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Watershed News
March 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) Journal of the American Waters Resources Association – Special Issue on Connectivity of Headwater Streams to Downstream Waters
2) Emphasis on Conservation and Water Quality in Farm Bill Proposal
3) Smart Growth Implementation Assistance
4) Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program
5) Targeted Watersheds Grant Program Now Accepting Proposals
6) 2007 Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program Request for Proposals
7) $2.7 Million Available to Local Communities to Reduce Toxic Exposure
8) Growing Greener Grant Announcement
9) Watershed Tool of the Month: Enviromapper for Water
10) Five-Mile Creek Greenways Project is Turning Idle Brownfields into Recreational Resources
11) March 7th Webcast on Stormwater MS4 Permit Program
12) EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor March 28th Webcast on Key EPA Internet Tools for Watershed Management
13) March 21st NALGEP Webcast on Low Impact Development and Watershed Management
14) American Wetlands Month is Just Around the Corner —Start Now to Plan a Wetlands Event
15) Alien Invaders: Invasive Species and Wetlands
16) LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) Pilot Rating System Available
17) Utah Department of Agriculture and Food: Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Marketing
18) National Environmental Education Week is April 15-22, 2007
19) Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
Policy News
Journal of the American Waters Resources Association – Special Issue on Connectivity of Headwater Streams to Downstream Waters
The scientific Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) just published an issue devoted to the hydrological connectivity of headwater streams and their contributions to the integrity of downstream waters, a timely topic given recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Following the Court’s decision in SWANCC, the case law and regulatory debates made apparent that the emerging issue regarding what is jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act (CWA) is determined by “what is the extent of the tributary system”, with a focus on headwater, intermittent and ephemeral streams and the connectivity, or “significant nexus”, of these waters to navigable waters. The Supreme Court’s complex decision in Rapanos also addresses CWA jurisdiction, further highlighting the timeliness of the JAWRA publication and the immediate role for science in informing these issues. This featured collection resulted from a 2005 symposium held by the American Water Resources Association in Seattle, Washington. The papers are authored by some of the foremost experts in the country. This special issue is available at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/jawr/43/1.
Emphasis on Conservation and Water Quality in Farm Bill Proposal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released its 2007 Farm Bill proposal. The proposal highlights: an overall conservation funding budget of up to $7.8 billion; creation of a new Environmental Quality Incentives Program; creation of new Regional Water Enhancement Program which, focusing on cooperative approaches to enhancing water quantity or quality on a regional scale; and additional funds for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. To learn about the farm bill proposal, visit www.usda.gov.
Grant Opportunities
Smart Growth Implementation Assistance
U.S. EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation is soliciting applications for assistance from states, regions, and communities that want to develop in ways that meet environmental and other goals. Applications are due by 5:00PM EST, Thursday, March 8th, 2007. Grant criteria and application information are available at: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/2007_sgia_rfa.htm.
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 their newest 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 through education, outreach and training activities. Special funding is also available through a partnership with Southern Company and its operating companies (Georgia Power, Alabama Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power). In addition to EPA funding for projects located within any U.S. state or territory, additional grant funding is available for projects located in select areas. Applications must be postmarked by March 9, 2007. For more information on specifications/eligibility 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 to Maryland non-profit organizations and local governments. The program 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. Proposals are due by Friday, March 16th, 2007 at 5:00PM. Applicants can contact Dr. Jana Davis with questions at 410-974-2941, ext. 5 or jdavis@cbtrust.org. Visit http://www.cbtrust.org for more information.
2007 Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program Request for Proposals
The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program supports protection and restoration actions that contribute to restoring healthy waters, habitat and living resources of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The Small Watershed Grants Program has been designed to encourage the development and sharing of innovative ideas among the many organizations wishing to be involved in watershed protection activities. Proposals are due April 2nd, 2007. For more information on the proposal applications process, visit http://www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake/.
$2.7 Million Available to Local Communities to Reduce Toxic Exposure
The Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program, sponsored by EPA is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for communities to take action to reduce toxic pollution. Through CARE, communities create local collaborative partnerships that implement local solutions to reduce releases of and minimize exposure to toxic pollutants. Funds will be awarded based on two levels of cooperative agreement County and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities can apply for funding. Applications are due April 9th, 2007. For additional information about the 2007 cooperative agreements, projects awarded in 2005 and 2006, and how to apply see: http://www.epa.gov/care/agreements.htm. Additional information about the CARE program: http://www.epa.gov/care/.
Growing Greener Grant Announcement
The Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Act authorizes the PA. Department of Environmental Protection to allocate nearly $547 million in grants for acid mine drainage abatement, mine cleanup efforts, abandoned oil and gas well plugging and local watershed-based conservation projects. Grants will support local projects to clean up non-point sources of pollution throughout Pennsylvania. Applications will be accepted through April 13, 2007. For more information, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/growinggreener/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=481344
Watershed Tool of the Month
Enviromapper for Water
Enviromapper for Water (http://map8.epa.gov/enviromapper/) is a GIS based application that allows users to visualize and display geographic water information, including a wealth of information stored in EPA’s databases (e.g. Water Quality Standards, Impaired Waters/TMDLs, Waterbody Assessments, Water Quality Monitoring, and Point Source Information). To learn more about EPA’s tools, sign up for the March 28th Webcast on Key EPA Tools for Watershed Management (see below).
Spotlight: Watersheds at Work
Five-Mile Creek Greenways Project is Turning Idle Brownfields into Recreational Resources
Check out this month’s Watershed Success Story where project partners along Five Mile Creek in Alabama used a Brownfields Grant to transform a former industrial region into a 27-mile greenway with parks and paths, while also improving water quality. Partners leveraged an additional $54,000. This case study is also featured in the September 2006 Webcast on Using Brownfields for Watershed Protection and Restoration, which can be accessed at www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
Webcasts
March 7th Webcast on Stormwater MS4 Permit Program
On March 7, 2007, EPA's Office of Wastewater Management is holding a free Webcast to introduce the new Stormwater Guide for Evaluating MS4 Programs. This guide is designed for use by NPDES authorities to evaluate the quality of Phase I and Phase II MS4 programs. It can be used for comprehensive program evaluations or for certain components of an MS4 program. The document is being provided in Microsoft Word format so NPDES programs can modify it to meet the unique components of their programs such as those required by state regulations. To view the guide visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/munic.cfm. Registration information can be found at: http://cfpub2.epa.gov/npdes/outreach.cfm?program_id=0&otype=1.
EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor March 28th Webcast on Key EPA Internet Tools for Watershed Management
EPA's Watershed Academy sponsors free monthly Webcasts for watershed practitioners from around the globe. On Wed., March 28th, Ansu John of Tetra Tech, Inc. will discuss EPA tools and resources that support watershed planning; management; water quality studies; training, education and public outreach on water resource issues; and the nuts and bolts of water pollution control. Using simple screen shots and step-by-step explanations, the Webcast will explain how to do queries from some key EPA water-related databases, such as water quality standards, 303(d) listed impaired waters, assessed waters, STORET (water quality monitoring) and discharge monitoring reports from permitted dischargers. Registration for this Webcast will open on March 19th, 2007.
On Wed., April 18th, 2007, Charlie MacPherson from Tetra Tech, Inc. will be featured on a Webcast on EPA’s new Watershed Plan Builder Tool, which was created to provide groups with online access to an easy-to-follow watershed plan building process. For more information or to access archived audio versions of past Webcasts, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
March 21st NALGEP Webcast on Low Impact Development and Watershed Management
On March 21, from 3:00-4:30 pm, the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals (NALGEP) will present a Webcast on Low Impact Development and Watershed Management. In the face of rapid development, local governments are working hard to create and implement watershed protection programs at the municipal and multi-jurisdictional level. Low impact development (LID) strategies have become an innovative approach to minimizing stormwater runoff. This Webcast will feature Prince George's County, Maryland and Alachua County, Florida and highlight ways in which these counties implement LID strategies on a county and regional watershed scale. Registration is free to NALGEP members and $30 for non-members. For more information, visit http://www.nalgep.org/calendar/Index.cfm?Page=1&EventsID=4888.
News
American Wetlands Month is Just Around the Corner —Start Now to Plan a Wetlands Event
In May, EPA will celebrate American Wetlands Month to highlight the wonderful ways wetlands enrich the environment and human society. EPA encourages interested groups to plan activities and events that will help raise awareness of the critical role wetlands and other aquatic resources play in our environment and build support for the protection and restoration of these valuable ecosystems. All event information will be posted at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm. To post your even or discuss ways to participate, contact Kathleen Kutschenreuter (202-566-1383, kutschenreuter.kathleen@epa.gov) or Gregg Serenbetz (202-566-1253, serenbetz.gregg@epa.gov)
Alien Invaders: Invasive Species and Wetlands
The Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), founded in 1922 with the mission to protect America’s outdoors through community-based conservation, education, and the promotion of outdoor recreation, will also be promoting American Wetlands Month this May under the theme, Alien Invaders. Along with providing information on invasive species, IWLA offers assistance in planning wetlands month activities and getting them publicized. They will also provide fact sheets and other tools which may help in successfully executing your May event to promote healthy wetlands. For more information, visit their Website at: http://www.iwla.org/pow.
LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) Pilot Rating System Available
The Development, Community, and Environment Division (DCED) in U.S. EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation sponsored the US Green Building Council (USGBG), the Congress for the New Urbanism, and the Natural Resources Defense Council in the development of the LEED-Neighborhood Developmentstandard. This rating system integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a development’s location and design meet accepted high standards for environmentally responsible, sustainable, development.
USGBC is seeking pilot projects—deadline is April 6th, 2007. For more information, visit: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=148.
Outreach and Education
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food: Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Marketing
A free guide for using social marketing to further watershed program goals is now available online through Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food at: http://www.ag.utah.gov/conservation/GettingYourFeetWet1.pdf. Readers are lead through the social marketing process using water examples throughout the country. The rest of the book is dedicated to depicting short case studies of water-related social marketing success efforts. Additional resources, samples of audience research documents, and more are also included.
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 to 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. 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 generous support of Canon, U.S.A. Inc. New features in 2007 include:
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The Richard C. Bartlett Award for Environmental Education which will recognize outstanding environmental education programs by awarding grants awarded to the winning organizations. Visit http://www.eeweek.org for more information.
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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 http://www.eeweek.org.
To join NEEW as a partner, go to http://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, 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
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. The Conference will provide a forum to exchange ideas about how best to meet the challenges confronting water infrastructure today. 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 on Conference plenary speakers and agenda topics: http://www.payingforwater.com. For more information, please contact Kelly Kunert (kunert.kelly@epa.gov).
2nd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER)
April 23-27, 2007, Kansas City, Missouri. The NCER is organized by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at University of Florida, USGS, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its purpose 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 through the United States. Conference participants will have the opportunity to learn about multi-scale ecosystem restoration programs and what has contributed to success, as well as lessons learned from these programs. For more information, visit: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/NCER2007/.
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. This workshop, let by the Association of State Wetland Mangers, Sponsors and cooperating parties, 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. If you are interested in the goals of the workshop as well as other details, please visit the web site 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. The Rally will provide attendees with means to celebrate rivers, teach and learn from each other, and explore the power of citizen action. To register or for more information, visit the rally web site at: 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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