Google Earth Launches Exciting New Viewing Options

It used to be that anything below sea level just showed up as blue ocean on Google Earth. But starting February 2, viewers will be able to see what is under the water, using an upgraded version of Google Earth.

In addition to the underwater imagery, a feature called Historical Imagery allows users to scroll back through decades of satellite images and watch developing sprawl, destruction from hurricanes, reforestation, or coastal erosion. A new function called Touring allows the user to create virtual tours on land or below the sea surface to depict a route for a hike or scuba excursion. The new version of Google Earth can be downloaded for free at http://earth.google.com.

New York Times, February 2, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/science/earth/03oceans.html

$25 million Proposed for Delaware River Cleanup

More than four years after the oil tanker Athos 1 hit an anchor just off Paulsboro and spilled nearly 265,000 gallons of oil into the Delaware River, federal and state officials have released a draft document outlining nearly $25 million in restoration projects. 

With the massive cleanup completed, the proposed restoration plan is the government's latest attempt to address the injuries to the river and devise ways to compensate for them. The majoruty of the money would be spent to restore or create 240 acres of grasslands and wetlands at the Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area in Salem County. Other projects include removing three dams on Darby Creek to benefit shad and other migratory fish; creating 78 acres of oyster reef in the Delaware River; enhancing trails on Little Tinicum Island near Philadelphia International Airport; restoring the shoreline of Lardner's Point, a former ferry terminal near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge; enhancing ponds and pastures at the Blackbird Reserve Wildlife Area in Delaware; improving the Stow Creek boat ramp in New Jersey; and installing a rock jetty at the Augustine boat ramp in Delaware to counter silt buildup nearby. A public comment period on the restoration proposals will be held until February 20. Comments may be e-mailed to NOS.AthosComments@noaa .gov or faxed to 301-713-1229.

Philadelphia Inquirer, January 8, 2009: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20090108__25_million_is_awarded_for_Delaware_River_cleanup.html

National Water Quality Inventory Report Available Online 

A National Water Quality Inventory Report has been released that summarizes water quality assessments submitted by the states to EPA under section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act. 

The report finds that the states assessed 16 percent of the nation's 3.5 million river and stream miles, 39 percent of its 41.7 million acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and 29 percent of its 87,791 estuary square miles. Forty-four percent of assessed river and stream miles, 64 percent of assessed lake acres, and 30 percent of assessed estuary square miles were found to be impaired for one or more of the uses designated for them by the states. Leading causes of impairment included pathogens, mercury, nutrients, and organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen. This report is a companion to electronically-submitted state water quality information available on EPA's Web site, known as ATTAINS (http://www.epa.gov/waters/ir). In addition to viewing the national summary and information by state, users can search for water quality information in individual waterbodies. http://www.epa.gov/owow/305b/2004report/

First WaterSense Energy Efficient Home Completed 

The first home built to the EPA's WaterSense draft specification for new homes has been completed. The home is expected to conserve 10,000 gallons of water per year, or be at least 20 percent more water efficient than a traditional new home. 

The 2,532-square-foot concept home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was built as part of the WaterSense New Homes pilot program to inform EPA's process for home inspection and certification. Besides WaterSense labeled toilets and bathroom sink faucets, the new house includes high-efficiency showerheads and ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. It is plumbed with insulated hot water lines to prevent hot water from cooling in the pipes, a recirculating hot water system to cut down on time needed for tap water to warm, and water-efficient landscaping.

The WaterSense Current, Issue IX, Winter 2009, http://www.epa.gov/watersense/news/current/winter2009.htm#3

Library at Alexandria Becomes Scientific Repository

The ancient Library of Alexandria in Egypt is rumored to have been the largest library in the ancient world. Today's Bibliotheca Alexandrina is seeking to recapture some of its former glory. An online repository of thousands of scientists' lectures from around the world was launched by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in January.

The repository — known as the Supercourse — is an attempt to improve access to science education in developing countries by targeting a total of 100,000 Golden PowerPoint lectures from scientists worldwide within a year and one million in three years. The library hopes that the repository will become a knowledge network in four main scientific disciplines — medicine, engineering, environment and agriculture — through a community of more than 55,000 scientists in 175 countries who are sharing their collective library of more than 3,400 lectures. 

Science Development Network, December 8, 2008  http://www.sciencedev.net/fe/Article.aspx?Aid=884

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 16 for the April 20 board meeting

• May 18 for the summer board meeting (TBD)

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

PA Water Infrastructure Grants

The Commonwealth Financing Agency established a deadline of February 13 for applications for funding $800 million in water infrastructure projects under the H2O PA Program. Applicants should apply for the funding as soon as possible under the Department of Community and Economic Development's single application for assistance process. http://tinyurl.com/9xuea9 

Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds Grants

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds is now accepting applications for grants to protect healthy, natural streams, clean up pollution, and restore degraded wildlife habitat. The next round of applications are due February 20 and August 21. The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds awards grants to 501(c)3 nonprofit citizen groups. The primary service area is from the Ohio boarder to the mainstem of the Susquehanna River. http://www.pennsylvaniawatersheds.org/?page_id=20 

Great Lakes Soil Erosion Control Grant

The Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control is now accepting applications for the 2009 funding cycle. The deadline to apply is March 1. This program supports demonstration and technical assistance projects aimed at mitigating soil and sediment erosion impacting Great Lakes water quality. The Basin Program is a federal/state partnership that has supported more than 200 projects throughout the Great Lakes region since 2002. http://www.glc.org/basin 

PA Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Grants

PADEP’s Coastal Resources Management Program is soliciting land acquisition grant proposals to submit to the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. The geographic areas covered by the program are the designated Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone Watershed and the Lake Erie Coastal Zone Watershed. Grant applications may be made for the purchase of land acquisitions or interests. Proposals must be submitted no later than March 2. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=544568 

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced the availability of program funding for Conservation Innovation Grants for 2009, including a special Chesapeake Bay Watershed category. Applications are due March 2. The CIG program is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/ 

People's Choice Awards for Nonpoint Source and Stormwater PSAs

The People's Choice Awards return to the National Nonpoint and Stormwater Outreach Conference this May.  The gala awards night on May 13 will spotlight exceptional radio and video public service announcements (PSAs). The top entries across multiple categories will be selected for presentation at the gala. Awards will be given to the PSAs that receive the greatest audience response in each category. Submissions must be received by March 2. http://www.epa.gov/nps/outreach2009 

NJ Brownfield Redevelopment Area Funding

New Jersey municipalities that have been designated as Brownfield Development Areas are eligible for grants of up to $5 million each year from the DEP's Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund for site investigation and remediation. The NJDEP also assigns a case manager to assist the communities in overseeing remediation, obtaining financial assistance, and coordinating revitalization efforts with other state agencies. Communities must bring together various stakeholders to develop applications for designation as a Brownfield Development Area. Municipalities interested in being considered in the 2009 round of Brownfield Development Area designations may submit applications until March 31. http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/brownfields/

EPA CARE Grants

The 2009 U.S. EPA Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Cooperative Agreement Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available. The application deadline is March 16. Around $3 million will be available in 2009 to support community-based partnerships to reduce pollution at the local level through the CARE program. EPA anticipates awarding CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I cooperative agreements range from $75,000 to $100,000 and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities which have 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. EPA will conduct three conference calls in February for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process, as well as three information sessions via Webcasts in January and February. http://www.epa.gov/CARE

PA WREN Community Watershed Education Grants

The Water Resources Education Network (WREN) has funding available up to $5,000 to help launch community projects that educate citizens about ways to protect community water resources from polluted runoff. Eligible projects include watershed education projects that build awareness and educate Pennsylvania citizens about their role as environmental stewards. WREN gives priority to projects that incorporate social marketing concepts and encourage individual or public policy action that will protect and improve local water resources. Applications are due by April 3. http://wren.palwv.org/grants/local.html 

PA DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants

The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will award Community Conservation Partnership Grants to municipalities for recreation, park and conservation projects. These include the rehabilitation and development of parks and recreation facilities; acquisition of land for park and conservation purposes; and technical assistance for feasibility studies, trails studies, and site development planning. The deadline for grant applications is April 22. The PADCNR, in partnership with the PA Recreation and Park Society, has scheduled a series of eight grant workshops for the Community Conservation Partnership Grant Program. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/grants/

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative

Under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI), eligible landowners can use available technical and financial assistance to address soil erosion, sedimentation, and excess nutrients in streams and waterways, as well as other related natural resource concerns such as air quality, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and forestry. Applications for CBWI will be accepted continuously and evaluated on a monthly basis, beginning with applications received by March 1. To apply, farmers must fill out an application form and contact their local NRCS office. Pennsylvania agricultural producers located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed may are eligible to apply. http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cbwi/index.html

Link Of The Month

NPS Encyclopedia is Online Resource for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Info 

The NPS Encyclopedia is a free online reference guide designed to facilitate a basic understanding of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control and to provide quick access to essential information from a variety of sources. The purpose of this online resource guide is to support the implementation and development of NPS total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and watershed action plans with a goal of protecting high quality waters and restoring impaired waters. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/nps/encyclopedia.shtml  

New Stormwater Runoff Video Produced

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced an on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s “One Planet – Ours!” Exhibit" and at the U.S. EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns. http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/video.html 

Soil and Water Assessment Tool Book Published

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) book, Special Publication IV of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWC), is now available. The book includes an overview of SWAT, an overview of the SWAT Model, a worldwide compilation of articles on SWAT, and future research applications. To order copies, contact Samran Sombatpanit at sombatpanit@yahoo.com.

Virginia Water Resources Research Center Releases Stormwater BMP Decision Support Tool

The Virginia Water Resources Research Center (VWRRC) recently released a report entitled, "Virginia's Stormwater Impact Evaluation: Developing an Optimization Tool for Improved Site Development, Selection and Placement of Stormwater Runoff BMPs." The report describes the development of an "optimization tool" for stormwater BMP selection. The new decision support tool is based on physical site characteristics; local, state, and federal pollution control ordinances; and implementation and long-term maintenance costs. http://tinyurl.com/aac98j [3.42 MB]

Stormwater BMP Performance Verification Checklist Available

The Center for Watershed Protection has released Tool #8 of their post-construction stormwater management project, Managing Stormwater in Your Community. Tool #8 is a downloadable checklist that will help local program authorities provide a consistent set of questions for applicants proposing to use manufactured and proprietary BMPs. The goal of this tool is to provide more of a level playing field so that all applicants provide the same type of BMP performance information and data as a basis for approving particular devices. http://www.cwp.org/postconstruction