Idaho
                                        Oregon
                                                                                 Washington
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 Bulletin - EPA 910/9-92-043
                                                           November 2007
Ten Federal Agencies Join Forces to Spur Puget Sound Recovery
Ten federal agencies, ranging from the Army Corps of
Engineers to the National Park Service, signed on to a
campaign in August to restore the health of Puget
Sound. According to EPA's Elin Miller, the campaign
underscores the federal commitment to making the
health of Puget Sound both a Regional and National
Priority.

"We're pleased to come together as true federal
partners to help the State of Washington to bring much-
needed help to the  Puget Sound," said Miller. "Aided by
Congressman Dicks' vision, leadership, and commit-
ment, we're launching a new effort by federal agencies
to align people and resources to make the Sound
cleaner and healthier."

The aim of this new federal partnership is to unite in a
"Federal Caucus" of natural resource, environmental
health, and land management agencies. Each partner
is committing to work towards a common problem-
solving framework for restoring the Sound. This new
partnership is seen as a way to:
 In  This Issue...
EPA News to update you
on agency activities,
pages 1-3.

Tools to clue you in on
resources, publications,
opportunities, and
services, pages 4-6.

Waterwords covering
water related issues,
pages 6-7.

Spotlight to showcase
success stories and
environmental stars,
page 8.

Ecosystem to provide
news that goes beyond
water topics, pages 9-10.

Calendar to highlight
environmental events,
page 11.
                         •  Engage federal agency leaders to align resources
                           and programs to help support Puget Sound recovery.
                         •  Strengthen federal coordination of Puget Sound
                           science, resource management, and recovery efforts
                           and policies.
                         •  Provide united leadership and support for
                           Washington State and local governments working to
                           protect and restore Puget Sound.

                         The ten signing  partners are: U.S. Environmental
                         Protection Agency, National Oceanic & Atmospheric
                         Administration, U.S.  Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S.
                         Forest Service,  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
                         Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conser-
                         vation Service, U.S.  Navy, U.S. Geological Survey,
                         National Park Service, and U.S. Coast Guard.  Fort
                         Lewis is expected to sign on shortly.

                         For more on the health and recovery of Puget Sound:
                         www.psp.wa.gov

                         For more about  the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin
                         ecosystem: www.epa.gov/Region10/psgb/
                                                     Pacific
                                                     Ocean

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The Next Five  Years:
EPA Region  10's Environmental Strategy

A new strategic plan is now in place for EPA Region 10.
The 2007-2011 Region 10 Strategy supports EPA's
regional vision of a healthy, sustainable environment
for all. This strategy covers EPA's work in Alaska,
Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and with about 270
Tribal governments in the Northwest and Alaska. The
plan, designed to help EPA Region 10 focus its efforts
in the coming years, emphasizes six strategic endeav-
ors:
    Support the Core:  Work to make and implement
      resources and programmatic decisions that ensure
      the integrity of our core programs.

    Clean Affordable Energy and Climate Change:
    -Develop and implement a regional approach to
      address climate change,
    -Participate in the West Coast Collaborative, a public
      private partnership to reduce diesel emission, and
    -Apply EPA authorities related to oil and gas to
      maximize environmentally safe exploration,
      development, and production in Alaska.

    Enhancing Tribal Environments: Work with Tribal
      Governments to protect and restore the natural
      resources on which tribal communities rely for their
      physical, cultural, and economic well-being.

    Protecting and Restoring Watersheds: Continue to
      place strong emphasis on our important watershed
      protection and restoration work. These projects
      involve a wide cross-section of Region 10 offices and
      public and private efforts.

    Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships: Promote
      sustainable practices and foster strategic
      partnerships that allow us to meet our environmental,
      social, and economic needs without compromising
      the ability of future generations to  meet their needs.

    A Stronger EPA: Ensure a diverse,  talented, and
      highly skilled workforce in Region 10.

    The strategy sets a clear direction for EPA Region 10.
    It provides a basis for making fair and reasonable
    decisions to use resources for the most benefit to
    public health and the environment. The plan also
    establishes a framework for monitoring progress. In
    each endeavor, EPA will measure success every six
    months.
   Fora copy of the full strategy, contact EPA's Public Environmental Resource Center at 206-553-1200 or
                     1 -800-424-4372. Ask for document number EPA 910-R-07-003.
                             Or, learn more at EPA Region 10's website at
                   www.epa.gov/r10earth and click on "2007-2011 Region 10 Strategy."
WaterTalk November 2007
Page 2

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Guidance Issued:

Clean Water Act Definition of

"Waters of the United States"

EPA and the Corps of Engineers have jointly issued a
legal memorandum that interprets the June 2006
Supreme Court decision in the consolidated cases
Rapanos v. U.S. and Carabell v. U.S. (known as the
"Rapanos" decision).  The guidance will help ensure
nationwide predictability, reliability, and consistency in
identifying wetlands, streams and rivers subject to the
Clean Water Act. The EPA/Corps guidance reflects the
agencies' intent to provide maximum protection for the
nation's aquatic resources under the Act as interpreted
by the Supreme Court in Rapanos.  To ensure such
decisions are made in a timely manner, the agencies
also prepared a Memorandum of Agreement laying out
a process with short timeframes, when necessary, for
reaching interagency agreement on jurisdictional calls.

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/owow/
wetlands/guidance/CWAwaters.html.
Forest Service, EPA Increase

Coordination to Improve Water Quality

                The U.S. Forest Service and EPA
                have agreed on new steps designed
                to improve water quality on National
                Forests and Grasslands.  In Septem-
                ber, the agencies signed an agree-
                ment that enables both agencies to
                increase coordinated efforts to
                manage, protect, and restore the
                health of the nation's water re-
                sources.

                More than 60 million Americans get
                their water from sources on the
                National Forests in addition to
municipal water supplies.  Watersheds play an impor-
tant role in supporting aquatic species and biodiversity,
and provide recreational opportunities to millions of
visitors each year. Data shows that about 8% of all
water quality impairments nationally are located on
National Forest System  lands. Leading causes of
these impairments include elevated temperatures,
excess sediment, and habitat modification.

The agreement identifies areas in which the Forest
Service and EPA will increase coordination of activities
with states and tribes to address water quality impair-
ments on  National Forest System lands and speed up
attainment of water quality standards. More informa-
tion can be found at:
www.fs.fed.us/biology/ and www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/
Lead in Drinking Water

Rule Strengthened

EPA issued a final rule in September that will
strengthen requirements in the areas of monitoring,
customer awareness, and lead service line replace-
ment. Specifically, the rule will require water suppliers
to give consumers information to help them make
decisions about how to limit their exposure to lead in
drinking water.
The rule is one outcome of EPA's 2005 Drinking Water
Lead Reduction Plan. That plan arose from EPA's
analysis of the current regulation and state and local
implementation. The agency has since released
guidance to help public water systems better under-
stand the potential impacts of treatment changes on
their ability to control lead. EPA has asked the National
Drinking Water Advisory Council to provide recommen-
dations on public education requirements.  The agency
has also provided new guidance and tools to help
schools and child care facilities to monitor for lead in
drinking water.

Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many
years in products found in and around homes. Even at
low levels, lead may cause a range of health effects
including behavioral problems and learning disabilities.
Children six years old and under are most at risk
because this is when the brain is developing. The
primary source of  lead exposure for most children is
lead-based paint in older homes. Lead in drinking
water can add to that exposure.

For a copy of the rule and more information on lead in
drinking water, go to
www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/index.html.
                                              Page 3
                          WaterTalk November 2007

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        Opportunity:                         Document Helps with
Puget Sound Watershed Protection   Urban Runoff Management
On or before November 15, EPA Region 10 will issue a
request for grant proposals for Puget Sound 2007
Targeted Watershed Grants. When issued, details
will be posted at http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/
water.nsf/Office+of+Water/PS07RFP.

EPA is soliciting proposals to support the protection
and restoration of high valued Puget Sound aquatic
resources in areas threatened by growth pressure.
The grant program emphasizes local, holistic water-
shed protection and management approaches. Grant
funds will assist local and tribal governments in manag-
ing land uses while protecting watershed functions and
values. Successful projects will match proposed
activities to the appropriate watershed scale to ensure
environmental results.

EPA plans to award a total of $2.5 million dollars.  Up to
ten awards will be made, ranging from about $250,000
to $625,000. Entities of local governments, special
purpose districts, and federally recognized Indian tribes
in the greater Puget Sound Basin are eligible to apply.
State agencies, institutions of higher learning, and non-
governmental entities are not eligible to directly receive
these grant awards; however, EPA encourages tribes
and local governments to solicit their participation as
local  collaborators.  Proposals are due January 15,
2008. For details, e-mail Sally Hanft, EPA, at
hanft.sally@epa.gov.
Water Quality Trading Program

Maps on Web

                     Curious about where water
                     quality trading is happening
                     around the country?  Check
                     out EPA's new water quality
                     trading maps—now live on
                     the web!  EPA has created
                     two trading maps. The first
                     map shows trading programs
                     that have traded at least
                     once,  as well as state level
trading programs. The second map shows trading
programs that received EPA funding. Each map is
clickable: just click on the state in which you are
interested and it will take you to  more information on
that state's trading programs. The maps are located
on EPA's Water Quality Trading website at
www.epa.gov/waterqualitytrading/tradingmap.html.
                  The North American Lake Manage-
                  ment Society recently published a
                  second edition of a popular publica-
                  tion called Fundamentals of Urban
                  Runoff Management: Technical
                  and Institutional Issues.  This
                  document revises a 1994 edition and
                  was prepared with support from EPA.
                  The update is important because of
   the tremendous amount of new information available
   and the shift in stormwater program direction from the
   historic mitigation-based approach to a more source-
   based approach. The document is posted in .pdf
   format at www.nalms.org/.


   Get  EPA's New Newsletter:

   Go  Green!

   America is shifting to a "green culture" in which some
   300 million citizens are embracing the idea that envi-
   ronmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility.
   As a step in that direction, citizen environmental
   partners can sign up to receive EPA's new consumer
   newsletter, Go Green!

   EPA is launching this monthly, e-mail newsletter to
   provide information about "what you can do." It covers
   activities and events that everyone can use to make a
   difference just about anywhere - in  homes, work-
   places, schools, and communities.

   The newsletter will include information on such issues
   as how to calculate individual energy use, upcoming
   environmental activities and observances, and recent
   news reports from EPA. For information or to sign up
   for the newsletter, visit:
   www.epa.gov/newsroom/gogreen.


   Wastewater Website

   Launched for Small Communities

   EPA recently launched a new website to help small
   communities achieve and maintain sustainable waste-
   water services.  This site provides information about
   grants, funding resources, technical assistance and
   training. Many tools are available on this website to
   help small communities plan, design, build, and main-
   tain their wastewater infrastructure. Visit the Waste-
   water in Small Communities Website at
   www.epa.gov/owm/mab/smcomm/index.htm.
Visit WaterTalk online at www.epa.gov/rlOearth/watertalk.htm
WaterTalk November 2007
Page 4

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The Watershed Academy
Internet Tools for Watershed Management:
Computer  Course
Key EPA Internet-Based Tools for Watershed
Management is a comprehensive, two-part course
designed to familiarize you with powerful watershed
management tools provided online by EPA. These
tools are a resource for novice and master watershed
planners alike.  Presented in a readable, section-based
format, the free course tutorials are now available for
self-paced study. The only requirement is a computer
with Internet access.

In the overview, 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 Na-
                      tional 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 a water-
                      shed-wide data summary on impaired waters from
                      WATERS, and much more. To explore the course,  visit
                      www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/
                      epatools.
Agriculture Grant Program to Support Pesticide Use Reduction
Grant proposals under the Strategic Agricultural
Initiative Program are now being solicited. EPA
Region 10 is continuing this small-grant program to
help implement the Food Quality Protection Act and
support "transition" efforts by growers. The program
supports innovative efforts that enable growers to
reduce their reliance on pesticides, while maintaining
or enhancing their present income. The program's
focus is on pesticide risk reduction, including projects
which address current-use pesticide contaminants to
streams.

The program is run by American Farmland Trust's
Center for Agriculture in the Environment through a
cooperative agreement with EPA. The program is
                      seeking projects that focus on results or actual on-the-
                      ground changes, rather than activities.  Each award
                      will be up to $100,000.

                      This grant opportunity is open to non-profit organiza-
                      tions, including commodity groups and farmers' groups,
                      extension and university programs, state and federal
                      government agencies, and tribes. Private enterprises
                      such as pest consultants, food processors, and others
                      may also apply but are encouraged to involve other
                      partners in their projects. The projects must be located
                      within Region 10, which includes the states of Wash-
                      ington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Proposals are due
                      by November 30, 2007. For details, go to
                      www.aftresearch.org/grant/.

                                             PageS
                                                WaterTalk November 2007

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Maintaining Dirt and
Gravel Roads
   Bathroom  Sink Faucets
   Get WaterSense  Label
                                                 Consumers will soon be able to identify high-perfor-
                                                 mance, water-efficient sink faucets for their bathrooms.
                                                 EPA has released a product specification for ones that
                                                 use about 30 percent less water than conventional
                                                 models.
Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance for Dirt and
Gravel Roads, a 300-page manual, is now available.
Dirt and gravel roads are increasingly being recognized
as having a significant impact on water resources.
Pennsylvania State University, with a grant from EPA,
helped create this document for people interested in
integrating environmental concerns into their unpaved
roads programs.  Specifically, the manual identifies,
documents, and encourages the use of environmen-
tally sensitive maintenance of dirt and gravel roads.
The document covers the use of natural systems and
innovative technologies to reduce erosion, sediment,
and dust pollution.  It offers a "tool box" of environmen-
tally sensitive maintenance resources and practices.
Access the document at www.epa.gov/owow/nps/
sensitive/sensitive.html. For a printed copy, contact
Chris Solloway, EPA, at solloway.chris@epa.gov.
Kit Helps Protect
Local Watersheds, Wetlands

               A Watershed and Wetland Protec-
               tion Information Kit for County
               Officials is now available. The kit
               offers a collection of resources that
               can assist county and local officials
               with efforts to protect and restore the
               multiple benefits of their community's
               water resources. The information kit
was produced by the Center for Watershed Protection
and the National Association of Counties with support
from EPA.  It is available online at www.cwp.org/
wetlands/naco.htm.
   To earn the WaterSense label, faucets must be tested
   and certified by a licensed certifying body to meet
   EPA's water-efficiency and performance criteria.  Under
   the criteria, faucets and accessories such as aerators
   cannot flow at a rate of more than 1.5 gallons per
   minute (gpm), or less than 0.8 gpm.

   WaterSense-labeled faucets not only save water. They
   also have the added benefit of saving energy used to
   treat, pump, and heat water.  (See article on page 7.)

   Consumers can already find the WaterSense label on
   more than 60 high-efficiency toilets. WaterSense-
   labeled toilets use 20 percent less water than standard
   models. And, they are independently tested and
   certified to perform as well as or better than their
   market counterparts.  Working with EPA, retailers are
   starting to feature WaterSense-labeled toilets in their
   plumbing sections. Bathroom sink faucets should be
   close behind in 2008.

   Bathrooms are, by far, the largest use of water in the
   home, responsible for about half of total indoor water
   use. By installing a WaterSense-labeled high-effi-
   ciency toilet and faucet or aerator, American homes
   can save more than 11,000 gallons each year.

   WaterSense, an EPA partnership program launched in
   2006, seeks to enhance the market for water-efficient
   products and services by building a national brand for
   water efficiency. For more information and a list of
   WaterSense-labeled plumbing products, goto
   www.epa.gov/watersense/specs/faucet final.htm.
 WaterTalk November 2007
Page 6

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Saving  Water Is Powerful Stuff
Many Americans know about the importance of saving
energy and saving water. But few know about the direct
connection between saving both. While we know to
adjust our thermostats and fix a leaky toilet, too many
people don't fully comprehend that both actions have
profound impacts on sustaining our energy supplies
and water resources.

The hidden energy costs in
supplying water

Although often overlooked, vast amounts of energy are
needed to operate the nation's water infrastructure. On
the supply side, pumping water uses the most energy.
This includes pumping to deliver untreated water to
treatment plants and to deliver treated water to custom-
ers.

And pumping isn't the only energy consumer. Each
step in the water service delivery cycle expends
kilowatts, including the treatment process. Nationwide,
drinking water and wastewater systems use 75 billion
kilowatt hours per year—as much as the pulp and
paper and petroleum industries combined. Energy
costs to run these systems can represent as much as
one-third of a municipality's electricity use. So, when
we reduce our water use, we save energy because
less water needs to be pumped and treated.

On the demand side, even after utilities use energy to
deliver water, residential and business customers
consume energy to heat, cool, and use water. Consider
the fact that running a hot water faucet for five minutes
is equivalent to running a 60-watt light bulb for 14
   EPA
   WaterSense
hours! In fact, not only does using water more effi-
ciently decrease energy costs directly, it also de-
creases or postpones the need to develop both new
water and energy infrastructure.

The benefits of saving
both water and energy

Given how closely related saving water is to saving
energy, strategies that promote both water savings and
energy savings are no-brainers.  Residential consumers
can save both water and energy by installing water-
efficient fixtures and appliances—showers, faucets,
clothes washers, and dishwashers. (See article on
page 6.)  If every American home installed water-
efficient faucets, for example, the United States could
save 60 billion gallons and $650  million in energy
costs.

Utilities are seeing the potential to compound water
and energy savings. For example, Seattle-area water
and energy utilities are partnering in a showerhead
replacement campaign. Showerheads that run at 2.0
gallons per minute will cut the demand for water,
electricity, and natural gas, while reducing wastewater
flows. The voluntary campaign expects to distribute up
to 120,000 Showerheads to single-family households.

In the commercial sector, energy and water savings go
hand-in-hand on a variety of fronts—from the kitchen to
the restroom and from the laundry to cooling systems.
In the restaurant business, for example, changes in
products and behaviors offer great potential to reduce
water use.

Join in the savings

EPA's goal is to achieve environmental and economic
benefits as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible,
but we can't do it alone. We need consumers and
businesses to reduce their water use and look for the
WaterSense label. So the next time you turn on a
faucet or a shower, don't think of it as just running
water. Remember, you're also using energy. The more
wisely we use our water, the  better off we'll be.

For more information on the WaterSense program, visit
www.epa.gov/watersense.
                            Get WaterTolk Electronically!

 Are you part of the club yet? It's time to join the WaterTalk List-Serv. When you do, you'll reduce mailbox
 clutter and save trees. Each quarter you'll be notified electronically that WaterTalk is ready to read online. It's
 easy to sign up. Just go to www.epa.gov/r10earth/watertalk.htm.  Remember to also cancel your hard-copy
 subscription by contacting Andrea Lindsay, Editor, at lindsay.andrea@epa.gov, 206-553-1896, or
 800-424-4372.
                                            Page 7
                         WaterTalk November 2007

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               TLIGHT
EPA Recognizes  Homer, Alaska
Public  Water System for Excellence
The City of Homer, Alaska Public Water System has
earned national recognition as an outstanding public
water system.  The system was recognized as part of
    EPA's annual Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
    Award for Sustainable Public Health Protection.
    This program highlights municipal water providers that
    "achieve results that go beyond the typical project and
    show exceptional creativity and dedication to public
    health protection."

    Homer used a DWSRF loan to extend its drinking
    water distribution system into residential areas that had
    previously been served by private wells or hauled
    water. The loan also financed a master plan for
    drinking water infrastructure. Homeowners added to
    the distribution system will repay between 50 and 75
    percent of the extension cost over 20 years. Revenues
    from a 0.75% tax on all purchases within the City of
    Homer will repay the rest of the cost of this project.

    For more information, contact Rick Green,  EPA, at
    206-553-8504, 800-424-4372, or
    green.richard@epa.gov. For more about EPA's
    Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, visit
    www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/index.html.
Alaska, Oregon Projects Receive Environmental Justice Grants
In October, EPA awarded $1 million in grants across
the country for improving the environment in low-
income communities. The $50,000 grants will go to
twenty community-based organizations to address
environmental and public health issues. Here in
Region 10, two organizations will receive grants.

The Alaska Community Action for Toxics (ACAT) will
get a grant to help them partner with the community to
sample the water of the Suqi River, test for contami-
nants, identify existing toxics, and plan restoration of
the river. For details, visit www.akaction.org/.
          Alaska Community Action on Toxics


Organizing People, Activating Leaders (OPAL) in
Portland, OR, has been awarded funding to help them
focus on three national environmental justice priorities:
 (1)  reducing asthma attacks;
 (2)  reducing exposure to air toxics; and
 (3)  revitalizing contaminated sites.
OPAL intends to empower the community through
outreach and training to stimulate leadership develop-
ment and involvement around environmental justice
issues.  For more, visit www.opalpdx.org/.
    OPAL will use EPA funds to help their community
    For more information about EPA's Environmental
    Justice Program, contact Melanie Wood at 206-553-
    1107 or e-mail wood.melanie@epa.gov.
 WaterTalk November 2007
Page,

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B
Invasive  Species  Updates

Aquatic Nuisance Species Watch List for Washington

  -
European Green Crab, a species of concern for the
Northwest coast
This new list serves as a reference tool for agency and
public prevention, monitoring, and management. The
list can help focus monitoring efforts and promote
awareness of aquatic nuisance species and their
New Zealand Mud Snails are already appearing in Oregon
coastal waters

impacts. The list is designed to be a continuously
evolving document consisting of species the Washing-
ton Aquatic Nuisance Species Committee considers to
pose, or potentially pose, a threat to aquatic ecosys-
tems in the state. It includes species which have been
previously established and (for now) eradicated;
species to prevent from entering Washington; species
observed here to eradicate or otherwise manage; and
species regulated by the state for recreation, aquacul-
ture, or other management purposes, but which require
controlled distribution. It is not meant to be a complete
list of non-native species in Washington. View the list at
www.weedcenter.org/inv_plant_info/
WA_aquatic_watch.pdf.
Estuarine Invasion

              In July, a major new snail invasion
              was detected in Coos Bay, Oregon.
              Possibly a species of Assiminea, it is
              thought to come from Asia and was
              likely introduced by shipping. It is a
              small snail, about 5 mm in height (see
              photo). It may be widespread in bays
              and estuaries along the coast. This
              snail is expected to compete with
              other snail populations, and perhaps
displace or replace some native and introduced
species. It should not be confused with the New
Zealand Mud Snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, but
may have similar impacts. [Photo: Dr. James H.
McLean, LA County Museum of Natural History]
Draft EPA Report on Climate Change,
Aquatic Invasive Species

A draft report on the "Effects of Climate Change on
Aquatic Invasive Species and Implications for
Management and Research" is available online. The
comment period has closed but it may be of interest.
Access it at:  http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/
recordisplay.cfm?deid=180043#Download
                                           Page 9
                         WaterTalk November 2007

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B
Beneficial Landscaping
Fall  Planting is  Beneficial
Whether you think that autumn is the end of the
growing season or the beginning of a new one, you'd
be right.  It's a time of putting soil and plants "to bed"
for the winter, and a time of planting. As all things in
beneficial landscaping, fall planting yields many
benefits - environmental, economic, and aesthetic!

The best reason to plant in the fall is to enable root
growth. Roots are the plants' foundation. Planting in
the fall (and before the soil freezes) gives trees,
shrubs, and perennials a chance to focus on below-,
rather than above-ground, growth. Healthy new roots
give plants a head start in the spring and increase the
survival rate of new plantings. This saves money, time,
and labor—and you get to enjoy the new plants
months sooner.

Plentiful fall rains water the new plants naturally. Rains
coupled with shorter, cooler days mean the plants need
less water from you. It's even a good time to plant
bare root plants, which are a fraction of the cost of
potted plants. While a new plant will indeed need a
good wetting when planted, supplemental watering
needs will be lessened. This conserves water sup-
plies, saves on water bills, and frees you to do things
other than watering the garden.

Finally, why put off until spring what you can do in the
fall?  Spring gardening tasks are many -from veg-
etable garden soil preparation and planting, to winter
storm clean up - if you've already planted your new
shrubs and perennials, you need only watch them
flourish while you take care of other tasks. Fall plant-
ing is good planning!

Once you've completed your new plantings, you may
as well have a piece of that pumpkin pie ... and a
chance to give thanks for the fruit of this year's bounty,
and for the joy of what is to come.

For more information on this and other topics in
beneficial landscaping, contact Elaine Somers at 206-
553-2966 or somers.elaine@epa.gov, or visit our
website at www.epa.gov/r10earth/bl.htm.
Printed with gratitude for contributions from Elliott Menashe of Greenbelt Consulting

 WaterTalk November 2007
10

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November

November 13-16:
Network of Oregon Watershed Councils, Hood
   River, Oregon, http://
   www.oregonwatersheds.org/gath/.

November 15:
America Recycles Day,
   www.americarecyclesday.org.

December

December 6-7:
Northwest Environmental Conference & Trade
   Show: Where Business Meets the Environment,
   Portland, OR, 503-227-6361, 800-985-6322,
   www.nebc.org/content.aspx?pageid=16.
January 14:
Deadline for contributions to the February issue of
   WaterTalk. Andrea Lindsay, Editor, 206-553-
   1896, 800-424-4372, lindsay.andrea@epa.gov.
February

February 5-7:
2008 Stream Restoration
   Design Symposium,
   Stevenson, WA, http://
   rrnw.org/symposium.
    Find current and past issues of WaterTalk online at
                 www.epa.gov/rlOearth/water.htm
                                      Page 11
                     WaterTalk November 2007

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 WaterTalk is published quarterly by the U.S. Environmental Protection
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Please recycle or share with a friend.

In This Issue...
Feds Team Up for
Puget  Sound

EPA's  New Strategy  for
the Region

National Environmental
News

The Water and Energy
Savings Link

Autumn Planting

And  More.

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