Water: Watersheds
Watershed News: January 2006
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) Report on the Biodiversity of Isolated Wetlands
2) Center for Watershed Protection Launches New Wetlands Web Site
3) New Draft Watershed Planning Handbook Available
4) New Management Measures Guidance to Control Urban Runoff
5) Nominations for the 2006 National Wetland Awards
6) Community-Based Habitat Restoration Proposals due January 27, 2006
7) Restore America's Estuaries' 3rd National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration
8) Restore America's Estuaries Conference- Call for Presentations and Posters
9) NPS Monitoring Conference- Call for Papers
10) Other Upcoming Conferences in 2006
Report on the Biodiversity of Isolated Wetlands
Some of the wetlands and other waters that are isolated from navigable waters are no longer under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act as a result of a 2001 Supreme Court decision (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC), 2001). NatureServe recently completed an assessment of the potential impacts of the SWANCC decision on the at-risk species and communities that are associated with these isolated wetland systems in all 50 U.S. states. The information and analyses contained in this study are designed to assist policymakers and land managers at federal, state, and local levels to better understand the biodiversity value of isolated wetlands in their jurisdiction and plan for their protection.
The complete report and supporting data are available for viewing and download on NatureServe’s website.
Center for Watershed Protection Launches New Wetlands Web Site
The Center for Watershed Protection’s new Wetlands Web site explains how and why wetlands should be part of watershed management. Now available is Article 3 of the article series, "Adapting Watershed Tools to Protect Wetlands." For more information, visit the CWP wetlands web site.
New Draft Watershed Planning Handbook Available
A draft guide to watershed management to help various organizations develop and implement watershed plans is now available. The "Draft Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters" is aimed toward communities, watershed groups, and local, state, tribal, and federal environmental agencies. This handbook contains in-depth guidance on quantifying existing pollutant loads, developing estimates of the load reductions required to meet water quality standards, developing effective management measures, and tracking progress once the plan is implemented. EPA will be accepting comments and suggestions on the document in the coming year to incorporate in the final version of the handbook. The handbook is available at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook/.
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, the Watershed Academy will host a free two-hour audio Web broadcast on the draft watershed planning handbook. The Webcast instructors will provide an overview of the Handbook contents, and then proceed through each of the steps needed to develop and implement watershed plans. Registration for the Webcast will open on January 11, 2006. Each Webcast includes a Web-based slide presentation with a companion audio portion that can be accessed either by phone or by streaming audio broadcast. Because of the growing popularity of these Webcasts, EPA encourages participants to reserve a conference room and invite others. For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
New Management Measures Guidance to Control Urban Runoff
On December 14, EPA released its new "National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas." This comprehensive document will help local governments and others protect water resources from polluted runoff that can result from everyday activities and urban development. The guidance will also help municipalities and other regulated entities implement stormwater programs. The publication includes voluntary guidance on 12 management measures designed to prevent and control runoff from urban and suburban lands. The management measures cover topics including watershed assessment and protection runoff from new and existing development. The new guidance is available at: http://www.epa.gov/nps/urbanmm.
Nominations for the 2006 National Wetland Awards
Nomination forms for the 2006 National Wetlands Awards Program have been extended until Jan 16, 2006. The Awards will be given in six categories: Education and Outreach; Science Research; Conservation and Restoration; Landowner Stewardship; State, Tribal, and Local Program Development; and Wetland Community Leader.
To download the nomination form, please visit the Environmental Law Institute's Website at http://www2.eli.org/nwa/nwaprogram.htm
. For more information or questions about the National Wetlands Awards Program, please e-mail wetlandsawards@eli.org, or contact Jared Thompson at 202-939-3247. For information about American Wetlands Month, contact Judy Bailey at 202-566-1380.
Community-Based Habitat Restoration Proposals due January 27, 2006
The Fish America Foundation and the NOAA’s Restoration Center recently announced the availability of up to $800,000 for projects to restore marine, estuarine and riparian habitats, including salt marshes, mangrove forests, and freshwater habitats important to anadromous fish species. Visit Fish America’s web site at http://www.fishamerica.org
for the complete announcement, funding guidelines and application. Please Note: The application for this partnership is new this year. Eligible projects will accomplish meaningful on-the-ground restoration of marine, estuarine and riparian habitats, including salt marshes, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and freshwater habitats important to anadromous fish species (fish like salmon and striped bass that spawn in freshwater and migrate to the sea). Emphasis is on using a hands-on, grassroots approach to restore fisheries habitat across coastal America and the Great Lakes. Eligible applicants will be required to satisfy all financial and programmatic requirements and meet all local, state and tribal environmental laws and Federal consistency requirements before project implementation.
Restore America’s Estuaries’ 3rd National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration - "Forging the National Imperative" - December 9-13, 2006, New Orleans, LA-Session Proposals due February 15, 2006
The National Program Committee is inviting proposals for a Dedicated Session. Dedicated Sessions generally consist of three or four presenters sharing best practices and lessons learned within one or more of the Conference themes and topics. Dedicated Sessions must include multiple perspectives and are strongly encouraged to address multiple aspects of restoration within the chosen topic. Submissions should be made by the proposed session chair/organizer, and should identify all proposed presenters. The session chair/organizer may propose him/herself as one of the presenters in the session.
For more information or to download the application, visit http://www.estuaries.org/conference
.
The National Program Committee comprises over 50 members, representing a diverse mix of businesses, community groups, scientists and academic institutions, research programs and federal, local and state agencies. The National Program Committee works with Restore America's Estuaries in helping to develop program themes and refine and shape program sessions. If you wish to learn more about the National Program Committee, please contact Steve Emmett-Mattox at (703) 524-0248, or sem@estuaries.org.
Restore America’s Estuaries Conference- Call for Presentations and Posters
Restore America’s Estuaries is pleased to announce the Call for Presentations and Posters for "Forging the National Imperative," the 3rd National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration. Presentation submissions are due March 31, 2006 and Poster submissions are due April 30, 2006. For more information or to download the application, visit http://www.estuaries.org/conference
.
NPS Monitoring Conference - Call for Papers
The 14th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop: Measuring Project and Program Effectiveness will be held Sept. 24-28, 2006 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This workshop will once again bring together land managers and water quality specialists to share information on the effectiveness of best management practices in improving water quality, effective monitoring techniques, and statistical analysis of watershed data. The workshop will focus on the successes of Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects and other innovative projects from throughout the United States.
For more information: http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/NPSWorkshop/CallForPapers.html. <broken link>
Other Upcoming Conferences in 2006
2006 National River Rally
The Mount Washington Resort near Bretton Woods, New Hampshire May 5-9, 2006
http://www.rivernetwork.org/rally/
National Water Quality Monitoring Conference,
Monitoring Networks: Connecting for Clean Water in San Jose, California, May 7-11
http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/nwqmc06/ <broken link>
2nd National Water Quality Trading Conference
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/training
Pittsburgh, PA May 23-25, 2006
The conference is being hosted by EPA and USDA. A 1-day pre-conference workshop on Trading Basics, taught by EPA, will be held on Monday, May 22, 2006. For more information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/training.
Be sure to check our EPA's new Watershed Discussion Forum! <broken link> This new on-line message board offers watershed practitioners and citizens a platform to exchange ideas, so that innovative solutions and ideas can be easily shared. Please visit http://www.epa.gov/watershedforum/ <broken link> and join in! Anyone can view the discussion, but one must register to post messages.
To subscribe to Watershed News, simply send a blank email to:
watershed-news-subscribe@lists.epa.gov
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.