COASTAL WATERSHED PROTECTION STRATEGY:
AN ACTION PLAN FOR THE COASTAL
MANAGEMENT BRANCH
Coastal Management Branch
Oceans & Coastal Protection Division
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20460
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
Abstract:
This Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy provides the framework the Coastal
Management Branch will use to work with our federal, State, local government, public interest
and private industry partners to protect, restore and maintain the nation's coastal and estuarine
resources. We will work for this mission every day by providing a baseline of support to all
coastal watersheds while targeting resources and technical assistance to priority coastal
watersheds such as those in the National Estuary Program. We will also work with the Regions
and States to encourage consideration of National Estuary Programs and other coastal watersheds
identified as national priorities for protection and restoration, in the State Unified Watershed
Assessment processes. The Coastal Management Branch will develop our annual work plans
based on consideration of the needs identified in the Watershed Restoration Action Strategies
developed for priority coastal watersheds. Finally, we will review EPA-State Agreements and
Regional Management Agreements to evaluate progress being made towards the environmental
and programmatic measures specified for the Coastal Management Branch's programs in the
EPA Strategic Plan and annual budget development process.
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
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Table of Contents: Page Nos.
Abstract i
I. Introduction 1
A. Our Mission
B. Purpose
C. Clean Water Action Plan
D. Background
II. Coastal Management Branch 4
A. Our Goals and Responsibilities
B. Our Teams
C. Our Partners
III. Priority Coastal Watersheds 9
A. Clean Water Action Plan Unified Watershed Assessments
B. Watershed Restoration Action Strategies
IV. Coastal Management Branch FY98 Workplans 10
A. Support for all Coastal Watersheds 11
(i) Build and strengthen coalitions to leverage funding
and provide consistent federal guidance and
direction for coastal watershed managers and
stakeholders.
(ii) Strengthen the capacity of our partners to protect
and restore coastal watersheds by providing training
and education, information and funding.
(iii) Share experience broadly.
(iv) Provide direction and leadership
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
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B. Support for Priority Coastal Watersheds 15
(i) Build and strengthen coalitions to leverage funding
and provide consistent federal guidance and
direction for coastal watershed managers and
stakeholders.
(ii) Strengthen the capacity of our partners to protect
and restore coastal watersheds by providing training
and education, information and funding.
(iii) Share experience broadly.
(iv) Provide direction and leadership
V. Measuring Our Progress 19
A. EPA's Strategic Plan/Government Performance Results Act
B. Regional Management Agreements
C. State/EPA Performance Partnership Agreements
D. NEP Biennial Reviews and annual workplans
E. NEP Evaluation
Attachments:
A. EPA Organizational Chart A-l
B. Coastal Management Branch Personnel and Contact Information B-l
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
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I. Introduction
A. Our Mission:
The mission of the Coastal Management Branch is to:
"Restore, protect and maintain coastal -watersheds by building partner ships; strengthening the
capacity of our partners; sharing experience broadly; and providing leadership and assistance
to support community-based watershed management"
B. Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy
The purpose of the Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy (CWPS) is to guide the Coastal
Management Branch (CMB) in our efforts to:
(1) provide a baseline of support to all coastal watersheds;
(2) target resources to priority coastal watersheds;
(3) implement Administration initiatives within coastal watersheds; and
(4) integrate local coastal watershed concerns with regional and national coastal watershed
concerns.
Although the Coastal Management Branch has always provided support to coastal watersheds in
general, we have not always had a clear strategy to guide us in directing our resources to coastal
watersheds beyond National Estuary Programs (NEP). This Coastal Watershed Protection
Strategy is designed to integrate local, State and Regional coastal environmental priorities into
•our process for providing support to coastal watersheds in addition to NEPs.
We do not anticipate line item funding in EPA's budget for implementing the CWPS.
Rather, the CWPS will provide a framework for determining how to allocate our staff and dollar
resources from year to year. As such, it will also provide a basis for leveraging funds from other
EPA programs and federal agencies and new EPA funds for coastal protection and restoration
activities.
C. Clean Water Action Plan
On February 14, 1998, the Administration released the Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP)
which provides a blueprint for restoring and protecting the nation's precious water resources. A
key element of the Action Plan is a new cooperative approach to watershed protection in which
State, tribal, federal, and local governments, and the public first identify the watersheds with the
most critical water quality problems and then work together to focus resources and implement
effective strategies to solve these problems. The Action Plan also includes new initiatives to
reduce public health threats, improve the stewardship of natural resources, strengthen polluted
runoff controls, and make water quality information more accessible to the public.
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
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The Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy will provide the framework for the Coastal
Management Branch's implementation of two broad key actions of the Clean Water Action Plan
(CWAP) in coastal watersheds:
* NOAA and EPA will further develop and support partnerships with State, tribal, and
local governments and organizations to provide technical assistance and information to
local decision makers in coastal areas. NOAA and EPA, in cooperation with other
federal agencies, will broadly share lessons learned from National Estuary Programs
and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. NOAA, in cooperation with USDA,
will expand the Nonpoint Education of Municipal Officials program. [CWAP Page 47-
48]
>• States and tribes should work with public agencies and private-sector organizations and
citizens to develop, based on the initial schedule for the first hvo years, Watershed
Restoration Action Strategies, for watersheds most in need of restoration. Federal
agencies will focus current financial resources as appropriate to support watershed
restoration plans. New federal resources available in FY1999 will be targeted to
support implementation of actions called for in Watershed Restoration Action Strategies.
[CWAP Page 80]
In addition to these two broad key actions, there are numerous Clean Water Action Plan key
actions which will be addressed by specific CMB workplans described in Section IV of this
Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy.
D. Background:
Currently CMB develops its annual workplans based on requests or suggestions we
receive from Regions, NEPs and other coastal watersheds during national conferences and
meetings or individually over the course of the year.
CMB annual workplans include using in-house staff, grantees or hiring contractors to:
provide training workshops,
develop guidance manuals or information transfer documents (reports, brochures,
fact sheets),
organize national conferences and meetings,
CMB also dedicates staff time and funds to:
leverage resources with other federal agencies and EPA programs,
participate in the development and support implementation of other federal and
EPA programs and policies to promote consistency and to ensure that the needs
and priorities of coastal watersheds are considered,
develop partnerships with national organizations concerned about coastal issues,
and
support coastal environmental protection and restoration demonstration projects.
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The Coastal Management Branch has provided targeted oversight, guidance and support
for the National Estuary Program (NEP) since its creation by Congress in the 1987 amendments
to the Clean Water Act. Modeled after the Chesapeake Bay Program and the Great Lakes
National Program, the NEP employs a partnership approach for managing, protecting, and
restoring estuaries of national significance on a watershed basis. There are currently 28 NEPs in
eighteen states and Puerto Rico.
Since its inception, the NEP has successfully adapted to new opportunities, challenges and
expectations. In fact, EPA used the NEP as a model in developing the Watershed Protection
Approach, a strategy that solves water quality and ecosystem problems at the watershed level
rather than at the individual waterbody or discharger level. The inherent flexibility of the NEP
has enabled evolution from a targeted research program to a national model for effective
community-based resource management. Critical milestones in this evolution include:
• the initial expansion from 12 programs to 17 in 1990;
• the addition of four new programs in 1992 under a streamlined process for developing
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs) in four years rather than five;
• the delegation in 1994 of significant program management authority from EPA Headquarters
to the Regions;
• the decision to broaden the NEP to 28 in 1995;
• 17 programs with approved CCMPs by 1997; and
• the recognition that loadings of nutrients and toxins from air deposition is a significant
source.
The NEP was created to demonstrate innovative tools and techniques for coastal areas
around the nation. While EPA has attempted to expand the number of NEPs receiving targeted
assistance, there are hundreds more coastal and estuarine watersheds deserving of support and
assistance. The Coastal Management Branch is now in a position to share this wealth of
experience with coastal watersheds around the country.
The development of this Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy does not mean divesting
attention or assistance from the NEPs, but rather focuses on transferring the lessons we are
learning from the NEPs to other coastal watersheds. Because the issues affecting the NEPs are
not unique to just those 28 estuaries, working nationwide to solve problems will advance the
field of coastal and estuarine management for the NEP and other coastal watersheds. National or
broad ranging issues include, but are not limited to, harmful algal blooms, nutrient over
enrichment, toxic contamination, air deposition and loss of habitat.
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
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II. Coastal Management Branch: the people and the organization
A. Our goals and responsibilities
To fulfill our mission, the Coastal Management Branch has four objectives: (1) to build
partnerships, (2) to strengthen the capacity of our partners, (3) to share experience broadly, and
(4) to provide direction and leadership. While our Regional partners have the primary lead for
working with our State and local partners, CMB has a supporting role by providing financial
resources and technical assistance in consultation with the Regions. Following is a brief
description of our responsibilities under each of these goals:
(1) To build partnerships with other federal agencies, State and local
governments, trade associations and non-governmental organizations. Our
partnerships are designed to: (i) align federal activities and resources to provide
coordinated and consistent support to nonfederal partners; (ii) to communicate and
share information; (iii) to develop consensus with partners on environmental
protection approaches to be implemented; and (iv) to target new partners to
further efforts to protect and restore coastal watersheds.
(2) To strengthen the capacity of our partners to effectively protect and restore
their community's coastal watersheds. The support we can provide to build the
capacity of our partners at the State and local level, as well as nongovernmental
organizations, include funding, training and education materials, data and
information, and facilitating or brokering new partnerships.
(3) To share our coastal watershed experience with our partners and other
interested nongovernmental entities within the United States and
internationally. Activities we conduct to share our experiences broadly include:
(i) developing tools such as brochures, fact sheets, reports, guidance documents,
workshops and conferences; (ii) disseminating tools through direct mailings, the
internet, announcements in newsletters and distribution at conferences, workshops
and meetings; and (iii) identifying new partners and contacts.
(4) To provide direction and leadership to all coastal watershed managers and
stakeholders. Activities we conduct to provide direction and leadership include:
(i) providing policy recommendations to EPA managers and other federal partners
to promote consistent and effective coastal watershed protection and management;
(ii) providing guidance to State and local watershed managers and stakeholders;
(iii) facilitating implementation of base programs such as stormwater permitting,
total maximum daily loads (TMDL), and coastal nonpoint source controls, in
coastal watersheds; and (iv) promoting the visibility of successful coastal
watershed programs, such as the National Estuary Programs, at the local, State,
Regional and national levels.
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B. Our Teams
To carry out the activities under each of the CMS objectives, the Coastal Management
Branch has a Branch Chief, an Executive Officer, and three teams: the Program Management and
Implementation Team, the Technical Assistance Team and the Administration Team. Each team
has a team leader who is responsible for bringing team members together to: (I) oversee the
development of individual projects; (ii) set priorities for projects to be developed; (iii) select
project leaders; and (iv) resolve project, team and Branch issues. For the most part, all Branch
members participate on both the Program Management and Implementation Team and the
Technical Assistance Team. The Branch Chief, the Executive Officer and the Team Leaders
comprise the Administration Team. Team Leaders rotate annually and are elected by Branch
members. The Executive Officer rotates annually and is selected by the Branch Chief on a
volunteer basis.
The Program Management and Implementation Team and the Technical Assistance Team
have the following missions:
Program Management and Implementation Team Mission: To support the development and
implementation of coastal watershed management plans by developing national policies and
guidance, and administering the National Estuary Program. Examples of Program Management
and Implementation Team activities include developing the Coastal Watershed Protection
Strategy and the annual funding guidance for the NEPs.
Technical Assistance Team Mission: To provide coastal communities with the guidance,
information, and training needed to help them achieve their environmental protection goals.
Examples of Technical Assistance Team activities include organizing national conferences and
providing training workshops.
Administration Team: To raise high priority issues to the Branch Chief on a timely basis,
exchange information between teams, and advise the Branch Chief regarding budget, policy and
personnel issues with respect to team and Branch missions and activities.
The Executive Officer assists the Branch Chief in prioritizing and delegating Branch
assignments and conducts assignments which may involve both teams or which may not fit into
either team.
Most of the CMB staff serve as coordinators for one or more National Estuary Programs
(NEP). As NEP coordinators they are each responsible for providing guidance and oversight
assistance as well as tools and resources needed by EPA Regions, State and local governments,
and nongovernmental organizations responsible for carrying out the activities of individual
estuary programs. To promote national consistency in management of individual NEPs,
coordinators are responsible for sharing information on issues and solutions with each other.
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We have also established Regional Liaisons to facilitate communications with and
support for the Regions. Regional Liaison responsibilities include: (1) reviewing Regional
Management Agreements; (2) reviewing Regional EPA/State Performance Partnership
Agreements; (3) reviewing State Clean Water Action Plan Unified Watershed Assessment
priorities for restoration and Watershed Restoration Action Strategies; (4) serving as a HQ
champion for Regional coastal environmental priorities or initiatives; (5) responding to questions
which are not specific to a single NEP; and (6) other activities to be identified by Regions.
Attachment A provides an EPA organizational chart showing CMB's position in the
Agency and provides the names and contact information for each member of the Branch. This
attachment will be periodically revised as the Branch gains new members, assignments change,
or members temporarily or permanently move on to other professional development
opportunities.
C. Our Partners
1. EPA Regions
The Coastal Management Branch works with EPA Regions I, II, III, IV, V, VI, IX and X
to provide joint management, oversight and support to coastal watershed protection
programs along the coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Great
Lakes, Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea. Regions help shape the national and regional
coastal management programs and policies by advising CMB in the development of
guidance and informational or educational tools and publications. Regions have primary
responsibility for representing the Agency in local, State and regional coastal watershed
forums, such as National Estuary Programs and Great Water Body Programs (i.e., Great
Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay). Regions provide guidance and oversight to
ensure that Agency coastal watershed policies and programs are being implemented as
intended on a day to day basis. Regions also advise CMB of issues which may require
changes in Agency programs and policies to improve effective and efficient use of
government resources for the purpose of protecting and restoring coastal watersheds.
2. Coastal States, communities, and nongovernmental organizations interested
in coastal issues
While the Regions have the lead for working with State and local partners, CMB often
provides direct technical assistance to priority coastal watersheds, such as the NEPs, in
consultation with our Regional partners. We also work with a variety of national
associations such as the Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP), the Coastal
States Organization (CSO), and the Coastal Watershed Advisory Committee of the
National Association of Counties (NACo).
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We look to our State and local partners to advise us regarding their needs for effective
protection and restoration of their coastal resources. In addition, we consider their
concerns regarding programs and policies which complicate or obstruct their ability to
carry our their coasta! protection and restoration activities. We also partner with NGOs
to sponsor restoration projects, conferences and training workshops. The CWP strategy
will help CMB identify additional partners and mechanisms for providing assistance to
coastal communities.
3. Agency/Administration Initiatives
EPA and other federal agencies are increasingly collaborating to more effectively address
a number of environmental problems. CMB participates in a number of inter-agency and
intra-agency groups to ensure that the concerns and needs of coastal watershed managers
and coastal communities are considered in the development and implementation of such
initiatives as:
+ Clean Water Action Plan
*• Smart Growth/President's Council on Sustainable Development
> Air Deposition
> National Harmful Algal Bloom Research & Monitoring Strategy
> Year of the Ocean
Other Administration or Agency initiatives which CMB tracks and looks for
opportunities to implement in coastal watersheds include:
> Beaches Environmental Assessment Closure and Health (BEACH) Program
> Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking
(EMPACT)
> Common Sense Initiative
> Children's Health
> Project XL/XL Communities
> Government Reinvention
4. Other EPA Offices and Federal Agencies
To align federal activities and resources to provide coordinated and consistent support to
nonfederal partners and to facilitate implementation of base programs in coastal
watersheds, we must increase our efforts to work cooperatively with other EPA Offices
and federal agencies. Some of the EPA Offices we are currently working with include:
>• Office of Wastewater Management: State Revolving Fund, Animal Feeding
Operations, Copper Brakepads, Stormwater permitting
»• Office of Science & Technology: Nutrient Criteria, BEACH Program
> Office of Ground Water & Drinking Water: Source Water Protection
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> Office of Wetlands, Oceans & Watersheds: Coastal Nonpoint Pollution (CZMA
section 6217), Nonpoint Source Pollution (CWA section 319), TMDLs, coastal
monitoring and assessment, wetlands restoration and protection
*• Office of Air and Radiation: Air Deposition, Global Warming, Sea level Rise
*• Office of Policy, Planning & Evaluation: Smart Growth, Community-based
Environmental Protection
»• Office of Research and Development: BMP ACT, Water Research Priority setting,
NSF grants, ECOHAB, monitoring and assessment, and environmental indicators
*• Great Waters Programs: harmful algal blooms, air deposition, eutrophication.
coastal environmental indicators
Some of the federal agencies we consider to be our partners in coastal management and
protection include:
*• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
— National Marine Fisheries Service
- Coastal Zone Management Program
— Sanctuaries and Reserves
— Harmful Algal Blooms
*• Army Corps of Engineers
•• Department of Transportation
— Maritime Administration
- U.S. Coast Guard
* Department of Interior
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
— Bureau of Land Management
- U.S. Geological Service
> U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Forest Service
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
— Agricultural Research Service
> Food and Drug Administration
~ shellfish and fish consumption advisories
— Pfiesteria
> U.S. Public Health Service
~ shellfish and fish consumption advisories
— recreational waters
>• Coastal America: A partnership often federal agencies responsible for coastal
restoration and protection or whose activities may impact coastal resources.
Activities include: joint development of regulations or programs designed to protect and
restore coastal resources; collaboration in implementing coastal programs, such as distribution of
federal funds for coastal protection and restoration; and co-sponsoring workshops or national
meetings and conferences for coastal managers and researchers.
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III. Priority Coastal Watersheds
This strategy provides a framework for targeting assistance from the Coastal
Management Branch to priority coastal watersheds in such a way as to be consistent with
Regional, State and local needs. While we intend to provide a baseline of support to all coastal
watersheds through national conferences and provision of guidance and technology transfer
documents, our ability to provide training and other on-site technical assistance must be targeted
to a limited number of coastal watersheds.
To identify priority coastal watersheds, the CWPS will rely on the Unified Watershed
Assessments to be conducted by the States under the Clean Water Action Plan. Specifically, the
key actions are:
* "States should work with other appropriate agencies, governments, organizations, and
the public to create Unified Watershed Assessments that identify watersheds that do not
meet clean water and other natural resource goals and where prevention action is needed
to sustain water quality and aquatic resources. Federal agencies will ask state
conservationists and state environmental agency leaders to jointly convene this process
and to involve a full range of appropriate parties, " [page 77]
> "By October 1998, states and tribes should work with appropriate agencies,
organizations, and the public to define watershed restoration priorities, with special
attention to watersheds most in need of restoration and protection. This schedule must
be coordinated with section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and provide an opportunity to
bundle Total Maximum Daily Loads on a watershed scale. The schedule should identify
the highest priority watersheds to be addressed in the first two years (through 2000). "
[page 78]
> "States and tribes should work with public agencies and private-sector organizations and
citizens to develop, based on the initial schedule for the first two years, Watershed
Restoration Action Strategies, for watershed most in need of restoration. Federal
agencies will focus current financial resources as appropriate to support watershed
restoration plans. New federal resources available in FY1999 will be targeted to support
implementation of actions called for in Watershed Restoration Action Strategies. " [page
80]
The Coastal Management Branch will work through the Regions (and others) to assist
with development of the State Unified Watershed Assessments. CMB will review State Unified
Watershed Assessments to compare coastal State priorities to national priorities and to target our
resources and technical support accordingly. National priorities include, but are not limited to,
the National Estuary Programs, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, National
Marine Sanctuaries, interstate and international coastal waters, Clean Air Act Great Waters, and
American Heritage Rivers.
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The Coastal Management Branch will review the State Watershed Restoration Action
Strategies to target our financial resources as appropriate to help implement the actions called for
in the State Watershed Restoration Action (WRA) Strategies. CMB will also use the State WRA
Strategies to leverage resources with other EPA programs and other federal agencies for coastal
watershed restoration and protection. CMB will prepare annual vvorkplans based on
consideration of the State WRA Strategies and distribute the vvorkplans for Regional comment to
facilitate consistency between Regional and CMB coastal watershed activities. Requests for
CMB support received directly from coastal watersheds not included in State WRA Strategies
will be deferred to the Regions, unless such requests are determined to be consistent with
national priorities.
IV. Coastal Management Branch FY98 Workplans
For FY 1998 and prior years, CMB developed its annual workplans based on requests or
suggestions we receive from Regions, NEPs and other coastal watersheds during national
conferences and meetings or individually over the course of the year. Based on this information,
EPA has identified activities we will carry out in to support State and local efforts to protect and
restore coastal watersheds. Beginning in FY 1999, CMB's workplan development will be
developed using the Unified Watershed Assessments and Watershed Restoration Action
Strategies for coastal States and will be annually updated to reflect new or revised State
Watershed Restoration Action Strategies. Where appropriate, we have indicated workplans
which implement specific Clean Water Action Plan [CWAP, page #] key actions.
In general, CMB annual workplans include using in-house staff, grantees or hiring
contractors to:
provide training workshops,
develop guidance manuals or information transfer documents (reports, brochures,
fact sheets),
organize national conferences and meetings,
CMB also dedicates staff time and funds to:
leverage resources with other federal agencies and EPA programs,
participate in the development of other federal and EPA programs and policies to
promote consistency and to ensure they consider the needs and priorities of
coastal watersheds,
develop partnerships with national organizations concerned about coastal issues,
and
to support coastal environmental protection and restoration demonstration
projects.
The following descriptions of CMB's FY 1998 workplans are organized by (I) activities which
support all coastal watersheds and (2) activities which support priority coastal watersheds.
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A. Support for All Coastal Watersheds
1. Build and strengthen coalitions to leverage funding and provide consistent
federal guidance and direction for coastal watershed managers and stakeholders.
Program Management & Implementation Team
> Coordinate activities with other federal agencies (e.g., NOAA, DOT, USDA,
Coastal America, Clean Water Action Plan, National Harmful Algal Bloom
Research and Monitoring Plan) - CMB will participate in a variety of interagency
efforts as well as partnerships with specific agencies to improve efforts to protect
and restore coastal watersheds. Examples include working with the interagency
group to implement the National HAB Research and Monitoring Plan to support
coastal State HAB monitoring and response programs or working with NOAA to
host a joint EPA NEP and NOAA Coastal Ocean Programs meeting.
> Coordinate with other EPA programs (e.g., TMDLs, NFS, State Revolving
fund, Animal Feeding Operations Strategy, Nutrient Strategy, BEACH Program,
Air Deposition) - CMB will participate in a variety of EPA programs to improve
Agency efforts to protect and restore coastal watersheds. Examples include
working with the Office of Wastewater Management to provide guidance to States
to encourage their use of SRF funds to implement CCMPs and other coastal
restoration and protection projects or working with the Office of Research and
Development to identify research priorities for the protection and restoration of
coastal watersheds.
Technical Assistance Team
*• Support National Association of Counties Coastal Watershed Advisory
Committee activities - The Coastal Management Branch has given a grant to
NACo to establish a coastal watersheds project. This project has been evolving
for three years and includes support for a Coastal Watershed Advisory Committee
comprised of coastal commissioners, numerous workshops and technical
assistance activities, newsletters, and support of a broader range of watershed
projects.
> Co-sponsor Smart Growth conferences - CMB was one of the major sponsors
and creators of the first "Partners for Smart Growth Conference." Approximately
750 people attended the Baltimore, MD conference in December 1997. There
have been a number of requests for additional conferences. The next national
conference is planned for Austin, TX in December 1998. [CWAP pg 64]
»• Year of the Ocean activities - In recognition of the importance of the marine
environment, 1998 has been declared as the Year of the Ocean. EPA is working
jointly with NOAA and many other federal, state and local programs to raise
awareness on the role it plays in our lives. [CWAP page 48]
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1998 Estuaries Day (Oct) - The purpose of National Estuaries Day is to increase
awareness of the importance of estuaries, highlight water quality issues, focus
attention on designated coastal areas such as National Estuary Program (NEP) and
National Estuarine Research Reserve sites, and provide an opportunity for EPA
and NOAA to coordinate at the national and local levels. While national in scope,
a kick-off event will be held in Narragansett Bay. CMB will coordinate with
NOAA and the Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP) to plan this
event and produce materials to educate the public about these special places.
2. Strengthen the Capacity of Our Partners to protect and restore coastal watersheds by
providing training and education, information and funding.
Program Management & Implementation Team
> Finance Workbook and Workshops - In August 1996, OCPD issued the
document, "Beyond SRF: A Workbook for Financing CCMP Implementation."
The workbook describes traditional and non-traditional financing mechanisms. In
FY 1998, OCPD will explore the need for updates or enhancements to the
workbook, as well as interest among the NEPs and other coastal watersheds, in
conducting workshops on the financing techniques described in the workbook.
Technical Assistance Team
> Septic System in Coastal Waters fact sheet - Failing septic systems is a major
contributing factor to the downgrading conditions in estuaries. This fact sheet
describes how septic systems affect coastal waters and estuaries, and provides
examples of corrective measures taken by Puget Sound and Sarasota Bay NEPs to
protect and enhance water quality. Available in both English and Spanish.
* Index of Watershed Indicators (IWI) - CMB will be involved in developing
two new data layers focusing on the eutrophic condition of our nation's estuaries
and atmospheric deposition of pollutants. The IWI is a tool for resource managers
and the general public that characterizes the health of our nation's watersheds.
>• Shellfish indicator support - CMB has supported two workshop panels since
1993 which investigated the state of shellfish and hard clams in particular. They
have also examined the feasibility of using aquaculture to restore estuarine
habitat. In FY 1998, CMB will participate on a task force which was formed to
investigate why hard clam populations are declining or are increasingly sick.
> Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Nitrogen Model of National Demand - The IRL
NEP built a decision model to provide quick information to decision-makers on
where septic and nutrient concentrations are exceeding acceptable limits, thus
giving the local and State governments a way of prioritizing major public
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expenditures for sewer works. CMB plans to work with the Water Management
District to finish the project this year and then share the model with all NEPs and
other coastal watersheds.
*• Benefits valuation database and workshop - CMB has been supporting coastal
resource valuation efforts since 1994. Products include development and field
testing in pilot watersheds of a valuation handbook which was designed to help
coastal watershed committees decide which sort of valuation method they would
use in local studies. We are also working with other EPA programs and federal
agencies to begin including coastal watersheds in the national assessment of the
benefits of the Clean Water Act. In FY 1998, CMB will begin planning for a
national Resource Valuation Workshop to help coastal managers share
methodologies for valuing coastal resources. We also are working on a national
database to make available the data resulting from various EPA efforts to estimate
the benefits of the Clean Water Act and coastal watershed case studies. Access to
this data should facilitate valuation studies in all coastal watersheds.
3. Share our coastal watershed experience with our partners and other watershed
managers and stakeholders within the United States and internationally.
Technical Assistance Team
*• Demonstration Project Fact Sheets (Coastlines inserts) - The purpose of these
fact sheets is to provide information and lessons learned from coastal restoration
and protection demonstration projects carried out in NEPs. CMB provides
funding for the contractor to work directly with interested NEPs to prepare 3-4
fact sheets a year and distribute them as inserts in Coastlines.
> Coastal Technology Transfer Conference & Proceedings - A conference,
potentially co-sponsored by EPA and NOAA, will be held in 1999 to provide a
forum for an exchange of information concerning issues facing estuaries and
coastal watersheds. Discussions will focus on a few key issues, and presenters
will include representatives from the NEPs, National Estuarine Research
Reserves, and State Coastal Zone Management Programs (and potentially other
coastal managers). Proceedings from the conference will be available on the
EPA/NEP webpage (referred to as Coastal Cookbook II). CMB will form a
workgroup with NOAA and NEP representatives to plan the conference.
> Oceans & Coastal Protection Division Display of Programs - The Technical
Assistance Team has created a display that portrays issues surrounding coastal
protection. Many of the programs and activities within the Oceans and Coastal
Protection Division will be featured.
> The Coastal Society Conference (Williamsburg. VA, July 98) - CMB co-
sponsored the Coastal Society Conference along with a variety of federal and non-
governmental organizations. Working with our partners we conducted three
August 31, 1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT 13
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
panels at the conference: Pfiesteria and other Harmful Algal Blooms; Air
Deposition in Coastal Waters; and Aquatic Nuisance Species. CMB also held an
NEP Directors meeting in conjunction with this conference.
+ Coastal Zone 99 - The Coastal Zone 99 conference is scheduled for July 25-30,
1999 in San Diego, CA. CMB will be involved in developing the conference
program.
* Participate on the OWOW Outreach Support group - CMB will continue to
participate on the OWOW Outreach Support Team to exchange ideas and
information concerning coastal watershed issues and to coordinate planning for
national or regional meetings and conferences with other partners in OWOW. In
addition, CMB will work to ensure that coastal and estuarine issues are addressed
as appropriate in OWOW products.
> Maintain and update coastal and estuarine information available on the
OWOW homepage - This activity involves participating on OWOW's Internet
Team; assisting with the organization and management of the OCPD web site;
staying abreast of important marine, coastal, and estuarine links; and posting and
updating relevant EPA documents. Recent additions to the OCPD web site
include information about Pfiesteria, the National Dredging Team, and the Year
of the Ocean, an enhancement of the NEP home page, and a web library of
NEP-related graphics. Plans for the near future include an air deposition page, a
page focusing on the health of America's coasts, and a re-design of the OCPD
home page.
> Water Environment Federation Watershed 98 Conference - OCPD organized
a panel entitled, "The National Estuary Program: Applying Lessons Learned from
EPA's Flagship Coastal Watershed Protection Program to other Watersheds," for
the WEF Conference. The panel discussed the importance of the National Estuary
Program as one of the earliest resource protection programs to be based on a
watershed approach. This retrospective on the NEP's first decade will be
accompanied by success stories from several of the estuary programs, and
examples of how the lessons learned from these successes are being shared with
other watersheds.
4. Provide Direction and Leadership to all coastal watershed managers and
stakeholders
Program Management & Implementation Team
>• Complete the Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy - CMB is
developing this strategy to guide our resource allocation process between
activities which are targeted to priority coastal watersheds and those which
support all coastal watersheds. We are developing this strategy in
August 31, 1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT 14
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
consultation with our partners in the Regions, other OWOW programs and
NOAA's Office of Coastal Resource Management.
Review Regional Management Agreements - The purposes of the
Regional Management Agreements (RMAs) are to: articulate program
priorities; establish performance commitments; help tie the national water
program to environmental results; and participate in GPRA/Multi-Year
Planning . CMB will review the RMAs for Regions I, II, III, IV, V, IV,
IX, and X.
Review legislative proposals affecting coastal and estuarine management
- CMB will assist in developing the Administration's position on relevant
legislative proposals.
Support Regional and State Pfiesteria response activities - CMB
activities include working with NOAA and other federal agencies to
implement research and monitoring priorities which reflect State needs,
developing Pfiesteria fact sheets that can be used by all concerned States.
working with NOAA to coordinate the two Agencies' transfer of funds to
States, and serving as an advisor to a Society for Applied Anthropology
fellow funded by OPPE who will work with stakeholders in the Pocomoke
River watershed to identify common goals and concerns and to build a
consensus approach for responding to Pfiesteria outbreaks. [CWAP pg 46]
Air Deposition Activities - CMB will assist coastal watershed managers
to define the air deposition issues within their watersheds, both for
nitrogen and toxic chemicals. We will provide opportunities for
monitoring and research to answer questions on how air pollution is
affecting coastal waters, sources of the pollution, and solutions to the
problem. We will also provide tools for coastal watersheds to deal with
water quality issues resulting from air deposition. CMB will work on pilot
TMDLs for mercury and nitrogen; find other solutions through Federal,
State and local laws and incentives to reduce air deposition.
[CWAP pg 59]
B. Support for Priority Coastal Watersheds
Prior to the State Unified Watershed Assessments, CMB has not had a well-structured
process for identifying priority coastal watersheds beyond National Estuary Programs.
We have periodically solicited the Regions for guidance on where to direct targeted
assistance to coastal watersheds in addition to NEPs. Our efforts to date have focused
primarily on providing targeted assistance to the NEPs. We expect our integration of the
Clean Water Action Plan Unified Watershed Assessments and the Watershed Restoration
August 31, 1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
Action Strategies prepared by coastal states into this Coastal Watershed Protection
Strategy will vastly improve our efforts to support other priority coastal watersheds.
1. Build and strengthen coalitions to leverage funding and provide consistent federal
guidance and direction for coastal watershed managers and stakeholders.
Program Management & Implementation Team
»• Work with the Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP)- CMB will
support appropriate activities in the current grant, such as developing a report to
the nation to inform the public on NEP issues, educate other partners regarding
the Association and its activities, and will assist in coordinating upcoming NEP or
coastal workshops and conferences.
2. Strengthen Capacity of Our Partners to protect and restore coastal watersheds by
providing training and education, information and funding.
Program Management & Implementation Team
> National Indicators Project- Each NEP conducts environmental monitoring
designed to measure progress toward the goals in its CCMP. In FY1997, OCPD
examined which parameters appear to be common across NEP monitoring
programs. In FY 1998, OCPD will continue this effort by working with the NEPs
to determine whether data compiled by individual NEPs can also be compiled
into statements of environmental progress for the NEP as a whole.
»• Regional NEP coordinators workshop - CMB will hold a workshop if
necessary for National Estuary Program Regional coordinators to discuss issues
regarding CCMP development and implementation, EPA guidance and policy
issues, and other items as requested.
> Analyses of Post-CCMP Institutional Arrangements - Many NEPs have
conducted an analysis of potential institutional mechanisms for overseeing the
implementation of their management plans. Mechanisms include creating an
independent non-profit to establishing an office within an existing organization.
In FY 1998, OCPD will compile examples of the analyses conducted by NEPs
and the process used by various NEPs to select an appropriate mechanism.
Technical Assistance Team
•> RESOLVE workshops - CMB, with RESOLVE, Inc., has developed a consensus
building and multi-party decision making training course. This two to three day
course provides management conference participants with the tools and skills for
negotiation and facilitation.
>• Local Government workshops - The purpose of the local government
workshops is to assist local officials in protecting coastal resources by providing
information on both regulatory and non-regulatory tools available to them for
August 31,1998 - SEVENTH DRAFT 16
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for (he Coastal Management Branch
resource protection, including innovative zoning ordinances, land acquisition
techniques, tax incentives, etc. Local and state government officials, planners,
public works and health officials, scientific and technical personnel, and others
involved in land and water resource management and protection.
>• Volunteer monitoring workshops - The objective of these workshops is to
promote, encourage and improve volunteer monitoring in the estuarine
environment by providing a two and half day workshop covering all aspects of
managing a volunteer group.
>• Monitoring workshops - CMB provides assistance to NEPs in development of
their comprehensive, integrated, regional monitoring programs through a series of
workshops designed to focus on the framework outlined in the guidance
document.
> GIS maps of NEP study areas - EPA and the Center for Marine Conservation
(CMC) are working jointly on a project to map Marine and Coastal Protected
Areas (MACPAs) in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) format. Mapped
MACPAs include National Estuary Program study areas, National Estuarine
Research Reserves, National Marine Sanctuaries, National Parks, National
Wildlife Refuges, and other federally managed or protected marine and coastal
areas. The GIS data will be free and available for download from the world wide
web.
»• Directors' Meeting with NOAA (completed) - CMB worked with NOAA to
sponsor a joint meeting in March 1998 between EPA's NEPs and NOAA's
Coastal Zone Management Program, National Estuarine Research Reserve
System, and National Marine Sanctuaries. In conjunction, we sponsored a
national meeting for EPA NEP coordinators and an EPA/NEP Directors meeting.
We are exploring a joint conference to exchange information on coastal
management in conjunction with the Spring 1999 meetings.
3. Share our coastal watershed experience with our partners and other watershed
managers and stakeholders within the United States and internationally.
Technical Assistance Team
> Internet support to host web pages and post documents for NEPs - This
activity involves providing EPA server space and technical assistance to any NEP
that would like these services. An example is the conversion of a multi-media CD
RDM produced by Indian River Lagoon into a web site. This project is still in
progress, but should become available soon at:
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/oceans/lagoon/
*• NEP success stories on-line (completed) - CMB prepared information on NEP
success stories and posted it on the EPA NEP homepage.
August 31,1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT 17
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
4. Provide Direction and Leadership to coastal watershed managers and stakeholders.
Program Management & Implementation Team
*• Administer the National Estuary Program - in consultation with the Regional
NEP coordinators, CMB provides oversight and guidance to the 28 individual
NEPs around the country. The objective is to help them develop and implement
their Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans to protect and restore
their estuaries.
>• Conduct NEP evaluation - CMB has contracted with Westat, Inc. to conduct an
evaluation of the NEP. The contractor will analyze the organization, operation.
and implementation of the NEP through a comprehensive review of the 28
programs.
*• Conduct NEP biennial reviews - In FY 1997, OCPD conducted the first review
of NEPs designed to evaluate progress of individual programs in implementing
their management plans (CCMPs), and to make decisions regarding continued
EPA funding. The next biennial review will be conducted in F Y 1999 and will
include Tiers I, II, and III. In spring 1998, OCPD will issue guidance on the next
review process.
*• Complete FY 1998 NEP annual funding guidance - CMB prepared guidance
for the Regions and NEPs which announces the level of funding for each NEP and
provides policy guidance and program requirements as appropriate.
> Revise NEP Primer and provide Spanish translation - The Primer (first
published in 1992) needs to be revised in light of the Coastal Watershed Strategy
and to reflect lessons learned from the National Estuary Program that can be
replicated by other coastal watershed communities in their efforts to protect and
manage their resources. In order to reach a broader audience, the Primer will also
be published in Spanish.
Technical Assistance Team
*• Complete NEP Report to Congress - The Technical Assistance Team will be
preparing a Report to Congress on the National Estuary Program highlighting the
28 individual programs and common challenges they face. The report also will
examine the future direction envisioned for the National Estuary Program.
August 31, 1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
V. Measuring Our Progress: Achieving Environmental Results
This section will describe the Coastal Management Branch's approach to measuring progress
towards our coastal restoration and protection goals and objectives. Our approach is integral to
the EPA Strategic Plan and relies on existing reporting mechanisms for State/EPA Performance
Partnership Agreements, Regional Management Agreements and the Government Performance
Results Act.
EPA's Strategic Plan. September 1997
As required under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), the EPA
Strategic Plan describes the Agency's mission and ten broad environmental goals that will serve
as the framework for the Agency's planning and resource allocation decisions. Each of the ten
goals has measures and indicators that will be used to evaluate the Agency's progress in
achieving the goals. Most of the activities of CMS are contained in Goal #2.
Goal: "Clean and Safe Water": All Americans will have drinking -water that is clean and
safe to drink. Effective protection of America's rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, and coastal and
ocean waters will sustain fish, plants, and wildlife, as well as recreational, subsistence, and
economic activities. Watersheds and their aquatic ecosystems will be restored and protected to
improve human health, enhance water quality, reduce flooding, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Objectives:
*• By 2005, protect human health so that 95 percent of the population served by community
water systems will receive water that meets drinking water standards, consumption of
contaminated fish and shellfish will be reduced, and exposure to microbial and other
forms of contamination in waters used for recreation will be reduced.
+ Conserve and enhance the ecological health of the nation's (state, interstate, and tibial)
waters and aquatic ecosystems — rivers and streams, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, coastal
areas, oceans and groundwater — so that 75 percent of waters will support healthy
aquatic communities by 2005.
> By 2005, pollutant discharges from key point sources and nonpoint source runoff will be
reduced by at least 20 percent from 1992 levels. Air deposition of key pollutants
impacting water bodies will be reduced.
A combination of program output and environmental outcome measures will be used to measure
progress towards meeting the clean water goal. These measures will be reported in annual
budget requests, Regional Management Agreements and EPA-State Agreements.
August 31, 1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT 19
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
Annual Budget Requests
To develop budget requests for implementing the EPA Strategic Plan, EPA identifies annual
performance goals. The 1998 - 1999 annual performance goals relevant to the Coastal
Management Branch are presented in the attached table.
Regional Management Agreements
Beginning in FY 1996, the Office of Water has established Regional Management Agreements
with the Regional Water/Ecosystem Offices or Divisions which are updated annually. The
purposes of the Agreements are to:
1) clearly articulate our mutually agreed upon program priorities;
2) establish performance commitments that reflect the mix of environmental goals unique to
each Region; and
3) help the national water program, already a leader in this area, toward work that we can
increasingly and more strongly tie to environmental results.
The Coastal Management Branch reviews Regional Management Agreements to determine the
extent to which NEPs and other coastal watersheds are being considered as priorities by the
Region.
National Environmental Performance Partnership System fNEPPS)
Implementation of performance partnerships began in FY 1997, giving States a stronger role in
priority setting, focusing scarce resources on the highest priorities, and tailoring the amount and
type of EPA oversight to an individual State's performance. In accord with this initiative, EPA
has new performance partnership grant authority that allows States to combine funds from
multiple EPA grants to address their highest environmental priorities across all media; link
program activities more effectively with environmental goals and program outcomes, and carry
out innovative pollution prevention, cross media, ecosystem and community-based strategies.
EPA-State Agreements include a set of core performance measures that were developed to track
State progress in achieving the Clean and Safe Water goals and objectives identified in EPA's
Strategic Plan. The Coastal Management Branch will review EPA-State Agreements for coastal
States to determine the extent to which NEPs and other coastal watersheds are considered to be
priorities for the States and Regions.
Environmental Indicators
The core environmental indicators which should be reported in the Regional Management
Agreements and EPA-State Agreements include:
> % of assessed waterbodies that protect public health and the environment by supporting
designated uses.
August 31,1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT 20
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
FY 1999 Budget Request Key Performance Goals
Coastal Management Branch Measures
National Estuary Program Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plans completed
Biennial Review of first NEPs
Issue a report on the use of atmospheric and bioaccumulation
models to assess extent of air deposition in estuaries and
effectiveness of potential controls
Evaluate effects of air deposition on estuaries
Other EPA Program Measures
Reduce the number of point and nonpoint sources contributing
to the total load of fecal contamination in Gulf shellfish growing
waters in two priority Gulf coastal watersheds
Provide funding support to community-based projects for
watershed restoration including restoration of wetlands and river
corridors in 160 watersheds (an increase of 1 10 from 1998)
States funding nonpoint source and estuary projects with Clean
Water State Revolving Funds
States that upgrade NPS programs to reflect 9 key elements
States/Territories with approved CZARA NPS programs
As part of the Clean Water Action Plan, all States will be
conducting or have completed unified watershed assessments,
with support from EPA, to identify aquatic resources in greatest
need of restoration or prevention activities.
States submit implementation plans to EPA that describe the
processes for implementing TMDLs developed for waters
impaired solely or primarily by nonpoint sources
1998
19
CCMPs
12 NEPs
1 report
50
watersheds
18
States
5 States
29 States
1999
24
CCMPs
1
report
2
watersheds
160
watersheds
30
States
10 States
50 States
25 States
While CMB is not directly responsible for all of the performance goals presented above, we will
work to help ensure that the interests and concerns of the NEPs and other coastal watersheds are
considered by States, Regions and other EPA programs.
August 31, 1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy'1.
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
* % of assessed rivers and estuaries with healthy aquatic communities.
> % change of selected substances found in surface waters.
Additional coastal environmental indicators which may be reported are:
>• acres of wetlands protected or restored
*• miles of fish passage restored
> acres of submerged aquatic vegetation restored
*• miles of riparian forest buffers planted
> acres of shellfish beds open
*• reduction in number of days beaches were closed compared to the previous year
This data is being collected by States, local environmental and health agencies, and volunteer
monitoring groups or other nongovernmental organizations. For example, some National
Estuary Programs have developed nutrient reduction goals and water quality chemical and
biological indicators. While such data may not be aggregated at the State, Regional or national
level due to differences in reporting methodologies, such data should be reported at the
watershed level if it is available. Regions should look to the annual workplans, quarterly
progress reports and other project reports submitted by the National Estuary Programs or other
coastal watershed programs supported by the Region for information on measurable
environmental improvements which could be incorporated into the Regional Management
Agreements and EPA-State Agreements.
National Estuary Program Evaluation Efforts
As one of EPA's flagship watershed protection/community-based environmental protection
programs, the lessons learned from the National Estuary Program are critical to our ability to
help other coastal communities successfully develop watershed protection programs and to
leverage resources with other federal agencies and other EPA programs for coastal restoration
and protection. To better understand the achievements and lessons learned realized from the
NEP, we initiated three evaluation processes: NEP Annual Work Plans, the NEP Biennial
Review and the NEP Evaluation.
NEP Annual Work Plans
NEP Annual Work Plans are submitted to the Regions every year by the NEPs as part of the NEP
grant process. CMS reviews these annual work plans to assess the progress made by NEPs while
they are developing their CCMPs as well as by those implementing their CCMPs.
NEP Biennial Review
The NEP Biennial Review is designed to evaluate the progress of individual NEPs in
implementing their CCMPs. The results of these individual reviews are used to determine
appropriate funding levels as well as to identify areas for improvement and successful
approaches which could help other NEPs and watershed programs. The Biennial Review is
August 31, 1998 -- SEVENTH DRAFT 21
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
conducted every two years once an NEP has been receiving EPA support for post-CCMP
activities for four years.
The first Biennial review each NEP undertakes is expected to be the most intensive as that sets
our baseline for a comprehensive assessment of each program's achievements and status.
Subsequent Biennial Reviews are expected to build on the first Review by focusing on how each
NEP is addressing any weaknesses identified in the previous Review and other accomplishments
which have taken place since the last Review. Tiers I and II NEPs underwent their first Biennial
Reviews in FY 1997. In FY 1999, Tier III NEPs will undergo their first Biennial Review and
Tiers I and II will have their second Review.
The NEP Biennial Review has proven to be a very useful process for EPA's management of the
overall NEP as well as for individual NEP's self-evaluation and communication of progress to
their communities. Lessons learned from the first Biennial Review process are provided in the
report, "The Biennial Review of National Estuary Programs: Highlights from the First Round of
Reviews."
NEP Evaluation
The NEP Evaluation is designed to provide a snapshot of the effectiveness of the overall
National Estuary Program and to help EPA identify areas for improvement in terms of how we
support and manage the program. For example, are there issues or barriers faced by most of the
NEPs that require new EPA guidance or involvement to resolve or is the NEP successfully using
the watershed approach to protect and restore estuarine resources? It is not intended to evaluate
or compare individual NEPs. The NEP Evaluation is being conducted by a contractor and should
be completed by December 1998. We believe the results from the NEP evaluation will
significantly improve CMB's ability to support coastal and estuarine restoration and protection.
VI. Conclusions
This Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy provides the framework the Coastal
Management Branch will use to work with our federal, State, local government, public interest
and private industry partners to protect, restore and maintain the nation's coastal and estuarine
resources. We will work for this mission every day by providing a baseline of support to all
coastal watersheds while targeting resources and technical assistance to priority coastal
watersheds. We will also work with the Regions and States to encourage the consideration of
National Estuary Programs and other coastal watersheds identified as national priorities for
protection and restoration, in the State Unified Watershed Assessment processes. We will
develop our annual work plans based on consideration of the needs identified in the Watershed
Restoration Action Strategies developed for priority coastal watersheds. Finally, we will review
EPA-State Agreements and Regional Management Agreements to evaluate progress being made
towards the environmental and programmatic measures specified for CMB's programs in the
EPA Strategic Plan and annual budget development process.
August 31, 1998 -- S EVENTH DRAFT 22
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Environmental Protection Agency
Carol Browner. Administrator
EPA
Office of Water OW
Robert Perciasepe. Assistant Administrator for Water
Office of Wetlands. Oceans, and Watersheds
Robert Waviand, Director
Dave Davis, Deputy Director
OWOW
Assessment & Watershed
Protection Division AWPD
Wetlands Division
WD
Oceans and Coastal Protection Division OCPD
Suzanne Schwartz, Director
Craig Vogt, Deputy Director
Marine Pollution Control Branch MPCB
David Bedford, Acting Chief
Coastal Management Branch
Darretl Brown, Chief
CMB
Program Management PMIT
and Implementation Team
Betsy Sailer, Team Leader
Technical Assistance Team TAJ
Edna Villanueva, Team Leader
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy':
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
Attachment B: Coastal Management Branch Personnel and Contact Information
Coastal Management Branch Tel. # Fax #
(AREA CODE 202)
Darrell Brown, Chief 260-6502 260-9960
UNCED follow-up (land-based sources of
marine pollution)
• Convention on Biodiversity
• Coastal Monitoring
• Marine and Coastal Protected Areas
• Coastal Index Monitoring Sites Representative
• CWA Benefits Team Representative
Nadeen Thompson, Secretary 260-9103 260-9960
Ruth Chemerys (One Year Detail 260-9038 260-7024
to Assessment & Watershed Protection Division)
• Buzzards Bay
• Delaware Estuary
• Casco Bay
Jessica Cogan 260-7154 260-9960
• Coastal Management Branch Executive Officer
• Program Management & Implementation Team
• Technical Assistance Team
• Lower Columbia River NEP
• Santa Monica NEP
• Mobile Bay
• Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
Morro Bay NEP
• Coastal Zone Conference coordinator
• Consensus Building - Dispute Resolution
• NEP Evaluation
ISTEA
• International Integrated Coastal Resource Mgmt. Training
• Urban Team - Smart Growth
• Sprawl Activities Conference
B-l
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
Coastal Management Branch • contd. Tel. # Fax #
(AREA CODE 202)
Gregory Colianni 260-4025 260-9960
• Technical Assistance Team Leader
• Program Management & Implementation Team
Charlotte Harbor NEP
• Delaware Inland Bays NEP
• Puget Sound
• Gulf of Mexico
• Sarasota NEP
• Index of Watershed Indicators
• Coastal Eutrophication
• Coastal Monitoring
• Great Water Bodies liaison
• Atmospheric Deposition support
• NEP Report to Congress
• NEP data - Environmental indicators
Joe Hall 260-9082 260-9960
• Program Management & Implementation Team
• Technical Assistance Team
• Internet management for OCPD/CMB
• Internet support for NEPs
• Home pages
• Internet Technical Center Liaison
• National Estuary Program technical support
• 305(b) consistency
• Volunteer Estuary monitoring guidance - workshops
• Methods compendium for Marine Estuarine monitoring
• Measuring Progress of Estuary programs guidance/workshops
CMB QA Liaison
• Technical Innovations
• NEP data - environmental indicators
B-2
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy;
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
Coastal Management Branch - contd TelJ Fax#
(AREA CODE 202)
Nancy Laurson 260-1698 260-9960
• Program Management &t Implementation Team
• Technical Assistance Team
• NEP workshops and trainings
• Endangered Species Act (NEP issues)
• Air Deposition
Tillamook NEP
• Galveston NEP
• New Hampshire NEP
• Massachusetts Bay NEP
Coordination w/OCRM & NERR
ANEP Liaison
NEMO Project
• NEP Success Stories
• Tech Transfer Conference
1998 Estuaries Day
OWOW Outreach Team
• '99 Biennial Review
Deborah Lebow 260-6419 260-9960
• Shore Protection Act
• Air Deposition
• Great Water Program liaison
• Waquoit Bay air deposition grant
NY/NJ Harbor NEP
Donna Nickerson 260-6578 260-9960
• Indian River Lagoon NEP
• Long Island Sound
• San Juan Bay NEP
• Resources Valuation Handbook
B-3
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
Coastal Management Branch - contd. Tel. I Fax
(AREA CODE 202)
Betsy Salter 260-6466 260-9960
• Program Management & Implementation Team Leader
• Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds
• Peconic Bay
• Barnegat Bay
• San Francisco Estuary Project
• Corpus Christi Bay
• Pfiesteria and other harmful Algal Blooms
• Copper Brake Pad Workgroup
• Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy
• NEP Funding guidance
• Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance species
• Federal consistency guidance (NEP)
• CCMP governance/institutional arrangements
• SRF liaison - financing
Bill Shaklee (Environmental Careers Organization Intern) 260-0294 260-9960
• Smart Growth
• Corpus Christi NEP (back-up)
• Coastal Technology Transfer Conference
Steven Taylor (IPA/MD Dept. 'Nat. Res. thru 7/98} 410/974-3382 974-2571
• Director, Maryland Coastal Bays NEP
Wendy Walsh 260-6073 260-9960
• GIS mapping of marine and coastal protected area
(joint project w/Center for Marine Conservation)
• Maintenance of the NEP web site
OCPD Display
• Maryland Coastal Bays
• Barataria-Terrebonne NEP
Ruth Fitchett, Senior Environmental Employee 260-1435 260-9960
Delois Jones, Senior Environmental Employee 260-6831 260-9960
B-4
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Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy:
An Action Plan for the Coastal Management Branch
Coastal Management Branch • contd. Tel. # Fax
(AREA CODE 202)
George Loeb, Chief Science Advisor, Senior
Environmental Employee 260-0670 260-9960
• NEP Electronic Communications
• Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species
Macara Lousberg 260-9109 260-9960
• Oceans and Coastal Protection Division Program Analyst
• National Association of Counties Liaison
• Tampa Bay
• Coastal America Education/Outreach Liaison
• Coastlines Newsletter
B-5
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