U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 Bulletin - EPA 910/9-92-043 November 2010 Duwamish Waterway: Cleanup Options Released for Public Review The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Washington State Department of Ecology recently released a draft study of cleanup alternatives for the 5-mile-long Lower Duwamish Waterway cleanup site. The agencies are seeking public input on a range of cleanup options to reduce toxic pollutants in the waterway. The public can review and comment on the cleanup alternatives online at www.ldwg.org, by mail or email, or at workshops and meetings through December 23. The cleanup is needed to address pollution in the waterway from a century of heavy industrial use. Sources of the pollution include industries along the waterway and stormwater runoff from upland activities, streets and roads. Pollutants in the sediments include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and furans, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), arsenic and other chemicals. Many of these chemicals stay in the environment for a long time and have built up to unsafe levels in the waterway's sediment and in the fish and shellfish that live in the waterway all year long. State and local health departments warn against eating Duwamish Waterway crab, shellfish, or bottom-feeding fish (but not salmon, which move through quickly). The study of cleanup options released today, called a Feasibility Study, compares a range of alternatives to reduce risks for people and animals, and to be consistent with federal and state cleanup standards. The cleanup alternatives combine several methods to deal with polluted sediments -dredging and removing them, covering them with engineered caps, and harnessing the natural flow of sediments from up-river to cover less- polluted areas over time. EPA and Ecology jointly oversee the cleanup study. The study was prepared by a group called the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group. It consists of the City of Seattle, King County, Port of Seattle, and Boeing. Working together, and with input from the community, they studied the pollution in the waterway and identified cleanup options. Those are the cleanup alternatives available now for public review. They are also moving ahead with early cleanup of some of the most polluted areas. Two early cleanups were conducted and three more are under way. Reducing pollutants entering the waterway is also a priority to avoid new contamination and to minimize the recontamination of cleaned-up areas. Ecology and EPA work with the city, the county, the port, and property owners to investigate and control pollution sources throughout the Duwamish Waterway drainage basin. EPA and Ecology are sharing information and seeking input on the cleanup alternatives from interested residents, neighborhoods, and businesses this fall. Public meetings are scheduled for Dec. 7 and Dec. 9. EPA and Ecology will use public input to finalize the study and develop a proposed cleanup plan. The proposed cleanup plan will be issued for public review and comment in 2012. EPA's decision on the final cleanup plan, after seeking concurrence from Ecology, is expected in 2013. Find information about the Lower Duwamish Waterway cleanup at www.epa.gov/region10/ duwamish.html In This Issue... mws EPA News to update you on agency activities, pages 1-2. Tools to clue you in on resources, publications, opportunities, and services, pages 3-6. Waterwords covering water related issues, page 7. SPOTLIGHT Spotlight to showcase success stories and environmental stars, pages 8-9. IfctFCOSYSl Ecosystem to provide news that goes beyond water topics, page 10. CALENDAR f i Calendar to highlight environmental events, page 11. ------- Stewardship of Ocean, Coasts: Executive Order The nation's first comprehensive national policy for the stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes is now in place. The President has issued an Executive Order that adopts the final recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, and directs federal agencies to take steps to implement them. It also creates an interagency National Ocean Council to strengthen ocean governance, and provide sustained, high-level focus on the national priority objectives for action to advance the national policy. "Protecting our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes is critical to the health of our communities, vibrancy of our economy and overall security of our nation," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "The new national policy provides a clear road map for all federal agencies to work together, with local partners, to protect our vital waters for future generations. EPA is proud to have played a role in the development of this plan and the continued protection of our treasured natural resources." The Order, final recommendations and key documents can be found at the National Ocean Council website: www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans. EPA Recovery Act Projects Spotlighted Eight EPA projects have been highlighted in a new report, 100 Recovery Act Projects that are Changing America. The report highlights some of the ujJIVl most innovative and effective \\ T/ Recovery Act projects across ^| ^ / the country that are not only >^ ^x^ putting people back to work - now, but helping transform our economy for years to come. To view the report, visit www.whitehouse.gov/sites/ default/files/100-Recovery-Act-Proiects-Changing- America-Report.pdf EPA to Propose Rule to Protect Waters, Reduce Mercury from Dental Offices EPA recently announced it intends to propose a rule to reduce mercury waste from dental offices. Dental amalgams, or fillings containing mercury, account for 3.7 tons of mercury discharged from dental offices each year. The mercury waste results when old mercury fillings are replaced with new ones. The mercury in dental fillings is flushed into chair-side drains and enters the wastewater systems. Then it can make its way into the environment through discharges to rivers and lakes, incineration or land application of sewage sludge. Mercury released through amalgam discharges can be easily managed and prevented. EPA expects to propose a rule next year and finalize it in 2012. Dental offices will be able to use existing technology to meet the proposed requirements. Amalgam separators can separate out 95 percent of the mercury normally discharged to the local waste treatment plant. The separator captures the mercury, which is then recycled and reused. Until the rule is final, EPA encourages dental offices to voluntarily install amalgam separators. Twelve states and several municipalities already require the installation of amalgam separators in dental offices. About 50 percent of mercury entering local waste treatment plants comes from dental amalgam waste. Once deposited, certain microorganisms can change elemental mercury into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish, shellfish and animals that eat fish. Fish and shellfish are the main sources of methylmercury exposure to humans. Methylmercury can damage children's developing brains and nervous systems even before they are born. Find details on mercury from dental offices at http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/ guide/dental/index.cfm. For more on mercury and the environment, visit www.epa.gov/mercury/index.html. Watertalk November 2010 Page 2 ------- Bright Ideas P3 Design - It's the 8th Annual P3 Design Competition for Sustainability! College students can benefit people, promote prosperity and protect the planet by designing solutions that move us towards a sustainable future. Applications are due December 22. www.epa.gov/ncer/p3/apply/ Green Community Power Challenge - Your community can join the national "Green Power Community Challenge," a year-long campaign to encourage cities, towns, villages, and Native American tribes to use renewable energy and fight climate change. The winning communities will be declared in September 2011. www.epa.gov/greenpower/ communities/gpcchallenge.htm Prevent Pollution Anytime! To mark the 20th anniversary of the Pollution Prevention law, EPA renewed its dedication to the importance of removing pollution at its source, before it gets into the environment. Learn more about how you can make a difference and help reduce pollution. http://epa.gov/p2week/tfyou A new "It's My Environment!" video - Check out the second compilation of 13 new videos in the "It's My Environment!" video project. An IME video is a short clip of someone doing something for the environment, then reading and passing along a sign that says "It's My Environment!" We're accepting videos through December 1, so send us yours today! View the second compilation: www. VOutube.com/watch?v=OvNatHigbVM How to submit: www.epa.gov/earthday/video/ Pick 5 for the Environment - Commit to taking at least five actions to protect the environment. Then share your tips, videos, and stories online. www.epa.gov/pick5 Get the lead out - Thinking of renovating an older home? Look for a contractor or renovator who's certified for lead-safe work on homes built before 1978. At present, almost a million children have elevated blood lead levels as a result of exposure to lead hazards, which can lead to lower intelligence, learning disabilities, and behavior issues. Adults exposed to lead hazards can suffer from high blood pressure and headaches. http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_firm.htm Control bed bugs carefully - Beware of individuals or companies who offer to control bedbugs with unrealistic promises of effectiveness or low cost. Never use, or allow anyone else to use, a pesticide indoors that is intended for outdoor use, as indicated on the label. Using the wrong pesticide or using it incorrectly to treat for bedbugs can make you, your family, and your pets sick. It can also make your home unsafe to live in - and may not solve the bed bug problem. http://epa.gov/pesticides/ bedbugs/ Chemicals where you live - Find the data in or near your community about industrial releases and transfers of toxic chemicals in the U.S. during 2009. TRI contains environmental release and transfer data on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical categories reported to EPA by more than 21,000 industrial and other facilities. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/ admpress.nsf/names/hq 2010- 7-28 tri Prepare for emergencies - Find out what you can do to reduce risks from environmental hazards before, during, natural disaster strikes. and after a www.epa.gov/naturalevents Talk about America's Great Outdoors - In 2010, President Obama launched a national dialogue about conservation in America. Participate online with hundreds of others. Contribute your ideas online. http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/ Energy Efficiency Tax Credit ends Dec 31 - If you are considering purchasing an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your existing home and primary residence, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. But note: this federal tax credit is set to expire on December 31, 2010. Get more details at www.energystar.gov/taxcredits Burn Wise this winter! - Help reduce wood smoke pollution. Burn only dry seasoned wood, and upgrade to an efficient wood-burning appliance. But note: the federal tax credit for buying a qualified wood stove ends December 31, 2010. Get more details at www.epa.gov/burnwise/funding.html Page3 Watertalk November 2010 ------- Protecting Children from Environmental Risks The Pacific Northwest and Alaska are home to almost 3 million children under the age of 18. Children are exposed to environmental threats every dayoften in their homes and schools. Children may be more vulnerable to environmental exposures than adults because: Their bodily systems are still developing They eat more, drink more, and breathe more in proportion to their body size Their behavior can expose them more to chemicals and organisms A number of EPA's programs are designed to address environmental concerns that pose risks to children. Region 10 maintains a web page with lots of resources related to children's health. Visit the page at http:// yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ecocomm.nsf/ Programs/Childrens+Homepage Healthy School News Launched EPA Region 10 recently launched an electronic newsletter called Healthy School News. Each of the first three editions was circulated to over 9,000 school contacts in Region 10 since February. The next edition will be out soon. The newsletter helps readers to recognize environmental health issues in local schools. Readers include facility managers, school leaders, teachers, health and safety officers, health department employees, and parents. Health issues include indoor air quality, chemical management, lead, and asbestos, among others. If you would like to be added to the mailing list or have a possible article for the newsletter, contact Margo Young, Region 10 Children's Environmental Health Coordinator, at 206-553-1287, 800-424-4372, or young.margo@epa.gov. To read the first three issues, or for more on children's environmental health, visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ecocomm.nsf/ Programs/Childrens+Homepage. What are some of the main children's health concerns? Asthma - Over 200,000 children in Region 10 suffer from asthma. Environmental Tobacco Smoke - 20% of children in Alaska have routine exposure to secondhand smoke. Health Disparities - Vulnerable populations suffer from high rates of certain diseases. Research suggests that health disparities may be produced by both environmental and social factors. Lead - Exposure continues to threaten learning and development. Mercury and PCBs - Contaminants in fish continue to threaten children and women who are pregnant or are of child-bearing age. Obesity - Roughly 17% of children in the U.S. are overweight, increasing their risk for a multitude of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer. PBDEs - Used in everyday items, such as carpeting, electronics, and furniture, these chemicals persist in the environment, build up in humans, and are likely endocrine disrupters. Pesticides - States in Region 10 are leaders in agricultural production, and children are exposed to harmful levels of pesticides both in the fields and homes. Radon - Found in some homes throughout the region, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Watertalk November 2010 Page 4 ------- New EPA Water Web Site EPA's Office of Water has launched its redesigned website, http://water.epa.gov, replacing four content areas on www.epa.gov. Information is now organized by topic in a way that should be more straight-forward and useful to visitors. Visitors to the agency site looking for water-related content will be redirected to appropriate pages on the new site. Web Clearinghouse: Lake Shoreland Protection Resources EPA has launched a new clearinghouse of Lake Shoreland Protection Resources, at http://water. epa.gov/type/lakes/shoreland.cfm. The website provides resources to help protect and restore fragile lake shorelands, and to promote stewardship by lakeside property owners and others who recreate on lakes. The clearinghouse includes links to fact sheets, webcasts, videos, and other resources. It is part of a campaign to educate the public about key findings of the National Lakes Assessment (NLA). According to the NLA, poor lakeshore habitat and high levels of nutrients are leading stressors affecting the health of lakes. Among the key findings: 56% of our lakes are in good biological condition. More than one-third of our lakes exhibit poor shoreline condition; biological health is three times poorer in lakes with poor lakeshore habitat. Nearly 20% of lakes have high levels of nutrients. Lakes with excess nutrients are 2.5 times more likely to have poor biological health. Microcystin - an algal toxin that can harm humans, pets and wildlife - is present in about a third of lakes across the country. In 2007, EPA, States, Tribes and other partners sampled more than 1,000 lakes as part of this first- ever, national assessment of their ecological condition. For a print copy of the report (EPA publication no. EPA 841-R-09-001) contact EPA's publications warehouse at 1-800-490-9198. To download the report or its data, visit www.epa.gov/lakessurvey/. Tabletop Exercise for Water Systems: Emergency Preparedness, Climate An EPA tool can assist utilities and others in doing tabletop exercises that focus on water sector-related issues. Mini-DVD copies are now available. The Tabletop Exercise Tool for Water Systems: Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Climate Resiliency (TTX Tool) includes materials users can modify. This allows them to conduct a tabletop exercise to meet their specific needs. The TTX Tool introduces users to the potential impacts of climate change on the water sector within the context of an all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness and response. The 15 scenarios in the tool include natural hazards, man-made incidents, and potential climate change impacts. Five climate change- related scenarios provide a way for utilities to consider and carry out long-term planning measures to mitigate the potential impacts of climate change. To request copies of the TTX Tool, please email ttxtool@epa.gov with your mailing address and number of copies. Or contact Jenny Thomas at 202-564-4524 or Amy Posner at 202-564-3338. Visit Watertalk online at www.epa.gov/r10earth/watertalk.htm Page 5 Watertalk November 2010 ------- Handy Tools for Utilities- Coming Soon: Innovative Energy Management Workshop for Water Utilities An Innovative Energy Management Workshop is set for February 7, 2011, in Yakima, WA. At the training, representatives from municipalities can learn how to reduce energy use and increase savings for their water and wastewater treatment plants. Operating costs to treat water can add up to 30% of a municipality's total energy bill. The training will provide a practical guidebook, which outlines how to set measurable energy goals and implement plans to reduce energy consumption and operating costs. This guidebook also includes valuable information on how utilities can minimize energy use and cost without sacrificing performance. The workshop sponsors currently include EPA Region 10, Evergreen Rural Water of Washington, and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. To learn more, contact Cyndi Grafe, EPA Boise, 208-378-5771, or grafe.cyndi@epa.gov. Helping Wastewater Utilities Reduce Energy Use A new technical document is available from EPA to help municipal utility owners and operators find information on cost-effective energy conservation measures and technologies. The information can help utilities reduce energy usage at their wastewater treatment facilities. The document is called Evaluation of Energy Conservation Measures for Wastewater Treatment Facilities. The document covers innovative and emerging technologies that have the potential for substantial energy savings. It also includes nine in-depth facility studies that examine application and cost information for various full-scale, operational energy conservation measures and technologies. For details, see http:// water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/publications.cfm. Climate Ready Water Utilities: Toolbox EPA recently released the Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) Toolbox. The toolbox provides a searchable database for water utilities. It helps identify relevant climate change-related impacts, and resources for responding to those challenges. The toolbox includes: Current federal, state, and association activities related to climate change impacts on water resources and utilities Grant programs that could support climate-related actions by utilities and municipalities Publications and reports Tools and models Workshops and seminars These resources are searchable by utility type and size, region, water resources, climate change impacts, and climate response strategies. The toolbox is online at www.epa.gov/safewater/ watersecurity/climate/toolbox.htm. Watertalk November 2010 Page 6 ------- EPA Divers Help in Recovery of Abandoned Gear from Puget Sound Decades of commercial and recreational fishing in Puget Sound have left behind tons of abandoned fishing gear that kill marine life and degrade habitat. The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative was authorized by Congress to assess the ecological health of inland Northwest marine waters and recommend steps to improve the region's sustainability. The Northwest Straits Commission coordinates these efforts and works to survey and remove this lost fishing gear. Northwest Straits received $4.6M in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant funding from NOAA. The goal is to remove 90 percent of derelict nets in Puget Sound by December 2010. The day-to-day operations of this work are conducted by Natural Resource Consultants, which operates three vessels in Puget Sound daily. To leverage the NOAA grant funding, the EPA Region 10 Dive Team has been helping the Northwest Straits and NRC in mapping derelict nets in Puget Sound. By the end of November, three weeks of dive operations will have been devoted to the work. The dives streamline efforts for removal crews by confirming locations and the "capture potential" of derelict gear. Most dive locations uncover heavy nets in varying states of decay. To learn more, contact Sean Sheldrake, EPA Regional Dive Officer, 206-553-1220, 800- 424-4372, or sheldrake.sean@epa.gov. Example of the type of gear located in Puget Sound by EPA Region 10's Dive Team. Diver gearing up to get in the water to map derelict gear locations. More Bright Ideas Pledge to save water! - Join the Watersense "I'm for Water" pledge and also ask your s. friends and neighbors to join the campaign! www.epa.gov/watersense/pledge/ Shower clean - Now you can find the WaterSense label on shower heads! Products with the Watersense label are at least 20 percent more water efficient and perform as well as or better than standard models. In 2009, WaterSense helped Americans save over 36 billion gallons of water and $267 million on their water and sewer bills. www.epa.gov/watersense/products/ showerheads.html f VisitWatertalkonlineatwww.epa.gov/r10earth/watertalk.htm ) Page 7 Watertalk November 2010 ------- « SPOTLIGHT OR, WA Groups Awarded Nearly $222,000 for Environmental Education As part of its effort to enhance environmental education in the Pacific Northwest, EPA recently awarded nearly $222,000 for education programs in Oregon and Washington. These funds are in addition to awards made earlier this year to several organizations throughout the region. This funding will promote and advance environmental literacy and stewardship in the region. These grants are awarded to local organizations, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, schools and universities whose projects strive to increase knowledge and awareness about the environment. Nationally, EPA awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to 14 organizations in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Region 10 recipients are: EE Association of Washington, E3 Education for Sustainability Project This state capacity-building grant implements the E3 (Environment, Education, and Economy) Education for Sustainable Communities Plan for the state of Washington. Through the use of an interactive website and statewide leadership clinic, EE leaders and representatives of business, media, agriculture, and other sectors are provided professional development opportunities, coordination assistance, and technical support to build collaboration among the sectors to fully implement environmental education. Native Wei I ness Institute, Native Youth Environment Warriors This nationwide program is targeted for Native American youth aged 13 to 18 years old and community leaders and mentors in tribal communities. It provides training and leadership development at a 4-day Native Youth Leadership Academy. Participants enhance their leadership skills and get comprehensive training and support to design and carry out environmental projects within their tribal communities, and engage members of their communities in stewardship projects. For information about EPA Region 10's environmental education program and grants awarded in 2010, go to http://vosemite.epa.gov/R10/extaff.nsf/ environmental+education/education. For information about the 2011 grant program visit www.epa. gov/education/grants.html. Click the blue button (Grants Update) to be electronically notified when applications can be submitted. Contact: Sally Hanft, EPA, at 206-553-1207, 800-424-4372, or hanft.sally@epa.gov. EPA Grants Support Environmental Justice Projects EPA has awarded over $138,000 to six community-based organizations and tribes in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington as part of the agency's Environmental Justice Small Grant Program. These grants will help communities address environmental and public health issues at the local level. Nationally, EPA awarded 76 grants totaling $1.9 million to address environmental justice issues and concerns in communities throughout the United States. "Every community deserves environmental protection and we are proud to support these projects," said Wenona Wilson, EPA's Ecosystems and Community Health Unit Manager in Seattle. "Our goal with the environmental justice program is to achieve equal environmental protection regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, or income." The recipients are: Anchorage Neighborhood Housing Services-$25,000 - Fairview Highway Justice Project Nez Perce Tribe-$25,000 - Water Resources Protection Project DEPAVE-$13,350 - North Portland School Re-Greening Oregon Toxics Alliance-$24,998 - West Eugene Industrial Corridor Environmental Health Project Center for Human Services-$25,000 - Ballinger Sustainability Initiative Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association-$25,000 - Common Water/Common Roots For details about EJ Small Grants, visit: www.epa.gov/compliance/ environmentaljustice/grants/ei- smgrants.html Or, contact Running Grass, EPA, at 206-553-2899, 800-424-4372, or grass. running@epa.gov. Watertalk November 2010 PageS ------- « SPOTLIGHT EPA Dubs Portland One of the Greenest Communities Portland has made EPA's elite list of Green Power Communities for the city's extensive efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. The city is the largest to achieve this designation and is top-ranked for green power usage. Portland joined EPA's Green Power Partnership in 2001 as one of its founding members. The city's municipal operations are using nearly 16 million kilowatt-hours of green power. Much of that power is generated on-site and is enough to meet 10 percent of its needs. Other green power purchasers include the city's streetcar operations, Lewis & Clark College, the Port of Portland, and the Oregon Convention Center. "Portland is setting an excellent example for the nation to show that a major metropolitan city can successfully integrate green power into its infrastructure," said Dennis McLerran, EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Northwest. "We hope the city will continue down the path for more green power and that other communities will follow suit." Portland's collective green power purchase of more than 675 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 93,000 passenger vehicles per year. In addition, Corvallis, Oregon, Intel Corporation and the Port of Portland were recognized for their green power purchasing. In EPA Green Power Communities, the local government, businesses, and residents collectively procure green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA's purchase requirements. More than 30 cities and towns in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin are green power communities. Collectively they buy more than 900 million kWh of green power annually. That's equivalent to the CO2 from the electricity use of nearly 80,000 average American homes. Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low- impact hydropower. Green power resources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conventional power technologies, and produce no net increase of greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more at http://epa.gov/greenpower/communities/index.htm and www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners. htm. Or, contact Carolyn Gangmark, EPA, 206-553- 4072, 800-424-4372, or gangmark.carolyn@epa. gov. EPA Announces WaterSense Partners of the Year EPA has named three organizations and one individual as WaterSense Partners of the Year for their exceptional efforts in promoting water efficiency and WaterSense labeled products. WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. The partners of the year are: Promotional Partner of the Year: Cascade Water Alliance, King County, Washington Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Moen Incorporated Retailer Partner of the Year: Lowe's Companies, Inc. Irrigation Partner of the Year: Judy Benson of Clear Water Products and Services, Inc., Florida Following are just a few of the ways that WaterSense Partners of the Year helped consumers save water: Cascade Water Alliance collaborated with retailers and plumbers to promote water efficiency in the Puget Sound region and rebated more than 3,000 WaterSense labeled toilets for households and local businesses. Moen earned the WaterSense label for all of its 267 bathroom faucet fixtures, ensuring availability of water-saving faucets for consumers at every price point, and garnered significant national media attention for WaterSense. Lowe's launched a "Build Your Savings" program to help customers select products that save energy, water, and money, winning WaterSense Retail/Distributor Partner of the Year for the second year in a row. Judy Benson educated businesses and consumers on outdoor water efficiency and encouraged other irrigation professionals in Florida to partner with WaterSense. For more information on all the WaterSense award winners visit www.epa.gov/watersense. Visit Watertalk online at www.epa.gov/r10earth/watertalk.htm Page 9 Watertalk November 2010 ------- Beneficial Landscaping Retro" bird feeding - go natural! The following article, by Madonna Luers, is from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's newsletter, Crossing Paths. We reprint it here, with permission, because it is broadly applicable to our Region. It offers wonderful guidance for beneficial landscapers, backyard bird and wildlife enthusiasts, and simply anyone who wants to feed and enjoy birds! As sure as leaves turn color and fall to the ground at this time of year, bird feeders are filled and placed in backyards. Window- side, arm-chair birdwatchers enjoy drawing both migrant and resident birds into close-up view in this traditional way. It's a tradition to continue only if you keep those bird feeding stations immaculately clean; use high quality feed and feeder types that only birds can access; locate them to avoid problems with window collisions, predatory cats, and other wildlife like deer and bears; and recognize that feeding only provides temporary benefits to some birds. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recommends simplifying and "naturalizing" the tradition of backyard bird feeding by landscaping with plants that provide berries, fruits, seeds, or nuts for your feathered friends. Many of these natural bird feeding plants will add beautiful color to your fall homescape. And there's no time like fall, when plant root systems slow down and go dormant, to add trees, shrubs and even some perennials. Some of the best plants that provide soft fall and early winter fruit include Pacific crabapple, red-osier dogwood, elderberry, gooseberry, huckleberry, Western serviceberry, and madrone. Plants that best provide fruit that will last through winter and into early spring, when food is in short supply, include barberry, currant, firethorn, Douglas hawthorn, Rocky Mountain and Western junipers, Sitka and Cascade mountain-ash, Oregon-grape, snowberry, sumac, and wild rose. Three great seed and nut-producing trees for western Washington landscapes are hazelnut, vine maple, and birch. For larger areas, include oaks and conifers. Wildlife-friendly seed and nut trees for other parts of the state include alder, Douglas fir, and other conifers. More birds than not use seeds, and lots of shrubs and perennial flowering plants provide them. But the key to this naturalized bird feeding is to leave those "dead heads," or spent flowers with all those seeds. Leave that kind of clean up for spring, and enjoy watching your bird visitors do some of the work this fall! Among the best seed-producing shrubs are mock-orange, ninebark and oceanspray. There are dozens of garden perennials that are good seed-providers, including aster, black-eyed susan, blanketflower, calendula, goldenrod, columbine, coneflower, coreopsis, cosmos, fall sedum, lupine, nasturtium, sunflower, sweet pea, and yarrow. Check with your local nurseries for other appropriate plants that will not be weedy or invasive in your part of the state. For more information about naturalizing your backyard bird feeding, see WDFW's Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program at http://wdfw.wa.gov/ living/backyard/. A good source of detailed information about plant species is available in the "Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest" book by WDFW wildlife biologist Russell Link, available through WDFW's North Puget Sound regional office in Mill Creek (see http:// wdfw.wa.gov/living/book/.) For more on beneficial landscaping, visit EPA's webpage at www.epa.gov/r10earth/bl.htm. Or, contact Elaine Somers at 206-553-2966, 800-424-4372, or somers. elaine@epa.gov. Watertalk November 2010 Page 10 ------- CALENDAR November 30-Dec 3: CitiesAlive, Green Roof and Wall Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada, www. citiesalive.org/ December 2: EPA's 40th Anniversary 6-7: Energy in Alaska, Law Seminars International, Anchorage, AK, www.lawseminars. com 7-9: Oregon Interagency Noxious Weed Symposium, Corvallis, OR, www.oregon.gov/ ODA/PLANT/WEEDS/ January 14: Deadline for contributions to the February issue of Watertalk Newsletter, Andrea Lindsay, Editor, 206-553-1896 or 800-424-4372, lindsav. andrea@epa.gov February 3-5: Human Right to Water Conference, Willamette University, Salem, OR, www. willamette.edu/wucl/news/2010/sprinq/water conf_papers.php 7: Innovative Energy Management Workshop: How to Reduce Energy Use and Increase Savings for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Northwest, Yakima, WA, Cyndi Grafe, EPA Boise, 208-378-5771, grafe. cyndi@epa.gov 28 - Mar 4: National Invasive Species Awareness Week, www.nisaw.org Subscribe to automatically receive EPA Region 10 News Releases via email at: http://www.govdocs.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USEPA_C19 Get Watertalk Electronically Save trees and limit mailbox clutter! Sign up now for the Watertalk List-Serv. You'll get your Watertalk electronically every quarter. It's quick and easy to sign up. Just go to www.epa.gov/ regionlO. Click on A to Z Subject Index, then W for Watertalk. There you will find an option to get on the Region 10 Water Issues List-Serv. Every quarter, an e-mail will tell you when the new Watertalk is ready, and link you to its website. Once in a while, you will get other water-related news from EPA. Remember to send an e-mail to lindsay.andrea@epa.gov to be removed from the hard copy mailing list. Page 11 Watertalk November 2010 ------- Watertalk U.S. EPA 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, ETPA-081 Seattle, Washington 98101-3140 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Pre-Sorted Standard Postage and Fees Paid U.S. EPA Permit No. G-35 For Official Business Use Penalty for Private Use $300 Watertalk November 2010 Watertalk\s published quarterly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10. Watertalk seeks to be a useful tool for those who protect water resources and ecosystems in communities of the Greater Pacific Northwest, by providing practical resources and relevant agency news. You are invited to contribute items for publication. Submittal deadline is the 15th day of the month before publication. Watertalk articles can be used in other publications. Please give credit to Watertalk. For mailing list changes, or to contact the editor, call Andrea Lindsay at (206) 553-1896 or 1-800-424-4EPAx1896, or e-mail lindsay.andrea@epa.gov. Mention of trade names, products or services does not convey, and should not be interpreted as conveying, official EPA approval, endorsement or recommendation. Alternative formats available upon request. Please call Andrea Lindsay to request reasonable accommodation. TTY: 1-800-877-8339. Please recycle or share with a friend. In This Issue... Weigh In on Duwamish Waterway Cleanup Bright Ideas Environmental Winners Handy Tools for Water Utilities Children's Environmental Health Environmental Events And More. ------- |