EPA 908-R-07-029
A Publication of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 Ecosystem Protection Program
vvEPA
U.S.EPA
Protection
Agency
8EPR-EP
Denver, CO 80202-1129
In this Issue:
Revitalizing the
Willow Creek
Watershed
Brownfields Grant
Opportunities
AWARE Colorado
Connects Land Use to
Water Quality
Groundwater
Foundation to Hold
National Conference
in Denver
EPA to Examine
Condition of Nation's
Lakes
Biosolids General
Permit
Funding
Opportunities
Conferences and
Training
Publications and Web
Resources
1
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
MITy
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A mockup of the future Mineral County Fairgrounds.
~ Photo: Mineral County Fairgrounds Association
Brownfields Grant for
Revitalizing the Willow Creek
Watershed
~ Ted Lanzano, EPA Region 8
EPA has been involved in the Willow
Creek watershed since 1999. The
work done by the community in
collaboration with EPA Region 8
and the State of Colorado is described
on the Willow Creek Reclamation
Committee website at:
www.willowcreede.org
Now, an EPA Region 8 Brownfields
grant is being used to help build the
new Mineral County Fairgrounds, a
much needed community asset.
(Continued on page 2)
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Willow Creek adjacent to mine tailing and
contaminated soil.
~ Photo by Daniel Heffernan, USEPA Region 8
The long anticipated environmental cleanup work in
Creede, Colorado is underway. This fall, construction
equipment broke ground and crews began removing mine
tailings and contaminated soil along Willow Creek to
make way for the construction of the Fairgrounds.
Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in
southwestern Colorado, Creede (with a population of
around 400) has a rich mining history. While the town is
transitioning to new economic activities, the culture and
the physical remnants of mining are as visible and well
preserved here as in any place in the West.
Unfortunately, the legacy of mining activity has also left
behind a host of environmental problems caused by acid
runoff and heavy metals from mining waste.
Willow Creek, a tributary of the Rio Grande River, is
downstream from 11 major former mining sites and is
contaminated with zinc, lead, cadmium and other heavy
metals. Eliminating this source of contamination is key to
restoring the aquatic and riparian habitat on the 46-acre
site, and also important to downstream users in the
agriculture-rich San Luis Valley. On this project, the
Mineral County Fairgrounds Association (MCFA) is
using a $200,000 EPA Brownfields grant to clean up the
floodplain area. This project is one of several that EPA
and the town of Creede are carrying out in the watershed
to address mining contamination.
Zeke Ward of the Willow Creek Reclamation
Committee elaborates on the cleanup, "Some of the
contamination can simply be isolated by putting
clean material over the top of it. But the ultimate
goal is to eliminate any possibility that any metals
can get into the ground water or have a pathway to
affect humans."
For Creede and the rest of Mineral County, the
redevelopment of the site is big news. Project
leaders have put together ambitious plans for an
indoor arena, recreation center, classrooms, and
exhibition and office space. Plans for the exterior
portions of the project are just as bold: rotational
livestock grazing, experimental crop cultivation,
athletic fields, interpretive trails, and a sculpture art
park are all being considered.
Jenny Inge of the MCFA explains, "We believe that
having an indoor and outdoor recreation facility this
close to the majority of our county population could
be a big draw in attracting people to move here. And
while Creede has never been anxious to overdevelop,
we're aware that development is inevitable, so if
were going grow we'd like to have something to say
about how we grow."
The vision and leadership of the Mineral County
Fairgrounds Association (MCFA), the Willow Creek
Reclamation Committee, and community members
have been instrumental in returning this
contaminated site to productive use. Creede's
innovative project serves as a model for other
communities that are transitioning from a mining-
based economy to an economy increasingly
dependent on natural assets: clean land, clean water,
and healthy ecosystems.
Brownfields Grant Opportunities
EPA's Brownfields Program is currently accepting
FY08 funding proposals for its Assessment, Cleanup,
Revolving Loan Fund, and Job Training Programs
(submission deadline is October 12, 2007). EPA
offers financial and technical support to states, tribes
and local communities to identify, assess, cleanup,
and reuse/redevelop brownfields properties.
Also, grants for Technical Assistance to Brownfields
Communities are available, and the deadline
for submission is October 3, 2007. For more
information or to view the request for proposals, visit
www.epa.gov/brownfields or contact Ted Lanzano
at lanzano.ted@epa.gov or (303) 312-6596.
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AWARE Colorado Connects Land Use to
Water Quality
~ By Laurie DiBattista, AWARE Colorado
We at AWARE Colorado have logged many miles
visiting communities in the state to inform local decision
makers how their land-use choices can impact local
water-quality protection. Since 2005, AWARE
(Addressing Water and Natural Resource Education)
Colorado has given presentations and talked with small to
large communities about why effective water quality
management starts with strategic planning at the local
level.
Cynthia Peterson, AWARE program director, has met
with planning commissions, city councils, visioning task
forces, county commissioners, homebuilders and others.
She reports that post-presentation evaluation surveys are
very encouraging. AWARE's educational messages deal
mostly with ways to reduce impervious surfaces such as
asphalt, cement, roofing and even compacted soil -
anything that prevents rain and snowmelt from infiltrating
the ground.
The program highlights strategies that use planning and
zoning tools such as buffers and setbacks; innovative
street and parking lot design; porous pavers and other
permeable materials; natural landscaping and tree cover;
and model ordinances.
AWARE is an initiative of the League of Women Voters
of Colorado Education Fund, a nonprofit and non-
advocacy education and research organization. AWARE
is funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment (CDPHE) through grants from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. It is guided by a
technical advisory committee of experts and also partners
with Colorado State University.
AWARE is a charter member of the National Nonpoint
Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Network,
which helps communities better protect natural resources
while accommodating growth.
The centerpiece of the AWARE program is its "Water
Protection Toolkit for Local Officials." The booklet gives
communities ideas about ways to protect water quality;
suggested resources for learning more, including links to
numerous Web sites; and proven management strategies
and practices suitable for Colorado. The toolkits can be
viewed or downloaded at www.awarecolorado.org.
Because of a grant from Coors Brewing Co., the booklets
were mailed to every municipality and county in the
state last year.
AWARE's program director and team previously
worked on a five-year statewide environmental
education campaign, the Colorado Water Protection
Project. It informed the public about nonpoint source
pollution and simple ways residents can reduce
polluted runoff around their homes. Messages were
delivered using TV and radio ads, a Web site and
newsletter, CDs, brochures, on-air interviews and
newspaper articles. Building on that experience,
AWARE has spread the word about its new program.
In a recent six-month period, about 5,150 visitors
logged onto AWARE's Web site. The AWARE e-
newsletter updates about 350 subscribers about the
program, resources, articles, and upcoming events
that deal with water quality protection. In the last
year, AWARE has also given in-depth educational
programs in the Pueblo area. Funded by a state
Supplemental Environmental Projects grant, the
programs address sources of stormwater pollution,
structural and nonstructural best management
practices and examples of opportunities for local
officials to facilitate improved stormwater practices.
AWARE is also working to add a new component,
community-based social marketing, to its program.
And, AWARE is cosponsoring the second annual
Sustaining Colorado's Watershed conference in
October, 2007. For more information, visit
www.awarecolorado.org or call Cynthia Peterson
at (303) 861-5195.
Groundwater Foundation to Hold National
Conference in Denver, Colorado:
Bridging the Gap Between What is
Known and What is Practiced
~ Susan Seacrest, President, Groundwater
Foundation
For decades scientists, hydrologists, hydrogeologists,
policy makers, and others have worked diligently to
find answers to our water-related concerns and issues.
Much is known about our water resources, and policy
has been enacted to help protect and manage our
water. Yet, how has this information impacted day-
to-day groundwater-management practices?
The Groundwater Foundation plans to explore this
question at its 23rd annual conference by focusing on
how current science, technology, and policy can
(Continued on page 4)
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promote groundwater-friendly practices at the local
level. The conference will be held November 28-30,
2007 at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel in the Denver
suburb of Lakewood, Colorado. Invited speakers
include: Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of
the Interior, Mark Limbaugh; U.S. Geological Survey
Office of Ground Water, Chief, Bill Alley, and Colorado
Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hobbs, Jr. Conference
co-sponsors include: AWWA Research Foundation,
Water Systems Council, U.S. Geological Survey, and US
EPA Region 8.
Conference topics include:
• water quality and quantity connections
• aquifer-based management
• western water policies
• integrated management case studies
• water rights and water law
• sustainable infrastructure and asset
management
• groundwater management on federal lands
The conference will also feature tours of the U.S.
National Ice Core Laboratory and the Bureau of
Reclamation's Hydraulic Laboratory. Special events
held in conjunction with the conference include an
opening reception featuring the presentation of the 2007
E. Benjamin Nelson Government Service Award and
Groundwater Guardian Designation Ceremony during
which communities participating in the Foundation's
Groundwater Guardian program will be recognized for
their efforts on behalf of groundwater protection.
Plan to attend this conference to learn more about how
science, technology and policy can help you to protect
groundwater now and for the future. For more
information, contact The Groundwater Foundation at
(800) 858-4844 or via e-mail at info@groundwater.org.
The Groundwater Foundation is a non-profit
organization based in Lincoln, Nebraska with a mission
to educate and motivate the public to care about and for
groundwater. Since its inception in 1985, the Foundation
"Intellectuals solve problems;
geniuses prevent them."
Albert Einstein
has offered various educational programming for
youth and adults. To learn more, visit
www.groundwater.org.
EPA to Examine Conditions of Nation's
Lakes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is
embarking on a three-year study to determine the state
of America's lakes. The "Survey of the Nation's
Lakes" is the first-ever attempt to assess real-world
conditions by studying 909 lakes, ponds and reservoirs
whose profiles are representative of all lakes in the
United States.
This study is part of a larger EPA effort to assess
coastal waters, rivers and wetlands. A similar survey,
for wadeable streams, was completed earlier this year.
All of the surveys will be repeated to analyze the
success of efforts to manage and improve overall water
quality. The report on the lakes survey will be released
in 2009.
More information about the Survey of the Nation's
Lakes: http://www.epa.gov/owow/lakes/lakessurvev/
Biosolids General Permits Published Final
~ Greg Davis, EPA Region 8
Biosolids is the new name for what has previously
been referred to as sewage sludge. Biosolids are
primarily organic treated wastewater materials from
municipal wastewater treatment plants ~ with the
emphasis on the word treated ~ that are suitable for
recycling as a soil amendment. Sewage sludge now
refers to untreated primary and secondary organic
solids. This differentiates biosolids which have
received stabilization treatment at a municipal
wastewater treatment plant from the many other types
of sludge that exist (such as oil and gas field wastes)
that cannot be beneficially recycled as soil
amendments.
Before about 25 years ago, the traditional practice in
this Region was to landfill or incinerate what was then
called sewage sludge. During the past quarter century,
the practice changed to recycling biosolids as soil
amendments. Region 8 recycles 85% of the biosolids
generated in the six-state Region.
Biosolids are, in effect, a slow release nitrogen
fertilizer with low concentrations of other plant
nutrients. In addition to significant amounts of
nitrogen, biosolids also contain phosphorus,
potassium, and essential micronutrients such as zinc
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and iron. Many western soils are deficient in
micronutrients. Biosolids are rich in organic matter that
can improve soil quality by improving water holding
capacity, soil structure and air and water transport.
Proper use of biosolids can ultimately decrease top soil
erosion.
When applied at agronomic rates (the rates at which
plants require nitrogen during a defined growth period),
biosolids provide an economic benefit in addition to
their environmental benefits. Colorado State University
agronomists have shown continuous application of three
dry tons per acre every other year to dryland wheat
produces comparable yields, higher protein content, and
larger economic returns compared with the use of 50-60
pounds per acre of commercial nitrogen fertilizer.
The biosolids general permits published by EPA Region
8 are intended to cover the generation, treatment, and/or
the use/disposal of sewage sludge by means of land
application, landfill, and surface disposal. Facilities or
operations that incinerate sewage sludge are not eligible
for coverage under these general permits. In order to
provide some flexibility to address different situations,
coverage under the general permits will fall into one of
the following three categories:
Category 1. Facilities/operations that generate and/or
partially treat sewage sludge, but do not use/dispose of
sewage sludge.
Category 2. Facilities/operations that use/dispose of
sewage sludge and may also generate and/or treat
sewage sludge.
Category 3. Wastewater lagoon systems that need to
land apply sewage sludge on an occasional, restricted
basis.
More information on the general permits and EPA's
Biosolids program can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/region8/biosolids
or call Bob Brobst at 303-312-6129 or email
brobst.bob@epa.gov
Funding Opportunities
EPA's Brownfields Program is currently accepting
FY08 funding proposals for its Assessment, Cleanup,
Revolving Loan Fund, and Job Training Programs
(submission deadline is October 12, 2007). EPA offers
financial and technical support to states, tribes and local
communities to identify, assess, cleanup, and reuse/
redevelop brownfields properties. Also, grants for
Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities are
available, and the deadline for submission is October 3,
2007. For more information or to view the request for
proposals, visit www.epa.gov/brownfields
The Norman Foundation is accepting Letters of
Inquiry from U.S. organizations for its Environmental
Justice program. The foundation provides grants for
general support, projects, and collaborative efforts and
welcomes innovative proposals designed to build the
capacity of social change organizations working in its
areas of interest. Letters of Inquiry Deadline:
November 1, 2007
http://www.normanfdn.org/
Programs Newly Listed in the Catalog of Federal
Funding
The following new programs were added to the Catalog
of Federal Funding for Watershed Protection:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers programs:
Snagging and Clearing for Flood Control (CAP Section
208)
• Shore Damage Attributable to Federal Navigation
Works (CAP Section 111)
• Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material (CAP Section
204)
• Small Flood Damage Reduction Projects (CAP
Section 205)
• Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration (CAP Section 206)
• Project Modifications for Improvement of the
Environment (CAP Section 1135)
EPA programs:
• EPA Gulf of Mexico Program
• EPA Communities for a Renewed Environment
Program (CARE)
Three additional programs are also listed: Small
Business Innovation Research, Water 2025 Challenge
Grant Program and Rivers, Trails, and Conservation
Assistance Program. The Catalog can be accessed at
www.epa.gov/watershedfunding.
Conferences and Training
"Sustaining Colorado's Watersheds: Making the
Water Quality Connections", Oct. 2-4, 2007,
Breckenridge, CO. Go to:
www.coloradowater.org/conference/index.htm
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Second Annual Colorado Environmental
Film Festival
November 1-3, 2007, American Mountaineering Center,
710 10th Street, Golden, Colo. This event will offer
attendees the opportunity to view thought-provoking and
entertaining local, national, and international feature
length and short films for all ages, participate in a forum
on environmental filmmaking, attend an evening
reception, and learn from a variety of organizations in the
Expo Hall. For more information go to:
www.caee.org/ceff.html.
Key EPA Internet-Based Tools for Watershed
Management
This is a comprehensive, two-part course designed to
familiarize users with powerful watershed management
tools provided online by US EPA. Presented in a
readable, section-based format, the course tutorials are
now available for self-paced study. The only requirement
is a computer with Internet access.
In the overview course you will learn to extract reports
from EPA water program databases such as the TMDL
database, take a spin on Enviromapper for Water, EPA's
online mapping application based on the National
Hydrography Dataset, and query an interactive funding
catalog. In the in-depth course you will get an overview
of the Watershed Plan Builder Tool, query water quality
standards for a state, generate watershed-wide data
summary on impaired waters from WATERS and much
more. To explore the course, visit
www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/epatools
Publications and Web Resources
Plan2Fund Objective Prioritization Tool (OPT)
Does your watershed group need assistance deciding
between competing objectives and priorities? Plan2Fund
Objective Prioritization Tool (OPT), a free web-based
Watershed Planning Tool, can help. OPT allows users to
rank competing priorities by providing a user-friendly
spreadsheet that makes setting, weighting, and applying
criteria simple. Your group can set its priorities with
confidence and share this information with decision
makers, flinders, and constituents. Download Plan2Fund
OPT at http://efc.boisestate.edu/opt.
GOOGLE EARTH STREAM FLOW KML FILES display
real-time stream gauges in Google Earth. Google Earth
is an interactive, 3D viewer that seamlessly zooms from a
global scale down to less than a meter in many urban
areas. To display USGS stream gages, download one of
the following files and open it in Google Earth. Stream
gages, colored by streamflow condition (390K) This is a
KML file of a USGS real-time stream gage map. Each
gage is colored in terms of flow conditions. This file is
re-created every hour. Once it is opened in Google
Earth, the contents will be refreshed in every hour.
http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/kmls/real.kmz
Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) Releases
Latest Article in the Wetlands and Watersheds
Article Series: "The Importance of Protecting
Vulnerable Streams and Wetlands at the Local
Level"
Visit the website at:
www.cwp.org/wetlands/articles.htm to download a
copy of the article. Also available are Articles 1, 2 & 3
of the series. All articles are available for free
download. Since 2005, CWP has released articles as
part of the Wetlands and Watersheds Article Series.
Article 6 in the series, "The Importance of Protecting
Vulnerable Streams and Wetlands at the Local Level,"
makes the case for expanded local protection of
vulnerable streams and wetlands that may not be fully
protected by state or federal law due to their perceived
isolation from perennial or navigable waters. This
article summarizes state and local approaches to
closing this gap.
Two New Publications from the National
Association of Counties (NACo)
NACo has updated a publication entitled Using GIS
Tools to Link Land Use Decisions to Water Resource
Protection. The guide provides practical case studies, a
list of commonly available tools, and a newly created
tools assessment section. County Wetlands Data
Guidebook is another new NACo publication, which
provides a practical introduction to wetlands data and
is designed to help county officials obtain and utilize
wetlands data and maps for county purposes. These
publications are available now at
www.naco.org/techassistance
Rooftops to Rivers: Green Strategies for
Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer
Overflows
This report highlights green infrastructure as an
alternative to traditional stormwater management
approaches. It includes economic benefits of green
solutions, policy recommendations for local decision
makers and case studies from the U.S. and Canada.
www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/rooftops/contents.asp.
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Web Site Encourages Green Infrastructure
Hosted by The Conservation Fund and the USDA Forest
Service, www.greeninfrastructure.net, illustrates that
identifying and planning for green infrastructure
provides a framework for smart conservation and smart
growth to ensure abundant clean water and healthy
landscapes into the future. The site includes a section on
Elements of Successful Green Infrastructure Initiatives;
examples of benefits; profiles of related projects around
the country (including the Mountain West where the
Chatfield Basin is featured); and more.
"Water Infrastructure: Successful Strategies for
Local Leadership" DVD
EPA's Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC)
received a 2007 Bronze Telly for their new DVD that
highlights how local governments are addressing aging
sewer and water systems to meet current and future
challenges facing our communities. The DVD features
five local officials telling how they successfully met the
needs of their communities for sustainable water
infrastructure. The staggering costs of maintaining and
improving water and wastewater systems challenge local
leaders in practically every American community. The
video can be accessed at:
www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure.
WaterSense
WaterSense is a voluntary public-private partnership
program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Its mission is to protect the future of
our nation's water supply by promoting and enhancing
the market for water-efficient products and services. Go
to: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/
"After the Storm" Video
DVD copies of the popular half-hour television special
about watersheds - After the Storm - co-produced by
The Weather Channel (TWC) and the EPA are now
available at no charge. This program premiered on TWC
in 2004 and continues to be a very popular vehicle to
educate citizens about stormwater management. The
program highlights three case studies - Santa Monica
Bay, the Mississippi River Basin/Gulf of Mexico, and
New York City - where polluted runoff threatens
watershed health. To order a free copy of After the
Storm, contact NSCEP at 800-490-9198 or send an email
to nscep@bps-lmit.com and please refer to After the
Storm (DVD), EPA 841-C-06-001 OR After the Storm
(VHS), EPA 840-V-04-001.
"Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing
Development Rules in Your Community"
This handbook is free as a PDF download at:
http://www.cwp.org/PublicationStore/bsd.htm
EPA Releases Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox
EPA has released the Nonpoint Source Outreach
Toolbox, a comprehensive set of Web-based resources
designed to assist communities across the U.S. conduct
locally effective watershed education and outreach
activities. The Toolbox, online at
www.epa.gov/nps/toolbox. includes a searchable
catalog of nearly 800 print, radio, and TV ads and
outreach materials in the following categories: lawn
and garden care, motor vehicle care, pet care, septic
system care, household chemicals and waste, and
general stormwater and storm drain awareness. This
repository of contemporary, audience-tested materials
is designed to meet the needs of professionals who
might be strapped for ideas, money, time or staff to
develop messages and products for their own
communities. The Toolbox also provides EPA's
publication "Getting in Step - A Guide to Conducting
Watershed Outreach Campaigns", as well as a
comprehensive collection of surveys and evaluations
of outreach programs from around the country and a
collection of logos, slogans, and mascots to help unify
a community's campaign.
The USFS Publishes the "Technical Guide to
Managing Ground Water Resources" ( May 2007).
This guide is intended to provide guidance for
implementing the USDA Forest Service national
ground-water policy. It describes hydrological,
geological, and ecological concepts, as well as
managerial responsibilities that must be considered to
ensure the wise use and sustainable use of ground
water resources on USFS lands. Go to:
http://www.fs.fed.us/publications/
Watershed-Based NPDES Permitting Technical
Guidance
EPA has published a new technical guidance that will
help integrate National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permits into watershed
management plans. "Watershed-Based NPDES
Permitting Technical Guidance" is a follow up to the
2003 implementation guidance and leads permitting
interested parties through the analysis of watershed
data and developing a framework for implementing an
NPDES program. The agency is accepting comments
on the guidance on a continuing basis. For an
electronic copy of the guidance:
www.epa.gov/npdes/watersheds
The Green Hour
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created this
Web site to provide parents with the information and
inspiration to get their children outside for an hour
every day. Learn why this is so important and how it
will benefit your children, http://ww.greenhour.org/
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Volunteer Monitoring
Tina Laidlaw (406) 457-5016
laidlaw.tina@epa.gov
Wetlands
Paul Mclver (303) 312-6056
mciver.paul@epa.gov
Watersheds and Community-
Based Environmental Protection
Gary Kleeman (303) 312-6246
kleeman.gary@epa.gov
Ground Water
Darcy Campbell (303) 312-6709
campbell.darcy@epa.gov
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Peter Monahan (303) 312-6946
monahan.peter@epa.gov
EPA Region 8 Environmental
Information Service Center
1-800-227-8917
Natural News
Editor: Darcy Campbell
Layout: Greg Davis
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