New Jersey's Green Acres Program preserved a record 38,000 acres of land for recreation and conservation during 2005, surpassing by more than 2,000 acres the program's previously highest annual acquisition total. Green Acres provides matching grants and low-interest loans to municipal and county governments to acquire open space and develop outdoor recreation facilities. The program also provides matching grants to nonprofit organizations to acquire land for public recreation and conservation purposes. For more information about applying for Green Acres Funding and developing outdoor recreational facilities, contact F. X. Browne, Inc. at info@fxbrowne.com.

Cooper River Park, Camden County, NJ Photo: F. X. Browne, Inc. http://www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres

For the love of a dog
	The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous
	If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. -Will Rogers
	There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams
	A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -Josh Billings
	If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret
	We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam

New Tools and Publications

EPA Rapid Response to Invasive Species Document Available

The EPA Office of Water has released a publication entitled "Overview of Authorities for Natural Resource Managers Developing Aquatic Invasive Species Rapid Response and Management Plans." This publication provides an overview of EPA authorities that may apply to aquatic invasive species rapid response or control actions. The document is a tool designed for natural resource managers developing aquatic invasive species rapid response and management plans. http://www.epa.gov/owow/invasive_species/invasives_management/ 

Audubon Publishes Backyard Habitat Guide for Pennsylvania Gardeners 

“The Audubon At Home Guide to Gardening for Life in Southeastern Pennsylvania” is a new resource/guide book for creating backyard habitat published through a partnership between the Bucks County Audubon Society and Waste Management. Residents of southeastern Pennsylvania are faced with challenges that are found commonly throughout the northeast United States: excessive water, invasive plants, deer and over-development. The Guide to Gardening for Life offers 84 colorful pages with informative essays and companion profiles of noteworthy area residents who have successfully tackled problems and created habitat spaces that are toxic-free and wildlife-friendly. Readers will also find plant and animal lists intended to enhance conservation efforts, and help to explore the meaning of their personal ecological address and the things to do to preserve its natural health. http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/GuidetoGardeningForLife_PA.html 

Plan Aims to Make Hudson River Fishable, Swimmable

The Draft Final Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda outlines a list of short and long term goals for watershed stakeholders in restoring the Hudson River. The Action Agenda is different from past efforts to improve the river in that it addresses not only the river proper, but the land and waterways that are found within the Hudson River Valley Watershed. Action items include restoring the river's fishery, conserving native plants and animals and their habitats, stream restoration, historical preservation, scenic viewshed preservation, improving river access, public education, waterfront revitilization, remediating pollution, and ensuring that the Hudson River will be swimmable from its source high in the Adirondack Mountains all the way to New York City. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/hudson/hrep.html 

New Book: Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems

As human populations continue to grow, the effects of urbanization on streams and other habitats will become increasingly important to aquatic resource managers and land use planners. A new book published by the American Fisheries Society, Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems, includes a variety of case studies addressing the effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems at locations ranging from Brazil to Southern California to New York. Of special interest is a group of five papers resulting from an interdisciplinary comparative study of urbanization in Boston, MA, Birmingham, AL, and Salt Lake City, UT. These papers address regional variations in study design and responses of habitat, benthic algae, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish to urban development. http://64.224.98.53/publications/catbooks/x54047P.shtml#Summary 

EPA Watershed Plan Development Guide Available

The US EPA has released a draft guide to watershed management, designed to help various organizations develop and implement watershed plans. 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. The 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.  http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook/ 

BMP Handbook for Marinas Published

North Carolina Sea Grant has published "Stormwater Runoff Best Management Practices For Marinas: A Guide for Operators." The guide discusses why stormwater runoff management is important at marinas and what facility owners can do to address potential problems. Although intended primarily for marina owners and operators, this information should also be of interest to others involved with boating facilities and environmental management, including government and agency officials, planners, consultants and the public. http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/stormwater/PublicationFiles/BMPsForMarinas2005%28Hunt&Doll%29.pdf