Watershed News
February 2009
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Watershed News is a publication of EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. It is designed to provide timely information to groups working at the watershed level.
In this month's newsletter
1) West Coast Estuaries Initiative2) NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program
3) Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program
4) USDA Announces Two New Funding Programs and Additional Funds to Conservation Innovation Grants
5) EPA releases new online video "Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In"
6) EPA Releases Report on Sea Level Rise
7) 4th Annual Stream Cleaner Forum
8) National Water Quality Inventory Report Now Available On-line
9) EPA and Florida DEP Work Together to Restore Florida's Surface Waters
10) EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor free February 18th Webcast on Green Roofs: Beautiful and Innovative Solutions to Stormwater Pollution
11) Watershed Forestry Resource Guide
12) Dutchman Creek, Illinois
13) 5th National Conference for Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Outreach: "Achieving Results with Tight Budgets"
14) World Environmental & Water Resources Congress
15) Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference
16) River Network's National River Rally
17) StormCon '09
Funding Opportunities
West Coast Estuaries Initiative
EPA Region 10 (EPA) is soliciting proposals to support the protection and restoration of high value, coastal resources in areas threatened by growth pressure. Through comprehensive watershed protection and management approaches, these grant funds will assist local and tribal governments in managing land uses while protecting watershed functions and values. Successful projects will match proposed activities to the appropriate watershed scale to ensure environmental results. An estimated $2.8 million is available. The Request for Proposals (RFP) includes only certain watersheds west of the Cascade Mountain divide. Proposals are due February 19, 2009. Visit the Web page for more specific information regarding eligibility.
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program
The NOAA California B-WET Program, Adult and Community Watershed Education, is a competitively-based program that supports existing environmental education programs, fosters the growth of new programs, and encourages the development of partnerships among environmental education programs throughout the Monterey Bay watershed. Funded projects provide meaningful watershed education to adults and communities. This includes outcome-based programs that educate citizens about their role in protecting water quality and demonstrate behavioral changes that improve water quality and promote environmental stewardship. Applications are due on February 27, 2009.
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program
![CARE Local Partnerships. Healthy Communities.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/winnews/images09/0901care.jpg)
News
USDA Announces Two New Funding Programs and Additional Funds to Conservation Innovation Grants
The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program offers $58.4 million in financial assistance for promoting ground and surface water conservation and water quality improvement. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, offering $23 million in 2009, strengthens coordination and cooperation between NRCS and EPA to help agricultural producers improve the environment in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Both are part of NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives Program. USDA also announced $20 million to inspire innovation through NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants.
EPA releases new online video "Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In"
![Photo of a house with a green roof](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/winnews/images09/0902reduce_runoff.jpg)
EPA Releases Report on Sea Level Rise
EPA, in collaboration with other agencies, has released a report that discusses the impacts of sea level rise on the coast, coastal communities, and the habitats and species that depend on them. The report, Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region, examines multiple opportunities for governments and coastal communities to plan for and adapt to rising sea levels. The report is one of 21 climate change synthesis and assessment products commissioned by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). CCSP was established in 2002 to provide the U.S. with science-based knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities of change in the climate and related environmental systems.
4th Annual Stream Cleaner Forum ![Exit EPA Disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
![Drawing of a classroom](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/winnews/images09/0902classroom.jpg)
National Water Quality Inventory Report Now Available On-line
![Photo of two people checking the water quality in a lake](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/winnews/images09/0902lake_assess.jpg)
EPA and Florida DEP Work Together to Restore Florida's Surface Waters
![Photo of a waterway in Florida](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/winnews/images09/0902florida_water.jpg)
The federal determination (PDF) (10 pp, 198K, About PDF) is intended to build upon the substantial investments that Florida has made in nutrient data collection, analysis, and stakeholder involvement, and is fully consistent with the state's and EPA's commitment to a stronger nutrient control program. The new numeric nutrient water quality standards will help Florida improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its water quality management tools, identify waters impaired because of nutrient pollution, establish Total Maximum Daily Loads and Basin Management Action Plans and derive National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit limits.
Webcast
EPA's Watershed Academy to sponsor free February 18th Webcast on Green Roofs: Beautiful and Innovative Solutions to Stormwater Pollution
![Drawing of a teacher holding a ruler](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/winnews/images09/teacher.gif)
Watershed Tool of the Month
Watershed Forestry Resource Guide ![Exit EPA Disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
The Watershed Forestry Resource Guide was created through a partnership of the Center for Watershed Protection and the US Forest Service. This Website is a central clearinghouse for all things related to forests and watersheds. There have been many recent efforts towards managing urban forests for watershed health that have resulted in a variety of highly useful tools and training materials. Information is organized into four major categories: forest planning and assessment, reducing stormwater runoff, forest friendly development and planting and maintaining trees. This site compiles these resources into a format that can be easily accessed and downloaded.
Spotlight: Watersheds at Work
Dutchman Creek, Illinois
![Photo of Dutchman Creek, Illinois](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/winnews/images09/0902dutchman_creek.jpg)
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
5th National Conference for Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Outreach: "Achieving Results with Tight Budgets"
May 11-14, 2009. Portland, Oregon. The 5th National Conference for Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Outreach will provide practitioners from around the country the opportunity to learn and share ideas on developing and implementing nonpoint source and stormwater outreach strategies that produce positive, measurable outcomes, comply with NPDES requirements, and can be successfully implemented with modest budgets. The conference will serve local, regional, state and federal professionals tasked with educating various audiences on nonpoint source pollution, stormwater pollution, watershed protection and promoting sustainable behavior changes in challenging economic times.
World Environmental & Water Resources Congress ![Exit EPA Disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
May 17-21, 2009. Kansas City, MO. Organized by EWRI and ASCE, this Congress' central theme is the great rivers of the world and the engineering challenges of balancing environmental and development issues while achieving a sustainable future. It is imperative that those working on the front lines - at the environmental/water engineering nexus - share insights from research and practical experience in the field to generate best practices for the future on issues such as river system management, environmental issues, watershed management and restoration, dam safety, hydraulic structures, and so much more.
Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference ![Exit EPA Disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
May 18-20, 2009. Portland, ME. Organized by New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. The three-day conference brings together all those in New England and New York State involved in NPS pollution management, including participants from state, federal, and municipal governments, private sector, academia, and watershed organizations.
River Network's National River Rally
![Exit EPA Disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
May 29-June 1, 2009. Baltimore, MD. Baltimore, Maryland will play host to the 10th National River Rally. And, like the nine River Rallies preceding it, River Rally 2009 is sure to be an event you won't want to miss. Highlights include:
- A series of intensive, 4-hour workshops on Friday afternoon
- Over 70 additional workshops covering topics of interest to staff, volunteers and board members of river conservation organizations
- Office hours, mentoring sessions and real life, in-person conversations with funders and exhibitors
- The River Heroes Banquet: a memorable and inspirational night of celebrating our own leaders
- Unsurpassed networking opportunities
StormCon '09
![Exit EPA Disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090512105602im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
August 16-20, 2009. Anaheim, CA. In addition to serving municipal and government professionals, StormCon offers sessions on sediment and erosion control practices for contractors, and techniques for special sites, such as airports and ports. StormCon offers non-technical stormwater sessions that will benefit those completely new to stormwater, as well as advanced sessions for seasoned professionals.