Clean Lakes Program Tf TERRENE INSTITUTE ------- Written by Lynne Kolze, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Design and artwork by Patricia Perry Typesetting and production by Lura Taggart, JT&A, inc. Produced under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The Terrene Institute 1000 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 802 Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: (202)833-8317 Fax: (202)466-8554 Distributed by Second edition April 1991 ------- Our Lakes Your Lakes The lakes we remember once drew us to swim, to picnic, to canoe. We found in them beauty, mystery, and tranquility. And we have returned again and again to swim, sail, fish, and relax in quiet con- templation. Lakes continue to inspire our daily lives, while at the same time providing transportation, an abundant food supply, and water for drinking and bathing. By serving as a critical link in the ecosystem, lakes also are important sanctuaries for our fish and wildlife. But for some of us, the lakes of our childhood —and of our Nation's economic strength —are rapidly changing. Once clean, clear lakes are now muddy and shallow. Weeds become tangled in oars and boat motors and discourage swimmers. What could cause such rapid deterioration? What can we do to reverse it? While we all share responsibility for the cause, we also share responsibility for restoring our deteriorating lakes to their former beauty. But first, we must understand what can happen to lakes. All lakes mature naturally over thousands of years. Eventually they fill with sediments, decaying vegetation, and nutrients. Slowly they evolve from lakes to wetlands, and perhaps over time, dry land. 1 ------- This natural process, called eutrophication, can be accelerated by human activities. As rain falls and flows over the land and to your lake, it carries with it sediments, detergents, pesticides, fer- tilizers, and wastes, all of which can dramatically hasten its natural aging process. This premature aging process is controllable, how- ever. A variety of techniques are available to restore and protect the quality of your lake. EPA's Clean Lakes Program can help you achieve this goal. 2 ------- 2 The Clean Lakes Program Widespread public support for preserving and protecting our Nation's lakes gave rise to the Clean Lakes Program in 1972. In- itiated under Section 314 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Lakes Program set ambitious goals for defining the cause and extent of pollution problems in the lakes of each State and for developing and implementing effective techniques to re- store them. Since 1975, the Clean Lakes Program has provided more than $102 million in financial assistance to State and local governments to help fund hundreds of Clean Lakes studies and projects. And has successfully demonstrated that lake restoration projects can be done efficiently and cost effectively, and provide multiple public benefits. Tourism, property values, commercial fishing and other interests are among the tangible benefits of the Clean Lakes Pro- gram. The strength of the Clean Lakes Program can be attributed to the development of a strong partnership between Federal, State and local governments in the planning and implementation of each Clean Lakes project. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administers the Program and assists States and local com- 3 ------- munities in cleaning up their lakes, each State is encouraged to or- ganize and administer its own program. Each State may apply for grants through the EPA Regional Of- fice for those lake projects that meet State and EPA criteria. Fol- lowing review of the grant applications, EPA may award cost-sharing financial assistance to a State, which may in turn fund work done in your community. Although your State may administer the program that affects your lake, local involvement will be essen- tial to ensure that your lake is restored to its natural beauty and protected from future degradation. Your participation will be the key to success. ------- Financial Assistance How It Works The Clean Lakes Program offers financial assistance to States through four funding mechanisms called cooperative agreements. Local communities can request financial assistance from their States for lake restoration or management projects. The require- ments of each cooperative agreement: 1. Lake Water Quality Assessments: The Clean Lakes Program requires each State to provide a list of threatened or impaired lakes within its boundaries. The States must rank these lakes based upon the severity of their pollution problems to ensure that seriously degraded lakes are reviewed and considered for restoration activities and grant awards. During this phase of the program, local governments may help the State determine which lakes are seriously polluted and which should be targeted for restoration, protection, or management ac- tivities. The assessment must be completed before the State can qualify for Federal grants. The Federal government is authorized to provide financial assistance to the States for up to 50 percent of the 5 ------- cost of completing the assessment; however, no more than $50,000 per year can be awarded to any State for its study. 2. Phase I Diagnostic/Feasibility Study: Once the list of threatened or impaired lakes has been prepared by your State and approved by EPA, local communities can continue to play an active role in the process. To do so, you should begin by developing a comprehensive study of your lake to determine the causes and extent of pollution, to evaluate possible solutions, and to recommend the most feasible and cost-effective method for res- toring and protecting water quality. Your community may be eligible for a Federal grant that may award up to 70 percent of the costs of the study; however, no more than $100,000 will be awarded for any one study. 3. Phasell Implementation: Phase II implementation translates Phase I recommendations into action. Funds awarded for Phase II projects can be used for actual restoration work in the lake as well as for implementation of management practices in the watershed. Funding of a Phase II implementation project does not auto- matically follow the successful completion of a Section 314 funded Phase I. Each cooperative agreement is considered on its own merits, must be applied for separately, and must be approved by your State and EPA. Phase II projects require a non-Federal match of 50 percent, or in other words, 50 percent of the total costs must be paid by the State or local entities. This should not discourage you, however, since actual costs can be quite low. Many communities have lowered the implementation costs significantly by using local ex- perts, machinery, and community volunteers to get the job done. 4. Phase III Post-Implementation Monitoring: The final phase of the Clean Lakes Program is Post Implementa- tion Monitoring. Phase II! cooperative agreements will be used to advance the science of lake restoration. A number of Post-Im- plementation projects will be selected for funding to study the long-term effectiveness of various restoration techniques and tech- ------- nologies. Funding assistance of up to $125,000 will be available for each study; however, a 30 percent non-Federal match will be re- quired. How to Apply: ¦ For all cooperative agreements, States must submit the proper grant applications to EPA Regional Offices for review. The Regional Office will make a technical evaluation and determine funding priorities for the Region. Applications will then be sent to EPA Headquarters for final approval. Once approval is granted, the Regional Offices will make awards to the States. ¦ How can you get involved? Call your EPA Regional Office and speak with the Clean Lakes Coordinator (see the list at the end of this booklet). The coordinator will answer your questions, offer technical assistance, and give you the name of your State Clean Lakes Coordinator. Your State Coordinator will be of greatest assis- tance in the beginning and will continue to provide advice and en- couragement as your project gets fully underway. 7 . 1 ------- 4 You Make the Difference The continued success of lake restoration and protection projects across the Nation depends upon people like you — individuals who want to get involved and make a difference in their community. Without the leadership and persistence of local volunteers and community organizations, the clean-up of our Nation's lakes would be slowed significantly. Fortunately for all of us, over 300 com- munities have taken the lead in preserving and protecting their pre- cious lake resources. As you embark upon your own lake restoration program, a number of complex questions must be addressed. • What are your goals, and what is feasible? • How can you best restore water quality, protect natural resources, make efficient use of open space, and manage your watershed? • However challenging it may be to find the correct answers, your involvement will overcome the toughest obstacles and ensure that the decisions made will best suit the needs of your community. For each community that has restored a lake to its natural beauty, the rewards have been plentiful. Once again, people are 8 - ------- fishing, swimming, and sailing and rowing. And from these ac- complishments grows a strong spirit of community cooperation, pride, and environmental awareness. For the people who have worked hard to make this happen, from the clean-up crews to the fundraisers, the greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that they have provided lasting benefits not only for themselves but for their children and tomorrow's generations. f ~"T »VA . Hi 'fl ------- Regional Offices For more information about the Clean Lakes Program, please contact your Regional Clean Lakes Coordinator: Region I CT, ME, MA, NH, Rl, VT Warren Howard Water Management Division U.S. EPA - Region I Room 2103 John F. Kennedy Federal Building Boston, MA Tel: (617) 835-3515 Fax: (617)835-4940 Region II NJ, NY, PR, VI Terry Faber (2WM-WSP) U.S. EPA-Region II Room 805 26 Federal Plaza New York, NY 10278 Tel: (212)264-8708 Fax: (212)264-2194/8100 Region III DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV Hank Zygmunt (3WM10) U.S. EPA-Region III 841 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 Tel: (215)597-3429 Fax:(215)597-3359 Region IV AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN Howard Marshall U.S. EPA - Region IV 345CourtIand St., N.E. Atlanta, G A 30365 Tel: (404)257-1040 Fax:(404)347-3269 Region V IL, IN, Ml, MN, OH, WI Tom Davenport (5WQS-TUB) (Don Roberts 8-886-1765) U.S. EPA-Region V 230 S. Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60604 Tel: (312)886-0209 Fax: (312) 886-1420 Region VI AR, LA, NM, OK, TX Mike Bira (6W-QS) U.S. EPA - Region VI 1445 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75202-2733 Tel: (214)255-7140 Fax: (214)255-6490 Region VII I A, KS, MO, NE Donna Sefton U.S. EPA-Region VII Water Management Div. 726 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, KS 66101 Tel: (913) 551-7500 Fax:(913)551-7765 Region VIII CO, MT, ND, SD, UT. WY David Rathke (8WM-SP) U.S. EPA - Region VIII Suite 5(H), 99918th Street Denver, CO 80202-2405 Tel: (303)330-1574 Fax: (303)330-1647 Region IX AS, AZ, CA, GU, HI, MP, NV, TT Wendell Smith (W-3) U.S. EPA - Region IX 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Tel: (415)744-2018 Fax: (415)484-1078 Region X AK, ID, OR, WA Judith Leckrone (WD-139) U.S. EPA Region X 1200 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 Tel: (206)339-6911 Fax: (206)339-0165/0139 ------- |