Extensive Storm Damage Prompts Counties to Update Storm water Management Plans

In the last decade, Northeastern Pennsylvania has suffered almost $700 million in property damage from floods. Despite this, eight of the 11 counties covered by the DEP's northeastern office have failed to update their stormwater management plans as required by law.

Stormwater management plans, required by Act 167 of 1978, address areas like parking lots or abandoned mines that could contribute to flooding. Since 1987, when the stormwater plans were supposed to be completed, no county in Pennsylvania has been in full compliance, according to PA DEP. Most municipalities have their own stormwater management ordinances, but the role of a county plan is to provide more regional-based planning efforts, and to provide an example for municipalities' ordinances. The lack of plans also has consequences beyond flooding damage. Without help from the county, it is more difficult for municipalities to coordinate with state and federal officials to get funding for projects that cross their borders. 

Wilkes-Barre Citizen's Voice, August 20, 2007 http://www.citizensvoice.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18726935&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6

F. X. Browne, Inc. has experience in compiling successful Act 167 Plans and developing stormwater management ordinances. For more information, contact info@fxbrowne.com.  

NALMS launches Blue Green Algae Initiative

The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) has launched a new Blue Green Algae Initiative to address the issue of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) toxicity. 

The new Blue Green Algae Initiative website contains information on conditions favoring blooms, human/animal health issues, toxicity, and much more. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce a number of nuisance compounds, including those that are toxic or cause severe taste-and-odor problems in drinking water supplies. Animals die yearly as a result of cyanotoxins, and though human death is not common, many people experience symptoms indicative of cyanotoxin exposure.  http://www.nalms.org/Resources/BlueGreenInitiative/Overview.htm 

CEE-Algae Blog, September 9, 2007 http://www.cee-algae.blogspot.com/ 

Seattle Cascade Stormwater Projects Manage Steep Slopes 

Seattle, Washington is gaining national recognition for its application of low impact development innovations. In one of their newest projects, a "Cascade" natural drainage design prototype is being used to treat stormwater from steep residential streets. 

During the past eight years, Seattle Public Utilities’ (SPU) natural drainage systems (NDS) program has completed numerous projects—ranging in scale from the retrofit of a single residential block to the complete redevelopment of 129 acres of mixed-income housing in an urban setting. All of the NDS projects help to manage stormwater in neighborhoods while also improving the appearance and function of the street rights-of-way. 

The 110th Cascade project is a series of stair-stepped natural pools that slow stormwater flows, reduce flooding, and trap pollutants before they reach Pipers Creek. The stormwater swales are located on one side of the roadway while the sidewalk is located on the opposite side of the roadway. This design manages high volumes of stormwater from large watershed areas (5 to 50 acres). For more information about this project, see the article in the latest issue of Nonpoint Source News Notes (pg 9-11) or visit the Seattle Public Utilities' website for a virtual tour of this and other NDS projects. 

A natural drainage curb extension demonstration project is also being initiated in State College, PA, modeled after the Seattle and Portland, OR projects. For more information on stormwater BMPs, contact info@fxbrowne.com.

Transplants: The New Face of Wetland Mitigation

Wetland compensation has been occurring for years, but now scientists from Sweet Briar College are trying to save a vernal pool by performing a wetland transplant to an area away from a planned new development.

In Piney River, Virginia, scientists are attempting to transplant a wetland, rather than trying to create a new one to compensate for a wetland lost to development. The vernal pools at the Boxley Materials Company quarry in Piney River are old, unique to the region, and home to the mole salamander, listed as a species of special concern in Virginia. The vernal pool transplant will preserve the top layer of soil, which is rich with plant seeds, algal spores, and eggs as well as an individual mix of chemicals from leaf litter and other material that give each vernal pool its signature identity. So strong is a pool's identity that for some species, the pool of its birth is the only place it will go to reproduce. With the transplant, creatures of the little ecosystem will find that the new wetland will smell, taste, and feel like home. 

Boxley, a Roanoke-based company that quarries and produces material such as concrete and crushed stone for construction, has revised its planned expansion plan to preserve as many vernal pools as it can and to transplant one. The estimated total project cost is $5,000 to $6,000, with the help of heavy machinery donated by Boxley and volunteer labor. The transplant involves harvesting clay from another vernal pool that is no longer fully functional. That clay will be used to create a new bowl in an area on Boxley property away from the expansion. Next, the layer of top soil will be dug up from the transplant wetland, just like sod for grass, and transplanted to the new bowl by volunteers. The final step will come in the spring when the salamanders emerge from their burrows and head for their old vernal pool. Their egg masses will be taken to the new pool to hatch. New Era Progress, September 4, 2007

Frog Deformities Linked to Farm Pollution

Fertilizer runoff from farm fields could be causing an increase in frog deformities in North American lakes, according to a new study. 

In 1999, Pieter Johnson of Stanford University (now at University of Colorado) found that a flatworm parasite (Ribeiroia ondatrae) was a major cause of frogs with extra or malformed legs. "At low abundance, Ribeiroia ondatrae does not cause much damage," says Johnson, but he now believes fertilizer pollution may be to blame for boosting the number of parasites in lakes and ponds. Nutrient runoff from non-organic farms leads to accelerated eutrophication of lakes and ponds, which in turn has a cascade effect on the local food chain.

Johnson and his colleagues created 36 mini ponds that were filled with clear, non-polluted lake water. In half the tubs, they added 200 micrograms of phosphorus per liter of lake water. The tubs were populated with algae, as well as frogs and small aquatic snails. The snails, which feed on algae, are key to the flatworm parasite's life-cycle. The researchers found that by boosting nutrients and accelerating the growth of algae, the number and size of the water snails increased which in turn, pushed up parasite numbers. In tubs containing the additional nutrients, snail biomass increased by 50% and infected snails produced twice as many parasitic worms. The infection rate in frogs increased between two and five fold. http://www.precaution.org/lib/07/prn_farm_runoff_deforms_frogs.070925.htm 

Policy Update

Grant Programs 
(Click on a grant for more information)

EPA Brownfields Grants

The EPA Brownfields Grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum). Opportunities for funding are as follows: Brownfields Assessment Grants (each funded up to $200,000 over three years), Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants (each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years) and Brownfields Cleanup Grants (each funded up to $200,000 over three years). The proposal deadline is October 12. http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm#fy08

PA Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards to recognize efforts to protect the environment, prevent pollution and save energy. Applications are due October 15. 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. Projects will be evaluated based on environmental protection, teamwork, public service, environmental education and outreach, pollution prevention, economic impact and innovative technology. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/enviroexcellence/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=509799&PM=1

PA Coastal Zone Management Grants

The PADEP is accepting applications for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 Coastal Zone grants until October 22. Eligible applicants include political subdivisions, authorities, 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and educational institutions located with defined coastal zone geographic areas of the Commonwealth. Proposals must support the Coastal Zone Program's mission to protect and enhance this Commonwealth's coastal resources. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/river/czm_projs.htm 

Valley Creek Watershed Grants

The Valley Creek Trustee Council, consisting of the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the Valley Forge National Historical Park, have announced the availability of a new grant program for restoration of natural resources within the Valley Creek Watershed. Applications are being accepted until October 31. Anyone is eligible to apply. Approximately $1.5 million is available for qualified projects relating to stormwater management, streambank stabilization, implementation of environmentally sensitive land practices (like vegetated stream buffers, easements), projects that directly improve angler access, and projects related to the restoration of brook trout in Crabby Creek, a tributary to Valley Creek. http://www.savevalleycreek.org/grantprogram.asp

NOAA Open Rivers Initiative

The NOAA Open Rivers Initiative (ORI) provides funding and technical expertise for community-driven, small dam and river barrier removals, primarily in coastal states. Projects are expected to provide an economic boost for communities, enhance public safety, and improve populations of NOAA trust resources such as striped bass, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic and Pacific salmon, American eel, American shad, blueback herring, and alewife. Applications are due October 31. www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/projects_programs/crp/partners_funding/callforprojects3.html.

PA Lens on Litter Photography Contest

The Pennsylvania Resources Council is inviting photographers to help identify the worst example of litter in their communities through the Lens on Litter photo contest. Winning photos will be displayed in a “Rogues Gallery” on PRC’s website, in displays and in PRC offices. First price winners will receive $1,000, second prize $500, and third prize $250. Entries are due by October 31. http://www.prc.org/community_lens_litter.html 

PA Fish & Boat Commission Conservation, Recreation Awards

The PA 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. The Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award recognizes citizens of Pennsylvania 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, above and beyond legal requirements, to improving fishing and boat access to the resource for the disabled. Nominations are due October 31. http://www.fish.state.pa.us/newsreleases/2007/awards_call.htm 

PA Environmental Education Grants

The Pennsylvania Environmental Education Grant Program, administered through DEP, can be used for projects ranging from creative, hands-on lessons for students and teacher training programs to ecological education for residents. Pre-applications are due December 14. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/enved/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=473483

NY Adirondack Smart Growth Grants

NY Governor Spitzer secured $2 million in the 2007-08 Environmental Protection Fund for grants to promote smart growth initiatives; $1 million will be earmarked for the Adirondacks. The Smart Growth Grants Program for the Adirondacks will establish a competitive fund for counties, towns, villages and not-for-profit organizations to develop plans that link sustainable development, environmental protection and community livability. Smart Growth can be used in rural communities to address some of the land-use issues facing the Park communities - workforce housing, aging infrastructure, water quality, economic development, open space protection, and village/hamlet revitalization. Applications are due December 28. http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/37874.html  F. X. Browne, Inc. has an office in the Adirondacks, and we have experience in land use planning, open space planning, wastewater planning, and watershed planning. Please contact us at info@fxbrowne.com with questions about how the Adirondack Smart Growth Grants could benefit your community.

PA Conservation Corps Grants

Applications for Pennsylvania Conservation Corps grants related to conservation, recreation, historical preservation, graffiti removal, and the repair of institutional valdalism are now being accepted by the PA Department of Labor and Industry. Political subdivisions and state agencies are eligible for these grants and applications are due January 4. http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/cwp/view.asp?a=145&q=194750

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 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: September 10-12 - 2007 Dirt and Gravel Roads Workshop October 9-10 - Schuylkill County November 7-8 - Fulton County  http://www.mri.psu.edu/centers/cdgrs/calendar/calendar.html GreenFest Philly What started last year as the “South Street GreenFest” has become GreenFest Philly, and will be held on September 9. Come explore the many ways that Philadelphia is Going Green—or could! The street festival features music, food, art and more than 100 exhibitors to demo new, exciting solutions for living in an environmentally sensitive and just way. http://www.greenfestphilly.org/  Eastern Regional Wetland Restoration Institute The Eastern Regional Wetland Restoration Institute will be held in eastern Kentucky in the Daniel Boone National Forest on September 9-14. The Wetland Restoration Institute is a hands-on program of instruction designed for individuals that work for government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and consulting companies who have a strong interest in learning more about highly effective construction and management practices for ecosystem restoration. Participants will travel outdoors each day to examine all facets of wetland management, from identifying wetlands and streams altered hundreds of years ago to participating in actual wetland restoration projects. http://www.kypride.org/cal/erwri.php  NY Watershed Science and Technical Conference  A watershed science and technical conference, "Clean Water Through Protection and Partnership" will be held on September 11-12 in West Point, NY.  http://www.nywea.org/ Susquehanna Greenways and Trails Workshop Join the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership for its first Greenways and Trails Workshop on September 12. The workshop will be held at the PPL Montour Preserve Environmental Education Center in Danville, PA. Seminars will include: a multi-municipal trail success story, successful regional approaches to trail management, a model for trail easements, designing environmentally sensitive trails, and tips from the field for trail operations and management. http://www.susquehannagreenway.org/greenway/lib/greenway/pdf/greenways_and_trails_brochure.pdf  PA DCNR Meetings on State Forest Management The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry has announced an update to the State Forest Resource Management Plan (SFRMP). Nine public meetings are scheduled for September and October 2007. Comments on the SFRMP will be accepted until October 31 at the public meetings, or electronically via the comment form below or through the US mail. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/sfrmp/update.aspx  PA Wilds Conference The Pennsylvania Wilds Conference will be held September 13-14 in Williamsport, PA. The Pennsylvania Wilds Conference will use presentations, discussions, and panels to showcase the successes of the initiative to date; educate partners and stakeholders about available tools, resources, and best practices; and foster a heightened regional identity and vision. General sessions will be offered over the two days, as well as three specific tracks: Recreation and Stewardship, Community Planning and Rural Issues, and Business and Economic Development. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/pawilds/conference.aspx  Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup Residents concerned about the quality of Lake Erie and its tributaries have the opportunity to participate in an international study to clean up the watershed by picking up and documenting trash that ends up on the lake shoreline and in its feeding streams. The local effort of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) will take place on September 15 at 12 sites along the Lake Erie shoreline. To register as a cleanup volunteer, visit http://www.goerie.com/coastalcleanup.  DU Waterfowl & Outdoor Expo The 26th Annual Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl and Outdoor Expo will be held in Linesville, Pennsylvania, September 15-16. The 2007 event has been revamped to include even more hunting equipment, wildlife artwork, and outdoor equipment. The newly created seminar series covers topics such as using whitetail scents, decoy tactics, duck calling secrets, and others. Arts and craft vendors, hunting & fishing related vendors, the Pennsylvania Duck Stamp competition, food, downtown shops, demonstrations such as cider pressing, the annual Expo Trap Shoot, the Expo Duck & Goose Calling Competition, retriever dog demonstrations, and more will be available for the whole family. http://www.envisionlinesville.org/Linesville/Documents/DUPressRelease07.pdf  Pittsburgh Green Building Alliance Events  The Pittsburgh Green Building Alliance and its partners are sponsoring a series of educational workshops, breakfasts and other events this fall in Pittsburgh, PA, to promote awareness of green building techniques with homeowners, contractors and building owners. The upcoming events include:  September 15 - The Green Scene for Homeowners: Reducing Your Bill$. September 18 - Technical Workshop: LEED for General Contractors & Construction Managers. September 26 - Alliance Building Breakfast: LEED for Neighborhood Development. http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=7358&SubjectID=  NJ Global Warming Workshop ANJEC and the New Jersey Press Association (NJPA) will bring together New Jersey journalists, environmental commissions, and municipal officials for a special half-day workshop, Global Warming, Telling the Local Story, on September 20 in Trenton, NJ. The conference will focus on shrinking your town's carbon footprint and successfully working with the press to inform, engage, educate and persuade the public about how to address the issues. http://www.anjec.org/html/workshops.htm  2007 Brownfield Communities Network Summit The 2007 Brownfield Communities Network Summit: Redeveloping for the Future will be held on September 25-26 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Washington, D.C.  http://www.nalgep.org/calendar/Index.cfm?Page=1&EventsID=4824  Experience the Delaware Estuary Celebration The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will hold its annual Experience the Estuary Celebration on September 27. This year's theme, "The Delaware - A Living River, A Working River," celebrates the relationship with the region's most important natural resource. Located on the Wharf at Rivertown in Chester, PA., the event will include dinner, cocktails, live music, and silent and live auctions with more than 100 items up for bid.  http://www.delawareestuary.org/newsandevents/partnershipevents/annualdinnerandreception.asp  PA Wild Resource Conservation Program Symposium The Wild Resource Conservation Program will hold a special Symposium to celebrate the program's 25th Anniversary at the Indiantown Gap Community Club in Annville, PA on September 27-28. Researchers, policy makers, media, students and anyone interested in conserving biodiversity and shaping conservation for the next 25 years are encouraged to attend. While featuring a mountain hawk watch and regal fritillary and native grassland tour, the symposium will also include seminars such as Inventorying Our Native Biodiversity, Connecting People With Science, Bringing Back Missing Pieces of Our Natural Heritage and Identifying Important Places. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcf/2007%20symposium%20program.pdf Isolated Wetlands Conference & Vernal Pond Building Workshop An Isolated Wetlands Conference and Vernal Pond Building Workshop will be held on September 28-30 at Sweet Briar College, Virginia. The conference will feature presentations and reception, a full-day construction workshop, on and off-campus field exploratories and lots of take-home resources. http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS//vernal_pool_workshop.htm  Susquehanna River Symposium The second annual Susquehanna River Symposium will be held on September 29 in Lewisburg, PA. "Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Drainage Remediation: Seeking Common Ground Along the Susquehanna," is the theme for this year's Symposium. Goals of the Symposium are to provide an overview of mine drainage remediation efforts in Eastern Pennsylvania, provide scientific and technical background on mine drainage and potential treatment methods, provide landowner and watershed group perspectives on mine reclamation efforts and enhance communication among landowners, citizen groups, the scientific community, and regulatory and funding agency personnel. http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=7395&SubjectID=  PA Private Water Well Symposium The Penn State Master Well Owner Network is hosting the first Pennsylvania Private Water Well Symposium in State College, Pa on October 2. Conference topics include: groundwater quality related to private wells, groundwater supply, groundwater protection and regulatory issues related to private water wells. Who should attend? University researchers and educators, extension professionals, Master Well Owner volunteers, and persons involved in ground-water development, management, and regulation in Pennsylvania. http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=8df0af7d-4e3e-4890-9598-6ba0cbb14847  ANJEC Environmental Congress The 34th Annual Statewide Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) Environmental Congress will be held on October 12 in West Windsor, NJ. The theme for this year's Congress is The Heat Is On....What to do now? and will feature a day of speakers, workshops and discussion on global climate change and energy issues. The focus will be on New Jersey's communities and what they can do, both to reduce production of greenhouse gasses and to prepare for changes in climate that are already occurring. http://anjec.org/html/workshops.htm#congress  Chesapeake Watershed Forum The second annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum will be held on October 12 -14 at the National Conservation Training Center, in Shepherdstown, W.Va. This year's theme will be: "Sharing Strategies to Manage Growth and Protect Our Waters." Watershed groups, non-profits, and representatives of local government will attend sessions designed to highlight new tools and techniques, stimulate effective partnerships, and more. http://www.alliancechesbay.org/forum.cfm  Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Water Monitoring Conference Individuals and organizations involved in volunteer water monitoring are invited to the Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Water Monitoring Conference in Winchester, Virginia on October 12-13. Featured topics include: using online water quality databases, using water quality data to measure the effectiveness of land management practices, case studies of successful volunteer collaborations and training sessions on macroinvertebrate identification, making a rain barrel, and monitoring for E.coli. http://www.deq.virginia.gov/cmonitor/conference.html  Schuylkill River Festival  This year's Schuylkill River Festival will be held on October 13 in Pottstown, PA. The Festival is not only an opportunity to learn more about the Schuylkill River and its watershed, it includes an arts and crafts show along with food vendors and professional and amateur entertainment. http://www.galleryonhigh.com/SRFInterestSheet.pdf  Villanova Stormwater Management Symposium Villanova University is again hosting the 2007 Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium on October 17-18. The purpose of the symposium is to advance the knowledge and understanding of comprehensive stormwater management for those dealing in all aspects of planning, design, implementation and regulatory compliance. A half-day workshop for non-engineers will be held preceding the symposium. Participants are expected to include engineers, planners, water resource professionals, regional, state and local government representatives, land development professionals and watershed and conservation groups. http://egrfaculty.villanova.edu/public/Civil_Environmental/WREE/VUSP_2007_Sym/Web/index.htm  Wetlands and Watersheds Workshop The 10th Annual Wetlands and Watersheds Workshop will be held on October 22-25 in Ocean City, MD. (Note: this is a rescheduled date and venue). Organized by the Wetlands & Watersheds Work Group. http://www.wetlandsworkgroup.org/wetreg10/10thWorkshop.htm PA Geosynthetic BMPs for Stormwater Management Workshop The Central PA Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers is sponsoring a workshop on Geosynthetic BMPs for Stormwater Management on October 25 at Harrisburg Area Community College. Topics include geosynthetic solutions for sediment control, erosion prevention, runoff control, thermal pollution reduction, and site stabilization. In addition to providing CPESC professional development units, this program is a good preparation class for the CPESC Review Course and Exam. http://www.pacd.org/events/2007SWMgmt.pdf NALMS Annual Symposium The 27th International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society, "Understanding the Science of Lake Management" will be held on October 31-November 2 at the Walt Disney World Coronado Springs Resort, FL. The Symposium will emphasize scientific aspects of lakes and use of scientific concepts to make sound management decisions. http://www.nalms.org/Conferences/Orlando Mid-Atlantic Stream Restoration Conference The third annual Mid-Atlantic Stream Restoration Conference is scheduled for November 7-9 at the Rocky Gap Resort, near Cumberland, Maryland. The 2007 conference will focus on the science, engineering and policy aspects of stream restoration in several topical areas of interests. Pre-conference workshops, focus group discussions, and field trips will be included. http://www.canaanvi.org/canaanvi_web/events_ed.aspx?collection=cvi_workshops&id=140

Link Of The Month

New EPA Wastewater Website for Small Communities 

US EPA recently launched a new website to help small communities achieve and maintain sustainable wastewater services. This new site provides information about grants, funding resources, technical assistance, and training. A variety of tools is also available on this website to help small communities plan, design, build, and maintain their wastewater infrastructure. http://www.epa.gov/owm/mab/smcomm/index.htm.

CWP Urban Stormater Retrofit Manual Released

The Center for Watershed Protection's new Urban Stormwater Retrofit Manual outlines the basics of retrofits, describes the 13 unique locations where they can be found, and presents rapid methods to find, design and deliver retrofits to meet a wide range of subwatershed objectives. The concepts of retrofitting are illustrated in more than 75 figures, 150 photos, 60 tables and nine appendices. The manual contains updated costs for retrofit practices, updated pollutant removal data for stormwater treatment options, a design point method to estimate individual retrofit removal rates, and practical tips to support the design, permitting and construction of retrofit projects. http://www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/USRM.htm 

NALMS Fundamentals of Urban Runoff Management Document Now Available

A second edition of the popular publication Fundamentals of Urban Runoff Management: Technical and Institutional Issues was recently published by the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS). This document revises an earlier 1994 edition. The authors sought to update the original document because of the tremendous amount of new information available as well as the significant shift in stormwater program direction from the historic mitigation-based approach to a more source-based approach. http://www.nalms.org/Resources/FundamentalsOfUrbanRunoffManagement.aspx 

Pet Waste Outreach Campaign Guide Published

The New Hampshire DES recently released a how-to manual providing a step-by-step guide to designing and implementing a well researched and sound pet waste outreach campaign. The manual explains how to work with local partners to motivate dog owners/walkers to pick up after their dogs and dispose of the waste in an environmentally sound and safe way. It gives readers background information to help decide if they want to start a pet waste outreach campaign, shows how to implement and promote a successful campaign, and provides suggested outreach activities, resources, and examples to make the campaigns easier. http://www.des.state.nh.us/Coastal/scoopthepoop.htm 

Invasive Plant Curriculum Now Online

The Bureau of Land Management recently developed “Alien Invasions - Plants on the Move,” a weed curriculum for grades K-12. This curriculum is designed for teachers who want to integrate the topic of invasive weeds in the classroom, develop weed awareness, and provide students with an understanding of the wide-ranging potential impacts of invasive weeds.  http://www.weedinvasion.org/weeds/weed_home.php

Sediment Assessment Methodology Tools Available 

EPA recently finalized the WARSSS (Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply) Sediment Assessment Method website, designed to help watershed managers assess and restore waters with suspended or bedded sediment problems. The centerpiece of the WARSSS website  is a step-by-step, three-phase assessment methodology developed by Dr. David L. Rosgen for detecting sediment problems and source areas, estimating excessive sediment loads, and planning to restore normal sediment dynamics in streams and rivers (including development of TMDLs). Besides the WARSSS methodology, the site also contains the entire sediment model WRENSS, a stream classification tutorial, and a large collection of links to clean sediment information and tools. http://www.epa.gov/warsss 

Dr. Rosgen recently released a book on the same topic, titled Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply (WARSSS).