United States Office of Wetlands, EPA 841-N-94-005 Environmental Protection Oceans and Watersheds June 1994 Agency SEPA The Water Monitor Regional and State Actmhes Region 1 Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts Connecticut Rhode Island Regional Coordinators Monitoring, 305(b), Volunteer Monitoring: Diane Switzer (617) 860-4377 Waterbody System: Al Pratt (617) 860-4379 303(d)/TMDL: Mark Voorhees (617) 565-4173 Nonpoint Source: Bob Moorehouse (617) 565-3513 Clean Lakes: Warren Howard (617) 565-3515 REGIONAL OFFICE: Northeast Lakes Pilot Study: The Region is participating in the fourth year of the Environmental Monitoring and Assess- ment Program (EMAP) Surface Waters—Northeast Lakes Pilot Study. This is a collaborative effort between EPA's Office of Research and Develop- ment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Uni- versity of Maine, the State University of New York School of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, and the Environmental Services Divisions in EPA Regions 1 and 2. This summer, participants will sample 74 lakes and revisit 16 lakes to determine variability within an What's Inside ... On the Bookshelf PP- 4-5 Calendar Highlights D. 8 Headquarters Activities P- 10 Order and Comment Form P- -J index period. They will collect samples and infor- mation to support assessments of limnology compo- nents (water clarity, DO/temperature profile, water chemistry, chlorophyll-a, and zooplankton assem- blage), bird populations, fish assemblages, fish tissue contaminants, macroinvertebrates, and sedi- ment diatoms. Participants will record detailed information concerning physical habitat and other lake characteristics for each EMAP lake. The project will also sample 50 additional lakes for limnology components only, as directed by the Temporally Integrated Monitoring of Ecosystems (TIME) project, a provision of the Clean Air Act. For further information regarding the Northeast Pilot Study in Region 1, contact Ray Thompson, USEPA Region 1, ESD, at (617) 860-4372. For information concerning the EMAP Surface Waters Program, contact Steve Paulsen, Director of EMAP Surface Waters Program, ERL-Corvallis at (503) 757-4428. Regional Coordinators Monitoring: Randy Braun (908) 321-6692 305(b), Waterbody System: RickBalla (212) 264-5671 Volunteer Monitoring: Diane Calesso (908) 321-6728 303(d)/TMDL: Rosella O'Connor (212)264-8479 Nonpoint Source: Barbara Spinweber (212)264-8632 Clean Lakes: Terry Faber (212) 264-8708 NEW JERSEY: Storm Water Study Begins: In early June, field sampling began for a study of storm water pollutant loads to the Toms River. The study New York New Jersey Puerto Rico Virgin Islands ------- will include storm event monitoring and base flow monitoring in three tributaries of the Toms River in order to estimate annual loads from three distinct land use types. Participants will evaluate basic water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, nutrients, and fecal coliform bacteria and will use the data to estimate the impact of storm water on water quality in Bamegat Bay. Techniques developed this year may be used in future studies of storm water impacts in the evaluation of the effectiveness of best management practices. The study is a cooperative effort between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Geological Survey with funding from EPA and from the U.S. Geological Survey. For addi- tional information, contact James Mumman at (609) 292-1623. Routine Coastal Phytoplankton Monitoring: The New Jersey Bureau of Water Monitoring, in cooperation with USEPA Region 2, has initiated its summer monitoring program for phytoplankton identification and chlorophyll-a concentration in potential “red tide” areas between Sandy Hook and Cape May. Stations include sites in the Raritan Bay/Sandy Hook area, the Ocean County coast, and Barnegat and Delaware Bays. Many of these stations will be sampled twice during the monitoring period. Bureau staff will analyze a total of 128 samples. USEPA Region 2 will perform the sampling by helicopter. For more information, contact Paul Olsen at (609) 292-0427. NEW YORK: Long-Term Trend Study Uses Macroinvertebrate Data: The New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Stream Biomonitoring Unit recently published a document entitled “20-Year Trends in Water Quality of Rivers and Streams in New York State.” Since 1972, the Stream Biomonitoring Unit has used benthic macroinvertebrate communities to monitor and assess water quality in New York State streams. The year 1992 was the 20th anniversary of both the Clean Water Act and the Stream Biomonitoring Unit. This provided the Delaware Pennsylvania Maryland Virginia West Virginia impetus to examine water quality trends over the 20-year period. According to the report, 721 sites on 170 streams were analyzed during the 1972-1992 period; Of these, 38 percent improved in quality, 4 percent declined, and 57 percent did not significantly change. The report features substantial graphic and narrative statistics, a primer on macroinvertebrate analysis, and a listing of all sites analyzed over the period. It also includes an appendix of multiplate data on community characteristics at key sites, with an explanation of indices used for evaluation. For more information, contact Robert Bode, Head of the Stream Biomonitoring Unit, at (518) 432-2624. Regional Coordinators Monitoring, 305(b), Waterbody System: ChuckKanetsky (215) 597-8176 3O3(d TMDL: Thomas Henry (215) 597-8243 Volunteer Monitoring: Peter Weber (215) 597-4283 Nonpoint Source, Clean Lakes: Hank Zygmunt (215) 597-3429 REGIONAL OFFICE: Volunteer Monitoring Program Expands: The Crum/Ridley Volunteer Monitoring Program is a double watershed monitor- ing effort west of Philadelphia which started in 1990 as a water chemistry monitoring partnership between EPA (which provided funding for equipment and some technical assistance) and local citizens. The program is now adding three new dimensions. First, the program has expanded into biological monitoring. A partnership of more than a dozen EPA volunteers and several other biomonitoriflg experts joined with Crum/Ridley monitors to assess six of the regular monitoring sites. Participants took benthic macroinvertebrates samples, and the results indicated more water quality problems than were apparent from the chemical testing and habitat assessment. The next Region 3 2 ------- dimension of this water quality program is to assess ground water discharge into the creeks during base flow conditions later this summer. A group of state and federal ground water experts will be assembled to assist the regular volunteer monitors in determining ground water contributions to these surface waters. The program will increase its recruiting and volunteer training, using the expertise gained from the last 4 years’ monitoring efforts. And last, the Crum/Ridley monitoring and assessment program is being extended to a third watershed, the Chester Creek Watershed, which is adjacent to the Ridley. The program will increase its recruiting and volunteer training, using the expertise gained from the last 4 years’ monitoring efforts. Trout Unlimited is providing funding for monitoring this watershed. All of these monitoring efforts are being applied to watershed restoration plans. For more information or to offer assistance, please contact Peter Weber. Ground Water Protection Section, EPA, (215) 597-4283. Region 4 Regional Coordinators North Carolina Kentucky South Carolina Tennesee Georgia Alabama Mississippi Florida Monitoring, Volunteer Monitoring, 305(b), Watetbody System: David Melgaard (404) 347-2126 303(d)ITMDL: Jim Greenfleld (404) 347-2126 Nonpolnt Source: MaiyAnn Gerber (404) 347-2126 Clean Lakes: Howard Marshall (404) 347-2126 REGIONAL OFFICE: Joint EPA-Ukraine Water Quality Project: In May 1994, a team of EPA water quality specialists visited the Ministry for Environmental Protection (MEP) in Kiev, Ukraine, to plan and develop a Ukraine-U.S. program to assess water quality conditions and threats to the Kaniv Reservoir and to introduce improved measures to evaluate pollution abatement and management strategies. Representing EPA are Jim Greenfield and John Marlar of Region 4 and Ron Hoffer of EPA-Headquarters. The objectives of the project are to improve water quality management of a critical part of the Dnipro River in Ukraine by conducting a joint Ukraine-EPA reconnaissance study; training a group of Ukrainian water quality specialists at EPA-Region 4 facilities in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia; conducting a detailed g.aniv Reservoir Study; developing a water quality information database and Kaniv Reservoir model; and provid- ing laboratory and sample collection equipment and supplies. For more information, contact Jim Greenfield at (404) 347-2126, ext. 6597. GEORGIA: Student Stream Monitoring: Twenty-one students in the honors chemistry class at The Lovett School in Atlanta have been participat- ing in Georgia’s Adopt-A- Stream program by perform- ing monthly water sampling in Rottenwood Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River. Rottenwood Creek is of concern because of nearby road construction. The students, who taught themselves to use the water testing kits, have been tracking levels of phosphate, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia, and have been monitoring rainfall and weather conditions. Results from the moni- toring project have been turned over to the Geor- gia Environmental Protection Division. For more information, contact Laurie Hawks, Adopt-A- Stream Coordinator, at (404) 656-4905. The Water Monitor is produced monthly to exchange surface water assessment information among states and other interested parties. If you would like more information or want to be added to the mailing list, please fill out the order and comment form on page 11. 3 ------- On the Bookshelf... Coastlines, April-May 1994, vol. 4, number 2. This newsletter, produced under an EPA grant by the Alliance for the Chesa- peake Bay, provides national information about estuaries and near coastal waters. Articles in this issue include a lead story about activities of the Gaia Institute, a research group doing innovative work to solve estuanne and coastal pollution problems; a report on the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan; information on conser- vation easements; a highlight on Alabama Baywatch; news from a number of National Estuary projects; and a calendar of events and list of publications. For a copy, contact the Alliance at 6600 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212. In the Anacostia Watershed, Spring 1994. This newsletter is prepared by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin on behalf of the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Committee. This issue includes a discussion of citizen advisory committees; a list of organizations that are involved in the restoration of the Anacostia River, a highly degraded urban river that runs through two Maryland coun- ties into the District of Columbia and the Potomac River; and news about volunteer monitoring programs underway in the watershed. For a copy, contact the ICPRB at Suite 300, 6110 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20852-3903, (301) 984-1908. Contaminated Sediment News, EPA 823- N94-002, May 1994. This newsletter, produced by EPA’s Office of Science and Technology, includes a summary of re- gional activities related to contaminated sediment sites; a discussion of the National Sediment Contaminant Point Source Inven- tory; and a focus article on the Great Lakes Toxics Reduction Effort. For a copy, con- tact Charlie MacPherson, Tetra Tech, Inc., at (703) 386-6000. Symposium on Ecological Restoration: Proceedings of a Conference, March 1993, EPA 841 -B-94-003, May 1994. This 212-page document provides an overview of many of the issues surrounding ecologi- cal restoration as presented at the EPA- sponsored Symposium on Ecological Restoration in Chicago on March 2-4, 1993. Topics include the status of restoration science; decision making and priority setting; using existing authontiê more effectively; policy and management ap- proaches for restoration; development and use of technical tools; measuring success; incentives for restoration; emerging issues; and recommendations for action. For a copy, contact Amy Sosin at (202) 260-7058. Watershed ‘93: Proceedings of A Na- tional Conference on Watershed Man- agement, EPA 840-R-94-002. This 890- page proceedings document contains an extensive set of presentation on watershed management issues, including legislative considerations, financing watershed man- agement, identifying priority areas, forming partnerships, watershed-scale TMDLs, monitoring and evaluation, building public support, and urban watersheds. Supplies are limited; for an individual copy, contact NCEPI, 11029 Kenwood Road, Building 5, Cincinnati, OH 45242 or FAX your request to NCEPI at (513) 891-6685. Be sure to include the EPA document number in making your request. 4 ------- Region 5 Indiana illinois Michigan Minnesota Ohio Wisconsin Regional Coordinators Watershed Events. EPA 840-N-94-OO1, Spring 1994. This 12-page EPA bulletin includes a calendar of upcoming confer- ences, a list of recent watershed-related publications, and articles on the link be- tween watershed and transportation plan- ning, the USGS NAWQA program, ecologi- cal risk assessment, a summary of the Sasco Brook Watershed project designed to reduce nonpoint source pollution in a coastal area, and Oregon’s Watershed Health Program. For a copy, contact Anne Robertson at (202) 260-9112. CWA Section 403 Procedural and Moni- toring Guidance, EPA 42-B-94-003. This document provides monitoring methods and approaches for use in establishing more consistency among EPA Regions and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System authorized states when conducting a section 403 ocean discharge criteria evaluation in the permit review process. CWA section 403 evaluations are conducted for municipal or industrial point source facilities discharging to ocean waters. These evaluations are intended to prevent degradation of the marine environ- ment that may occur as a result of these discharges. The document describes the procedural or decision making aspects of the 403 program; presents criteria for evaluating perceived potential impacts; and provides summaries of analytical methods used to assess the various physical, biological, and chemical parameters of concern. For a copy, write to NCEPI, 11029 Kenwood Rd, Building 5, Cincinnati, OH 45242, or FAX your request to NCEPI at (513) 691-6680. Be sure to include the EPA document number in making your request. Monitoring, 305(b): Dave Stoltenberg (312) 353-5784 303(d TMDL: Robert Pepin (312) 886-1505 Waterbody System: Fouad Dababneh (312) 353-3944 Volunteer Monitoring: Clyde Marion (312) 353-5966 Nonpoint Source, Clean Lakes: Tom Davenport (3 12) 886-0209 REGIONAL OFFICE: Volunteer Secchi Disk “Dip- In” Planned: USEPA Region 5 and HQ are work- ing with the North American Lake Management Society on a regional prototype volunteer monitoring project for lakes in the Region 5 states. The project calls for using an existing network of volunteer monitors across the Region 5 states to take Secchi disk readings during the week of July 4-11, 1994, and mail their results to a central office for compilation. This Secchi disk “dip-in” will provide a snapshot of lake and reservoir water clarity across the Region and will publicize both the efforts of volunteers and the importance of clean lakes. The results of the survey and a summary document will be available by October 31, 1994. For more information, contact Tom Davenport at (312) 886-0209. On the Bookshelf... (continued) ‘I 5 ------- Arkansas Louisiana Oklahoma Texas New Mexico Regional Coordinators Monitoring: Charlie Howell (214) 655-8354 303(d)FFMDL: Troy Hill (214) 655-6647 305(b): Russell Nelson (214) 655-6646 Waterbody System: Paul Koska (214)655-8357 Volunteer Monitoring: Mike Bira (214)655-6668 and Paul Koska (214) 655-8357 Nonpoint Source: Brad Lamb (214) 655-7140 Clean Lakes: Mike Bira (214) 655-6668 OKLAHOMA: BiosurveylHabitat Assessment Workshop: The Oklahoma Conservation Commis- sion (0CC) recently conducted a biosurvey workshop for staff of the USDA Soil Conservation Service and State Extension offices. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Oklahoma State University also partici- pated. The workshop focused on stream habitat assessment procedures developed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and Oklahoma Conservation Commission. Oklahoma agencies conduct a semi-quantitative habitat assessment by making measurements and observations every 20 meters along a 400-meter reach. The data are entered into a personal computer database that calculates habitat metrics from the transect data, ranks each habitat attribute, and computes a habitat assessment score. The scoring system is similar to that described in EPA’s Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Streams and Rivers with supporting data to strengthen the assessment. The assessment was originally developed to support stream use attainability analyses. Habitat data are exported to a GRASS GIS system for further analysis and display. This system has proven useful for displaying the extent of specific habitat conditions such as “riparian buffer zones less than 10 meters,” “cobble embeddedness greater than 25 percent” or “maximum pool depths less than 1 meter,” etc. The system will be useful for examining the interrelationships between land uses, habitat condi- tions, water quality, and aquatic community health. Contact Charlie Howell at (214) 655-8354 for a copy of the standard operating procedure. Technical questions may be addressed to Phillip Moerschel or Dan Butler at (405) 521-2384. Region 7 Regional Coordinators Iowa Nebraska Kansas Missouri Monitoring: JenyAnderson (913) 551-5066 305(b), 303(d)ITMDL: John Houlihan (913)551-7432 Waterbody System: Jerome Pitt (913)551-7766 Volunteer Monitoring: Jerome Pitt (913)551-7766 and Donna Sefton (913) 551-7500 Nonpoint Source: Julie EIMng (913)551-7475 Clean Lakes: Larry Sheridan (913) 551-7439 REGIONAL OFFICE: Region 7 R-EMAP Training Completed: Region 7’s Environmental Services Division hosted field methods training for the Regional R-EMAP project the week of May 16 in Kansas City. Field crew leaders from Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri, as well as a representative from the State of Iowa, attended the workshop. Participants discussed and practiced sampling methods required for the project (fish community, fish tissue, water, sediment, physical habitat, sur- rounding land uses, and benthic macroinvertebrates) for streams and lakes. At the conclusion of the week and as the final field exercise, all the sampling crews performed the field sampling methods at both a local stream site and at a lake site. The trainers—Lyle Cowles, Region 7 Project Coordinator, Frank McCormick, ORD project Officer, and Phil Kaufmann of Oregon State University—observed the field sampling exercises and provided corrective Region 6 6 ------- comments where necessary. Data from this field exercise will be used as preliminary method variabil- ity data. For more information, contact Lyle Cowles at (913) 551-5042. Draft Elkhorn River Basin Assessment Com- pleted: In conjunction with the Platte River Basin Watershed Protection Program. which is one of Region 7’s major Watershed Protection Approach efforts, the Environmental Services Division of Region 7 has prepared a draft environmental assessment report for the Elkhorn River sub-basin. The report both summarizes existing surface and ground water quality data (collected since 1982) and uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to overlay ambient chemi- cal and biological data with potential point and nonpoint sources of pollution such as industrial and municipal dischargers, hazardous waste sites, landfills. and agricultural land use maps. Relationships between these two data layers have been identified, and priority problem areas are highlighted. The Elkhorn basin, which is in northeast Nebraska, is the second of five Platte River sub-basins to be targeted for such an assessment. For more information, contact Pete Green at (913) 551-5069. Region 8 Montana Wyoming Colorado North Dakota South Dakota Regional Coordinators Monitoring, 305(b): Phil Johnson (303)293-1581 303(d) /TMDL: Bnice Zander (303) 293-1580 Waterbody System: Toney Ott (303) 293-1573 Volunteer Monitoring: Paul Mc! vet (303)293-1552 and Phi/Johnson (303) 293-1573 Nonpoint Source/Clean Lakes: Dave Rathke (303) 293-1703 REGIONAL OFFICE: Animas River Basin Cleanup Initiative: Over the past 2 years, the Colorado Water Quality Control Division (WQD) has taken water quality samples of four different hydrologic events at about 180 locations throughout the upper Animas River basin in southwestern Colorado. The purpose of such data collection is to identify the location and extent of heavy metals contributions associated with widespread metal mine wastes throughout this area, most of which date back to the 1800s. Under the public involvement lead of the Colorado Center for Environmental Management (CCEM), an independent nonprofit organization, an Animas River stakeholders group has been created to address local water quality issues within the basin. That group is in the early stages of drawing from the Division’s sampling results along with other avail- able information in assessing the overall problem. The group appears headed toward working with the state in defining cleanup goals (in conjunction with modifications to water quality standards), formulat- ing a cleanup strategy, and developing a plan for implementation including obtaining necessary funding. Following some initial difficulties resulting from differing values among stakeholders, issues of trust, and gaining understanding of the institutional water quality control setting, the group seems to be mov- ing toward working together as a unit. Contentious issues include defining the natural levels of metals loading in this highly mineralized area and arriving at some common understanding of “how clean is clean” for streams in which fish life, rather than drinking water. is the primary use to be protected. For more information, contact Gary Broetzmann of CCEM at (303) 297-0180 or Greg Parsons of the WQCD at (303) 692-3585. 7 ------- Calendar Highlights AUGUST 2-3 Nonpoint Source Forum, Mendenhall, PA. Contact Paula Peak, Tetra Tech, Inc., at (703) 385-6000. 7-10 Soil and Water Conservation Society, 49th Annual Meeting. Norfolk, VA. Contact Nancy Bushwick MaHoy, SWCS, 7515 NE Ankeny Rd, Ankeny, IA 50021-9724. 7-12 Storm water NPDES Related Monitoring Needs, Crested Butte, CO. Contact Barbara Hickernell, Environmental Founda- tion, 345 E. 47th St., New York, NY 10017 at (212) 705-7837. 8-12 Geomorphology in River Restoration (short course), Berkeley, CA. Contact River Workshop, 2241 Ward Street, Berkeley, CA 94705, FAX (510) 486-1210. 13-14 Western Water—Wise Use or Misuse, Denver, Colorado. Contact Dick Piper,(303) 424-4743 - Jeff De Bonis, (202) 408-0041. 15 Rivers Curriculum Workshop, Edwardsville, IL. Contact Dr. Robert Williams, Rivers Curriculum Project, Box 2222, Edwardsville, IL 62026-2222, at (618) 692-3788, FAX (618) 692-3359. 23-26 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Forestry Best Management Practices in Meeting Water Quality Goals or Standards, Blacksburg, VA. Contact George Dissmayer, USDA Forest Service, 1720 Peachtree Rd., NW, Atlanta, GA 30367, (404)347-7221, FAX (404) 347-4448. SEPTEMBER 7-9 Celebrating the Year of the Coast: Innovations in Coastal Management, Wilmington, NC. Contact Allison Ballard, Jordan McColl Inc., P.O. Box 3415, Wilmington, NC 28406, (800) 258-6711 or (910) 762-6711. 21-23 Environmental Problem Sowing with Geographic Information Systems, Cincinnati, OH. Contact Sue Schock or Dan Murray, USEPA, CERI, 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive (G-75), Cincinnati, OH 45268, (513) 569-7551 or (513) 569-7522. 22-23 Water Quality in the Sustainable West, Park City, UT. Contact Jack Wilbur, UT Dept. of Agriculture, 350 N. Redwood Rd., Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 538-7098. 22-24 Seniors for the Environment, Chevy Chase, MD. Contact EASI, 51 Main St., P.O. Box 368, The Plains, VA 22171, (703) 253-5821, FAX (703) 253-5821. 27-29 A National Forum on Mercury In Fish, New Orleans, LA. Contact Charlie MacPherson, Tetra Tech, Inc., at (703) 385-6000. 28-30 Watershed 94: Creating the Links: People, Politics, Science and Stew- ardship, Bellevue, WA. Contact Andrea Lindsay at (206) 553-1896 or 1-800-424-4EPA ext. 1896. 29- t1 Second Annual Friends of Trashed Rivers Conference, New York, NY. Contact Karen Siletti, (201) 666-2666. OCTOBER 16 The Relative Role of Urban and Rural Nonpoint Source Controls in Manag- ing Wet Weather Water Quality, Chicago, IL. Contact Christine McKaIlip, WEF, 601 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1944, (703) 684-2400. 16-20 Water Environment Federation’s 67th Annual Conference and Exposition, Chicago, IL. Contact Maureen Novotne, WEF, 601 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1944, (703) 684-2400. 8 ------- California Nevada Arizona Hawaii Guam Regional Coordinators Monitoring, 305(b), WaterbodySystem: JanetHashimoto (415)744-1156 303(d)ITMDL: David Smith (415) 744-2019 Volunteer Monitonng: Clarice Olson (415) 744-1489 and Janet Hashimoto (415)744-1156 Nonpoint Source: Jovita E. Pajarillo (415) 744-2011 Clean Lakes: Wendell Smith (415) 744-2018 Region 10 Idaho Alaska Regional Coordinators Monitoring, Waterbody System: Gretthen Hayslip (206) 553-1685 305(b): Donna Walsh (206) 553-1754 303(d ITMDL: Bnice Cleland (206) 553-2600 Volunteer Monitoring: Susan Handley (206) 553-1287 Nonpoint Source: Elbert Moore (206) 553-4181 Clean Lakes: Krista Mendelman (206) 553-1571 IDAHO: The Idaho Division of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) recently published a report titled “Paradise Creek - Use Attainability Assessment.” Paradise Creek is located in Latah County, Idaho, and Whitman County, Washington. The water quality in the creek is influenced by both point and nonpoint sources of pollution. In 1980, IDEQ listed Paradise Creek as protected for agricultural water supply and secondary contact recreation beneficial uses in the Idaho Water Quality Standards. In October 1993, IDEQ staff conducted a Use Attain- ability Assessment (UAA) for Paradise Creek. The UAA was designed to evaluate the appropriateness of the current designated uses and determine whether the creek should be protected for any addi- tional uses. The UAA concluded that if water and habitat quality improved, Paradise Creek would be capable of supporting salmonid spawning and cold water biota. This designation applies to the portion of the creek flowing through Idaho; however, above Mountain View Park, the creek is intermittent and these uses would apply only when water is present. Secondary contact recreation and agricultural water supply were confirmed as appropriate designated beneficial. For additional information, contact IDEQ at (208) 334-0405. Region 9 D San Francisco Bay Region Volunteer Monitoring Workshop Volunteer monitoring groups in the San Francisco Bay region met for their second annual volunteer monitoring workshop at the Aquatic Habitat Institute’s Richmond Field Station on May 17. Local volunteer groups dis- cussed their water quality monitoring goals and support needs, and local, state, and federal government represen- tatives gave presentations on their current activities in support of volunteer monitoring in the area. Workshop attendees concluded that volunteer monitoring data should be included as a “layer” of information in watershed management activities, and encouraged EPA Region 9 to provide technical support in quality assurance and data formatting to ensure the usefulness of volunteer data within the watershed. For more information contact Janet Hashimoto, EPA Region 9, at (415) 744- 1933, or Katherine Domeny, California’s new volunteer monitoring coordinator, at (916) 653-8732 or (415) 461-2876. 9 ------- H rxuAm s ACTMrnES Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (AWPD) Section 305(b) Consistency Workgroup: The 1996 Clean Water Act (CWA) §305(b) Consistency Workgroup met in the Washington D.C. area on May 10-12. Representatives attended from 19 states, 1 tribal community, 5 federal agencies, 3 EPA Regions, and a number of HQ program offices. The major focus of the meeting was to present recommendations on changes to the 305(b) assess- ment and reporting process for the 1996 cycle. To accomplish this, the full workgroup was divided into subgroups by functional area. The subgroups include Assessment, Monitoring, Report Content, Data Management, Ground Water and Drinking Water, with a focus group on tribal assessments. These subgroups, co-chaired by state and regional representatives, have been meeting over the last several months to resolve issues. The full workgroup will meet again in October 1994 and plans to issue the 1996 CWA §305(b) Guidelines by February 1995. For more information, contact Barry Burgan at (202) 260-7060. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Mini-Grants: Headquarters staff have completed the review of FY 1994 proposed TMDL projects submitted by all Regions for possible funding. Eighteen proposals were selected to receive funding A; 7 ranging from $12,000 to $20,000. The projects selected will be awarded grants in the upcoming weeks. Grants of $200,000 from the Nonpoint Source Control Branch and Watershed Branch will be used to support nonpoint source-related TMDLs; an additional $120,000 from the Watershed Branch and Exposure Assessment Branch (OST) is available for TMDL mini-grants. A few examples of the types of projects being funded are presented below: • Buzzards Bay: establish nitrogen TMALs (total maximum annual loads) for three coastal embayments as part of the ongoing National Estuary Program. • Grand Lake Basin Management Plan: identify areas of greatest impact to water quality, evaluate potential loading of nutrients due to bank ero- sion, and analyze land use and nonpoint source loadings. • Deep Creek, Montana: establish TMDL for sediments in the creek, a tributary to the Mis- souri River that provides spawning and rearing habitat for trout. For more information, contact Mimi Dannel at (202) 260-1897. OFFICE OF WETLANDS, OCEANS AND WATERSHEDS (OWOW) Volunteer Monitoring Presentation at Benthological Society Meeting Volunteer monitoring was on the agenda at the 42nd annual meeting of the North American Benthological Society in Or- lando, Florida, on May 24. Panel topics included an overview of volunteer moni- toring, several presentations on volunteer biological protocols, and a number of comparisons of volunteer biological data to professional data. The audience included graduate students, teachers, researchers, and state agency represen- tatives. For more information, contact Alice Mayio at (202) 260-7018. 10 ------- Oceans and Coastal Protection Division (OCPD) Interim Final Rule on Bioaccumulation Testing: On May 13, the Administrator signed two rules prepared by OCPD amending the ocean dumping regulations. One rule is interim final and is effective on the date of its publication in the Federal Register. The second, identical rule is proposed with a 30-day comment period. The purpose of the rules is to clarify provisions related to bioaccumulation testing. This change is in response to a July 1993 interim ruling in New York that interproted the regulations as requiring bioaccumulation testing in the sus- pended particulate phase for material to be dredged from the New York/New Jersey Harbor area. For more information, contact John Lishman at (202) 260-8448. The Water Monitor - ORDER AND COMMENT FORM This report is prepared by the Monitoring Branch in EPA’s Assessment and Watershed Protection Division, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. To be added to this mailing list, please fill out the coupon below. Also, please provide any comments for improving this report. Mail or fax this form to: Alice Mayio, Editor The Water Monitor AWPD (4503F) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC 20460 Phone Number: (202) 260-7018 Fax Number: (202) 260-1977 Please indicate whether you are new to the mailing list or have a change of address. U New ij Address change Your Name ________________ ______________________ Organization Street Address _______________- Comments: _____ City/State _______ Phone___________ 11 ------- |