We hear a lot about water-quality problems and impaired water bodies—so much so that it’s easy to forget that many of the problems are fixable, and that restoration efforts often do produce tremendous results. EPA has been trying to remedy that by sharing some success stories. It maintains a site dedicated to highlighting improvements in water bodies affected mainly by nonpoint-source pollution: what the problems were (sediment, nutrients, bacteria); who took action (a state’s department of environmental protection, an environmental group, local landowners, or some combination of these), and what the results have been to date.
Usefully, most of the stories on the site feature a “Partners and Funding” section that shows where the money came from—often from a variety of sources. Many projects were recipients of federal Section 319 Grants, which are geared specifically to sites affected by nonpoint-source pollution, but there are usually other funding sources as well.
The site includes stories of restored waters from the majority of states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, as well as “almost there” stories featuring impaired waters that have improved but don’t yet meet water-quality standards. The site also includes a few stories from waters that were, for various reasons, not on any 303(d) list but nonetheless had problems that have been improved.
We’ve featured highlights from a couple of these stories on our site here and here, and will continue to do so, but if you want a good overview of what’s happening around the country, check out the complete site at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/success319/.
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Upcomimg Forester University Webinars:
December 13th, 2011
Stormwater Inspection and Maintenance
Don’t get caught in the storm. Join Andrew J. Erickson, M.S., P.E., for Stormwater Inspection & Maintenance on Dec. 13th, a discussion of standardized stormwater inspection methods and performance assessment. Learn how to use these to assess, select, and schedule effective and financially sustainable maintenance on stormwater treatment practices (e.g., stormwater ponds, bioretention facilities, infiltration basins, swales, and filter strips).
January 12th, 2012
Planning & Executing an Effective Pavement Preservation Program
As roadway networks and commercial vehicle loading continue to increase and Municipality taxation power remains limited, the need to effectively maintain and improve our pavement infrastructure is paramount. Join David Hein, V.P. of Transportation for ARA, to explore the key concepts of an effective pavement preservation program, program implementation needs and guidelines, and common roadblocks to successful implementation.
January 26th, 2012
5 Steps to Creating a Successful Public Outreach Campaign
Change starts with people. Whether your focus is stormwater pollution, energy conservation, pavement restoration, or recycling, a successful public outreach campaign resonates with your target audience and leads to long-lasting behavior change. Join Erica Hooper of SGA to explore a proven 5-step approach to crafting a successful outreach campaign based on real-world examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly.
February 9th, 2012
Differentiating & Monitoring Groundwater Plumes
Threatened by various plumes of mobile contaminants, urban potable groundwater resources require groundwater professionals to not only determine the source of individual plumes, but apportion the contributions of multiple sources within a composite plume. Join William G. Soukup, P.G. of Cornerstone Environmental Group LLC to discuss the analytical and interpretive techniques for differentiating plumes and their sources, as well as tips to improve long-term plume monitoring and management.