Office of Wetlands, Oceans,
and Watersheds
"Water is the most critical
resource issue of our
lifetime and our children's
lifetime.
The health of our
waters is the principal
measure of how we live
on the land."
Luna Leopold
he Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW) promotes a
Is watershed approach to manage, protect, and restore the water resources and
aquatic ecosystems of our marine and fresh waters. This strategy is based on the
premise that water quality and ecosystem problems are best solved at the watershed level
and that local citizens play an integral role in achieving clean water goals. Through its
many programs, OWOW provides technical and financial assistance and develops
regulations and guidance to support the watershed approach.
OWOW is one of four program offices within the Office of Water at EPA Headquar-
ters in Washington, DC. The Office provides leadership, policy direction, and technical
and financial support to 10 EPA regions and the states, tribes, and territories that
implement aspects of our programs. OWOW also collaborates with other federal agen-
cies with related missions as well as local government, the private sector, and non-profit
organizations.
Some of our programs are described in this brochure; for more information on these
and other programs, please visit our web site at www.epa.gov/owow.
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Wetlands have been called the "nurseries of life" and are often the most
ecologically productive and environmentally sensitive areas within a water-
shed. OWOW promotes the protection and restoration of the nation's
wetlands through both regulatory and cooperative programs.
Regulatory Programs
The Clean Water Act Section 404 establishes a permit program to regulate dis-
charges of dredged or fill material into waters, including wetlands, of the United States.
Section 404 outlines specific and coordinated responsibilities for both EPA and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). EPA is required, in conjunction with the Corps, to estab-
lish environmental standards for reviewing Section 404 permit applications for activities that
would fill wetlands for residential development, roads, levees, and other projects. The Corps is
charged with administering the Section 404 permit program, processing applications in
accordance with EPA's standards, and issuing permits, where appropriate, after notice and an
opportunity for public comment. Both EPA and the Corps have enforcement responsibility
and routinely coordinate the review of Section 404 permit applications to ensure that permit
decisions are made in a timely manner, while providing effective protection for human health
and environmental quality. States can assume the 404 program for some waters and, as of
1999, New Jersey and Michigan had done so. Many states administer other programs to
protect wetlands, some of which are recognized through Clean Water Act general permits.
Cooperative Programs
In addition to providing regulatory protection for wetlands, OWOW works in part-
nership with states, tribes, and local governments to conserve and restore these valuable
habitats. For example, OWOW is helping states and tribes to develop wetland conserva-
tion plans and incorporate wetlands into watershed plans. To improve methods of
evaluating wetland health, OWOW is working closely with states and tribes to develop
biological assessment methods. We encourage states and tribes to incorporate wetlands
into water quality standards to provide additional protection that other waterbodies
commonly receive. EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance manages
programs to ensure that discharges comply with legal requirements, and the Office of
Research and Development helps OWOW administer wetlands programs in a scientifi-
cally sound manner. We also work with other federal agencies to develop national
guidance on issues, such as constructed treatment wetlands and wetland restoration.
With the goal of a net increase of 100,000 acres of wetlands
per year by 2005, EPA is working with its partners on community-
based wetlands restoration projects in 500 watersheds from 1999
through 2004. This challenge will be met through OWOW's Five
Star Restoration Program, which provides challenge grants,
facilitates technology/information transfer and partner collabora-
tion, and supports peer-to-peer communication programs. A web
site (www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star/) serves as the
information hub for the Five Star Restoration Program.
For more information, visit the wetlands web site at
www.epa.gov/owow/wet/andsorcall the Wetlands Information
Hotline (contractor-operated) at 1-800-832-7828.
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effective control of
nonpoint source programs.
How important are our coastal and ocean resources? According to 1996 statistics, more
than half the U.S. population lives in the Nation's coastal counties, which account for only
11% of the land area in the U.S. (excluding Alaska). Coastal waters support 28.3 millionjobs
and generate $54 billion in goods and services each year, and tourism-related businesses serve
180 million Americans visiting the coasts each year for recreation. For more information,
please visit our web site at www.epa.gov/owow/oceans.
Protecting Coastal and Marine Environments
In addition to the programs highlighted below, OWOW provides leadership in
programs to assess and reduce the extent of marine debris in waterways, and control
pollution from ships and discharges to coastal waters from industry
and municipalities. Furthermore, we work to limit the introduction
__.^-. --._..^^.JTI of non-indigenous aquatic organisms in U.S. waters, assess and
reduce the air deposition of nutrients and toxic pollutants into
coastal waters, identify beaches that are environmentally friendly
and safe to swim, and address Pf/'ester/'a and other harmful algal
blooms. OWOW works to protect coral reef ecosystems using a
watershed protection framework and through the Coral Reef Task
Force to address heightened concerns about coral reef degradation.
In light of significant harm to water quality and ecosystems due to
poorly planned growth and development, particularly along the
coasts, we are working with communities to promote Smart
Growth. Our office also promotes integrated coastal monitoring and
research efforts, in part through surveys conducted by its 165-foot
ship, the Ocean Survey Vessel Peter W. Anderson.
National Estuary Program/Coastal Watershed Protection
The National Estuary Program (NEP) was established in 1987 to identify, restore, and
protect nationally significant estuaries of the United States. Estuaries are biologically
productive and valuable coastal areas where salt and fresh water mix. The primary focus of
the NEP is to maintain the integrity of the whole estuarine system—its physical, chemical,
and biological properties, as well as its economic, cultural, and aesthetic values. Active
participation of communities and local groups through effective development and imple-
mentation of Comprehensive Conservation Management Plans is a hallmark of the NEP.
Each plan identifies specific actions to control pollutants such as point and nonpoint
sources of toxics and nutrients, restore or create wetlands x
and other habitats, control discharges from septic tanks,
and undertake other activities. There are currently 28
estuaries in the United States designated as estuaries of
national significance.
OWOW is also taking lessons learned from the 28
NEPs to support efforts to manage, protect and restore
resources in other coastal watersheds in the U.S. Our
office provides technical assistance and information
sharing through training workshops, guidance manuals,
fact sheets, technical reports and newsletters to support
coastal watershed managers around the country.
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Dredged Material Management and Ocean
Protection Programs
OWOW is responsible for ensuring that
ocean dumping of dredged materials and other
wastes is managed in an environmentally sound
manner, and for developing the environmental
criteria used in determining whether this mate-
rial is suitable for ocean disposal. In addition,
our office works closely with our partners to
improve dredged material management planning
and coordination efforts, promote beneficial uses
of dredged material, and provide guidance to
promote environmental stewardship in U.S.
ports. OWOW works closely with several
international treaty organizations to assure
protection beyond U.S. waters, such as the
London Convention of 1972, which controls
ocean dumping of wastes.
Water Quality Monitoring
OWOW works in partnership with states, interstate agencies, tribes and
other federal agencies to improve water quality monitoring programs. This is
accomplished by, for example, participating on a National Monitoring
Council and developing national guidance on water quality assessment and
reporting, biological monitoring and criteria, volunteer monitoring methods,
and quality assurance. Using EPA guidance, states, tribes
and interstate agencies monitor water quality and report
this information to EPA as required by Section 305(b) of
the Clean Water Act. EPA then summarizes these water
quality assessment reports into a National Water Quality
Inventory Report to Congress and maintains a variety of
databases to facilitate the use of this wealth of water
quality monitoring data.
OWOW encourages states, tribes and interstate
agencies to use quality-assured water quality information
collected by citizen volunteers, and supports the growth
of the nation's volunteer monitoring network through
technical, outreach, and networking tools. Currently,
more than 770 volunteer monitoring groups around the
country collect physical, chemical, and biological data on
the condition of streams, lakes, estuaries, wetlands,
beaches, and ground water. Information on volunteer
monitoring and publications is available at
www.epa.gov/owow/mon/tor/ng.
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Water Quality Inventory - 305(b) Report
Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act directs each state to prepare a biennial
report to be submitted to EPA describing the quality of its waters. These reports
identify which waters within the state support designated uses and which are impaired;
for impaired waters the states are also required to describe the type and source of
pollutants. OWOW then compiles these state assessments to prepare a national water
quality inventory report for the Congress. The report focuses on the extent to which
water quality meets goals and standards established to protect aquatic ecosystems,
drinking water supplies, fish consumption, recreational activities and other uses
designated by states. In addition, the Clean Water Act asks the
states to report on their progress in controlling water pollution,
including the costs and benefits of achieving designated use
support. For more information, visit our web site at
www. epa.gov/305b.
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Many water quality problems today are caused by diffuse, or
nonpoint source pollution. This polluted runoff is largely respon-
sible for nearly 40% of the nation's assessed waterbodies not
meeting the uses for which they have been designated by the
states, i.e., fishing, swimming, or as a drinking water supply. The
Clean Water Act provides for the control of nonpoint source
pollution through Section 319, the Nonpoint Source Manage-
ment Program, to encourage greater state, tribal, and federal
leadership to address this significant source of water quality
degradation. Under Section 319, states, territories, and
tribes develop and implement their own nonpoint source
management programs tailored to their key nonpoint
source pollution problems. EPA provides grants to help
them administer their nonpoint source programs as well
as guidance for improving best management practices to
control runoff. In addition, under Section 6217 of the
Coastal Zone Management Act Amendments of 1990,
OWOW provides guidance to states regarding the
effective control of nonpoint source pollution in coastal areas,
and with NOAAjointly works with coastal states to develop and implement
coastal nonpoint source programs.
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Despite national standards and required pollution controls, many of our waterways
still do not meet the Clean Water Act goal of being "fishable and swimmable." The
mission of the Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) program is to work towards healthy
watersheds by assisting states, territories, and tribes to meet their water quality standards.
Under the program established by Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, states identify
impaired waterbodies, or those not meeting standards, and develop TMDLs for these
waters. A TMDL specifies the amount by which a specific pollutant must be reduced to
meet water quality standards and allocates pollution control responsibilities among the
sources in the watershed. EPA reviews and approves the lists of impaired waters and the
TMDLs developed for them and develops the TMDLs if the state or territory does not.
TMDLs are a critical analytic underpinning for watershed decisions and can serve to
integrate solutions to water quality problems from point and nonpoint sources and to
protect drinking water sources, wetlands, and endangered species.
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Recognizing how important community action is in achieving clean
water goals, OWOW promotes and supports watershed partnerships at
all levels. For example, OWOW's Adopt Your Watershed and volunteer
monitoring programs help a variety of community groups, such as scouts
and PTAs, to get more involved in watershed protection. The Clean
Water Action Plan (CWAP), announced by President Clinton in 1998,
gave new impetus to this mission and calls for increasing our efforts to
preserve and restore the nation's waters, both to protect human health
and to ensure the integrity of aquatic ecosystems. The Action Plan pro-
motes a collaborative effort to achieve goals by bringing both public and
private sector stakeholders together in national watershed forums,
regional roundtables, and watershed alliances.
OWOW also provides technical support and expertise
for local and regional activities, often in cooperation with
other federal agencies. Examples of interagency and
intergovernmental efforts include the Stream Corridor
Restoration Handbook, Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task
Force, Everglades restoration, Pacific Northwest salmon
recovery, and the President's American Heritage Rivers
Initiative. The watershed approach is an effective
means to get all interested parties involved and will
contribute to the protection and restoration of our
waters for current and future generations in the 21st
century, and beyond.
Learned
**
1998
MISSOURI MISSISSIPPI
GULF \
OF
MEXICO
Through its many
programs, OWOW
provides technical and
financial assistance and
develops regulations and
guidance to support the
watershed approach.
Zone of hypoxia in 1999.
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OWOW's Watershed
Information Network
provides consolidated
watershed information
and services that can
Watershed Training
EPA's Watershed Academy provides courses, publications, facilitation,
and internet information on the watershed approach for local, state, tribal
and federal officials, as well as private practitioners of watershed manage-
ment. Examples of training topics include: establishing statewide ap-
proaches to watershed management; technical components for developing
TMDLs; watershed assessment methods; watershed ecology; and stream
corridor restoration. Watershed training courses are also available on the
internet at www.epa.gov/OWOW/watershed/wacademy/acad2000.
Information Systems
In partnership with others, OWOW operates the Internet-based Watershed Informa-
tion Network (WlN). WIN is a roadmap to consolidated watershed information and
services that can help communities protect and restore water quality. WIN provides
ready access to information on such topics as: what a watershed is, how to find your
watershed, available training for watershed practitioners, and financing watershed
protection and restoration activities. Included in WIN is the Index of Watershed Indica-
tors, which compiles information on the health of aquatic resources in over 2,100
watersheds in the 48 contiguous states. Entering your "place" (such as ZIP code, county,
tribe, or school) in WIN will bring up specific data about your watershed and how to get
involved. You can access WIN at www.cleanwater.gov/win.
OWOW has modernized EPA's computerized STOrage and RETreival system for
water quality data, STORET, so that it better meets the emerging information needs for
watershed protection. New STORET will serve as EPA's principal repository for chemi-
cal data, biological community information, fish tissue analyses, and aquatic habitat
evaluations for fresh and marine
water. PC-based and user-friendly,
new STORET requires quality
assurance information to ensure
the integrity of the data in the
system. Data in new STORET will
soon be accessible via the
Internet. Our office is also devel-
oping a variety of tools to help
states and other partners geo-
graphically display and manage
their water information.
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Legislative and Other Authorities for OWOW Programs
Clean Water Act (CWA)
Ocean Dumping Ban Act (ODBA)
Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA)
London Convention (LC)
Marine Plastics Pollution Research and Control Act (MPPRCA)
Shore Protection Act (SPA)
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA)
Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS)
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)
U.S. EPA Regions
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Guam
American Samoa
Philadelphia
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