download.
Watershed Tool of the Month
Community-Based Watershed Management: Lessons from the National Estuary Program
This handbook describes the highly successful approaches to watershed management implemented by the 28 National Estuary Programs (NEPs). The NEPs, unique partnerships of the EPA and numerous federal, state, and local organizations, work together to address coastal watershed management challenges. This document presents new information from nearly 20 years of the NEP experience and describes how the NEPs:
- protect and restore estuaries by developing and implementing comprehensive management plans;
- foster consensus on difficult issues by establishing effective governance structures;
- conduct vigorous education and outreach by involving the public;
- obtain significant funding by leveraging scarce resources;
- establish credibility by using science to inform decision making; and
- sustain their efforts by measuring and communicating results.
The lessons learned contained in this handbook are relevant not only to the NEPs but to others working to establish, implement, and evaluate watershed protection and restoration efforts. For more information or to download a free copy of the handbook, visit http://www.epa.gov/neplessons/handbook.htm.
Spotlight: Watersheds At Work
Manatawny Creek, Pennsylvania - Stream Restoration and Dam Removal Restore Creek
Many years of agricultural runoff had caused nutrient and dissolved oxygen impairments in Manatawny Creek and an unnamed tributary to the Manatawny. In addition, an orphaned dam on the creek had blocked migratory fish access and triggered sediment accumulation in the stagnant waters. By 1998 Pennsylvania had included approximately 22.3 miles of Manatawny Creek and its tributary on the state´s 303(d) list, citing sediment, nutrients, low dissolved oxygen, and thermal impairments due to agriculture and hydromodification. To address these problems, project partners stabilized stream channels, restored riparian buffers, and removed the dam. Water quality improved as a result, allowing the state to delist both waters in 2004.
Find out more information about this watershed at work at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/state/pa_man.htm.
News
New Success Stories Posted on EPA´s Non Point Source Page
Five new stories focusing on restoring primarily nonpoint source impaired streams were posted onto the EPA´s Nonpoint Source Success Story Web site in December 2006. The states of Vermont (Chase and Slide Creeks), North Carolina (Brasstown Creek), Virginia (Muddy Creek and Lower Dry River), Pennsylvania (Manatawny Creek), and Michigan (Furlong Creek) contributed stories involving erosion and sediment control, dam and livestock removal, streambank stabilization, riparian enhancements, and other best management practices. In most cases, stream segments were removed from the state´s 303(d) impaired waters list. For details on these stories and others, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319.
Center for Watershed Protection announces release of third report in the Wetlands and Watersheds Article Series
The Center for Watershed Protection has released "Direct and Indirect Impacts of Urbanization on Wetland Quality" and it is available for
free download through their wetlands website at http://www.cwp.org/wetlands/index.htm. This article
synthesizes more than 100 scientific studies on the direct and indirect impacts of urbanization on wetlands and the key role wetlands play in watershed
quality.
USDA Provides More Than $42.5 Million for Additional Natural Disaster Recovery
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that an additional $42.5 million will be provided through NRCS´ Emergency Watershed Protection
program (EWP) to help with natural disaster recovery efforts in 13 states. The states-California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri,
Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont-will receive up to 75 percent of the funds needed to restore the
natural function of a watershed and up to 90 percent on limited resource areas damaged by a natural disaster. The community or local sponsor for the work
pays the remaining cost-share, which can be provided by cash and/or in-kind services. USDA News Release:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/01/0010.xml, January 16, 2007.
Webcasts
EPA´s Watershed Academy to sponsor February 21st Webcast on Implementing TMDLs and Trading through the National Estuary Program
On Feb. 21st, EPA´s Watershed Academy will host a free Webcast entitled, Implementing TMDLs and Trading through the National Estuary Program, featuring Darrell Brown, Chief of EPA´s Coastal Management Branch; Mark Tedesco, Director of EPA´s Long Island Sound Office; and Gary Johnson, Senior Environmental Engineer for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. The Webcast will provide an overview of the National Estuary Program (NEP) and highlight how the Long Island Sound NEP is successfully using its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan as the basis for developing a total maximum daily load. The Webcast will also discuss the innovative trading program used in Long Island Sound that is reducing nitrogen loads faster and more cost effectively. Registration for this Webcast opens on February 14th, 2007.
February 2007 marks the 20th Anniversary of the NEP, which was established under the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act. The program promotes comprehensive planning efforts and actions to help protect 28 designated estuaries threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The March 28th Webcast will cover Key EPA Internet Tools for Watershed Management. For more information or to access archived audio versions of past webcasts, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts .
ITRC to host free Feb 27th Webcast on Planning and Promoting of Ecological Land Reuse of Remediated Sites
On February 27th, 2007 the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) will offer a free Webcast on Planning and Promoting of Ecological Land Reuse of Remediated Sites. The design and construction of the ecological end-use as an integrated component of the remediation system will realize pronounced benefits. Ecological elements considered at the inception of planning for environmental remediation at Superfund, RCRA, and Brownfield sites can be a cost-effective and an efficient way to restore, create, and improve wildlife habitat or the ecological system of the site. Incorporation of ecological elements can benefit multiple stakeholders, such as regulatory agencies, the regulated community (industry), local communities, and the general public.
This training is based on the ITRC Technical and Regulatory Guideline:
Planning and Promoting Ecological Land Reuse of Remediated Sites (ECO-2, 2006). The document
presents a process to promote ecological land reuse activities considering natural or green technologies instead of more traditional remedies. The guidance
demonstrates that natural or ecological end-uses are valuable alternatives to conventional property development or redevelopment. Ecological benefits and
a process for calculating their value are included in the guidance and reviewed in this training. To register, please visit:
http://clu-in.org/training/#upcoming . This training is open to government and non-government
participants and will be archived for future downloads.
Outreach and Education
National Environmental Education Week is April 15-22, 2007
The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation is coordinating National Environmental Education Week (NEEW) from
April 15-22, 2007. NEEW is designed increase the educational impact of Earth Day by creating a full week of educational preparation,
learning, and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums, www.eeweek.org.
Now in its 3rd year, NEEW is fast becoming one of the largest environmental education events in the country and is made possible through the
support of Canon, U.S.A. Inc. New features in 2007 include:
- The Richard C. Bartlett Award for Environmental Education, which will recognize outstanding environmental education programs in both formal and non-formal settings with grants awarded to the winning organizations.
- An on-line Nature Bee which will encourage student identification of wildlife habitats, flora and fauna in their communities. Grade appropriate
questions will be developed by a National Teachers´ Advisory Committee and will be accessible on-line through
www.eeweek.org. Questions will be posted in March, 2007.
To join as a partner, go to www.eeweek.org and click on Register today (home page). For those who have participated
in the past, sign-up once again to be counted as a 2007 partner. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Schultz
at eeweek@neetf.org. For more information about the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation visit
http://www.neetf.org.
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
Smart Growth for Local Governments: Creating and Sustaining Livable Communities
February 26-27, 2007, Washington, D.C. ICMA University with support from the Smart Growth Network and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), will present its second Leading Practices Conference on smart growth. The conference, "Smart Growth for Local Governments: Creating and
Sustaining Livable Communities," will feature three case studies of local governments that are implementing leading practices in smart growth. In
addition to hearing from these communities at the "leading edge" of smart growth, participants will also have an opportunity to share their own
leading practices, and get feedback and advice from their peers and from national experts in smart growth. For more information, visit
http://www.icma.org/main/ca.asp?p=1&caid=408&hsid=1&t=0.
Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Innovations for the 21st Century
March 21-23, 2007, Atlanta, Georgia. Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Innovations for the 21st Century will bring together
stakeholders from all levels of government and the private sector to explore creative methods to pay for sustainable water infrastructure today and into
the future. It is the first of its kind to address the challenge of integrating the many diverse tools and strategies to pay for sustainable water
infrastructure. The Conference will provide a forum to exchange ideas about how best to meet the challenges confronting water infrastructure today. With
28 sessions in four tracks, the topics covered will focus on innovations that reduce costs and increase investment in drinking water and wastewater systems
and programs. Please see the website for updated information: http://www.payingforwater.com. For more
information regarding the Conference, please contact Kelly Kunert at kunert.kelly@epa.gov.
Call for poster abstracts at the Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure Conference
A technical poster session has just been added to the Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Innovations for the 21st Century conference.
The poster session will provide an opportunity for attendees to present related tools, projects, research at the March 21-23, 2007 conference in Atlanta.
The deadline for poster abstract submission is February 9, 2007. Please go to
www.payingforwater.com/program for more information and to download the submission form. For questions
about the poster session or submitting a poster abstract please contact Sheryle Quinn at quinn.sheryle@epa.gov.
2nd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration
April 23-27, 2007, Kansas City, Missouri. The 2nd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration is organized by Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences at University of Florida, USGS, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The purpose of 2nd NCER is to provide a forum
for physical, biological, and social scientists, engineers, resource managers, planners and policy-makers to share their knowledge and research results
concerning ecosystem restoration. Conference participants will have the opportunity to learn about multi-scale ecosystem restoration programs (e.g.,
Missouri River, Great Lakes , Everglades, San Francisco Bay/Delta, Chesapeake Bay Columbia River, Louisiana Coastal Area, Puget Sound, Mississippi River)
and what has contributed to success, as well as lessons learned from these programs. Successful partnerships and means to leverage resources will be an
important component of these meetings. For more information, visit
http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/NCER2007/.
Final Call for Papers - Western State Workshop: Strengthening the Roles of Land Trusts and Local Governments in Protecting and Restoring Wetlands and Riparian Areas
June 3-6, 2007 Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City, Utah. The Association of State Wetland Managers, sponsors and cooperating parties
invite participants to attend a Western State Workshop: Strengthening the Roles of Land Trusts and Local Governments in Protecting and
Restoring Wetlands and Riparian Areas. They are also accepting abstracts for presentations or for the exhibit/poster sessions. The
exhibit/poster session will focus on the restoration of wetlands and riparian areas. This workshop will be for technical and semi-technical
staff of land trusts, local governments, state agencies, and federal agencies. It will present "how to" information concerning the protection
and restoration of wetlands and riparian areas. Please submit abstracts in word format to Sharon at
abstractsjune07@aswm.org by February 15, 2007. You can view the call for papers announcement at the ASWM website at
http://www.aswm.org/calendar/lt&lg/lt&lg2.htm.
River Rally 2007
May 18-22, 2007, Stevenson, Washington. River Network´s National River Rally 2007 will help grassroots groups harness the power of
citizen involvement to protect rivers and build healthier communities and watersheds. The River Rally will bring together hundreds of friends of rivers,
water keepers, monitors, watchdogs, stewards, guardians and others involved in watershed protection and restoration. Together, we will celebrate rivers,
teach and learn from each other, and explore the power of citizen action. To register or for more information, go to
http://www.rivernetwork.org/rally/.
10th Annual Southeast Watershed Roundtable: Sustaining Our Water Infrastructure through Watershed-Based Approaches
August 1-3, 2007; Chateau Elan Winery & Resort - Braselton, GA. Presenters from around the Southeast and beyond will showcase communities,
utilities and industries blending innovative strategies for water supply, waste-water and watershed management, based on the EPA´s
Four Pillars of Sustainable Water Infrastructure:
1. Better Management; 2. Full Cost Pricing; 3. Water Efficiency; and 4. Watershed Approach. To register, The Forum is also soliciting oral and poster
session presentations, which are due by March 16, 2007. For more information, visit
http://www.southeastwaterforum.org/index.asp.
Be sure to check EPA& Watershed Funding Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/funding.html
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