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Water Headlines for December 6, 2006Benjamin H. Grumbles Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water. In This Week’s Water Headlines:
EPA to Examine Conditions of Nation's LakesThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is embarking on a three-year study to determine the state of America's lakes. The "Survey of the Nation's Lakes" is the first-ever attempt to assess real-world conditions by studying 909 lakes, ponds and reservoirs whose profiles are representative of all lakes in the United States. What will it accomplish? The survey, a joint effort among EPA, the states and some tribes, will:
"America's lakes shape the landscape and are at the heart of our natural heritage, health, and beauty," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "EPA's national state-of-the-lakes study will measure lake health, map priorities, and motivate grass-roots stewardship, a cornerstone of the President's Cooperative Conservation agenda." Survey samples will be taken from natural and human-made freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs next summer. Bodies of water included in the survey will be a minimum area of 10 acres in area and at least 39 inches deep. The last time EPA catalogued the status of lakes was in 1972-1976, when 815 lakes were evaluated nationwide. The new study will resample 113 lakes from the earlier survey for comparison. What will it measure? Researchers will look at water chemical quality, turbidity, color, conditions of shoreline habitat, and pathogen indicators. Other conditions will also be measured. Researchers will use the same sampling techniques among all lakes to provide uniform results and permit comparisons across the country. This study is part of a larger EPA effort to assess coastal waters, rivers and wetlands. A similar survey, for wadeable streams, was completed earlier this year. All of the surveys will be repeated to analyze the success of efforts to manage and improve overall water quality. The report on the lakes survey will be released in 2009. More information about the Survey of the Nation's Lakes: http://www.epa.gov/owow/lakes/lakessurvey/. EPA Expands Water Contaminant Information ToolEPA has expanded the Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT) to assist water utilities, public health officials and federal, state and local agencies to better plan for and respond to intentional or accidental contamination events. Launched in November 2005, WCIT is a secure, on-line database profiling chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants of concern for drinking water and wastewater utilities. WCIT includes both regulated and non-regulated contaminants and provides current, reliable data from peer-reviewed reports and research. The system includes general information for 93 contaminants and now includes additional information in four new data categories: drinking water treatment; wastewater treatment; environmental impacts; and infrastructure decontamination. Access to WCIT data is password protected and qualified individuals must apply to EPA and undergo screening before being granted access. Currently, drinking water and wastewater utilities, State drinking water primacy agencies and laboratories, drinking water and wastewater associations partnering with EPA, state and local public health officials, and federal officials (including government laboratory personnel) are eligible for access. To apply for access to WCIT visit http://www.epa.gov/wcit. Assistant Administrator for Water SpeechesOn December, 6th, Assistant Administrator Benjamin H. Grumbles delivered opening remarks at the annual Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association Watershed Conference. His remarks focused on finding sustainable solutions for water infrastructure and watershed management, one of the priorities for the Office of Water and for EPA, in 2007. AA Grumbles is also planning to participate in several events sponsored by the National Student Summit on Oceans and Coasts for 80 exceptional high school students. On December 8th, he will introduce the following dinner speakers: Philippe Cousteau, an explorer-media expert and grandson of the legendary marine biologist, Jacques Cousteau and Jim Toomey, syndicated-cartoonist. Grumbles will also address these students at an event on Capitol Hill. Subscribe to Water HeadlinesPlease forward this message to your friends and colleagues who share an interest in water-related issues and would like to hear from EPA’s Office of Water. To subscribe to the Water Headlines listserve: Send an email message, leave the subject line blank, and address it to: In the body of the message write: Subscribe Water Headlines first name last name (Please leave one blank space between each word, do not include any other message, and use your actual name- i.e. Subscribe Water Headlines Robert Jones)
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