Watershed News

April 2007

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) $2.7 Million Available to Local Communities to Reduce Toxic Exposure
2) Open Comment Period for the Draft National Coastal Condition Report III
3) New Developments in STORET -- Improving Data Use and Sharing
4) New EPA Web Module Offers Watershed Outreach Training
5) New DVD Highlights Local Governments and Sustainable Infrastructure
6) Fifteen Things You Can Do To Protect Your Watershed
7) Las Vegas Wash (NV): Best Management Practices Drastically Reduce Sediment and Restore Water Quality in Las Vegas Wash
8) Six Wetland Stewards Win 2007 National Wetlands Awards
9) Clean Water Mercury Listing Guidance Issued
10) EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor April 18^th Webcast on new Watershed Plan Builder Tool
11) Social Marketing Webcast Slated for May 9^th, 2007
12) American Wetlands Month is Just Around the Corner - Start Now to Plan a Wetlands Event
13) Alien Invaders: Invasive Species and Wetlands
14) Light-hearted Chesapeake Club Brings Conservation Message to Virginia
15) Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

Grant Opportunities

$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/.

Annnouncements

Open Comment Period for the Draft National Coastal Condition Report III

The draft National Coastal Condition Report III was released on March 9, 2007 for a 60-day comment period. The Report describes the ecological and environmental conditions in U.S. coastal waters. It summarizes the condition of ecological resources in the estuaries of the United States and highlights several exemplary Federal, State, Tribal, and local programs that assess coastal ecological and water quality conditions. EPA expects to release the final report in the March, 2008.

The draft Report presents three main types of data: 1) coastal monitoring data, 2) offshore fisheries data, and 3) assessment advisory data. For the first time, an analysis of changes over time in estuarine condition from 1990-2002 are presented for the nation's estuaries and by region.

EPA recognizes that work is still needed in formulating simple yet accurate indicators of coastal condition. EPA is soliciting input on the draft Report regarding data completeness, the choice of indicators, the methodologies used to synthesize data, rating scores for each indicator, the choice of spatial scales, temporal scale analyses, and the overall report presentation. Only through cooperative interaction of key Federal agencies, coastal States, Tribes, local agencies and non-governmental organizations and the public will our effort to gauge and manage the health of America's coastal ecosystem be successful.

Submit your comments to EPA Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2007-0019 by May 8, 2006. For more information visit: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nccr3/index.html.

New Developments in STORET -- Improving Data Use and Sharing

The Office of Water has released the Water Quality Exchange (WQX). WQX is a new data transfer system that makes it easier for states, tribes, and others to submit and share water quality monitoring data over the Internet. The release of WQX provides for the transfer of chemical and fish tissue data, and for physical parameters such as temperature. WQX was developed and refined after a series of meetings with state and regional water quality staff in the spring and summer of 2006. With WQX, groups who collect water quality data no longer need to use EPA's STORET database to submit their information to the National STORET Data Warehouse. WQX, in essence, uses new Web technology and Agency-wide standards to bring data sharing into the 21^st century.

Also, newly available is a Web-based Watershed Summary tool designed to help water quality managers and the public use the information in the National STORET Data Warehouse. This tool allows users to create a summary of available data for an individual watershed. It shows the types of data available in the Warehouse for that watershed (such as metals, nutrients, or pesticides), who has entered the data, the period of record for the data, and how much data are available. The user can then download the specific data needed for that watershed. Please visit EPA's website at www.epa.gov/storet/ for more information on WQX and the Watershed Summary.

New EPA Web Module Offers Watershed Outreach Training

EPA's Watershed Academy recently posted a free, updated online training module on Getting In Step: A Guide to Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns. This module offers a tested step-by-step system to help local governments, watershed organizations and others maximize the effectiveness of public outreach campaigns to help solve nonpoint source pollution problems and protect local waterways. The module is based on EPA's free, downloadable outreach guide "Getting in Step: Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns" (published in Dec. 2003 and posted at: www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/outreach/documents). To view the new Getting in Step online training module, visit www.epa.gov/watertrain/gettinginstep. Approximately 50 other free online Watershed Academy training modules are available at: www.epa.gov/watertrain.

New DVD Highlights Local Governments and Sustainable Infrastructure

EPA's Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) has developed a DVD that highlights how local governments are addressing aging sewer and water systems to meet current and future challenges facing our communities. The LGAC is an officially chartered federal advisory that provides advice and recommendations to assist the EPA in developing a stronger partnership with local governments. http://www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure/lgac_video/index.html

Watershed Tool of the Month

Fifteen Things You Can Do To Protect Your Watershed

http://www.epa.gov/owow/adopt/earthday/index.html lists more than a dozen activities that citizens and students can undertake to protect their local watershed, including Earth Day events and projects.

Spotlight: Watersheds at Work

Las Vegas Wash (NV): Best Management Practices Drastically Reduce Sediment and Restore Water Quality in Las Vegas Wash

The Las Vegas Wash drains the 1,600-square-mile Las Vegas Valley, delivering stormwater, urban runoff, and highly treated effluent to Lake Mead, the nation's largest manmade reservoir and the primary water supply for millions of people in Nevada, Arizona, and southern California. These sources caused water quality impairments to the lower wash due to excess sediment and iron transported with that sediment. In 2002, Nevada placed the lower reach of Las Vegas Wash on its 303(d) list of impaired waters, with impairments to aquatic life propagation (excluding fish) due to total suspended solids (TSS). Following the construction of erosion control structures, restoration of wetland areas, and removal of invasive vegetation, average TSS concentrations declined significantly. This allowed the state to remove the lower reach from its 303(d) list in 2004. For more information about this success story, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/state/nv.htm.

Six Wetland Stewards Win 2007 National Wetlands Awards

Six citizens have been recognized nationally for their wetland conservation efforts and dedication to protecting these important natural resources. The 2007 awardees are: The Brockway Family, an Iowan family that has enhanced and restored over 250 acres of wetlands on their land; Jeanne Christie, a national leader in the development of local, state and national wetland programs; Paul Keddy , a wetland ecologist and professor at Southeastern Louisiana University who has developed strategic plans for scientific wetland restoration; Jeff Nania, who as director of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, has led the restoration of thousands of acres of wetlands; Lynda Saul, Wetlands Program Manager at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality who established the Montana Wetlands Council with over 400 members state-wide; Alice Wellford, a wetlands advocate and community organizer based in Richmond, Virginia.

Collectively, the award winners have conserved thousands of wetland acres and have mobilized hundreds of other individuals to contribute to wetland conservation. In May, they will receive their awards at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. Program co-sponsors-the Environmental Law Institute, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Highway Administration, and NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service - welcome the opportunity to recognize and encourage voluntary wetland conservation efforts. For more information on the program, the 2007 awardees, or the May awards ceremony, contact Jared Thompson at the Environmental Law Institute at (202) 939-3247 or wetlandsawards@eli.org. Information is also available online at www.nationalwetlandsawards.org.

Clean Water Mercury Listing Guidance Issued

EPA is providing information to states, territories, and tribes regarding a voluntary approach for listing waters impaired by mercury mainly from atmospheric sources. The approach uses Clean Water Act tools to encourage comprehensive state and regional mercury control programs. EPA is recommending the voluntary approach for states that have in place a comprehensive mercury reduction program with elements recommended by EPA. These states may separate their waters impaired by mercury primarily from atmospheric sources in a specific subcategory ("5m") of their Clean Water Act section 303(d) lists. States using this approach may also defer development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for mercury-impaired waters as a result of having implemented mercury reduction programs. Rather than deferring action, the 5m approach recognizes states that are already taking action in advance of TMDLs to address their mercury sources and achieve environmental results earlier. http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/mercury5m/

Webcasts

EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor April 18^th Webcast on new Watershed Plan Builder Tool

EPA's Watershed Academy sponsors free monthly Webcasts for watershed practitioners from around the globe. On Wed., April 18^th, 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.

Social Marketing Webcast Slated for May 9^th, 2007

EPA's Office of Wastewater Management will host a Webcast, A Tool for More Effective Stormwater Education and Outreach Programs, on May 9^th, 2007. Nancy Lee, nationally noted expert on communications and social marketing, will discuss how social marketing techniques can be integrated into stormwater outreach and education programs to help change citizen's behavior to help prevent stormwater pollution. For more information, visit EPA's Office of Wastewater Management Website.

Education and Outreach

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.

Light-hearted Chesapeake Club Brings Conservation Message to Virginia

Residents of Hampton Roads and the Greater Richmond area are learning how to "Save the Crabs, then Eat 'Em" this spring with the return of Chesapeake Club, a media campaign that educates residents about the Bay's nutrient pollution problem in a humorous way. Find out how skipping the lawn fertilizer this spring can help benefit the Bay's blue crabs and those summer crab feasts you've been waiting for all winter.

Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

April 10-11 -- Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Symposium, Laurel, MD.

Learn how NOAA-funded research supports an ecosystem approach to resource management at the 10th annual symposium on Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Science. Registration is available on the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office website. For more information, contact Derek.Orner@noaa.gov or Kim.Couranz@noaa.gov.

April 23-27 -- 2nd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER), 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. For more information, visit: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/NCER2007/.

April 1-4 -- 10th International Symposium on Wetland Biogeochemistry, Annapolis, MD.

For more information, see www.serc.si.edu/conference/index.jsp.

April 1-5 -- 20th Annual Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems, Denver, CO.

For more information, see www.eegs.org/sageep/.

April 9 -- Sustainable Waters in a Changing World: Research to Practice, Amherst, MA.

For more information, see www.wrrcconference.com.

April 22-27 -- 2nd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration, Kansas City, MO.

For more information, see www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/NCER2007.

April 24-26 -- 7th Passive Sampling Workshop and Symposium, Reston, VA.

For more information, see www.cerc.usgs.gov/Research/Passive_Conference/psws.htm.

April 29-May 1 -- Fifth Annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

For more information, see www.greenroofs.org/minneapolis/.

April 29 - May 3 -- Ground Water Summit, Albuquerque, NM.

For more information, see www.ngwa.org/e/conf/0704295095.cfm.

May 15-19 -- World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Tampa, FL.

For more information, see http://content.asce.org/conferences/ewri2007.

May 18-22 -- River Rally 2007, Stevenson, Washington.

River Network's River Rally 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/.

May 21-23 -- New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission's 18^th Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference, Newport, RI.

For more information, see www.neiwpcc.org.

May 20-23 -- 2nd National Forum on Socioeconomic Research in Coastal Systems: Challenges of Natural Resource Economics and Policy, New Orleans, LA.

For more information, see www.cnrep.lsu.edu/pdfs/CNREP_abstracts07.pdf.

May 20-25 -- International Conference on Ecology and Transportation 2007, Little Rock, AR.

For more information, see www.icoet.net.

June 3-6 -- Western State Workshop: Strengthening the Roles of Land Trusts and Local Governments in Protecting and Restoring Wetlands and Riparian Areas, 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. For more information, http://www.aswm.org/calendar/lt&lg/lt&lg2.htm.

August 1-3 -- 10th Annual Southeast Watershed Roundtable: Sustaining Our Water Infrastructure through Watershed-Based Approaches, 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. For more information, visit http://www.southeastwaterforum.org/index.asp.

Call for Abstracts: Watershed Science and Technical Conference, "Clean Water Through Protection and Partnership" on September 11 & 12, 2007 Hotel Thayer, West Point, NY

For more information, visit: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lgss/pdfs/2007callforabstracts.pdf.

Be sure to check EPA& Watershed Funding Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/funding.html

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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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