Researchers Challenge Water-Flow Model 

Decades ago, when geologists were developing ideas about how water typically flows across land, many of them studied the streams of the Mid-Atlantic States, concluding that they naturally move in ribbonlike channels cut through silty banks. In the years since, ecologists and conservationists have used this model in efforts to restore streams damaged by urbanization. Now, though, researchers at Franklin and Marshall College are challenging it. They say the streams studied by their geological predecessors were not “natural archetypes” but rather the artifacts of 18th- and 19th-century dam building and deforestation.

The scientists, Robert C. Walter and Dorothy J. Merritts, reported their findings recently in the journal Science. The researchers examined historical records and maps, geochemical data, aerial photographs and other imagery from river systems in Pennsylvania and Maryland. They discovered that beginning in the 1700s, European settlers built tens of thousands of dams, with perhaps almost 18,000 or more in Pennsylvania alone.

In a telephone interview, Dr. Merritts described a typical scenario. Settlers build a dam across a valley to power a grist mill, and a pond forms behind the dam, inundating the original valley wetland. Meanwhile, the settlers clear hillsides for farming, sending vast quantities of eroded silt washing into the pond. Years go by. The valley bottom fills with sediment trapped behind the dam. By 1900 or so the dam is long out of use and eventually fails. Water begins to flow freely through the valley again. But now, instead of reverting to branching channels moving over and through extensive valley wetlands, the stream cuts a sharp path through accumulated sediment. This is the kind of stream that earlier researchers thought was natural. The researchers believe their work has important implications for stream restoration. Evidence so far suggests that removing the overlay of sediment may encourage streams to return to a truly natural state. 

NY Times, January 18, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/science/18rivers.html

Researchers Develop Models to Assess Wetland Health

Smithsonian scientists recently reported a promising method of wetland assessment that will help environmental managers quickly take stock of wetlands across an entire watershed. In three papers published in the September 2007 issue of the journal Wetlands, Dennis Whigham, Donald Weller, and Thomas Jordan of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and their colleagues present the results of a large-scale study that combines field studies and remote-sensing data to assess the ecological functioning of wetlands in a landscape. For this study, the researchers focused on non-tidal wetlands in the Nanticoke River watershed of Maryland and Delaware. 

The researchers based their study on the Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) approach. The HGM Approach is a wetland assessment procedure that first classifies wetlands based on their hydrogeomorphic characteristics (i.e., landscape setting, water source, hydrodynamics); second, it uses reference wetlands to establish the range of functioning of the wetland; and third, it uses a relative index of function, calibrated to reference wetlands, to assess wetland functions. This increases the resolution, allows for replicability, and reduces the amount of time needed to conduct the assessment.  http://www.serc.si.edu/for_media/releases_2007/2007_wetlands.jsp 

Nonpoint Source News Notes, December 2007 http://www.epa.gov/owow/info/NewsNotes/issue83/83issue.pdf 

PA Development Using Nutrient Credit Trading to Protect Water Quality

A planned resort community in Ararat Township, Susquehanna County, PA will reduce pollution to the Chesapeake Bay by using the state’s innovative nutrient credit trading program. The Preserve at Dunn Lake becomes the first new development project in northeastern Pennsylvania to use the nutrient credit trading alternative.

After thoroughly evaluating the factors associated with their development's NPDES permit, the developers chose to apply for nutrient credit trading using a cost-effective alternative to reducing pollution runoff. The developer was required to evaluate non-discharge alternatives, conduct a social-economic justification analysis for the project, and use the department's water quality anti-degradation regulations as part of its application and decision to participate in the nutrient credit trading program. The requirements were also necessary given discharges from the development will be to a high quality cold water fishery. The Preserve at Dunn Lake will include 37 vacation home sites and a 30-room inn with a restaurant and banquet facilities. The permit allows the resort community to discharge 19,000 gallons of treated sewage per day to the East Branch of the Lackawanna River.

The credits that are traded in the program can be purchased by developers, which allows them to have a certain amount of nutrients in their discharge equivalent to what has been purchased and removed elsewhere in the watershed. For this project, the developer entered into a contract with the Red Barn Trading Company, a Lancaster firm that represents farmers who agree to remove manure from their fields and ship it to areas outside of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The manure would be used as a soil conditioner in nutrient deficient areas outside of the watershed. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?Q=533039&A=3

F. X. Browne, Inc. is experienced in preparing planning modules and stormwater permit applications, as well as calculating the nonpoint source load reductions required for nutrient trading. We can help design developments using Low-Impact Development techniques and other methods of meeting NPDES stormwater permitting requirements. In addition, F. X. Browne, Inc is a Qualified Consultant under PADEP's Third Party Review expedited NPDES stormwater permitting process. For more information, contact info@fxbrowne.com.

Chesapeake Bay Leaders Say 2010 Bay Cleanup Goal Will Not Be Met, But Progress is Being Made

The Chesapeake Bay cleanup's top policymaking body formally acknowledged that 2010 will come and go without meeting its goals to clean up the Chesapeake. The reason for the 2010 deadline dates to the resolution of a lawsuit against the EPA in 1999. As part of the settlement, the agency must write a Total Maximum Daily Load for the the Bay unless it meets water quality standards by May 2011. The Executive Council set the 2010 deadline in its Chesapeake 2000 agreement, hoping to head off the need for a TMDL, which has more regulatory provisions and more rigid requirements than the tributary strategies states have written to reduce Bay pollution.

However, the Chesapeake Executive Council insisted that cleanup efforts were accelerating and the region should have policies in place by the end of 2010 that would ultimately achieve the clean Bay goal. To help accomplish that, the Council signed a pledge to protect 695,000 acres of forest by 2020. Individual council members also agreed to "champion" various issues that could move restoration efforts forward, such as promoting cellulosic ethanol production and "green" infrastructure in cities. The Chesapeake Bay states expect to come close to goals for sewage plants in 2010 or shortly thereafter. But the more vexing problem of controlling nutrient runoff from the land remains. Pollution from agriculture, the largest single source of nutrients to the Bay, could increase substantially in coming years as farmers plant more corn to meet demand for ethanol.
Chesapeake Bay Journal, January 2008

In related news, PA DEP has announced that Pennsylvania’s farmers are meeting the mandatory nutrient reduction targets required under Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Compliance Plan. Pennsylvania’s Compliance Plan requires 25 million pounds of nutrient reduction from Pennsylvania farmlands. More than 5,000 farms will soon have full nutrient management plans, as well as stream setbacks or buffers, increasing the number of highly regulated farms in Pennsylvania by 600 percent. The farmers are exhibiting their willingness to invest in conservation measures and clean water as evidenced by the $10 million in Resource Enhancement and Protection, or REAP, program requests received to date. REAP gives farmers and businesses the opportunity to earn tax credits in exchange for best management practices on agricultural operations that enhance farm production, protect natural resources and ultimately benefit the bay. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?Q=533291&A=3

Signs of Change in Lake Champlain

Scientists studying Lake Champlain on the New York-Vermont border have noticed some recent, puzzling changes. Lakeshore residents and researchers were pleasantly surprised last summer when the thick, noxious blue-green algae blooms that have plagued the Mississquoi Bay near the Canadian border for a decade failed to occur. Water quality remained excellent all summer. Eric Smeltzer, the Vermont state government's lead lake scientist, analyzed changes in water temperature, transparency, phosphorus concentration and rainfall in his search for an explanation. None seemed strongly correlated with the sudden decline in algae. He did find that concentrations of nitrogen in the water were at nearly their lowest levels in a decade. In separate research; however, University of Vermont's Mary Watzin lined up evidence that other factors might help drive the rise and fall of blue-green algae. They include warmer water temperatures and an explosion of invasive white perch that eat the microscopic crustaceans that feed on algae. http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/NEWS02/801090322/1007 

More recently, Vermont Fish and Wildlife biologists responded in early January to the first major die-off of alewives on Lake Champlain -- a discovery that indicates that the lake has undergone a significant infestation. Responding to phone calls from anglers, department personnel found tens of thousands of dead alewives. The biologists believe the fish kill is temperature-related, as the non-native species are not adapted to the cold winter lake temperatures. Similar alewife collapses have been seen in the Great Lakes. The invasive alewives were first found in Lake Champlain in 2005. http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS02/801120319/1007/NEWS05 

The Burlington Free Press, January 9 and January 12, 2008

Policy Update

Grant Programs 
(Click on a grant for more information)

PennVEST Infrastructure Loans/Grants 

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority published revised cutoff dates for submitting applications for water, wastewater, stormwater and other project funding:

• February 19 for the April 15 board meeting.

• May 20 for the next board meeting (TBA)

http://www.pennvest.state.pa.us/pennvest/cwp/browse.asp?A=4 

PA REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credits

The Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission approved the guidelines and applications needed to apply for the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) farm conservation tax credit. The Commission will begin accepting applications January 2. The REAP Program provides $10 million this fiscal year for agricultural Best Management Practices in the form of transferable or sponsored tax credits. Personal and business state tax credits ranging from 50 to 75 percent of the cost to install conservation practices like barnyard improvements, riparian buffers, no-till planting equipment, stream fencing and other practices will be available. Each farm enrolled in the program is eligible for up to $150,000 in transferable tax credits that can be used over a 15-year period or sold to other taxpayers. A business can earn tax credits by sponsoring projects on an eligible farm. The open application period closes February 8. http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=145155 

Five Star Restoration Challenge Grants 

The 2008 Five Star Restoration Challenge Grant Program is currently accepting applications until February 15. The Five Star Program provides financial assistance to support community-based wetland, riparian and coastal habitat restoration projects that build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. Funding is available nationwide, but applicants in Calif., Ala., Ga., Fla. and Miss. are especially encouraged to apply due to special funding opportunities provided by the programs corporate sponsors.  http://www.nfwf.org/fivestar 

USDA Conservation Innovation Grants

USDA NRCS invites responses to the request for proposals for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in 2008. Proposals are due February 20. The CIG program is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. There are three CIG categories available in FY 2008: Natural Resource Concerns, Technology, and Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will be accepting and reviewing the applications for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Category. Projects may be watershed-based, regional, multi-State, or nationwide in scope. CIG will fund projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations of technologies not already in common use in the project area. At least 50 percent of the total cost of the project must come from non-Federal matching funds (cash and in-kind contributions) provided by the grantee. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/releases/2007/2008cigsignup.html 

Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants

The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program provides grants to organizations and local governments working on a local level to protect and improve watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay basin, while building citizen-based resource stewardship. The Small Watershed Grants Program has been designed to encourage the development and sharing of innovative ideas among the many organizations wishing to be involved in watershed protection activities. Proposals are due February 29. For more information, visit the Small Watershed grants page.

EPA Community Organization Pollution Reduction Grants

Through its Community Action for a Renewed Environmental (CARE) program, EPA is currently accepting proposals to support community-based partnerships. Proposals are due by March 17. EPA will conduct three conference calls on January 18, February 11 and February 27 for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process. CARE is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for communities to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in their air, land and water. EPA anticipates awarding CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I cooperative agreements range from $75,000 to $1000 and can be used to create community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities which already established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community and are prepared to measure results, implement risk reduction activities and become self-sustaining. http://www.epa.gov/care 

Coastal Counties Restoration Grants

NACo in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Community-Based Restoration Program (CRP), has announced the second year of funding for the Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative (CCRI). The initiative provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to innovative, high quality county-led or supported projects. In 2008, CCRI will provide grants to improve stream, river, estuarine and other important marine habitats. A priority area for CCRI is the removal of fish passage barriers in coastal streams and rivers. Grants will range from $50,000-$100,000, based upon need. The deadline for applications is March 24. http://www.naco.org/ccri 

NJ Brownfield Development Area Designations

The New Jersey DEP is accepting applications until March 31 from municipalities interested in being included in the 2008 round of Brownfield Development Area designations. Applications must be submitted by a steering committee representing the community and must include the boundaries of the proposed Brownfield Development Area, a clear identification of the sites to be addressed, and a description of current activities within the area. Applicants must demonstrate a likelihood of fulfilling their vision for the Brownfield Development Area. Municipalities that have been designated as Brownfield Development Areas are eligible for up to $5 million each year from the NJDEP's Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund for site investigation and remediation. The NJDEP also assigns a case manager to assist the communities in obtaining financial assistance and to coordinate revitalization efforts with other state agencies. http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/brownfields/bda/ 

American Rivers & NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program River Grants

For fiscal year 2008, NOAA has awarded American Rivers $800,000 to distribute through the Community-Based Restoration grants program. Stream barrier removal projects in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northwest and California are eligible to apply. This funding is provided through the NOAA Open Rivers Initiative, which seeks to enable environmental and economic renewal in local communities through the removal of stream barriers and realized benefits to diadromous fish species. Grants are provided for three distinct project phases: Feasibility Analysis, Engineering Design, and Construction. Average grants will be $25,000 - $50,000. Successful applicants for one project phase will not be eligible to receive additional funding for that same project phase in future grant rounds. The next proposal deadline is early April 2008. http://www.americanrivers.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AMR_content_63c9&JServSessionIdr009=jn1vg0e142.app6b

PA Water Resources Education Project Grants

The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Water Resources Education Network is now inviting applications for Water Resources Education (WREN) Project Grants of up to $5,000 per project. Applications are due April 2. Educational projects that raise awareness about protecting the community’s drinking water sources and/or preventing nonpoint source pollution in the watershed are eligible. Projects must aim at building an informed citizenry who will protect water resources with actions at home, at work, and within the community, including encouraging local officials to make decisions that will promote clean water. Projects require partnerships of organizations in Pennsylvania such as watershed associations, civic groups, community water systems, governmental entities (including municipal authorities), and other public interest organizations. http://wren.palwv.org/grants/local.html

PA Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grants

The PA DCNR has $50 million in grants available to Pennsylvania communities and non-profit organizations to help fund community recreation, open space, land trust, rails-to-trails, rivers, and conservation projects under the Community Conservation Partnerships Program. Applications are due April 25. DCNR is also sponsoring a series of grant writing workshops in February. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/grants/

Events 
(Click on an event for more information)

EPA Watershed Webcasts EPA’s Watershed Academy sponsors monthly Webcasts, audio versions of which are available on their website. T Past Webcast topics include Smart Growth, AMD and Art, EPA's STORET system, TMDLs and trading through the National Estuary Program, the Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Program, Brownfields Redevelopment, Watershed-based NPDES Permitting, 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 EPA Stormwater Webcasts EPA's popular webcast series for municipal stormwater professionals will resume on February 6, with a webcast on BMP Performance. The series will feature five webcasts on a variety of topics, including Stormwater Retrofits, Finding and Fixing Illicit Discharges, and MS4 Program Performance. Archived webcasts are also available. http://www.epa.gov/npdes/outreach_files/sw_webcasts_2008.pdf 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: February 19-20 - Cumberland / Franklin Counties March 18-19 - McKean County  http://www.mri.psu.edu/centers/cdgrs/calendar/calendar.html NJ Highlands Master Plan Public Hearings On November 26, The Highlands Council released a Final Draft Master Plan (RMP) for final public comment. Once the Plan is adopted, the towns and counties within the Highlands region will begin the process of conforming their planning, zoning and land use regulations with the goal of protecting the valuable resources of the Highlands region. The Council has scheduled three public hearings at which the public may speak. Speakers are limited to three minutes or less. The three public hearings are scheduled for February 6, 4 p.m., Morristown, NJ February 11, 6 p.m., Paterson, NJ February 13, 6:30 p.m., Glen Gardner, NJ Written comments may also be submitted. For more information, visit www.highlands.state.nj.us/njhighlands/master/  Habitat Priority Planner Demonstration On February 5, NOAA Coastal Services Center will demonstrate the Habitat Priority Planner. HPP is a new spatial decision support tool designed as an ArcGIS toolbar to assist resource managers, researchers, and land-use planners in prioritizing important areas in the landscape or seascape for conservation or restoration action. The tool and additional information are available at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/hpp/. Additional information on the webinar can be found at www.ebmtools.org/contact.html.  DC Smart Growth Conference The 7th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities Conference will be held on February 7-9 in Washington, DC. The program will include a dynamic mix of plenaries, interactive breakouts, implementation workshops, specialized trainings, and optional tours of local model projects. http://www.newpartners.org PA Aging Infrastructure Workshop The PA Section American Water Works Association is sponsoring a two-day workshop in Philadelphia on new tools to help renew aging infrastructure on February 7-8. This seminar builds on asset management principles, provides a structured framework for rationalizing water-main renewal technology, and supports participants in filling their "renewal tool box" with material and installation options compatible with their objectives and regional environmental constraints. Participants will experience hands-on use of the tools presented. This workshop would be helpful to asset managers, utility managers, capital planners, engineering staff, technical staff and distribution operators. http://www.awwa.org/awwa/education/seminars/index.cfm?SemID=67  PA Green Economy Presentation Environmental leader Van Jones will talk about the national "green-collar jobs" initiative at a presentation February 21 at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Working with the Apollo Alliance and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Jones is promoting the initiative that he hopes will create “green pathways out of poverty,” while greatly expanding the coalition fighting global warming. RSVP is required. E-mail rwall@ansp.org.  http://www.ansp.org/townsquare/index.php  International Conference on Stormwater and Urban Water Systems Modeling The annual International Conference on Stormwater and Urban Water Systems Modeling will be held on February 21-22 in Toronto, Ontario. The conference is a forum for professionals from across North America and overseas to exchange ideas and experience on current practices and emerging technologies. Topics include hydrology, hydraulics, water quality and receiving waters, from precipitation processes, runoff, pollutant build-up, washoff, surcharging pipe networks, and water distribution systems, to pollutant removal and impacts on aquatic ecosystems. http://www.computationalhydraulics.com/Training/Conferences/conferencetoronto.html  PA Keystone Coldwater Conference The annual Keystone Coldwater Conference will be held on February 22-23 in State College, PA. This year's conference will focus on the protection and management of Pennsylvania's headwater ecosystems and highlight the emerging research and successful partnerships that keep our headwater streams healthy. An optional afternoon hands-on workshop on headwater taxonomy and field identification is also being offered. http://www.coldwaterheritage.org/coldwaterconference.htm  PA Wild Resources Symposium The Western PA Nature Center Roundtable is sponsoring the Pennsylvania Wild Resources Symposium on February 28 at the Powdermill Nature Reserve in Allegheny County. Broaden your knowledge of Pennsylvania’s native flora and fauna and learn about important research and protection programs. Sessions include: integrating herpetology into the classroom, honey bees and colony collapse disorder, restoring American Chestnut trees and on the trail of the Indiana bat. http://www.aswp.org/pwrs.html  NJ Redevelopment Forum New Jersey Future's Redevelopment Forum  will be held on February 29 in New Brunswick, NJ. The Forum is a full day of workshops targeted at local leaders, citizen activists, and professionals interested in strengthening their communities through good planning and high-quality redevelopment. Workshop topics will include: Financial Tools for Redevelopment, Redevelopment Law and Eminent Domain, Transit-Oriented Redevelopment, Reviving Dead Malls, Arts & Culture as Vehicles for Redevelopment, Planning for Socially and Economically Sustainable Communities, Deciphering Indicators of Neighborhood Change, Brownfields: New Soil Cleanup Standards, Overcoming Communities’ Anxieties about Redevelopment, State Housing Policy & Redevelopment, Creative Parking Solutions, and Redevelopment and Global Warming. http://www.njfuture.org  Schuylkill Watershed Congress The 2008 Schuylkill Watershed Congress will be held on March 2 at Montgomery County Community College, Pottstown, PA. This annual gathering of citizens interested in understanding, protecting and restoring local watersheds and streams features a diverse program with concurrent and poster sessions covering a broad range of watershed topics.  http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/aboutus/events.asp  NJ Environmental Commission Training to Protect Natural Resources The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) is holding a series of workshops that will present an overview of environmental commission responsibilities and powers, and discuss the basic tools and techniques – master planning, ordinance development, site plan review, and environmental resource inventories – used by commissions as they work at the local level to promote sustainable land use and protect quality of life. Learn how to work effectively within local government and with your community, and find out about current grant opportunities to fund projects. Workshops will be held on the following dates and locations: March 10, Galloway March 15, Clifton March 29, Bordentown City http://www.anjec.org/html/workshops.htm#eccourse  Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference, Shad Symposium The Wildlands Conservancy will hold the 2008 Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference and Shad Symposium on March 28 in Fogelsville, PA. The conference will discuss effective ways to clean up watersheds, forge partnerships and maximize the resources in the Lehigh Valley. A special Shad Symposium will also be held in conjunction with the Conference to address topics of interest in the restoration of the American Shad to the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=8086&SubjectID= PennFuture's Annual Watershed Workshop PennFuture's acclaimed Annual Watershed Workshop, "Making Watershed Issues Matter to your Neighbors," is set for March 29 at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadd's Ford, PA. Topics include stormwater management, stream buffers, source water protection, and woodland management. http://www.pennfuture.org/calendarevents_detail.aspx?EventID=95  KY Urban Water Management Conference Urban Water Management, an Integrated Water Quality Conference & Exhibition, will be held on March 31 - April 2 in Louisville, KY. The conference will focus on the integration of Stormwater BMPs, Phase II regulations, green infrastructure, and funding of municipal water management programs. It will cover design, construction, maintenance and emerging technology for urban water quality. http://www.urbanwatermgt.com  PA Rural Water Association Conference The Pennsylvania Rural Water Association will host its annual conference on April 1-4 at The Penn Stater Conference Center in State College. The conference will offer 42 water and wastewater classes, more than 120 industry exhibitors, and many special events including the PRWA Tribute to Excellence Awards Banquet. The 2008 Annual Conference is also a celebration of PRWA’s 20th Anniversary. Water and wastewater operators, managers, and board members are encouraged to attend the full week of classes and events which will provide a unique opportunity to learn from fellow water and wastewater professionals in Pennsylvania. http://www.prwa.com/v2/conference/2008/index.asp National River Rally River Rally 2008 will be held May 2-6 in Huron, OH. http://www.rivernetwork.org/rally/index.php National WQ Monitoring Conference The National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) is hosting its 6th conference, Monitoring: Key to Understanding Our Waters, in Atlantic City, NJ on May18-22. The conference will focus on seven themes that highlight the importance of monitoring in achieving the goal of clean water for all. Especially integral to effective monitoring networks are the “3C’s” of the Council’s Framework for Monitoring — Communication, Collaboration, and Coordination. http://acwi.gov/monitoring/conference/2008/ NEIWPCC Annual Conference The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission’s (NEIWPCC) 19th Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference: “Progress through Partnerships: Collaborating to Protect Our Watersheds,” will be held on May 19-21 in Groton, Connecticut. www.neiwpcc.org/npsconference Society of Wetland Scientists International Conference  The Society of Wetland Scientists will be holding an International Conference on May 26-30 in Washington, DC. The theme for the 29th annual meeting, Capitalizing on Wetlands, highlights the need for integrating the breadth of wetland science, encompassing biogeography, conservation, ecology, hydrology, management, nutrient cycling and contamination, and wildlife biology with economics, public policy, and education. http://www.sws.org/2008_meeting

Link Of The Month

EPA Launches New Indicators Website

An environmental indicator measures the condition of the environment and its change over time. The EPA mid-Atlantic Water Protection program uses the environmental indicators tool to measure progress in reaching its goals toward water quality improvements. EPA's recently launched Water Protection program website highlights these indicators, what they are and how EPA uses them to measure and report success. http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/indicators/index.htm 

New CWP Model Wetland Ordinance Article

"A Local Ordinance to Protect Wetland Functions" is the latest release from the six-part Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series from the Center for Watershed Protection. This article introduces a new type of model ordinance for local protection of wetlands. Existing federal and state wetland permitting programs address some direct impacts to wetlands, such as filling, but are not designed to regulate inputs of stormwater or other pollutants. Local development regulations can fill this gap in wetland protection since local governments typically have control over local land use regulations and decisions. An adaptable model Wetland Drainage Area Protection Ordinance is provided. http://www.cwp.org/wetlands/articles.htm

Habitat Priority Planner Released

NOAA Coastal Services Center's new Habitat Priority Planner is a new spatial decision support tool designed as an ArcGIS toolbar to assist resource managers, researchers, and land-use planners in prioritizing important areas in the landscape or seascape for conservation or restoration action. What makes this tool unique is the ease with which the scenarios can be displayed and changed, making this a helpful companion when working with a group. In addition to the scenarios, the tool also generates pertinent reports, maps, and data tables. http://www.csc.noaa.gov/hpp/. An informational webinar is being held on February 5. Register at www.ebmtools.org/contact.html.

EPA Launches New Decentralized Wastewater Tool

US EPA has recently launched their Wastewater Information System Tool (TWIST), a Microsoft Access based information management system developed to help communities inventory and manage decentralized wastewater systems. TWIST is an off the-shelf, user-friendly management tool that will allow state and local health departments to effectively inventory and manage small wastewater treatment systems in their jurisdictions. It's designed to track information related to homes and facilities served, permits, site evaluations, types of systems, inspections, and complaints. An EPA Watershed Academy webcast was held on January 16 that provides an introduction on how to use TWIST. The webcast is available online at http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.