Editor's Note

Editor's Choice

National News

Legislative News

State News

Resources/ Publications

Potpourri

Job Openings

Student Jobs

Meetings/ Training

ASWM Calendar

INDEX:

---EDITOR'S NOTE--

---EDITOR'S CHOICE---

·	Draft Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Wetland Mapping Standard
·	Wetlands wildlife at risk
·	The Threatening Storm – Katrina Anniversary
·	U.S. House Passes Farm Bill Despite Last Minute Tax Fight
·	LA: Gulf Dead Zone Still Third Largest
·	FL: U.S. funding for Everglades falls short
·	Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Handbook
·	Climate change and permafrost thaw alter greenhouse gas emissions in northern wetlands
·	MA: Eliminating Citizens’ Right to appeal not the answer to faster permits
·	Special Session on Carabell/Rapanos at ASWM’s Wetlands 2007

---NATIONAL NEWS---

·	EPA Launches New Tribal Portal Website
·	FishAmerica Foundation Offers Funding for Conservation and Research Projects

---LEGISLATIVE NEWS---

·	House Passes Ocean and Coastal Mapping Bill
·	White House Threatens Veto of $20 Billion Water Projects Bill, Says It's Too Costly

---STATE NEWS---  

·	VT: Draft Lake Champlain Wetland Restoration Plan Released
·	FL: Agency's End Could Imperil Wetlands
·	MO: Lakeside 370 wetlands draw criticism
·	CT: DEP investigates wetlands damage
·	PA: State to developer: Weeds gotta go
·	NC: Beech Street construction continues despite complaints
·	FL: Wetlands chief will stop in Tampa
·	TX: Balancing development with the environment remains a challenge
·	NY: Mosquito overkill
·	MD: Runoff hurts beaches, study says
·	IA: Council approves wetlands mitigation
·	MN: Beyond a game warden
·	NH: Facing lawsuit, couple settle over wetlands
·	WA: Construction project lacks necessary site controls, earns fine
·	NJ: Construction debris cleared from wetlands
·	MA: How many houses is too many houses?
·	TN: Wildlife officials start work on waterfowl refuge in E. Tenn.
·	VA: Beach officials plan to destroy wetlands to create new ones
·	MA: Protecting Belmont Uplands
·	CT: Waterbury mayor's development proposal bogs down in wetlands board
·	UT: Utah Botanical Center Seeking Funds for Wetlands Exhibit
·	NH: Fees: A new piece in the wetlands mitigation puzzle
·	WA: Peninsula residents learn about water supply problems, solutions
·	IN: Findings On Wetlands Impact Released
·	NY: Study Shows New York Marshes Vanishing Fast
·	WA: Water and wetlands get more protection
·	WA: Coalition of Pacific Northwest stakeholders fund regional climate change study
·	MA: Petition Drive to Save Trees and Wetlands in Northampton, Massachusetts
·	IL: Chicago Flood Potential Is Higher Than Expected
·	PA: Stream part of protection effort
·	FL: Details of Judge William Hoeveler's ruling in Everglades mining case
·	CA: Peirson's Milk-Vetch Squashed Again
·	MA: Comment Invited on Cleanup of Three Cape Cod Estuaries
·	CA: Tension mounts over Los Cerritos Wetlands
·	CA: Coastal panel postpones decision on Bolsa Chica (Huntington Beach Wetlands)
·	ME: Dead horseshoe crabs found in the Damariscotta
·	CA: Mission Bay Park's Mystery Wetlands Reappear

---RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS---

·	Important Bird Areas of Wisconsin
·	Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in the Nation’s Estuaries: A Decade of Change
·	A Landowner's Guide to Phragmites Control
·	In Hot Water: Water Management Strategies to Weather the Effects of Global Warming

---POTPOURRI---

·	New Way to Purchase Federal Duck Stamps – Introducing the E-Duck Stamp
·	Funding, workshops, educational brochure help fight stormwater pollution
·	New life at water's edge
·	U.S. Border Fence Seen Harming Ocelots, Butterflies Because of Habitat Fragmentation
·	2007 Waterfowl Survey Shows Good News
·	EPA: Presentation on Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

---JOB OPENINGS---

·	Wetland Biologist Position with Multidisciplinary Consulting Firm
·	Wetland Outreach Specialist
·	Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Coordinator
·	Regional Biologist
·	Wetlands Ecologist
·	Wetland Scientist
·	NH Natural Heritage Administrator
·	Junior Scientist for Soils, Water and Climate
·	Staff Level Scientist
·	Remote Sensing Specialist I
·	Environmental Scientist

---STUDENT JOBS ---

---MEETINGS AND TRAINING---

·	Wetlands Workshop for Foresters, Loggers, Landowners and Code Enforcement
·	“Cool Clear Water” Series
·	Cuyahoga River Model Workshop
·	Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Development Workshop
·	A Workshop on the State of the Upper Peninsula’s Water Quality
·	Isolated Wetlands Conference & Vernal Pond Building Workshop
·	2008 AWRA Spring Specialty Conference - GIS and Water Resources V
·	11th National Mitigation & Ecosystem Banking Conference

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For a rolling calendar of meeting, conferences, and other events visit the ASWM calendar.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Camping out in midcoast Maine last month was an adventure on par with the 1984 flick, “Romancing the Stone,” except I knew better than to wear high heels and we didn’t see any crocodiles. We lugged our gear a mile to Birch Point, which faces east and juts into the Sheepscot River, just beyond Wiscasset Harbor. After we had made several trips to and from the old volvo with arm-loads of stuff, then wrestled with our borrowed dome tent—in the dark—which we couldn’t erect until the next morning (big surprise), we relaxed by a crackling fire. I chose a spot for our tent that I thought was off the beaten path, a shady haven full of raspberry bushes…poison ivy and deer ticks. On our first night, we slept under the stars and fortunately for us, it didn’t rain. We awoke Saturday morning to a strange wheezing noise. A doe laid in the grass, blowing scents out her nose, most likely trying to figure out what we were doing in her bedroom. Later four mud-covered men toting buckets tromped through our camp site. Sun-baked mud flecked the raspberry leaves in the wormers’ wake, which turned the trail from green to white when seen from a few feet away. Here we had driven an hour, then bushwacked through tall grass sans machete—just to get out of the city—and I had put us at a busy intersection. In the afternoon heat, we walked out to “Sunny Rock,” a glacially-cut point, where I had learned to swim as a toddler. I stepped off the rock into fifty-five degree salt water; a skirt of rockweed collected at my waist as Greg crouched down and dipped his toes. Hot from hiking through sun-soaked meadows, we opted out of exploring the trails that climbed the mountain. As we rounded the bend at the base of one mossy trail, I remembered running up and down—effortlessly—with my brother, Tad; as kids, we carved our names in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs at the broken stone bridge over an icy brook that fed an inlet, lined with wrack and eel grass, a home to herons, fish and other things.  Special thanks to contributors for this issue: Cathy Garra, EPA; Elijah Ramsey, National Wetlands Research Center, USGS; Steve Yekich, Contour Environmental; Roxanne Thomas, ELI; Michael Hayslett, Sweet Briar College. Stay cool. Leah Stetson Editor, Wetland Breaking News

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EDITOR'S CHOICE

Draft Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Wetland Mapping Standard

FedCenter.gov – August 8, 2007 This document provides Federal, State, Tribal and local wetland managers and others with information on what data to collect when mapping wetlands that will be uploaded to the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) and incorporated as part of the wetlands layer of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in the USGS National Map. The intent of this standard is to support a consistent/seamless transition from traditional paper-based map products to technology-based mapping products and serve as the national standard for mapping wetland inventories for building the wetlands layer of the NSDI. This standard is intended for use by all Federal or federally-funded wetlands mapping projects including those activities conducted by Federal agencies, states, and federally recognized tribal entities, non-governmental organizations, universities, and others. Specifically, if Federal funding is used in support of wetlands inventory mapping activities, then use of this standard is mandatory. Scientific views, data, and information should be submitted by November 9, 2007. POC is Margarete Ann Heber, Wetland Division, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; phone (202) 566-1189; fax (202) 566-1349; e-mail Heber.Maragaret@epa.gov (Federal Register: August 7, 2007 [Notices], Page 44133-44136). Federal Register notice is available at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-15351.htm  For a direct link to the draft wetland mapping standard, go to: http://www.fws.gov/nwi/Final%20Draft%20Wetlands%20Mapping%20Standard%2003_26_07.pdf

Wetlands wildlife at risk

By Bob Marshall – The Times Picayune – August 5, 2007 CWRA. If you're a duck hunter, or anyone else who cares about fish and wildlife, that acronym should become part of a personal crusade. It stands for the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act, a piece of federal legislation critical to your future. That is not some "the sky is falling" hyperbole from crazy Greens. It is the consensus of the wildlife science community. How united are they? The consensus includes Ducks Unlimited, not a group known for manning the barricades. Here's what's at stake. Isolated and temporary wetlands are key components of waterfowl nesting habitat, the backbone of the famed prairie pothole ecosystem on the northern prairies responsible for most duck production. For 30 years the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency included them among the protections granted to wetlands under the Clean Water Act. For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com:80/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-31/118629447010690.xml&coll=1

The Threatening Storm – Katrina Anniversary

By Michael Grunwald – Time – August 3, 2007 The most important thing to remember about the drowning of New Orleans is that it wasn't a natural disaster. It was a man-made disaster, created by lousy engineering, misplaced priorities and pork-barrel politics. Katrina was not the Category 5 killer the Big Easy had always feared; it was a Category 3 storm that missed New Orleans, where it was at worst a weak 2. The city's defenses should have withstood its surges, and if they had we never would have seen the squalor in the Superdome, the desperation on the rooftops, the shocking tableau of the Mardi Gras city underwater for weeks. We never would have heard the comment "Heckuva job, Brownie." The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was the scapegoat, but the real culprit was the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which bungled the levees that formed the city's man-made defenses and ravaged the wetlands that once formed its natural defenses. Americans were outraged by the government's response, but they still haven't come to grips with the government's responsibility for the catastrophe. For full article, go to: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1646611_1646683_1648904,00.html

U.S. House Passes Farm Bill Despite Last Minute Tax Fight

Environmental News Service (ENS) – July 27, 2007 The 2007 Farm Bill passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives meets with the approval of the nation's two largest farmers' organizations. The bill, passed by a vote of 231-191, retains a safety net for farmers when prices fall; authorizes a permanent disaster program; and increases funding for conservation, nutrition, and renewable energy. The House farm bill is a good bill,"said Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union, with a membership of 250,000 farm and ranch families. "Conservation spending is increased by $4.6 billion, nutrition program spending by $4 billion, renewable energy efforts by $2.5 billion and, for the first time ever, provides $1.6 billion for fruit and vegetable growers." For the full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2007/2007-07-27-01.asp  For an additional story on this topic, visit: http://www.nacdnet.org/news/newsroom/releases/07_27_07.phtml

LA: Gulf Dead Zone Still Third Largest

By Janet McConnaughey – Associated Press / ENN – July 30, 2007 The oxygen-poor "dead zone" off the Louisiana and Texas coasts isn't quite as big as predicted this year, but it is still the third-largest ever mapped, a scientist said Saturday. Crabs, eels and other creatures usually found on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico are swimming in crowds on the surface because there is too little oxygen in their usual habitat, said Nancy Rabalais, chief scientist for northern Gulf hypoxia studies. "We very often see swarms of crabs, mostly blue crabs and their close relatives, swimming at the surface when the oxygen is low," she wrote in an e-mail from a research ship as it returned to Cocodrie from its annual measurement trip. Eels, which live in sediments 60 to 70 feet below the water surface, are an even less common sight, she said. For full story, go to: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=13218

FL: U.S. funding for Everglades falls short

By Carl Hiaasen – Miami Herald – July 29, 2007 Seven years ago, when it was officially declared that the Everglades should be restored, the federal government promised to take a 50-50 role with the state of Florida. Like many promises the government makes, the Everglades commitment has turned out to be an expensive disappointment. As so-called partners in the nation's most urgent and ambitious conservation mandate, the feds have been disorganized, distracted and disgracefully slow to pay their share. Between 2000 and 2006, Florida outspent the U.S. government on Everglades funding by a hefty $2.5 billion. During that period, Congress failed to appropriate any new money -- not one thin dime -- for the restoration. Without renewed federal funds, some of the most critical Everglades projects are years behind schedule. Those that are finished or underway are designed more to deliver cheap water to developers and farmers than to rejuvenate the ecosystem. More than $7 billion has been spent so far, and two-thirds of that came from the state. That's some "equal" partnership. For full story, go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/184658.html

Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Handbook

Environmental Law Institute – Press Release – July 18, 2007 Last year’s Supreme Court ruling in Rapanos v. United States left regulators, activists, and landowners nationwide scrambling to understand the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction over wetlands and streams. Unless and until Congress amends the law to clarify its intended coverage of the “waters of the United States,” we are left to sort out the present law. There is now a comprehensive resource designed to shed light on the topic, the Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Handbook, just released by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). The ELI Handbook lays out the various tests for Clean Water Act coverage under current law. Additionally, the Handbook brings science to bear on the question of determining CWA coverage for certain categories of wetlands and streams, in a way that no other publication to date has attempted. The Handbook is a necessary and informative complement to the joint guidance document issued last month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to guide their respective field staff in making jurisdictional determinations in the wake of the Rapanos decision. For a direct link to the Handbook, visit: http://www2.eli.org:80/newbooks/cwa_handbook.htm

Climate change and permafrost thaw alter greenhouse gas emissions in northern wetlands

Contact: Merritt Turetsky – Michigan State University News Release – August 8, 2007 Permafrost – the perpetually frozen foundation of North America – isn’t so permanent anymore, and scientists are scrambling to understand the pros and cons when terra firma goes soft. Permafrost serves like a platform underneath vast expanses of northern forests and wetlands that are rooted, literally, in melting permafrost in many northern ecosystems. But rising atmospheric temperatures are accelerating rates of permafrost thaw in northern regions, says MSU researcher Merritt Turetsky. In the report, “The Disappearance of Relict Permafrost in Boreal North America: Effects on Peatland Carbon Storage and Fluxes,” in this week’s online edition of Global Change Biology, Turetsky and others explore whether melting permafrost can lead to a viscous feedback of carbon exchange that actually fuels future climate change. “The loss of permafrost usually means the loss of terra firma in an otherwise often boggy landscape,” Turetsky said. “Roads, buildings and whole communities will have to cope with this aspect of climate change. What this means for ecosystems and humans residing in the North remains of the most pressing issues in the climate change arena.” For the full news release, go to: http://www.newsroom.msu.edu:80/site/indexer/3138/content.htm For a link to more information about the article itself, visit: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01381.x

MA: Eliminating Citizens’ Right to appeal not the answer to faster permits

By Samantha Woods – Wareham Courier – July 18, 2007 At the direction of the Patrick Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is proposing sweeping changes to its wetlands regulations that would eliminate the long standing right of 10 townspeople to appeal a decision by DEP in wetlands cases. Currently, if 10 townspeople feel there will be damage to wetlands in their community they can appeal a DEP decision to the Administrative Law Court. Under the proposed changes, only applicants, conservation commissions and persons meeting the legal standard of “aggrieved” will now be able to commence an appeal of DEP decisions. This means that if watershed associations or any other group interested in protecting wetlands disagree with the DEP’s decision, they have no recourse to an independent court of law. The draft regulations also require all wetland appeals to be heard in four months or less and limit hearings to one day regardless of complexity, and allow DEP to “opt out” of participating in the appeal. For full story, go to: http://wareham.wickedlocal.com/pfarticle.aspx?c=ls&id=11755  For more background information, go to: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/proposed/wlapbg.doc To view the proposed regulatory changes and the public hearing notice, go to: http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/hearings/310cmr1.htm  To view the draft regulations, go to: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm#wpa For MassAudubon’s take on this issue, go to: http://www.massaudubon.org/news/newsarchive.php?id=73&type=editorial For a more recent (8/6/07) article, go to: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2007/08/06/what_cost_faster_permits/

Special Session on Carabell/Rapanos at ASWM’s Wetlands 2007

There will be a special session on Carabell/Rapanos at Wetlands 2007 on Wednesday, August 29th. Among the topics to be covered during panel discussions, such as how the lower Courts have responded to the Carabell/ Rapanos decision and implementing the newly released guidance, several key issues will prompt a dialogue. For a look at the special Carabell/Rapanos session topics, visit: http://www.aswm.org/calendar/wetlands2007/agenda.htm#7 To register to attend the full conference, or for this particular session, please go to: http://www.aswm.org/calendar/wetlands2007/wetlands2007_registration.htm

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NATIONAL NEWS

EPA Launches New Tribal Portal Website

Contact: Carol Jorgensen – EPA News Release – July 26, 2007 The Environmental Protection Agency has launched the first-of-its-kind portal website to help the tribal community, its supporters and the public find tribal environmental information and data through a single web-based access point. Announced at the National Tribal Operations Committee (NTOC) meeting in Washington, DC, the portal is part of EPA’s commitment to strengthen its partnership with Indian tribes and governments to protect human health and the environment. Established in 1994, the NTOC comprises 19 tribal leaders and senior Agency leaders, and meets once a year to discuss implementation of tribal environmental protection programs. Currently, there are approximately 560 separate, federally-recognized tribal governments in the United States. For the full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a883dc3da7094f97852572a00065d7d8/40f3533e70c3e40f85257324004c652f!OpenDocument  For a direct link to the tribal portal website, visit: http://www.epa.gov/tribalportal/

FishAmerica Foundation Offers Funding for Conservation and Research Projects

River Network Press Release – July 25, 2007 The FishAmerica Foundation ( http://www.fishamerica.org/ ), the  American Sportfishing Association's conservation and research  arm, provides funding to nonprofit organizations such as sporting  clubs, civic associations, conservation groups, and state agencies in the United States and Canada for projects designed to  enhance fish populations, restore fish habitat, improve water  quality, and advance fisheries research, thereby increasing the  opportunity for sportfishing success.  The foundation's Conservation Projects Committee funds hands-on,  action-oriented projects that have clear and identifiable benefits to sport fish populations and the sport of fishing and/or  directly enhance water quality, habitat, and/or sport fish populations. The average conservation grant is $7,500.  The foundation's Research Projects Committee funds research  projects that have regional or national implications. The committee prefers to fund national model projects. The average  research grant is $15,000.  All projects are funded for a year only. Conservation project applications may be submitted at any time  (except for project applications associated with specific Request  for Proposals). Research projects are funded once a year, with  proposals due on July 31, annually. Visit the FishAmerica Foundation Web site for complete grant  guidelines.  RFP Link:  http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10008103/fishamerica For additional RFPs in Environment, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_environment.jhtml

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LEGISLATIVE NEWS

House Passes Ocean and Coastal Mapping Bill

Coastal States Organization – CSO Weekly Report – August 3, 2007 In July the House approved HR 2400, The Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act. Introduced by Delegate Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), the bill would authorize nearly $300 million to create an integrated federal program to map U.S. ocean and coastal waters. The bill would also direct NOAA to create a national registry of federally funded ocean and coastal mapping data and work to integrate onshore and offshore maps. The mapping program would cover U.S. oceans and coastal waters, including the exclusive economic zone, the outer continental shelf and the Great Lakes. H.R. 2400 would authorize $20 million for the mapping plan for fiscal 2008 with funding escalating up to $45 million for fiscal years 2012-2015. In the report released with the bill in late July, the Committee called out the findings of both the US Commission on Ocean Policy and a study completed by the National Research Council who recommended to consolidate and coordinate federal mapping activities, and that NOAA lead this effort. In addition, the report noted, should the U.S. accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, documentation and verification of the extent of the continental shelf will be required to claim an extended Exclusive Economic Zone. For a link to the full CSO report, go to: http://coastalstates.org/documents/pubs/weekly/2007/The%20CSO%20Weekly%20Report%208.3.pdf

White House Threatens Veto of $20 Billion Water Projects Bill, Says It's Too Costly

By John Heilprin – Associated Press/ENN – August 2, 2007 President Bush will veto a $20 billion water projects bill unless lawmakers remove the billions added for new plants and new costs shifted onto the federal government, the White House said Wednesday. "Indeed, it seems a $14 billion Senate bill went into a conference with the House's $15 billion bill and somehow a bill emerged costing approximately $20 billion," complained Rob Portman, the White House budget director, and John Paul Woodley Jr., the Army's assistant secretary of civil works. The veto threat came hours before the House took up the bill, loaded with Army Corps of Engineers environmental projects and drinking water and wastewater treatment plants included by Senate and House negotiators. For full story, go to: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=13247 For an additional update on this issue, go to: http://coastalstates.org/documents/pubs/weekly/2007/The%20CSO%20Weekly%20Report%208.3.pdf

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STATES NEWS

VT: Draft Lake Champlain Wetland Restoration Plan Released

April Moulaert – Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Press Release – August 15, 2007 A draft of the Lake Champlain Wetland Restoration Plan has been released and is available for public comment, according to the Agency of Natural Resources’ Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. The plan, drawn up by the department’s Wetlands Protection and Restoration Program, identifies and prioritizes potential wetland restoration opportunities in the Vermont portion of the Lake Champlain Basin, with a primary focus on improving the water quality of the lake.  This information will be used to guide future wetland restoration and protection activities. The plan is available at http://www.vtfpr.org/wprp/programaccomplishments.cfm.   In addition, the department will hold two information sessions on the draft.  The first meeting is set for Sept. 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Ilsley Library in Middlebury. The second is slated for Sept. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Albans Educational Center. Comments on the plan will be accepted for two weeks after the public information sessions.  Questions and comments regarding the plan also can be sent to April Moulaert at (802) 241-1054 or via e-mail at april.moulaert@state.vt.us. A copy of this press release should be posted on the agency’s webpage soon, at: http://www.anr.state.vt.us/site/cfm/PressRel/search.cfm

FL: Agency's End Could Imperil Wetlands

By Mike Salinero – The Tampa Tribune – August 12, 2007 Hillsborough County commissioners this week may eliminate the division charged with protecting local wetlands by turning the work over to a regional agency. Which one would do a better job is a spirited debate playing out in hearings, blogs and letters to the editor. One thing, however, is certain: Laying off or reassigning the 18 county employees who track building plans affecting wetlands means less attention would be paid to protecting these vital wildlife nurseries and clean water filters. For full story, go to: http://www.tbo.com:80/news/metro/MGBRX71Z85F.html  For another story on this topic, go to: http://www.sptimes.com:80/2007/08/12/Hillsborough/Wetlands_agency_on_th.shtml

MO: Lakeside 370 wetlands draw criticism

By Tim Bryant – St. Louis Post Dispatch – August 12, 2007 For months, workers in wading boots slogged through muck to plant cordgrass, swamp milkweed and the seeds of other water-loving species that make up a wetlands. Where corn once grew, workers are crafting the 300-acre Lakeside 370 Park, which features a mile-long lake. A swimming beach will be built at one end. At the other will be the wetlands designed by Terra Technologies Inc. Critics contend the wetlands portion of the park project lacks adequate oversight because Terra Technologies not only designed the wetlands but is in charge of reporting whether it is built as specified. The critics also contend that the company's founder, David L. Flick, specified plants that matched the inventory of Critical Site Products Inc., of Belton, Mo., a company his father once headed. For full story, go to: http://www.stltoday.com:80/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/99176A1824CF9AF3862573340019FDFE?OpenDocument

CT: DEP investigates wetlands damage

By Dirk Perrefort – News Times – August 10, 2007 State environmental officials are investigating sediment issues and the destruction of wetlands by construction crews working on the Super 7 bypass expansion. Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said a notice of violation was sent within the last week to the state Department of Transportation for the "inadequate installation or maintenance of erosion controls" that resulted in sediment deposits into Lime Kiln Brook. "We are still assessing the full extent of the impact to the brook of the runoff," Schain said, adding the construction company -- O&G Industries of Torrington-- has already made efforts to resolve the issue. For full story, go to: http://www.newstimeslive.com/news/story.php?id=1186568445&source=big_barker

PA: State to developer: Weeds gotta go

By Ad Crable – Lancaster New Era – August 10, 2007 In an unusual action, the state has ordered the developer of the Woods Edge development to remove a state-designated noxious weed from wetlands there. In a control order, developer William Murry, of both the Murry Companies and Sherwal Inc., is instructed by the state Department of Agriculture to eradicate purple loosestrife from eight acres of wetlands at the Manor Township development. The pretty but destructive plant, declared a noxious weed by the state in 1997, is "taking over the wetland" and is spreading into Woods Edge Park, a township park, the order states. For full story, go to: http://local.lancasteronline.com:80/4/207940

NC: Beech Street construction continues despite complaints

By Jules Norwood – Lumina News – August 9, 2007 Builders are proceeding with the construction of a home at 243 Beech St. despite the objections of neighbors and a series of violations of permitting procedures and wetlands regulations. About 100 people attended a meeting at the New Hanover County Government Center on Monday, Aug. 6, concerning the status of the house, which received its original building permit on Oct. 7, 2005. New Hanover County inspections director Jay Graham led the meeting and explained that the house, as it is permitted, is not in the wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.luminanews.com:80/article.asp?aid=1244&iid=72&sud=30

FL: Wetlands chief will stop in Tampa

By Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite – St. Petersburg Times – August 8, 2007 The head of the federal agency that issues wetland permits in Florida is touring the state this month, with a stop in Tampa this week. David Hobbie took charge of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' regulatory office in Jacksonville - the largest and busiest regulatory office in the country - six months ago. The meetings, which will also be held in Fort Lauderdale, Panama City and Jacksonville, are open to anyone who is interested in wetlands, but "this is primarily for the people who deal with us on a regulatory basis," said corps spokesman Barry Vorse. Hobbie said his goal "is to learn from those we serve, about how we can serve them better." The corps has been in charge of protecting the nation's wetlands since the passage of what became known as the Clean Water Act in 1972. It issues more permits for wetland destruction in Florida than in any other state, and seldom rejects an application. For the full story, go to: http://www.sptimes.com:80/2007/08/08/Hillsborough/Wetlands_chief_will_s.shtml

TX: Balancing development with the environment remains a challenge

By Linda Taylor – Star Community Newspapers – August 8, 2007 As developers continue to come to Southlake with proposals for large projects, the amount of open space and available land is shrinking. The Southlake City Council must walk a fine line between progress and maintaining the rural atmosphere of the city that has attracted many of its businesses and residents. At this week’s council meeting, the council approved, on the first reading, a zoning change and concept plan that paves the way for construction of a mega church along the S.H. 114 corridor. Gateway Church, which currently resides at 2121 East Southlake Blvd., has purchased 200 acres on the north side of S.H. 114 between Carroll Avenue and Kimball Avenue with plans to build a campus that will house an 8,000-seat sanctuary and numerous buildings and other areas, to be constructed in four phases. For full story, go to: http://www.courier-gazette.com:80/articles/2007/08/08/southlake_times/news/01front.txt.txt

NY: Mosquito overkill

By staff writer – Newsday – August 8, 2007 Many species - killifish and dragonflies, for example - love mosquitoes as a staple of their diet. But humans find the mosquito always annoying, as in barbecue season, and sometimes threatening, as in West Nile virus. Killifish and dragonflies, of course, don't vote, but people do. So when people clamor for mosquito spraying, politicians can be only too quick to comply. Suffolk County is Exhibit A. Over the years, environmental groups have asked Suffolk to weigh its response to the mosquitoes against the harm that its spraying and other techniques can do to our tidal wetlands and to species that we don't want to reduce. Right now, we're at the height of mosquito-spraying season. But the big battle took place back in March, when the Suffolk County Legislature approved a long-term plan for mosquito control, but rejected the wise and well-balanced advice of the county's own Council on Environmental Quality. For full story, go to: http://www.newsday.com:80/news/opinion/ny-vpmosq085323852aug08,0,4908295.story

MD: Runoff hurts beaches, study says

By Tom Pelton – Baltimore Sun – August 8, 2007 Beaches in Maryland and across the U.S. are closing more often, the result of high bacteria levels caused by rain washing pollution from suburban sprawl into waterways, a new report says. Two of the unhealthiest beaches in the country last year were on the Chesapeake Bay, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council report card on swimming areas. Hacks Point, a small community beach on the shores of the Bohemia River in Cecil County, was one of six beaches nationally labeled a "beach bum," because bacteria levels exceeded federal health standards 60 percent of the times it was tested by the government last summer, the NRDC report says. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com:80/news/local/bal-md.beaches08aug08,0,6397276.story

IA: Council approves wetlands mitigation

By Daily News Staff – Newton Daily News – August 7, 2007 Newton City Council met for a brief meeting Monday, approving a new non-union compensation plan and accepting an agreement with Terracon for wetland mitigation. As part of the Speedway road project, the city was required to create about one acre of wetlands to offset other wetlands disrupted by the road project. The project has not been undertaken yet and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers put the city on notice for non-compliance. The agreement with Terracon estimates project costs at $14,350. For the full story, go to: http://www.newtondailynews.com/articles/2007/08/07/news/local3.txt

MN: Beyond a game warden

By Lisa Kaczke – International Falls Daily Journal – August 7, 2007 The job of a conservation officer is one that changes with the times. “The day of checking fishermen and trappers is still there, but it’s more than that now,” CO Darrin Kittelson said. Enforcing wetland laws has been added in the past 10 years. Increased development along rivers and lakeshore has increased the CO’s job of enforcing water laws. As all-terrain vehicles have exploded on the market, CO’s have added enforcing laws regarding ATV use, especially use in wetlands, to their job description, Kittelson said. Enforcing rules to prevent the spread of the spiny waterflea has also been recently added. For full story, visit: http://www.ifallsdailyjournal.com:80/node/4239

NH: Facing lawsuit, couple settle over wetlands

By Walter Alarkon – Concord Monitor – August 7, 2007 A Pittsfield couple who faced a state lawsuit after reports that they illegally altered streams and wetlands agreed to pay a $20,000 penalty and restore the area, the Department of Justice said yesterday. State attorneys said Ralph and Gail Tucci had cleared and graded more than 100,000 square feet in Pittsfield without a permit and altered more than two acres of streams and wetlands. The state also said that the Tuccis failed to comply with a state administrative order requiring them to stabilize and restore the area. The Tuccis denied the state's allegations, but they agreed in court in January 2006 to abide by the requirements and work hard to restore the land. For full story, go to: http://www.concordmonitor.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070807/REPOSITORY/708070331/1043/NEWS01

WA: Construction project lacks necessary site controls, earns fine

Contact: Kim Schmanke – Dept. of Ecology News Release – August 6, 2007 The owner and developer of a Montesano housing project currently in construction is receiving a $14,000 water quality penalty from the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology). Ecology inspectors found John Backman of ANB Investments of Olympia and Swiss Meadows LLC were actively developing the land but had not applied for a construction stormwater discharge permit. This type of permit helps companies make sure discharges of stormwater are monitored for turbidity and don't pollute wetlands, streams or other sensitive areas. Turbidity refers to the amount of sediment or other particulates that cloud water. When discharged to ditches, streams, or other bodies of water, it can cover fish spawning beds as well as smother fish or fish eggs. Ecology became aware of the construction project in fall 2006. For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2007news/2007-216.html

NJ: Construction debris cleared from wetlands

By: Fraidy Reiss – Asbury Park Press – August 5, 2007 Pipes and stones have been cleared from the site where a state inspector last month found workers building an access road through wetlands without proper approvals, township officials have confirmed. State Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Elaine Makatura said department officials need more time to decide whether to penalize the town for building a road through an "environmentally sensitive area" that contains wetlands, streams and threatened and endangered species. "The investigation is ongoing," she said Thursday. "We're looking into what they did, why they did it, whether a permit was necessary and where do we go from here." A re-inspection of the area following the cleanup is to be scheduled. For full story, go to: http://www.app.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070805/NEWS02/708050420/1070

MA: How many houses is too many houses?

By Jim Hodges – Daily Press – August 5, 2007 It began last fall, when residents along Riley's Way, used to seeing egrets perched in the trees of White Marsh or herons taking flight in the early morning sun, instead saw people walking purposefully through the wetlands behind their homes. Then stakes with orange ribbons tacked on them sprang up among the reeds where foxes and deer cut their trails. Calls of alarm went out on the city's 311 phone system. Was somebody going to build in the marsh? Not likely, City Planner Terry O'Neill told the Hampton City Council on March 14. "There is a multitude of issues that would have to be navigated ... and the chance of that is very, very difficult," O'Neill said. For full story, go to: http://www.dailypress.com:80/news/local/dp-96001sy0aug05,0,2890270.story

TN: Wildlife officials start work on waterfowl refuge in E. Tenn.

Associated Press – August 5, 2007 Wildlife officials have started plugging drainage pipes on hundreds of acres of former cropland in western Greene County to create a new waterfowl refuge. Much of the farmland along Lick Creek was once too wet to grow crops or even grass. But the installation of thousands of feet of drainage pipes turned the former wetlands into valuable fields for corn, soybeans and hay. For several months now, wildlife officials have dismantled or stopped up the drains in order to restore the wetlands that provide a natural habitat for migratory birds and the insects they eat. For full story, go to: http://www.wmcstations.com:80/Global/story.asp?S=6888841

VA: Beach officials plan to destroy wetlands to create new ones

By MARC DAVIS – Virginian Pilot – August 5, 2007 To help clean the Lynnhaven River, city officials plan to destroy some wetlands in a small stream near Pembroke Mall, then create more - but only if regulators let them. And right now, that approval looks iffy. The city proposes to restore a small finger off Thalia Creek, running behind homes on Paul Jones Lane and offices on Corporation Lane. When the work is done, city officials say, it will return the little stream to its original condition of more than 43 years ago, when houses were built along it. Today, the stream, which feeds the Lynnhaven River, is little more than a mudflat during low tide. For full story, go to: http://content.hamptonroads.com:80/story.cfm?story=129753&ran=221868

MA: Protecting Belmont Uplands

By Janice O’Leary – Boston Globe – August 5, 2007 The Alewife Brook Reservation could gain some ground if a bill proposed by a Belmont state representative passes. Area residents have petitioned Representative Will Brownsberger to help protect the Belmont Uplands, a 15-acre parcel of silver maple forest and wetlands that includes 2 acres in Cambridge and 13 acres in Belmont. The owner of the property, a Pennsylvania-based development firm, intends to build public housing on the site. For full story, go to: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/08/05/protecting_belmont_uplands/

CT: Waterbury mayor's development proposal bogs down in wetlands board

Staff Writer – Republican-American – August 4, 2007 Hopes for swift approval of a wetlands permit for a large shopping center partially financed by Mayor Michael J. Jarjura were sunk this week by the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission. Representatives of Jarjura and his partners, father-and-son developers Charles and Robert LaFlamme appeared before the commission Wednesday. They asked for a finding that the 111,000-square-foot shopping complex represents little threat to wetlands on a 24-acre East Main Street property by the Cheshire town line. For full story, visit: http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/08/04/news/275431.txt

UT: Utah Botanical Center Seeking Funds for Wetlands Exhibit

Standard-Examiner – August 4, 2007 The Utah Botanical Center has big plans for a new wetlands center, but needs some big money to get construction under way. The Wetland Discovery Point will be an indoor-outdoor classroom where visitors can learn about ecology, birds and plants. Center associated director Dave Anderson says about $1 million in funds has been secured for the project, but another $500,000 is needed before it can start. For full story, go to: http://www.ksl.com:80/?nid=148&sid=1586236

NH: Fees: A new piece in the wetlands mitigation puzzle

By Amy Manzelli – New Hampshire Business Review – August 3, 2007 A new state law authorizes developers — in certain circumstances — to pay a fee to the state in lieu of performing compensatory wetlands mitigation. The new fee program offers something for everyone: a chance for municipalities to accomplish high-priority local conservation goals; a mechanism for developers to proceed with projects once not viable, because no compensatory wetland mitigation was practicable; and an opportunity for the state to accomplish conservation projects with greater value than can be achieved through conventional compensatory wetland mitigation. For full story, go to: http://www.nh.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070803/BUSINESSREVIEW04/70731016/-1/BUSINESSREVIEW

WA: Peninsula residents learn about water supply problems, solutions

Contact: Dan Partridge – Washington Dept. of Ecology – August 3, 2007 Population growth, over-allocation of water, saltwater intrusion on groundwater, and naturally occurring low flows in streams and creeks are some of the factors stressing local water supplies in the Quilcene-Snow watershed. About 50 residents living in the watershed of the northwest Olympic Peninsula learned not only of the problems Tuesday night but also got a glimpse of the water management tools available to them to ensure adequate water supplies in the future for people, farms and fish. It was the second in a series of community forums hosted by the Washington State Department of Ecology to give the public an opportunity to comment on the process Ecology is using to adopt an "instream flow rule" for the Quilcene-Snow watershed (Water Resource Inventory Area 17 or WRIA 17). Flow rules establish water rights for streams that extend to fish and other instream resources. Based on historical information, a rule specifies the amount of water needed at a particular stream location on a month-to-month basis. Once adopted, an instream flow rule does not affect existing water rights, only future decisions on water resources. Joe Stohr, special assistant to the director of Ecology, told those attending the presentation and forum at Chimacum High School that the department is working on developing management tools that will protect water resources in WRIA 17 for the next 25 years. For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2007news/2007-215.html  For a look at the data and presentation from the Chimacum forum, go to the Ecology website on the Quilcene-Snow watershed: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/quilsnowbasin.html

IN: Findings On Wetlands Impact Released

Staff Writer – The News-Dispatch – August 3, 2007 Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Federal Highway Administration released a Statement of Findings on Wednesday on the impact of two proposed road projects on National Lakeshore wetlands. The projects include the rehabilitation of East State Park Road to prevent flooding and the realignment of the entrance to Mount Baldy to make for safer access. An SOF is required under Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands) anytime a project is likely to have an impact on wetlands. For full story, go to: http://thenewsdispatch.com:80/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=2812&TM=56704.42

NY: Study Shows New York Marshes Vanishing Fast

By Daniel Trotta – ENN – August 3, 2007 New York City's wildlife-rich saltwater marsh islands could disappear within five years due to rapidly increasing degradation that may be caused by the dumping of treated sewage, a study showed Thursday. The islands of Jamaica Bay, a sensitive bird and fish habitat near John F. Kennedy airport, have long been observed to be vanishing. For full story, go to: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=13254 For a direct link to the Advisory Committee’s recommendations for wetlands protection in Jamaica Bay, go to: http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/jamaicabay/jbwppac/JBAC_Recommendations_Report_060107.pdf For more information, visit: http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/jamaicabay/jbwppac/advisorycommittee.html

WA: Water and wetlands get more protection

By Jeff Switzer – The Daily Herald – August 2, 2007 Stricter rules were approved Wednesday to better preserve areas near streams, wetlands and lakes in unincorporated Snohomish County. The County Council voted 4-1 Wednesday, ending five years of discussion and debate over the rules. Wildlife habitat will have better protections from development, and waterways will have wider protective buffers, County Council chairman Dave Gossett said. The sweeping rules control what property owners can and can't do near environmentally sensitive areas and to habitat for fish and wildlife. The regulations are driven by scientific evidence. For full story, go to: http://heraldnet.com:80/article/20070802/NEWS01/708020347

WA: Coalition of Pacific Northwest stakeholders fund regional climate change study

Contact: Kurt Unger – Washington Dept. of Ecology – August 2, 2007 The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has contracted with the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group (CIG) to project how climate change will affect stream flows throughout the Columbia River Basin. The study is broad both in scope and in funding partners Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia, the Bonneville Power Administration and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council are helping to pay for this study. "We can no longer make water policy decisions based on the historic record alone," said Ecology Director Jay Manning. "This study is a critical step that will help us to prepare and adapt to changes in the hydrologic cycle brought on by global warming." Competition for water during the summer is already the norm throughout the Columbia River Basin. Climate change is expected to increase this competition. For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2007news/2007-214.htm

MA: Petition Drive to Save Trees and Wetlands in Northampton, Massachusetts

North Street Neighborhood Association - Press Release - August 2, 2007 The North Street Neighborhood Association (NSNA) is sponsoring a petition drive to save trees and wetlands in Northampton, Massachusetts. The association is a new civic organization established by citizens to advocate for livable urban environments in Northampton's North Street area and in the city as a whole. For full press release and more information, go to: http://www.prweb.com:80/releases/northampton/massachusetts/prweb543935.htm

IL: Chicago Flood Potential Is Higher Than Expected

By Momcilo Markus - Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Press Release – August 1, 2007 Flood peaks in the Chicago metropolitan area are higher than they used to be, and they are also higher than estimates currently used by water managers, according to an Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant study. "Estimating future flood peaks accurately is critical in terms of allocating resources to minimize damage from these events," said Momcilo Markus, a researcher at the Illinois State Water Survey who studied Chicago area flood trends using data from the U.S. Geological Survey and NOAA. "Underestimating or overestimating 100-year flood levels can result in large economic losses on one hand or increased environmental degradation on the other." He found that the steady increase in flood discharges in small streams over the past 100 years is due to increases in urbanization and precipitation, with urbanization playing the major role. For full story, go to: http://www.iisgcp.org/news/080107.htm

PA: Stream part of protection effort

By Tom Joyce – York Daily Record – August 1, 2007 Gary Peacock, a watershed specialist at the York County Conservation District, said Shrewsbury Township has been working for three years to get more protection for a creek where a natural breeding population of trout live. That's Deer Creek, which crosses the state line into Maryland and includes a branch called Ebaughs Creek. As it happens, Ebaughs Creek is the body of water where the sewer plant of a neighboring municipality, Stewartstown, might have been discharging illegally high levels of pollutants. On Monday, Stewartstown director of public works Robert L. Hunt was arrested by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, arraigned before a district justice and released on his own recognizance. For full story, go to: http://www.ydr.com:80/newsfull/ci_6515274

FL: Details of Judge William Hoeveler's ruling in Everglades mining case

By Curtis Morgan – Miami Herald – July 30, 2007 In a ruling last year, Senior U.S. District Court Judge William Hoeveler ripped federal agencies for doing a slipshod job of analyzing mining impacts on the Everglades, endangered wood stork and a well field that supplies drinking water for more than one million people in Miami-Dade County. This time, he criticized federal and county oversight of the massive rock-mining operations in Northwest Miami-Dade. Some key findings: 1. The Corps routinely revised permits, shifting permitted quarry sites as much as a mile apart at company requests, or to encompass at least three cases of digging in unapproved areas -- destroying 15 acres of wetlands and two protected archaeological sites. For the full story, go to: http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=11AB7676A4268828&p_docnum=2

CA: Peirson's Milk-Vetch Squashed Again : Feds Propose to Further Shrink Habitat for Rare Plant

Contact: Ileene Anderson – Center for Biological Diversity – July 30, 2007 Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a new proposal to protect critical habitat for the federally and state-protected Peirson's milk-vetch, as mandated by federal court. The new proposal identifies 16,108 acres of land in the Algodones Dunes as habitat necessary for the survival and recovery of the rare plant, representing a 25-percent reduction from the current critical habitat designation. It further restricts the areas that would be enforced for conservation of the plant, which is found nowhere else in the United States save on a portion of southern California's Algodones Dunes. For full story, go to: http://www.enn.com/net.html?id=2066

MA: Comment Invited on Cleanup of Three Cape Cod Estuaries

ENS – July 30, 2007 A draft document identifying the need to limit and reduce the nutrient nitrogen in the coastal waters of Centerville River, Scudder Bay, and East Bay on Cape Cod will be the subject of a meeting seeking public comment on Wednesday, August 1. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, MassDEP, will host the meeting from 7-9 p.m. in the Town Council Hearing Room of the Barnstable Town Hall, 367 Main Street. The embayment restoration plan for these estuaries, formulated by MassDEP and the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology, is proposed as part of a comprehensive six year, collaborative project intended to improve estuarine water quality in 89 embayments along the southeastern Massachusetts coastline. For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2007/2007-07-27-09.asp#anchor4   The public comment period ends Friday, August 31, 2007. Written comments can be submitted to: Michael Ackerman, at: michael.ackerman@state.ma.us

CA: Tension mounts over Los Cerritos Wetlands

By Deborah Schoch – The Los Angeles Times – July 29, 2007 If Tim Anderson had his way, he would be exploring this seemingly tranquil marsh to photograph the endangered Belding's savannah sparrow nesting in pickle weed. But life isn't tranquil these days at the Los Cerritos Wetlands. First, the gray-bearded naturalist from Westminster videotaped a tractor rolling over marsh plants. Then he spotted a bulldozer moving through a swampy area near a pool favored by green-winged and cinnamon teals. Today, two pools have vanished and the reeds are turning brown, said Anderson, 54, who heads a local wetlands land trust. He shipped off his images to the California Coastal Commission, where the staff concluded that a pipe project violated the state Coastal Act and ordered an immediate stop to it. It's unclear whether drought or man-made disturbance caused the pools to dry up. For the full story, go to: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marshes29jul29,1,847443.story?track=rss

CA: Coastal panel postpones decision on Bolsa Chica (Huntington Beach Wetlands)

Los Angeles Times - July 22, 2007 The California Coastal Commission on Wednesday postponed deciding the fate of a housing development slated for 50 acres near the Bolsa Chica wetlands. Developer Shea Homes had asked for the delay after commission staff recommended that the project be shrunk from 38 to 17 acres. Commission attorneys said that under the Coastal Act, the only way to put off a decision was for Shea and the city to resubmit the proposal. Huntington Beach would also need to hold a public hearing on the project. But in a 9-3 vote, the commission pushed the Shea plan to its fall calendar, when it can consider the matter in Southern California. The board majority said the developer had too little time to respond to the staff's recommendations. For more information, go to: http://www.bixby.org/parkside/ To read the staff report from the California Coastal Commission's meeting on July 11th, go to: http://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2007/7/W8.5a-7-2007.pdf

ME: Dead horseshoe crabs found in the Damariscotta

By John Richardson – Portland Press Herald – July 20, 2007 State biologists are investigating a die-off of horseshoe crabs discovered in the Damariscotta River shortly after an oil spill there early this month. A Damariscotta resident reported seeing 30 or 40 dead horseshoe crabs in the river about a week after the July 5 oil spill. About 600 gallons of heating oil leaked out of a basement tank into the river. Maine’s departments of Marine Resources and Environmental Protection found a similar number of dead crabs last week, and collected some of the crabs to be analyzed in a laboratory. It’s not clear when the tests will be complete. The adult crabs all appeared to have died around the same time, but officials are not yet sure whether the oil spill was the cause. There was no immediate evidence that the crabs had ingested any oil, and officials have not ruled out a natural cause for the mass mortality. For the full story, go to: http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/013976.html

CA: Mission Bay Park's Mystery Wetlands Reappear

By Rob Davis – Voice of San Diego – July 17, 2007 After trying to decide whether the word's emphasis should be on the syllable wet or land, the City Council agreed Monday that 133 acres of wetlands in the park should be just that: Wetlands. By a 7-0 vote, the council agreed to exclude wetlands from being counted toward the park's total areas of land or water. (Though present, Councilman Jim Madaffer did not vote.) The wetlands had disappeared from the city's records in 2000, when a surveyor looked for only land and water in the park. Wetlands that were above the mean high tide line were counted as land -- even though some of them sat in the San Diego River channel. The definition is important because a ballot measure voters approved in 1987 allows the city to lease out only 25 percent of the park's land to hotels and other businesses. If wetlands are counted as land, it increases the space that can be leased -- at the expense of public parkland. For full story, go to: http://voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2007/07/17/news/02wetland071707.txt

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RESOURCES and PUBLICATIONS

Important Bird Areas of Wisconsin: Critical Sites for the Conservation and Management of Wisconsin's Birds

Edited by Yoyi Steele - This 240-page full-color book features:  Detailed site descriptions of 86 Important Bird Areas (IBA) around the state-critical sites for bird conservation-including habitats, birds, and management/stewardship issues.  Maps and site index. IBA Program overview and explanation of site selection criteria. Beautiful bird and habitat photographs.  This is an essential reference for land managers, landowners, conservation organizations, policy-makers, birders, and anyone who cares about birds and conservation in Wisconsin. Books are $21.50 each (price includes tax) and will be available July 27, 2007. If you have any questions, please contact Yoyi Steele at 608-266-8169 or yoyi.steele@wisconsin.gov.  For more information, go to: http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/iba/IBA-book.htm

Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in the Nation’s Estuaries: A Decade of Change

Bricker, S., B. Longstaff, W. Dennison, A. Jones, K. Boicourt, C. Wicks, and J. Woerner. 2007. NOAA Coastal Ocean Program Decision Analysis Series No. 26. National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD. 328 pp. For a direct link to this report, visit: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/publications/eutroupdate/

A Landowner's Guide to Phragmites Control

Contact: Robert McCann – Michigan DEQ News Release – August 6, 2007 The Department of Environmental Quality's Office of the Great Lakes has released a brochure focusing on the control of phragmites entitled, "A Landowner's Guide to Phragmites Control."The invasive, non-native variety of Phragmites australis, commonly known as phragmites, is a perennial wetland grass that can grow up to 15 feet tall. Phragmites tend to grow creating dense stands which degrade wetlands and coastal areas by crowding out native plants and animals, blocking shoreline views, reducing access for swimming, fishing, and hunting, and potentially creating fire hazards from dry plant material. For the full press release, go to: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135--173451--,00.html  The guide is also available at the DEQ web site at http://www.michigan.gov/deqinlandlakes

In Hot Water: Water Management Strategies to Weather the Effects of Global Warming

Report by NRDC. Drought and dry conditions withering the western United States are likely to persist and intensify, jeapordizing the region's water supply and water quality, compromising the health of rivers and lakes, and increasing the risk of flooding for Western communities. As stewards of these scarce resources, water managers can lead the response to the effects of global warming on water in the West. This NRDC report breaks new ground by analyzing the effects of global warming on a full range of water management tools and offering recommendations to meet the challenge. For more information and a link to this full report, visit: http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/hotwater/contents.asp

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POTPOURRI

New Way to Purchase Federal Duck Stamps – Introducing the E-Duck Stamp

Contact: Joshua Winchell – US Fish & Wildlife Service News Release – August 9, 2007 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with nine state fish and wildlife agencies is implementing a three-year pilot program to make it easier for hunters, birdwatchers, stamp collectors -- and others who want to conserve our nation's wetlands -- to buy Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, commonly known as Duck Stamps. This new program, debuting September 1st, allows the fish and wildlife agencies of Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin, to sell stamps electronically through their individual automated licensing systems, providing a special receipt as proof of purchase. For more information, go to: http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=4B9D230B-03AE-97DE-826915D3449FB43E  For more information on the Federal Duck Stamp Program, visit: http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/

Funding, workshops, educational brochure help fight stormwater pollution

Contact: Sandy Howard – Washington Dept. of Ecology – August 9, 2007 The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is offering grants, workshops and a new educational brochure to help local governments across the state tackle the state's largest source of urban water pollution - stormwater. Polluted stormwater from runoff is a major threat to the state's urban waters. It carries a toxic blend of pollution downstream into lakes, rivers and marine waters. Uncontrolled stormwater also can carry muddy water downstream and suffocate salmon and trout and their egg nests. It can also cause flooding and slope failures that threaten people's homes and the environment. Ecology is awarding $75,000 grants to approximately 145 local governments through its Local Governments Stormwater Grants Program. The funding will help local governments design stormwater programs so they can comply with the state's new "Phase II" municipal stormwater permits that went into effect earlier this year. This $9 million grants program provides approximately $7 million for local stormwater programs in the Puget Sound area and $2 million for local stormwater programs outside of Puget Sound. More information can be found online at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/funding/LocalGovernmentStormwaterGrants.htm  For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2007news/2007-226.html

New life at water's edge

By Nia-Malika Henderson – Baltimore Sun – August 8, 2007 Arianne Dalton couldn't see the muddy bottom of the South River, which is exactly why she was standing waist-deep in the water holding a rock covered with baby oysters. "You just have to feel for the edge of the rocks and where the land starts," said Dalton, who enjoys sailing on the bay. "It's our environment, where we live. ... I've seen it degrade and I want to do my part to help it out." Dalton, an Annapolis resident, and about a dozen other volunteers took the plunge for the environment Monday evening at Edgewater Beach, adding about 680 rocks caked with 2-month-old oysters to the river bottom to create a reef in hopes of improving water clarity and quality. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com:80/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.reef08aug08,0,2052613.story

U.S. Border Fence Seen Harming Ocelots, Butterflies Because of Habitat Fragmentation

By Ed Stoddard – Reuters News Service – July 25, 2007 The riot of green vegetation that lines both sides of the Rio Grande river along the southeast Texas and Mexican border can give a canoeist the impression of gliding past unbroken wilderness. But the strip of riparian forest that runs a few miles between the Texas towns of Fronton and Roma is deceptive. In reality one of the most ecologically diverse corners of the United States has been diced up by farming and urban sprawl into isolated fragments of habitat that support far less wildlife than when they were whole. […] "This side looked exactly like that cornfield seven years ago," said Lisa Williams, a local project director with the Nature Conservancy, as she pointed to the tangle of wild growth which included haunting tepegauje trees -- a key species of the area -- their feathery leaves blowing in the wind. "These are the pearls in a necklace which we are trying to string together," she said. A pair of coyotes ran furtively through a field while a coot, an aquatic bird, chattered from a wetland. When ecologists look at a patchwork of ecosystems cut up by roads or farms they think of islands -- and like islands out to sea, their isolation can be the undoing of their inhabitants. For full story, go to: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=13197

2007 Waterfowl Survey Shows Good News; Canvasbacks, redheads, and northern shovelers break traditional survey area records

Contact: Nicholas Throckmorton – US Fish & Wildlife Service – July 13, 2007 Preliminary results from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service's Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey indicate a total duck population estimate of more than 41 million birds in the traditional survey area. This represents a 14 percent increase from 2006 and is 24 percent above the 1955-2006 average. "There's a lot of good news in the survey this year for the total duck population and waterfowl breeding habitat," said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "We have five species that are at record or near record highs, including canvasbacks, and there are good breeding conditions on the prairies. However, we remain concerned that pintails and scaup are well below long-term averages." The Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, the largest and most comprehensive survey of its kind in the world, samples 1.3 million square miles across the north- central United States, south-central and northern Canada, and Alaska. The survey estimates the number of ducks in the continent's most important nesting grounds. For full story, go to: http://www.fws.gov:80/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=BFF1C2E5-08D7-793F-AE61EF990EE17CB6

EPA: Presentation on Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

EPA Mid-Atlantic Enviro-bytes – August 3, 2007 EPA’s Virginia Thompson made a very well received presentation on pharmaceuticals in the environment at a forum for employees of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection at their offices in Harrisburg, Pa.  Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals are present in our nation's water bodies and that some may cause great ecological harm.  EPA is committed to investigating these chemicals to develop strategies to identify the possible impact they may have on human and environmental health by using the latest scientific and technological advances and by developing safe disposal tactics.  For some basic information on this topic, go to http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/basic2.html

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JOB OPENINGS

Updated 9/5/07 Wetland Biologist Position with Multidisciplinary Consulting Firm
The Chazen Companies seeks a wetland biologist (with an ecology/wildlife background) in our Glens Falls office. The ideal candidate must have an MS degree or BS with 2 to 3 years experience. The position requires good writing skills and knowledge in wetland delineation, assessment, permitting and mitigation. The incumbent will also possess knowledge in ecological services including site assessments for ETR species. Experience with environmental impact statement preparation, OSHA 40 hour training and/or environmental site assessment work a plus. The Chazen Companies offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, a relaxed professional atmosphere. For more information and to apply to this opening, visit us at www.chazencompanies.com EOE/AA
Wetland Outreach Specialist
The Kent Conservation District in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is pleased to offer a limited-term position for a Wetland Outreach Specialist.  This person will implement portions of the newly-developed Delaware Wetland Strategy to transfer information among professionals, educate the public and elected officials, and share information with conservation partners.  The primary responsibilities will include the development of a website and newsletter, preparation and presentation of information to various stakeholder groups, and coordination of a professional wetland conference. This position will work as part of a team to improve the protection and health of Delaware wetlands through expanded and integrated wetland monitoring and assessment, restoration and protection, and education and outreach activities.  The position is limited in duration to 18 months, but may be extended depending upon performance and available funding. Starting salary range is $37,386 - $42,801 depending on qualifications and includes benefits. Application deadline: August 31st, 2007. For more information or to apply, send or email resume, cover letter addressing how you meet each qualification and the names and phone numbers of 3 references by August 31, 2007 to: Gary Kreamer, DE Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Aquatic Resources Education Center, 4876 Hay Point Landing Road, Smyrna, DE 19977 gary.kreamer@state.de.us Alternative contact for more information, Amy Jacobs: Amy.Jacobs@state.de.us
Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Coordinator
The Kent Conservation District in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is pleased to offer a limited-term position for a Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Coordinator.  This person will be an integral part of the wetland monitoring and assessment program that is charged with assessing the condition or health of wetlands and the functions and ecosystem services that wetlands provide.  This information will be used to inform the citizens of Delaware and to improve existing education, restoration, protection, and land use planning efforts.  The primary responsibilities will involve coordination and oversight of wetland sampling activities, analyzing and reporting of data, and assessment model refinement and validation.  The position is limited in duration to 18 months, but may be extended depending upon performance and available funding.  Starting salary range is $37,386 - $42,801 and includes benefits.  For more information, and to apply,  send or email resume, cover letter addressing how you meet each qualification and the names and phone numbers of 3 references by August 31st, 2007 to: Amy Deller Jacobs, DE Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 820 Silver Lake Blvd., Ste 220, Dover, DE 19904 amy.jacobs@state.de.us
Regional Biologist
Ducks Unlimited - This position will deliver programs in Delaware and New Jersey but will work from the Great Lakes/Atlantic Region - Mid-Atlantic Field Office in Annapolis, Maryland. This position will report to the Manager of Conservation Programs and will be responsible for the development, administration, and delivery of conservation programs in NJ and DE, with a focus on the Delaware Bay. Responsibilities will include coordination, implementation, and administration of DU's Conservation Programs on public and private lands in Delaware and New Jersey including coastal and inland wetland restoration and land protection activities. Strong working knowledge of inland and coastal wetland values and functions, restoration techniques, and management is desired. Knowledge of regional conservation issues and experience in managing multi-agency conservation programs is important. Applicants should send a letter addressing qualifications and a complete resume including a list of three references by August 13, 2007 to: Grace E. Bottitta, Manager of Conservation Programs, Mid Atlantic Field Office, 34 Defense Street, Suite 200, Annapolis, MD 21401. Phone: (410) 224-6620; adonohue@ducks.org For more information, visit: http://www.ducks.org/jobs.aspx
Wetlands Ecologist
The City of Eugene, Oregon seeks candidates for a Wetlands Ecologist. This position provides professional botanical, ecological, monitoring, and data analysis services for Wetlands Restoration program; develops and manages programs within the West Eugene Wetlands Program; leads coordinated planning efforts with professional staff from partner organizations; writes contract specifications for professional and trade services necessary to the projects; monitors projects for outcomes, ongoing maintenance needs, and long term success of habitat enhancements. For more information, visit: http://www.eugene-or.gov/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=244&PageID=0 or www.eugene-or.gov/jobs  For an application, send an email to: application.requests@ci.eugene.or.us  before the closing date of August 24th, 2007.
Wetland Scientist
C.T. Male Associates, P.C. seeks candidates for a Wetland Scientist position at their Latham, NY branch to assist with a growing demand for wetland delineation and permitting services.  Must be able to work effectively in a team environment and have experience performing wetland delineation field work in accordance with the Corps 1987 manual, a working knowledge of recent Rapanos Guidance and experience with Individual and Nationwide Permits.  Experience with NEPA and SEQR environmental review protocols is a plus.  Qualified candidate will have a 4-year degree in an applicable science discipline and a minimum of 2 yrs experience.  Send cover letter and resume to: Director, Human Resources, C.T. Male Associates, P.C., P.O. Box 727, Latham, NY 12110 - Fax: 518-786-7299. For more information, visit: http://cobalt.ctmale.com/ and/or contact: ctmhr2@ctmale.com
NH Natural Heritage Administrator
NH Natural Heritage is looking for a leader who can effectively administer the program and actively promote biodiversity conservation in New Hampshire. The mission of NH Natural Heritage, a Bureau of the Division of Forests & Lands in the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, is to collect, manage, and distribute information on rare plants and exemplary natural communities in the state. We also maintain information on rare wildlife in cooperation with the NH Fish & Game Department's Nongame & Endangered Wildlife Program. The Administrator's responsibilities include:  administering the Bureau, including fiscal, supervisory, contractual, and scientific oversight; serving as the principal contact in representing Bureau issues; and working closely with cooperators to promote and underwrite the program. Minimum requirements for this position include a Bachelor's degree with a major study in botany, ecology, or other related environmental life science, as well as six years' experience in botany, ecology, zoology, biology, or resource management, two years of which shall have involved supervisory duties. This is a full-time permanent position. The closing date is August 31, 2007. The full job description and requirements are available at www.nhnaturalheritage.org and the State Application for Employment is at: http://www.nh.gov/hr/employment.html .  Include a cover letter with the application. Please direct questions to Sara Cairns at: scairns@dred.state.nh.us
Junior Scientist/Lab Technician with Dept. of Soil, Water, Climate at University of Minnesota
The Department of Soil, Water, and Climate at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (soils.umn.edu) seeks a biogeochemistry lab technician to support research on the interactions of environmental change (natural and human-induced) and element cycling in managed ecosystems. The candidate will join a research group working on questions related to carbon and nitrogen cycling, trace gas fluxes, and ecosystem processes. The primary responsibilities include analytical instrument set-up, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Specific duties involve analysis of plant, soil, and gas samples; maintenance of analytical equipment; sample preparation; data management; and supervision of undergraduate assistants. This full-time position is primarily lab-based but will involve some limited field work. B.S. and M.S. level candidates are encouraged to apply; salary will be commensurate with experience. Direct experience with analytical instruments such as mass spectrometers, gas chromatographs, and elemental analyzers is preferred. Knowledge of biogeochemical processes and light stable isotopes is desirable. Questions should be directed to Dr. Jennifer King. Applications (resume, statement of interest, and references) should be submitted for requisition #149488 through the Office of Human Resources. Applications will be reviewed starting on August 20th and will be accepted until the position is filled. For more information, go to: https://employment.umn.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1186691955667
Staff Level Scientist
Contour Environmental, a small consulting firm headquartered in Northwest Atlanta, invites Staff Level applicants to enhance an existing Natural Resources team. The firm is looking for interested professionals with a background in biology, ecology, hydrology, forestry, fisheries, or soil sciences that enjoy working outdoors. Applicants should have a B.S. in biology, hydrology or related field and preferably 2+ years of experience in performing wetland delineations, stream assessments, and protected species surveys independently. The ideal candidate should also be able to advise clients on Section 404 and associated permitting issues, and be experienced with GPS, GIS, AutoCAD and other mapping tools. Excellent communication and project coordination skills, a familiarity with the ecology of the southeastern U.S. and a willingness to work in the field frequently, often in adverse conditions, are prerequisites for the position.  Casual work environment. Benefits plan includes paid holidays, vacation, medical, and short and long-term disability programs. If interested in applying, contact: Steve Yekich  resumes@contoureng.com For further information, visit: http://contoureng.com/contoureng/index.htm
Remote Sensing Specialist I
IAP World Services, Inc. has an excellent opportunity for a Remote Sensing Specialist to perform work for IAPWS under contract to the USGS National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, LA. Candidate will join an applied image processing and remote sensing research team whose activities and publications can be found at http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/about/sab/sensing.htm This individual shall develop and build databases for remote sensing and related GIS projects; develop, implement, and apply strategies for collection and analysis of field data in support of project goals; and compile and synthesize a variety of geographic data. The position requires a bachelor's degree in geography, physics, or related subject and at least one year of specialized work experience in remote sensing applications. This individual shall have a working level knowledge in digital image processing (such as PCI, ERDAS, or ENVI), computer programming (e.g., VB, or C++), with working knowledge in the classification and analysis of remote sensing data.  Knowledge is also required in natural resource applications of remote sensing data, and the integration of remotely sensed data into a GIS system. Individuals with the above skills and experience should apply at www.iapws.com
Environmental Scientist
URS, a company located in Charlotte, North Carolina, seeks candidates for an Environmental Scientist position. This position will assist with stream restoration, stormwater management/BMP assignments, wetland delineations, construction management, ecological studies, including technical analyses, design and report preparation. Minimum requirements: BS in environmental/biological science or related degree with at least two years of steam restoration, stormwater management or erosion control experience. Req. number: URS22205. For more information, visit: http://www.urscorp.com/

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STUDENT JOBS

MEETINGS AND TRAINING

For a rolling calendar of meeting, conferences, and other events visit the ASWM calendar.

Wetlands Workshop for Foresters, Loggers, Landowners and Code Enforcement Officers

August 21, 2007 at 9:00AM - join Gordon Moore of the Maine Forest Service and Ron Olson Soil Scientist of the USDA at the USDA Office in Dover- Foxcroft for a Wetlands Delineation and Identification Workshop.  Information will be presented about wetlands indicators, function, value and management. A field session at a nearby wetland will include information on soil indicators, vegetation indicators, hydrology indicators, and management. Participants are requested to wear rubber boots and bring bug repellent. Snacks and beverages will be provided. This workshop is being co-hosted by the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine and the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District. CEU's are available for Foresters, Certified Logging Professionals and also Code Enforcement Officers for participation in this workshop. There is a $5.00 registration fee to cover workshop costs. Pre-registration is required by calling 564 - 2321, extension 3, e-mailing  info@piscataquisswcd.org, or stopping by the district office at 42 Pine Crest Drive, Dover - Foxcroft, ME 04426.

Commonwealth Club of California and Pacific Institute Present “Cool Clear Water” Series

24 Bay Area Programs - More than one billion people lack adequate access to clean water and sanitation. In California, water management is under constant scrutiny as drought, climate change, pollution, and and conflicting interests threaten our existing resources. With local and global water concerns in mind, the Commonwealth Club of California and the Pacific Institute are proud to present Cool Clear Water, a series of special lectures this August.  The series, comprised of 24 programs, will address the gamut of critical water issues –- from protection of the environment and the health of the San Francisco bay, rivers and ocean, to the impact of global warming on water resources, to use of water for irrigation and industry, to conservation of water for household use.  The series will also acknowledge the joys of water recreation, the future of seafood, and water’s role in the health of all life forms. For more information on these programs, visit: http://www.pacinst.org/press_center/cool_clear_water/index.htm#schedule For more information on individual programs and to reserve tickets, go to www.commonwealthclub.org/water

Cuyahoga River Sediment Transport Model Workshop

August 14, 2007 – Tuesday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Ohio EPA Twinsburg Office, 2110 East Aurora Road, Twinsburg, Ohio. Since 2003, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, has been working to develop a sediment modeling tool that could be used by local stakeholders to minimize erosion and sediment delivered to the Cuyahoga River and, subsequently, the Cleveland Harbor on Lake Erie. This collaborative effort, made possible by funding under the Great Lakes Tributary Modeling Program, is a joint initiative between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Great Lakes Region) and the Great Lakes states. Major partners in this effort for the Cuyahoga River have included the Ohio EPA, Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan (RAP), Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, Mittal Steel, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, and area universities. The Corps of Engineers will host a meeting on August 14, 2007, to present the findings of this study. Lunch will not be provided. The meeting will also include a demonstration of the model itself. By supporting state and local measures that will reduce the loading of sediments and pollutants to tributaries, this work is helping to reduce the need for-and costs of-navigation dredging, while promoting actions to delist Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). Organizations interested in learning to use the model are invited to attend this technical workshop. TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP or for additional information, please contact: Kelvin F. Rogers, Cuyahoga River RAP/ Storm Water Coordinator, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Phone:  330-963-1117  Email:  kelvin.rogers@epa.state.oh.us

Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Development Workshop

September 4-5, 2007 - Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, Alexandria, VA Nutrients are a leading cause of water body impairment.  The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency has focused greater attention on nutrient-related impairments and the development of numeric nutrient criteria.  As states, territories, and tribes develop and adopt nutrient criteria into their water quality standards, the need for technical training in the development of nutrient TMDLs will increase.  Under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. EPA, WEF is conducting its second "Nutrient TMDL Development Workshop" to help build the capacity of stakeholders to develop approvable and implementable watershed-based nutrient TMDLs. Offered at no cost, this 1.5-day workshop will cover the basic tools, methodologies, and programmatic issues critical to successfully developing and implementing nutrient TMDLs.  The target audience includes federal, state, tribal, local, and regional officials; watershed groups; regulated point source dischargers; agricultural groups; developers; and other stakeholders.  The workshop content is focused towards stakeholders with little or no prior experience developing nutrient TMDLs. Travel support is available for a limited number attendees representing of non-profit stakeholder groups, states and tribes, and municipalities. For more information, please e-mail gmcnelly@wef.org The Workshop Agenda is available at http://www.wef.org/nutrient-tmdl Register online at http://www.wef.org/nutrient-tmdl

A Workshop on the State of the Upper Peninsula’s Water Quality

September 19-20, 2007 - Hosted at Michigan Technological University by the Great Lakes Environmental and Molecular Sciences (GLEAMS) Center. Location: Memorial Union Building (MUB) - Ballrooms A&B, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI. The purpose of this meeting is to bring together stakeholders working on water-related environmental issues for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with a focus on addressing the legacy of contamination in the U.P.  Attendees will identify and discuss environmental water quality issues such as legacy mining impacts, fish consumption effects from contaminated water and sediment, and other industrial contaminants such as mercury and PCBs.  The outcome of the workshop will be a prioritized summary of water-related environmental issues and ways to work together to solve these important environmental concerns. For registration, please contact Michelle Wienert at mwienert@mtu.edu or 734-913-6870 with the following registration information:  Your name, affiliation, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address. For more workshop information, visit: http://apache.mtri.org:80/GLEAMS-Workshop/

Isolated Wetlands Conference & Vernal Pond Building Workshop

September 28-30, 2007 - Sweet Briar College in Amherst County, Virginia. This workshop features Mr. Tom Biebighauser, author of A Guide to Creating Vernal Ponds http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/VernalPonds/index.htm and Wetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair  http://www.kentuckypress.com/viewbook.cfm?Category_ID=1&Group=197&ID=1396 The workshop will take place between 5:00 p.m. Friday to 2:00 p.m. Sunday. Conference presentations and reception, full-day construction workshop, on and off-campus field exploratories and lots of take-home resources! Price rate varies from "independent lodging" to "full accommodations" (at the Elston Inn on campus). Registration deadline: September 17, 2007. For more information, contact: Mike Hayslett @ mhayslett@sbc.edu or (434) 381-6439.

2008 AWRA Spring Specialty Conference - GIS and Water Resources V

San Mateo Marriott Hotel  *  San Mateo, CA - March 17-19, 2008. AWRA continues its series on Geographic Information Systems and Water Resources with its fifth specialty conference on  the topic.  GIS has become a necessary component in the planning and management of water resources, and the natural and human systems affected by water resources. For more information, visit: http://rs6.net:80/tn.jsp?t=faeuzccab.0.fingsacab.6mvasyn6.7867&ts=S0264&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.awra.org%2Fmeetings%2FSan_Mateo2008%2F

11th National Mitigation & Ecosystem Banking Conference

May 6-9, 2008, Hyatt Regency, Jacksonville, Florida. CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS DUE OCTOBER 4! This conference was formerly called National Mitigation & Conservation Banking Conference. Learn from and network with the over 400 attendees the mitigation and ecosystem banking conference draws, offering perspectives from bankers, regulators, and users. For more information, visit: http://www.mitigationbankingconference.com:80/

Association of State Wetland Managers' Wetland Breaking News - Providing a monthly briefing about the news and events concerning America's wetlands. Wetland Breaking News is an edited compilation of wetland-related information submitted by readers and gleaned from list-serves, press releases, and web sites from throughout the United States.  The items presented in Wetland Breaking News do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or of the Association of State Wetland Managers. Send your news items, comments, corrections, or suggestions to news@aswm.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send Internet e-mail to aswm-wbn-request@aswm.org  Type as the subject "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" (without quote marks).

"WETLAND BREAKING NEWS" Compiled and Edited by: Leah Stetson. Assistant Editor: Jeanne Christie.  Association of State Wetland Managers, 2 Basin Road, Windham, ME 04062. Telephone: 207-892-3399 Fax: 207-892-3089

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