Watershed News

May 2008

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) EPA Seeks Nominations for Clean Water Innovation Awards
2) National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
3) Watershed Tool of the Month: New On-Line Watershed Academy Training Module on Developing a Sustainable Finance Plan
4) Spotlight: Watersheds at Work: Raritan River Basin (New Jersey)
5) Free May 8 Webcast on EPA's Draft Water Climate Change Strategy
6) EPA’s Watershed Academy to sponsor free May 13th Webcast on Wetlands and Climate Change
7) EPA's Watershed Planning Handbook Released
8) Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008 Approved
9) May is American Wetlands Month
10) Giving Small Water Systems a Free Check Up
11) River Network's River Rally 2008River Network's River Rally 2008
12) Sustainable Infrastructure Forum for Water and Wastewater
13) Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters
14) Water Quality Standards Academy: Basic Course in DC area
15) Enhancing the States' Lake Management Programs
16) Wetlands 2008: Wetlands and Global Climate Change
17) FLOW 2008: Interdisciplinary Solutions to Instream Flow Problems
18) SAVE THE DATE: Southeast Stormwater Institute
19) WEFTEC.08 Conference

Awards and Funding Opportunities

EPA Seeks Nominations for Clean Water Innovation Awards

EPA announced a call for nominations for its 2008 National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards. The awards program recognizes municipalities and industries for outstanding and innovative technological achievements in wastewater treatment and pollution abatement programs. These national awards heighten public awareness of the contributions wastewater treatment facilities make to clean water and public health and safety. Nominations are due to EPA headquarters by May 30, 2008. For more information about the nomination process, visit www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/intnet.htm or contact Matthew Richardson at richardson.matthew@epa.gov.

National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is providing approximately 30 grants through the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. The grants provide states with a means of protecting and restoring coastal wetlands. Approximately 30 grants are available for a total of $19,000,000. Ranking decisions are based on criteria published in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 84.32. Closing date for applications is June 27, 2008. For more information, visit www.grants.gov and search under key word: "wetlands."

Watershed Tool of the Month: New On-Line Watershed Academy Training Module on Developing a Sustainable Finance Plan

On April 29th, EPA posted a new on-line training module on Developing a Sustainable Finance Plan on EPA's Watershed Academy Web site. Many watershed organizations could increase their impact through long-term financial planning. In order to most effectively protect America's waters, watershed organizations must develop and implement strategies to obtain, diversify, and leverage sustainable sources of funding. This training module is designed to help nonprofit watershed organizations develop and implement a sustainable funding plan. This module:

Outlines the six key steps of fundraising plan development
Introduces a diverse set of fundraising options
Provides case studies of successful finance mechanisms

The goal is to give both established and new nonprofit watershed organizations a solid methodology for creating finance plans to ensure their own sustainability. (Note: State or local governments should visit the EPA Financing for Compliance Page). http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/sustainablefinance/

Spotlight: Watersheds at Work: Raritan River Basin (New Jersey)

The Raritan River Basin, a densely populated watershed, serves as an important drinking water supply. The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (SBMWA), a 2003 Targeted Watersheds Grant recipient, in partnership with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, restored a total of 2,400 feet of stream and riparian areas and removed several culverts, which had previously blocked fish passage in the streams. The Hoffman Park stream restoration project received the “Outstanding Floodplain Management Award” from the New Jersey Association of Floodplain Management. Working with local governments, SBMWA helped improve ordinances on impervious cover, protecting steep slopes and implementing stormwater mitigation plans. As a result of this work, 106 separate actions were taken by 29 local governments. The SBMWA’s River Friendly Certification Programs fostered partnerships with businesses, golf courses, farms and local residents and encouraged the implementation of best management practices and conservation projects to increase wildlife habitat, reduce nutrient and sediment loading to the watershed, and conserve water resources. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/twg or http://www.thewatershed.org/watershed_home.php.

Webcasts

Free May 8 Webcast on EPA's Draft Water Climate Change Strategy

On Thursday, May 8, EPA will be hosting a free webcast from 2:30 to 4:30 pm EDT to discuss EPA's Draft National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change. The agency recently distributed this draft strategy and is now seeking comment until May 27, 2008. The draft strategy represents an initial effort by EPA's National Water Program to identify potential impacts of climate change for clean water and drinking water programs, and to define actions both to adapt water programs to these impacts as well as to mitigate the release of greenhouse gases. The free webcast will highlight some of the key impacts on water resources and water programs, and key actions we are proposing. If you are interested in participating in this webcast or want a copy of the draft strategy go to http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange/.

EPA’s Watershed Academy to sponsor free May 13th Webcast on Wetlands and Climate Change

EPA's Watershed Academy sponsors free monthly Webcasts for watershed practitioners from around the globe. On Tuesday, May 13th, 2008, expert instructors will address the unique challenges that wetland habitats are faced with due to a number of factors including rising sea levels and variable temperature and precipitation patterns. Registration opens May 2nd. For more information or to access archived audio versions of past Webcasts, including last month’s Webcast on Monitoring Watershed Program Effectiveness, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.

News

EPA's Watershed Planning Handbook Released

EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds recently released a new version of its watershed handbook to help communities, watershed organizations, and local, state, tribal, and federal environmental agencies develop and implement watershed plans to meet water quality standards and protect water resources. The Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters is designed to help anyone undertaking a watershed planning effort, but should be particularly useful to communities working with waters that are impaired or threatened. The document will be printed in May and information on how to obtain a printed copy is available on our Web site. The Handbook is now available for download or reading on our Web site at: www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook.

Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008 Approved

The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force approved a revised Action Plan for addressing hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico following a comprehensive reassessment of the 2001 Action Plan. The 2008 Action Plan will be released and available to the public electronically and in hard copy in early June. The 2008 Action Plan considers emerging issues and incorporates the latest science, including findings from EPA’s Science Advisory Board. Improvements include an action framework that increases accountability and specificity, an annual operating plan and annual report that provides mechanisms for maintaining and tracking progress between reassessments, a shift in the lead for nutrient reduction strategies to the states with a complementary Federal Strategy, and a communication/outreach plan to engage stakeholders. For more information on the Task Force and Action Plan, visit http://www.epa.gov/msbasin.

May is American Wetlands Month

EPA is celebrating American Wetlands Month in May with federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit, and private sector organization partners. For 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.

Giving Small Water Systems a Free Check Up

EPA is rolling out the Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS), an important management tool for small drinking water and wastewater systems. This user-friendly computer-based program assists owners and operators in developing and using plans for maintaining their systems and providing service to their customers. CUPSS will help bridge the growing financial gap faced by small drinking water and wastewater systems as they repair, and replace infrastructure. The CUPSS program and all supporting materials are available for immediate download. Kits including the material will also be available in May. For more information on CUPSS, including program downloads and ordering information, visit http://www.epa.gov/cupss.

Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

River Network's River Rally 2008

The River Rally, River Network's training opportunity organized exclusively for river conservation organizations and watershed partnerships throughout the country, will be held at the Sawmill Creek Resort, in Huron, OH from May 2-4, 2008. The Rally offers training for volunteers, board members, staff members, experienced leaders and new watershed protection enthusiasts on the latest tools and techniques to help protect and restore watersheds. http://www.rivernetwork.org/rn/rally/.

Sustainable Infrastructure Forum for Water and Wastewater

On Tuesday, May 20 - Thursday, 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/.

Water Quality Standards Academy: Basic Course in DC area

Are you relatively new to the Water Quality Standards Program, or do you work in a related program that requires basic knowledge of water quality standards? The Office of Science and Technology's Water Quality Standards Academy will hold a Basic Course in Arlington, VA (just outside of D.C.) July 21-25, 2008. The Basic Course is an introductory training course on water quality standards designed for those with fewer than six months of experience with standards. Others may also benefit from the course, including veterans of the water quality standards program who seek a refresher on aspects of standards. For further information and to apply for admission to the course online, please go to: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/academy.html

Enhancing the States' Lake Management Programs

Building Partnerships for Improved Fisheries and Lake Water Quality

April 29 - May 2, 2008, Chicago, IL. This 21^st 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.

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.

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/.

SAVE THE DATE: Southeast Stormwater Institute

October 14-16, 2008, Savannah, GA The Southeast Stormwater Institute at the Coastal Georgia Center is an intensive, interactive three-day learning experience specifically designed to help public and private sector stormwater professionals develop or improve municipal stormwater programs, particularly NPDES Phase II permit programs; strengthen stormwater design, construction, and maintenance skills for innovative practices in coastal and non-coastal settings; and understand and apply volume reduction criteria, green infrastructure credits, and the new Georgia Coastal Stormwater Supplement. More information will be provided soon.

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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