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Watershed News
March 2008
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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) FY 2008 Assessment and Watershed Protection Program Grants (AWWPPGs)
2) Grants Available to Help Coastal Counties
3) Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program Request for Proposals (RFP)
4) USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service solicits proposals for its Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grant Program–National Integrated Water Quality Program
5) Gulf Program Seeks Entries for 2008 Gulf Gauardian Awards
6) Grants Available from the Hydrologic Sciences Program within the National Science Foundation
7) TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse
8) Montana– Upper Sun River Successful Collaboration and Agricultural BMPs Improve 80 Miles of Sun River
9) EPA’s Watershed Academy to sponsor free March 19th Webcast on Managing Nutrients in Your Backyard and Your Community
10) President’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request
11) CWP Releases New Restoration Manual for Free Download
12) Announcing the Launch of Your Water. Your Decision
13) EPA Seeks Public Comment on Possible Drinking Water Contaminants
14) EPA Helps Communities Increase Water System Sustainability
15) Strategic Conservation Planning Using a Green Infrastructure Approach
16) River Rally 2008
17) Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters
18) GIS Tools for Strategic Conservation Planning
19) Enhancing the States’ Lake Management Program
20) FLOW 2008: Interdisciplinary Solutions to Instream Flow Problems
21) WEFTEC.08 Conference
Awards and Funding Opportunities
FY 2008 Assessment and Watershed Protection Program Grants (AWPPGs)
EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds is soliciting proposals for the purposes of strengthening the capacity of watershed stakeholders to develop and implement effective, comprehensive programs for watershed protection, restoration, and management. EPA is accepting proposals from eligible applicants under two National Priorities: (1) Watershed/Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) National Priority and (2) Nonpoint Source National Priority. The Watershed/TMDL National Priority focuses on projects that advance the science of TMDL development and watershed management through the provision of technical training/information transfer, and enhancement of TMDL production efficiencies. The Nonpoint Source National Priority focuses on enhancing lake water quality through innovative outreach projects, educational materials, curriculum design, and awareness programs. The deadline for proposals is April 22, 2008. For more information, see the Request for Proposals at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/funding/rfp.html.
Grants Available to Help Coastal Counties
NACo in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Community-Based Restoration Program (CRP), is soliciting proposals for the second year of funding for the Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative (CCRI). The initiative provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to innovative, high quality county-led or supported projects. In 2008, CCRI will provide $500,000 in grants to improve stream, river, estuarine and other important marine habitats. A priority area for CCRI is the removal of fish passage barriers in coastal streams and rivers. Grants will range from $50,000-$100,000, based upon need. The deadline for applications is March 24, 2008. For more information and to access the full RFP and application instructions, visit www.naco.org/ccri. 
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program Request for Proposals (RFP)
EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible entities project proposals to receive financial assistance through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. CARE is a unique community-based, community-driven, multimedia demonstration program designed to help communities understand and reduce risks due to toxics and environmental pollutants from all sources. The CARE grant program works with the eligible entities to help their communities form collaborative partnerships, develop a comprehensive understanding of the many sources of risk from toxics and environmental pollutants, set priorities, and identify and carry out projects to reduce risks through collaborative action at the local level. EPA will award two types of cooperative agreements (Level I and Level II) under this solicitation. The RFP is available on-line as a PDF file at http://www.epa.gov/air/grants/08-02.pdf (PDF) (51 pp, 199K, About PDF), RFP # EPA-OAR-IO-08-02.
For additional information, visit http://www.epa.gov/CARE/.
USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service solicits proposals for its Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - National Integrated Water Quality Program
The goal of the National Integrated Water Quality Program is to improve the quality of the Nation's surface water and groundwater resources through research, education, and extension activities. Projects funded through this program will facilitate achieving this goal by advancing and disseminating the knowledge base available to agricultural and rural communities. Funded projects should lead to science-based decision-making and management practices that improve the quality of the Nation's surface water and groundwater resources in agricultural and rural watersheds. See RFA for priority areas and eligible applicants. Proposals are due April 29, 2008. For more information, visit: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/waterqualityicgp.cfm .
Gulf Program Seeks Entries for 2008 Gulf Guardian Awards
The Gulf of Mexico Program is currently soliciting entries for the 2008 Gulf Guardian Awards Program. The Gulf Guardian Award exemplifies what the Gulf of Mexico Program stands for; innovative solutions that occur when we pool resources and look for creative ways to tackle the region's complex coastal environmental challenges in ways that also positively impact our quality of life and economic well being. The Gulf Program recognizes annually a first, second, and third winner in each of the seven categories: 1) Business, 2) Government, 3) Civic/Nonprofit Organizations, 4) Youth/Education, 5) Partnerships, 6) Individual and 7) Binational, which jointly honors U.S/Mexico Partnership programs and projects. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2008.The entry forms for the award are available online at http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/gulfguard.html.
Grants Available from the Hydrologic Sciences Program within National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is offering an estimated $7,400,000 in total program funding to be distributed to approximately 30 eligible recipients. Proposals will generally be accepted from colleges, universities, and other organizations in the United States with formal research programs in the areas supported by Division of Earth Sciences (EAR). Proposals may involve scientists at one organization or collaborative efforts of associated researchers from different organizations working on coordinated projects. The current deadline for applications is June 1, 2008. For more information, visit: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2006/nsf06545/nsf06545.htm#pgm_intr_txt.
Watershed Tool of the Month
TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse
Virginia Tech's Center for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Watershed Studies has developed an on-line database to house selected TMDL-related information and documents in one central location. This online tool contains three types of resources: TMDL guidance documents, reviews and summaries of TMDL-related technical and trade literature, and state-by-state summaries of TMDL programs across the nation. In total, about 500 documents are available within this database. The TMDL Knowledgebase Clearinghouse can be accessed via the Center's Web site at: http://www.tmdl.bse.vt.edu/site/knowledgebase/.
Spotlight: Watersheds at Work
Montana–Upper Sun River Successful Collaboration and Agricultural BMPs Improve 80 Miles of Sun River
The mainstem of the Sun River is split into upper and lower segments for management purposes. The Upper Sun River was listed as impaired on Montana's 2000 and 2002 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies because of excess nutrients. Landowners; local watershed organizations; and many federal, state, and local government agencies collaborated to implement agricultural best management practices (BMPs) in the Upper Sun River and its tributaries. Water quality improved as a result, allowing the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to remove the Upper Sun River from the 303(d) list for nutrients in 2006. The Sun River watershed project is a classic example of using the watershed approach to address nonpoint source pollution.For more information about this success story, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/state/mt_sun.htm.
Webcasts
EPA’s Watershed Academy to sponsor free March 19th Webcast on Managing Nutrients in Your Backyard and Your Community
EPA's Watershed Academy sponsors free monthly Webcasts for watershed practitioners from around the globe. On Wed., March 19, 2008, presenters will discuss will examine the serious impacts on water quality from excess nutrients and pesticides and will highlight two exceptional programs at the state and local level that encourage homeowners, businesses, and neighborhoods to adopt more sustainable practices to prevent harmful runoff from yards and lawns. The speakers will provide a national, state and community perspective on nutrient management initiatives as alternatives to conventional lawn care practices.
Registration opens March 5th. To register, visit: http://www.cluin.org/live (scroll down to March 19th Webcast and click on "registration"). For more information or to access archived audio versions of past Webcasts, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
News
President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request
The President's Fiscal Year 2009 budget request including for EPA's National Water Program was announced on February 4, 2008. EPA's request for water programs is over $ 2.5 billion or 35 percent of the agency's overall budget, and will allow EPA, along with our state, tribal and local partners, to make continued progress in ensuring America's waters are clean, safe and secure. This budget will help EPA to restore and maintain waters across the country, continue to improve the health of country's major coastal ecosystems, provide communities with compliant drinking water standards, and implement a total of five water security infrastructure pilots. For more information on the budget request: http://www.epa.gov/ocfo/budget/index.htm
CWP Releases New Restoration Manual for Free Download
In an effort to ensure that every community is equipped with the guidance needed to repair streams as part of larger watershed restoration efforts, the Center for Watershed Protection is now making Manual 4: Urban Stream Repair Practices of the Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual Series available permanently for free download. This manual focuses on practices used to enhance the appearance, stability, structure, or function of urban streams. It includes guidance on how to set appropriate restoration goals for your stream, and how to choose the best combination of stream repair practices to meet them. To download these manual series, visit http://www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/USRM.htm.
Announcing the Launch of Your Water. Your Decision
The Source Water Collaborative is launching a new campaign called Your Water. Your Decision,
encouraging local officials to connect with best practices, people, and other resources that can help them protect their sources of drinking water. The SWC produced this new guide to give local decision-makers a look at their options for protecting sources of drinking water. The actions taken include a wide array of approaches from development to stewardship to budgeting. For more information, visit
http://www.protectdrinkingwater.org/.
EPA Seeks Public Comment on Possible Drinking Water Contaminants
EPA is asking for public comment on a list of 104 possible drinking water contaminants that may need to be regulated in the future to ensure the continued protection of drinking water. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA includes on the draft Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) currently unregulated contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and which may require regulation. The comment period is open for 90 days beginning the day of publication in the Federal Register. Information on the CCL 3: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/ccl3.html.
EPA Helps Communities Increase Water System Sustainability
EPA is providing tools and timely information to help communities improve sustainability of their water systems. Two new documents that describe how EPA is carrying out efforts to help are the "National Capacity Development Strategic Plan" and "Analysis on the Use of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-Asides: Promoting Capacity Development." EPA works with a number of partners, including organizations that provide technical assistance to small public water systems, to improve technical, managerial, and financial capacity of systems. For information about capacity development, visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/ssinfo.htm.
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
Strategic Conservation Planning Using a Green Infrastructure Approach
April 14 - 18, 2008,
Shepherdstown, WV.
A new Green Infrastructure course, Strategic Conservation Planning Using a Green Infrastructure Approach, is being offered April 14 - 18, 2008 at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. There is a lot of interest in this course, so please register by March 12, 2008 to secure your spot! More information about this course can be found on the attached course announcement and online at http://www.conservationfund.org/node/239
River Rally 2008
May 2-6, 2008,
Huron, OH.
River Rally is River Network's training opportunity for conservation organizations, watershed partnerships, volunteers, board members, staff members, experienced leaders and new watershed protection enthusiasts. River Network's National River Rally 2008 will help grassroots groups, tribes and agencies harness the power of citizen involvement to protect rivers and build healthier communities and watersheds. The event will be held May 2-5 at the Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, OH. The pre- registration deadline is March 15, 2008. For more information, visit http://www.rivernetwork.org/rn/rally/
http://www.rivernetwork.org/rn/rally/
Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters
May 18 - 22, 2008 Atlantic City, NJ. The National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) presents the 2008 National Monitoring Conference to be held May 18 - 22, 2008 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Among the topics to be addressed at this year's conference are beach monitoring, groundwater sustainability, microbial source tracking, state monitoring strategies, and data management and exchange. Pre-registration ends May 1, 2008. For full conference agenda and registration, visit the NWQMC Web site at http://acwi.gov/monitoring/. http://acwi.gov/monitoring/
GIS Tools for Strategic Conservation Planning
June 16-19, 2008,
Shepherdstown, WV.
A new course, GIS Tools for Strategic Conservation Planning, is being offered June 16-19, 2008 at the National Conservation Training Center is Shepherdstown, WV. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center and The Conservation Fund offer this course to teach students how to apply GIS tools, methodologies, and analyses to strategic conservation planning using a "Green Infrastructure" approach. The registration deadline is May 1, 2008. More information about this course can be found attached here and online at http://www.conservationfund.org/node/670.
Save the Date
Enhancing the States’ Lake Management Programs
Building Partnerships for Improved Fisheries and Lake Water Quality
April 29 - May 2, 2008, Chicago, IL. This 21st Annual National Conference is cosponsored by the Chicago Botanic Garden, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Headquarters Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds and Region 5 - Water Division) and North American Lake Management Society, in cooperation with:Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, and American Fisheries Society. Join us at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza to discuss successes, evaluate obstacles, and explore new approaches for improving the States’ lake management programs.
For full Conference Program and Registration information, visit the conference Web site at http://nalms.org/Conferences/2008Chicago
FLOW 2008: Interdisciplinary Solutions to Instream Flow Problems
October 7-9, 2008, San Antonio, TX. Sponsored by the Instream Flow Council, the conference will provide opportunities to learn about creative, interdisciplinary tools and approaches to instream flow problem-solving, explore the latest developments in instream flow science, policy and public dialogue and build collaborative decision-making skills through an interactive session with Professor Larry Susskind of Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation. For more information, visit www.instreamflowcouncil.org/.
WEFTEC.08 Conference
October 18-22, 2008, Chicago, IL. The 81st Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference is the largest conference of its kind in North America and offers water quality professionals from around the world water quality education and training. Learn from your peers about the latest practices, technologies, solutions and regulations in the water quality field. Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by participating in workshops and earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) by attending technical sessions. For more information, visit www.weftec.org.
Be sure to check EPA and Watershed Funding Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/funding.html
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