Recent Pennsylvania Flooding Stream Impacts

Throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, conservation and environmental officials continue to assess the state of streams and creeks in the wake of massive flooding on June 27-28. Engorged by record rainfall, many typically tame waterways ripped away river banks and rock. A number of articles, summarized below, characterize the effects of the floods.

Many rehabilitated streams survive flood 

Devastating floods triggered by Hurricanes Agnes and Ivan left some of the region’s major streams in dire need of rehabilitation. It’s still early, but an initial survey of Lackawanna County has shown that stretches of Rushbrook Creek, Stafford Meadow Brook and other waterways previously bolstered by stream rehabilitation work appear to have survived the most recent flooding. http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16887858&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416046&rfi=6 

Luzerne Conservation District evaluating county streams

Water drove through local streams with such force during the storm that it created pathways and tore out banks and retaining walls meant to keep it in line. If left untouched, these areas could flood with less rain, which is why the Luzerne Conservation District is conducting an emergency flood damage assessment of Luzerne County’s 1,305 miles of streams. http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/local/14975357.htm 

Invasive species of plants add to flood damage along streams 

Flood waters caused much of the stream damage. But the silent accomplice from the storm was something more innocent-seeming: invasive flora. Japanese Knotweed crowds out existing plant life. And yet, its shallow roots do not allow it to hold up against flooding, unlike more hardy native species. When the water sweeps in, the plants and chunks of the stream banks crumble away. Moreover, the flooding uproots these plants and then carries them downstream, where they re-establish themselves. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060702/NEWS/607020334/-1/NEWS 

Effects of the storm on the Bays

After perhaps the region's biggest environmental event since Hurricane Agnes, water flowing downriver from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania has made Delaware Bay substantially fresher and muddier. No one knows yet if the Delaware Bay and its rebounding oyster populations will suffer, but researchers believe the Delaware Bay will probably recover faster than the Chesapeake Bay because it normally flushes more rapidly into the Atlantic Ocean. If there is any damage from recent torrential rains, researchers expect to find it in the Chesapeake Bay. http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/NEWS/607170336/1006 

In an internal memo distributed to Corps district officials, Corps regulatory branch chief Mark Sudol says the Corps and EPA are in the process of developing joint guidance clarifying Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdiction following the high court's ruling in Rapanos et ux., et al. v. United States on June 19.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is distributing informal interim guidance that suggests EPA and the Corps will be making only narrow changes in how they determine whether a wetland or other waterbody is subject to CWA  protections in the wake of the Supreme Court's divided ruling last month on the scope of the water act, according to a copy of the guidance obtained by Inside EPA. http://www.aswm.org/wbn/epa_rapanos_memo.pdf 

For more information on the Rapanos ruling and other recent wetland-related decisions, visit http://www.aswm.org/fwp/rapanos_state2006.htm.

EPA Region 3 States Develop Best Watershed-Based Plans in the Nation

With EPA's regional nonpoint source program's assistance, the Region 3 states developed watershed plans that rated very high compared to those of other regions. 

EPA Region 3 encompasses Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Federal guidelines under the Clean Water Act assure that states and local communities establish effective watershed-based planning and develop watershed-based plans that effectively meet federal clean water quality standards. The Corsica River Watershed Plan (MD) was reviewed agency-wide as being among the best watershed-based plans in the nation. http://www.epa.gov/region03/ebytes/ebytes06_23_06.html

F. X. Browne, Inc. can develop watershed plans for your organization. For more information, contact info@fxbrowne.com.

New PA Nutrient Management Regulations to Improve Water Quality 

Phosphorus in manure will be regulated for the first time, along with nitrogen, under new final regulations adopted by the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commissions.

Nearly 1,000 farms are subject to the regulations, with an additional 1,400 farms voluntarily complying with the requirements, which include developing a nutrient management plan with specialists certified by the Department of Agriculture. The new regulations are a balance between properly applying manure generated on high-density animal operations – those with more than 2,000 pounds of animals per acre – without overly restricting the movement of nutrients throughout the state, according to the Department of Agriculture. The regulations include not only phosphorous management, but also exporting manure from farms, manure setbacks from water sources, seasonal application, manure stacking, soil testing and financial assistance. A standard management plan format was designed to ensure consistency in reporting, and a method of documenting manure exported off the farm was also developed. http://panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu/ 

Policy Update

PA Governor Rendell recently announced more than $4 million in continued support for 66 conservation district watershed specialist positions throughout Pennsylvania.

The NJ Legislature passed landmark resolutions proposing a constitutional amendment that would provide a stable source of funding for New Jersey's state and local parks and natural areas.

New York DEC announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved New York's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS), which is designed to preserve the state's wildlife populations and their key habitats.

States, territories and tribes will share more than $940 million from three EPA grant programs to support the quality and security of the nation's drinking water, including increased funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

Several Pennsylvania state agencies recently published lists of projects funded under the Growing Greener II bond issue.

New Jersey's Musconetcong River, with President Bush's signature, will soon be added to the nation's list of Wild and Scenic Rivers.

The comment period for the NPDES Water Transfers Proposed Rule has been extended to August 7. The proposed rule would clarify that the transfer or conveyance of water from one body of water to another body of water is excluded from regulation under the Clean Water Act's NPDES permitting program.

PA Governor Rendell has announced that $212 million has been committed for more than 236 projects in the first year of his innovative Growing Greener II initiative

The U.S. Senate has approved a key amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the law that authorizes new projects for the Army Corps of Engineers. The Independent Peer Review amendment to the WRDA now requires outside expert review of Corps project planning.

The PA Governor’s Invasive Species Council is in the process of developing an aquatic invasive species management plan and is asking for input into shaping the potential contents of the plan by August 7.

Grant Programs 
(Click on a grant for more information)

NJ Farmland Preservation Grants

The NJ State Agriculture Development Committee is soliciting applications for the preservation of high-priority farms under two state acquisition programs. The SADC's Direct Easement Purchase Program enables landowners to capitalize on the development potential of their land by selling their development rights. They retain ownership of the land but agree to deed restrictions that permanently protect the land from non-agricultural development. The SADC's Fee Simple Program buys farmland outright from willing landowners. Those farms then are resold at public auction with deed restrictions permanently preserving them for agricultural use. http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/sadc/p032806.doc 

PA Community Conservation Grants

$70 million is now available to communities and non-profit organizations through the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, which is administered through the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The grants can be used to help fund community recreation, open space, land trust, rails-to-trails, rivers, conservation, and recreation projects. In addition, DCNR is offering a series of workshops around the state during the month of June to help interested applicants with the application process. The deadline to submit applications is September 29. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/grants/

PA DEP Recycling Market Development Grants 

The PA DEP is soliciting proposals for Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development grants. This grant program provides reimbursement for equipment costs associated with increasing the use of recycled content in products by for-profit business entities and non-profit organizations located and operating in Pennsylvania. The deadline for applications is August 31. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/document/Grants.htm 

PA Streambank Fencing Program 

The Capital Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, Inc. announced a new funding program that will assist farmers in Southcentral Pennsylvania to install fencing along streams. The program, called the Regional Riparian Initiative, provides cost share funding for riparian fencing on livestock farms, with priority being placed on those using rotational grazing practices. The project area includes: Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, and York counties. http://www.capitalrcd.org/noframes/projects.htm#rr 

EPA Watershed Webcasts

EPA’s Watershed Academy sponsors monthly Webcasts, of which audio versions are available on their website. Past Webcast topics include Influencing Behaviors Using Social Marketing; Integrating Wetlands into Watershed Protection; Sustainable Financing for Watershed Groups; Phase II Stormwater; Low Impact Development Strategies, Tools, and Techniques for Sustainable Watersheds; and Eight Tools for Watershed Protection in Developing Areas.  http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts

PA Dirt and Gravel Road ESM Workshops

The Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads and Penn State University will be holding their Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance (ESM) Training. The ESM training provides basic knowledge and tools necessary to maintain roads in a more cost-efficient and environmentally sensitive manner. The training is directed towards Municipalities, the Bureau of Forestry, and others entities responsible for unpaved road maintenance. Workshops will be held on the following dates and locations:

• August 3 & 4 - Jefferson County

• September 26 & 27 - Tioga County

• October 18 & 19 - Columbia / Montour Counties

 http://www.mri.psu.edu/centers/cdgrs/calendar/calendar.html 

EPA Stormwater Webcasts

EPA is announcing a new series of webcast training sessions for municipal stormwater managers. Designed for those unable to attend out-of-town or multi-day workshops, this series will provide a mix of basic and advanced topics in two-hour blocks. Webcasts will be scheduled approximately every other month from through September. http://www.epa.gov/npdes/training Future topics and tentative dates are:

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) 101 (with the Center for Watershed Protection) - September 13  

Pennsylvania One Call Outdoor Safety Days

PA One Call will hold an Outdoor Safety event at the Cranberry Township Public Works facility north of Pittsburgh on September 14.This free event will offer opportunities for education and fun in areas of underground safety and damage prevention. Outdoor demonstrations include locating, ground penetrating radar, soft excavation technology and techniques, trench shoring and a live trench rescue drill. There will also be a backhoe rodeo, educational breakout sessions and exhibitors offering the latest in underground safety. There will be plenty of freebies including lunch, door prizes, and a free excavation safety guide. http://www.pa1call.org/WebSite/Events/2006_programs/2006_PA_Safety_Days.htm 

Izaak Walton League Webcasts

The Izaak Walton League is holding a free four-part Webcast training series entitled "Alternative Practices for Highway Stormwater Management," covering the latest techniques available to help transportation agencies save money, comply with water regulations, and improve water quality. These techniques also can help highway department personnel manage stormwater quantity and quality while using existing rights of way and providing easy access for maintenance crews. This series will provide valuable information to design engineers, planners, regulators, students, maintenance supervisors, construction engineers, and consultants. http://www.iwla.org/index.php?id=169 Webcasts will be held on the following dates:

• Alternative Practices for Highway Stormwater Management: Design, Construction and Maintenance – Part One (September 21, 1-2:30pm EDT)

• Alternative Practices for Highway Stormwater Management: Design, Construction and Maintenance – Part Two (October 26, 1-2:30pm EDT)

Wetlands 2006 International Symposium

The Association of State Wetland Managers will be  holding their annual wetlands symposium, Wetlands 2006, on August 28-31 in Traverse City, Michigan. This year's symposium is entitled, Applying Scientific, Legal, and Management Tools to the Great Lakes and Beyond. The symposium will include presentations, posters and discussion on activities on the scientific, legal and management tools relevant to sustaining and restoring wetlands and watershed functions in the Great Lakes area, as well as projects describing, "lessons learned" from other parts of the United States and Canada. http://www.aswm.org/calendar/wetlands2006/wetlands2006.htm

PA Mine Reclamation/Mine Drainage Conference 

The 8th Annual Statewide AMD and AMR Conference will be held August 24 - 26 in State College, PA. This year’s theme is “Back to Basics.” The program will feature presentations on passive mine drainage treatment systems, evaluating water monitoring results, identification of funding sources for projects and much more. http://2006.treatminewater.com/ 

Annual PA Dirt & Gravel Road Maintenance Workshop

The Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies hold an annual Maintenance Workshop for anyone involved with the Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program. This year's workshop is September 11-13, 2006 in Titusville, Venango County. The three day workshop is directed at Conservation District personnel, Bureau of Forestry personnel, and anyone else who administers the Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program. A special one-day track will be held on September 11 that is specifically designed for townships. http://www.mri.psu.edu/centers/cdgrs/education_training/workshop/workshop.html 

New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference

The 2006 New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference will be held on September 20 - 21 in Fishkill, NY. The conference will bring scientists and technical experts together with watershed stakeholders and the public to technically inform, present research findings and technical data, exchange ideas, and present information collected to date with regard to the protection of the nation's largest unfiltered surface water supply. http://www.nywea.org/ 

Northeast Regional Planning Conference

Regional Planning Comes of Age, a conference exploring the promise and practice of regional land use planning in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states, will be held on September 28-29 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Seminars will address topics such as transfer of development rights, growth management tools, protecting water resources through regional planning, economic impacts of regional planning, using regional planning to preserve historic and cultural resources, cooperative planning across political boundaries, and regional zoning and land use regulation. Seminars will also explore outstanding and developing examples of regional planning, such as the New Jersey Pinelands, the Adirondacks Park, the Long Island Pine Barrens, the Cape Cod Commission, Chesapeake Bay watershed initiatives and much more. http://www.regionalplanningcomesofage.org 

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