EPA Study Reveals Widespread Contamination of Fish in U.S. Lakes and Reservoirs   

A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study has found concentrations of toxic chemicals such as mercury and PCBs in fish in nearly all 50 U.S. states.  The study shows that mercury concentrations in game fish exceed EPA’s recommended levels in 49% of U.S. lakes and reservoirs.  Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found at levels of potential concern in 17% of U.S. lakes and reservoirs.  The four-year National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue studied fish samples from the nationally representative sample of 500 lakes and reservoirs.  Mercury and PCBs were detected in all of the fish samples.

For more information on the Fish Study, visit http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/study/
For more information on Fish Advisories, visit http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/states.htm
For more information on fish consumption in Pennsylvania, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watersupply/cwp/view.asp?a=1261&q=450642

Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) Releases Findings from Four River Monitoring Programs

The SRBC has announced results from four river monitoring programs, including (1) The Susquehanna River and other large rivers, (2) watersheds surrounding Whitney Point Lake in New York, (3) the Middle Susquehanna Subbasin, and (4) streams that cross New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland state lines. 

http://www.srbc.net/whatsnew/Newsletters/article_31.asp
To view the reports, visit http://www.srbc.net/pubinfo/techdocs/Publications/techreports.htm

EPA Report: America Needs to Invest $334 Billion in Water Projects

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a report entitled “Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment:  Fourth Report to Congress”.  This report states that drinking water utilities will require approximately $334.8 billion over the next twenty years for upgrades, construction, and rehabilitation.  The major project types include source, transmission and distribution, treatment, storage and “other”. 

The report can be found at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/needssurvey/pdfs/2007/report_needssurvey_2007.pdf

By Tony M. Guerrieri, Research Analyst
Environmental Synopsis, November 2009, Volume 10, No. 11
http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/es/2008/Environmental%20Synopsis%20-%20November%202009.pdf

Riparian and Wetland Buffers for Water-Quality Protection

Wetland and riparian vegetated buffers are important for preserving and enhancing water quality.  Required buffers typically range from a 50 to 300 foot width.  This article reviews over 100 scientific papers to determine a scientific rationale for determining appropriate buffer widths.

By Ryan Rupprecht, Chris Kilgore, and Roger Gunther
Stormwater Journal, November-December, 2009
http://www.stormh2o.com/november-december-2009/riparian-wetland-buffers.aspx

Pennsylvania Praised for Removing Unsafe Dams

Pennsylvania is the national leader in river restoration, according to American Rivers.  A total of 20 dams will be removed in Pennsylvania this year.  Over 150 have been removed over the last decade.  The list of dams that have been or will be removed this year include the Boydstown Dam, Collapsible Butler Dam and Harmony Junction Dam, all on Connoquenessing Creek, Butler County; the Howell Dam, on a tributary to Little Sewickley Creek in Westmoreland County; the Service Water Dam on Mahoning Creek, Armstrong County; and the Barr Slope Reservoir Dam, on a tributary to Dixon Run in Indiana County.

By Dan Hopey, Pittsburg Post-Gazette, November 28, 2009
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09332/1016948-113.stm?cmpid=newspanel4

Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative

This Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative will improve water quality and the overall health of the Mississippi River Basin.  Forty one watersheds in 12 states covering over 42 million acres were selected to participate.  The USDA is providing approximately $320 million over the next four years for voluntary projects within the priority watersheds.

For more information, visit http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/11/0586.xml
To view a map of the selected watersheds, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/mrbi/mrbi_watersheds_maps_and_list_page.html