New Jersey Beefs Up Anti-Flooding Regulations

NJ Governor Corzine recently announced significant changes to the Flood Hazard Area Control Act. 

The DEP's new rules launch a number of anti-flooding measures, such as a long-overdue update of flood maps. Too often, the maps now don't reflect where water actually flows when floods strike, a lapse that allows building to continue in harm's way. But the rules do much more. In a major change, the DEP also proposes vastly expanded buffer zones around every stream in the state. The state currently requires most streams to have an undeveloped buffer of 25 or 50 feet. That distance would increase to between 150 and 300 feet under the new scheme. The wider buffers would be required whether or not a particular site floods.

Environmentally responsible stream cleanings and the relocation and reconstruction of damaged buildings will be streamlined under the new rules through increased access to general permits. Additionally, new permits-by-rule will give property owners authorization to undertake specific regulated activities without the need to obtain prior written approval from the DEP. This will streamline activities as complicated as using machinery to remove major obstructions from waterways or elevating buildings above flood hazard areas, as well as activities as simple as building a fence or a patio.

Adding fill, which includes construction material, buildings, and roads, to a flood plain can make a river more prone to flooding. Current development rules require that if any fill is added to a flood plain, an 80% equivalent of that fill must also be removed from the same plain. The new rules will increase the requirement to 100% resulting in what is called 0% net fill.

The DEP isn't sure how many acres the proposed rules will place off limits to development, but the number could reach the tens of thousands. Developers and property owners are sure to find the new rules controversial as the debate over protecting developed areas located in river floodplains heats up. http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/approved/20060823a.html 

Rural PA’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Capacity Analyzed in New Report

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania just released a new report entitled, “Rural Pennsylvania’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure,” by Penn State’s Dr. Beverly A. Cigler analyzing the capacity of rural communities to meet their water and wastewater needs. 

This study, which was conducted from 2002 to 2004, examined the system capacity of a sample of Pennsylvania’s small water and wastewater systems to assess their ability to meet challenges to their systems. Results from the study offer much needed baseline data that may help lay a foundation for actions needed to meet funding challenges and to enhance the infrastructure needs of rural water and wastewater systems over the coming decades. Major recommendations including increasing educational opportunities and funding for wastewater operators, providing capital improvement planning assistance to small communities, encouraging citizen participation, and enhancing coordination among stakeholders and agencies. http://www.ruralpa.org/water_wastewater06.pdf 

F. X. Browne, Inc. is experienced in working with large and small municipalities to secure funding and design wastewater improvements that help improve the quality of surface and groundwater, as well as improving quality of life for area residents. For more information on wastewater design and wastewater planning, including decentralized wastewater design, contact info@fxbrowne.com. 

Waste Tires Used to Rebuild Dirt Road, Benefiting Streams 

Construction crews are nearing the successful completion of an innovative use of waste tires to rebuild a rural road and protect and adjacent stream in north-central Pennsylvania. 

Using PA DEP grant funds, Penn State University’s Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies used baled waste tires as a fill material to rebuild a severely entrenched dirt road in Madison Township, Columbia County. The work has drastically reduced the sediment that runs off into an adjacent stream during heavy rains, and created a smooth, low-maintenance driving surface. A slideshow and video detailing the project and the technology behind it is available on the center’s Web site, http://www.rps.psu.edu/pennsylvania/tires.html .

The project used 2,066 tire bales, each comprising approximately 100 tires. By removing more than 200,000 tires from the Starr Tire Pile in Columbia County, the project reduces the risks of a catastrophic tire fire and eliminates mosquito breeding grounds. The Penn State project is one of several efforts aimed at cleaning up the Starr Tire Pile and finding beneficial uses for the estimated 8 million to 10 million waste tires there. If the tire bales prove to be a durable solution, the concept could also reduce rural communities’ road maintenance expenses and improve the quality of travel for thousands of residents and visitors.

Follow-Up: Lewis County NY Manure Spill Penalties Levied

Marks Farms  has agreed to $2.2 million in penalties as a result of environmental damage caused last August when a liquid manure lagoon at the dairy operation broke open, sending some three million gallons of the toxic waste pouring into the Black River. 

Under terms of a consent order entered into with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Marks Farms will pay $700,000 in penalties in installments over six years. The payments will be split, with $310,000 being deposited into the Conservation Fund and $390,000 to pay for actual environmental damage caused by the spill.

The farm also agreed to $1.5 million in environmental benefit projects. To satisfy that part of the consent order, the farm will give up public fishing rights easements on its land to 33 feet up from the banks of the Black River and Whetstone Creek, and build parking lots plus a car-top boat launching site for the Black River and a footpath to Whetstone Creek. The farm also will give up development rights easements over most of the farm's land. The development easements will allow Marks Farms to continue operations on the land, which will be protected as open space for the future.

View a local newspaper article here, or the DEC press release at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/press/pressrel/2006/2006120.html 

Tax Breaks Proposed for Pennsylvania Farmers Who Protect Water Quality

A new legislative proposal would give tax credits to farmers and businesses that sponsor farm projects to help reduce water pollution across Pennsylvania. 

The bipartisan Resource Enhancement and Protection Act of Pennsylvania (REAP) would provide assistance to farmers in the form of state tax credits to install best management practices to reduce water pollution. The bills provide personal and business state tax credits ranging from 25 to 75 percent of the cost to install best management practices like barnyard improvements, riparian buffers, stream fencing, management plans, and other practices. To provide flexibility, tax credits under REAP may be sold by a taxpayer who does not have a tax liability to another taxpayer who does. Taxpayers can also roll tax credits forward to cover future tax liabilities for up to 15 years. The REAP Program would help Pennsylvania meet its obligations under the 2000 Chesapeake Bay Agreement to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution going to the Chesapeake Bay. Bills to establish the REAP Program have been introduced in both Houses of the Pennsylvania Legislature. http://www.cbf.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=19747 

Environment News Service (ENS) August 17, 2006

Policy Update

PA Governor Rendell awarded more than $500,000 in grants to improve the operation of municipally-owned flood protection projects in 17 counties.

Scientists with the Chesapeake Bay Program have found little damage to underwater grass beds in the upper Bay and tidal Potomac River during their initial trips to assess the impacts of the flooding that occurred in the Bay watershed at the end of June.

PA Governor Rendell announced an additional $2.7 million in Growing Greener II investments to fund improvements to aging water and sewer systems and reclaim mine-scarred lands.

The NJ Highlands Council has posted on their website a number of draft technical memoranda related to the Regional Master Plan, including the report, 'Status Of Land Preservation In The Highlands Region.'

A list of 1,846 sites dropped from New Jersey's record of contaminated properties, including landfills, chemical companies, airports, and an array of homes, restaurants and schools, will be restored.

NJ Governor Corzine signed legislation earmarking $80 million for open space preservation in the state. He also recently  signed a bill appropriating $48.5 million from the Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund for farmland preservation purposes statewide.

The PA DEP published a revised TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Plan for the Neshaminy Creek in Bucks and Montgomery counties and asked for public comments on the revisions by October 25.

In response to recently announced changes in federal regulations governing the control of resident Canada geese, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that agency staff will present state regulatory changes to the Board of Game Commissioners for consideration at its upcoming meeting on Oct. 2-3.

The Army Corps of Engineers will re-examine its regulation of ditches in light of the Supreme Court's fractured decision on two key wetland cases.

The Association of State Wetland Managers has released two draft reports for review and comment by September 15: "Protecting And Restoring Wetlands: Strengthening The Role Of Land Trusts," and "Protecting And Restoring Wetlands: Strengthening The Role Of Local Governments."

NY Governor Pataki signed legislation to create the New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Council to coordinate State efforts to protect ocean and the Great Lakes resources.

Grant Programs 
(Click on a grant for more information)

NJ Farmland Preservation Grants

The NJ State Agriculture Development Committee is soliciting applications for the preservation of high-priority farms under two state acquisition programs. The SADC's Direct Easement Purchase Program enables landowners to capitalize on the development potential of their land by selling their development rights. They retain ownership of the land but agree to deed restrictions that permanently protect the land from non-agricultural development. The SADC's Fee Simple Program buys farmland outright from willing landowners. Those farms then are resold at public auction with deed restrictions permanently preserving them for agricultural use. http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/sadc/p032806.doc 

PA Streambank Fencing Program 

The Capital Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, Inc. announced a new funding program that will assist farmers in Southcentral Pennsylvania to install fencing along streams. The program, called the Regional Riparian Initiative, provides cost share funding for riparian fencing on livestock farms, with priority being placed on those using rotational grazing practices. The project area includes: Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, and York counties. http://www.capitalrcd.org/noframes/projects.htm#rr 

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

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Free Native Trees 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is now accepting applications from watershed and community groups and private landowners for free native trees and shrubs under the Trees for Streams Program. Applications are due by September 15, and trees are available on a first come, first served basis. Groups must order a minimum of 300 trees and shrubs to be picked up at the Octoraro Native Plant Nursery in Lancaster County. Streams must be in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to be eligible for the program. In addition to offering free trees and plants, CBF also helps pay for protective tree tubes to improve plant survival.  http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=state_sub_pa_programs 

Ohio River Watershed Grants

The 5th Ohio River Watershed Celebration gets underway on September 21 and will focus on the efforts and impacts that small local watershed organizations have had on the restoration of the Three Rivers in Pittsburgh. The ORWC Organizing Committee is celebrating these committed groups by awarding four of them with $500 grant awards to be used to meet their organizations goals. Award applicants must register and bring a poster display to the Celebration. The display will be judged and voted on by all participants. The award categories are: Community Outreach and Education, Most Innovative and Cutting Edge Projects, Best Overall Display and Best Example of Partnership Group. http://www.holstoncrisci.com/Newsletter/docs/3/2006OhioRiverCelebration.pdf 

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 

PA DEP Seeking Project Proposals for EPA Targeted Watershed Grants

PA DEP is requesting implementation projects for nomination for the EPA Targeted Watershed Grants. A 25 percent non-federal match is required. DEP is requesting that eligible grantees who believe they could compete in the nationwide process for an Implementation Grant and who would like to be considered for nomination should submit a proposal following the EPA guidance  to PADEP by September 22. DEP will select a number of proposals that address Pennsylvania’s watershed restoration and protection priorities for submission to EPA by the November 15 deadline. DEP is also requesting that eligible grantees applying for the Capacity Building grants provide a copy of the proposal to DEP when submitting their request to EPA. DEP may be able to provide assistance if questions arise about your proposal package. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=511241 

Club-Fostered L.L. Bean Stewardship Grants

L.L. Bean and the American Canoe Association are offering grants to local paddling clubs for volunteer-driven stewardship projects through its Club-Fostered Stewardship Program. ACA and L.L. Bean have created this program to encourage and empower clubs and their members to undertake projects that address the stewardship needs of local waterways. Examples of eligible projects include cleaning up local waterways, establishing water trails, maintaining access areas, installing signage, and providing sanitary facilities. Grants of up to $1,000 are available. While ACA began to award grants this spring, additional funding is still available. http://www.acanet.org/stewardship/cfs.lasso 

Events 
(Click on an event for more information)

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. The Call for Presenters notice is provided here. A conference registration brochure will be released shortly. http://www.palakes.org 

EPA Watershed Webcasts

EPA’s Watershed Academy sponsors monthly Webcasts, audio versions of which are available on their website. Past Webcast topics include 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:

• September 26 & 27 - Tioga County

• October 18 & 19 - Columbia / Montour Counties

• November 7 & 8 - Lehigh County

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

Pennsylvania One Call Outdoor Safety Days

PA One Call will hold an Outdoor Safety event at the Cranberry Township Public Works facility north of Pittsburgh on September 14.This free event will offer opportunities for education and fun in areas of underground safety and damage prevention. Outdoor demonstrations include locating, ground penetrating radar, soft excavation technology and techniques, trench shoring and a live trench rescue drill. There will also be a backhoe rodeo, educational breakout sessions and exhibitors offering the latest in underground safety. There will be plenty of freebies including lunch, door prizes, and a free excavation safety guide. http://www.pa1call.org/WebSite/Events/2006_programs/2006_PA_Safety_Days.htm 

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 One (September 21, 1-2:30pm EDT)

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

Annual PA Dirt & Gravel Road Maintenance Workshop

The Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies hold an annual Maintenance Workshop for anyone involved with the Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program. This year's workshop is September 11-13 in Titusville, Venango County. The three day workshop is directed at Conservation District personnel, Bureau of Forestry personnel, and anyone else who administers the Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program. A special one-day track will be held on September 11 that is specifically designed for townships. http://www.mri.psu.edu/centers/cdgrs/education_training/workshop/workshop.html 

PRWA Professional Office Conference

The Pennsylvania Rural Water Association is hosting the Professional Office Conference on September 13-14 in State College, PA. Conference topics will include Utility Governance, Easing the Daily Grind, Show Me the Money, Liability, What’s in Your File Cabinet, Alternate Source of Funding, Steering for Success, How to Leave Them Smiling, and Supervising a Construction Project. All this will be followed by a round table discussion on Small System Office Challenges. The conference has been submitted to DEP for approval of water and wastewater contact hours. http://www.prwa.com/v2/onepage/2006/2006-09-13-ProOffice/index.asp 

PA Small Organization Funding Workshop

The Institute for Conservation Leadership will be holding a workshop, Big Money for Small Organizations, on September 15, at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, Philadelphia, PA. If your organization relies heavily on foundation grants, and you want to diversify your income by increasing individual gifts, this workshop is for you.  http://www.pawatersheds.org/WWeekly/issue.asp?ID=312#big 

Clean Water Festival at the Pymatuning, PA Waterfowl Expo 

This year’s Pymatuning Waterfowl Expo on September 16-17 in Linesville, PA will feature a Clean Water Festival Educational Area. Participants will have the opportunity to make fish print t-shirts, paint with soils, and participate in lots of other interactive demonstrations. Local experts will give fish hatchery tours, stream talks, duck banding demonstrations, water safety dog demos, nature photography tips, tree ID tours, wetlands presentations, and conservation art programs. The event will also include a shoreline cleanup of Pymatuning Lake. http://www.crawfordconservation.com/events_files/2006/CWF%20Agenda%2006.pdf 

New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference

The 2006 New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference will be held on September 20 - 21 in Fishkill, NY. The conference will bring scientists and technical experts together with watershed stakeholders and the public to technically inform, present research findings and technical data, exchange ideas, and present information collected to date with regard to the protection of the nation's largest unfiltered surface water supply. http://www.nywea.org/ 

2006 Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Summit 

Register now for the 2006 Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Summit on September 20-21 in Harrisburg, which this year has the theme, “Enchanted Natural Wonder & Vibrant, Livable Communities!” Workshops will be held the first day on tools and resources available through the national Keep America Beautiful Network and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Alliance, brag and steal sessions about local anti-litter and beautification programs that work, and information about the 2007 KPB Litter Abatement Demonstration Project and how your community can participate. http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/summit/2006summit.asp 

Third-Party TMDL Development Webcasts

Under a cooperative agreement with EPA, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) will be conducting two webcasts focused on Third-Party TMDL Development. The first webcast  will be held on September 21 from 12:00 – 2:00 [http://www.wef.org/21sepwebcast ] and will be primarily for non-regulated stakeholders. The second webcast  will be held on September 28 from 12:00 – 2:00 [ http://www.wef.org/28sepwebcast ] and will be for regulators and the regulated community. Both webcasts are being provided at no charge.

Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference 

 The 2006 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference will be held on September 21-22 in Harrisburg, PA. Get the tools you need to start projects, market your site, meet state officials, private investors and developers, risk management professionals and other key players in Pennsylvania’s brownfields market. Do you have a brownfields property ready for redevelopment? Market your property at the Transaction Forum. http://www.psats.org/brownfields06_brochure.pdf 

York PA Watershed Weekend

The Watershed Alliance of York has announced the 4th Annual Watershed Weekend - “Celebrating Connecting People to Their Watersheds” on September 23-24 in both Pennsylvania and Maryland. The alliance is offering 17 different ways to get to know your watershed and learn how to get involved protecting it. Venues include watershed cleanups, educational programs, fundraising events, recreational opportunities, and more. Watershed Weekend 2006 will be held in the Conewago, Codorus, Muddy and Gunpowder Creek Watersheds, in York County, Pennsylvania and Carroll County, Maryland. All venues are free. http://www.watershedsyork.org/id205.html 

Northeast Regional Planning Conference

Regional Planning Comes of Age, a conference exploring the promise and practice of regional land use planning in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states, will be held on September 28-29 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Seminars will address topics such as transfer of development rights, growth management tools, protecting water resources through regional planning, economic impacts of regional planning, using regional planning to preserve historic and cultural resources, cooperative planning across political boundaries, and regional zoning and land use regulation. Seminars will also explore outstanding and developing examples of regional planning, such as the New Jersey Pinelands, the Adirondacks Park, the Long Island Pine Barrens, the Cape Cod Commission, Chesapeake Bay watershed initiatives and much more. http://www.regionalplanningcomesofage.org 

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://conserveland.org/events/item?item_id=14256 

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/ 

CWP Watershed Institute 

The Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) is holding their annual Watershed Institute on October 23-26 at the Deer Creek Resort and Conference Center, Columbus Ohio. The CWP has designed the 2006 Watershed Institute to equip watershed professionals with the tools needed to develop comprehensive watershed plans. This intensive, interactive program will focus on: a framework to prioritize valuable and sometimes scarce resources such as funding and staff time, field and desktop methods needed to complete a watershed plan from beginning to end, opportunities to interpret real data and how to integrate findings into a watershed plan, and practical resources participants can directly use in their professions including specific project investigations such as illicit discharge detection and elimination and contiguous forest evaluation. Registration closes on September 8! http://www.cwp.org/WI06/wi06info.html 

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: September 21, October 19, December 13. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/gis/trainimap.htm 

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

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