EPA 'sJDffice of Wetlands,
Oceans and Watersheds
Sustainable Communities
Healthy Watersheds ^
2009 Annual Report
-------
Note from the O WOW Director
I take the helm as the Director ofEPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
(OWOW) at an exciting and challenging time. As EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has
conveyed, America's waterbodies are imperiled as never before. At the same time, the
federal government, states, territories and tribes are facing serious fiscal challenges. I
fully embrace Administrator Jackson's principles of sound science, the rule of law and
transparency as our guideposts in protecting and restoring America's waters, and, as
Director of OWOW, I will strive to focus resources and efforts in those areas that hold
the most promise for delivering significant environmental and human health results. I
am committed to working with the OWOW leadership team, OWOW staff, and all
of our stakeholders to ensure that we do our best to partner with others to maximize
environmental and human health results and ensure that the public's dollar is spent
wisely.
This Annual Report reflects some of OWOW's most significant accomplishments in
2009, which would not have been possible without the hard work of our dedicated OWOW
staff and countless state, tribal and local partners. While we have much to celebrate,
many challenges lie ahead.
In the coming year, we must strengthen our efforts to clean up and restore impaired
waters, protect healthy watersheds, and address very complex environmental issues like
nutrient over-enrichment and climate change. OWOW will continue to play a significant
role in several of the Agency's major "place-based" water quality initiatives, including the
plementation of the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order and Strategy and actions to ad-
dress the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. As the Office of Water continues to be the co-
lead for EPA's Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program as well as
through implementation of the new Urban Waters initiative, OWOW will help champion
environmental justice and further environmental protection for underserved communities
that have been disproportionally impacted by pollution.
OWOW will continue its critical work to assess the status and trends of the health
of the nation's waters, including the National Aquatic Resource Surveys. We will also
continue to play an important role in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, in
ensuring that dredge and fill permits meet Clean Water Act requirements and that waters
that are covered by the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act receive these protections.
I look forward to leading OWOW in these important endeavors. We have very
dedicated and talented staff in OWOW, and working together with our partners, I believe
we can achieve the Office of Water's vision for healthy watersheds and sustainable com-
munities.
Denise Keehner, Director
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
-------
In This Report...
Pages
About OWOW
New Initiatives/Partnerships
National Ocean Policy
National Lakes Assessment
Coastal Wetlands Initiative
Healthy Watersheds
Surface Coal Mining
Capacity Building and Community-Based Watershed Protection
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)
Watershed Central and Wiki
Climate Ready Estuaries
Analysis of Intermittent, Ephemeral and Headwater Streams
and Public Drinking Water Sources
First-ever Water Quality Video Contest
New OWOW Capacity Building Team
Marine Debris Summit
Vessel Discharges
Vessel-to-Reef Project
Stormwater Management
New Guidance for Federal Facilities
Reduce Runoff Video
Environmental Management and Performance
Interactive Toolbox for Public Lands
TMDL Results Analysis Project
DARTER System for Section 404 Permits
New Wetlands Program Framework
Monitoring and Assessment
Ocean Survey Vessel Bold
Water Quality Exchange (WQX)
Wetlands Mapping Standard
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
15
16
16
17
18
18
19
20
21
21
22
22
23
of Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds 2OO
-------
yVW-H'*""'
ySr2SS=r|Hs^«S£-
sr=s^HHsr£=^Ssi.>
™?2s"<£-»~^^
O W r
. Dredaed Material Management
' -
f Wetlands, Oceans anc^ Watersheds ZOO^ /\nnua Report
-------
Presidential Task Force Proposes New Policy and
Framework for Improved Stewardship of the Oceans, our
Coasts and the Great Lakes
From June to December 2009, OWOW's
Ocean and Coastal Protection Division
led EPA's participation in the President's
Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force. EPA
helped to develop the nine priority objectives
proposed by the Task Force, including:
• Ecosystem-Based Management:
Adopt ecosystem-based management
as a foundational principle for the
comprehensive management of the ocean,
our coasts, and the Great Lakes. Examples
of EPA programs that embody ecosystem-
based management include the 28 National Estuary
Programs, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Gulf of Mexico Program.
• Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: Implement comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-
based coastal and marine spatial planning and management in the United States. EPA
helped to develop various aspects of the proposed Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
Framework, such as its geographic scope, which extends from the outer edge of the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone to the mean high water line, including inland bays and estuaries.
The Framework also may include upland areas that deliver pollutants to coastal and
estuarine waters.
• Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: Strengthen
resiliency of coastal communities and marine and Great Lakes environments and their
abilities to adapt to climate change impacts and ocean acidification. For example, EPA's
Climate Ready Estuaries Program increases resiliency and adaptation to climate change.
• Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration: Establish and implement an integrated
ecosystem protection and restoration strategy that is science-based and aligns conservation
and restoration goals at the Federal, State, tribal, local, and regional levels.
• Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land: Enhance water quality in the ocean,
along our coasts, and in the Great Lakes by promoting and implementing sustainable
practices on land. This objective would incorporate much of EPA's work on hypoxia,
nutrients, urban waters, marine debris, and stormwater management.
For more information, visit: www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/oceans.
(Contact: Paul Cough, 202-566-0688
of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report 5
-------
New Initiatives/Partnerships
National Lakes Assessment Finds Degraded
Habitat and Nutrients as Leading Causes of
Problems in Nation's Lakes
Working with partners in the states, tribes, and other federal agencies, OWOW
is leading a series of statistically-representative surveys of the nation's waters.
These National Aquatic Resource Surveys are designed to report
on the condition of the nation's waters using core indicators and
standardized lab and field methods, and to help improve states and
tribal capacity for monitoring and assessment.
In 2009, OWOW issued the draft National Lakes
Assessment report (www.epa.gov/lakesurvey) the first-
ever baseline study of the condition of the nation's lakes
:th natural and man-made).
/ Findings from the National Lakes Assessment:
56% of lakes support healthy biological communities
and the remaining lakes are in fair or poor condition
(See figure on page 7).
Degraded lakeshore habitat, rated "poor" in 36 percent
of lakes, is the most significant of the problems assessed.
Poor biological health is three times more likely in lakes
with poor lakeshore habitat relative to lakes with good
habitat. Removal of trees and shrubs and construction
of docks, marinas, homes and other structures along
shorelines all contribute to degraded lakeshore habitat.
\m
Two nutrients—nitrogen and phosphorous — are at high levels in 20 percent of lakes. Poor
biological health is 2.5 times more likely in lakes with high nutrient levels. Excess levels of
nutrients contribute to algal blooms, weed growth, reduced water clarity, and other lake
problems.
OWOW's National Aquatic Resources Survey Team also successfully concluded the second of
two years of sampling for the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (a report is scheduled
for 2011) and moved forward with the planning for the upcoming National Coastal Assessment
(sampling in 2010) and National Wetland Condition Assessment (sampling in 2011). For more
information, see www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys (Contact: Sarah Lehmann, 202-566-1379)
Conducting a lakeshore habitat assessment
in Idaho (photo: USEPA Region 10)
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
Biological Condition of the Nation's Lakes (from Draft National Lakes Assessment report)
National
All Lakes
49,543
Natural Lakes
29,308
Man-Made Lakes
20.238
! Good = <20% Taxa Loss [ ' Fair = 20% - 40% Taxa Loss | Poor = >40% Taxa Loss
National Summary
56% Good
21% Fair
22% Poor
*
NLA Sampled Sites
0 3B«0 WiVSOJ
of Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report
-------
New Initiatives/Partner ships
Coastal Wetlands Initiative Seeks to
Curb Growing Threats from Storms
and Climate Change
G\
;
rowing awareness of severe threats to coastal
areas posed by climate change, devastation
caused by recent hurricanes, and two
recent reports have prompted EPA to examine the
management of the nation's coastal wetlands. A
report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
(NOAA) and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) finds that,
from 1998 to 2004, wetlands in coastal watersheds in the
Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts have experienced an
average net decrease of 59,000 acres per year. A second report
by the Association of State Wetland Managers recommends
facilitation among climate, watershed and coastal zone
programs, and identification and dissemination of best
management practices to protect and help wetlands adapt to
impacts of climate change.
1
In response to these findings, EPA's Wetlands Division and Oceans and Coastal Protection
Division created a Coastal Wetlands Initiative with the goals of:
confirming wetland loss and better understanding contributing stressors;
identifying and disseminating tools, strategies, policies and information to protect
and restore coastal wetland resources; and
raising awareness of the functions and values of, threats to, and opportunities to pro-
tect and restore coastal wetlands.
Recent studies show an
average net loss of 59,000
acres of coastal wetlands per
year. A new Inter agency
Workgroup will coordinate
restoration and protection
strategies.
3)
One significant undertaking of the Coastal Wetlands Initiative is to conduct seven regional re-
views of coastal wetlands to understand the stressors as well as restoration and protection strat-
egies to reduce or reverse loss. EPA will use the regional reviews and follow-up workshops to
gather input and to stimulate dialogue among stakeholders to facilitate a more coordinated and
robust effort to protect and restore coastal wetlands. Reviews have been completed in the Mid-
Atlantic and South Atlantic regions. In pursuing these goals and activities, EPA is coordinating
with an Interagency Coastal Wetlands Workgroup including NOAA, USFWS, US Department
of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, US Geo-
logical Survey, and the Federal Highway Administration. (Contact: Clay Miller, 202-566-1365; or
Nancy Laurson, 202-566-1247)
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
Healthy Watersheds Initiative
Focuses on Protecting Clean
Waters
Recognizing the need to conserve and protect
healthy aquatic ecosystems, as well as to
restore impaired ones, EPA recently launched
the Healthy Watersheds Initiative. The Healthy
Watersheds Initiative focuses on using a holistic
approach to protect and restore ecosystems.
The cost of protecting watersheds is much less
than the cost of restoring waters, so choosing to
protect ecologically valuable systems will save
money in the long run. Additional benefits include
preserving habitat for fish and other wildlife,
providing recreational opportunities, offering
better protection against storms and floods, and
lowering water treatment costs. In April 2009,
EPA launched the Healthy Watersheds Web site,
www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds, which presents
a series of conservation and protection approaches
and provides links to case studies and reports. The
Web site also provides tools for:
• Habitat and biodiversity conservation
• Green infrastructure and landscape conservation
• River corridor protection
• Instream flow protection
• Land protection programs and local land use
ordinances
In July 2009, EPA developed a 4-page fact sheet
(available on the Healthy Watersheds Web site)
that explains the approach and its benefits. In
2010, EPA anticipates releasing a Healthy Wa-
tersheds technical guide. EPA is also working in
partnership with the states on a Healthy Water-
sheds Initiative National Framework and Action
Plan, a companion communications plan, and a
set of indicator measures for healthy watersheds.
(Contact: Laura Gabanski, 202-566-1179)
Why EPA launched the Healthy
Watershed Initiative
Despite significant efforts to restore aquatic
ecosystems in various watersheds across
the nation, the unfortunate trend is the
continued decline of these valuable systems.
For example, the rate at which new waters
are being added to EPA's listing of impaired
waterbodies continues to outpace the rate at
which restored waters are being removed from
this list. Pollution and water quality problems
tell only part of the story; our nation's aquatic
ecosystems are also imperiled by loss of
habitat and stream connectivity, hydrologic
alteration, invasive species, and climate
change.
K number of mipenlea
taxa continue to climb (Jelks, et al, 2008)]
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report
-------
EPA Signs Interagency
MOU to Improve Oversight
of Surface Coal Mining
Activities in Appalachia
On June 11, 2009, EPA, the U.S.
Department of the Army, and the U.S.
Department of the Interior signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
implementing an interagency action plan on
Appalachian surface coal mining. This action
plan was designed to significantly reduce
the harmful environmental consequences of
Appalachian surface coal mining operations.
Action Plan includes both short-and long
i actions for:
strengthening existing policy and
guidance
gathering public input
assessing the effectiveness of cur-
rent policy, and
developing regulatory actions.
A picture of a mountaintop removal site.
Mountaintop coal mining cannot
be predicated on the assumption
of minimal oversight of its
environmental impacts, and its permanent
degradation of water quality. Stronger reviews
and protections will safeguard the health of local
waters, and thousands of acres of watersheds in
Appalachia."
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
Appalachian coal mining has buried an
estimated 2,000 miles of streams in states
including West Virginia. Scientific studies
have increasingly identified significant water
quality problems below surface coal mining
operations that can contaminate surface wa-
ters for hundreds of years. Data from coal-
field communities also indicate that coal min-
ing can be responsible for causing fish kills
and contaminating fish and wildlife. A key
feature of the MOU is enhanced coordination
among agencies on the review of 79 imminent
mining permits, which is expected to provide
for reduced environmental impacts of mining
operations, improved monitoring of streams,
and enhanced compensatory mitigation for
stream impacts, among other improvements.
(Contact: Brian Frazer, 202-566-1652)
10
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
Capacity Building & Community-Based Watershed Protection
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)
Program Reduces Pollution in Communities
LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS. HEALTHY COI^MUNITIES.
EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response and Office of Water (OW) are
co-leading EPA's multimedia Community
Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)
program, which is achieving measurable
environmental results at the community level.
Starting in 2011, OW will coordinate the
program with the Office of Air as its co-lead.
CARE is a community-based program that
works with county and local governments,
tribes, non-profit organizations and
universities to help the public understand and
reduce toxic risks from numerous sources.
The CARE process helps communities build
capacity to reduce toxics and pollution
through local collaboration.
This "collaborative planning" is essential
to leveraging skills and resources, looking
at problems holistically, and ensuring
sustainable solutions for the community.
The CARE program and OWOW watershed
protection programs share a focus on
holistic planning, collaboration and building
sustainable solutions for the community.
Through CARE, EPA has provided technical
assistance and $12 million in funding
cumulatively to 68 environmentally over- ^^^^^^^^^^^_^^^^^_^^^^^^^^_
burdened communities in 34 states and
territories across the U.S. Over 90 percent of CARE projects are in Environmental Justice (EJ)
communities of concern. In addition, CARE projects have leveraged almost an additional
50 percent from local partner organizations. Over 1,500 partners have been engaged in local
CARE projects, including local and state agencies, businesses, citizen groups, and universities.
A recent evaluation by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) recognized the
CARE program as a solid, tested framework for engaging communities and other stakeholders.
The NAPA Panel concluded that the CARE program has successfully demonstrated that
the concept works well to combine EPA expertise with community capacity-building to
address risks from all sources of toxics in underserved communities. NAPA noted that CARE
partnerships are changing their environments and reducing pollution in their communities.
For more information about CARE, www.epa.gov/care (Contact: Gale Bonanno, 202-564-2243)
Toxic Discharges Reduced in
Lake Superior
The Lake Superior Watershed Partnership, a
CARE grantee, worked with the State Den-
tistry Association in Michgian to convince
more than 30 dental offices to voluntarily
install mercury-amalgam separators, decreas-
ing the amount of mercury discharged from
Marquette's wastewater treatment plant to
Lake Superior by 19 percent.
The Partnership also
furthered environ-
mental stewardship
by joining with 9
faith communities
(125 congregations)
to focus on pharma-
ceuticals in water.
An Earth Day "Clean Sweep" collected one
ton of unwanted medications from about
2,000 people and ensured the medications
were responsibly disposed.
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report
11
-------
Capacity Building & Community-Based Watershed Protection
Watershed Central & Wiki Offer One-Stop
Shopping for Watershed Practitioners
Restoring the health of the nation's waterways
requires access to a wide variety of data,
assessment tools, and funding sources to
manage pollution effectively. It also depends on
collaboration between multiple landowners and
state, local, and federal environmental management
agencies. Approaching restoration with a well
documented watershed plan allows stakeholders
to pull all of the analyses, public goals, and
clean-up actions together into one orchestrated
water resource management effort. Until now,
local watershed managers had to search several
publications and Web sites for funding, assistance
programs, and other sources of watershed
management expertise in order to plan their
watershed projects. To make watershed
management related information easier to
find and use, EPA developed and launched
"Watershed Central" in 2009 at www.epa.gov/
watershedcentral.
Watershed Central is a Web site that identifies,
connects, and organizes relevant federal govern-
ment and university Web sites, state and local pro-
gram resources and key publications for state and
local managers to guide them during each step
in the watershed management process. The Web
site includes a "wiki," which allows watershed
managers to share information sources and tools
by writing articles about their resources and post-
ing them online for all to see. Other users of the
"wiki" can read and comment on these articles, ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^™
rate the usefulness of watershed tools, or contact experts for additional information.
Watershed Central's Web 2.0 Wiki
EPA's Office of Water worked with the Office of Research and Development and Office of
Environmental Information to develop Watershed Central and the wiki. Watershed Cen-
tral's wiki is one of EPA's first wikis and represents the successful use of "Web 2.0" which
is, in essence, all about two-way communication and collaboration. Future plans include
modeling assistance and enhanced online mapping. (Contact: Stuart Lehman, 202-566-
1205)
The Wiki allows users to:
• Share best practices, case studies and
lessons learned;
• See what other watershed
organizations are doing and learn from
them;
• Identify partners in your watershed;
• Rate and comment on watershed
management tools or report on new
tools;
• View a map with water monitoring
stations, land use types, watershed
boundaries, high-resolution aerial
photography, and more;
• Publish watershed management plans
for others to learn from;
• Create a page about your organization,
add a map, and share it amongst
members of your group; and
• Build the community knowledge base.
12
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
In 2009, the City ojPunta Gorda
(Florida) and the Charlotte Harbor
National Estuary Program became
the first CRE program partner_ - and
one of the first municipalities in the
nation - to adopt a plan for adapting
to climate change.
Climate Ready Estuaries: Enhancing Capacity for Climate
Change Adaptation in the National Estuary Program
Building on the success of pilot efforts to develop
climate change vulnerability assessments and
adaptation plans for six NEPs in 2008, OWOW's
Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) program provided
targeted start-up grants and technical assistance to seven
NEP partners in 2009. Projects were diverse and built
upon lessons learned from experience with the 2008
pilots.
• Albemarle-Pamlico Sound (North Carolina), Casco Bay
(Maine), Barnegat Bay (New Jersey) and Charlotte Harbor
(Florida) hosted listening and stakeholder involvement
sessions for the public and decision makers.
• Partners in the Delaware Estuary (Delaware) and Indian
River Lagoon (Florida) focused efforts on developing
vulnerability assessments leading to local adaptation plans.
• In Long Island Sound (Connecticut-New York)
collaborators are working on a climate change monitoring
plan and municipal-level adaptation plan.
• Tampa Bay (Florida) is developing a handbook to inform "climate
sensitive" habitat restoration in the Gulf of Mexico.
• In November 2009, the City of Punta Gorda (Florida) and the Charlotte
Harbor National Estuary Program became the first CRE program
partner - and one of the first municipalities in the nation - to adopt a
plan for adapting to climate change.
In June 2009, the CRE program convened a two-day workshop, bring-
ing partners together to discuss lessons learned and ongoing chal-
lenges, and to chart a course for the program. The CRE program
captured discussions from this workshop and summarized partner
accomplishments from 2008 and 2009 in a progress report available
for download on the CRE website (www.epa.gov/cre). The CRE
program also continued to strengthen its online toolkit of adaptation
resources (www.epa.gov/cre/toolkit.html) in 2009, adding an "Ad-
aptation Planning for the National Estuary Program" guide and the "Synthesis of Adaptation
Options for Coastal Areas" document. The Synthesis document has been highlighted by other
federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and USAID,
and downloaded thousands of times. The CRE program continues to be widely recognized as
a leader and innovator in the fast-moving field of coastal climate change adaptation. (Contact:
John Whitler, 202-564-1929)
Partner accomplishments are
summarized in a new CRE report.
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report
13
-------
Capacity Building & Community-Based Watershed Protection
New Analysis Highlights Importance of Intermittent,
Ephemeral and Headwater Streams to Public Drinking
Water Sources
A recent analysis conducted jointly by the Wetlands Division and the Office of
/ \ Groundwater and Drinking Water highlights the importance of intermittent, ephemeral,
JL Aand headwater streams as sources of drinking water for about 117 million people,
over one-third of the U.S. population. The analysis combined state and EPA drinking water
data with stream data from U.S. Geologic Survey's National Hydrography Dataset to identify
those public drinking water systems that rely at least in part on intermittent, ephemeral, or
headwater streams. These types of streams are more difficult to protect after the U.S. Supreme
Court decision Rapanos v. United States. The results were provided to Congress to inform
their deliberations.on whether to address Rapanos legislatively. In addition, a number of news
outlets have relied on the study to highlight local public health implications of Rapanos. The
data are available at a national, state, and county level at www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/
science/surface drinking water/index.html (Contact: Rachel Fertik, 202-566-1452)
Percentage »f Surface Drinking Water ('mm
Intermittent, Ephemeral, and Headwater Streams
Wetlands Division staff worked closely with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance to provide
technical assistance to Congress on the full suite of implications resulting from the Rapanos decision. This included
summarizing the environmental, programmatic, and enforcement effects of the decision, the results of which were
presented to over 70 key Senate staff.
14
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
Video Contest Recognized by White House as Milestone in
Open Government
President Obama's 2008 political campaign revolutionized the
use of the Internet and Information Technology,
utilizing information sharing, social networking,
and online collaboration tools to engage citizens.
Former OWOW director Craig Hooks recognized the
value of these new technologies to reach out to younger
generations and came up with the idea of hosting an
on-line video contest. By marketing on Facebook and using other Web
2.0 tools, the contest drew an unexpectedly high number of entries. More
than 250 videos were uploaded to EPA's YouTube Channel - far exceeding
expectations. In addition, the channel generated more than 28,000 collective YouTube views
between the start and the end of June 2009 when winners were chosen, with thousands
more hits to date. Contest submissions covered wetlands and watershed protection,
marine debris prevention and other topics. Videos used creative and humorous ways to
convey important environmental messages. Some of the best submissions are now being
used as Public Service Announcements. In addition to the wide appeal this innovative
project had with the public, 7 different EPA program offices and 2 Regions have expressed
interest in implementing a similar video contest and approached OWOW for its guidelines/
lessons learned document. To view (and download) the winners and honorable mentions,
visit: www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html (Contact: Patty Scott, 202-566-1292).
OWOW Forms New Capacity Building Team
I\
As part of EPA's national strategy for improving water quality
on a watershed basis, in 2009 OWOW established a cross-divisional Capacity
Building Team to accelerate local watershed protection efforts. The role of the
Capacity Building Team is to facilitate the work of local governments and watershed
groups by providing them with the tools they need to succeed. The new team is charged
with targeting the communication of training and tools to local watershed groups and
government agencies, leveraging 3rd party providers to enhance support to local watershed
organizations, gaining better external feedback on the effectiveness of OWOW's capacity
building tools, and identifying new tools to further enhance capacity building. The team's
early accomplishments include delivering the Watershed Academy live training course
Key EPA Internet Tools for Watershed Management, with updated content at www.epa.gov/
watershed/wacademy/epatools, and completing an inventory of approximately 100 distinct
tools and activities for which OWOW has a lead role. The team will build from this base.
(Contacts: Don Waye, 202-566-1170; Alison Keener, 202-566-3222)
s of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report 15
-------
Marine Debris and Vessel Discharges
:
Marine Debris Prevention Gathers Momentum after
Summit
Marine debris is a pervasive environmental problem
that stretches beyond the set responsibilities of any
individual EPA office or federal agency. EPA's Marine
Debris Prevention Workgroup, led by OWOW, is using a
comprehensive approach to address the types, sources,
movement, and impacts of marine debris. Workgroup
members include the Office of Wastewater Management; the
Office of Solid Waste; the Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances; and EPA Regional offices. In 2009, the workgroup hosted a
successful two-day Marine Debris Prevention Summit to enhance information exchange
and to strengthen the links between program efforts and marine debris prevention.
Summit participants included staff from EPA Headquarters and Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 8,
9, and 10, as well as expert guest speakers. The Summit identified a number of key
recommendations for 2010.
In addition in 2009, the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee, co-chaired by
EPA and NOAA, submitted a progress report to Congress that provided an update on all
Federal agencies' activities undertaken between June 2008 and December 2009 to address
marine debris, as mandated by the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction
Act. This is the first progress report since the Interagency Report on Marine Debris Sources,
Impacts, Strategies and Recommendations submitted to Congress in August 2008. More infor-
mation is available at www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/debris/index.html. (Contacts: Katherine
Weiler, 202-566-1280; Ashley Greene, 202-566-1738)
PA Tackles Vessel Discharges
egulations, best management practices, guidance, recommendations, and research
are all key components of OWOW's Vessel Discharges Program. Under Section
,312 of the CWA, EPA is directed to develop standards and management practices
for certain discharges. In 2009, EPA began assessing the need to revise and update
vessel sewage standards and also began the development of proposed regulations to
establish best management practices for discharges incidental to the normal operation
of recreational vessels under the Clean Boating Act (CBA). The CBA will impact
approximately 17 million recreational vessels and cover discharges such as bilge water,
graywater, bottom fouling (invasive species), and cleaning and maintenance discharges
In addition in 2009, OWOW completed the Cruise Ship Plume Dilution Report that
studied the near-field dilution of treated sewage and graywater discharges from docked
cruise ships in Skagway Harbor, Alaska. (Contacts: Kathryn Benz, 202-564-1223; Brian
Rappoli, 202-566-1548)
16
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
Vessel-to-Reef Project Provides Habitat for Fish and Other
Aquatic Life
On May 27, 2009, the ex-USS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a 522 ft. former USAF Long
Range Instrument Platform Tracking ship previously maintained by the Maritime
Administration, was sunk in 140 feet of water approximately six miles south-
southeast of Key West in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. EPA conducted
a number of vessel walkthroughs to assess the vessel clean-up and preparation prior to
its sinking to create an artificial reef. The vessel was scuttled within one minute and 44
seconds. This new artificial reef, the largest in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
and the second largest in the world, will provide habitat for reef fish and many other
aquatic species. (Contact: Laura Johnson, 202-566-1273)
»
This deck view of the ex-USS Gen. Hoyt S.
Vandenberg shows the modifications made to
secure items on the deck that may otherwise
break free from the vessel during sinking.
Such modifications, which help avoid the
generation of marine debris, follow the 2006
guidance document jointly issued by EPA
and the Maritime Administration, "National
Guidance: Best Management Practices for
Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial
Reefs." Two radar dishes which are 30-40 feet
in diameter can be seen in the center and upper
left hand corner of the photo. These dishes were
removed, then welded back to trimmed down
bases, and further secured to the deck with
cables. In the water surrounding the vessel is
a floating boom, used to contain any debris or
liquid that may escape the vessel during the
final cleanup and preparation.
The new submerged artifical reef will provide
habitat for reef fish and other aquatic species
of Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report
17
-------
Stormwater Management
EPA Guidance Helps
Federal Facilities Better
Manage Stormwater
In December 2009, EPA issued guidance
to help federal agencies minimize
the impact of federal development
projects on nearby water bodies. The
guidance, issued as part of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007
(EISA) and an Executive Order signed by
President Obama, calls upon all federal
agencies to lead by example to address
a wide range of environmental issues,
including Stormwater runoff. Under
EISA Section 438, federal agencies must
minimize Stormwater runoff from federal
development projects to protect water
resources. Federal developments that
exceed 5,000 square feet must maintain
or restore pre-development hydrology.
To assist federal agencies, the guidance
provides a step-by-step framework that
will help retain rainfall on-site through
infiltration, evaporation/transpiration, and
re-use.
New Stormwater Video helps Communities
Educate People about Low Impact
Development
In 2009, OWOWreleased a 9-minute video, "Reduce
Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,"
which highlights green techniques such as rain gardens,
green roofs, and rain barrels that help manage storm-
water runoff in a more sustainable manner. The film
showcases green techniques that are being used in urban
areas to minimize the impacts of Stormwater runoff.
It includes techniques on display at the U.S. Botanic
Garden's "One Planet - Ours!" 2008 Exhibit. It also
highlights green practices at EPA's Headquarters in
Washington, D.C., including six 1,000-gallon cisterns
in the basement at EPA's West Building. This cistern
collects roof runoff, and the water irrigates planting beds
and the grass, helping to conserve water and reduce run-
off to the Chesapeake Bay. The video is available online
at: www.epa.gov/npsllid. (Contacts: Anne Weinberg,
202-566-1217; Patty Scott, 202-566-1292)
Federal agencies can comply using a
variety of Stormwater management practices often referred to
as "green infrastructure" or "low impact development," such
as reducing impervious surfaces, using vegetative practices,
porous pavements and green roofs. Although the guidance was
developed for federal facilities, these Stormwater management
practices are generally appropriate for a broad range of
developments. OWOW worked closely with other federal
agencies to develop the state-of-the-art guidance, which Permable P^ment is one technique that helps
provides background information, key definitions,
case studies and recommendations on meeting the new
EISA requirements. This guidance will help federal facilities reduce Stormwater runoff,
a leading source of water pollution. Runoff can cause increased flooding and stream
channel erosion, and larger pollutant loads to surface waters, among other impacts. Copies
of the guidance and related materials are posted at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/
section438/. (Contact: Robert Goo, 202-566-1201)
infiltrate Stormwater so that it does not runoff
and pollute downstream waters.
18
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
EPA and Fish and Wildlife Service Develop Interactive
Toolbox to Protect Water Resources on Prized Public Lands
During 2009, EPA and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) jointly completed a
national assessment of the impaired waters occurring within or near public lands
managed by the FWS, and co-developed interactive tools to help this information
become easily and routinely used at all levels of both agencies. This project was carried
out to help the FWS better protect, restore and manage the waters of prized public lands
including National Wildlife
Refuges, National Fish Hatcher-
ies, and Waterfowl Production
Areas across the nation. Using
Geographic Information Systems
(CIS) and the EPAs impaired
waters data, OWOW compared
impaired waters data with FWS
property maps to determine spe-
cific properties and waters at risk
as well as impairment causes.
The project team compiled these
findings into mapped, tabular,
and text products. The assess-
ment revealed that, although the
waters in or near FWS properties
were in better condition than US
, , Total Impaired Waters In/Near FWS Properties by State/Territory
waters in general, some impaired areas -
do exist (see Figure). A total of 804
impaired waters totaling 10,755 km in length and 2,510 sq km in area occur in or near 303
FWS properties. The most common impairment causes include nutrients, oxygen depletion,
pathogens, and mercury.
Rather than create a final report text alone, OWOW developed a number of interactive tools
to enable FWS, from the individual refuge manager up to the regional or national strategic
planner, access to the most relevant data. A full, national GIS database of the assessment
maps and data tables was provided to the FWS, along with a "read-only" version browsable
by users without GIS skills. Additionally, a master spreadsheet was developed to enable
matching individual properties, impaired waters, and their characteristics at local, regional,
or national scales as needed. To promote watershed approaches, the assessment also reag-
gregated the project data by watersheds with FWS property and identified the waters with
existing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). All of the interactive data and the final report
will be housed on FWS and EPA Web sites to support access and use throughout both agen-
cies. OWOW continues to work with additional federal partners on this important safe-
guard for public lands. (Contact: Douglas Norton, 202-566-1221)
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report
19
-------
TMDL Results Analysis Project Shows Major Progress in
Restoring Polluted Waterbodies
Ui
-™fo study sh°™d *<* ™st ™DLs
•nder the Clean Water Act (CWA), developing impaired
waters lists and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
are key parts of restoring impaired waters. A TMDL is
a calculation of how much pollution a waterbody can receive
and still meet water quality standards - and an important step
toward reducing that pollution. Until the TMDL Program
Results Analysis Project, however, there was limited evidence
of the effectiveness of the CWA's impaired waters listing and
TMDL program. This multi-year project's goal was to analyze
impaired waters program progress and its driving factors,
providing insights for TMDL program improvement. Because
TMDLs occur midway along a sequence of program steps
toward restoration, this project studied all stages before,
. i f i .mi i-r^T • i -11 "een at ^east partially implemented through permits or
during, and after the TMDL in order to consider the nonpoint source control actions in thdr watersheds
broader context in which the TMDL program operates.
)uring 2009, OWOW created a public Web site to house over 30 study reports, fact sheets, techni-
cal papers and other products developed under the Results Analysis Project. This site was de-
signed around the "impaired waters pipeline" concept, with five CWA program stages that im-
paired waters pass through en route to full restoration. The project carried out multiple studies on
all five stages. Web site highlights from each stage include:
Listing. The listing process has led to the identification and tracking of over 43,000 impaired waters
nationally; improvements in state list submission and Integrated Reporting were documented in results
analysis fact sheets online.
Planning. TMDL development passed the 40,000 stage during 2009, and additional national GIS map-
ping of impaired waters with TMDLs and impaired watershed boundaries were produced to aid states
in restoration planning.
Implementing. A statistical study of all TMDLs in EPA Region 5 determined that 80% of TMDLs had at
least some activity occurring to implement pollution controls (see bar chart above). Other studies as well
found that a majority of TMDLs have increased actions to improve water quality.
• Improving. A two-state study identified driving factors linked with water quality improvements from
TMDL implementation; another study identified methods for states to document incremental improve-
ments for performance tracking.
• Recovery. Using lessons learned about the driving factors underlying TMDL successes, Recovery Po-
tential Screening methods were developed and published to help guide states toward better restoration
investments that restore more waters earlier, more consistently, and more cost-effectively; a Recovery
Potential tools site is being developed.
Visit TMDL Program Results Analysis Web site at: www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/results/. (Contact:
Douglas Norton, 202-566-1221)
20
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
Data on Aquatic Resoun
Effective Renuliitton (PAH
y.S, ENVWQWMENTAI, PftQTiCTlQN MS
(igB
DARTER System Improves Tracking of Wetlands Permits
In October 2009, OWOW announced the release of an upgraded Data on Aquatic Resources
Tracking for Effective Regulation (DARTER) system. DARTER is EPA's system to manage
its workflow in the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permit program. Section 404
requires a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or states with EPA-approved
wetlands programs, for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the
United States. EPA plays a number of roles in the Section 404 permit program including
developing and interpreting policy, guidance and environmental criteria used in evaluating
permit applications, determining the scope of geographic jurisdiction and reviewing and
commenting on proposed Section 404 permits. DARTER allows EPA staff to:
• Track agency involvement in pre-application coordination, review of public notices for
proposed permits, and proposed jurisdictional determinations;
• Prepare and share EPA-generated jurisdictional determinations; and
• Access shared data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' national regulatory program
data management system (ORM2).
Improved data access and management will enable EPA to more effectively review CWA
404 permits and to document environmental improvements resulting from those reviews.
(Contacts: Brian Topping, 202-566-5680; Rose Kwok, 202-566-0657)
New Wetlands Program Framework Provides Roadmap for
Successful State and Tribal Wetlands Protection Programs
A primary objective of EPA's Wetlands program is to build state and tribal capacity
/\ for wetlands protection. In 2009 OWOW finalized, with extensive state and tribal
JL Ainput, a Core Elements Framework that provides a comprehensive menu of program
building activities for all wetland programs, from emerging to well-developed. The core
elements are basic program functions that form the foundation of wetlands management
and protection in a state or tribe:
1. monitoring and assessment;
2. regulatory activities including 401 certification;
3. voluntary restoration and protection; and
4. water quality standards for wetlands
State and Tribes now have a clear roadmap to reach their wetland program goals from
where ever their program currently is. www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/initiative/estp.html
(Contact: Rebecca Oils, 202-566-1378)
of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report 21
-------
Water Quality Monitoring
Ocean Survey Vessel (OSV) BOLD
Conducts Valuable Scientific Surveys
The OSV BOLD supported regional and headquarter
priorities along the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and
Caribbean, during 2009. A wide variety of environmental
monitoring was conducted over 238 sea days. Some 35 scientific
surveys were performed and!2 educational events were held
for the public and community leaders at several major ports,
including ports in urban waters.
The primary mission of the OSV BOLD is to conduct surveys of the nation's Ocean Dredged
Material Disposal Sites (ODMDS). Nine disposal sites were evaluated along the East
and Gulf coasts in 2009. The data collected indicate that the disposal sites are being used
properly; they are performing as designed; and no impacts to human health or aquatic life
were demonstrated. The Tampa, FL disposal site, in particular, has become a rich habitat
for fisheries and numerous benthic communities, including coral. The success of the Tampa
site validated the engineering and management efforts that established the site. Future
monitoring will ensure that ongoing disposal work will not adversely impact this diverse
habitat. (Contact: Kennard Potts, 202-566-1267)
Web-based WQX Puts Water Quality Data at the Fingertips
of Scientists, Policy Makers and the Public
f*^^ WOW continues to improve the ease with which organizations large
I land small can store their water quality monitoring in a national
V—X warehouse. Once data are stored in the National STORET Data
Warehouse, they are accessible to scientists, government policy makers, and
the public.
In 2009, OWOW completed a three-year transition to the Water Quality Exchange (WQX)
framework (the successor to the STORET data system). OWOW also developed a new
flexible tool for small data system owners called WQX Web, which allows any organization
with a connection to the Web to share its data nationally with others. Many smaller groups
across the country manage their water quality monitoring data using software tools such
as Microsoft Excel or Access. WQX Web is designed to accept output from these types of
applications for submittal to the National STORET Data Warehouse.
OWOW also collaborated with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on a Web services proj-
ect to facilitate data analysis. The collaboration resulted in a common inter-agency data
exchange that allows users to seamlessly pull water quality data from the two largest
repositories of water quality information — EPA's National STORET Data Warehouse and
the USGS' National Water Information System (NWIS) — using the same data template. For
more information, see www.epa.gov/STORET (Contact: Charles Kovatch, 202-566-0399)
22
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO? A™nua Report
-------
Final National Wetlands Mapping Standard Will
Transform National Wetlands Inventory
Accurate geo-locational information about wetland resources
is a prerequisite to managing the resource well. In 2009
OWOW came closer to realizing this national goal through
completion of the National Wetland Mapping Standard. Issuance
of the standard culminates three years of work by a Federal
Geographic Data Committee workgroup of multiple Federal
agencies, States, NGOs and contractors. A consistent national
standard will allow multiple wetland management agencies
to share data and understand where the wetlands are, track
changes, and work towards a mutual goal of better resource
protection and management. The availability of compatible
mapped wetland data will also transform how the Fish and
Wildlife Service collects and uploads data to the National
Wetland Inventory. The ability to compile data from numerous
sources means that the Inventory can be more comprehensive and current
(Contact: Margarete Heber, 202-566-1189)
f Wetlands, Queans and Watersheds ZOO?Annual Report
23
-------
-
^*
EPA Document Number: 840R10001
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (4501T)
Washington, DC 20460
April 2010
www.epa.gov/owow
EPA would like to recognize the following individuals
and organizations for contributing photographs for this report:
NOAA's National Ocean Service
Douglas Norton
Kennard Potts
Bill and Sharon Draker
Laura Johnson
Brad Cannon
Carrie Perry
USEPA Region 10
John McShane
April Wiese
Please note that mention of any commercial product, enterprise or service
does not mean that EPA endorses them.
------- |