Photo credit:  Jesus Presley on Flickr.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesuspresley/127359081/

Editor's Notes:

                                Photo credit:  Townend Photography on Flickr.com

                                   http://www.flickr.com/photos/townendphotography/2364405141/

Topic of the Month:

Stimulus Package - Wetlands and River Restoration

The stimulus bill includes funding for wetlands and river restoration.  The Association of State Wetland Managers has a website that provides valuable information on utilizing stimulus funding to conserve, manage and protect our water resources and wetlands.  Funding is available through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Army corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  More...

http://www.aswm.org/fwp/stimulus/index.htm

EPA Water Quality Video Contest - Win $2,500! Let your creative juices flow as you create a 30 second, 60 second or 1-3 minute video about water pollution and the ways we can protect our water resources.  Topics such as low impact development, wetlands, marine debris, urban and agricultural runoff, watershed protection, etc. are recommended.  Entries must be submitted by April 22, 2009.  For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html

Policy Updates:

	House Approves Major Water Infrastructure Legislation The House of Representatives approved legislation to authorize $20 billion for wastewater and water quality improvements.  $13.8 billion would be provided for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $750 million for the Great Lakes Legacy Act over the next 5 years.  Amendments were adopted to increase stormwater pilot projects that utilize low impact development (i.e. rain gardens, green roofs, etc.)   American Rivers, Week of March 16, 2009 http://www.americanrivers.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=17121.0&dlv_id=27661
	DEP Takes Over Marcellus Shale Gas Well Permit Reviews from Conservation Districts The PA DEP will now be reviewing permits for the exploration, production, processing, treatment or transmission facilities for Marcellus Shale gas drilling.  They will be reviewed under the ESCGP-1 Permit.  New permit forms will be available for use starting April 1, 2009.   PA Environment Digest, March 20, 2009 http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11902
	Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Announces Restoration of Federal Funding Support The U.S. Congress has approved legislation to support the DRBC expense budget at a tune of $715, 000.  The DRBC provides programs for water quality protection, monitoring and assessment, water supply allocation, flood loss reduction, drought management, water conservation initiatives, watershed planning and habitat restoration. Delaware River Basin Commission News Release, March 19, 2009 http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/newsrel_fedfundingrest031909.htm

Silva Cell Integrated Tree & Stormwater System The Silva Cell is a stormwater management Best Management Practice (BMP) utilized for underground storage of stormwater in conjunction with landscaping.  The system provides space for soil beneath hardscapes able to support traffic loads.  Therefore, stormwater can be utilized for the growth of trees without losing valuable space within parking lots. http://www.deeproot.com/

Low Impact Development Center, Rain Gardens

One of the easiest and most cost effective ways to mitigate stormwater on your property is to build a rain garden.  Rainwater is directed into the rain garden to be infiltrated into the soil and evapotranspirated by plant material.  This site provides useful information and links on rain gardens including rain garden design, associated costs, construction, and maintenance.  For more information, visit

http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/raingarden_design/index.htm

If you are interested in having your own rain garden, F. X. Browne, Inc. can help!  We can design a beautiful rain garden built especially for the unique conditions of your site.

Tools and Publications:

Watershed Plan Builder

The Watershed Plan Builder will help you develop or update a watershed plan.  You provide the information specific to your watershed and this tool will create a customized watershed plan outline.  As you are guided through the watershed planning process, you can end up with a comprehensive watershed plan.  Visit this link for more information.

http://iaspub.epa.gov/watershedplan/planBuilder.do?pageId=51&navId=39 F. X. Browne, Inc. has 31 years of experience in developing and revising watershed and comprehensive plans.  If you are interested in developing a watershed plan or comprehensive plan for your watershed or township, please contact us at F. X. Browne, Inc.

User’s Guide to the Water-Analysis Screening Tool (WAST): A Tool for Assessing Available Water Resources in Relation to Aquatic-Resource Uses

The US Geological Survey and PA DEP have provided this water analysis screening tool.  It delineates potential problem areas for water use demands and water availability and it indicates net withdraws on aquatic resources.  The user can access watershed information, input water data to generate down-stream effects, and change the data in order to make comparisons.  Data is produced in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

By Marla H. Stuckey and James L. Kiesler

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1242/

Regression Method for Estimating Long-Term Mean Annual Ground-Water Recharge Rates from Base Flow in Pennsylvania

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5185

This report provides information on the method developed for estimating long-term, mean annual groundwater recharge.  It utilizes streamflow data taken from 80 streamflow-gaging stations in Pennsylvania.  The base-flow yield is predicted from 28 basin characteristics.

By Dennis W. Risser, Ronald E. Thompson, and Marla H. Stuckey

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2008/5185/

Brownfields Redevelopment Toolbox for Disadvantaged Communities

This document provides case studies, tools and planning for brownfields remediation in disadvantaged communities.  It gives tools and technical assistance to local communities that wish to overcome economic and neighborhood disadvantage.  It is provided by the Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Disadvantaged Communities Network.

http://www.nemw.org/ToolboxDisadvantagedCommunities.pdf

Pond/Wetland Management Guidebook

This guidebook provided by the EPA gives maintenance and inspection procedures for wet ponds and wetlands.  It includes checklists to guide the user on the correct practices.

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/pondmgmtguide.pdf