A plan for managing releases from New York City’s reservoirs and for establishing a task force to examine broader flood mitigation issues in the Delaware River watershed is currently being developed. The four states along the Delaware River (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware) have agreed to share the cost of a $500,000 study to examine the effects of the spill mitigation program at major reservoirs throughout the basin. Under the spill mitigation program, New York City will increase releases to the Delaware River from its Neversink, Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs between July 1 and March 31, during periods of above-normal hydrologic conditions. The plan provides for greater reserve capacity in the reservoirs during the Atlantic hurricane season.

With a storage void the reservoirs can capture more runoff in the upper reaches of the Delaware River. The spill reduction will not eliminate flooding – the New York City reservoirs control only about one-fifth of the watershed – but flood crests may be reduced immediately below the reservoirs. The plan likely will have little flood mitigation effect farther downstream in Pennsylvania, especially after periods of heavy rains. The spill mitigation program is moving forward simultaneously with development of a comprehensive flood mitigation plan.

In addition to addressing reservoir operations, the states will also form a task force through the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to look at stormwater management, land-use patterns, open space and farmland preservation, floodplain regulations, and other potential non-structural flood mitigation measures in the basin, which is home to nearly 7.8 million residents. http://www.ahs.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=4224&varQueryType=Detail

New Federal Law Offers Incentives for Land Preservation 

The new Federal Pension Protection Act helps protect family farms, working forests, wildlife, and water with added tax benefits. Provisions in the law expand tax benefits through 2007 for families who enter into conservation easements to conserve their land. Conservation agreements establish conservation goals for a property and set limitations on uses of the property to achieve these goals. The landowner keeps control of the property subject to the limits. The agreement is tailored to the character of the property, the wishes of the owner, and the purposes of the participating conservation organization. The agreement applies to present and future landowners, protecting the land forever.  http://conserveland.org/features/hb4update

PA Issues Violation Notices to Owners of 46 Dams Without Emergency Action Plans 

PA DEP recently issued notices of violation (NOVs) to the owners of 46 high-hazard dams that are operating without emergency action plans. All high-hazard dams in Pennsylvania are required to have an EAP, updated every five years, which details specific steps to take in the event of a dam failure that threatens downstream communities. The 57 owners receiving notices have failed to create or update their plans in a timely manner, despite requests by DEP to bring the structures into compliance. The 57 dam owners initially contacted DEP after the Governor’s April 2004 Dam Safety Initiative was announced, but since have made no real progress toward creating or updating their emergency action plans. If owners fail to comply with the violation notice, DEP will order the impoundment drained. DEP also will assess civil penalties of up to $10,000 for failure to comply, plus as much as $500 per day for continued noncompliance. http://www.ahs.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=4184

The Greener Side of Brownfields

Years of abandonment have allowed many of our nation's derelict and contaminated factory sites (brownfields) to return to nature, providing habitat for endangered species and other wildlife and valuable open space for recreation. Can brownfields redevelopment plans, designed for economic and aesthetic benefits, actually be a detriment to these hidden urban natural treasures?

It needn't be so, says a new Brownfields to Greenfields position paper just published by NY/NJ Baykeeper. States around the nation along with innovative developers are proving that economic and environmental goals can go hand-in-hand in brownfields to greenfields redevelopment plans. The paper contends that there should be state subsidies and tax incentives for greenfields projects equal to existing incentives for brownfields redevelopment projects. This would help to ensure that any brownfields project has a greenfields component. http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org/news/102 

In Pennsylvania...

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell recently announced that the state’s strategic investment of more than $230 million over the last three years to clean up brownfields has helped to clean up and redevelop roughly 950 abandoned industrial sites while creating or retaining some 27,000 jobs. A new report, “Revitalizing Pennsylvania: A Report on Brownfield Investments 2003-2006,” notes that, on average, every public dollar invested in brownfields revitalization projects leverages at least a matching amount in private funds and, in some cases, as much as four times that amount. http://www.growinggreener2.com/files/BrownfieldRpt_092006.pdf

For more information on designing and funding brownfields land recycling projects, please contact F. X. Browne, Inc. at info@fxbrowne.com.

Temple University's new precision floodplain mapping techniques reveal that more homes and people are at risk across the Philadelphia region than the federal government previously believed. Most of the federal government's more than 100,000 floodplain maps were drawn from data collected with primitive technology more than two decades ago. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has begun revising the maps, but is several years away from finishing. So FEMA jumped at the chance when in 2002 a team of Temple University scientists offered to take on a piece of that job in one of the Philadelphia region's most flood-imperiled sectors, the Pennypack Creek watershed. The remapping was completed this summer. Temple's scientists found that high-risk floodplains had grown by 24 percent, and encompassed 708 mostly residential buildings, an increase of 131 buildings. Some previously mapped plains had shifted by as much as 400 feet. The fresh portrait also included 47 miles of newly plotted tributaries.

The biggest surprise, however, came from FEMA. After seeing the finished product, the agency told Temple that the maps were too precise to be adopted by the federal government. The agency has asked Temple to redo its calculations, bringing the charts into line with FEMA's longtime standards for floodplain mapping. The maps' quality must be uniform across the country because they are the foundation of the National Flood Insurance Program, which FEMA administers.

FEMA maps, for instance, typically do not show small floodplains or tiny tributaries given to only minor flooding. FEMA maps are also based on the assumption that most culverts and storm drains are clear of debris and free-flowing. In walking the length of the Pennypack, Temple researchers found most culverts clogged or undersized, and counted them risk factors. "We're clearly on the more protective side," said Jeffrey Featherstone, the university hydrologist and planner who headed the project. He said he recognized that such pinpoint mapping would have vast implications for the shaky National Flood Insurance Program, created by Congress in 1968 for residents of floodplains. FEMA officials "don't want to deal with the consequences of... exponentially increasing the number of people" who could take out policies and submit claims, Featherstone said.

He and his colleagues are complying with FEMA's request to redo the maps. But they are not shelving their original work. At an upcoming meeting, they will present the unaltered versions to officials from Pennypack watershed townships and boroughs, which had chipped in $70,000 to the project. "We'll encourage everybody to adopt the maps," Featherstone said, even if FEMA doesn't. http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/15592472.htm

Policy Update

PA Governor Rendell called on Pennsylvania’s Congressional Delegation to work with Congress to provide a supplemental appropriation of $8 million for streambank stabilization and debris removal along waterways impacted by June’s heavy rain and flooding. The governor is also suggesting a potential amendment to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act to alleviate future stream-related problems.

The Bush administration has declared that federal employees may no longer pursue whistleblower claims under the Clean Water Act.

NJDEP/NJDOT are encouraging residents and policymakers to share their ideas about the future of New Jersey's network of recreational trails by participating in several forums being held this month. Trail users also can complete an online survey which aims to gauge public opinion on trail use patterns, issues, deficiencies and priorities.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Pennsylvania announced that USDA is issuing payments of $2,250,000 in Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funding to farmers and land owners in fifteen counties due to flooding.

Under the new Healthy Lawns and Clean Water Initiative, Pennsylvania and its partners in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are working to cut the amount of phosphorus used in lawn care products throughout the 64,000-square-mile basin in half by 2009.

Grant Programs 
(Click on a grant for more information)

PENNVEST Funding Deadlines

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority announced application deadlines for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and other assistance for the remainder of 2006 and into 2007. November 14 is the deadline for the January 23 meeting; and February 20 is the deadline for the April 17 meeting. http://www.pennvest.state.pa.us/pennvest/cwp/browse.asp?A=4

PA Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence

The PA DEP is now accepting nominations for the 2007 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The deadline for nominations is October 30. The award is open to any Pennsylvania business, governmental agency, educational institution, nonprofit organization, individual or farm that has created or participated in the development of a project that promotes environmental stewardship and economic development in the state. The project categories for consideration include, but are not limited to: Environmental Technology Innovation; Pollution Prevention and Resource Efficiency; Community Revitalization; Environmental Education and Outreach; Watershed Stewardship; Mine Safety; and Clean Energy Innovations and Environmental Market Development. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/enviroexcellence/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=509799 

PA Coastal Zone Management Grants

The PA DEP is now accepting applications for 2007 Coastal Zone Management grants. Applications are due October 30. Projects must meet eligibility requirements in the Lake Erie and Delaware Estuary coastal zones and must address one or more of the following coastal zone program areas: hazard areas, dredging and spoil disposal, fisheries management, wetlands, public access for recreation, historic sites and structures, port activities, energy facilities placement, intergovernmental coordination, public involvement and ocean resources. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/river/czm_projs.htm 

PA Land Use Planning, Technical Assistance Grants 

The PA Department of Community and Economic Development announced that $2 million in grants are available from the Land Use Planning, Technical Assistance Grant Program (LUPTAP). Applicants will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. LUPTAP provides grant funds for the preparation and implementation of county and municipal comprehensive plans, and to support feasibility studies for transit revitalization investment districts, which are designed to spur transit-oriented development near public transit facilities. A planning study is required before an area can receive transit revitalization investment district designation. To promote cooperation between municipalities, priority in LUPTAP funding is given to a county government acting on behalf of its municipalities, any group of two or more municipalities, or a body authorized to act on behalf of two or more municipalities. http://www.newpa.com/programDetail.aspx?id=100 

EPA Targeted Watershed Grants

EPA plans to award up to $19 million in grants to help clean up and restore the nation's waterways. Proposals must reach EPA by October 16 for capacity-building grants and November 15 for project-implementation grants. Capacity-building grants provide for education and training, whereas implementation grants involve actions such as protection and preservation. State governors and tribal leaders nominate potential recipients for implementation grants. EPA will evaluate and rank submissions based on criteria outlined in each notice. Watershed organizations receive the awards based on how likely they are to achieve environmental results in a relatively short time. http://www.epa.gov/twg 

NY Water Quality Improvement Projects 

The New York DEC is accepting applications from municipalities, soil and water conservation districts and not-for-profit corporations throughout the state for water quality improvement projects (WQIP). Applications will be accepted until October 20. Funding will be available to eligible applicants for projects that focus on non-agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4), Phase II stormwater permit implementation, water quality management, municipal wastewater treatment and aquatic habitat restoration. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/environmentdec/2006b/watergrants081106.html 

PA Land Trust Conservation Easement Assistance Program Grants

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association is reminding land conservation organizations that they can apply any time for Conservation Easement Assistance Program (CEAP) grants through the Association. CEAP grants can be used for completing conservation and trail easements, amending and restating older easements, establishing or updating baseline documentation, and installing signs on eased properties. http://conserveland.org/ceap/ 

Chesapeake Bay Meaningful Watershed Education Grants 

The Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay School District is offering a $2,500 Mini-grant program to watershed school districts. Applications are due October 15. Each school-based project must be part of the school district’s curriculum and must be standards based. Projects need to identify how they will work with students to accomplish a Meaningful Bay Experience. http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/educationgrants.aspx For more information, contact Kathleen Banski, Director of Administration/ Education, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc., kathleen-banski@pacd.org 

PA Fish & Boat Commission Abele and Mahon Awards

The Fish and Boat Commission is seeking nominations for two awards it presents in recognition of those making outstanding contributions to furthering conservation or facilitating recreational access to the state’s waterways. Nominations should be postmarked no later than October 14. The PFBC established the Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award to recognize Pennsylvania citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the protection, conservation and enhancement of the aquatic resources of the Commonwealth. The Paul J. Mahon Access for All Award Program is intended to recognize Pennsylvania citizens or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to improving fishing and boat access for the disabled. http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/newsreleases/2006/abele_mahon.htm 

PA Coldwater Conservation Grants

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership is accepting applications for the next round of Coldwater Conservation Grants Program until December 15. The partnership will award grants of up to $5,000 to organizations to outline strategies that best conserve and protect Pennsylvania's coldwater fisheries. The grants are designed to help develop conservation plans that identify the values and threats to the health of coldwater ecosystems that have naturally reproducing trout. The Coldwater Heritage Partnership urges watershed groups, conservation districts, municipalities and local chapters of Trout Unlimited to apply. http://www.coldwaterheritage.org/grant_application.htm 

EPA Sustainability Grants 

The U.S. EPA plans to award up to $1.25 million in grants to teams of college students under the agency's People, Prosperity and the Plant competition. Applications are due by December 21. EPA will award as many as 50 grants up to $10,000 each to student teams to research, develop and design scientific and technical solutions to sustainability challenges that protect the environment while achieving continued economic prosperity. The money will be used to research and develop sustainable solutions during the 2007-08 academic year. In spring 2008, the teams will be invited to bring their designs to Washington, D.C. to compete for EPA's P3 Award, which includes an additional award worth up to $75,000 to further develop and implement the project in the field. http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2007/2007_p3_4thannual.html 

PA Lake Management Conference

The 17th Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society will be held on October 25-26 in State College, PA. The conference will feature the “latest and greatest” topics of interest for Pennsylvania lakes. Dr. Frank Browne, P.E., president of F. X. Browne, Inc, will be presenting a talk on Alum Treatment for Algae Control in Lakes. The Keynote speaker for the conference is Alex Horne, Professor Of Ecological Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the famous Limnology textbook. Robert Johnson of Cornell University will be hosting an aquatic plant workshop. PA, NJ, and NY Applicator Credits will be available for the Thursday sessions.  http://www.palakes.org/calendar.htm 

EPA Watershed Webcasts

EPA’s Watershed Academy sponsors monthly Webcasts, audio versions of which are available on their website. The October 11 webcast, “Getting Started in Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring” will feature Linda Green of Rhode Island Watershed Watch and Danielle Donkersloot of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Learn how to start a volunteer water quality program by using this step-by-step process. Past Webcast topics include Brownfields Redevelopment, Watershed-based NPDES Permitting, Influencing Behaviors Using Social Marketing; 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:

• October 18 & 19 - Columbia / Montour Counties

• November 7 & 8 - Lehigh County

 http://www.mri.psu.edu/centers/cdgrs/calendar/calendar.html 

Izaak Walton League Webcasts

The Izaak Walton League is holding a free four-part Webcast training series entitled "Alternative Practices for Highway Stormwater Management," covering the latest techniques available to help transportation agencies save money, comply with water regulations, and improve water quality. These techniques also can help highway department personnel manage stormwater quantity and quality while using existing rights of way and providing easy access for maintenance crews. This series will provide valuable information to design engineers, planners, regulators, students, maintenance supervisors, construction engineers, and consultants. http://www.iwla.org/index.php?id=169 Webcasts will be held on the following dates:

• Alternative Practices for Highway Stormwater Management: Design, Construction and Maintenance – Part Two (October 26, 1-2:30pm EDT)

PA Green Roof Technology Seminar 

Villanova University will sponsor a half-day workshop October 6 on the design, construction and permitting of green roofs. During the first half of the workshop, green roof experts Charlie Miller of Roofscapes, Inc. and Jorg Breuning of Green Roof Services, LLC will be joined by panelists Domenic Rocco from DEP and Stephen Burgo from Tredyffrin Township. Later in the afternoon, workshop participants will take a walking tour of nearby BMPs, including roof top gardens, stormwater wetlands, a bio-infiltration traffic island, pervious concrete infiltration site, porous asphalt, infiltration trenches and a seepage pit. http://www87.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.traver/VUSP/SummerSeminar/SWM06Seminar.htm 

Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference

The Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference is being held at Lehigh University on October 6. The conference will provide a forum for individuals, watershed protection organizations and municipal officials that will equip participants with resources and tools to address nonpoint source pollution in the watersheds of the Lehigh Valley. http://www.lehigh.edu/~fjp3/lvwc.html 

PA Water Resources Symposium

The Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists will hold its 2006 Water Resources Symposium, “The Future of Water in PA,” on October 11 in Camp Hill, across the river from Harrisburg, PA. Several tracks will be offered to symposium participants: water quality, water availability, site investigations, water management, water treatment and water resource modeling. Poster sessions, partner exhibits, sponsor exhibits and networking sessions will also be part of the program. http://www.pcpg.org/Symposium/2006_Symposium.htm 

PA Urban Environmental Issues Symposium

The Institute for Urban Research at the University of Pennsylvania and the Media and Policy Center Foundation along with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society are sponsoring a Symposium on Urban Environmental Issues in Philadelphia. The conference, Growing Greener Cities, will be held on October 15-17 at the University of Pennsylvania. http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/growing-greener.html 

Passaic River Symposium

The Second Annual Passaic River Symposium, Progress and Challenges, will be held on October 13 in Montclair, NJ. The goal of the conference is to gauge what progress has been made in addressing problems in the Basin, what new efforts have been launched, and what new challenges we still face. The "Lower Passaic River Restoration Project" will be prominently featured in the 2006 Symposium. Projects and issues in the upper River and tributary watersheds will also be examined. http://www.csam.montclair.edu/pri/symposium2006/  

AQUATOX Training Workshop 

EPA is sponsoring an AQUATOX training workshop on October 24-26 in Philadelphia, PA. AQUATOX is a PC-based simulation model for aquatic ecosystems that covers eutrophication, chemical fate, bioaccumulation, and ecotoxicology. The course is a detailed overview of the model that allows ample time to work with it in a lab setting. There is no charge for the workshop, but attendance is limited. Registration is required. http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/models/aquatox/training/ 

ANJEC's 33rd Annual Environmental Congress

The Association of New Jersey's Environmental Council's 33rd Annual Environmental Congress, Getting the Job Done for the Environment, will be held on October 28 at the Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, NJ. Speakers and workshops on local and statewide strategies for environmental protection will highlight successful environmental efforts and programs that others can adopt or emulate. In two series of workshops environmental commissioners and local officials will present information on programs and ordinances that work well in their towns. http://www.anjec.org/html/workshops.htm#congress06 

i-MapNJ DEP/i-MapNJ NJEMS Training

The NJDEP's Bureau of Geographic Information Systems is offering a training opportunity for the general public. Each class will include instruction on the use of two internet mapping applications, i-MapNJ DEP and i-MapNJ NJEMS. i-MapNJ DEP gives users the ability to explore the Department's most current GIS layers. This includes updated endangered species data, surface water quality standards, aerial photos from 2002 and more. i-MapNJ NJEMS enables users to view and perform basic GIS analyses on regulated sites residing in NJDEP's New Jersey Environmental Management System (NJEMS). Classes are held at the NJDEP in Trenton, NJ. Upcoming classes: October 19, December 13. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/trainimap.htm 

Stream Ecosystem Restoration Training

The River Institute in Dublin, OH will be holding their Stream Ecosystem Restoration Training Series (SERTS), on October 23-27. This one week short course will provide participants with an advanced look at the fundamental set of skills applicable to stream restoration including biology, hydraulic engineering, fluvial geomorphology, applied design techniques and monitoring. This is an advanced course meant for ecologists, regulators, professional engineers and environmental scientists who have a basic understanding of stream restoration principals including bioassessment, biocriteria and Rosgen Stream Classification and who are looking for that next step in developing and reviewing stream restoration projects that incorporate natural channel design principals in order to meet an improved water quality standard. http://riverinstitute.org/SB_web_pages/Course,%20Conferences,%20Workshops%202006/SERTSWorkshop1.html 

NJ Wetlands and Watersheds Workshop

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists will hold the 9th Annual Wetlands and Watersheds Workshop on October 23-26 in Atlantic City, NJ. The workshop focuses on managing aquatic systems through the watershed approach and will address such as issues as stormwater management, flood management through watershed protection, water quality and public health as it relates to wetland mitigation, the technical/political consequences of wetlands being 303(d) listed, the fate and transport of contaminants and the use of Best Management Practices to protect existing wetlands. http://www.wetlandsworkgroup.org/wetreg9/9th_workshop.htm 

PA Water Reuse Workshop

American Rivers and the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association will be sponsoring the Southeast Pennsylvania Water Reuse Conference on November 2 in Exton, Chester County, PA. Municipal officials and advisors responsible for wastewater and stormwater management won't want to miss this opportunity to hear the latest from experts and fellow municipal officials who have developed innovative techniques for handling wastewater and stormwater. http://www.pawatersheds.org/waterreuse06/ 

NALMS Annual Symposium

The 26th International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society "NALMS 2006: Making Connections -- People, Lakes, Watersheds" will be held on November 8-10 in Indianapolis, IN. This Symposium will emphasize connections between the past and the present; between natural lakes and reservoirs; between watersheds and lakes; and, of course, between people and lakes. http://www.nalms.org/symposia/indianapolis/home.htm

AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference 

The 42nd American Water Resources Association Conference (AWRA) will be held on November 6-9 in Baltimore, MD. This year´s conference offers pre-conference workshops and field trips, more than 60 technical sessions with over 240 paper presentations, five panel presentations, posters, exhibits, and an Evening at the Baltimore National Aquarium. http://www.awra.org/meetings/Baltimore2006/.

MD Water Monitoring Conference

The Maryland Water Monitoring Council's12th Annual Conference, "Taking the Pulse of Maryland's Waters: Back to Basics," will be held on November 16 at the Maritime Institute, North Linthicum, MD. The conference will focus on monitoring tools, methods and indicators for the purpose of assessing vernal pools, wetlands, streams, rivers, estuaries and ground water resources. A plenary session and two technical sessions will be held in the morning. A buffet luncheon and a poster session will occur at noon. The afternoon will consist of four technical sessions and a Round Table. http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/MWMC/index_files/Page495.htm 

Chesapeake Watershed Forum 

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay will be holding the first annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum on November 17-19 at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. This  Forum will assist watershed organizations and local governments in watershed planning, protection and restoration. The Forum will feature five Tracks with multiple sessions including: 1) Organizational capacity building and fundraising; 2) Communication the message; 3) Science, technical tools and practices for watershed management; 4) Planning, policies and programs for watershed management; and 5) Collaboration-how to work together and achieve successful watershed management. In addition to the tracks, labs, seminars, networking events and field trips are planned, along with an EPA-hosted session on Key EPA Watershed Internet Tools. http://www.acb-online.org/project.cfm?vid=265

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