U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Region 10 Bulletin - EPA 910/9-92-043
                                      May 2009
Towards  Sustainable Water Infrastructure
Over the next twenty years, demands on water and
wastewater systems will grow at unprecedented
rates, while resources are likely to shrink. Water and
wastewater utilities will face big challenges in their
ability to keep pace with infrastructure needs.

In response, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 10 is developing a Sustainable Water
Infrastructure Initiative. The initiative will help water
and wastewater systems with approaches to meet the
gap in infrastructure funding. Given the state of our
economy -- and the current focus on energy, climate
change, and green jobs - Region 10 believes water
and wastewater systems will be looking for sustainable
approaches that are cost effective and protect the
environment.

Utilities and their local communities generally pay
directly for most of their infrastructure needs (both
for capital costs and for costs of operations and
maintenance). More and more of these entities are
having a tough time finding those funds.  While federal
and state monies can help, other strategies may be
available to address the challenges in maintaining our
nation's water and wastewater infrastructure.

In 2008, Region 10 conducted the "Innovative Energy
Management" workshop for the water and wastewater
utilities sector. The workshop showed how to reduce
energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The
Region also held a "Climate Change and Water
Infrastructure Forum," which focused on strategies to
adapt to climate change.

Those efforts laid the groundwork for this new
Sustainable Water Infrastructure Initiative. The
initiative will address not only the pressing drinking
water and wastewater infrastructure funding gap, but
also link sustainable infrastructure to climate change
adaptation strategies.  EPA Region 10 is committed
to working with  its partners to support innovation in
infrastructure management.  Ultimately, the effort will
help ensure the continued availability, affordability, and
delivery of drinking water and wastewater services into
the future.

For information, see www.epa.gov/
waterinfrastructure/ or contact Cyndi Grafe (EPA
Region 10 Sustainable Water Infrastructure Team
Lead) at grafe.cyndi@epa.gov or 208-378-5771.
in This Issue..
    SPOTLIGHT
     CALENDAR
EPA News to update
you on agency activities.
pages I-3.

Tools to clue you in on
resources, publications.
opportunities, and ser-
vices, pages 4-7.

Waterwords covering
water related issues,
page 8.

Spotlight to showcase
success stories and envi-
ronmental stars, page 9.

Ecosystem to provide
news that goes beyond
water topics, page 10.

Calendar to highlight
environmental events,
page 11.

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7-f"1 r" <'!: *,-i ft: - ,7 ]
tL^'^ ij J I^A i''i L-
Funding for Drinking Water,  Wastewater
On February 17, 2009, President Obama
signed the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Act
includes $7.22 billion for projects and
programs administered by EPA. These
programs will protect and promote both
"green" jobs and a healthier environment.

As part of the plan, the Clean Water State
Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund have been funded $4
billion nationally to help communities with
water quality and wastewater infrastructure
needs and $2 billion for drinking water
infrastructure needs. Part of the funding is
targeted towards  green infrastructure, water
and energy efficiency, and environmentally
innovative projects. Announcements of
grants will be posted on the web to ensure
transparency. State-by-state distributions
are also available on-line. Learn more at www.epa.
gov/recovery/.

In Region 10, three Northwest States, Alaska, and
Tribal governments will receive more than $297 million
from EPA for clean water projects to create jobs and
protect communities and the environment. The federal
funding is the first installment of EPA funding available
to support states  and tribes under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The individual amounts directed to Alaska, Idaho,
Oregon, Washington and tribal governments will be
delivered via existing programs: the Clean Water State
Revolving Fund, the Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund, and the Tribal Clean Water & Drinking Water Set-
Aside programs.  Alaska will receive $43 million, Idaho
   will receive $39 million, Oregon will receive $73 million,
   and Washington will receive $110 million.

   In addition, Alaska Tribal water infrastructure will
   receive $27 million. EPA will provide $4.4 million for
   Tribal water infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest.

   These funds will supplement existing annual EPA
   grants to the states. The states use these funds to
   issue loans for enhancing, upgrading and rebuilding
   public drinking water systems and public wastewatei
   systems, as well as funding non-point source project:
   The new law provides states with additional flexibility
   in loan terms by requiring that at least fifty percent of
   the funding be provided in  subsidies such as principal
   forgiveness or negative interest rates. States and
   watershed planning organizations will also benefit from
   the new law through the provision of small planning
   grants to address specific water quality problems.
Climate Change:
EPA Proposes to  Find Greenhouse Gases a Threat
                         On April 17, EPA's
                         Administrator signed
                         a proposed finding
                         indicating that six
                         ireenhouse gases pose
                         a threat to the health
                         and welfare of current
                         and future generations
                         of Americans. This
                         action represents formal
   recognition by the U.S. government of the threats
   posed by climate change. This action comes after a
   thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S.
   Supreme Court. A comment period is under way.  A
   public hearing is set for May 21 in Seattle. Learn more
   at: http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.
   html
 Watertalk Mav 2009
Page 2

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Stream  Tool  Helps Determine Jurij
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and Oregon
Department of State Lands have made available a new
tool to help identify waters that may be subject to those
agencies' regulatory jurisdiction.

The Oregon Streamflow Duration Assessment
Method is a scientific tool for quickly analyzing more
than twenty factors to distinguish between ephemeral,
intermittent, and perennial streams. It provides
technical guidance for identifying waters that may be
subject to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and the
State of Oregon's Removal-Fill statute.  Doing work
that impacts such streams, such as placing fill in them
to prepare a site for construction, often requires a
permit from the Corps' Regulatory Branch and DSL's
Removal-Fill Permit  Division.

The method provides a scientifically supported, rapid
assessment framework. Use of the method will
result in more timely and predictable jurisdictional
determinations.

The method is the subject of an ongoing two-year
verification study.  The method will be tested at more
than 170 sites in western and eastern Oregon in both
the wet and dry seasons. This study will help make the
method transferable to other western states.

Use of the method is recommended but not required.
The agencies have released the method for use as an
interim version.  It will be tested for one year before it
is finalized. The agencies encourage practitioners and
the public to provide comments on their experience
using it.

The agencies held training sessions in Portland
and Medford, OR. Another session will be held in
LaGrande on June  15-16. Learn more at http://
yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ecocomm.nsf/wetlands/
oregonstreamflow.

For information  on the Corps' Regulatory program  or
DSL's Removal-Fill Permit program in Oregon, visit
http://www.nwp.usace.army.mii/op/g/home.asp or
http://www.oregonstatelands.us/dsl/permits/index.
shtml. Contact  Tracie Nadeau,  EPA, 503-326-3685, or
nadeau.tracie@epa.gov.
Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon
                                 Save trees and limit mailbox clutter! Sign up now for the Watertalk
                                 List-Serv.  You'll get your Watertalk electronically every quarter.  It's
                                 quick and easy to sign up.  Justgotowww.epa.gov/region10. Click
                                 on A to Z Subject Index, then W for Watertalk. There you will find an
                                 option to get on the Region 10 Water Issues List-Serv.  Every quarter,
                                 an e-mail will tell  you when the new Watertalk is ready,  and link you to
                                 its website. Once in a while, you will get other water-related news from
                                 EPA. Remember to send an e-mail to lindsay.andrea@epa.gov to be
                                 removed from the hard copy mailing list.
                                              Puge 3
                               Watertalk Mav 2009

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A Window to Your  Environment
How do you learn about environmental conditions
in your community? A handy online tool may be of
help.  Window to My Environment gives you a wide
range of federal, state, and local information about
environmental conditions and features in an area of
your choice. This EPA tool helps you make a map of
your community. It links to data and information about
water quality, water quantity, air quality, drinking water
safety, and toxic releases in the area. It combines
interactive maps with links to environmental resources,
to answer questions about what is being done to
protect the environment in your community. Visit the
tool at www.epa.gov/enviro/wme/.
 New Book Resources Available
 Pond/Wetland Management
 Guidebook Online

   Stormwater Wet Pond and
   Wetland Management
   Guidebook
                       EPA just released
                       a new resource,
                       Stormwater Wet
                       Pond and Wetland
                       Management
                       Guidebook. The
                       guide describes
                       maintenance and
                       inspection practices for
                       existing wet ponds and
                       wetlands. It includes
                       checklists for use
                       during construction and
                       routine maintenance
                       of ponds/wetlands.
                       It also includes a
                       homeowner pond
inspection checklist. Maintenance profile sheets
describe how to address eight common maintenance
issues. Find it online at www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/
pondmgmtguide.pdf
                                          Green Jobs Training Opportunities
                                          Catalog
                                                    Managing Wet Weather with
                                                       Green Infrastructure
                      EPA has compiled a
                      catalog of Green Jobs
                      Training opportunities.
                      Most opportunities are
                      related to wet weather
                      management and green
                      infrastructure design,
                      installation, operation,
                      and maintenance.
                      National and state
                      programs, universities,
                      apprenticeships, and
                      grant programs are
                      included. The catalog
                      is a work in progress.
                      To provide input on
                      comparable programs
in your region or state, contact arazan.nancy@epa.
gov. See the catalog online at www.epa.gov/npdes/
pubs/gi_greenjobs_feb09.pdf.
Green Jobs
  Training
                                              A Catalog of Training Opportunities for
                                               Green Infrastructure Technologies
  Visit Watertalk online at www.epa.gov/rlOearth/watertalk.htm
 Watertalk Mav 2009

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New Watershed  Central
Website, Watershed Wiki
Rachel Carson Intergenerational

Sense of Wonder Contest

                 EPA, Generations United, the
                 Dance Exchange and the Rachel
                 Carson Council, Inc., are hosting
                 a poetry, essay, photo and dance
                 contest: the Rachel Carson
                 Intergenerational Sense of
                 Wonder Contest 2009.  The
                 contest encourages entries "that
                 best express the sense of wonder
that you feel for the sea, the night sky, forests, birds,
wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes."
                                                   855*
Welcome to Watershed Central. This new EPA
website helps watershed organizations and others
find information they need to carry out watershed
approaches. Watershed Central helps users find
environmental data, watershed models, nearby local
organizations, and guidance documents -- and other
information depending on the task at hand. The site
also contains links to technical resources and funding,
and mapping applications to help find information
specific to named watersheds.

One special feature of the site is the Watershed Wiki
that can help users collaborate. The Watershed Wiki
helps users share tools, scientific findings, expertise,
and local approaches to watershed management.
The wiki can be edited by any user, with article
uploads, comments on watersheds tools, resource
information, and so on. Watershed Central not only
links to EPA web resources but also links to other
valuable funding, guidance and tools on websites of
state, tribal, and federal  partners, universities, and
nonprofit organizations.  Check it out at www.epa.gov/
watershedcentral
E-Newsletter Covers

Climate  Change,  Water

EPA's National Water Program has created a new
electronic newsletter or "list-serve" covering news and
information related to water programs and climate
change. The e-newsletter provides short articles and
related links weekly. The e-newsletter is part of an
effort to inform clean water and drinking water program
managers about climate change topics, issues, and
opportunities.

To subscribe to the climate change and water
e-newsletter, go to www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange/
Click on "Subscribe to the Climate and Water
E-Newsletter."
Entries will be judged on how the use of intergen-
erational teams made the entry special and how the
project brought teams in touch with the natural world.
Entries are due by June 10, 2009. The winner will be
announced in September.  Learn more at www.epa.
gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm.
                             Ideas for
                              Working
                                    with
                           Watershed
                               Groups
                      Working with Watershed
                   Groups? Take advantage of
                   the ideas in the booklet titled
                  Watershed Planning - from
                Start to Finish.

 The booklet is based on a series of articles published
 by the National Environmental Services Center in
 "On Tap" magazine. The series covers:
 • how to start a watershed group to tackle water
   quality problems,
 • methods for measuring and assessing watershed
   conditions,
 • how to turn data into a strategic plan, and
 • techniques for putting the plan into action.

 To order a copy, call 800-624-8301  and request item
 #DWBLCS04. The booklet costs $1.50 plus shipping.
 You may also place your order by email at info®
 mail.nesc.wvu.edu.
                                           Page 5
                              Watertalk May 2009

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Bright  Ideas 1
 To hear Podcasts sharing these green tips
 and more, go to: www.epa.gov/earthday/
 podcasts.  The tips are also available in
 Spanish.

 Reduce your carbon footprint! Leaving your car
   at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas
   emissions by 1,600 pounds per year. Save up
   errands and shopping trips so you need to drive
   fewer times. If you commute to work, ask if you
   can work from home at least some days, and you'll
   reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and
   save money, www.epa.gov/climatechange/
   wycd/road.html

 Make it a full load! Run your
   dishwasher only when it's full.
   Don't pre-rinse dishes - tests
   show pre-rinsing doesn't
   improve dishwasher  cleaning,
   and you'll save as much as 20
   gallons of water per load. When
   you buy a new dishwasher, look for one that saves
   water. Water-efficient models use only about only
   about 4 gallons per wash.
   www.epa.gov/watersense/tips/index.htm

 Be extra aware of
   environmental conditions
   where older people live!  As
   we age, our bodies become
   more sensitive to chemicals
   and environmental conditions.
   So you should carefully use
   products such as pesticides or
   cleaning solvents near  areas where older adults
   live and sleep. Always follow the directions on the
   product package or label.
   www.epa.gov/aging/resources/whatyoucando.htm
 Be sensible! The Earth might
   seem like it has abundant
   water, but in fact only one
   percent of all water on the
   planet is available for humans.
   Buy fixtures and products that
   are water efficient - you can
   use less water to get the same
   job done just as well. When you
  go shopping, look for the WaterSense label to find
  water efficient products.
  www.epa.gov/watersense/tips/cons.htm

Shower power! A full bathtub
  requires about 70 gallons of
  water, but taking a five-minute
  shower saves water by using 10
  to 25 gallons. Put a little timer or
  clock near your shower so you
  can see how fast you are. Save
  even more water, and money
  on your water bill, by installing a
  water-efficient showerhead, or
  ask your landlord to install one if you rent.
  www.epa.gov/watersense/water/simple.htm

Compost it! Compost helps improve soil so it holds
  more water and plants grow better. Allow grass
  clippings to stay  on the lawn, instead of bagging
  them. The cut grass will decompose and return to
  the soil naturally. Food scraps and kitchen waste
  also make good compost, and you save money on
  fertilizers or other additives.
  www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/
  composting/index.htm

Don't let pet waste run off! You
  can help reduce  polluted storm
  water runoff by just picking up
  your pet's poop and disposing
  of it properly. Leaving pet waste
  on the ground increases public
  health risks  by allowing harmful
  bacteria or organic material to
  wash into the storm drain and eventually into local
  waterbodies. So  remember - scoop the poop!
  www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/stormwater.html
Watertalk Mav 2009
                                             Page 6

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Don't be a drip - fix that leak!
  Leaky faucets can waste
  thousands of gallons of water
  each year, like money down the!
  drain. Repair or replace old or
  damaged fixtures. If you're not
  sure you have a leak, check
  the water meter before and after a two-hour period
  when no water is being used. If the meter does not
  read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
  www.epa.gov/watersense/water/simple.htm

During hot weather, don't top
  off your gas tank. Refuel
  your car or truck in the early
  morning or the evening when
  it's cooler. A small fuel spill may|
  not seem like much, but every
  spill evaporates and adds to air|
  pollution, and fuel pumps with
  vapor recovery systems can
  feed a spill back into their tanks - after you paid for
  it. So, in hot weather - don't top off!
  www.epa.gov/donttopoff/

eCycle it! Take your old computer, DVD player, or
  other electronics to an electronics recycling center.
  Reusing and recycling materials like copper, gold,
  and others saves natural resources and reduces
  mining and processing. eCycling also helps avoid
  land, air, and water pollution by capturing and
  reusing hazardous substances such as lead or
  chromium.
  www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/
  ecycling/donate.htm

Wait for the storm to pass!
  Don't fertilize before a rain
  storm. Your fertilizer - along
  with your money - can just
  wash off your lawn and down
  the storm drain. Fertilizer
  runoff can pollute rivers,  lakes,
  and bays, and cause problems
  in recreational areas or fishing
  grounds. Check the weather
  forecast before you head out,
  and wait for the storm to pass.
  www.epa.gov/epawaste/
  conserve/rrr/greenscapes/owners.htm
Healthy Watersheds
Initiative Launched
Middle Fork of the Willamette River, Oregon
EPA has launched a new initiative called Healthy
Watersheds to emphasize protection and conservation
of aquatic ecosystems. A new website shares tools
to identify and protect healthy watersheds and their
components. The website provides critical information
for making strategic watershed decisions. State
officials can benefit from the initiative since they often
make strategic conservation decisions and assess and
manage watershed resources. Local governments,
watershed practitioners, and regional agencies may
also find this initiative useful.

The Healthy Watersheds Approach addresses
the watershed as a system of biota and habitats.
The systems are driven by critical processes such
as hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and natural
disturbance regimes. Ecosystem programs are most
effective when they recognize and integrate these
dynamics and manage watersheds as systems.

While significant progress has been made in protecting
and restoring water quality under the Clean  Water
Act, the nation continues to lose healthy aquatic
ecosystems. EPA's new initiative recognizes that it
is more cost-effective to protect the many benefits
provided by healthy watersheds than it is to restore
them once they become impaired. Learn more at  www.
epa.gov/healthywatersheds.
                                              Page 7
                                Watertalk May 2009

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 Tribes  Get Nearly  $2 Million

for Puget Sound Projects

 Nineteen Tribes recently received EPA grants totaling
 nearly $2 million for on-the-ground projects to
 protect water quality and salmon habitat in the Puget
 Sound region. The grants support the Puget Sound
 Partnership's 2020 Action Agenda.

 "Salmon habitat has suffered centuries of abuse,"
 said Billy Frank Jr., Chairman of the Northwest Indian
 Fisheries Commission. "With the help of these EPA
 grants, the tribes are undoing that damage one step
 at a time. We all have to work together to get Puget
 Sound healthy again."

 Puget Sound Chinook and steelhead are listed
 as "threatened" under the federal  Endangered
 Species Act, and Skagit Coho are listed by the state
 Department of Fish and Wildlife as a species of
 concern.

 "We are very pleased to award these grants and
 help these tribes continue to do what they have
 done for centuries: care for their traditional lands in a
 sustainable way/'said Michelle Pirzadeh,  EPA's Acting
 Regional Administrator in Seattle. "We've heard the
 tribes call for action to protect Puget Sound. These
 grants will directly support the tribes' 'shovel ready'
 projects that will produce very tangible environmental
 results."

 Using the grants, tribes will take  on a variety of projects
 including: taking a systematic inventory of fish-blocking
 culverts; restoring connectivity to floodplains; returning
 tidal flow to estuaries; and building engineered logjams to
 create covered deep pools where Chinook salmon hold
 before spawning. To learn more, contact Michael Rylko,
 EPA, 206-553-4014, or rylko.michael@epa.gov.
    May is American Wetlands Month -

    Learn! Explore!  Take Action!

                          EPA is celebrating American
                           Wetlands Month in May
                            with federal, state, tribal,
                            local, nonprofit, and
                             private sector partners.
                             This annual celebration
                              is a time to highlight the
                              many ways wetlands
                              enrich the environment
                              and human society.

                              EPA encourages
                              ' individuals and groups
    to plan activities to raise awareness of the critical role
    wetlands play in our environment and to build support
    for their protection and restoration. Some ideas
    include:

    •  Participate in a wetland walk, canoe trip, bird watch,
      or other outdoor activity
    •  Plan a wetland or stream clean-up
    •  Recognize a wetland hero
    •  Sponsor a talk about wetlands
    •  Start or participate in a volunteer wetland monitoring
      or restoration group
    •  Organize a wetland festival

    Individuals or groups that are planning events are
    encouraged to share event information at www.epa.
    gov/owow/wetlands/awm/contact.html. For general
    American Wetlands Month information, visit: http://
    www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm.  To learn more
    about EPA's wetlands  and aquatic resources programs,
   ^o to www.epa.gov/owQw/wetlands or call the
    Wetlands Helpline at 1-800-832-7828.
                  National Water Quality Inventory Report Online

                   The National Water Quality Inventory Report is now online. The report summarizes
                   water quality assessments submitted by the states to EPA under section 305(b) of the
                   Clean Water Act. The report finds that the states assessed 16 percent of the nation's 3.5
                   million river and stream miles, 39 percent of its 41.7 million acres of lakes, ponds, and
 Water Quality Report reservoirs, and 29 percent of its 87,791 estuary square miles.

 Forty-four percent of assessed river and stream miles, 64 percent of assessed lake acres, and 30 percent of
 assessed estuary square miles were found to be impaired for one or more of the uses designated for them by
 the states.  Leading causes of impairment included pathogens, mercury, nutrients, and organic enrichment/low
 dissolved oxygen.

 This report is a companion to state water quality information on EPA's ATTAINS website, at www.epa.gov/
 waters/ir.  In addition to viewing the national summary and information by state, users can find out about
 conditions at the individual waterbody level. See the inventory report at www.epa.gov/owow/305b/2004report/.
Watertalk May 2009
Page 8

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                                  GHT
Coal Creek Dam Removal Project Praised
Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 Stream
Project Award. The State Land Board recently
recognized the Coal Creek Dam Removal Project
for its efforts to promote responsible stewardship of
Oregon's natural resources.
Partners in the Coal Creek Dam Removal Project receive the
2008 Stream Project Award from the State Land Board

Coal Creek, in Tillamook County, supports Coho,
Chinook, steelhead and cutthroat, and is one of
the biggest chum producers in the Tillamook Bay
watershed. The Coal Creek Dam dated back to 1949
when the Tillamook Creamery Association built the
30-foot-high structure to supply water to the cheese
factory. In September 2008 the Coal Creek Dam was
successfully removed by powder explosives.

Coal Creek has now been restored to its historic
channel. Already, major improvements to the creek
have been observed, including spawning salmon and
gravel movement.

The many partners who cooperated on the dam
removal were led by the Tillamook Estuary Partnership,
and included the Tillamook County Creamery
Association, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board,
Oregon Department of  Fish and Wildlife, Tillamook
County, and Green Diamond Resource Company; and
contractors Entrix Environmental, Euchre Mountain
Construction, and Northwest Energetic Services.  EPA
maintains a cooperative agreement with the Tillamook
Estuary Partnership, providing partial  funding for this
project.
To learn more, contact Rachel Hoffman, Tillamook
Estuaries Partnership, at 503-322-2222.
Or, visit http://oregonstatelands.us/DSL/SLB/
awards2008.shtml.


Portland Active Senior

Programs Earn Recognition

The City of Portland has been
recognized for its efforts to
integrate older adults into
community activities, by
the EPA Building Healthy
Communities for Active Aging
award program.

To encourage older adults to
adopt and maintain a healthy
lifestyle, Portland's Bureaus
of Transportation and  Parks
& Recreation developed the
Senior Strolls and  Senior
Bike programs. The bike
program trains seniors on the
use of comfortable, stable
recumbent tricycles, providing cycles and helmets for
all participants. The walking program offers several
levels of walking and hiking programs for a wide range
of abilities.

Portland was selected as a community that is
demonstrating the best and most inclusive overall
implementation of smart growth and active aging at
the neighborhood  and municipal levels. EPA's award
applicants were evaluated based on the overall
effectiveness of their programs, the level of community
involvement and outreach, the use of innovative
approaches, and the overall environmental health
benefits of the project.

For details, contact Judy Smith, EPA,  at
503-326-6994, or smith.judy@epa.gov. Or, visit
www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/about.htm.
                         Latest Information on Toxic Chemical Releases

 EPA recently released the latest Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data nationally, for reporting year 2007. TRI
 releases for Region 10 as a whole decreased in 2007. Alaska, Oregon, and Washington facilities all reported
 decreased total on-site and off-site releases. Idaho total on-site and off-site releases increased by 1.7 percent,
 while Idaho facility surface water discharges decreased  by 6.7 percent.  And, although Alaska's Red Dog Mine
 reported a decrease in total TRI releases compared to 2006, it remains the largest releaser of TRI reportable
 toxics in the country (primarily zinc and lead compounds in on-site tailings impoundments and waste rock). For
 details, call Brook Madrone, EPA, at madrone.brook@epa.gov, or 206-553-4016. Or, visit www.epa.gov/tri
 orwww.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri07/index.htm.
                                             Page 9
                               Watertalk May 2009

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Beneficial Landscaping:
Landscaping   with  Native  Water  —  A  Barrel  of

Rain
With climate change upon us, the need to conserve
water and control runoff has never been greater --
both our droughts and our storms/wet seasons are
becoming more extreme. Call it old fashioned or just
plain simple, but one way to adapt to and lessen the
problems associated with these extremes is to install a
rain barrel.

Stored rainwater has many benefits and uses.
Rainwater is naturally "soft." That is, it contains no
minerals, chlorine, fluoride, or other chemicals.  So
it is ideal for watering your garden and landscapes.
Plants thrive using this natural "native" water supply.
Akin to installing a rain garden, having a rain barrel is
another way to retain water on the landscape rather
than allowing it to run off impervious surfaces, carrying
pollutants to local water bodies. If properly filtered,
rain water can be used for drinking water and other
household uses. This helps to reduce your municipal
water bill, or to keep your well from running dry. One
of many inconvenient truths is that our groundwater
aquifers are being depleted through overwithdrawal
and by paving over lands important for aquifer
recharge.

In designing a collection system, it is best to plan
adequate capacity for the expected volume of
rainwater, and to determine how you will manage any
excess.  To calculate the volume of water you can
expect to receive, consider that for every one inch of
rainfall on a 1,000 square foot roof, you would collect
about 600 gallons of rainwater.

There are many possible ways to design a rain barrel
system - from simple to complex.  Costs vary widely
as well.  As with most purchases, it is wise to do some
research and devise a set-up that is practical for your
home or workplace. In general, the barrel or cistern
should be covered to eliminate leaves, debris, and
contaminants, and there should be a filter of some
sort to eliminate silt, leaves, etc.  Beyond this, visit
your library or try exploring the worldwide web for
information on where to buy or how to build a rainwater
collection system, to find answers to your questions,
and/or to join forces with other rain barrel enthusiasts.
You might even consider starting up a rain barrel
"collective" or initiative in your neighborhood. Then, let
it rain!

For more information on this and other topics in
Beneficial Landscaping, contact Elaine Somers at
206-553-2966, or at somers.elaine@epa.gov. Or,
visit our website at www.epa.gov/r10earth/bl.htm.
Reference:
 Watertalk May 2009
ID

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                              CALENDAR
 May

    American Wetlands Month,
    www.epa.gov/wetlands/awm/

 May 19-22:
    Creating Thriving Rural and Urban Communities
    through Ecological Restoration, Society for
    Ecological Restoration Regional Conference,
    Lynnwood, WA, www.ser.org/sernw/
    conference2009.asp

 May 21:
    Public Hearing: Endangerment and Cause or
    Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases
    under the Clean Air Act, Seattle, WA, http://epa.
    gov/climatechange/endangerment/hearing_
    seattle-may21 .html

 May 27-28:
    The Plight of Ecosystems in a Changing
    Climate, EPA, Seattle, WA, Roseanne
    Lorenzana, 206-553-8002, www.scgcorp.com/
    Ecosystems2009/index.htm
June

   American Rivers Month

   National Oceans Month

June 4-5:
   Washington Water Law Conference 2009,
   Seattle, WA, Law Seminars International,
   800-854-8009, www.lawseminars.com

June 5:
   World Environment Day, www.unep.org/wed/

June 8:
   World Oceans Day,
   www.theoceanproject.org/wod/

June 10-11:
   Action for a Sustainable America, Seattle, WA,
   www.asaseries.com/v8-12/Prospectus/lndex.
   php?sEventCode=AS0906SEATTLE

June 23:
   Wet Weather/Green Infrastructure
   Webcast: Funding & Incentives, Brownfield
   Redevelopment, www.epa.gov/npdes/training

June 24-25:
   Summer Seminar for Educators, Liquid Planet:
   Exploring Global Water Issues, UW Seattle, WA,
   206-543-4852, http://jsis.washington.edu/
   ellison/events.php#June%202009
                                             July
                                             July 22:
                                                 Model Toxics Control Act, Law Seminars
                                                 International, Seattle, WA, 800-854-8009,
                                                 www.lawseminars.com

                                             July 28:
                                                 Wet Weather/Green Infrastructure Webcast:
                                                 Green Street Retrofits, Operations &
                                                 Maintenance, www.epa.gov/npdesAraining
          More—Reduce Stormwater Runoff:
TJie online video, "Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In," highlights green techniques you
can use, such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels.  See the video at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/
;~irf^__. --- ~*/ --- — «... ">0Q9-1-15_Stormwater_Video
                                         Page 11
                            Watertalk May 2009

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 Watertalk
 May 2009
 Watertalk is published quarterly by the U.S. Environmental Protection
 Agency, Region 10. Watertalk seeks to be a useful tool for those who protect
 water resources and ecosystems in communities of the Greater Pacific
 Northwest, by providing practical resources and relevant agency news.

 You are invited to contribute items for publication. Submittal deadline is
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Please recycle or share with a friend.
In  This Issue..
Sustainable Water
  Infrastructure

Stimulus and the
  Environment

A Ton of Bright Ideas

Healthy Watersheds and
  Wikis

A Barrel of Rain

Much More...

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