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EPA 908-R-05-022
t>-57i -r
Winter 2005
A Publication of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 Ecosystem Protection Program
vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
U.S.EPA
999 18th Street, Suite 300
8EPR-EP
Denver, CO 80202-2466
In this Issue:
Why Trout Anglers
Should Care About
Groundwater
Pumping
Aquatic and Riparian
Invasive Species in
Region 8
Changes in Geo-
graphic Distribution
and Occurrence of
Algae
Straight Creek
Sediment Control
Funding
Opportunities
Publications and
Web Resources
Conferences/
Training
1
2
3
4
6
6
7
Why Trout Anglers Should
Care About Groundwater
Pumping
-Robert Glennon, University of
Arizona
Wild Atlantic salmon in Maine,
rainbow and brook trout in Wisconsin,
brown trout in Minnesota and fall-run
Chinook salmon in California share
something in common: each is
threatened by groundwater pumping.
The environmental consequences of
groundwater pumping are catastrophic:
rivers, springs, lakes and wetlands
have dried up, the ground beneath us
has collapsed, and fish, birds, wildlife,
trees and shrubs have died. Yet, the
only people who know about this
problem are a few scientists, a handful
of water management experts, and
those unfortunate enough to have
witnessed it themselves.
Alas, the situation is getting worse. In
the ongoing drought, cities, farmers,
miners and individual homeowners, in
search of new water supplies, have
mostly turned to groundwater. Once
thought to be as ubiquitous and
plentiful as the air we breathe, we now
know that groundwater is a finite
resource, one that we are quickly and
recklessly depleting.
To understand this pressing threat to
some blue-ribbon trout waters, it's
necessary to understand a bit of the
science of hydrology. Ground and
surface water are intimately connected
in the hydrologic cycle. Rainfall and
snowmelt indirectly provide water to
lakes and rivers by percolating into the
ground and then migrating laterally to
reach a watercourse.
If this sounds strange, consider the
following riddle: where does water in a
(Continued on page 2)
;=- Larsd surface -. ^
A well intercepts water that would flow to a stream.
-USGS Circular 1139
-------
river come from if it has not rained recently? It comes
from groundwater. The onset of groundwater pumping
disrupts this cycle by creating a "cone of depression" - a
lowering of the water table in the vicinity of the well. If
pumping continues, the cone may eventually grow so
large that the well starts capturing water directly from the
river. Even if the well is located some distance from the
surface water, it indirectly causes harm by intercepting
water moving toward the river.
Legal rules compound the problem by failing to limit the
size and scope of groundwater wells. Imagine a
groundwater aquifer as a giant milkshake glass, and each
well as a straw in the glass. In most states, the law allows
a limitless number of straws in a single glass. It's a
classic example of the tragedy of the commons, and it's a
recipe for disaster.
For trout anglers, the need to reform the system is urgent.
Because groundwater moves slowly, years or even
decades may pass before groundwater pumping lowers
the flow in a river, reduces the level in a lake or increases
the ambient water temperature. The hidden tragedy is
that groundwater pumping that has already occurred will
harm trout streams in the future. And as groundwater
pumping increases, the consequences will become more
severe.
Farming, ranching and rapid development consume
massive quantities of groundwater in the West. But the
problem isn't confined to any one region of the country.
Even relatively "wet" states like Massachusetts, Florida,
Michigan, Wisconsin, California and Minnesota consume
unsustainable amounts of groundwater to support
population growth, suburban sprawl, a consumer craze for
bottled "spring" water and the fast food industry's
demand for perfectly uniform French fries.
What can we do about this problem? Lots. We can get
involved with a local group, such as a Trout Unlimited
chapter. At the state level, we can break the relentless
cycle of unlimited access to finite groundwater resources.
Economic incentives can be a powerful tool to stimulate
conservation and to reward those who conserve water
with the right to sell some of it. Developers can be
required to purchase and retire existing water rights.
Simply put, we can no longer afford to allow unlimited
new straws in the milkshake glass.
Finally, we must recognize the economic value of our
water resources. Although water is a precious
commodity, millions of Americans pay more each month
for their cell phone and cable television than they do for
water. In fact, most Americans pay nothing for the
water that they receive. Most water bills simply
charge for the costs of the distribution of the water.
Increasing the price we pay for water would
encourage conservation and reduce the pressure to
drill new groundwater wells that threaten some of
our favorite trout waters.
Note. Excerpt from Trout, The Journal of
Coldwater Fisheries Conservation, Summer 2004,
with permission of Editor and Robert Glennon.
Original article: "Good to the Last Drop, Conserving
the West's Groundwater Resources. Robert
Glennon is the Morris K. Udall Professor of Law and
Public Policy at the University of Arizona College of
Law. Learn more about ground water and French
fries in his excellent book, "Water Follies:
Groundwater Pumping and the Fate of America's
Fresh Waters," Island Press, 2002.
Aquatic and Riparian Invasive Species in
Region 8
-Toney Ott, EPA Region 8
STWMJUATIC
HITCHHIKERS!
An "invasive species" is defined as
an alien species whose introduction
is causing or is likely to cause
economic or environmental harm, or
harm to human health.
EPA scientists are increasingly
concerned about aquatic and riparian
invasive species affecting western ecosystems. In
the past, most western state and federal invasive
species programs have concentrated on species
impacting agricultural, range and forestry lands.
Terrestrial invasive plants such as leafy spurge and
field bindweed have received much of the attention.
State agencies are now beginning to report
occurrences of aquatic and riparian invasive species,
but usually only when they impact agriculture. Other
areas of concern are forestry insects and disease, and
riparian species that are characterized as utilizing
high amounts of water, such as tamarisk. Invasive
species management programs which emphasize
aquatic species are gaining visibility and there is a
growing recognition of the economic and
environmental costs of aquatic nuisance species. The
Western Governors' Association Policy Resolution
02-21, Undesirable Aquatic, Riparian, and Invasive
Species, emphasizes the need to address this
-------
problem (see http://www.westgov.org/wga/policy/04/
invasives.pdf).
Aquatic and riparian invasives impact the western US in a
number of ways: economic health, human health, wildlife
health and ecosystem health. Increased erosion, toxicity,
water mining, shoreline instability, and biodiversity
changes are examples of ecosystem stress caused by
invasives.
The EPA Region 8 Consolidated Funding Program will
soon have conditions requiring recipients of funds to help
EPA comply with Executive Order 13112 (Invasive
Species). Activities such as sampling and monitoring
water bodies and wetland habitats, and any type of soil
disturbance have the potential to allow invasives to get a
foothold in the area of your project. Preventive actions
such as thoroughly cleaning your equipment (including
boats and boots) between monitoring sites, and
monitoring your project for invasives will be required of
grantees (see http://www.epa.gov/owow/
invasive species/EO 13112.pdf).
EPA Region 8 is developing a list of major aquatic and
riparian species of concern. It is based on lists from
relevant state agencies in Region 8, neighboring state
lists, the presence of the species in neighboring states, and
federal lists. A number of other factors are being
considered, including: local interest, probability of the
invasive to become established within ecosystems in
Region 8, ecosystem models, and the presence of a
pathway of introduction. A preliminary list of major
species of concern is provided below:
| Aquatic and Riparian Species of Concern |
3
3
| water hyacinth
| hydrilla
| Eurasian milfoil
| reed canarygrass
g purple loosestrife
g water chestnut
| salt cedar
g common reed
| New Zealand mudsnail
| zebra mussel
8 quagga mussel
5
5
3
|
rusty crawfish |
Brazilian elodea 2
silver carp |
bighead carp 2
grass carp 5
bull frog !
whirling disease |
golden algae |
Didymosphenia |
geminata |
~
5
5
g£«I£<7£
-------
Didymosphenia geminata
-USGS
D. geminata on fisheries, especially given the spread of
the diatom across watershed boundaries.
What has changed to allow D. geminata to take on the
characteristics of an invasive species? Did the
environment change, or did the ecological tolerance of
D. geminata itself change? Connections between the
features of the diatom (cell size, stalk composition),
other organisms (mayflies, stoneflies, midge larvae), and
the physical environment (stream flow, ultraviolet light,
temperature) may play a role in explaining the dense
growths of this diatom and its impacts at the watershed
scale. These are some of the questions we are working
to address. We need assistance in determining the
current geographic distribution of this species.
Fisherman, boaters, and other recreational users are
likely to see the growths of D. geminata beginning in
early spring and extending through fall. The algal
masses appear as a golden-brown fuzz on stream
surfaces including rocks and aquatic plants. As the
masses die, the stalks dry on to surfaces at the stream
edge. The dry stalks are whitish in appearance, and
many times people report seeing dried toilet paper on
rocks because of the white, flaky appearance.
Excessive growths of D. geminata have recently
occurred in several rivers in Colorado, including the
Cache La Poudre, Frying Pan, Arkansas, and Blue
Rivers. Please report locations of excessive
Didymosphenia geminata growth to the email address
below. For more information, contact Sarah Spaulding
at 303-312-6212 or spaulding.sarah@epa.gov, or visit
this web site: http://www.epa.gov/region8/water/
monitoring/didvmosphenia.html
Straight Creek Sediment Control
-Terri Tiehen, Colorado Department of
Transportation
The Straight Creek watershed is located approximately
60 miles west of Denver in Summit County, Colorado.
Straight Creek is a steep, high-elevation mountain
stream located within the White River National Forest.
At elevations between 9,000 and 13,000 feet above sea
level, the watershed is subject to extreme weather
conditions and significant snowfall. During the
1970's, Interstate 70 (1-70) was constructed through
the area, traversing the Continental Divide with the
completion of the Eisenhower Tunnel (Tunnel) in
1979.
The Tunnel is the highest vehicular tunnel in the
world, located at over 11,000 feet above sea level.
Straight Creek originates just north of the west portals
of the Tunnel and flows through a culvert under 1-70.
From this location, Straight Creek parallels the
Interstate and joins the Blue River, a Gold-Medal trout
fishery, at the town of Silverthorne about eight miles
below. Two downstream communities, Dillon and the
Dillon Valley District, depend on Straight Creek for
their primary drinking water supply.
Since the completion of 1-70, sediment loading from
exposed cut and fill slopes along the highway and
sanding from winter maintenance operations has
affected both fish habitat and local water plant
operations. In 1991, the Straight Creek Clean-up
Committee was formed to develop and implement
remediation within the watershed and oversee the
water monitoring program. Since that time, over $ 11
million have been spent implementing Best
Management Practices (BMPs) to curtail further
sediment loading along this corridor.
Implementing BMPs along a major interstate highway,
such as the Straight Creek corridor, is challenging,
expensive and often requires an innovative approach.
The difficult terrain, high altitudes, steep grades,
adverse weather conditions, limited space, safety
concerns and other factors can create problems. This
is illustrated by three projects scheduled for
construction during the summer of 2005. Finding for
these projects is from the Clean Water Act (CWA)
Section 319 grant program, and state and federal
transportation funds. At a total cost of $ 1.5 million,
these projects involve a unique approach to BMP
design.
-------
The first of these projects is the Tunnel Sediment and
Drainage Control project located at the west Tunnel
approaches. This is a $1 million project using federal
and state highway funds through the Statewide
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). This
project will essentially construct a new storm water
drainage system that will collect highway runoff that is
currently discharging into the culvert that carries
Straight Creek underneath the highway. At the
completion of the project, highway runoff near the west
portal of the Tunnel will be diverted away from Straight
Creek and directed into a nearby sediment basin.
Straight Creek, which currently flows into the same
sediment basin, will be rerouted and placed back into its
original channel. This project will reduce contaminant
loading to upper Straight Creek.
A CWA Section 319 grant approved in 2003 is paying
for the 1-70 Cut Slope Erosion and Traction Sand
Structural BMP above Straight Creek. This is a
demonstration project located along westbound 1-70 at
milepost 212. The town of Dillon, Dillon Valley
District and the Colorado Department of Transportation
(CDOT) are providing the match funding for this
$250,000 project. The BMP is a "clean water
diversion, " in which a perforated drainage pipe will be
imbedded in gravel and placed behind a concrete
barrier. The purpose is to separate groundwater spring
flows from highway runoff flows. The water will be
diverted to the nearest clean water tributary culvert.
Currently, clean tributary flows mix with the highway
runoff that goes to inlets and culverts along the
Aerial view of the Straight Creek Valley, West of
Eisenhower Tunnel
-CDOT Archives
highway. Some of these flows pass through existing
sediment basins located at the bottom of the fill slopes.
As a result, the efficiency of the basins is greatly
reduced and the clean water can become contaminated
before flowing back into Straight Creek. The clean
water diversion project will help improve water quality
and provide a more efficient method of controlling
highway flows.
Another CWA Section 319 grant project, the 1-70 Snow
Slide Structural BMP above Straight Creek, was
approved in 2004. This project will be constructed at
the Tunnel parking area, located next to the west portal
along Eastbound 1-70. The town of Dillon and the
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) are
providing the match funding for this $287,800 project.
Located at an elevation of 11,000 feet, large amounts of
snow accumulate in the parking area over the winter.
When this snow melts in the spring, the sand material
that has accumulated over the winter is carried off-site.
The project involves construction of a concrete pad,
hence the term "snow slide," that will be constructed
along the fill slope. A concrete barrier will be
positioned at the top of the snow slide that will include
an opening, allowing plow drivers to push the
accumulated snow down onto the snow slide. Just
below the snow slide, a concrete valley pan will be
constructed, along with a sediment basin, to collect the
accumulated sediment material. This material will be
removed and disposed of by CDOT Maintenance forces
during the summer months. It is estimated that
approximately 50-100 tons of sand material will be
captured annually by this BMP.
The projects described above include monitoring and
evaluation plans, a public information component, and a
potential technology transfer benefit. As these BMPs
are implemented along the Straight Creek corridor,
sediment loading will be reduced, resulting in improved
water quality, stream health and overall watershed
improvements.
A great deal of thanks go to EPA Region 8, the State's
Nonpoint Source Council and the Water Quality
Control Division at the Colorado Department of Public
Health & Environment for their continued support of
these innovative BMP projects. For additional
information on these and other projects planned for the
Straight Creek corridor please contact Terri Tiehen,
CDOT, 303-757-9285, or
Theresa.Tiehen@DOT.State.CO.US.
-------
Funding Opportunities
EPA STAR Grants—Environmental Information.
EPA, as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR)
program, is seeking applications for research projects to
address issues associated with the disclosure of environmental
information. This research will help understanding of how
required disclosure of environmental information about
contaminants in drinking water, toxic releases or residues,
chemical or oil spills, emissions, discharges and waste storage
and disposal influences environmental behavior, practices, and
performance by communities, regulatory and enforcement
agencies, facilities and other organizations.
Institutions of higher education and not-for-profit institutions
located in the U.S., and tribal, state and local governments, are
eligible to apply. EPA expects to make up to 6 awards for
about $1.5 million for 3 years of research. The deadline for
submitting proposals for these research grants is April 13,
2005.
For more information on this request for applications, see:
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2005/2005 ebd rfa.html. For
more information about the EPA STAR program, visit:
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/.
EPA STAR Grants—Climate Change and Human Health.
EPA, as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grants
program, is seeking applications for research projects to
determine the potential consequences of climate change and
climate variability on human health. Institutions of higher
education and not-for-profit institutions located in the United
States, and tribal, state and local governments, are eligible to
apply for the grants totaling approximately $5.1 million.
The deadline for submitting proposals for these research grants
is March 29,2005. For more information on this request for
applications, see: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/
rfa/2005/2005 decision support svs.html.
and
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/
rfa/2005/2005 hsa impacts research.html.
For more information on EPA's Science to Achieve Results
(STAR) research grants program in the National Center for
Environmental Research, visit: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/.
or contact: Ann Brown, 919-541-7818, brown.ann@epa.gov
Publications and Web Resources
Model Landscaping Ordinance and BMPs from
Colorado
The Department of Local Affairs, Office of Smart Growth has
made available a new water-efficient model landscaping
ordinance and best practices manual. The ordinance and
manual are available on the Office's Web site at: http://
www.dola.state.co.us/smartgrowth/documents/
Paper on "Water and Smart Growth: The Impacts
of Sprawl on Aquatic Ecosystems" by the Flinders'
Network
This is a translation paper from the Funders' Network for
Smart Growth and Livable Communities describing how
sprawl has become the second largest and fastest growing
source of pollution to our nation's water system, and how
land use reform can help protect our watersheds. The paper
can be viewed at: http ://www.fundersnetwork.org/
usr doc/Water and Smart Growth Final.pdf
EPA Offers Communities a New Tool for Achieving
Smart Growth and Water Quality Goals
EPA has released a new report that will help communities
protect water resources and achieve smart growth. Some of
the adverse effects of growth and development include: loss
of woodlands, meadowlands, and wetlands, and increased
polluted run-off. The report documents 75 innovative
approaches that state and local governments and water
quality professionals can use to achieve their smart growth
and water quality goals. To receive a free copy of the report,
send an email to: ncepimal(Sjone.net or call 1-800-490-
9198 and request EPA publication 23 l-R-04-002. The report
and more information about smart growth
are also available at: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
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"Real freedom lies in wilderness, not in
civilization."
~ Charles A. Lindbergh
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-------
Volunteer Monitoring
Peter Ismert (303)312-6215
ismert.peter@epa. gov
Wetlands
Paul Mclver (303) 312-6056
mciver.paul@epa.gov
Watersheds and Community-
Based Environmental Protection
Marc Alston (303) 312-6556
alston.marc@epa.gov
Ground Water
Darcy Campbell (303) 312-6709
campbell.darcy@epa.gov
' .V
prottttivn frontnet*
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Peter Monahan (303) 312-6946
monahan.peter@epa.gov
EPA Region 8 Environmental
Information Service Center
1-800-227-8917
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U.S. EPA
999 18th Street, Suite 300
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------- |