Water: Watersheds
Watershed News: November 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) Innovations Pilot Projects Request for Applications - Closing Date Extended
2) Targeted Watersheds Grant Program - Implementation Grants
3) Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watersheds Grant Program
4) Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants - Request For Proposals/Availability of Funds issued
5) New On-line Watershed Course for Broadcast Meteorologists - Watersheds: Connecting Weather to the Environment
6) North Fork Potomac Watershed, WV - Farmers Improve Quality of Water
7) EPA Wetland Program Development Grants Case Studies Now Posted
8) Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Innovations for the 21st Century
March 21-23, 2007 - Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
9) 2007 National Wetlands Awards Nomination Forms Available!
10) EPA´s Watershed Academy to sponsor Nov. 29th Webcast on Integrating Drinking Water into Watershed Protection
11) State of River Restoration Practice, a River Ecosystem Restoration Forum, November 15 & 16, 2006, Powell, Ohio
12)Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
Funding Opportunities
Innovations Pilot Projects Request for Applications - Closing Date Extended
EPA´s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) has initiated a series of innovative pilots to test new ideas and strategies for environmental and public health protection. The goal is to fund creative approaches to waste minimization, energy recovery, recycling, land revitalization, and homeland security that may be replicated across various sectors, industries, communities, and regions. EPA hopes that these pilots will pave the way for programmatic and policy recommendations by demonstrating the environmental and economic benefits of creative, innovative approaches to the difficult environmental challenges we face today.
On September 25, 2006, OSWER announced the Innovations Pilot Projects Request for Applications. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits creative proposals testing innovative and collaborative approaches to: restore contaminated properties to environmental and economic vitality; increase America´s homeland security; promote stewardship and resource conservation consistent with the Agency´s Resource Conservation Challenge, and encourage voluntary efforts to clean up sites. The closing date of this announcement was extended to, November 20, 2006. The web site for the Innovations Initiative is http://www.epa.gov/oswer/iwg/index.html. The web site for the Request for Applications is: http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/06-08.pdf.
Targeted Watersheds Grant Program – Implementation Grants
The Targeted Watersheds Grant Program is a competitive grant program that encourages the protection and restoration of the country´s water resources through cooperative conservation. The program supports collaborative watershed partnerships that are ready to implement on-the-ground restoration and protection activities designed to achieve quick, measurable environmental results. The goal is to build on existing partnerships and coalitions that have evaluated and assessed their watershed, devised a technically sound watershed plan and are ready to embark on steps to implement their plans. EPA is now accepting nominations of proposals for watershed projects and activities. Nominations must be submitted by either a Governor or a Tribal Leader. Up to $16 million will be made available in grants to watershed-based projects. Watershed project proposals selected for funding will be awarded for up to $900,000 each over a three to five year period, for which EPA requires a 25% non-Federal match. You can find the solicitation and other information about the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program at http://www.epa.gov/twg/. The deadline for submitting nomination proposals is November 15, 2006.
Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watersheds Grant Program
The overall goal for the Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watersheds Grant Program is to expand the collective knowledge on the most innovative, sustainable and cost-effective strategies - including market-based approaches - for reducing excess nutrient loads within specific tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay. To achieve this goal, the program awards grants of up to $1 million on a competitive basis to projects that target and reflect the diverse conditions (e.g., urban, rural, suburban) and sources of nutrients (e.g., agricultural, stormwater, other non-point sources) that exist throughout the Chesapeake watershed. The Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watersheds Grant Program is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Program. The deadline for submitting proposals is November 17, 2006. For more information visit www.nfwf.org/targetedwatersheds/ [broken link]
or contact Amanda Bassow at amanda.bassow@nfwf.org.
Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants - Request For Proposals/Availability of Funds issued
Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment. In 2006, communities shared $69.9 million in EPA Brownfields grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. In addition to industrial and commercial redevelopment, brownfields approaches have included the conversion of industrial waterfronts to river-front parks, landfills to golf courses, rail corridors to recreational trails, and gas stations to housing. The total estimated funding expected to be available under this competitive opportunity is approximately $72 million. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 200 cooperative agreements. This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfield sites. Proposals sent through the U.S. Postal Service or sent via a commercial delivery service must be postmarked by 12/8/06; Proposals submitted through grants.gov must be received by 12/8/06. To view the Request For Proposals (RFP) announcement, please visit http://www.epa.gov/oswer/grants-funding.htm#epa-oswer-obcr-07-01. For additional information, check out the archived Watershed Webcast, Using Brownfields for Watershed Restoration and Revitalization, which was broadcast in September 2006 and can be downloaded for free at: www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
Watershed Tool of the Month
New On-line Watershed Course for Broadcast Meteorologists - Watersheds: Connecting Weather to the Environment
A new on-line course, Watersheds: Connecting Weather to the Environment, provides a unique opportunity for American Meteorological Society (AMS) Sealholders and certified broadcast meteorologists to learn about watersheds and earn credit toward their continuing education requirements. The course is now available on the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET ®) distance learning website at: http://www.meted.ucar.edu/broadcastmet/watershed/.
It was developed by NEETF and COMET® through a grant from the U.S. EPA.
The course is a primer on how weather events relate to the health of a watershed, and how the public can take simple actions to protect watershed health. The online course, while intended for meteorologists, is also highly useful for land use managers, teachers, community leaders, and others interested in learning more about watersheds. The course also contains a collection of graphics that make it easy for meteorologists to explain watersheds visually to their viewers.
The curriculum complements an on-going effort by NEETF called Earth Gauge™, http://www.earthgauge.net/,
which provides environmental tips appropriate to the three-day forecast for 55 television markets and more than 80 participating meteorologists, reaching 130 million viewers. These tips are written and designed to allow weather broadcasters to integrate them into their on-air weather reports. The effort is part of a broader initiative to promote broadcast meteorologists as "station scientists" who can expertly cover environmental and science content. For more information, contact Sara Espinoza (espinoza@neetf.org) at NEETF.
Spotlight: Watersheds At Work
North Fork Potomac Watershed, WV - Farmers Improve Quality of Water
Cleanup activities first began in the watershed in 1993 when it became a part of the USDA Water Quality Initiative to address water pollution from farms. Section 319 grants supported the funding of Conservation Agency staff for the Initiative, and Natural Resources Conservation Service supported a number of projects throughout the 1990s and in 1998 began working with the North Fork Watershed Association to develop a watershed management plan that identified practices to lessen damage from flooding and improve water quality.
As a result of the combined efforts of the agricultural community, over 85 percent of farmers in the watershed worked together to construct animal waste storage facilities, establish riparian buffers, and implement a range of other best management practices (BMPs) at the farms. As a result, the stream now meets its designated use and is no longer impaired by fecal coliform bacteria. http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/state/wv_nor.htm
News
EPA Wetland Program Development Grants Case Studies Now Posted
EPA´s Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) Case Studies are now available on the web at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/WPDG_Case_Studies. The Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) are the primary mechanism through which EPA supports state and tribal efforts to build programs that protect valuable wetland resources. EPA selected current and former grant recipients from across the country that utilized the grant program to support wetland program development on a broad scale. The case studies highlight numerous approaches to wetland protection from a diverse group of grantees, including 25 individual stories from 11 state agencies; five tribes; three multi-agency work groups; two counties; one state park; one university; and two non-government organizations.
Paying for Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Innovations for the 21st Century
March 21-23, 2007 - Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
EPA and the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority will bring together stakeholders from all levels of government and the private sector to explore creative methods to pay for sustainable water infrastructure. This will be the first national conference to address the challenge of integrating the diverse tools and strategies to pay for sustainable water infrastructure. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss these issues with leaders and peers in four tracks: 1) Sustainable Water Infrastructure; 2) Federal Roles in Water Infrastructure Innovation; 3) State and Local Innovations; and 4) International Innovations in Finance, Technologies, and Management. More details and information are available at www.payingforwater.com, [broken link]
specific questions can be directed to Kelly Kunert at kunert.kelly@epa.gov.
2007 National Wetlands Awards Nomination Forms Available!
The National Wetlands Awards Program celebrates individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, innovation or excellence in wetlands conservation. Their work covers programs or projects on the regional, state and local levels, and their efforts to educate the public and surrounding communities about the value of wetlands, the programs that are available to protect and restore wetlands, and the value of cooperation among grassroots organizations, educational organizations, private landowners, and government agencies lead to the successful protection of wetland resources. National Wetlands Awardees show how individuals can and do make a difference.
The National Wetlands Awards Program recognizes extraordinary individual achievement in six categories: Education and Outreach; Science Research; Conservation and Restoration; Landowner Stewardship; State, Tribal, and Local Program Development; and Wetland Community Leader. The winners in each category will be honored in a ceremony on Capital Hill in May 2007.
The awards are co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Highway Administration.
For more information about the National Wetlands Awards or to submit a nomination, please visit http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org or call (202) 939-3247. The deadline for submitting nominations is December 15, 2007.
Webcasts
EPA´s Watershed Academy to sponsor Nov. 29th Webcast on Integrating Drinking Water into Watershed Protection
EPA´s Watershed Academy sponsors free monthly Webcasts for watershed practitioners from around the globe. On Wed., November 29th, Beth Hall from EPA´s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water; Chris Crockett, Manager of Watershed Protection for the Philadelphia Water Department; and Sheree Stewart, Drinking Water Protection Coordinator, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will provide a primer on public water supplies and the recently completed source water assessments mandated by the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act. Instructors will discuss how they have integrated source water protection into their programs by using technical assistance, partnerships, tools available through the Clean Water Act and other programs, and by collaborating with watershed and smart growth efforts. Registration for this Webcast opens on Nov. 15th. Please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts for additional information.
Outreach and Education
State of River Restoration Practice, a River Ecosystem Restoration Forum, November 15 & 16, 2006, Powell, Ohio
This two-day forum will focus on real world solutions for stream restoration projects in the Midwest. Practitioners will present successes, failures and findings from on-the-ground examples. The forum will provide a place for technology transfer and invite discussions on a variety of topics including natural channel design, dam removal, chemical water quality improvement, overwide ditches, 2-stage ditches, in-stream habitat and the use of biocriteria to evaluate success. For more information visit http://riverinstitute.org/home.html.[broken link]
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference November 6th-9th, 2006, Baltimore, MD. For more than 40 years, the AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference has been the place that water resources professionals from all levels of government, academia, and the private sector representing fields as diverse as agricultural hydrology to GIS to wetlands management. AWRA creates an open forum for sharing, discussion, and solving water resources challenges. This year's conference offers pre-conference workshops and field trips, more than 60 technical sessions with over 240 paper presentations, five panel presentations, posters, exhibits, and an Evening at the Baltimore National Aquarium. For more information, please go to http://www.awra.org/meetings/Baltimore2006/. [broken link]
Chesapeake Watershed Forum, November 17th-19th, 2006, U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. This first annual Forum will assist watershed organizations and local governments in watershed planning, protection and restoration. The Forum will feature five Tracks with multiple sessions, including a session on EPA's Key Watershed Internet Tools. Tracks will include: 1) Organizational capacity building and fundraising; 2) Communication the message; 3) Science, technical tools and practices for watershed management; 4) Planning, policies and programs for watershed management; and 5) Collaboration-how to work together and achieve successful watershed management. In addition to the tracks, labs, seminars, networking events and field trips are planned. For more information, visit http://www.alliancechesbay.org/
or contact Lou Etgen at letgen@acb-online.org or 410-377-6270.
AWRA 2007 Spring Specialty Conference – 3rd National Water Resources Policy Dialogue January 22-23, 2007, Arlington, VA. The First and Second National Water Resources Policy Dialogues brought together water resources experts from around the Nation to focus on the policy needs of the Nation. The Third Dialogue will build on the results of these Dialogues with the aim of providing decision makers with guidance in the formulation and development of water resources policies attuned to societal needs and preferences. At the conclusion of the Third Dialogue, an after-action report will be prepared that will be distributed widely within the Administration, the Congress, the Nation´s Governors and the attendees of the Dialogue. For more information, visit http://www.awra.org/meetings/DC2007/index.html.[broken link]
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.
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