CBF Offers First-Ever Tool To Assess Nitrogen Footprint

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation this week unveiled the first online nitrogen calculator designed to educate watershed residents about their contribution to the nitrogen pollution damaging local rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay.

Much like carbon calculators, this new tool allows people to calculate how much nitrogen pollution they generate annually due to variables including their home size, electricity use, and what kind of car they drive. The calculator also allows users to see how their nitrogen footprint compares to the average, and how much we need to reduce our footprint to restore the Chesapeake Bay. In the future, the calculator will be linked to the Chesapeake Fund, a partnership including CBF, Forest Trends and World Resources Institute. The fund will allow individuals and businesses to offset their nitrogen footprint by purchasing nitrogen credits. The Chesapeake Fund will use the proceeds to pay for pollution reduction in targeted areas within the watershed. http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=exp_sub_interactive_nitrogen_calculator

Blueprint for a Green County

The environment, both urban and rural, is about to become a major focus in the future development of Lancaster County.

A new "green infrastructure" blueprint for the county's updated comprehensive plan proposes a bold new emphasis on preserving woods, waterways and open spaces. The 168-page "Greenscapes" plan envisions a partnership of county and local officials, along with the private sector, to create a network of natural areas and green spaces in rural, urban and suburban areas. They would be connected by linear ribbons called greenways, usually along streams or ridges. The plan sets a goal of buying, or preserving through easements, an average of 4,675 acres of open space annually over 20 years. That would total 146 square miles, or about 15 percent of the county's land area. Towns could become more "green" with tree plantings, conveniently located parks, "living roofs," community gardens, backyard habitats and tinkered transportation systems that encourage more walking, bicycling and public transit over personal vehicles.  http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/231151 

BMP Challenge Program Expands

The BMP CHALLENGE program has helped 102 corn producers since 2000 experiment with conservation practices on their farms, without risk to income.

BMP CHALLENGE is a collaborative project of the American Farmland Trust (AFT); Agflex; and the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Institute of North America. The programs work to give farmers an opportunity to test reduced nutrient and tillage rates on their fields. Currently, the program is open to farmers in 15 states including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Idaho, North Carolina, Nebraska, Florida, Maryland, Delaware and Wisconsin. To participate, farmers must be eligible for EQIP and grow corn for grain or silage. BMP CHALLENGE staff work directly with farmers, through watershed/conservation districts, and with other organizations, to reduce nutrient and sediment outputs to local waterways and educate farmers about BMPs. BMP CHALLENGE partners hope to expand the program into new states such as California and broaden the scope to include other crops, such as soybeans and additional types of corn. http://www.bmpchallenge.org/ 

Rescue Dog Given New Training As Sewage Sniffer

A couple of years ago, Sable was rescued from a shelter in Lake Odessa, MI by a former K-9 law-enforcement officer. Now the dog works with his owner for a local consultant to detect illicit sewage discharges in Bay County. 

The German shepherd mix is trained to detect the scent of human sewage and household detergents, sniffing out illicit connections and failing septic systems  that flow from homes into rivers and streams. Sable visits catch basins, outfalls and manhole covers. He barks and looks at his trainer when he finds a hot spot for contamination that could indicate the presence of E. coli bacteria. Pinpointing illicit discharges can be difficult, but so far Sable is 87 percent accurate, his handler says. The dog is trained to bark at human sewage and ignore animal feces. Dogs have a better ability than humans to filter out background scents, according to the handler. For instance, while a person may be able to identify the scent of beef stew, a dog can detect the individual ingredients. http://blog.mlive.com/bctimes/2008/09/get_a_whiff_of_this_sewagesnif.html 

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, 2009 for the April 20, 2009 board meeting

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

CWP Technical Capacity Mini-Grants

With funding from an EPA Targeted Watershed Initiative Grant, the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) is currently inviting proposals to its Technical Capacity Mini-Grant program, awarding direct assistance and financial support to a wide range of small watershed organizations. Up to ten $5,000-15,000 grants will be awarded to strengthen the technical capacity of these groups in the area of stormwater and watershed management. These grants may be awarded in the form of direct assistance from CWP staff. Alternatively, mini-grant recipients may also receive cash assistance and tailored information where necessary. Proposals are being accepted on a rolling basis. http://www.cwp.org/Calendar/CWPMinigrantsRFP.pdf 

NY Water Quality Improvement Project Grants

Grant applications are now being accepted on a continuous basis for Water Quality Improvement Projects (WQIP) under the New York City Watershed Program. The program is offering $3 million in grant funds for polluted runoff abatement, which includes assessment, planning and research and outreach and education projects in the New York City watershed. Examples of projects previously funded under the watershed program include a study on endocrine disruptors in rivers and lakes in the watershed and studies of pharmaceutical and other organic wastewater compounds at wastewater treatment plants and key points in the watershed. http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/4774.html

PA Fish and Boat Commission Aquatic Resource Education Grants

The Fish and Boat Commission is looking for sportfishing, boating, and aquatic education programs that could use some financial assistance. Grantees can receive up to $5,000 as part of the PFBC's Sportfishing and Aquatic Resource Education Grants. The deadline for submitting grant applications is January 30. This funding can be applied to the purchase of equipment, materials and costs associated with field trips. http://www.fish.state.pa.us/promo/grants/sportfishing/00sportfishing.htm 

PA Illegal Dump Cleanup Grants

The PADEP has announced Illegal Dump Cleanup Grants for communities and nonprofit groups. The program will focus on the cleanup of illegal dumps; site restoration and beautification; surveillance of existing dump sites and remediated sites; enforcement of littering and illegal dumping ordinances; and public awareness and education to inform local citizens about illegal dumping, littering and clean-up activities. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded with a match of at least 50 percent of the grant amount by the grantee. Applications are due by January 27. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/landrecwaste/cwp/view.asp?A=1418&Q=505018

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 DEP 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 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/

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. Past Webcast topics include Using Rain Gardens to Reduce Runoff, Climate Change, 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 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: January 21-22 - Bradford County  January 21-23 - PACD Winter Meeting, State College  March 18-19 - Lycoming County  http://www.mri.psu.edu/centers/cdgrs/calendar/calendar.html Sustainability Webinars The American Public Works Association is beginning a webinar series on sustainability issues, including "Green Transportation and Smart Growth" on January 15, and "Low Impact Development for Public Works" on February 26. https://www.apwa.net/Education/web.asp  PA Westmoreland Conservation District Events  The Westmoreland Conservation District’s upcoming slate of programs offers a variety of informative and fun ways to learn more about conservation. While some are geared to specific audiences or an advanced level of technical expertise, anyone is welcome to attend. Upcoming events include: January 6-7 - Geographic Information Systems Workshop January 23 - Contractors’ Workshop http://www.wcdpa.com/documents/EdCalendarDr2.pdf  Michigan Decentralized Wastewater Workshop The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) invites decision makers and planners of small communities to attend a workshop about technology options and management strategies for decentralized wastewater treatment. The workshop will take place January 12 at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. This workshop will inform small community planners about the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of decentralized wastewater treatment options as well as how to manage those systems while considering the local conditions. https://www.conservationinformation.org/?site=1&action=event&ID=259&day=12&month=1&year=2009 PADCNR Workshops For 2009 Community Conservation Partnership Grants The PA DCNR in partnership with the PA Recreation and Park Society, has scheduled a series of eight grant workshops for the 2009 Community Conservation Partnership Grant Program. The deadline for applications is April 22. These workshops will feature the new DCNR e-Grant application process and the greening of the C2P2 grant program. The workshops will be held on the following dates: February 3- Carlisle February 5- Williamsport February 10- Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County February 12- Altoona February 18- Clarion February 19- Mars, Butler County February 24- Breingsville, Lehigh County February 26- King of Prussia.  http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Calendar/list.asp?intDivisionID=24  PA Nutrient and Carbon Credit Trading Seminars The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Capital Resource Conservation and Development Area Council are jointly hosting two one-day seminars on nutrient credit and carbon trading on February 12 in State College and February 19 in Lancaster. The public session at both meetings will be geared toward farmers and other landowners interested in generating nutrient and carbon credits. http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=11081&SubjectID=  Urban Water Management 2009 The Urban Water management conference will take place on March 23-26 in Overland Park, KS. Urban Water Management is an integrated water quality conference and exhibition focusing on stormwater BMPs, Phase II regulations, green infrastructure, and funding of municipal and industrial water management programs. It will cover design, construction, maintenance and emerging technology for urban water quality. http://www.urbanwatermgt.com  NJ Stream Restoration Course The NJ Stream Restoration short-course provides training in geomorphic and ecological understanding and analysis for sustainable stream restoration, drawing upon experience in implemented projects from a wide range of environments. The first two days  (April 27-28) will teach participants about restoration approaches and how to determine what's suitable for a given stream. The entire five days (April 27- May 1) include additional training in field techniques and integration of geomorphology into restoration planning and design. http://streamrestorationnj.com  PA Land Conservation Conference The 7th Annual Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference and Confluence, Working Together to Protect our Land, Water & Communities, will be held on May 7-9 in State College, PA. Conference topics include land conservation, water quality protection, habitat restoration, organizational development issues, emerging science, community engagement, advanced topics, and innovation. http://conserveland.org/conferences  World Environmental & Water Resources Congress The World Environmental and Water Resources Congress will be held on May 17-21 in Kansas City, MO. Organized by EWRI and ASCE, this Congress' central theme is the great rivers of the world and the engineering challenges of balancing environmental and development issues while achieving a sustainable future. http://content.asce.org/conferences/ewri2009/index.html NEIWPCC Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference The Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference organized by New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission will be held on May 18-20 in Portland, ME. The conference brings together all those in New England and New York State involved in NPS pollution management, including participants from state, federal, and municipal governments, private sector, academia, and watershed organizations. http://www.neiwpcc.org/npsconference/ River Network's National River Rally Baltimore, Maryland will play host to the 10th National River Rally on May 29-June1. Highlights include: a series of intensive, 4-hour workshops on Friday afternoon; over 70 additional workshops covering topics of interest to staff, volunteers and board members of river conservation organizations; office hours, mentoring sessions and real life, in-person conversations with funders and exhibitors; and the River Heroes Banquet.. http://www.rivernetwork.org/rn/rally/

Link Of The Month

eGovernment Engineering

Government Engineering is an online and print resource for engineering professionals. This excellent publication includes articles from around the US on such topics as water, stormwater, solid waste, wastewater, erosion control, street maintenance, transportation and bridges, traffic, technology in public works, fleet maintenance, grounds maintenance and recreation, and pipeline engineering.  http://www.govengr.com/index.htm 

EPA Publishes Draft Handbook for Developing Watershed TMDLs

EPA’s Office of Water has issued a draft “Handbook for Developing Watershed TMDLs,” available for public comment until February 18. EPA is looking for ways to help states expedite development of scientifically defensible TMDLs. The draft document identifies the issues for practitioners to consider and tools and resources that can help them when planning for and developing watershed TMDLs. http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/techsupp.html 

AIA Sustainability Report Released

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) commissioned a report, "Local Leaders in Sustainability - Green Incentives," that defines and examines types of incentive programs, details the inherent barriers to success, and highlights best practice examples from around the country. http://www.aia.org/release_061708_GreenInce 

Free Open Source Geographical Database Available

Geonames.org is a free geographical database that makes available names of places in various languages, elevation, population and other types of data from various sources. The GeoNames geographical database is available for download free of charge under a creative commons attribution license. It contains over eight million geographical names and consists of 6.5 million unique features of 2.2 million populated places and 1.8 million alternate names. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/web/library/wa-realweb7/index.html?ca=drs- 

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure - New Additions

EPA is developing a series of documents, collectively called the Municipal Handbook, to assist local officials with implementation of green infrastructure programs. Recently, three additional installments in the series were released: Green Infrastructure Retrofit Policies, Green Streets, and Rainwater Harvesting Policies. http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure/munichandbook.cfm