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Watershed News
April 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) YSI Foundation Minding the Planet 60th Anniversary Grant
2) EPA Regions Solicit Wetland Program Development Grant Proposals
3) Gulf Program Seeks Entries for 2008 Gulf Guardian Awards
4) Schafer Announces Conservation Security Program Sign-up
5) Grants Available from the Hydrologic Sciences Program
6) Army Corps and EPA Improve Wetland and Stream Mitigation
7) Watershed Tool of the Month: Fifteen Things You Can Do to Make A Difference in Your Watershed
8) Spotlight: Watersheds at Work, Illinois: Governor Bond Lake
9) EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor free April 10th Webcast on Monitoring Watershed Program Efficiency
10) Nexus Between Energy Use and Water Infrastructure
11) EPA Signs Agreement with Federal Highway Administration for Water Liaison
12) Seven Wetland Stewards Win 2008 National Wetlands Awards
13) May is American Wetlands Month
14) EPA Announces Release of Indicator Development for Estuaries manual
15) EPA Releases New Tools to Improve Drinking Water Monitoring and Reporting
16) Water: H2O = Life Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History; Featured on Colbert Report on Comedy Central
17) Sustainable Infrastructure Forum for Water and Wastewater
18) Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters
19) GIS Tools for Strategic Conservation Planning
20) AWRA 2008 Summer Specialty Conference
21) Wetlands 2008: Wetlands and Global Climate Change
22) Enhancing the States' Lake Management Programs
Building Partnerships for Improved Fisheries and Lake Water Quality
23) FLOW 2008: Interdisciplinary Solutions to Instream Flow Problems
24) WEFTEC.08 Conference
25) 44th AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference
Awards and Funding Opportunities
YSI Foundation Minding the Planet 60th Anniversary Grant
In honor of its 60th Anniversary, YSI will be awarding a special $60,000 grant to an organization focused on protecting water resources. Since 1990, YSI has publicly demonstrated commitment to its core values and being a good corporate citizen through its 501(c)(3) Foundation. The Foundation grants have funded a variety of projects, including university environmental science scholarships, large scale restoration projects, and a wetlands data center. This year the Foundation will recognize the important work local volunteer monitoring organizations are doing to improve the quality of the nation's water. Applications are due April 15, 2008. For more information, please visit https://www.ysi.com/ysi/About_Us/News. 
EPA Regions Solicit Wetland Program Development Grant Proposals
Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) provide eligible applicants an
opportunity to conduct projects that promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. While WPDGs can continue to be used to build and refine elements of a comprehensive wetland program, priority will be given to projects that address three key areas: developing a comprehensive monitoring and assessment program; improving the effectiveness of compensatory mitigation; and refining the protection of vulnerable wetlands and aquatic resources. States, Tribes, local governments (S/T/LGs), interstate associations, intertribal consortia, and national non-profit, non-governmental organizations are eligible to apply. Closing dates may vary by Region. For more information, visit www.grants.gov and search under key word: "wetlands."
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 deadline for applications is May 1, 2008. Entry forms are available online at http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/gulfguard.html.
Schafer Announces Conservation Security Program Sign-up
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced a sign-up for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) will be available starting on April 18 to approximately 64,000 potentially eligible farms and ranches in 51 watersheds covering more than 23.7 million acres. This announcement, open from April 18 to May 16, brings the number of watersheds enrolled to 331 across the Nation, covering 247.7 million acres that have been eligible for the program. CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing stewardship of private, agricultural working lands and rewards producers meeting the highest standards of conservation and environmental management. The program, authorized under the 2002 Farm Bill, is administered by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. The sign-up announcement and specific program requirements are being published in the Federal Register. For more information, visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/index.html.
Grants Available from the Hydrologic Sciences Program
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 EAR. Proposals may involve scientists at one organization or collaborative efforts of associated researchers from different organizations working on coordinated projects. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2008. For more information, visit www.grants.gov.
Policy Announcements
Army Corps and EPA Improve Wetland and Stream Mitigation
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released a new rule to clarify how to provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to the nation's wetlands and streams. The rule will enable the agencies to promote greater consistency, predictability and ecological success of mitigation projects under the Clean Water Act. Benefits of the compensatory mitigation rule include:
- Fostering greater predictability, increased transparency and improved performance of compensatory mitigation projects
- Establishing equivalent standards for all forms of mitigation
- Responding to recommendations of the National Research Council to improve the success of wetland restoration and replacement projects
- Setting clear science-based and results-oriented standards nationwide while allowing for regional variations
- Increasing and expanding public participation
- Encouraging watershed-based decisions
- Emphasizing the "mitigation sequence" requiring that proposed projects avoid and minimize potential impacts to wetlands and streams before proceeding to compensatory mitigation
Each year thousands of property owners undertake projects that affect the nation's aquatic resources. Proposed projects that are determined to impact jurisdictional waters are first subject to review under the Clean Water Act. The Corps of Engineers reviews these projects to ensure environmental impacts to aquatic resources are avoided or minimized as much as possible. Consistent with the administration's goal of "no net loss of wetlands" a Corps permit may require a property owner to restore, establish, enhance or preserve other aquatic resources in order to replace those impacted by the proposed project. This compensatory mitigation process seeks to replace the loss of existing aquatic resource functions and area.
Property owners required to complete mitigation are encouraged to use a watershed approach and watershed planning information. The new rule establishes performance standards, sets timeframes for decision making, and to the extent possible, establishes equivalent requirements and standards for the three sources of compensatory mitigation: permittee-responsible mitigation, mitigation banks and in-lieu-fee programs. The new rule changes where and how mitigation is to be completed, but maintains existing requirements on when mitigation is required. The rule also preserves the requirement for applicants to avoid or minimize impacts to aquatic resources before proposing compensatory mitigation projects to offset permitted impacts.
Wetlands and streams provide important environmental functions including protecting and improving water quality and providing habitat to fish and wildlife. Successful compensatory mitigation projects will replace environmental functions that are lost as a result of permitted activities. For more information on the compensatory mitigation rule visit: http://www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/citizen.htm or http://www.epa.gov/wetlandsmitigation Information about the importance of wetlands is available at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/
Watershed Tool of the Month
Fifteen Things You Can Do to Make A Difference in Your Watershed
Planning an Earth Day activity or environmental project with your school or troop or watershed group? Be sure to check out EPA's Web site, Fifteen Things You Can Do to Make a Difference in Your Watershed. Find out how you can help make a difference!
Spotlight: Watersheds at Work
Illinois: Governor Bond Lake
Governor Bond Lake suffered from excessive algal growth and turbidity, causing Illinois to list the lake on its 1998 303(d) list of impaired waters. The impairments were caused by suspended solids, nutrients and other nonpoint source pollutants both from within the lake (from legacy bottom sediments) and from the lake's watershed. Project partners implemented best management practices, such as stormwater wetland basins and shoreline protection and stabilization practices. As a result, levels of nutrients and suspended solids decreased, allowing Illinois to remove the lake from its 2006 303(d) list of impaired waters for those pollutants. For more information about this success story, visit http://www.epa.gov/nps/Success319/state/il_govlake.htm.
Webcasts
EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor free April 10th Webcast on Monitoring Watershed Program Efficiency
EPA's Watershed Academy sponsors free monthly Webcasts for watershed practitioners from around the globe. On Thursday, April 10th, 2008, instructors will present, Monitoring Watershed Program Effectiveness. The Webcast will offer an overview of watershed monitoring, three watershed effectiveness monitoring designs, and issues to be considered when developing effectiveness monitoring programs. To register or to access archived audio versions of past Webcasts, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
News
Nexus Between Energy Use and Water Infrastructure
Reducing climate impacts, saving money, and saving water are the goals of recent Office of Water efforts to make the most of the nexus between energy use and water infrastructure. The ENERGY STAR program estimates that about $4 billion is spent annually for energy costs to run drinking water and wastewater utilities. Agency efforts on water and energy include our broad outreach to promote water efficiency through the WaterSense program, as well as a suite of activities and tools that focus on energy use at utilities. For fact sheets that describe various alternative energy sources that utilities may want to consider, see http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/mtbfact.htm.
EPA Signs Agreement with Federal Highway Administration for Water Liaison
EPA recently signed an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to establish a dedicated liaison position within the Office of Water to coordinate, participate in, and conduct research activities to identify innovations related to water regulations, programs, and planning with respect to the highway program. The establishment of a liaison position is a significant step towards supporting stewardship and enhanced environmental protection in highway planning and project development.
Seven Wetland Stewards Win 2008 National Wetlands Awards
Seven citizens have been recognized nationally for their on-the-ground wetland conservation efforts and decades-long dedication to protecting these important natural resources. The 2008 awardees are Valer and Josiah Austin, Caroline Dean, John Dorney, Mildred Majoros, Dianne Nygaard, and Raymond Semlitsch. Collectively, the award winners have conserved thousands of wetland acres and have mobilized hundreds of individuals to contribute to wetland conservation. More information regarding this year's awards visit http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org/.
May is American Wetlands Month
EPA will once again celebrate American Wetlands Month in May with federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit, and private sector organization partners. In anticipation of this year's celebration, EPA encourages individuals and groups to plan activities and events that raise awareness of the critical role wetlands play in our environment and build support for their protection and restoration. For general American Wetlands Month information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm.
EPA Announces Release of Indicator Development for Estuaries manual
The Indicator Development for Estuaries manual is designed to improve measuring progress in the National Estuary Program estuaries and other estuaries. It is organized to provide the user with a logical, stepwise process for developing and implementing indicators for the estuarine environment. Indicators can provide cost-effective information on the status and trends of a system, the effectiveness of management actions and allow for mid-course corrections. The manual is available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/.
EPA Releases New Tools to Improve Drinking Water Monitoring and Reporting
EPA is releasing a new set of placards that summarize day to day monitoring requirements for small drinking water systems. These placards provide step by step instructions for conducting monitoring under the Total Coliform Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rules and Nitrate regulations. The placards are formatted to be printed 11x17 to hang on the wall for quick reference by drinking water operators. The placards and other tools for small systems are available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/ssinfo.htm. They are also available on a page dedicated to tribal water systems at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/tribal.html.
Water: H2O = Life Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History; Featured on Colbert Report on Comedy Central
This special exhibit about Water, organized by the American Museum of Natural History, highlights the importance of the world's most precious resource. The exhibit includes hands-on activities and interactive displays to educate the public about water-where it comes from, how it shapes the planet and the lives of people, plants, and animals everywhere. For exhibit hours, visit http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/water/.
H2O = Life received special attention last week as part of the Steve Colbert Comedy Central cable television show, which included an interview with the museum curator as part of a full show dedicated to World Water Day. http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=164483
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
Sustainable Infrastructure Forum for Water and Wastewater
On May 20 - May 22, 2008, the Environmental Finance Center will host a Sustainable Infrastructure Forum for EPA Region 3 and Region 4. State and local groups with an interest in Sustainable Infrastructure are encouraged to attend, however workshop registration is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For registration and more information please visit www.efc.umd.edu.
Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters
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/.
GIS Tools for Strategic Conservation Planning
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.
AWRA 2008 Summer Specialty Conference
June 30-July 2, 2008. Riparian Ecosystems and Buffers: Working at the Water's Edge
http://www.awra.org/meetings/Virginia_Beach2008/
Founders Inn and Spa, Virginia Beach, VA
Wetlands 2008: Wetlands and Global Climate Change
September 15-19, 2008, Portland, OR. The overall goal of this conference is to help wetland professionals in the public and private sectors 1) gain a better understanding of the challenges created by climate change and 2) identify discrete activities and actions to take to reduce and mitigate impacts on wetlands and water resources as well as communities. The conference will also address ongoing changes and challenges in wetlands and water resources management. Please click on the links below or go to http://www.aswm.org/calendar/wetlands2008/index.htm for more detailed information on Wetlands 2008.
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.
44th AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference
November 17-20, 2008
http://www.awra.org/meetings/NewOrleans2008/index.html
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel * New Orleans, LA
Submit Abstracts by May 12, 2008
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