US EPA Targeted Watershed Initiative Grants: Success Stories from the Pacific Northwest

The sixth Watershed Issues Series gives a glimpse into the approaches of three partnerships that are making a difference in the water quality in their streams. Dedicated landowners, fishermen, timber owners, and ranchers have met at tables in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to find common interests and are working toward sustainable industries and habitat futures. US EPA's Targeted Watershed Initiative Grant, is the focus of the workshop. The Grant, first awarded in 2001, was highly competitive and demanding. Awardees had to have had working partnerships before application, projects that could show real progress within the first year of funding were crucial and multi-jurisdictional partnerships required. Each of the Northwest groups included local non-profits, Tribal governments, Conservation Districts or NRCS, the Forest Service, and watershed councils at the planning table. Clark Fork - Pend Oreille watershed in Washington, Idaho and Montana was among the first awardees in 2001, citing water quality improvement as their goal. Oregon's Siuslaw River, 2003 awardees, issues centered on century-old farming and forestry practices that impacted salmon habitat. The Skagit River Partnership in northwestern Washington is a collaboration of farmers, dairymen, and tribal fisherman who are working on projects that will add sustainability to all of their pursuits.

Guests:
Diane Williams, Executive Director, Tri-State Water Quality Council
Steve Hinton, Director of Habitat Restoration, Skagit River Systems Coop.
Todd Miller, Coordinator, Siuslaw Watershed Council

Stormwater Management from a Watershed Perspective: Extereme Western Climates

This is the fifth program in the award-winning Watershed Issues Satellite workshops offered by the Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Program. In this program Anchorage, Alaska's Municipal Public Works Department, Anchorage Waterways, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation join with the Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Team to demonstrate the strategies used in a northern city to manage contaminant movement from salted and graveled city streets and parking lots snowpiles to the City's numerous salmon bearing creeks.

Working with the Coordinator of Arizona's NEMO (Non-point Education for Municipal Officials), the cameras record strategies used to control the massive runoff caused by summer 'monsoon' rains. One of the working strategies for controlling storm water runoff in Arizona is harvesting rainwater fro irrigation. Managing storm event caused sediment erosion is a major problem; we visit with state and local government entities to view their strategies.

A panel that includes practitioners from the two areas and an EPA permit writer will be available on camera to answer questions that may be generated by the prescriptions shown. Audience participation is available through telephone, fax, and e-mail in hopes that no question goes unanswered. On the air discussions are invited in the final segment of the programming.

Stormwater Management from a Watershed Perspective

The Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Program’s Watershed Issues Series is turning its focus to strategies used by municipalities and homeowners to manage stormwater. The case studies reflect use of Low Impact Development techniques to manage runoff on-site and minimize pollution loading to waterways. Every year, billions of gallons of untreated stormwater flow into streams and rivers across the nation. The Environmental Protection Agency calls it the “number one water quality problem.” To learn how you can be part of the solution, please join us as we explore successful stormwater management strategies used in three watersheds across the nation - Boone, NC, Willoughby, OH and Portland, OR.

Contact Jan Seago at 509.574.1584 for further information.

Improving Community Involvement in Watershed Restoration

The Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Program presents the third satellite conference in the Watershed Issues Series. Through video clips and interactive panel discussions, three watershed groups will share the lessons learned and strategies used in stimulating community participation in watershed restoration and management planning.

Funding Watershed Restoration in the Pacific Northwest

To increase the sustainability of natural resource restoration projects as well as building capacity of watershed planning organizations, the Pacific Northwest Regional Water Quality Program is collaborating with the Environmental Finance Center (Center) at Boise State University to present a satellite conference on Funding Watershed Projects.

May 31

Living on the Edge: Grassroots Watershed Planning in the Pacific Northwest

Gain new perspectives on watershed planning, learn about new tools for collaborative planning and resource materials for watershed planning and restoration and hear about funding opportunties to help finance your efforts.The program features pre-recorded case study video clips on how different watersheds have handled their planning efforts as well as a live-1 hour panel discussion and a question and answer session involving all local sites.