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ANEP Update

January 2003

FEDERAL NEWS

Status of Omnibus Appropriations, NEP FY03 Funding and Proposed NEP FY04 Funding:  On Thursday, January 23 the Senate passed an FY03 Omnibus Appropriations bill.  The bill rolls up the 11 remaining appropriations bills yet to be passed for FY03, and it includes the VA/HUD bill containing funding for EPA and the NEPs.  The bill will go straight to conference with the House.  The House announced on Wednesday, January 29 that it plans to complete the FY03 Omnibus appropriations conference by the week of February 10.  The Senate Omnibus bill provides $24.5 million for the NEPs, but states that this is the same level as provided in FY02 due to an accounting change, therefore it does not represent a $2 million increase over last year.  During last Congress' appropriations action, the House had provided $23.5 million for the NEPs for FY03, and counted that as a $1 million increase over FY02's $22.5 million level.  It is unclear if the House intends to push for the increase or not, given tight budgetary constraints.  Until final FY03 appropriations action, agencies will continue to be funded at FY02 levels.  Even though FY03 appropriations are incomplete, the President's Budget for FY04 will be transmitted to Congress on Tuesday, February 4.  Reportedly, domestic discretionary programs are receiving about a 4% increase from FY03 levels, but it is unclear how this supposed increase would affect the NEPs.  As soon as the information becomes available, we will send you the proposed FY04 NEP funding level.  For further information, contact CarrieJelsma@aol.com or (301) 493-0003.  

NEP NEWS

The Albemarle-Pamlico NEP is working to develop an oil recycling program in Chowan River watershed in North Carolina and Virginia.  This program is being developed as an agricultural assistance program for producers in the Chowan River basin.   The concept of the program is to have a on site pickup of used motor oil at regular intervals and provide farmers with storage container specifically designed for the storage of used motor oil.  The goal is to target smaller producers who are not currently using certified containers and therefore may inveterately spill or improperly store used motor oil, generated from farm equipment, on their farms.  For more information contact Noah Hill, Watershed Field Coordinator at (757) 925-2319.

 

The Center for the Inland Bays (Delaware Inland Bays Estuary Program) recently convened its Scientific & Technical Advisory Committee for a series of presentations by researchers collaborating on the CISNet (Coastal Intensive Site Network) project in the Inland Bays watershed.  University of Delaware College of Marine Studies oceanographer Dr. Bill Ullman joined other U.D. faculty as well as staff from the Delaware Geological Survey to highlight the results of investigations concerning surface water loadings, atmospheric deposition, tidal exchange, and ground water discharge to the bays.  The CISNet research program commenced in the Inland Bays watershed in 1998 and has been significant in its efforts to determine past and present patterns of nutrient contributions and nutrient utilization in Delaware's Inland Bays.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is pleased to announce that for the second time, we are the recipient of a large, two-year grant from The William Penn Foundation, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their support will assist us in adapting a more coordinated approach to tracking and implementing habitat restoration projects in the Delaware Estuary. The grant will also enable us to train the leadership of smaller municipalities to develop stormwater runoff pollution prevention programs in their communities. This is especially important now that the United States Environmental Protection Agency is implementing Phase II of their stormwater management program. Lastly, we will be looking internally to expand the leadership role of our Board of Directors, who we anticipate will guide the organization toward continued growth. For questions, please call Joe Matassino at 1-800-445-4935 x14.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program has produced a wallet card designed to encourage responsible fishing in the bay. The card is available free upon request, and also will be distributed through many bait and tackle shops in the area. The "Tampa Bay Ethical Angler Wallet Card" shows illustrations of 12 of the fish species most commonly caught in the bay - including Spanish mackerel, sea trout, snook and sheepshead - with information about bag limits, seasonal closures and other harvest restrictions for each species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission assisted in the development of the card. The card is printed on a durable latex paper and folds up to the size of a credit card so it can be carried with anglers on the water. The folded card easily fits in a wallet, shirt pocket or tackle box. In addition to fishing regulations, the wallet card offers tips for ethical angling, and phone numbers to report fisheries violations, fish kills, or fish tags. For more information, contact Nanette Holland at (727) 893-2765 or e-mail nanette@tbep.org. The wallet card can also be downloaded on our website at www.tbep.org.

"Habitat, habitat, have to have a habitat" is one of those little songs that keeps ringing in your mind a long time after you hear it. The song was brought to a coastal habitats workshop held in Ocean City, MD last week by Steve Emmett-Mattox, a workshop participant and Program Director of Restore Our Estuaries (RAE). Steve used this song to illustrate the basic concept of habitats - they are places where plants and animals live. Change or destroy the habitat and the critters have no place to live. Although the bottom line is simple, getting there is not. The workshop was sponsored by ANEP's Mid-Atlantic Region NEPs including Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Delaware Inland Bays, Barnegat Bay NEP, Delaware Estuary, and Albemarle-Pamlico, and was funded by a grant from EPA, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. It provided a forum for scientists, university researchers and private citizens to wrestle with the myriad issues of coastal habitat restoration and enhancement. The goals of the workshop were to establish a framework on which to base a habitat restoration plan, to establish criteria for prioritization of restoration efforts, and to establish measures of restoration success. The habitat restoration plan is in response to the Federal Estuary Restoration Act of 2000, which was passed in response to the alarming degradation and habitat loss in many of our nation's estuaries. The goals of the Act are to develop a national strategy for creating and maintaining effective estuary habitat restoration partnerships and to enhance monitoring and research capabilities to ensure that estuary habitat restoration efforts are based on sound scientific understanding and innovative technologies. The specific national goal is to restore 1 million acres of estuary habitat by 2010.

 

The Tillamook Estuaries Partnership has awarded local partners just over $100,000 from its Local Grant Program. The Partnership initiated the Local Grant Program to support locally-driven projects that implement the Tillamook Bay CCMP.  In selecting projects for funding, priority was given to those projects which enhance and restore critical salmonid habitats and maintain water quality. Over half of the Program's funds were awarded for riparian enhancement projects and the maintenance of recent plantings.  Recipients of grants for riparian enhancement projects included the Tillamook County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Nestucca-Neskowin Watershed Council, and a private firm working with local landowners.  The Program also supported two fish (salmonid) passage projects.  The final project funded under the Program is an appraisal and environmental assessment of a property containing critical wetland habitats.  Local stakeholders are considering acquiring the property, which lies adjacent to a proposed interpretive trail.  For information on these projects, please contact (503) 322-2222.

 

The Galveston Bay Estuary Program, (GBEP) a program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, recently hosted its 6th biennial State of the Bay Symposium. The symposium was held at South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center, League City, Texas.  The focus of this year's symposium was "The Future of the Galveston Bay Estuary: Local Communities Leading the Way". The event offered local government officials an opportunity to showcase activities that positively impact their citizens, their community and eventually, the estuary. Concurrent sessions, workshops, and field trips focused on issues that related to the state of the estuary; the changing watershed; community planning and quality of life; the role of government, industry, and the public in protecting Galveston Bay; restoration of habitats; land use and runoff pollution; freshwater inflows; the latest in estuary research; and education connecting science, policy, and the community. For full documentation, please visit our web site at http://www.gbep.state.tx.us 

UPCOMING MEETINGS & CONFERENCES

ATTENTION ALL NEP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS!  SIGN UP NOW for the Spring NEP/EPA National Meeting to be held in Washington D.C. from March 17 - 20, 2003.  [The ANEP Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings will be on March 16.]  One session on Tuesday, March 18th is planned as an interactive session for NEPs and their NEP Management Committee members.  The session, entitled: "Achieving Effective Management Structures for CCMP Implementation" will: 1) examine the key organizational functions needed to operate effectively as watershed and stakeholder-based entities; 2) identify the stakeholders who best help fulfill those functions; and 3) explore how NEPs can engage these stakeholders most effectively, given the variable resources and institutional frameworks available to them.  The outcome of the session will be a set of operational principles to guide NEPs who might wish to restructure their programs for more effective implementation of their CCMPs. For all meeting related information including registration information please visit www.anep-usa.org.  HOTEL RESERVATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 13TH, 2003.