Watershed News

December 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) USEPA Request for Proposals for Reduction of Nutrient and Sediment Loads from three Headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
2) FY 2009 Request for Proposals from Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia for Nonpoint Source Management Grants Under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319
3) Region 1 - Request for Initial Proposals for EPA/Regional Dedicated Water Quality Program Funding
4) Trust for Public Land Seeks States to Participate in Source Water Protection Program
5) EPA Requests Comments on Proposed Construction and Development Effluent Limitations Guidelines
6) National Research Council Report on Urban Stormwater Released
7) EPA Publishes Draft TMDLs to Stormwater Permits Handbook
8) BMP CHALLENGE Program Expands
9) New Requirements for Controlling Manure, Wastewater from Large Animal Feeding Operations
10) WaterSense Releases Draft Landscape Water Budget Tool
11) Horsepen Creek, VA receives an Extreme Stream Makeover
12) 8th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference
13) World Environmental & Water Resources Congress
14) Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference
15) StormCon '09
16) River Network's National River Rally

Funding Opportunities

USEPA Request for Proposals for Reduction of Nutrient and Sediment Loads from three Headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program Office has announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the reduction in nutrient and sediment loads from the West Virginia Headwaters, Delaware Headwaters and the New York Headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for fiscal year 2009. Proposal submission deadline is Dec. 12, 2008. The Bay Program estimates that $500,000 will be available for each Headwater region.

FY 2009 Request for Proposals from Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia for Nonpoint Source Management Grants Under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 (PDF) (31 pp, 152K, About PDF)

This grant program provides funding for tribes to implement their nonpoint source (NPS) management programs developed pursuant to CWA section 319(b). Applications are due December 15, 2008.

Region 1 - Request for Initial Proposals for EPA/Regional Dedicated Water Quality Program Funding (PDF) (16 pp, 103K, About PDF)

EPA Region 1's Office of Ecosystem Protection, Water Quality Branch is soliciting proposals from eligible agencies/organizations for the coordination and acceleration of research, studies, experiments, investigations and demonstration projects to improve the capacity of New England States to effectively and efficiently assess total maximum daily loading capacities (TMDL) for impaired waterbodies throughout the region, and to develop state water quality standards (WQS) (including nutrient criteria) for New England waterbodies. Applications are due December 15, 2008.

Trust for Public Land Seeks States to Participate in Source Water Protection Program

EPA awarded grants to The Trust for Public Land (in partnership with the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators and the River Network) and the Smart Growth Leadership Institute. The purpose of the grants is to help states work more effectively across program and agency boundaries to better support efforts to protect drinking water sources at the local and watershed levels. Over the four year grants, the awardees will select seven states as partners for a program focused on Enabling Source Water Protection: Aligning State Land Use and Water Protection Programs. Ohio, New Hampshire and Maine were identified in the first selection. A second round of selections is now being initiated and 2 additional states are expected to be selected for participation. This program will encourage more effective collaboration among various stakeholders and better congruence between various state policies and programs to enhance source water protection.

Interested parties within states should submit the two-page Expression of Interest form available for download at www.landuseandwater.org . Completed forms should be submitted by email to Amy Paige Condon with The Trust for Public Land at amy.condon@tpl.org on or before close of business your time December 19, 2008.

News

EPA Requests Comments on Proposed Construction and Development Effluent Limitations Guidelines

On November 19, 2008 EPA proposed guidelines to control the discharge of pollutants from construction sites. The proposal would require all construction sites to implement erosion and sediment control best management practices to reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges.

In addition, for certain large sites located in areas of the country with high rainfall intensity and soils with a high clay content, stormwater discharges from the construction site would be required to meet a numeric limit on the allowable level of turbidity, which is a measure of sediment in the water. In order to meet the proposed numeric turbidity limit, many sites would need to treat and filter their stormwater discharges.

National Research Council Report on Urban Stormwater Released

The National Research Council, Water Sciences and Technology Board has just released the report "Urban Stormwater Management in the United States." The report is the product of a 2-year process undertaken by a 15-member committee of national experts. The study was commissioned by EPA in 2006 to evaluate the NPDES stormwater program and make recommendations for improvement of the program. The 513 page report provides a description of the history of stormwater management in the United States; an overview of stormwater regulations and the federal regulatory program; and information on a number of relevant scientific and technological issues such as hydrology, geomorphology, biology, monitoring and modeling. The report also provides a number of significant findings and recommendations on how stormwater management in the United States should be improved to achieve better environmental outcomes.

EPA Publishes Draft TMDLs to Stormwater Permits Handbook

EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) and Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) have jointly issued a Draft "TMDLs to Stormwater Handbook," which is now available for public comment.

Currently there are thousands of Clean Water Act section 303(d) waters listed as impaired for stormwater-source pollutants such as pathogens, nutrients, sediments and metals. This Draft Handbook provides a technical reference for TMDL practitioners and permit writers on current methods being used to develop more detailed stormwater-source TMDL allocations, TMDL implementation plans including best management practices, and methods for translating TMDL allocations into NPDES stormwater permit requirements. The Handbook also provides background information on the components of these programs, but assumes that the reader has a working knowledge of both TMDLs and NPDES stormwater permits.

BMP CHALLENGE Program Expands

BMP CHALLENGE is a collaborative project of the American Farmland Trust (AFT); Agflex, an Iowa corporation; and the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Institute of North America. The BMP CHALLENGE programs work to give farmers an opportunity to test reduced nutrient and tillage rates on their fields, without worrying about income loss. Since 2000, the program has helped 102 corn producers experiment with conservation practices on their farms, without risk to income.

The successful program is spreading-currently, the program is open to farmers in 15 states including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Idaho, North Carolina, Nebraska, Florida, Maryland, Delaware and Wisconsin. To participate, farmers must be eligible for EQIP and grow corn for grain or silage. Fields of sweet corn, popcorn or corn planted for wildlife or ethanol are not eligible. BMP CHALLENGE staff work directly with farmers, through watershed/conservation districts, and with other organizations, to reduce nutrient and sediment outputs to local waterways and educate farmers on BMPs. BMP CHALLENGE partners hope to expand the program into new states such as California and broaden the scope to include other crops, such as soybeans and additional types of corn.

New Requirements for Controlling Manure, Wastewater from Large Animal Feeding Operations

EPA has finalized a rule helping to protect the nation's water quality by requiring concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to safely manage manure. EPA estimates CAFO regulations will prevent 56 million pounds of phosphorus, 110 million pounds of nitrogen, and 2 billion pounds of sediment from entering streams, lakes, and other waters annually. This is the first time EPA has required a nutrient management plan (NMP) for manure to be submitted as part of a CAFO's Clean Water Act permit application. The regulation also requires that an owner or operator of a CAFO that actually discharges to streams, lakes, and other waters must apply for a permit under the Clean Water Act. EPA is also providing an opportunity for CAFO operators who do not discharge or propose to discharge to show their commitment to pollution prevention by obtaining certification as zero dischargers.

EPA worked closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the development of the rule and will work closely with states during implementation. The rule deadline for newly defined facilities to apply for permits is February 27, 2009. The final rule responds to a February 2005 federal court decision that upheld most of the agency's 2003 rule, but directed further action or clarification on some portions.

Watershed Tool of the Month

WaterSense Releases Draft Landscape Water Budget Tool

To assist home builders, landscape professionals, and irrigation partners in meeting the outdoor criteria of a future WaterSense specification for new homes, EPA has developed a tool to help guide them through the water budget calculations of the draft specification for water-efficient, single-family new homes. The landscape water budget tool will help determine:

The amount of water the designed landscape is allowed (budgeted) based on EPA criteria.
How much water the designed landscape requires based on climate, plant type, and irrigation system efficiency.
Whether the designed landscape meets the budgeted amount.

EPA is inviting all interested parties to provide comments on this new tool, specifically recommendations on data sources and sources of local reference evapotranspiration (ETo). Please send comments or suggestions to watersense-newhomes@erg.com. The public comment period ends on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008.

Spotlight: Watersheds at Work

Horsepen Creek, VA receives an Extreme Stream Makeover

The Horsepen Creek, a tributary of the James River (VA) got an "Extreme" makeover the week of October 20-25. This effort, lead by the James River Association (JRA), involved the implementation of 13 watershed restoration projects in seven locations. Over 700 volunteers, young and old, helped pick up trash along 1 mile of stream; planted over 2,500 trees, shrubs and flowers; installed 5 rain gardens and bioretention areas to treat stormwater; installed 972 square feet of permeable pavement; educated 230 students on their connection to the James River; trained and equipped 35 homeowners for installing rain barrels at their homes; and planted 1.8 linear miles of stream buffers. The project was initiated by local garden club groups with the desire to improve the creek. The Center for Watershed Protection (the Center) worked with the project partners to prescribe a treatment for this two-square mile watershed.

Like many watersheds across the country, Horsepen Creek was primarily developed before stormwater treatment and stream buffers were required to protect streams from encroachment by development. Additionally, many sections of the stream channel were historically piped or lined with concrete to more efficiently move stormwater from properties to the stream. This results in an increase of the speed and quantity of stormwater and associated pollutants to the stream. The Center's assessment provided JRA with a list of restoration projects for the watershed. Over the past year, JRA staff with technical support from the Center, worked tirelessly to make these projects come to life. Several Center staff were pleased to be able to join in JRA's restoration efforts thanks to a grant from Dominion Resources. The Center is excited to continue to work with JRA in 2009 on the next "Extreme Stream Makeover" in the Lynchburg, VA area.

Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

8th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference

January 22-24, 2009. Albuquerque NM. The Local Government Commission will host the conference, which is expected to draw a multidisciplinary audience of local elected officials, city and county staff, landscape architects, developers and builders, planners, transportation professionals, public health professionals, architects, urban designers, parks and recreation professionals, school superintendents, environmentalists, crime prevention professionals, bicycle and pedestrian advocates, advocates for social equity and affordable housing, and all others committed to building safer, healthier, and more livable communities everywhere.

World Environmental & Water Resources Congress

May 17-21, 2009. Kansas City, MO. Organized by EWRI and ASCE, this Congress' central theme is the great rivers of the world and the engineering challenges of balancing environmental and development issues while achieving a sustainable future. It is imperative that those working on the front lines - at the environmental/water engineering nexus - share insights from research and practical experience in the field to generate best practices for the future on issues such as river system management, environmental issues, watershed management and restoration, dam safety, hydraulic structures, and so much more.

Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference

May 18-20, 2009. Portland, ME. Organized by New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. The three-day conference brings together all those in New England and New York State involved in NPS pollution management, including participants from state, federal, and municipal governments, private sector, academia, and watershed organizations.

StormCon '09

August 16 - 20, 2009. Anaheim, CA. In addition to serving municipal and government professionals, StormCon offers sessions on sediment and erosion control practices for contractors, and techniques for special sites, such as airports and ports. StormCon offers non-technical stormwater sessions that will benefit those completely new to stormwater, as well as advanced sessions for seasoned professionals.

River Network's National River Rally

May 29-June1, 2009, Baltimore, MD. Baltimore, Maryland will play host to the 10th National River Rally. And, like the nine River Rallies preceding it, River Rally 2009 is sure to be an event you won't want to miss. Highlights include:

A series of intensive, 4-hour workshops on Friday afternoon
Over 70 additional workshops covering topics of interest to staff, volunteers and board members of river conservation organizations
Office hours, mentoring sessions and real life, in-person conversations with funders and exhibitors
The River Heroes Banquet: a memorable and inspirational night of celebrating our own leaders
Unsurpassed networking opportunities

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