Publications:
ANEP Update

November 2001

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

NEP Receives Historical Funding Increase: The National Estuary Program realized its highest funding level in the history of the program with passage of the FY 2002 Appropriations bill, recently approved by Congress.  The program received an increase of $5.5 million for a total program level of $22,553,200, which is significantly higher than previous years' funding levels.

In addition, the Appropriations Committee has directed EPA to assure that a minimum of 65 percent of the funds remain with the programs. Language in the Conference Report says  " The conferees recommend that a minimum of the funds provided for the National Estuary Program be reserved for programs in the estuaries of national significance for which the Administrator has convened a management conference by the date of enactment of this appropriation Act pursuant to Section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, for the development and implementation of a comprehensive conservation and management plan."   Coupled with the reauthorization of the NEP in legislation last year, which authorized and directed NEPs that have completed CCMPs to assist in their implementation, this funding level should provide a much needed infusion of funds for critical NEP projects and implementation plans in our estuaries.  The language directing EPA to assure that 65 percent of funds be reserved for National Estuary Programs in the estuaries of national significance should increase funding for individual programs, while assuring that EPA headquarters has adequate funds to maintain NEP-related support and programs.

This increase in funds is a credit to the success of the NEPs in catalyzing actions to help protect and restore the nation's estuaries.  NEP directors and the leadership of ANEP made a compelling case that the program will make excellent use of, and continue to highly leverage, scarce federal dollars in support of national goals of the Clean Water Act.  Citizens around the country actively participated in this effort and made great contributions to achieve this success.

NEP NEWS

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is developing a series of ecotourism brochures for watersheds in the Delaware Estuary.  Through the brochures, the Partnership encourages tourists to visit a particular region as a destination, not because of politically defined boundaries, but because of watershed boundaries.  In order to build awareness and stewardship of the Delaware Estuary and its watersheds, it is important that people begin to relate to geographic areas according to watersheds.  This, in turn, will help people to understand how their daily actions impact the quality of our region's waterways.  For more information please contact Joe Matassino at jmatassino@delawareestuary.org or at 1-800-445-4935.

Eight hundred people attended the San Francisco Estuary Project's fifth biennial State of the Estuary Conference, held in San Francisco on October 9-11, 2001.  Attendees heard 48 experts present the latest research, newest technologies, and hottest debates over the resources, health and restoration of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary.  Among the many topics covered were urbanization, energy, global warming, earthquakes, wetland restoration, invasive species, contaminants, biological resources and sediment supply.  Is the Estuary better than two years ago?  The Estuary Project's newly released Bay-Delta Environmental Report Card notes encouraging advances in wetlands and exotic species control.  Acquisitions of fields, creek banks, islands, floodplains and other wetlands have tripled, with at least 33,042 acres secured and protected.  Plans for 19 new habitat projects will improve an additional 25,502 acres.  Active invasive species control programs are now underway for Atlantic cord grass, purple loosestrife, water hyacinth, giant reed and Chinese mitten crab.  The Report Card also indicates that more needs to be done to fully implement CCMP recommended actions.  Proceedings of the conference will be available early next year.  For more information please call (510) 622-2465.

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program has received $350,000 for land acquisition through an appropriation from the Commerce, Justice and State legislation package. The earmark will be used as a beginning to attempt to purchase the largest remaining contiguous tract of forest in the coastal bays watershed.

The Casco Bay Estuary Project has been awarded $30,000 from the U.S. EPA Smart Growth & Alternative Futures Grant Program.  The CBEP project will develop a comprehensive, collaborative stormwater management program for Cumberland County, Maine. Cumberland County is the most rapidly growing County in Maine and needs to develop a stormwater management strategy.  This project will consider multiple objectives, including improved water quality, wildlife habitat, flood loss reduction and recreation.  The strategy will provide financial and technical assistance to municipalities for planning, design and construction activities, to assure adequate, safe and integrated stormwater drainage, in accordance with sound Smart Growth principles.  It is hoped that through the implementation of this coordinated effort, future growth in Cumberland County will be directed by policies that minimize the environmental and economic impacts of human alterations to the natural drainage patterns. 

The Morro Bay National Estuary Program and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking a major assessment of habitat restoration opportunities in Morro Bay.  This new assessment will determine whether the bay can be brought back to former levels of natural productivity.  Possible changes might include improvements to tidal circulation, installing sediment traps, planting new eelgrass beds and creating islands for birds to roost and forage.  Within the first year, the Corps and MBNEP will develop a list of potential projects, along with a ranking based on environmental and economic factors.  After that stage, the study will focus on the best projects - those that will provide the greatest environmental benefit at the least cost.  Due to our sedimentation problem in Morro Bay, a Fire Management Plan and a Catalog of Erosion Control Projects are underway.  The Catalog of Erosion Control Projects will include over 700 possible projects and help prioritize implementation of these in the watershed.  The Fire Management Plan aims to identify areas with a high hazard for wildfire-related erosion, and potential strategies for integrating fire and fuels management into long-term ecological restoration projects within the Morro Bay Estuary watershed.  Both projects should be completed in early 2002. 

The Delaware Inland Bays Estuary Program (Center for the Inland Bays) is in the process of developing a new office and research facility at Indian River Inlet.  The Delaware Division of Parks & Recreation has offered a decommissioned United States Coast Guard building to the CIB under a no-cost, long-term lease agreement.   To commence the conversion and renovation process, the CIB has been awarded a $100K grant from the Longwood Foundation.  The new facility will feature staff offices, a conference/meeting room, a library, wet labs, dormitories, and displays open to the public. 

On November 13, 2001, the Sarasota County Commission unanimously passed a landmark environmental ordinance requiring major changes in new multi-family and single-family development with regard to landscaping. The ordinance is based on concepts develop through the "Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program" promoted through the NEP's in Florida. The ordinance requires no more than 50% turf or annual flowers on irrigated portions of landscapes, separate zones for irrigation with efficient overlap patterns, micro-irrigation in bedding areas, 3" thick organic mulch, and no planting (or irrigating) under roof overhangs. The ordinance was strongly supported by the Homebuilders Association of Sarasota County. A Certificate of Compliance will be required (by a licensed contractor or landscape architect) for new homes. The ordinance also applies to existing development if the renovation changes the horizontal footprint and increases home value by 50%. Once established, shrubs and trees require less fertilizer and water in comparison to turf, while turf grass remains and integral component of landscapes. The new homeowner will also be provided "Florida Yards and Neighborhoods" maintenance package at closing.  For more information, contact Mr. Mike Holsinger, Sarasota County Extension Director, at (941) 316-1000 or Mr. Mark Alderson, Sarasota Bay Program Director, at (941) 359-5841.