[Watersheds] *** EPA's Nonpoint Source News-Notes Issue #100 Now Available ***

[Panciera, Ernie (DEM)]

See below for EPA's Nonpoint Source Pollution Newsletter.


Ernie Panciera
Supervising Environmental Scientist
Groundwater Protection and Nonpoint Source Programs
RI DEM Office of Water Resources
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
401-222-4700 x7603
ernie.panciera at dem.ri.gov



From: Waye, Don [mailto:Waye.Don at epa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2016 8:29 AM
To: Distribution of the publication Nonpoint Source News-Notes <news-notes at lists.epa.gov>
Subject: [news-notes] I buried the lead - *** EPA's Nonpoint Source News-Notes Issue #100 Now Available ***

Re-sending to fix the header in yesterday's announcement. We are celebrating the 100th issue of News-Notes with this latest issue (...not the 99th issue as my incorrect header had it).

There's some good stuff in this issue. My favorite article is about the great ideas in "Greening America's Capitals (and Communities)" that begins on p. 6. The retrospective look at 100 issues of News-Notes is a useful jaunt through the decades since Congress added the nonpoint source program into the Clean Water Act in the late 1980s.

Enjoy.

EPA's Nonpoint Source News-Notes, Issue #100 (October 2016)

NPS News-Notes Issue #100<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/100issue.pdf> is now online. EPA's NPS News-Notes newsletter explores new and innovative programs, tools and resources available to help you manage polluted runoff.  The newsletter's cover page includes links to each section, article and announcement listed below. Previous issues may be downloaded from the Nonpoint Source News-Notes website (www.epa.gov/newsnotes<http://www.epa.gov/newsnotes>).

ISSUE #100 SNAPSHOT (see next section for article excerpts):

** NOTES FROM THE NATIONAL SCENE
  (1) Tracking Change Through Time: 100 Issues of News-Notes
  (2) Tool Helps Rural Communities Assess Opportunities for Smart Growth
  (3) Greening America's Capitals Program Expands
  (4) Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Settlement Will Fund Restoration


** NOTES FROM THE STATES, TRIBES AND LOCALITIES
  (5) New Healthy Watersheds Grant Program Supports Protection Projects

** SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT
  (6) New Tool Helps States Develop Wetland Water Quality Standards
  (7) Online Mapping Tool Encourages Drinking Water Source Protection

** REVIEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
** RECENT AND RELEVANT PERIODICAL ARTICLES
** WEBSITES WORTH A BOOKMARK
** CALENDAR
-------------------------------------------------------------

IN THIS ISSUE:

===================================================
** NOTES ON THE NATIONAL SCENE
===================================================
The following are excerpts. For the full text of articles, see NPS News-Notes Issue #100<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/100issue.pdf>.

(1) Tracking Change Through Time: 100 Issues of News-Notes
This month marks the publication of Nonpoint Source News-Notes' 100th issue. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the very first issue of News-Notes exactly 27 years ago, in October 1989. Since that time, News-Notes has recorded remarkable changes in nonpoint source (NPS) pollution priorities, science and awareness. When News-Notes started, the Internet was brand new. Nobody had websites or email. Information was gleaned the old-fashioned way-through books, magazines, journals, newspapers, letters, and phone calls. Back then, NPS pollution control programs largely targeted agricultural sources. Now, almost 30 years later, NPS pollution control efforts focus on everything from agricultural, timber and urban impacts to emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals-and we have access to seemingly unlimited amounts of information. ...

(2) Tool Helps Rural Communities Assess Opportunities for Smart Growth
Rural communities cover much of the United States, but often grow at a slower rate and have fewer economic resources than metropolitan areas. Smart growth approaches to development can help these places strengthen their economies while protecting both their environment and the health of their residents. To help small communities identify and prioritize strategies for reaching their economic, social and environmental goals, in 2015 EPA released a guide titled Smart Growth Self-Assessment for Rural Communities. This document contains descriptions of strategies that rural communities can use to evaluate their existing policies, plans, codes and zoning regulations to identify ways to promote sound development practices through strategic plans, policies, incentives and community engagement...

(3) Greening America's Capitals Program Expands
Sometimes people need to see something to truly understand and imagine its possibilities. EPA's Greening America's Communities (GAC) program, originally known as Greening America's Capitals, is helping cities develop an implementable vision of environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporates innovative green infrastructure and other sustainable design strategies. Launched in 2010, the program helps city stakeholders see how their neighborhoods could look with green elements, and then guides them as they craft a plan for making that vision a reality. EPA hopes to not only help communities increase their sustainability and environmental and economic health, but also to inspire local and state leaders to expand this type of work elsewhere...

(4) Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Settlement Will Fund Restoration
On April 20, 2010, the BP Deepwater Horizon mobile drilling unit exploded, caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the death of 11 workers and injury of 17 others. The damaged oil well discharged oil and natural gas for 87 days after the explosion, resulting in the release of approximately 3.19 million barrels (134 million gallons) of oil into the Gulf-the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. Six years later, on April 4, 2016, a federal court in New Orleans entered a consent decree resolving civil claims against BP. This historic settlement resolves the U.S. government's civil penalty claims under the Clean Water Act, the governments' claims for natural resources damage claims under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and also implements a related settlement of economic damage claims of the Gulf States and local governments. Taken together, this resolution of civil claims is worth more than $20 billion and is the largest settlement with a single entity in the history of federal law enforcement...

===================================================
** NOTES FROM THE STATES, TRIBES AND LOCALITIES
===================================================
The following is an excerpt. For the full text of the article, see NPS News-Notes Issue #100<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/100issue.pdf>.

(5) New Healthy Watersheds Grant Program Supports Protection Projects
In June 2016 EPA and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities awarded $1.4 million in grants for nine watershed protection projects in seven states under the new Healthy Watershed Consortium Grant Program. The grants are supporting a variety of efforts by providing short-term funding to leverage larger financing for targeted watershed protection; providing funds to help build the capacity of local organizations for sustainable, long-term watershed protection; and providing funds to support new techniques or approaches that advance the state of practice for watershed protection...

===================================================
** SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT
===================================================
The following are excerpts. For the full text of the articles, see NPS News-Notes Issue #100<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/100issue.pdf>.

(6) New Tool Helps States Develop Wetland Water Quality Standards
EPA and state water quality and wetland associations have partnered to develop an online tool, Templates for Developing Wetland Water Quality Standards. The tool will help states, territories and authorized tribes (hereafter collectively referred to as "states") develop protective and comprehensive narrative water quality standards for their wetlands. Once developed, the state may submit the wetland water quality standards to EPA for review and approval...

(7) Online Mapping Tool Encourages Drinking Water Source Protection
Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Do you want to see what pollution sources might affect the quality of your water? EPA recently released an online mapping tool-the Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters (DWMAPS)-to make this type of information available to everyone. Developed in consultation with EPA regional drinking water program staff, state drinking water regulators and public water system staff, DWMAPS is designed to help you learn about your watershed and understand more about your water supplies and suppliers...

================================
**REVIEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
================================
The following is a list of topics. For the full descriptions, see NPS News-Notes Issue #100<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/100issue.pdf>.

Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution
-- EPA Announces Winners of Nutrient Recycling Challenge
-- Study Analyzes U.S. Conservation Practice Adoption Rates

Climate Change
-- Climate Resources Publication List Developed
-- EPA Releases New Online Training Module Featuring Climate Change and Water Resources
-- Nationwide Online Gaming Event Highlights Climate
-- Multiagency Web Dashboard Supports Climate Issues
-- Report Highlights Management of Stormwater in Response to Climate Change
-- Report Reviews Climate Change Effects on U.S. Water Supplies
-- Roadmap for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Released
-- Study Shows a Delay in Climate-Related Temperature Change in Mountain Streams

Coastal Concerns
-- Report Shows U.S. Coastal Waters are a Mix of Good and Fair Health

Data Resources
-- National Water Model Released
-- Northeast Habitat Map Viewer and Dataset Developed
-- Online Tool Reports Estimated Pesticide Levels in U.S. Streams

Education
-- Video Series to Increase Public Awareness of Water
-- Water Resources Extension Webinars Available

Green Stormwater Infrastructure
-- Case Studies Highlight Communities Overcoming Infill Challenges
-- Design Toolkit Released
-- Document Presents Green Infrastructure Lessons Learned
-- EPA Study Shows Long-term Benefits of Green Stormwater Infrastructure
-- Green Infrastructure Effectiveness Compendium Released
-- Green Streets Video Online
-- Report Highlights Green Infrastructure in Parks

Stormwater Control
-- EPA Releases Template for Small Residential Lot Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans
-- New Issue Brief Helps Communities Understand Stormwater Credit Trading
-- Report Highlights Use of Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Water Supplies
-- Stormwater Credit Trading Key to Protecting Waterways in the Nation's Capital
-- USDA Partners with EPA on Resources Supporting Water Quality Trading

Targeting Pollutants
-- Aquatic Trash Prevention Great Practices Compendium Released
-- Countries Adopt New Phosphorus Reduction Targets for Lake Erie
-- Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Strategy Report Available
-- Harmful Algal Bloom Field and Laboratory Guide Released
-- National Microbead Ban Signed into Law
-- USGS Provides Fact Sheet Summarizing 10 Years of Coal-Tar Sealant Findings

Watershed Management
-- Delaware Basin Initiative Moves Forward
-- USDA Adds 17 New Watersheds to National Water Quality Initiative

Wetlands
-- EPA Releases Report on Condition of Nation's Wetlands
-- Public-Private Investment Will Improve Critical Wetlands in 12 States

Other
-- Compendium Highlights Customer Assistance Programs

============================================
**RECENT AND RELEVANT PERIODICAL ARTICLES
============================================
The following is a list of articles. For the full descriptions, see NPS News-Notes Issue #100<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/100issue.pdf>.

-- These Two Scientists Just Raised $4 Million to Test Soil Health for Farmers
-- Help wanted: Seniors sought to monitor waterways, improve environment

=================================
** WEBSITES WORTH A BOOKMARK
=================================
The following is a list of websites. For the full descriptions, see NPS News-Notes Issue #100<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/100issue.pdf>.

-- Challenge.gov<http://www.challenge.gov>
-- EPA Calendar of Climate Change and Water Events<https://www.epa.gov/climate-change-water-sector/calendar-climate-change-and-water-events>
-- Soak Up the Rain<http://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain>
-- The Conservation Fund's Google Trekker<(www.conservationfund.org/what-we-do/conservation-acquisition/google-trekker>
-- WikiWatershed<http://wikiwatershed.org>

=============================
** CALENDAR (Upcoming Events)
=============================
-- For an updated list of nonpoint source-related conferences, see the Nonpoint Source Events Calendar<http://www.epa.gov/polluted-runoff-nonpoint-source-pollution/nonpoint-source-events-calendar>.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Nonpoint Source News-Notes is available in electronic form at www.epa.gov/newsnotes<http://www.epa.gov/newsnotes>. To receive notification when a new issue is posted on the Web, join the NPS News-Notes notification electronic mailing list. Send an e-mail message to lyris at lists.epa.gov<mailto:lyris at lists.epa.gov>. Include the following message in the subject line or the body of the message: "subscribe news-notes [your name]"

If you have questions, or wish to contribute an article or idea for an upcoming issue of NPS News-Notes, please contact waye.don <at> epa.gov.

Don Waye
U.S. EPA - Nonpoint Source Control Branch
Phone: 202-566-1170




------------------------------------------

You are currently subscribed to NEWS-NOTES as: ernie.panciera at dem.ri.gov<mailto:ernie.panciera at dem.ri.gov>



To unsubscribe, send a blank email to news-notes-unsubscribe at lists.epa.gov<mailto:news-notes-unsubscribe at lists.epa.gov>

OR:

Use the listserver's web interface at https://lists.epa.gov/read/login/?go=https://lists.epa.gov/read/?forum%3Dnews-notes to manage your

subscription.



For problems with this list, contact news-notes-owner at lists.epa.gov<mailto:news-notes-owner at lists.epa.gov>

------------------------------------------
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://listserve.ri.gov/pipermail/watersheds/attachments/20161004/3dc663ff/attachment-0001.html