United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office Of Water
(WH556F)
EPA 840-N-92-001
Fall 1992
Watershed Events
» An EPA Bulletin on Integrated Aquatic Ecosystem Protection
In This Issue...
Overviews of Watershed Protection
Activities Within EPA
Call for Papers - 1993 Merrimack
River Watershed Management
Conference
News Bits
Recent Releases
Watershed Events is intended to
update interested parties on the
development and use of watershed
protection approaches.
Watershed protection approaches are
integrated and holistic That is, they
consider the primary threats to
human and ecosystem health within
the watershed, involve those people
mostconcerned or able to take actions
to solve those problems, and then
take corrective actions in a
comprehensive manner.
Questions and comments about
WatershedEvents should be directed
to co-editors:
Janet Pawlukiewicz, (202) 260-9194 -
Anne Robertson, (202) 260-9112
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and
Watersheds
U.S. EPA (WH-556F)
401M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
&£> Printed on Recycled Paper
A Note from Hank Habicht,
EPA'S Deputy Administrator
I am convinced that the Watershed
Protection Approach adopted here
at EPA. will pro vide tremendous ben-
efits to environmental and human
health. Working in consonance with
natural and ecological systems to
ensure sustainable development is
just plain good sense. Furthermore,
the watershed approach has the ap-
peal of helping people focus on the
rivers, lakes, or bays they identify
with and care about. Likewise, this
approach provides the best practical
framework for making progress in
protecting natural habitats from
physical alteration and degradation.
This results from the fact that at a
landscape scale such as a watershed
we can realistically assess cumula-
tive and secondary impacts and for-
mulate workable mitigation strate-
gies.
I am excited and intrigued as well by
thepotentiallypowerfulinstitutional
benefits to be gained through water-
shed approaches. These benefits are:
1) improved communication among
all levels of government, private or-
ganizations, and citizens; 2) increased
efficiency through resource sharing;
and 3) increased opportunities for
establishing risk-based priorities. I
believe that these improvements will
result from the necessary formation
of partnerships to plan for and man-
age our activities within watersheds.
We've already seen some of these
institutional benefits. The Office of
Water has joined forces with other
major EPA offices and over a dozen
Federal agencies to build on each
other's authorities, expertise, and re-
sources in support of watershed ap-
proaches. Headquarters staff are
working together to streamline grants,
provide permit flexibilities, develop
appropriate ecological criteria and
standards, provide targeting, model-
ing, and monitoring tools, and build a
broad understanding and knowledge
of watershed approaches. In the Re-
gions, EPA staff are mobilized to pro-
vide direct support tailored to the
needs of specific watersheds. Inmany
cases this requires the development
of multi-media teams—water, air, and
superf und—reaching out together to
work with other agencies and organi-
zations to effect real changes on the
ground!
These actions at EPA herald an im-
pressive beginning to establishing
watershed protection as a fundamen-
tal basis for the Agency's efforts to
protect water resources, as well as
human and ecological health. I am
proud of your innovative thinking
and customer oriented approaches
and I commend all of you who are
breaking new ground for us by prac-
ticing the watershed approach.
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Page 2
Watershed Events
FaU 1992
WATERSHED PROTECTION
AND EPA'S WETLANDS
PROGRAM
by Charly Ray, U.S. EPA, Office of
Water, Wetlands Division
EPA's wetlands program incorpo-
rates watershed approaches into ef-
forts to solve environmental prob-
lems and build regional, state, and
community capabilities to steward
wetland resources. The importance
of watershed protection is empha-
sized through support for confer-
ences, the development of technical
resources, and initiation of specific
projects.
Two conferencesof note thatfocussed
on wetland issues from a watershed
perspective, Wetlands of the Chesa-
peake and Wetlands and River Cor-
ridor Management, attracted hun-
dreds of participants and resulted in
published proceedings (proceedings
can be obtained from the Association
ofStateWetlandsManagers,518-872-
1804, for the former conference and
from the Environmental Law Insti-
tute, 202-328-5150, for the latter con-
ference) . In addition, last year, EPA's
Wetlands Division and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers Institute for Wa-
ter Resources sponsored a two-day .
symposium on Multiobjective River
Basin/Watershed Planning and Man-
agement. The primary goals of this
workshop were to share ideas and
identify opportunities to improve the
interaction between local and state
governments, organizational groups,
private interests, and Federal agen-
cies involved in river basin/water-
shed planning management. Partici-
pants found substantial' common
ground and opportunities for fur-
thering watershed protection
through the dialogue begun at this
workshop.
The recent publication of State Wet-
lands Strategies: A Guide to Protecting
and Managing the Resource by the
World Wildlife Fund (available from
Island Press, 800-828-1302), exempli-
THE GREAT EGG HARBOR RIVER WATERSHED PROJECT
by Glenn Eugster, U.S. EPA, Office of Water, Wetlands Division
The U.S. Congress recently designated 129 miles of the Great Egg Harbor
River system into the National Wild and Scenic River System. The law,
which was signed by President Bush on October 27, 1992, directs the
National Park Service to enter into cooperative agreements with local
governments to manage the river system. This designation comes after
two years of a locally based cooperative watershed planning process led
by 12 local governments, the State, and private landowners.
The watershed's headwaters rise southeast of Camden, New Jersey,
flowing through the internationally recognized Pinelands National Re-
serve, before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Egg Harbor
River, once visited by the naturalist John James Audubon, is habitat for
the rare and endangered Southern Bald Eagle, the Pine Barrens Tree Frog,
and the Peregrine Falcon. Over 80 percent of the river corridor is tidal and
freshwater wetlands.
Through a series of public workshops and a survey of all private land-
owners, public and private interests in the watershed developed and
agreed on a protection strategy. The strategy relies on local land use
ordinances, 21 existing State and Federal laws and programs, and volun-
tary private actions to protect riparian lands, 75 percent of which are in
private ownership.
fies the type of technical information
supported or developed by the wet-
lands program. This publication is
targeted towards state and local man-
agers or citizens interested in wet-
land protection and is a blueprint for
future guidebooks on watershed pro-
tection strategies. Many of the prin-
ciples behind statewide or regional
wetland protection strategies trans-
late directly to watershed strategies
(e.g. local, state, and Federal coop-
eration in a geographic region; land
and water interface issues; and dif-
fering political and legal jurisdic-
tions).
Audubon's America, cosponsored by
EPA and the National Audubon So-
ciety, is a cooperative landscape con-
servation project which takes a wa-
tershed approach to environmental
protection. This project is intended
to be a joint effort between the public
and private sectors to protect, con-
serve, restore, enhance, and inter-
pret the land and water areas where
John James Audubon lived, traveled,
wrote, painted, and observed by es-
tablishing a "Natural Heritage Cor-
ridor." This corridor will be created
by seeking voluntary agreements
connecting publicly and privately
owned natural areas within a 34-state
region that includes the watersheds
of the Eastern Coastal Plains and the
Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi Riv-
ers. One of the special places that
may become part of Audubon's
America is the Great Egg Harbor
River in New Jersey, which Audubon
visited. Audubon wrote in his diary,
"Many a drawing I made at Great
Egg Harbour, many a pleasant day I
spent along its shores." (See box at
left on Great Egg Harbor River for
more information on watershed pro-
tection efforts there.)
These conferences, publications, and
Audubon's America all demonstrate
the effort that EPA is making to ap-
proach wetlands protection on a
watershed basis.
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Watershed Events
Page 3
WATERSHED PROTECTION -
KEY TO IMPROVED WATER
QUALITY ... A View From Mike
Cook, Director, EPA'S Office of
Wastewater Enforcement and
Compliance
I believe improved water quality in
the future depends on how well we
organize our new and emerging pro-
grams within watersheds. The Of-
fice of Wastewater Enforcement and
Compliance has operated highly suc-
cessful permitting and enforcement
programs to control wastewater dis-
charges from industrial and munici-
pal sources. We are now tackling
stormwater and combined sewer
overflows (CSOs) while ensuring dis-
charges meet new water quality stan-
dards for toxics. These very expen-
sive controls will only do the job if
coupled with much more aggressive
practices to control pollution from
nonpoint sources.
These emerging programs face more
resistance than the first round of
water pollution controls under the
Clean Water Act. Dischargers want
to know that the benefits of expendi-
tures on toxics, CSOs, and stormwater
and nonpoint source controls are sig-
nificant. Local governments and utili-
ties have to assess the need and press
for action. The watershed approach
provides the focus, data, and struc-
ture to inform and motivate at the
local level.
How do we shift to organizing activi-
ties by watershed without jeopardiz-
ing the gains we have made over the
last 20 years through the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination Sys-
tem (NPDES) program? The Office
of Water and several States are evalu- f
ating new ways of doing business
under a watershed approach, assess-
ing progress and effectiveness as each
pilot proceeds. We hope to. end up
with a variety of new tools. Some
will focus on revamping the NPDES
program. Others will emphasize
better integration of emerging pro-
grams such as nonpoint source and
stormwater. We hope they all will
have enhancing water quality as a
primary focus.
The NPDES program is assuming
huge new responsibilities, and
nonpoint source programs are ex-
panding in many areas. We must
find ways to mobilize support wher-
ever possible to meet these new de-
mands. Linking our requirements
directly to the health of rivers, lakes,
and estuaries that people know and
love will move us a big step in the
right direction.
REGION 10 WATER DIVISION
REORGANIZES TO FOCUS ON
WATERSHED PROTECTION
by Ron Lee, U.S. EPA, Region 10
EPA's Region 10 Water Division was
recently reorganized to provide a
stronger focus and program direc-
tion to watershed protection. This
reorganization includes creation of a
senior level "Watershed Manager"
position, establishment of a "Water-
shed Management Team," and iden-
tification of regional "Watershed Co-
ordinators."
The "Watershed Manager" is charged
with ensuring effective implementa-
tion of a watershed protection ap-
proach and has been given the spe-
cific authorities and responsibilities
needed to do so. Responsibilities of
the "Watershed Manager" include 1)
having an internal focus for reorient-
ing regional programs toward a wa-
tershed based approach and 2) en-
gaging in external activities to pro-
mote effective adoption of a water-
shed protection approach by Region
10 states, other Federal agencies, and
Indian Tribes. Region 10 will work
with these external organizations to
form partnerships to integrate prior-
ity watershed activities.
The "Watershed ManagementTeam"
is comprised of the "Watershed Man-
ager," the Water Division Branch
Chiefs, and an Environmental Ser-
vices Division representative. This
team is tasked to develop watershed
policies and directives that will en-
able Region 10 to carry out an inte-
grated watershed program.
The Regional "Watershed Coordina-
tors" have been identified to be cham-
pions for specific priority watersheds.
These people will increase under-
standing of the environmental prob-
lems that are in need of attention,
identify key management questions
or issues that need to be addressed,
and seek opportunities to focus Fed-
eral, state, or local actions that will
enhance the environment in these
watersheds'.
The "team" concept of working
collaboratively (both internally and
externally) to improve the environ-
ment by solving watershed problems,
using all available tools, is central to
our watershed protection strategy.
Our overall approach has received
very positivesupportfromother state
and Federal agencies similarly en-
gaged in watershed activities.
(Editor's note: Ron Lee has been named
"'Watershed Manager" for Region 10.)
Request for Submissions
The Spring issue of Watershed
Events will featurearticles on water-
shed activities (case studies, reorga-
nizations, legislation, etc.) beingcar-
ried out at the state level. If you have
an activity that you would like to
highlight, please submit a half, to
three-quarter page article to Anne
Robertson, U.S. EPA, WH-556F, 401
M St., SW, Washington, D,C 20460.
Submissions should be received by
February 26,1993.
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Page4
Watershed Events
Fall 1992
APPLYING A WATERSHED
APPROACH TO SOLE SOURCE
AQUIFER PROTECTION
by John Simons, U.S. EPA, Office
of Water, Ground Water Protec-
tion Division
EPA's Ground Water Protection Di-
vision (GWPD) takes a watershed
approach when evaluating candi-
dates for the sole source aquifer pro-
gram. Section 1424 of the Safe Drink-
ing Water Act (SDWA) states that
aquifers requiring special protection
can be designated a sole source aqui-
fer. If so designated, Federal finan-
cially-assisted projects proposed in
the designated area will be subject to
EPA review to ensure that these
projects aredesigned and constructed
to protect water quality. The criteria
for sole source designation are:
1) The aquifer must be the sole or
principal source of drinking water
for the area;
2) No economically feasible alterna-
tive drinking water sources exist
within the nearby area; and
3) If contaminated, a significant pub-
lic health hazard would result.
Although not a formal criterion,
EPA'sdesignationreviewalso evalu-
ates streamflow source areas (the
upstream headwaters area of losing
streams that flow into the recharge
area). This watershed approach al-
lows consideration of possible
sources of contamination that would
not be recognized from study of the
areas immediately adjacent to the
river or aquifer.
The Snake River Aquifer is an ex-
ample of an aquifer that has been
designated a sole source. Concerns
aboutcontaminationpromptedlocal
citizens to target this aquifer for spe-
cial protection under the Sole Source
Aquifer Program. The area of the
Snake River Aquifer designated for
protection covers approximately
10,800 square miles of the Snake River
Plain in Idaho. Watershed areas of
Nevada,Oregon,andWyomingcon- WATERSHED MODELING
tribute to the supply of drinking By Bruce Newton, U.S. EPA, Of-
water for 275,000 people who live in fice of-Water, Assessment and
the eastern Snake River Plain. Watershed Protection Division
Most of the people living in the east-
ern Snake River Plain live on farms
and ranches within 10 miles of the
Snake River. Irrigated agriculture
and industries dominate the
economy. Recharge to ground water
occurs from percolation of surface
water used for irrigation (60%),
underflow from tributary drainage
(25%), rain (10%), and losses from
the Snake River (5%). Therefore,
activities in the watershed have the
potential of contaminating both the
aquifer and the Snake River.
The ground water in the Snake River
Aquifer is generally of high quality;
however,contaminationproblemsdo
exist. Human induced contamina-
tion has been documented in wide-
spread areas at levels below drink-
ing water standards, and in localized
areas at levels above drinking water
standards. Threats to the ground
water include disposal of excess irri-
gation water, urban storm runoff,
and septic system effluent through
Class V injection wells; open hole
well construction that allows water
from one contaminated aquifer layer
to mix with another layer of higher
quality; as well as radioactive waste
disposal through injection wells
(halted in 1984, after 32 years) and
waste disposal lagoons that continue
to leak a mixture of contaminants to
ground water at the Idaho Engineer-
ing Laboratory, which has been des-
ignated a "superfund" site by EPA.
On October 7,1991, EPA designated
the eastern Snake River Plain Aqui-
fer as a sole source aquifer. EPA
Regions 8,9, and 10 were all involved
in the designation process. This des-
ignation is a positive approach to
protecting the aquifer from further
contamination in a cost effective
manner.
To protect a watershed many techni-
-cal questions must be addressed. Just
a few might be:
• What are the sources for all this
sediment?
• How much nutrient reduction is
needed to stop the algal blooms in
the lake?
• How much trading of pollution
controls between sources can be al-
lowed and still maintain adequate
water quality throughout the water-
shed?
• If we used these specific Best Man-
agement Practices (BMPs) in these
locations, how much water quality
improvement would result?
• Whichhabitatrestorationmeasures
will lead to the greatest improve-
ment in the Index of Biotic Integrity?
Water quality simulation models can
provide answers to these questions.
Water quality analysts use models to
1) understand the causes of current
conditions and 2) predict the results
of pollution control and restoration
measures. Water quality modelling
was invented to deal with the prob-
lems caused by sewage discharges
during summer low flow conditions
when eutrophication and dissolved
oxygen problems can be acute. Thus,
LEGISLATIVE
INFORMATION NEEDED
Existing and proposed legislation
will be one of the topics featured at
Watershed '93, a national confer-
ence on watershed management
being held March 21-24, 1993, in
Alexandria, VA. If you have any
knowledge of state or local legisla-
tion regarding watershed manage-
ment, please contact Sandy
Germann, U.S. EPA, at (202) 260-
6418.
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Faft 1992
Watershed Events
Page 5
our ability to model these problems
ishighlyrefined. Ourabilitytomodel
the many other types of problems
that may exist in a watershed varies.
The challenge today is two-fold: to
integrate models so that different
problems within a whole watershed
can be examined and to develop new
simulation models for the problems
for which we currently lack easy-to-
use models (such as short duration
toxicity problems during storm con-
ditions). A great variety of model-
ling tools are available now and re-
searchers are hare] at work building
better tools. Even if you don't have a
lot of data for a particular watershed,
there are screening-level modelling
tools that can be very useful for un-
derstanding the probable causes of
problems and that will help direct
your protection efforts. ArecentEPA
publication that may be helpful is
entitled Compendium of Watershed-
scale Models for TMDL Development,
EPA 841-R-92-002, June 1992. Cop-
ies may be obtained from the Water-
shed Branch, EPA WH-553, Wash-
ington, D.C. 20460 (202-260-7074).
ASSESSMENT OF WATERSHED
PLANNING
by Rodges Ankrah, U.S. EPA, Of-
fice of Policy, Planning, and Evalu-
ation, Water and Agriculture
Policy Division
The Office of Policy, Planning, and
Evaluation (OPPE) is sponsoring a
study by the National Association
for State and Local River Conserva-
tion Programs to profile and assess
watershed planning organizations in
the United States. The study focuses
on those that are wholly or partly
responsible for water quality man-
agement and those that are respon-
sible for water quality in conjunction
with water supply and ground water
management. The study is making a
special effort to detail information
on locally driven efforts that go be-
yond resource assessment.
A sample representative of the range
of watershed management organi-
zations will be identified and infor-
mation will be collected through in-
terviews. Profiles of the organiza-
tions will include such information
as size, geographical scope, regula-
tory authority, and funding. The
barriers encountered in carrying out
watershed programs will be investi-
gated. The impacts of these water-
shed programs will also be identi-
fied.
When completed, the study will pro-
vide a basis for the future analysis of
options and opportunities for in-
volvement by EPA in watershed plan-
ning in its differing forms. For more
information, contact Rodges Ankrah,
(202) 260-9840.
SOUTHERN WATERSHED
HABITAT DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT
by Laura GabanskLU.S. EPA,
Office of Policy, Planning, and
Evaluation, Office of Regulatory
Management and Evaluation
The Science and Policy Staff of
theOf fice of Regulatory Management
and Evaluation is leading a habitat
demonstration project for the South-
ern Watershed area of Chesapeake
and Virginia Beach, Virginia. The
purpose of the project is to demon-
strate how the EPA can promotehabi-
tat protection through developing
non-regulatory partnerships with
other agencies and organizations (see
list of partners below). Holistic wa-
tershed protection and management
of this area is a high priority for both
the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound Estua-
rine Study and the Virginia Coastal
Resources Management Program.
The Southern Watershed contains
extensive areas of critical habitats for
rare and endangered plant and ani-
mal species and supports the highest
concentration of rare species of any
Virginia locality east of the Blue Ridge
mountains. This area is currently
undergoing intense development
and much attention is being given to
protecting these habitats.
A committee of Federal, State, and
local officials, and private organiza-
tions met during the Fall of 1992, to
identify candidate projects and fund-
ing sources. Three projects were se-
lected based on needs for education,
conservation, and resource manage-
ment: l)an educational video for the
general public on habitat protection
concerns of the Southern Watershed,
2) a purchase development rights
workshop, and 3) a common
reedgrass control project. Plans are
underway to initiate these projects
early in 1993.
Partners:
- U.S. EPA
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Virginia Council on the
Environment
- Virginia Department of
Conservation and Recreation
Division of Natural Heritage
- Virginia Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries
- Hampton Roads Planning District
Commission
- City of Virginia Beach
- City of Chesapeake
- Virginia Dare Soil and Water
Conservation District
- The Nature Conservancy, Virginia
Chapter
- Southeastern Association for
Virginia's Environment
- Back Bay Restoration Foundation
- Tidewater Builders Association
(For more information on this project,
contact Laura Gabanski, 202-260-
5868.)
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Page 6
Watershed Events
Fall 1992
SIMULATION MODELING OF
PESTICIDE RUNOFF
By Paul Zubkpff, Off ice of ,
Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic
Substances, Office of Pesticide
Programs
The Office of Pesticide Programs'
Environmental Fate and Ground wa-
ter Branch (EFGWB) uses simulation
models for integrating environmen-
tal fate data with proposed use infor-
mation for evaluating the fate of ag-
ricultural chemicals in the environ-
ment. Using these models, EFGWB
estimates potential impacts of pesti-
cide movement from a field within a
watershed. Scenarios are developed
using databases for meteorology,
soils and crops readily accessible
through PIRANHA and other
sources.
EFGWB uses field scale models, ei-
ther PRZM or GLEAMS, to estimate
pesticide loadings to a receivingbody
of water. Empirical data are used to
estimate spray drift loadings to re-
ceiving surface waters until an ap-
propriate spray drift model for such
purposes is identified. The fate pro-
cesses of chemicals entering surface
waters, either dissolved in runoff,
bound to eroding soil particles or
from drift, are usually assessed with
EXAMS II or WASP4 to estimate pes-
ticide concentrations as a function of
location and time.
Although PRZM is the only model
thatcanberunstochastically for some
sub-model components, EFGWB is
evaluating methods for generating
probabilistic exposure assessments
by running deterministicmodels over
multiple modeling scenarios and
years.
References:
- PIRANHA: Pesticide and Indus-
trial Chemical Risk Analysis and
Hazard Assessment, L. A. Burns et
al., Pesticide and Industrial Chemical
Risk Analysis and Hazard Assessment,
Version 3,1992,400 pp., U.S. EPA /
ERL - Athens, Athens, GA 30613.
-PRZM: Pesticide Root Zone Model,
R. F. Carsel, L. A. Mulkey, J. D. Dean,
and P. Jowise, 1984, User's Manual for
the Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM),
EPA/600/3-84-109.
- GLEAMS: Groundwater Loading
Effect of Agricultural Management
Systems, R. A. Leonard, W. G. Knisel,
and D. A. Still, 1987, "GLEAMS:
Groundwater Loading Effect of Ag-
ricultural Management Systems,"
Transactions of the American Society of
Agricultural Engineering , 30: 1403-
1418.
- EXAMS: Exposure Analysis Mod-
elling System, LA. Burns, 1990, Ex-
posure Analysis Modeling System,
User's Guide for EXAMS II Version
2.94, EPA/600/3-89-084, April 1990.
-WASP4:WaterQuality Assessment
Program, R. B. Ambrose, Jr., T. A.
Wool, J. P. Connelly, and R. W.
Schanz, 1988, WASP4, A Hydrody-
namic and Water Quality Model-Model
Theory, User's Manual, and
Programmer's Guide, EPA/600/3-87-
039.
For further information, contact
Henry Nelson or Paul Zubkof f, (703)
305-5734.
REGION 6 BRINGS WATER-
SHED PROTECTION
APPROACH TO TENS AS RIVER
BASIN
by Beverly Ethridge, U.S. EPA,
Region 6
The Tensas River flows for approxi-
mately 315 miles through the upper
northeast part of Louisiana. Wet-
lands in the area support large num-
bers of migratory birds and are home
to the Louisiana Black Bear, a feder-
ally listed threatened species.
Approximately 157,000 hectares of
fragmented bottomland hardwoods
are all that remain of a once expan-
sive forested wetland system mea-
suring over 1,000,000 hectares in the
Lower Mississippi River Alluvial
Plain's Tensas River Basin. This 85%
decline of bottomland hardwood is
due primarily to many and often
small individual conversions to agri-
cultural production. Many of these
lands today are considered marginal
for crop production but of high value
for potential wetland restoration and
enhancement sites.
An open invitation to participate in a
cooperative effort to address envi-
ronmental problems in the Tensas
Watershed was presented at a meet-
ing held in October 1991 attheTensas
National Wildlife Refuge. At that
meeting Region 6 stressed that EPA
wanted the public and state to play a
major role in this effort and not for it
to become just another unsolicited
federal solution for the public. Addi-
tionally, Region 6 made it dear that
we believed that any workable wa-
tershed plan must take into account
the local economy and seek compat-
ibility between economic growth and
environmental restoration and pro-
tection. From the beginning, Region
6 has sought to encourage and facili-
tate public involvement in this wa-
tershed protection effort. Without a
genuine dialogue between all inter-
ested parties any attempt to devlop a
watershed plan would undoubtedly
fail.
In 1991, the participating partners
(see list below) initiated a coopera-
tive effort to address water quality
and wetlands protection in the up-
per Tensas Basin. Grant and special
project monies targeting the area for
research, restoration, public educa-
tion, monitoring, and planning total
over three quarters of a million dol-
lars at present. A key program will
be the 1990 Farm Bill Wetland Re-
serve Program in which Louisiana
was a pilot state in 1992. Each step in
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Fall 1992
Watershed Events
Pa
ESl
this project will be recorded to docu-
ment and provide a model for other
such ventures along the Lower Mis-
sissippi River. The timeline for the
entire effort will be continual; how-
ever, major accomplishments are ex-
pected in three to five years.
From the beginning, this effort has
been a lesson in cooperative evolu-
tion. Partnership building can only
begin to take place when a clear will-
ingness to listen to other points of
view and compromises are reached.
Wetlands and water quality are two
technical topics which have become
political and seemingly two points at
which various groups become en-
trenched and unyielding. TheTensas
project, while based in .science, seeks
to go beyond partisan politics and
address the socioeconomic aspects
of the entire watershed as they relate
to wetlands, water quality, and a
healthier environment.
Partners: .
- Local Citizens
-Northeast Delta Research,
Development and Conservation
- The Nature Conservancy
- LA Farm Bureau Federation
- LA Department of Environmental
Quality
- LA Association of Conservation
Districts
- LA Department of Agriculture and
Forestry
- LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries
- LA Agriculture Extension Service
- Louisiana State University
- U.S. EPA, Region 6
- U.S. EPA Environmental Research
Lab, Corvallis, OR
- USDA Soil Conservation Service
- USDA Agricultural Stabilization
and Conservation Service
- USDA South National Technical
Service
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Army COE Vicksburg District
- U.S. Army COE Waterways
Experiment Station
NEWSBITS
Watershed Info Available on Elec-
tronic Bulletin Board
In October, the Watershed Restoration
Network became fully operational on
the Nonpoint Source Electronic Bulle-
tin Board System (BBS). This network
is one of the Special Interest Group
Forums (SIGs) available on the BBS.
This SIG will feature watershed ap-
proaches to water quality and resource
management as well as watershed res-
toration. Contact Hal Wise, U.S. EPA,
(202) 260-7109.
Millions Committed to Protecting the
Mississippi River
The McKnight Foundation is provid-
ing $9 million over the next five years
to protect and restore the Mississippi
River. This program willaward grants
to stimulate local activities that protect
specificareas along theMississippi and
to build local and national networks
linking those with a stake in the river in
collaborative efforts to protect it. The
Foundation hopes its program will fo-
cus increased public attention on the
river and will attract the resources of
other individuals and organizations to
restoring the health of theMississippi,
Contact Mary Ziegenhagen, The
McKnight Foundation, (612) 333-4220.
Rangcland Watershed Program
The University of California Coopera-
tive Extension and theUSDA Soil Con-
servation Service (SCS) jointly manage
the Rangeland Watershed Program.
This program provides water quality
education and technical assistance for
California rangelands. Several fact
sheets have been developed as part of
this program coveringa variety of top-
ics including nonpoint sources of pol-
lution, water pollution control legisla-
tion and rangelands, and rangeland
Water quality management measures,
A gran t from the State Water Resources
Control Board and EPA, using Clean
Water Act Section 319 funds, has been
awarded to the Rangeland Watershed
Program. This grant will be used to
fund development of education mate-
rials for rangeland owners, conduct
staff training in Cooperative Exten-
sion and SCS, conduct local landowner
education programs and provide re-
search-based information to policy
makers. Contact James Clawson, Co-
operative Extension, (916) 752-3455 or
Joel Brown, Soil Conservation Service,
(916) 449-2854.
Washington State Takes First Steps
Toward Basin Approach
The Department of Ecology's Water
Quality Program for Washington State
has developed a "hypothetical model"
describingastate-wide,basinapproach
to wastewater discharge permitting in
an effort to begin to move the Water
Quality Program toward a basin man-
agement structure. The goals for this
approach are to better address ecologi-
cal factorsand tofocuslimited resources
on an environmental priority basis,
ContactScott Boettcher, (206) 493-2686
or Dan Wrye, (206) 493-9132, both at
the Washington State Department of
Ecology.
Four NewTistuaries Added to National
lEstuary Program
On September 11, Peconic Bay (NY)
was added to the National Estuary Pro-
gram (NEP), and on October 22, Cor-
pus Christi Bay (TX), Tillamook Bay
(OR),and San Juan Bay(PR)wereadded
to the program. Public-private part-
nerships, called management confer-
ences, will develop Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plans
over the next three to five years to
identify solutions for each estuary's
problems and restore their productiv-
ity- EPA Administrator William Reilly
describes theNational Estuary Program
as, "...comprehensive, taking a water-
shed-wide approach to identifying and
addressing threats to the estuary's pro-
ductivity." Contact Ruth Chemerys,
(202) 260-9038 or Eric Slaughter, (202)
260-1051, both with EPA.
AMS A Releases Second Draft of Wa-
tershed Legislation
The Association of Metropolitan Sew-
erage Agencies (AMSA) has released a
second draft of its proposed watershed
legislation. This draft is being circu-
lated for comment. See July 1992 Wa-
tershed Events for more information.
Contact Paula Dannenfeldt, AMSA,
(202) 833-2672.
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RECENT RELEASES
Protecting the Nation's Wetlands,
Oceans, and Watersheds: An Overview
of Programs and Activities - An over-
viewof the responsibilities, programs
and activities carried out by EPA's
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Wa-
tersheds. Contact Anne Robertson,
EPA, (202) 260-9112.
The Quality of Our Nation's Water:
1990 - This booklet is a summary of
the National Water Quality Inventory:
1990 Report to Congress. This booklet
is designed to help the general reader
understand the problem of water
pollution in the U.S. today. Its focus
is on the sources, types, impacts, and
extent of water pollution and the ac-
tions government and citizens are
taking to control them. ContactAlice
Mayio, EPA, (202) 260-7018.
Summary of Administrator's Point/
Nonpoint Source Trading Meeting - A
summary of the meeting held in
Durham, North Carolina, April 27-
28. The intent of point/nonpoint
source trading is to spread the cost
burden among all pollutant sources
and to require greater reductions
from those who can more easily and
cost-effectively decrease their pollut-
ant loads. Contact Peggy Michell,
EPA, (202) 260-5378.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Abstract Deadline: January 15,1993
"Solutions for the Future—Actions for the Present"
1993 Merrimack River Watershed Management Conference
Bedford, New Hampshire
June 7-8,1993
Abstracts are invited for paper and poster presentations for four issue
related sessions on watershed management: water quality, instream
flow, resource use/value, and information management/GIS. This
first Merrimack River Watershed Conference will provide aforum for
presentations and discussions of issues affecting regional watersheds.
The conference is planned to facilitate an exchange of information On
national, regional, and local experiences relating to the management
and protection of watershed resources. It will help build the frame-
' work for the formulation of a Merrimack River Watershed Manage-
ment Plan by encouraging papers and presentations on specific issues
identified by Initiative Subcommittees. For more information on the
abstractrequirementsand for a list of identified issues, please contact
Barbara Rich or Tom Groves, New England Interstate Water Pollution
Control Commission, 85 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114, (617)
367-8522, or Patricia Garrigan, US EPA Region I, JFK Building, Boston,
MA 02203, (617) 565-3563.
United States Environmental
Protection Agency (WH-556F)
401M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
1 9 9 2 *
THE YEAR OF
CLEAN WTER
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