LakeStewardship Blog

EPA Issues Rule to Reduce Water Pollution from Construction Sites

2009-11-30T07:42:00.001-05:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a final rule to help reduce water pollution from construction sites. The agency believes this rule, which takes effect in February 2010 and will be phased in over four years, will significantly improve the quality of water nationwide.

Construction activities like clearing, excavating and grading significantly disturb soil and sediment. If that soil is not managed properly it can easily be washed off of the construction site during storms and pollute nearby water bodies.

The final rule requires construction site owners and operators that disturb one or more acres to use best management practices to ensure that soil disturbed during construction activity does not pollute nearby water bodies. In addition, owners and operators of sites that impact 10 or more acres of land at one time will be required to monitor discharges and ensure they comply with specific limits on discharges to minimize the impact on nearby water bodies. This is the first time that EPA has imposed national monitoring requirements and enforceable numeric limitations on construction site stormwater discharges.

Soil and sediment runoff is one of the leading causes of water quality problems nationwide. Soil runoff from construction has also reduced the depth of small streams, lakes and reservoirs, leading to the need for dredging.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction

Spiny Waterflea Lkae Champlain Projects

2009-11-30T07:36:00.000-05:00

Grand Isle, VT - The first of five Lake Champlain projects funded through an appropriation in the Great Lakes Fishery Commission budget was initiated this week. Senator Patrick Leahy secured a $500,000 appropriation to be transferred to the Lake Champlain Basin Program and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat and to remove hazardous materials from Law Island, a popular recreation area near Colchester, VT. This project, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will result in a preliminary barrier design to reduce the spread of the spiny water flea, a small predatory crustacean, from New York's Great Sacandaga Lake to Lake Champlain.

Senator Leahy in a statement said: "I am pleased that the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are moving quickly to prevent the spread of the spiny water flea into Lake Champlain. Invasive species, like water chestnut and the alewife, can do massive damage and may be impossible to eliminate once they become established. This is truly a case where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The spiny water flea was found in Great Sacandaga Lake in October, 2008. The invasion of Lake Champlain by this species would be ecologically harmful, because it competes with native species near the base of the food chain. They are also a serious nuisance in recreational fishing because their bodies collect on and foul fishing gear. Resource managers and anglers are very concerned that this species could spread to Lake Champlain from the Great Sacandaga Lake through the Champlain Canal.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sampled for the presence of the spiny water flea in both the Champlain Canal and Lake Champlain several times through the summer of 2009. Fortunately, no specimens were found.

Dave Tilton, Manager of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance Program in the region, is pleased with the selection of a contractor. "Thanks to support from Senator Leahy and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, we're able to obtain bioengineering services to review the biology of the spiny water flea as it relates to its potential to travel from Great Sacandaga Lake, down the Sacandaga River to the Hudson, and through the Feeder Canal into the Lake Champlain Canal to Lake Champlain," said Tilton. "Our engineering contractor will also assess design criteria for a filter or other facility and develop construction cost estimates."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hiring HDR Engineering to complete the work. HDR Engineering, which has a branch office in Syracuse, New York, will determine advantages and drawbacks for each alternative to deter the spiny water flea. Work is expected to be completed early in 2010.

"We're working as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of the spiny water flea," said Tilton. "We hope the results of this first contract will help prepare the cooperating State and Federal agencies to implement the chosen alternative in the next year or two.

For further information about the spiny water flea projects contact Dave Tilton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 11 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction, Vermont (802) 872-0629. For information on additional projects scheduled for 2010, log onto www.lcbp.org<http://www.lcbp.org> or call (802) 372-3213.

Source: Hilary Smith, APIPP

NPDES Permit Writers' Course now on-line

2009-07-30T19:23:00.000-04:00

NPDES Overview Course for Permitees – Now Available On-line

EPA is now offering segments of its very popular "NPDES Permit Writers' Course" on line. In response to diminishing travel budgets and to reach a broader audience, EPA's Office of Wastewater Management is developing web-based presentations that cover some of the material presented in the live course.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program is authorized under the Clean Water Act to control the discharge of pollutants from industrial and municipal point sources to waters of the United States. The "NPDES Permit Writers' Course" is a five-day training course covering the key elements of NPDES permit development. The course is taught by experienced EPA staff and contractors and has been very successful in training new EPA and State NPDES permit writers.

These recorded presentations are not intended to replace the "live course," but should enable permit writers who attended the NPDES Permit Writers' Course to review the material on demand in a self-paced environment. The Web-based presentations should also be useful for those who have not attended a live course, but wish to become familiar with important concepts of the NPDES permit program.

The first installment in this Web-based training, "Establishing Water Quality-based Effluent Limitations in NPDES Permits" is now available at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/outreach/training/pwtraining.cfm

This web site provides links to the presentations, as well as introductory text describing the training materials, and explanations of how to navigate through the presentations. Additional training materials will be posted to the site in the coming months.

Questions or comments should be directed to David Hair in EPA's Water Permits Division at 202-564-2287 (hair.david@epa.gov)

Source: Waterheadlines

Two Literature Reviews Related to Recreational Water Quality Risks

2009-07-24T12:59:00.000-04:00

EPA conducted two literature reviews to help inform development of new or revised recreational water quality criteria by 2012. The first document, "Review of Published Studies to Characterize Relative Risks from Different Sources of Fecal Contamination in Recreational Waters," describes the existing information available to characterize the relative risks of human illness from various sources of fecal contamination in recreational waters. The second document, "Review of Zoonotic Pathogens in Ambient Water," provides a summary of information on waterborne zoonotic pathogens that come primarily from warm-blooded animals.

Both documents are available on EPA's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/recreation/.

Source: Waterheadlines

Web Seminar - What's Below the Surface of Your Reservoir

2009-07-23T16:53:00.001-04:00

YSI has announced a free web seminar entitled What's Below the Surface of Your Reservoir? - Using Water Quality Monitoring & Mapping Systems to Find Out More About Your Source Water

July 30 1PM-2PM EDT

If you are interested in:
• Early warning of taste- and odor-causing algae
• Monitoring low dissolved oxygen and stratification
• Tracking the impacts of storm events
• Monitoring water quality at intakes
• Calculating volume of reservoir

Join the webinar to learn about:
• Automated vertical profiling of water column
• 3-D mapping of water quality
• Bathymetry and volume mapping
• Case studies from source water manager

For more information, contact YSI at: environmental@ysi.com
Tel: +1-937-767-7241 US: 800-897-4151

Interagency Funding Guide for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Focus on invasive spp

2009-07-21T11:28:00.000-04:00

An Interagency Funding Guide has been developed in order to provide one-stop-shopping for applicants interested in applying for over $250 million in grants and project agreements which would be expected to be available through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (if the full $475 million for the Initiative is appropriated). These grants and project agreements are intended to jump-start achievement of the Initiative's long term goals: safely eating the fish and swimming at our beaches, assuring safe drinking water, and providing a healthy ecosystem for fish and wildlife. The Interagency Funding Guide is available at:
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/fundingguide2009_r1.pdf

Note that pp 3-5 of the document describe funding opportunities for research, control and prevention of invasive species.

Be sure to regularly check http://nyisri.org/Funding.aspx for invasive species funding updates and full RFP's as they become available.

Source: Holly Menninger
Senior Extension Associate and
NY Invasive Species Research Institute Coordinator
Department of Natural Resources
Cornell University

Water Quality Video Contest Winners Inspire Stewardship for the Nation’s Waters

2009-07-14T16:52:00.002-04:00

The two winners of EPA’s first-ever water quality video contest made videos that will help educate the public about water pollution and give simple steps that people and communities can take to improve water quality.

“We are delighted by the number and quality of contest submissions,” said Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Michael H. Shapiro. “This is another illustration of how new Web technologies allow people to express their passion for water quality in new and exciting ways.”

In the 30 or 60 second category, “Protect Our Water - Check Cars for Oil Leaks” submitted by Lucas Ridley of Trenton, Ga. was the overall winner. His video illustrates one easy step you can take to protect your watershed through proper motor vehicle care.

In the 1-3 minute category, “Dastardly Deeds and the Water Pollution Monster” submitted by Nora Kelley Parren of Hinesburg, Vt. was the winner. Her animated video, made entirely out of discarded paper, illustrates how polluted runoff threatens ecosystems and offers tips people can take to protect water quality. The two winning filmmakers will each receive a $2,500 cash award, and their videos are featured on EPA’s Web site.

EPA received more than 250 video submissions that covered a wide variety of topics including low impact development, wetlands, marine debris, watershed management, water quality monitoring, polluted runoff, and other water-related topics. EPA received many other highly creative videos, and 22 videos were recognized as honorable mentions.

Thanks to the 1972 Clean Water Act, there have been great improvements to our nation’s waters over the past 37 years; however, there is more that we can do. Educating citizens about actions that they can take to reduce their impact is vital to improving the nation’s water quality.

To view the winning videos and honorable mentions: http://www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html

Source: Waterheadlines

VT TNC Distributes Vermont Monthly Invasives Update as e-newsletter

2009-07-01T13:41:00.001-04:00

The Vermont Chapter of Nature Conservancy's Wise on Weeds! program distributes a well-produced Monthly Invasives Update chock full of usefull information covering terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. This newsletter should be of interest to residents throughout the Northeast and not just Vermont. If you would like to like to receive the newsletter, or have something to contribute, please contact Sharon Plumb at splumb@tnc.org.

Here's the June 2009 Table of Contents to give you an idea of what you can expect:

1. Species Spotlight: Japanese Knotweed

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
2. Vermont Aquatics Nuisance Bill
3. The Conservancy's Wise on Weeds! Program Receives EPA Educational Grant
4. The Conservancy's Wise on Weeds! Program Receives Wellborn Ecology Grant

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
5. Managing Invasive Plants in Your Forests
6. Invasive Plant Management for Road Crews Workshops
7. Invasive Plants 101! Landowner Workshop at Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
8. Get outside with The Nature Conservancy and Pull it Up!
9. Burlington Parks & Rec Invasive Plant Removal Program
10. Volunteers Needed to Assist in European Frogbit Management

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
11. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals for the 2009 "Pulling Together" Initiaitive
12. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals for the 2009 Native Plant Conservation Initiative (NPCI) grants cycle

RESOURCES
13. Wild Ones Promotes Native Plants
14. Invasive Species Middle School Curriculum
15. Goutweed Soup

Aquatic Invasive Speces Rapid Response Plan Approved for Lake Champlain Basin

2009-07-01T12:59:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the dedicated work of the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) Aquatic Nuisance Species Subcommittee and Rapid Response Workgroup, the Lake Champlain Basin Rapid Response Action Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species has been approved by the LCBP Steering Committee. This plan is intended to ensure that appropriate protocols, trained personnel, equipment, permits, and other resources are in place to contain and potentially eradicate newly detected nonnative aquatic invasive species as they are reported in the Basin. The plan envisions a task force comprised of members from Quebec, New York, and Vermont to implement and oversee rapid response actions.

This plan will be very helpful should hydrilla (for example) be found in Lake Champlain. Hydrilla has rapidly spread since it was introduced into Florida waters by an aquatic fish dealer and is now found in Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts. The aggressive invasive poses a looming threat to Lake Champlain as it is very adaptable and difficult to control once it has established a population. The Rapid Response plan will limit its impact on the Lake and prevent hydrilla from clogging waterways.

For more information about hydrilla or other aquatic nuisance species, visit www.lcbp.org/nature.htm.

Source: Lake Champlain Basin Program

$10 million Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program

2009-07-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

EPA is announcing the availability of up to $10 million in "Climate Showcase Communities" grants for local and tribal governments to establish and implement climate change initiatives. EPA requests proposals which create replicable models of sustainable community action, generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions, and improve the environmental, economic, public health, or social conditions in a community.

How many grants will be awarded?

The agency expects to award a total of approximately 30 cooperative agreements ranging from approximately $100,000 to $500,000.

Approximately 5% of the fund ($500,000) are set-aside for tribal
governments. EPA expects to award 1-3 grants under the tribal set aside.

Who is eligible for the grant program?

Eligibility for the program includes local governments (a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, any other regional or interstate government entity, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government), federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and inter-tribal consortia.

(Ed. note: Are you an eligible party with an idea but need help developing a succesful proposal? LakeStewardship.org can help by connecting you with leading scientists & researchers in the field of climate change. Email Michael at LakeStewardship.org >> michael@lakestewardship.org)

Are applicants required to provide matching funds?

A 50% cost-match or cost-share is required for this program with the exception of tribal governments and intertribal consortia which are exempt from matching requirements. The cost share and/or match can be in the form of cash or as in-kind contributions, such as use of volunteers and/or donated time, equipment, expertise, etc.

What is the application deadline?

Proposals are due by July 22, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. EDT. An optional notice of intent to apply is requested by July 1, 2009.

Who will administer the grant program?

The Grant program is administered by EPA's Local Climate and Energy Program, an initiative to assist local and tribal governments to identify, implement, and track policies and programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions within their operations and surrounding communities.

What resources will be available to grant recipients?

Over the course of the grant program, EPA will offer peer exchange, trainings, and technical support to grant recipients. Each grant recipient will be profiled online and in EPA materials. EPA will share lessons learned from the grant program with communities across the nation.

For more information: http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/showcase.html

To view the Request for Applications: http://www.epa.gov/air/grants/09-08.pdf

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Source: Anne Weinberg & NPSINFO listserv (see NPSINFO Resource Center epa.gov/nps/npsinfo for more information)

Rain Gardens - Inexpensive & attractive treatment of stormwater runoff

2009-06-29T09:32:00.001-04:00

A rain garden is a shallow depression in the ground that captures runoff from your driveway or roof and allows it to soak into the ground, rather than running across roads, capturing pollutants, and delivering them to nearby lakes and stream. Rain gardens are placed between stormwater runoff sources (roofs, driveways, parking lots) and runoff destinations (storm drains, streets, lakes, streams). Plants and soil work together to absorb and filter pollutants and return cleaner water through the ground to nearby streams.

Rain gardens are an inexpensive and attractive way to improve water quality and enhance the beauty of your yard or business.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension has developed an outstanding Web site that is dedicated to all aspects of building rain gardens. The website address is http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/raingarden/

Sources:
Bridget Munger, Stormwater Outreach & Education Coordinator
N.C. Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC

NC Cooperative Extension Rain Garden website

Wetland Program Development Grants Request for Proposals

2009-06-12T18:12:00.001-04:00

On Friday May 29, 2009, EPA announced the release of the FY09 National Wetland Program Development Grants Request for Proposals (RFP). The total amount of expected federal funding available under this announcement
is approximately $550,000 and the federal portion of the awards will range from $25,000 to $225,000. Grants are awarded through Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act and are made to
build the capacity of all levels of government to develop and implement effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management.

This year the RFP lists five national priority areas:
1) State/Tribal
Technical and Meeting Support;
2) Regulation;
3) Monitoring and Assessment;
4) Voluntary Restoration/Protection; and
5) Water Quality Standards for Wetlands.

The RFP will close at 7pm EDT on July 15, 2009, with decisions expected by the end of the fiscal year. The RFP can be viewed on the EPA wetlands website: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/HQrfp09.pdf

Source: Waterheadlines

4th Annual Adirondack Invasive Species Awareness Week is July 5 -11

2009-06-12T18:00:00.001-04:00

The 4th Annual Adirondack Invasive Species Awareness Week is July 5 -11. Awareness Week provides an opportunity to raise attention to invasive species and ways to stop their spread. Groups across the region host activities locally which help to broaden the reach of our collective message.

We're requesting that activities be submitted by June 24th so that we can alert media in advance. Activities will be posted online at http://adkinvasives.com/InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek.html.

Need ideas? Consider...
Plant pulls
Earthworm watches
Plant paddles
Forest pest trapping
Tips and tricks for I'd
Milfoil boat tours
Native plant landscaping
Free boat washing
River walks
Didymo dunk station
And more...

We hope you will join in the effort during Awareness Week to protect the Adirondack region from invasive species. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you!
Hilary

Hilary Smith
Director, Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program
The Nature Conservancy - Adirondack Chapter
PO Box 65
Keene Valley, New York 12943
518-576-2082 x 131 (tel)
518-576-4203 (fax)
hsmith@tnc.org
www.adkinvasives.com

Presidential initiative provides volunteers for your lake & watershed stewardship programs

2009-06-12T17:55:00.001-04:00

SUBJECT: President's new service initiative provides opportunity to get new volunteers for your program - act quickly

Dear Watershed Organizations and Volunteer Monitoring Program Coordinators:

President Obama will soon be announcing a Summer of Service campaign which offers a new and exciting opportunity to help you build up your roster of volunteers and raise awareness about volunteer monitoring and watershed stewardship. This week the President will be encouraging nonprofit organizations with a need for volunteers to register at www.serve.gov.

On June 22, the President and his Cabinet will officially launch the Summer of Service and encourage Americans to volunteer for their communities. The President will direct potential volunteers to www.serve.gov to find local opportunities for service.

EPA is using this opportunity to promote volunteer monitoring and watershed stewardship. It is our hope that this Presidential initiative will encourage many more people to work to protect their watersheds.

Please consider registering your. program at www.serve.gov. You may get contacted by a number of volunteers eager to help your organization.

Think through what opportunities you might have for this summer, including monitoring workshops and events, debris cleanups, riparian restoration, community education, storm drain marking and other activities. If you want to sign up, you should do so as soon as possible, as a surge of web traffic is expected starting this week by
both organizations and individuals looking to get involved in volunteering this summer. However, if you're not quite prepared for a whole new cadre of volunteers, or for reporting the results of your summer volunteer activities at www.serve.gov, you may not want to sign up at this time. One of the goals of this effort will be sustainable volunteerism, so if you're not ready to sign up this summer, you can always do so later on.

Please go to www.serve.gov to register your program or for more information.
Thanks for all you do, every day.

If you have questions about this initiative, feel free to contact Alice
Mayio at mayio.alice@epa.gov.

LAKE STEWARDS ON DUTY AGAIN AROUND LAKE GEORGE

2009-06-04T15:08:00.001-04:00

June 2, 2009 Lake George, NY - Again this summer, lake stewards will be at boat launches around Lake George to educate boaters about invasive species spread prevention and to inspect boats.

Stewards will be located at Norowal Marina and Dunhams Bay Marina in the south end, and Mossy Point, Hague Town Launch, Gull Bay Town Launch, and Rogers Rock in the north end on various weekends.

"We have a great group of stewards working for us this summer. They all grew up in the area. They love Lake George, and want to give back by helping protect it this summer," said Emily DeBolt, the Lake George Association's Education and Outreach Coordinator.

DeBolt and the LGA coordinate the Lake George Lake Steward program on behalf of the Lake George Watershed Coalition. Training for the stewards, as well as data collection methods, are done in coordination with the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smiths College and the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

Already, the lake stewards are off to a great start this season, removing 6 plants from boats over Memorial Day Weekend at Norowal Marina. 3 were native plants, and 3 were invasive plants: Eurasian watermilfoil, Curly-leaf pondweed, and Water Chestnut.

Water Chestnut has widespread negative impacts on Lake Champlain, but the invasive weed is not currently found in Lake George.Last summer, the stewards inspected 2,964 boats at launches around the lake between Memorial Day and mid-August, removing a total of 61 specimens of aquatic invasive species.

In addition to inspecting boats and providing information about invasive species, the stewards ask boaters a number of questions as part of a survey, which will be used to gain a better understanding of how invasive species are spread and to gauge the public's knowledge on the issue.

As part of the survey, stewards ask what body of water the boat was last in. Last year, boaters reported having come from 159 different waterbodies in 19 different states before arriving at Lake George.

Some of those boats, 25 to be exact, reported having last been in Great Sacandaga Lake, where the first invasion of the spiny waterflea in an inland waterbody in New York, was discovered last fall. The spiny waterflea is a tiny zooplankton that could disrupt our fishery, and it, along with many other potential invaders, are on the stewards' radar for this summer.

The stewards will also be spreading the message about the new DEC firewood regulation, which limits the movement of untreated wood to 50 miles in an effort to protect our forests from insect invaders, such as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), which have devastating impacts on tree populations in the Great Lakes and the Northeast. One of the prime methods for spread of these pests is through the transportation of firewood. EAB has been moving from Michigan to Ohio, Pennsylvania and Quebec. ALB has been found in the New York City area, as well as Worcester, Pennsylvania.

By definition, invasive plant and animal species are non-native, yet are well adapted to the conditions and face no natural controls in the form of predators. When established, invasive species reproduce quickly and outcompete native species for necessary resources, such as food, space, oxygen, and sunlight. Eventually, native species can be completely displaced by the invader. Invasive species also have the potential to cause significant economic impacts and impacts to human health.

Some funding for the program has been provided by the New York State Department of State and by the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

For more info about the Lake Steward program, or ways you can get involved in helping protect Lake George, contact the LGA at 668-3558 or go online to www.lakegeorgeassociation.org.

Source: Lake George Association - P.O. Box 408 - Lake George, NY 12845(518) 668-3558 - Fax (518) 668-4702 - www.lakegeorgeassociation.org

Help Protect Adirondack Waters from Invasive Species

2009-06-01T16:32:00.000-04:00

Early detection of invasive species increases chances of successful eradication. Get on-board with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program's 8th annual aquatic invasive plant training and learn aquatic plant identification tips and survey techniques. Volunteers are asked to conduct an annual survey on an Adirondack lake of their choice to search for aquatic invasive plants.

To-date, 371 aquatic enthusiasts have spent over 4,000 hours surveying 216 Adirondack waterways. From the Fulton Chain to Lake Champlain, volunteer efforts are making a difference!

The training is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP by June 8th to Tyler Smith, Aquatic Invasive Species Project Coordinator, at tyler_smith@tnc.org or 518-576-2082 x119.

Select a training location that best suits you. All sessions are from 10am-2pm.
• June 16, Darrin Fresh Water Institute, Bolton Landing
• June 18, Goff-Nelson Memorial Library, Tupper Lake
• June 23, Hudson River-Black River Regulating District Field Office, Mayfield

Returning volunteers are encouraged to attend the plant identification portion as a refresher.

Lake Stewardship:A Resident’s Guide to Understanding, Protecting, Restoring and Managing Lake & Pond Water Quality

2009-05-28T15:30:00.004-04:00

I am writing a book on lake stewardship based on my 20+ years of experience managing lakes and working with lake stewards across the United States. I've included an excerpt from the introduction that tells a bit more about the why and what of this book. There are several good references out there that provide the nuts and bolts, and I intend to provide some of that as well. More importantly, I hope to distill my experience into a valuable and unique resource for those of you out there who live on and care about lakes. As the book progresses, I will likely share portions on-line here. Meanwhile, feel free to write me, the Wandering Limnologist, and tell me what are your main questions and concerns so that I can continue to provide answers on this blog (see Ask the Wandering Limnologist post) and further refine the book so it meets your needs.

Introduction
Managing your lake or pond is going to be the most demanding socio-politico-economic-environmental undertaking in your life. Say goodbye to summers spent swinging in the hammock and hello to squabbles with seasonal friends and neighbors, endless meetings, . . . Well, it’s not all bad. Your lakefront property is an investment that needs protecting, an economic investment related to your retirement, a legacy to leave your offspring. While complicated at times and fraught with the real potential for conflict, acting as good stewards of your lake is one of the most rewarding ways you can spend your valuable free time.

The purpose of this book is to get you up to speed on lake stewardship by sharing my lake management knowledge accumulated through more than two decades of experience working on literally hundreds of lakes and ponds across the eastern half of the United States. You will learn important aspects about lake ecology and water quality. You will learn how your presence on the shore of a lake impacts lake ecology and water quality. You will learn the things you can do to preserve your lake. And you will learn about the things you can do if you need to restore your lake to a more pristine condition. While the science of applied limnology, the study of freshwater systems, and lake management can be complicated, I will do my best to present this material in a way that helps you understand what is going on beneath the surface of your lake.

Pulling Together Initiative seeks proposals that will help control invasive plant species

2009-05-25T09:00:00.002-04:00

The Pulling Together Initiative has issued a Request for Proposals that will help control invasive plant species, mostly through the work of public/private partnerships such as Cooperative Weed Management Areas. PTI applications are accepted from private non-profit (501)(c) organizations, local, county, and state government agencies, and from field staff of federal government agencies. Individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible to receive PTI grants, but are encouraged to work with eligible applicants to develop and submit applications to PTI.

PTI grants provide an opportunity to initiate working partnerships and demonstrate successful collaborative efforts such as the development of permanent funding sources for Weed Management Areas. To be competitive, a project must:

prevent, manage, or eradicate invasive and noxious plants through a coordinated program of public/private partnerships; and
increase public awareness of the adverse impacts of invasive and noxious plants.

Successful PTI projects:

Focus on a particular well-defined area, such as a watershed, ecosystem, landscape, county or Weed Management Area.
Target a specific and measurable conservation outcome.
Are supported by private landowners, state and local governments, and the regional/state offices of federal agencies.
Have a project Steering Committee composed of local cooperators who are committed to working together to manage invasive and noxious plants across their jurisdictional boundaries.
Have a clear long-term weed management plan which is based on an integrated pest management approach using the principles of ecosystem management.
Include a specific, ongoing, and adaptive public outreach and education component.

Special consideration for funding will be given to projects that:

Address invasive species threats impacting one of the NFWF Keystone Initiative focal topics including for example:

• Eastern North America Early Successional Habitat (Wildlife and Habitat, Birds)
• Prairie Couteau Grasslands (Wildlife and Habitat)
• Sky Islands Grasslands (Wildlife and Habitat)
• Gunnison sage-grouse (Birds)
• Southeastern Grasslands (Birds)
• Seabirds (Birds)
• Shortgrass Prairie (Birds)
• Colorado River Fishes (Fish)

Address invasive plant management through an Early Detection/Rapid Response approach.

For additional information about each of these Keystone Initiatives, visit www.nfwf.org/keystones.

Application Procedures

PTI Applicants must complete the online pre-proposal application form at www.nfwf.org/grantapplication

The pre-proposal form deadline is June 30, 2009.

Applicants that are invited to submit a full proposal will receive instructions via e-mail for accessing the full proposal form. Full proposals are due on September 30, 2009.

Project Timetable

June 30, 2009 • Pre-proposal deadline.
September 30, 2009 • Full proposal deadline.
January 29, 2010 • Formal announcement of award recipients.

Free "Wetlands – Reconnecting Youth with Nature." Webcast May 28th in celebration of American Wetlands Month

2009-05-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

EPA’s Watershed Academy is sponsoring a free May 28th Webcast Seminar entitled "Wetlands – Reconnecting Youth with Nature" in celebration of American Wetlands Month.

As more Americans dwell in cities and suburbs, our society has become increasingly distanced from the natural world. More sedentary lifestyles, a reliance on electronic devices for creative play and entertainment, more structured "free-time" and less opportunity to explore outside have only added to this separation for children. The absence of everyday connections with nature can have a very negative effect – if our youth don't have meaningful experiences with nature, how will they come to care for and appreciate it and spearhead the next generation of environmental stewardship?

Join us for a special American Wetlands Month Webcast as we explore this issue, hear about their efforts to change these trends, and discuss the unique role wetlands can play in reconnecting young people with nature. The Webcast will feature Richard Louv, distinguished author and Chairman of the Children and Nature Network; Suzanne Pittenger-Slear, President and CEO of Environmental Concern Inc.; and Davon Kenneth Johnson, Earth Conservation Corps.

To register for the free Webcast, please visit http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts/

EPA's WaterSense Program Revises Draft Specification for Single Family New Homes

2009-05-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

The WaterSense program has refined its draft labeling specification for single-family new homes (initially released in May 2008). The revised draft specification addresses efficient plumbing fixtures, hot water delivery systems, appliances, landscape design and irrigation.

The revised specification will ensure that future WaterSense labeled homes still use 20% less water than similar new homes, while reducing the burden and cost to the builders. The modifications to the previous draft specification have built in some additional flexibility; the changes include:

Hot water delivery systems - New performance standards no longer require specific types of hot water delivery systems or insulation of hot water pipes.
Landscaping - The revised landscaping criteria allow for a wider variety of landscaping options
Irrigation systems – Additional requirements for minimum distribution uniformity values and rain shutoff devices increase the efficiency of newly installed irrigation systems.
Water budget tool – An improved resource, the water budget tool, better reflects growing seasons and plant water requirements.
Inspection guidelines- An optional sampling protocol adds flexibility and streamlines the inspection process for production builders.

These changes reflect further research, stakeholder comments and industry best practices. Once the specification is finalized, homes built and inspected to the specification will bear the WaterSense label.

The updated specification for single-family new homes will be available for public comment through July 7, 2009. EPA anticipates releasing the final Water-Efficient Single-Family New Home Specification in late 2009.

EPA welcomes input on the revisions made to the specification, and encourages all interested parties to view the most recent documents and provide comments. In addition, EPA plans to hold at least one public meeting on the revisions in June 2009.

Visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/new_homes.htm to learn more about the Water-Efficient Single- Family New Home Specification.

Source: Waterheadlines

Ask the Wandering Limnologist

2009-05-20T11:05:00.002-04:00

Here is a question posed to The Wandering Limnologist by the owner of a newly-created 15 acre lake regarding aquatic plants:

Dear Wandering Limnologist,
I have a newly created lake that is full for the first time this spring and have been reading many sources regarding lake management. Some books say that the key to clear water is to have plants growing that stabilizes the bottom. One article besides dealing specifically with phosphorus gives the impression as many other conflicting articles do – that "all vegetation is bad". How do you keep a stable bottom with "good plants" and limit the bad?
Signed,
Weedless in SE New York

Dear Weedless:

There are a certain amount of nutrients in a lake acting like fertilizer to make green things grow - green things being algae & phytoplankton and aquatic plants. If you have no aquatic plants then all those nutrients go into phytoplankton and algae growth, causing cloudy water (green, green-brown, or brown). What you have been reading could also be talking about stabilizing lake bottom sediments, shallow water sediments, and lake shorelines. Without plants, wave action will resuspend sediments into the lake causing cloudiness (brown).

Lake ecosystems & lake management are not simple things. If anyone tells you verbally or in something you read that "doing this one thing" fixes all your problems or even solves one problem, be very suspect. For instance, say you had too many plants. Someone tells you that grass carp will fix your problem. It is true that grass carp eat plants. But they preferentially select and eat tastier (to them) plants first and maybe you didn't want to get rid of the tasty plant but another more troublesome plant. Furthermore, no one knows how many grass carp is the correct number. Too few and nothing happens, so the tendency is to throw in too many (there is no correct magic number). So the grass carp eat up all the tasty plants, then all the 2nd tastiest plants and so on until they eat up ALL the plants. Now your lake has no plants. Yea! But then all that phosphorus that was in the plants comes out as fish poop and with no plants you get algae and plankton and your lake is a green algae mess. And with no plants the bass can find and eat up all the small and young fish and you get no more new fish that can grow up to be big fish. And so on.

That is just on example how a "quick and easy fix" can cause more problems than it solves. So do yourself and your lake a favor, support your local lake expert. All kidding aside, don't be led around by simple statements and claims when it comes to your lake. Trust the experience of a certified lake manager when I say it is almost always more expensive to clean up a lake than it is to prevent it from getting messed up in the first place.

Oh, and the short answer is, yes you need plants in your lake to stabilize the shore and provide refuge for baby fish. You really just need to stabilize the shallow, near-shore area and there are plenty of plants that will only grow in shallow water and therefore NOT spread across the whole lake. You don't need or want plants covering the entire bottom of the lake because there aren't many deep water plants that only grow a few inches. They all want to shoot up to the surface.

So, as with the grass carp example, you have to be careful what you plant and introduce into the lake. As pretty as they are, AVOID WATERLILIES AT ALL COSTS. If you want some water lilies, plant them in buckets that you place in the lake so they won't spread everywhere! There are good sources for obtaining aquatic plants and I recommend that we create an aquatic plant planting plan for your new lake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visit the Wandering Limnologist at http://wanderinglimnologist.org

Submit your questions to The Wandering Limnologist at wanderinglimnologist@lakestewardship.org

NYS DEC and USDA Need Volunters for Emerald Ash Borer Surveys

2009-05-19T05:17:00.002-04:00

While not strictly a lake issue, this is certainly a watershed issue - Michael -

DEC and USDA are calling all volunteers and interested groups to assist with their 2009 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) trapping surveys. Your help is requested in the following ways:

1. hang EAB traps in ash trees (June) (this can range from 1 to many traps, depending on your interest/availability)

2. check the traps mid-season and send in any target beetles (July)

3. remove the traps at the end of the season and send in any target beetles (August)

Training will be from 9-2 on Tuesday, May 26th at the DEC in Ray Brook.

If you are unable to attend the training but are interested in helping, arrangements can be made to get you the information and supplies you need.

Please email Tom or Jason with your interest:

Tom Colarusso, Thomas.W.Colarusso@aphis.usda.gov
Jason Denham, jpdenham@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Did You Know?

2009-05-17T14:55:00.003-04:00

Did you know that our "sister" site, LakeStewardship.org, has over 200 links for composting toilets and information about lakes and of interest to lake residents as well as lake managers? There is also a section with links to information on critical lake and watershed issues.
Check it out at http://lakestewardship.org/

Plus, you can support Lake Stewardship by shopping at the Lake Stewardship Store, where you can buy excellent books about lakes and lake management, as well as virtually any other items of which you may be in need.

Check out at The Lake Stewardship Store

Michael: The Lake Stewardship Guy & The Wandering Limnologist

GE dredging of PCBS begins on upper Hudson River

2009-05-17T14:49:00.001-04:00

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (AP) — Dredges have started removing PCB-laden sediment from the upper Hudson River, more than three decades after the oily chemicals fouled the waterway.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency held a ceremony Friday as the first load of contaminated mud was dredged from the river and unloaded onto a barge 45 miles north of Albany in Fort Edward. The agency called for dredging in 2002.

General Electric Co. discharged wastewater containing PCBs — a probable carcinogen — into the Hudson before the substance was banned in 1977.

Under an agreement with the EPA, GE will clean up 265,000 cubic yards of river bottom this year. Results will be studied before a second, much larger stage would begin. Fairfield, Conn.-based GE has not committed to the second phase.

Source: AP/Adirondack Daily Enterprise; Posted online May 15, 2009, published in April 16 Sat/Sun. edition

EPA Promotes American Wetlands Month, May 2009: Learn! Explore! Take Action!

2009-05-16T20:13:00.001-04:00

Throughout the month of May, EPA and its wetland partners across the country are celebrating the vital importance of wetlands to our nation's ecological, economic, and social health. EPA and a host of other public and private partners are planning a number of events as part of this. year's celebration. In particular, 2009 marks the 20th Anniversary of the National Wetlands Awards program (143 champions of wetlands conservation honored since 1989).

On May 12, the Environmental Law Institute, EPA, and other federal partners will, once again, honor a
diverse group of individuals for their extraordinary commitment to conserving wetlands at an award ceremony on Capitol
Hill (http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org)

Other highlights include EPA's Science Notebook focus on wetlands that will highlight the diversity of wetlands and wetland research being undertaken by EPA across the country using assorted multi-media tools such as blogs,
podcasts, interviews, and photo diaries http://www.epa.gov/sciencenotebook and a National Webcast "Wetlands–Re-connecting Youth with Nature" on May 28th" that will explore the unique role wetlands can play in connecting young people with nature
http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/webcasts

EPA regional activities planned for the month of May include educational displays, discussions, presentations, special feature articles, wetland walks and celebrations, and an array of other outreach and communication
events. Information on national, regional, and local activities planned for May will be updated and posted throughout the month on
EPA's American Wetlands Month website: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm

Feel free to contact Kathleen Kutschenreuter (202) 566-1383 or Gregg Serenbetz (202) 566-1253 for more information.