Restoring &
^Protecting
America's Waters
"Every child deserves to grow up with
water that is pure to drink, lakes that
are safe for swimming, rivers that are
teeming with fish. We have to act
now to combat pollution challenges
with new protections to give ail our
children the gift of clean, safe water
in the 21st century."
President Clinton, refi
Action Plan on Pel
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"People [have] understood the importance of
clean water from the very beginning. It is
about more than a precious natural resource.
It is about more than our lakes and rivers and
streams. It is about the fabric of life itself."
Vice President Gore, announcing the Clean Water
Initiative on October 18,1997.
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Department of Defense
Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
Tennessee Valley Authority
Department of Energy
Department of Transportation
Department of Justice
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Introduction
, or two years, nine Federal agencies have joined together in a new
partnership dedicated to improving water quality in communities across
the Nation. Cooperating under the Clean Water Action Plan, announced
by President Clinton in February 1998, these agencies have developed strate-
gies and built upon existing programs to address water quality
problems by concentrating on watersheds most in need of attention. The
opportunity to work together has led to innovative successes; a foundation for
continued collaboration; new partnerships with States, Tribes, local govern-
ments, and the private sector; and a Federal Government that is more respon-
sive to the needs of its citizens. The many key actions achieved during these
first two years have brought us closer to our goal of cleaner water across
America. ;
The Action Plan has provided a focal point for Federal action to assess
watershed conditions, establish watershed restoration and protection priorities,
and involve local stakeholders. From establishment of conservation buffers to
protection of coasts and restoration of wetlands, the record of accomplishment
in the two years since the announcement of the Action Plan covers a wide
range of watershed issues.
The real strength of the Action Plan is its focus on encouraging Federal
agencies to leverage their skills, technical abilities, and resources to solve
water quality problems in partnership with communities. Agencies with diverse
missions and a variety of programs continue to come together to solve water
pollution problems. In 1999, twelve Federal coordination teams formed around
the country to foster collaboration on regional and State levels and discuss
work in common watersheds. Our partnerships with the private sector have
provided opportunities for people to make a difference in their watersheds.
The Action Plan has led to important changes. Focusing on watersheds has
revitalized existing programs and increased our effectiveness in cleaning up
America's waters. This is a legacy we know will endure.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Throughout this document you will find boxes like this one highlighting major accomplishments in
1999 of key actions described in the Action Plan. Key actions are numbered in the order they appear in
the original Action Plan.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Updates like these highlight continued progress from the key action accomplishments in
1998. Again, key actions are numbered in the order they appear in the original Action Plan.
You can find out more about
the Clean Water Action Plan at
www.cleanwater.gov or by
contacting one of the partner
agencies listed on the inside back
cover. To find out more about a
specific key action or program,
visit our website and dick on
the Accomplishment box.
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The Four Components
of a Watershed
What Is a Watershed?
A watershed is nature's boundary for
water resources. It consists of the land
within which water drains to a common
area. Rainfall and snowmelt flow into
streams, rivers, wetlands, lakes, and
eventually to the ocean. Or, the water
may percolate through the soil to
become ground water. As it flows, water
picks up contaminants, sediment, and
debris. Therefore, the physical, chemical,
and biological processes within a water-
shed, including human activities, may
affect the quantity and quality of water
in the receiving waterbodies.
Watersheds may be as small as just a
few acres, or as large as several States.
The U.S. Geological Survey has divided
the Nation into 2,149 moderately sized
watersheds, which average approxi-
mately 1,700 square miles. This scale is
useful for observing watershed condi-
tions across the Nation.
This second year report is organized to reflect the components of a
watershed. We begin with community involvement and the importance
=» of work needed at all levels to make our water cleaner and safer.
Throughout the report, we recognize those significant key actions that
strengthen the science, data, and information on which to base watershed
restoration activities. We report on key actions according to the part of the
watershed they affect. Successful key actions are grouped into actions that
address: the land that encompasses the waters; the wetlands and riparian areas
that border waterways; the rivers, lakes, and streams into which runoff flows;
and the beaches, coasts, and oceans that are our water's "final destination."
By addressing water quality problems on a watershed scale, our efforts
become more effective with comprehensive and more lasting results. The
Action Plan encourages communities; Federal, State, and local government
agencies; Tribes; and the private sector to share ideas, strategies, resources,
and information. Improvements in the health of our watersheds will mean
improvements in the quality of life for many generations to come.
Community Involvement
Community involvement is the driving force behind the Action Plan.
Ensuring healthy watersheds is not an easy task, nor is it a job that any
single government agency, community group, or professional organization
can do alone. Together, Federal agencies, States, Tribes, local watershed
groups, private businesses, and communities bring their energy and
resources to successfully improve watershed health.
The Action Plan promotes community involvement and collaboration. For
example, under the Watershed Assistance Grants Program described in the
Action Plan, River Network, a national nonprofit organization dedicated
to helping people protect their watersheds, has awarded grants to 47 local
communities. These grants support new watershed partnerships and build
outreach, education, monitoring, and planning capabilities at the local level.
The Action Plan promoted the development of new Internet sites that have
put important information into the hands of citizens to help them make
practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and their environment.
Stakeholders
Interested Public
Local Organizations
Tribes
Private Sector
State Agencies
Federal Agencies
All Partners
Represented
.
'Collaborative
Watershed
Planning
Process
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KEYACTION
UPDATE: Watershed Assistance Grants and Coordinators #103,109 -With more
than 800 requests from 49 States, interest in the grants program exceeded available funds in 1999.
Approximately $643,000 in Watershed Assistance Grants was awarded to watershed groups.
KEYACTION
UPDATE: Water Information Network #92, 93 - The first version of the Water Information
Network was released in March 1999 on the Internet at www.cleanwater.gov/win. The site provides
comprehensive sets of information from many Federal agencies to the public on the condition of
resources, projects underway within each watershed, and how to obtain Federal technical and financial
assistance for watershed restoration and protection efforts.
The Action Plan encourages Federal agencies to provide opportunities
for local, State, and Tribal officials to formulate watershed restoration and
protection plans. Regional watershed roundtable meetings across the country
have enhanced communication and promoted integrated action among local
watershed stakeholders. These include civic organizations; businesses; agricul-
ture; Tribes; and local, State, and Federal Government agencies that are work-
ing to better protect, manage, and restore the Nation's watersheds. A national
watershed forum in 2001 will bring government leaders and local watershed
stakeholders together to discuss new directions for cooperative actions.
Strengthening and building these new partnerships will sustain watersheds
throughout this new century.
KEYACTION
UPDATE: Watershed Roundtables #108 - Regional watershed roundtables convened in the
Southeast, Alaska, California, and Delaware River Basin. Several more plan to meet by spring 2000.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Assistance to Tribes #101 - Federal partners worked together to provide technical
assistance to Tribes in a series of five workshops around the country. More than 80 Tribes developed
unified watershed assessments to help identify solutions to watershed problems.
KEYACTION
NEW: Watershed Awards #105 - In the spirit of the Action Plan, CF Industries honored three
communities and one corporation in its annual National Watershed Awards. Recipients were recognized
for innovative local partnerships that seek to improve water quality by balancing a watershed's environ-
mental and economic needs.
"A watershed is almost
like a house, with walls of
hills and mountains, a
floor of rivers and lakes,
and a roof of rain
clouds." -
Port Graham/Nanwalek
Watershed Council
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Uplands
What happens on the
land affects our water.
Everything we do-in our
neighborhoods, in industrial areas,
on roads, and in our cities-can alter
the quality of our rivers, lakes,
aquifers, and coastal waters. The
"upland" area of a watershed is just
that, the land that surrounds the
water - the high forests, rangelands,
plains and deserts. These areas play
important roles in the overall health
and condition of not just the river
or stream below, but the entire
watershed.
Uplands are some of the entry
points for many contaminants and
pollutants in our waters-pollution
works its way over the land and
through the ground into our waters
with the assistance of rain and
snowmelt. The Action Plan describes
initiatives that address sources of
water pollution that start on land,
including initiatives to address pol-
luted runoff.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Cutting Pollution From
Abandoned Hardrock Mines #29 - The
Action Plan encourages partnerships among
Federal, State, Tribal, and local land managers to
address watershed pollution from abandoned
hardrock mines, using a watershed approach.
Cleanup efforts at ten project sites are completed
and work has begun at 120 new sites in 31 water-
sheds across 12 States. These projects are multi-
stakeholder and multi-year investments.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Reducing Pollution From
Abandoned Coal Mines #31 - As anticipated
in the Action Plan, Clean Streams Initiative efforts
to neutralize acid mine drainage pollution from
abandoned coal mines were stepped up in 1999.
Eight projects (in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana,
Maryland, and Kentucky) were completed during
the year - a 100-percent increase over 1998.
Two important new elements of the Clean Streams
Initiative were introduced in 1999 - a watershed
cooperative agreement program to directly fund
locally sponsored projects and a summer intern-
ship program to assist local groups.
Activities to address polluted
runoff have gained momentum
since 1998. The Action Plan high-
lights Federal activities to address
the effects that highways, animal
feeding operations, abandoned
mines, and storm water have on
watershed health. Other projects
work to protect the quality of drink-
ing water nationwide, including
identification and protection of areas
that are sources of drinking water
and studies of aquifers and streams.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Protecting Sources of Drinking
Water #15 - Seven new projects have been ini-
tiated since 1998 to assist States with assessments
of their drinking water sources. An additional 30
projects supported assessment goals.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Animal Feeding Operations
Strategy #81,82 - The unified national strat-
egy for animal feeding operations was announced
by Vice President Gore in March 1999. This
strategy proposes to address polluted runoff by
using a combination of voluntary and regulatory
approaches under existing authorities to help ani-
mal feeding operation owners and operators
reduce threats to public health and water quality,
and remain economically viable.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Watershed Management on
Federal Lands #19 - A proposed unified
Federal policy will provide a framework for
Federal agencies to take a unified approach in
assessing watershed health and for natural
resources management on Federal lands.
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KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Risk Management #68 - Five
risk management insurance products are now
available from private industries for agricultural
producers who use best management practices,
such as integrated pest management, nutrient
management, and conservation tillage. Six more
integrated pest management products are expect-
ed to be available in 2000.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Continuing To Combat Polluted
Runoff With State Revolving Fund Loans
#73 - In 1999, $170 million from the clean
water State revolving loan fund was spent by
States and local communities to target
high-priority polluted runoff and habitat projects,
including removal of leaking underground storage
tanks, correction of failed septic tanks, conserva-
tion easements, and wetlands restoration.
Key actions described in the
Action Plan promoted innovative
ways to protect our water resources
through new incentives, resources,
and efficient planning into the
future. Some communities are
integrating 'smart growth' principles
intoHheir development plans, help-
ing to ensure that growth and
expansion are managed sustainably,
with an eye toward protecting the
environment and improving water
quality.
KEY ACTION
NEW: New Curbs on Storm Water
Runoff #79 - A new rule was issued under
Clean Water Act authorities in November 1999 to
protect America's waterways by curbing storm
water runoff. The new storm water regulation
expands coverage to include smaller construction
sites between one and five acres and municipal
storm sewer systems in urbanized areas serving
populations of less than 100,000.
KEY ACTION
NEW: National Forest Roads #21 - The
Action Plan encourages a temporary moratorium
on new road construction in America's national
forests. In February 1999, construction on
unroaded areas was suspended until a new analy-
sis and management policy is issued. In October
1999, President Clinton directed development of
an environmental impact statement and regula-
tions to permanently prohibit new roads on nearly
40 million acres.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Smart Growth #83,84 - Smart
growth is an important component of the Action
Plan. The Interagency Work Group on Sustainable
Communities has completed its work to examine
the challenges our communities face and some of
the innovative ways they are meeting those chal-
lenges. A final report identifies current tools and
resources provided by the Federal Government.
that encompass
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Wetlands and
Riparian Areas
1
Wetlands and riparian areas
play crucial roles as fish
and wildlife habitat. They
also act as filters to trap pollution
from upland sources before it reaches
rivers, streams, and lakes.
Wetlands perform many functions
essential to the overall health of a
watershed. They regulate the flow of
water by controlling runoff and ero-
sion, cycle nutrients through a host
of unique plant and animal species,
and act as a "storage" area for excess
nutrients, sediment, and other pollu-
tants that could degrade our water-
ways. Riparian areas are broadly
defined as those areas that border a
waterbody. They range in size from a
few feet on either side of a small
stream to several miles wide on large
river segments. Riparian areas are
rich in biodiversity and form critical
links between land and water.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Expanding Wetlands Reserve
#38 - An additional 119,994 acres of wetlands
were voluntarily enrolled by farmers in the
Wetlands Reserve Program in 1999. In addition,
more than 14,800 acres of high-priority wetlands
were restored with the help of private sector part-
ners through other Federal programs.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Conservation Buffers #62,63,
64 - More than 720,000 miles of buffers on
agricultural lands along rivers, streams, and field
borders have been established since 1998.
Many riparian areas have been
degraded, causing erosion, habitat
loss, and more pollution. The Action
Plan addresses this rapidly disappear-
ing resource and the importance of
healthy ecosystems by encouraging
Federal agencies to dedicate Federal
funds to showcase demonstration
projects. Agencies have also taken
steps to strengthen wetlands mitiga-
tion and restoration projects. The
Challenge 21 Initiative, supported by
the Action Plan, combines flood haz-
ard mitigation with river restoration.
Communities, Tribes, and local
-------
watershed groups are also mobilizing
in an effort to protect, restore, and
expand the Nation's wetlands and
riparian areas. The Action Plan sets a
goal of establishing 2 million miles of
conservation buffers on agricultural
lands and a commitment to achieve a
net annual gain of 100,000 acres of
wetlands per year to improve water
quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and
restore biodiversity.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program (CREP) Guidance
and Assistance to States #65, 66 - Two
additional States have signed up to participate in
the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program,
which targets water quality, soil erosion, and
wildlife habitat issues related to agricultural use.
This brings the total to eight States, with
agreements pending in two more States.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Wetlands Mitigation and
Community Restoration #41,42 - The Five
Star Grant program provides assistance to support
community-based wetland and riparian restoration
projects, education, and training. In 1999,
$500,000 was awarded for 50 projects, involving
more than 1,500 partner groups.
K E Y A C T J 0 N
UPDATE: Stream Corridor Restoration
Demonstration Projects #61 - Twelve demon-
stration project sites were designated in 1999 to
showcase modern stream corridor restoration tech-
nologies. The sites represent a variety of geo-
graphic locations and conditions, with projects
designed to improve multi-stakeholder partner-
ships, local communities, and the environment.
Nationwide, Federal agencies also have helped
restore and improve a significant number of miles
of stream corridors and riparian habitats.
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Duck Creek (Alaska) is a small stream
once important for salmon production but now adversely
affected by urban development. Restoration efforts have
included streambank revegetation and channel modification,
planting willow stakes and marsh vegetation, and restoring
salmon spawning habitat by reconfiguring the stream
channel, removing fine sediment, and increasing dissolved
oxygen levels.
The Duwamish-Green River
Watershed's (Washington) rivers are now
being restored in a broad-based, ecosystem-oriented
program with several projects. The Hamm Creek Project
provided 6 acres of estuarine habitat along the Duwamish
River to better support critical life stages of salmon. The
Puget Creek Project restored a former estuary to productive
fish and wildlife habitat. Other projects will restore
off-channel habitats, create wetlands, nourish spawning
gravels, and improve fish passage.
The McCoy Creek Watershed
(Oregon) restoration project reconnected a channelized
part of the creek to its former meandering channel and wet
meadow, causing dramatic improvements in water
temperature and volume of flow that should help increase
salmon populations. The project's main partners included
private ranch landowners; Tribes; a local watershed program;
and local, State, and Federal agencies.
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In the Carson River Watershed
(Nevada) local concerns about erosion, sedimentation,
and aquatic habitat degradation led to more than 70
districts, councils, service clubs, ranch organizations,
environmental organizations, schools, youth groups,
churches, and county, State, and Federal agencies joining
forces to conserve this watershed. Groups working on the
river have completed 10 miles of stream restoration
through 30 projects, utilizing 15 different technologies.
The Blcukloot River Watershed
(Montana) is being restored by a "grass roots" group
called the Blackfoot Challenge, using an approach that com-
bines education, non-native weed control, and habitat
restoration projects. More than 83 miles of instream and
riparian areas, 2,100 acres of wetlands, and 2,300 acres of
native grasslands have been restored.
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The Sun River Watershed's
(Montana) spectacular wildlife and fish populations
have become threatened by excessive bank erosion,
reduced flow volume, and noxious aquatic weed problems.
[The restoration of this watershed is improving land manage-
ment practices through education and installing restoration
treatments such as brush mattresses and root wads to
increase bank stability.
;
The Gilo River Watershed (Arizona-
Mew Mexico) had been degraded through past
logging and domestic grazing practices. Government agen-
cies and public and private organizations undertook projects
to restore riparian and upland areas through improved live-
stock management, control of off-road vehicles, and the use
of bioengineering techniques and prescribed fire.
The White River Watershed
(Vermont) partnership's goal is to restore river
corridors through collaborative public involvement,
determining issues and desired future conditions, and
restoration action. Restoration practices include restoration
of large woody debris, riparian management and buffer
establishment, bioengineering to stabilize banks, livestock
exclusion and alternate water sources, rock and log vanes,
and rock armoring.
The Lititz Run Watershed
(Pennsylvania) restoration project has engaged
citizens, scientists, and local and State government agencies
as local watershed alliance partners in a coordinated set of
15 restoration projects in key locations throughout the
watershed. The community is improving its water quality
through a comprehensive long-term watershed manage-
ment strategy that combines techniques in natural resource
management, land use planning, education, and community
involvement in addressing polluted runoff.
The Bear Creek Watershed (Iowa)
restoration project has partnered university research and
development with landowner cooperation in developing a
stream restoration approach that includes a multi-species
riparian buffer, soil bioengineering and grade control tech-
nologies for streambank stabilization, constructed wetlands
to intercept and process runoff pollutants in agricultural
drainage tile water, and rotational grazing systems that
limit livestock access to the stream channel.
The Big Nance Creek Watershed
(Alabama) project builds on local leadership and
landowner interests. One project has restored a floodplain
stream segment and wetlands formerly in livestock produc-
tion. Under local leadership, Federal, State, and private
groups are working with private landowners to plant
native hardwoods and vegetation, stabilize streambanks
with bioengineering techniques, and hire a watershed
coordinator to encourage conservation practices that
reduce polluted runoff.
The Suwannee River Watershed
(Georgia-Florida) is a center for southeastern
coastal plain riparian forest buffer research and
demonstration. The main approaches for stream corridor
restoration and protection in the watershed focus on
agricultural lands in the headwaters areas and land
acquisition along main channels in the downstream areas.
The spirit of the clean
f action plan
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Rivers, Lakes,
Streams
Clean water is important to our
health, our environment, our
economy, and our way of life.
This is especially true for our Nation's
rivers, lakes, and streams. These
waterbodies provide us with fish,
recreation, transportation corridors,
irrigation, and industrial inputs. At
the same time, they support a wide
variety of plant and animal species
that thrive in unique ecosystems.
When the quality of these water
resources is compromised, the result-
ing effects can be widespread.
Many rivers, lakes, and streams
remain in trouble, not meeting water
quality standards and requiring
health advisories to protect those eat-
ing fish caught in these polluted
waters. Several agencies are support-
ing the goals of the Action Plan
through enforcement initiatives.
Under the Mississippi River Basin
Enforcement Initiative, agencies are
coordinating a multi-media effort
under existing authorities to fight
pollution. The Initiative has led to
effective enforcement of the Clean
Water Act's concentrated animal feed-
ing operations, wetlands, and other
provisions in States throughout the
Basin. The Action Plan provides a
framework for key actions to restore
polluted waterbodies. Many key
actions have outlined opportunities
to clean up pollution problems and
set examples for effective water quali-
ty monitoring and assessment.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Watershed Assessments on
Federal Lands #33 - More than 35 watershed
assessment projects were initiated to help protect
water resources in our national parks, monu-
ments, recreation areas, and scenic riverways.
Some of these projects will help to ensure safer
swimming at beaches and safer drinking water;
some will enhance baseline monitoring and assess-
ments; others are designed to assess the effects of
changing atmospheric deposition on lake chem-
istry. In 2000, more than ten new projects will be
initiated.
KEY ACTION
UPDATE: Assessing Rivers and Streams
#35 - Assessments of the quality of reservoirs
and streams affected by reclamation operations
were expanded to two additional sites in 1999,
bringing the total to five. The projects are under-
way in Grand Coulee (Washington), Upper Klamath
(California and Oregon), Angostura reservoir on
the Cheyenne River (South Dakota), San Pedro
River (Arizona), and Elephant Butte reservoir on
the Rio Grande (New Mexico and Texas).
Protecting public health is an
important focus of the Action Plan.
In 1998, brochures were developed
to highlight risks associated with
cumulative effects of consuming large
amounts of fish contaminated by tox-
ins. A 1999 fish epidemiology study of
exposure levels in certain populations
10
-------
found further health risks associated
with eating contaminated fish.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Great Lakes Fish Epidemiology
Study #6 - Significant progress has been made
in reporting and evaluating findings that address
public health issues relating to exposure to con-
taminants in the Great Lakes Basin. Recent
research was instrumental in implementing a uni-
form Great Lakes fish advisory now used by all
eight Great Lakes States.
Excess nutrients are a major
source of pollution in our waters. As
anticipated in the Action Plan, a
multi-year strategy for the develop-
ment and implementation of nutrient
technical guidance and criteria has
been issued. Key actions set ambi-
tious plans for research, technical
guidance, and monitoring of water
quality. These plans will help form
strategies for restoration and protec-
tion into the future.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Nutrient Standards for Rivers and
Streams #74 - As part of a multi-year strategy,
a draft nutrient criteria technical guidance manual
for rivers and streams was issued in October 1999.
The draft guidance will help managers develop
ecoregion- and waterbody-specific nutrient criteria
for the Nation's rivers and streams.
K E Y A C T I 0 N
NEW: Nutrient Modeling Report #89 -
Models were developed to evaluate the amount of
nutrients entering the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Information in the report is being
used to target nutrient-reduction areas and to
design nutrient load reduction plans specific to
each tributary.
EPA-Steve Delaney
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(,.,.'.i, i. yi.
Beaches, Coasts,
and Oceans
Many Americans derive
benefits from our Nation's
95,000 miles of coastline
that stretch along oceans, estuaries,
and the Great Lakes. These living
resources provide us with an impor-
tant food source, raw materials for
industry, new medicines to improve
health, and unique recreational
opportunities.
Estuaries are formed when fresh
water from rivers and streams flows
into the ocean, mixing with seawater.
Sometimes called "nurseries of the
sea," they are home to vast and
diverse species in early, fragile stages
of their lives. Pollution originating in
other parts of a watershed is carried
by our rivers and streams to our
estuaries and oceans.
Unfortunately, increasing pollution
and development are upsetting the
natural balance of our estuaries
and oceans and threatening their
health-resulting in beach and
shellfish bed closings, harmful
algal blooms (such as Pfiesteria),
declines in fisheries, loss of aquatic
habitats, and a host of other
human health and natural resource
problems.
Key actions provide a strong
framework for responding to coastal
pollution problems. In 1998, an
emergency response system for major
algal bloom outbreaks incorporated
the technical and resource abilities
of diverse Federal agencies. State
and Territorial management plans
were also conditionally approved to
help control polluted runoff in our
coastal regions.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Efforts To Reduce Coastal Polluted
Runoff #52 - In 1999, $7.2 million was award-
ed to 33 coastal States and Territories to improve
their ability to manage polluted runoff.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Implementation of Harmful Algal
Bloom Strategy #53 - Harmful algal bloom
monitoring studies were initiated in Maryland and
Florida to identify environmental conditions that
can lead to outbreaks of Pfiesteria. This program
will expand into other coastal States in the future.
In 1999, the Action Plan encour-
aged additional research, monitoring,
and funding to protect public health
and coastal environments. Actions
have focused on ensuring the safety
of the fish we eat and the beaches
we visit. As we learn more about the
impacts of pollution in our coastal
regions, we will better be able
to protect these sensitive areas in
the future.
EPA-Slevo Delonsy
12
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1
KEY ACTION
NEW: National Commercial Shellfish
Resources Classification #9 - A report and
CD- ROM on the status of national shellfish bed
conditions and the factors leading to harvest limi-
tations were released in 1999. The national shell-
fish registry report assessed more than 4,000
shellfish growing areas around the country and
identified measures needed to reopen closed or
restricted shellfish beds.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Protecting Our Beaches #11 - The
Beach Action Plan, released in April 1999, is a
multi-year strategy to help States and localities
protect public health at beaches and recreational
waters. Under the Plan, data will be collected on
State and local monitoring and protection activities
to assist State and local managers in strengthening
water quality standards and improve the science
that supports these efforts.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Identification of Essential Fish
Habitat #54 - Essential fish habitat was
designated for 39 of 40 Federal fisheries in the
United States. Federal fishery management plans
must now include measures that minimize to the
extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on
these habitats.
K E Y . A C'T .1 0 N
NEW: Coastal Research Strategy #59,
60 - A draff strategy has been developed which
provides a basic assessment of the Nation's
coastal research and monitoring needs, and
recommends an integrated framework to protect
vital coastal resources.
that are our W
"final destination
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Outlook for
the Future
The Action Plan continues to
promote better coordination of
Federal programs in whole
watersheds that need to be protected
and restored. Watershed solutions
continue to gain momentum. To
date, all 56 States and Territories and
more than 80 Tribes have completed
comprehensive unified watershed
assessments, identifying more than
800 of the Nation's 2,149 watersheds
as priorities for action beginning in
1999 and into 2000.
Work has begun in many of
these priority watersheds. Already,
more than 300 watershed restoration
action strategies are guiding the
design and implementation of proj-
ects that stem the various sources of
watershed pollution. Although it will
take several years to complete action
strategies for all high-priority water-
sheds, States, Territories, and Tribes
are currently using their watershed
restoration action strategies to coor-
dinate their programs and plan for
future restoration activities. Together,
Federal, State, and local govern-
ments, Tribes, the private sector, and
communities are working toward
healthy watersheds for our future.
KEY ACTION
NEW: Watershed Restoration Action
Strategies #98 - Many States, Tribes and local
organizations are working on strategies to restore
their watersheds based on new assessments or
existing watershed, ecosystem, conservation, or
other integrated plans. In fiscal years 1999 and
2000, Congress appropriated an additional $100
million in Clean Water Act funding that was
provided to States and Tribes to update polluted
runoff programs and develop and implement
watershed restoration action strategies for those
watersheds with the greatest needs.
KEY ACTION
FUTURE: Watershed Restoration
Progress Report #102 - By December 2000,
a Watershed Restoration Progress Report will
highlight restoration efforts across the Nation.
This report will provide descriptions of effective
interagency coordination, tips for building and
sustaining partnerships at the local level, and
feedback from roundtable meetings that have
focused on watershed restoration efforts.
14
(U. Mo, Jfclano/PcrH
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1
Action Plan Funding
for the Future
^President has requested almost $2.8 bil-
:jon, an increase of $584 million, to support
key actions in the Action Plan in FY 2001.
jjighlights include:
t .
>Z?4 million to help improve water
-Jfugljfy on Federal lands;
--₯-,. ..,.:-
L. I mf ion in grants to States and
j^Hsfw water programs;
$334 million for Florida Everglades
"restoration;
njjlion to help farmers address
jjuted runoff;
[$73million for technical assistance to
ipd feeding operations owners and
.operators;
t$58 million to improve water quality
Tand wetland habitats for migratory birds
"and other wildlife;
JiSO million in new grants to help restore
"polluted Great Lakes "areas of concern";
[million to implement a newly author-
[ized floodplain restoration initiative;
j>32 million to help address water quality
f problems from abandoned mines;
^J.2 million to expand research, monitor-
pngTand rapid response to harmful algal
Jblopm outbreaks, and implement coastal
Tolfuted runoff programs.
f; In two short years, significant
achievements have been accom-
plished as envisioned by the Action
Plan. The foundation has been pro-
vided for new efforts as we move
ahead in 2000 and beyond. The
Action Plan promotes key actions
that demonstrate how successful
the watershed approach is in
assessing local conditions and
achieving sustainable solutions for
the future. Energized communities
are building new partnerships to pro-
tect and restore the health of their
watersheds. Clean water is important
to all of us. Healthy watersheds mean
healthy people.
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Directory of Key Actions
The original Clean Water Action Plan 'includes 111 specific Key Actions. '"
The following Key Actions are numbered in order of their appearance on the pages of the Clean Water Action flan.
(Bold reflects completed actions. Mqny of these actions ate.ongoing}
AOlon #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
1 1
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
M
Jl
53
54
JT
55
«
Description
Fish survey mera«y/contaminanrs
Multimedia strategy for mercury/other toxic pollutants
Contaminated sediment strategy
Sediment recovery demonstrations
Consistent feh nxmitoting/odvisories
Great lokes fish epidemiology study
Spanish/Asian seafood risk brochures
Contaminated seafood outreach to health care professionals
Shellfish bed condition report
Comoliancs/enforcement for sources of shellfish closures
Beach Action Flan
Internet information on beach closures
Mkrobiologkal standards for beaches
Comptace/enforcement for sources of beach closures
Drinking water source water assessments
CompBonce/enforcement for drinking water contamination
Endocrine disrupter evaluation study
Natal Academy of Sciences - endocrine disruption
Unified Federal policy on Federal lands
Haintain/relocote/rkommission forest roads
Forest transportation regulations
dean Water Act regulations/pilot on forest roads
Restore 25,000 miles of stream corridors
Forest health strategy (disease/wildfire)
Assist States/fribes - forest health/water quality assessments
Forest health survey/monitoring - 50 States
Rangelond ateent/monitoring/management
Ronjekmd vegetation classification
Cleanup of hardrock mines
Active mining operations watershed partnerships
Cooperative coal mine cleanup
Cool mining effluent guidelines
Watershed assessments on Federal lands
Test watershed onalysis process
Assessments of waters affected by reclamation operations
Review of Federal licensing and use authorization
Ho net loss of wetlands in regulatory program
Expand wetlands reserve to 250,000 acres
Increase Corps of Engineers restoration by 50%
Wetlands mitigation banking review
Wetlands restoration in 500 watersheds
Coastal wetlands restoration
Restoration through enforcement
50H increase in highway wetlands mitigation
Single wetlands status and trends report
Guidance on restoration, creation, enhancement of wetlands
Tracking system for wetland gains
Access to information for wetland planning
Watershed Assistance Grants for wetlands
Assistance to States and Tribes for habitat planning
Response to outbreaks of algae/Pfiesteria
Tedwkol/Financiol assistance to reduce coastal polluted runoff
Algal bloom strategy
Identification of essential Fish habitat
Beneficial use of dredged material
Anramed nolluted runoff oroarams in coastal States
Page*
25
25
25
25
25
26
26
26
26
26
27
27
27
28
29
29
29
30
33
34
34
34
34
35
35
35
35
35
36
36
37
37
38
39
39
39
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
43
43
43
43
45
45
45
46
46
46
47
47
47
Action #
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
Description
Build coastal partnerships
Year of the Ocean
Develop multi-agency coastal research strategy
Coastal monitoring coordination/report
Twelve stream restoration demonstrations
Two million miles of conservation buffers
Four million buffer acres in Conservation Reserve
Partnerships for buffers
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program notice/guidance
CREP assistance to States
Marketing and promotion orders for pollution objectives
Insurance for innovation risks
"Blue Water" marketing
Upgrade polluted runoff programs
Anti-degradation guidance for polluted runoff
Enforceable State/Tribal authority for polluted runoff
Use of State Revolving Fund for polluted runoff
Numeric criteria for nutrients in warerbodies
Better quantify atmospheric deposition
Link Total Maximum Daily Loads to air emissions
Onsite system management guidance
Centralized management of decentralized systems
Phase II Storm Water regulations
Target storm water compliance/enforcement
EPA draft Animal Feeding Operation Strategy
EPA/USDA Unified National Animal Feeding Operation Strategy
Support local smart growth initiatives
Total Maximum Doily Load credits for smart growth
Smart growth and National Environmental Policy Act
Tax incentive proposals
Develop monitoring standards and protocols
Report on polluted runoff monitoring/assessment
Nutrient input and transport model/estimates
Nutrient reduction tracking system
Point source monitoring/reporting
Internet-based Water Information Network
Internet watershed health system
Unified Watershed Assessments
Federal support for unified assessments
Identification of watershed restoration priorities
Upgrade Index of Watershed Indicators
Develop Watershed Restoration Action Strategies
Guidance on fiscal year 1999 resources
Total Maximum Daily Loads on Federal lands
Bureau of Indian Affairs assists Tribes on water quality
Watershed Restoration Progress Report
Watershed partnership grants
Assistance to watershed groups
National watershed awards
Inventory of watershed training programs
Compliance/enforcement on watershed basis
National Watershed Forum
Support watershed program coordinators
Increase collaboration among Federal agencies
Government Performance and Results Act goals coordination
Page*
47
48
49
49
50
50
50
rl
51
52
53
CO
53
55
56
57
57
59
59
59
60
60
r-i
61
61.
62
64
64
64
64
ZC
OD
67
67
67
68
68
70
77
77
78
79
80
81
81
81
81
84
85
86
86
07
o/
87
88
88
l
16
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Clean Water Action Plan Partnership
USPA Department of Agriculture
301-504-2196
Department of the Interior
202-208-6416
Department of Defense
703-604-1765
Army Corps of Engineers
'"*"« 202-761-1980
, Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
301-713-3155 ext.126
,<#<SC%""
I" @ \te Environmental Protection Agency
^^02-260-5700
' -
Tennessee Valley Authority
865-632-1671
Department of Energy
202-586-8505
Department of Transportation
202-366-5004
Department of Justice
202-514-2701
-------
aisp
The Federal Government is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
4jpHt
For more information about the Clean Water Action Plan, please contact any of
partner agencies or visit http://www.cleanwater.gov on the Internet.
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