Call for Presentations for The Groundwater Foundation’s National Conference Due June 14th

Posted on: May 20, 2013

Abstracts are now being accepted for The Groundwater Foundation’s 2013 National Conference being held October 15-17, 2013 in Howey-in-the-Hills (Orlando), Florida. The abstract submission deadline is June 14th. Presenters will be selected and notified in early July.

Details about the conference are available here. Please consider sharing this information with others who may wish to present or exhibit.

Presentation formats include 25-minute classroom presentations, plenary speakers, field trip presentations, workshops and poster sessions. Presentation topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Community involvement/participation in water issues
• Climate change and extreme weather’s impacts on groundwater (i.e. drought, floods, etc.
• Population growth/urban sprawl impact
• Public education – challenges and solutions
• Groundwater sustainability strategies (management strategies)
• Social, economic, and environmental interactions
• Funding for groundwater sustainability
• Conjunctive use (engineered solutions, planned or artificial)
• Challenges/solutions to sustainable groundwater management
• Emerging issues (i.e. fracking, nanotechnology, flood capture and recharge, energy/water nexus, carbon sequestration, etc.)
• Wellhead protection’s role in groundwater sustainability
• Groundwater/surface water interactions
• Agriculture and water quality

Call for Papers and Exhibitors: ASDWA’s Annual Conference October 28-31, 2013 in Long Beach, CA

Posted on: May 15, 2013

You are invited to join state, Federal, and local water professionals who will gather at ASDWA’s 28th Annual Conference to tackle the many challenges facing the water community. By contributing your knowledge and vision to the conference’s program you can help ASDWA achieve their goal of protecting public health as they face an array of 21st century challenges. ASDWA solicits both oral presentations and exhibitors of products and services that are invaluable in helping us achieve our collective goals. Deadline for abstracts is June 14th and the deadline for exhibitor applications is August 30th. Click here for detailed information.

ASDWA is the professional Association supporting state drinking water programs in their efforts to protect public health and implement the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Their members are the 50 states, territories, the Navajo Nation, and the District of Columbia.

News Article: Nitrates in Des Moines Rivers Hit Record Levels

Posted on: May 14, 2013

Click to download online article: From the Des Moines Register – Online
Des Moines Water Works turned on the world’s largest nitrate-removal facility Friday for the first time since 2007 after levels of health-threatening nitrates hit records in both the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, two main drinking-water sources.

Bill Stowe, the utility’s general manager, said the process will keep nitrates at safe levels in tap water, but he is concerned about the rising costs and difficulty of treating water as nitrate levels climb.

The $4 million nitrate-removal plant, installed in 1992, costs about $7,000 a day to run. So far, the utility is using four of the eight treatment cells where nitrates are stripped from the water. The Environmental Protection Agency had ordered Des Moines to act to remove nitrates after the contaminant exceeded the federal limit in tap water during the early 1990s.

The predicament shows that voluntary conservation efforts on farms aren’t working and do not bode well for the future of the area’s water supply, Stowe said. He added that nitrates, which also occur naturally, primarily come from crop fertilizer. Better field drainage systems have worsened the situation.

Typically, when nitrates rise in the Raccoon River, the Des Moines River remains well within drinking standards. The utility then dilutes the pollution from the Raccoon water with that drawn from the Des Moines.

This time, they are both at record highs — a troubling oddity, Stowe said.

”We are off our playing field,” he said. “We haven’t seen this before.”

Untreated high levels of nitrates in drinking water have been linked to blue baby syndrome, as well as to various cancers and miscarriages. The federal limit is 10 milligrams per liter nitrate in drinking water; both rivers have posted readings in the range of 20 milligrams per liter.

The Raccoon River hit 24 milligrams per liter this week; the previous record was 22. The Des Moines was just under 18; the record was 14.2.

Stowe said some U.S. Geological Survey gauges couldn’t measure the concentrations because they exceeded the meter’s range.

With decades’ worth of data suggesting nitrates are rising in Midwestern rivers, Stowe hopes the situation doesn’t worsen.

Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey said the fact that Water Works didn’t need the removal system for the past six years shows that nitrates have been at manageable levels. He added that nitrates left over from last year, when a smaller than usual corn crop didn’t use as much nitrogen, and the record April rains could have caused a temporary spike.

Northey said strategy now focuses more on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus levels than past efforts, which were targeted mostly on soil conservation.

Laurie Johns, spokeswoman for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, said regulations wouldn’t work because farm conditions vary and are best addressed by farmers’ voluntary efforts. No regulation can control record rain, she added.

”With such wild weather swings and 95 percent of Iowa’s land comprised of farmland, there’s not one regulation that would have prevented the current spike in nitrates, short of outlawing crop production in Iowa,” Johns said.

Deborah Neustadt, chairwoman of the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club, said farmers should be required to have nutrient-management plans featuring specific practices meant to curb runoff. That way, they could be held accountable for pollution from their operations.

“Why does the rate-payer have to pay for actions of farmers?” Neustadt asked.

Susan Heathcote, water program director of the Iowa Environmental Council, took a similar view. “Local pollution-reduction goals are critical to motivating Iowa farmers and landowners to make the significant changes necessary to ensure clean water,” she said.

Act Now: New Funding Opportunity to Encourage Conservation Practices to Protect Drinking Water

Posted on: April 30, 2013

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide $35 million in financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to implement conservation systems to improve water quality in 165 small watersheds through its 2013 National Water Quality Initiative.

Please share this news with your networks so they can consult with their 319 coordinators, reach out to state conservationists or county NRCS service center, or coordinate with their local conservation districts to act on this immediate opportunity.

Applications for funding consideration during fiscal year 2013 must be received by Friday, July 12, 2013, and eligible projects may work to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and pathogen contributions from agricultural land. Please note that although the deadline mentions July, we have learned that some states seem to have deadlines in May. Drinking water is mentioned in the announcement as follows, “Communities benefit by having clean waterways, safer drinking water and healthy habitat for fish and wildlife.”

A list of the watersheds is available here. Click here to learn more about the NRCS 2013 National Water Quality Initiative announcement.

Register for Today’s Free Watershed Academy Webcast on “Using Social Indicators in Watershed Management Projects”

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It’s not too late to register for this free webcast on May 1, 2013, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm Eastern time on “Using Social Indicators for Watershed Management Projects.” Working with landowners and managers to find effective and practical solutions to water quality problems is critical to achieving environmental goals. Social indicators provide information about the social context, awareness, attitudes, capacities, constraints, and behaviors in a watershed or project area. Using social indicators can help resource managers and conservation professionals understand target audiences, select effective interventions and evaluate their impacts. At the end of this webcast, participants will understand some basic concepts of behavior change can have the tools to use a framework for using social indicators in nonpoint source management work.

To register, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.  Webcast materials will be posted in advance.

SWC Welcomes New Members National Association of Conservation Districts and Smart Growth America

Posted on: April 19, 2013

At its April 22nd member meeting, the Source Water Collaborative (SWC) expanded its membership to 25 organizations by welcoming Smart Growth America and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD).

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is the nonprofit organization that represents America’s 3,000 conservation districts and those who serve on their governing boards. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. Districts work with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to help them manage and protect land and water resources on all private lands and many public lands in the United States.

“If we truly want to have a long-term impact on the quality of our water resources nationwide, it is critical that we build strong, diverse partnerships at local, state and federal levels,” said NACD CEO John Larson. “This is why we’re so pleased to be joining efforts with the Source Water Collaborative. We recognize that being part of a larger group that advocates and works to achieve the same overall outcomes is essential in these fiscally challenging times, and we look forward to a strong and productive partnership in the years ahead as we focus together on addressing commonsense and meaningful actions to improve water quality across the landscape.”

Since 2001, Smart Growth America has worked in coalitions to make the case for the environmental, social, and economic benefits of smart growth. Smart growth is very simply defined as rural, urban and suburban places with transportation and housing choices near jobs, shops and schools. The strategies communities use to create these places are ideal tools for identifying and protecting environmentally sensitive areas while promoting healthy economic growth.

“We are working with local governments across the country that are re-examining the real costs and benefits of development. They are motivated to reduce costs and protect their assets, but they still need tools and support. We are eager to ‘jump in,’ so to speak, and work with the Source Water Collaborative to make the case for source protection and to more widely distribute all of our organization’s great resources,” said Geoff Anderson, president of Smart Growth America.

The SWC was originally formed in 2006 with the goal to combine the strengths and tools of a diverse set of member organizations to act now and protect drinking water sources for generations to come. More information about the SWC’s members and resources is available on the SWC website at www.sourcewatercollaborative.org

EPA’s National Water Program Publishes 2012 Climate Change Progress Report

Posted on: April 1, 2013

The EPA has published its fourth progress report summarizing the major climate change-related accomplishments of its national and regional water programs, entitled “2012 Highlights of Progress: Responses to Climate Change.” The report is organized around five long-term, programmatic vision areas which are part of the National Water Program’s 2012 strategy to manage water resources in light of climate change. Click here to read the full 2012 progress report on EPA’s website.

Utility Training Webinars Available on EPA’s Water Health & Economic Analysis Tool

Posted on: March 13, 2013

Throughout March – May of 2013, EPA will be offering a series of webinars on the updated version of its Water Health & Economic Analysis Tool (WHEAT). The tool is designed to assist drinking water utility owners and operators in understanding the potential public health impacts, financial costs, and economic effects of a threat to the local water supply.

Click here to view a calendar of the WHEAT training webinars (“Training Calendar” tab) and to download the software free of charge (“Home” tab).

Source Water Collaborative Announces 2013 Pilot Programs in PA, WI and WY

Posted on: March 7, 2013

As a part of its ongoing commitment to encourage state and local actions to protect sources of drinking water, the Source Water Collaborative (SWC) is pleased to announce its support of three new pilot programs including watershed-based Sheridan, Wyoming; countywide efforts in Lancaster County, PA; and state-wide efforts in Wisconsin (with Rock and Sauk Counties).

The selected pilots have a wide variety of partnerships and unique project champions, including drinking water utilities; county planning commission; USDA (NRCS, Forest Service); universities; state departments of environment, health services, and game/fish; state geological surveys; NGOs (Trout Unlimited, Nature Conservancy); associations representing watershed, rural water, livestock, and conservation interests; and EPA Regional Offices. Click here for more details.

Nominations to the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Accepted Through February 20th

Posted on: February 6, 2013

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking nominations for members to serve on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, which provides advice and recommendations to the agency on environmental justice issues. EPA expects the committee will have six vacancies—two from academia and one each from grass-roots community organizations, nongovernmental or environmental organizations, state and local agencies, and tribal groups. Council terms last three years, and members serve an average of five to eight hours per month, the agency said. EPA will accept nominations through Feb. 20 here. For additional information, contact the EPA Environmental Justice Office at (202) 564-2515.

AWRA Summer Specialty Conference—Submit Abstracts by Feb 8, 2013

Posted on: January 28, 2013

In anticipation of their upcoming Summer Specialty Conference on June 27 and 28, the American Water Resources Association is accepting oral and poster abstract submissions due February 8, 2013. The conference, which will take place in Hartford, Connecticut, carries the theme “Healthy Forests = Healthy Waters” and will examine the value of forests in managing water resources. Abstracts should address several key themes linking healthy forests and healthy waters, all of which are featured on the website.

Click here to learn more about criteria for abstract submissions and to view other key details about the conference.

EPA Releases Progress Report on Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources

Posted on: January 14, 2013

In light of its national study to understand the potential effects of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water, the EPA released a progress report on the effort in December 2012. The report summarizes the status of 18 research projects that are part of the overall study and offers updates on chemicals used during fracturing. The study was initiated at the request of Congress in 2010 and looks at the full lifespan of water in the hydraulic fracturing process.

Click here to read EPA’s hydraulic fracturing progress report in full.

Register Today: Free January 9th Webinar on Collaborating with USDA Programs

Posted on: December 18, 2012

On Wednesday, January 9, 2013, from 1:00-2:30pm EST, ASDWA and GWPC will host a webinar on “How State Source Water Programs Can Work with their USDA Partners to Protect Drinking Water Sources.” The webinar should be useful for all state water programs, from those who already know their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist but may be looking for new ideas, to those aiming to build a successful relationship. The webinar agenda will include a step-by-step tutorial on how to use the SWC’s new online Collaboration Toolkit and two state success stories from Maine and Iowa. To register for the webinar, go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/801495793

Register Now for the 12/6 Webinar on New Urban Waters Restoration Grants

Posted on: December 5, 2012

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has issued a request for proposals for its 2013 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program grants, with applications due February 7, 2013. The grants, which range from $20,000-$50,000, will be awarded to projects that enlist diverse local partnerships in wetland, forest, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration and focus on urban waters and watersheds.

Potential applicants are invited to participate in an informational webinar on Thursday, December 6, from 2:00pm – 3:30pm EST. Click here to register for the webinar and here to learn more about the program or fill out the online application.

Deadline 12/21: Opportunity to Apply for Source Water Collaborative (SWC) Pilot

Posted on: November 26, 2012

The SWC wishes to help promote state and/or local actions by sponsoring three collaborative efforts in 2013 to protect drinking water sources by gaining the support of key agricultural and/or Clean Water Act authorities to implement conservation practices and other effective approaches. Interested parties should submit an Expression of Interest by Noon, 12/21/12. This sponsorship would be a 10-month commitment and would include planning support. Please download this document for more details about the pilot program, including criteria, instructions for submitting your response and an FAQ.

Register Today for 11/28 Watershed Academy Webinar on Water Quality Apps

Posted on: November 20, 2012

To introduce three new water quality apps, EPA’s Watershed Academy will host a free webinar on November 28 from 1pm-3pm. The main app to be highlighted is “How’s My Waterway?,” which provides users with instant information on the condition of lakes, rivers, and streams across the United States. The webcast will also highlight the SwimGuide app, which locates nearby beaches and allows users to report pollution, and the Riverview app, which helps users share river photos and water quality updates. To register for the webinar, visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts

EPA’s Clean Water Act 319 Grant Guidelines: Review Requested by December 7

Posted on: November 11, 2012

After releasing revised draft guidelines for its Clean Water Act 319 grant program, EPA is asking states, territories, and other interested parties to submit comments on the document’s major provisions. The guidelines aim to provide a nationally consistent framework supporting the implementation of state and territorial nonpoint source programs with grants available for everything from technical assistance to demonstration projects. Click here to view the full guideline document and submit any comments by December 7th COB to 319grants@epa.gov.

Register Now for New Date (November 7th) – SWP Webinar on Local Planning Activities

Posted on: October 31, 2012

Register now for the webinar entitled, “Successful state agency efforts to support and coordinate with local planning activities,” that has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 7th from 1:00 to 3:00pm (eastern). The original October 30 webinar date was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. This webinar is the third in the series of five free webinars from the Enabling Source Water Protection team, led by The Trust for Public Land and the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, with support from the River Network and ASDWA.

National Drinking Water Advisory Council: Request for Nominations Due 11/19/12

Posted on: October 10, 2012

The EPA invites nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for a three-year appointment to the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (Council). The 15 member Council was established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to provide practical and independent advice, consultation and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the activities, functions, policies, and regulations required by the SDWA. This notice solicits nominations to fill four new vacancies through December 15, 2015. To maintain the representation required by statute, nominees will be selected to represent: State and local agencies (two vacancies) and the general public (two vacancies). Click here to download the Federal Register notice for details.

ASDWA Announces New Webinar Series, “Findings from Enabling Source Water Protection Project”

Posted on: August 20, 2012

Throughout Fall 2012, ASDWA will host a series of five webinars on findings of the Enabling Source Water Protection Project, offering innovative and replicable state agency approaches to protecting drinking water. The project worked with eight state partners over a three-year period to align planning, economic development, regulation, and conservation across political and programmatic boundaries. Visit www.asdwa.org/swwebinars to view all dates and topics of the series and register for the first webinar, which takes place Wednesday, September 5.

July 27 USGS Congressional Briefing Examines the Nation’s Groundwater Resources

Posted on: July 23, 2012

The United States Geological Survey will be briefing members of Congress and their staff on the importance of groundwater to the nation and future protection plans. The session is part of the USGS Congressional Briefing Series, an effort to increase Congressional awareness of geological science’s relevancy in public policy decision-making. For more information on this USGS Congressional Briefing, please visit http://www.usgs.gov/solutions/2012_july27.html

Pre-Proposals Due July 2nd: Financial Assistance Available via New National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Program

Posted on: June 6, 2012

Wells Fargo and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation seek to promote sustainable communities through Environmental Solutions for Communities by supporting projects that link economic development and community well-being to the stewardship and health of the environment. Among the several priorities listed for proposals, SWC members should note they are seeking proposals that support community-based conservation projects that improve local water quality. Eligible applicants include: non-profit 501(c) organizations; state, tribal, provincial and local governments; and educational institutions working in states and communities where Wells Fargo operates. To be considered for funding, pre-proposals must be submitted online by July 2, 2012. For more information, please visit the NFWF website.

Draft UIC Program Permitting Guidance for Oil and Gas Hydraulic Fracturing Activities Using Diesel Fuels

Posted on: May 15, 2012

EPA has developed draft Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class II permitting guidance for oil and gas hydraulic fracturing activities using diesel fuels. This document describes information useful in permitting the underground injection of oil- and gas-related hydraulic fracturing using diesel fuels where EPA is the permitting authority. EPA’s goal is to improve compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requirements and strengthen environmental protections consistent with existing law. Click here for materials available on EPA’s website. Click here for the May 10th Federal Register Notice, establishing a comment period through July 9.

EPA to Work with Drinking Water Systems to Monitor Unregulated Contaminants

Posted on: May 13, 2012

EPA has published a list of 28 chemicals and two viruses that approximately 6,000 public water systems will monitor from 2013 to 2015 as part of the agency’s unregulated contaminant monitoring program, which collects data for contaminants suspected to be present in drinking water, but that do not have health-based standards set under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

EPA will spend more than $20 million to support the monitoring, the majority of which will be devoted to assist small drinking water systems with conducting the monitoring. Click here for more details.

Register for May 15th Webcast on USDA’s NIFA-CEAP Watershed Synthesis: Lessons Learned

Posted on: May 9, 2012

Join a free Watershed Academy Webcast entitled “USDA’s NIFA-CEAP Watershed Synthesis: Lessons Learned” on May 15 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm Eastern to hear about some important lessons learned from USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). Webcast highlights will include a study led by North Carolina State University to analyze and synthesize key lessons learned from 13 of these watershed-scale projects on cropland and pastureland, and linkages between USDA’s CEAP project and US EPA’s Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program.

To register for this webcast, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.

EPA Celebrates Drinking Water Week

Posted on: May 8, 2012

The week of May 6 – 12 marks the celebration of Drinking Water Week, a time when EPA and its partners celebrate the nation’s vital drinking water resources. EPA has developed a website with more information on what you can do around your home and within your community to protect your drinking water, ways to become involved in matters affecting the quality of your drinking water, and much more. To find out what you can do, go to: http://water.epa.gov/drink/drinkingwaterweek

Source Water Protection Lessons for High School Students Now Available

Posted on: May 2, 2012

FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) recently posted 20 source water protection lessons for high school agricultural science students – available here. A product of a USDA-EPA partnership with FFA, the lessons are available online to FFA’s network of over one million high school agriculture science students and their instructors. Content covered includes the water cycle, drinking water basics, the watershed approach, and agricultural conservation practices to protect water quality. Click here for more details.

EPA Releases Draft “National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change”

Posted on: April 4, 2012

EPA’s Draft Strategy describes how EPA’s water-related programs plan to address the impacts of climate change and provides long-term visions, goals and strategic actions for the management of sustainable water resources for future generations.

EPA will accept public comments on the draft strategy until May 17, 2012. To read or submit a comment on the Draft Strategy visit: http://epa.gov/water/climatechange. Click here for more details.

Responses Due April 6th: EPA Announces Technical Assistance for Green Infrastructure Projects

Posted on: April 3, 2012

Continuing its partnerships with green infrastructure communities, the EPA is offering technical assistance for green infrastructure projects protecting water quality. The effort is part of the agency’s Green Infrastructure Program that will accept letters of interest until April 6, 2012. The available $950,000 will be distributed among 10-20 projects and will be directed to watersheds and sewersheds with water quality degradation from urban stormwater.

More information about this technical assistance is available at the new EPA Green Infrastructure website.

EPA Unveils New Websites on Nutrient Pollution

Posted on: March 13, 2012

EPA’s new website on nutrient pollution policy and data can help individuals access information on EPA actions to reduce nutrient pollution, state efforts to develop numeric nutrient criteria, and EPA tools, data, research, and reports related to nutrient pollution. Visit this policy and data focused website at http://epa.gov/nandppolicy. Click here for information about another EPA website designed for homeowners, students and educators.

National Rural Water Association Helps You Take Back Your Community From Nitrates

Posted on: March 6, 2012

A February 2012 NRWA Water University webinar titled, “Take Back Your Community From Nitrates—Lessons Learned,” showcases the efforts of a rural Minnesota community in addressing elevated nitrate levels. Led by Sourcewater Protection Specialist Aaron Meyer, the webinar explains how the community partnered with local farmers and tested the effects of fertilizer on groundwater quality and crop yields.

Click here to listen to the full recording of the “Take Back Your Community from Nitrates—Lessons Learned” webinar.

Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative Honored with National Award & Releases Action Plan

Posted on: February 29, 2012

The Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative, supported in part by the national SWC, has been awarded the 2012 U.S. Water Prize by the Clean Water America Alliance for watershed-based approaches that innovate, integrate, and educate toward water sustainability. This inter-state collaborative between Maine and New Hampshire unites local, state and federal partners to protect forests and reduce pollution from existing land uses and anticipated development. For more information about the prize, click here.

To download the Collaborative’s newly released Action Plan, please click here.

LakeLine Magazine Dedicated to Source Water Protection Issues

Posted on: February 23, 2012

SWC Member, the North American Lake Management Society, recently published their Fall 2011 issue of their magazine, LakeLine, which is dedicated entirely to source water protection. Click here to read how this issue shows how lake protection and source water protection overlap.

New USGS Study Follows Phosphorus from Farm to Stream

Posted on: February 6, 2012

A new study published by the U.S. Geological Survey examines the movement of phosphorus in soil and groundwater of farm settings in five states—Washington, California, Nebraska, Indiana, and Maryland. The report assesses the impact of various farming practices on phosphorus movement—information that is useful in creating best practices to limit phosphorus transport from agricultural fields.

To access the full report, click here.

EPA Releases New DVD on Reducing Runoff from Urban Areas

Posted on: January 30, 2012

The EPA’s newest DVD, “Reduce Runoff: Slow it Down, Spread it out, Soak it in!” teaches viewers how to control runoff in urban areas. The DVD was created in partnership with the U.S Botanic Garden and consists of four educational videos that can be used for outreach or to fulfill requirements for EPA’s Stormwater MS4 program. The videos can be viewed online or ordered from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP). Click here for viewing and ordering information and to find out more about the videos.

USDA Economic Research Service Compiles Data on U.S. Fertilizer Use

Posted on: January 25, 2012

Officials at the USDA Economic Research Service have released new data that brings together U.S. fertilizer consumption data from 1950 to 2010. To enhance analytic efforts, the data is organized by plant nutrient, major selected product, and consumption of mixed fertilizers, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients. This information can prove useful in tracking growing nutrient loads and identifying usage trends.

To access the new USDA Economic Research data, click here.

Details Shared from North Carolina State Source Water Collaborative Workshop

Posted on: January 23, 2012

On December 6th, the North Carolina Source Water Protection Program held a one-day workshop to launch a statewide Source Water Collaborative. The state Collaborative is envisioned as an autonomous group that will work together across various programs and policies to strengthen and advance protection of the states’ drinking water sources. Click here for more details.

New Source Water Protection Vision and Roadmap from the Water Research Foundation

Posted on: January 19, 2012

The Water Research Foundation has released two new publications that offer a vision and roadmap that can guide U.S. water utilities and supporting groups with a unified strategy for coherent, consistent, cost-effective, and socially acceptable source water protection programs. Click here for more details and to access these publications.

New Data Added to EPA’s Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution Data Access Tool

Posted on: January 18, 2012

EPA has added updated U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) data to the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution data access tool, a tool intended to help states develop effective nitrogen and phosphorus source reduction strategies. Click here to learn more and to access the updated tool online.

January 31st Deadline for FY12 Conservation Innovation Grant Pre-Proposals

Posted on: January 5, 2012

USDA announced that pre-proposals for FY12 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) are due by January 31. This year’s CIG projects will focus on nutrient management, energy conservation, soil health and wildlife. For more information on CIG from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, click here.

Register Today for “Using Clean Water Act Funding for Source Water Protection” Webinar on January 19!

Posted on: December 19, 2011

To bring in the new year, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators and Ground Water Protection Council will host a webinar linking Clean Water Act funds and source water protection on January 19, 12 PM-1:30 PM EST.

The webinar will consist of three presentations focusing on Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs and ways to coordinate on the state level.

To register for the webinar or learn more, visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/136094281 today!

Submit Proposals for Urban Waters Small Grants by January 23, 2012!

Posted on: November 30, 2011

In an effort to improve waterways in the nation’s urban areas, the EPA has begun soliciting proposals for its new Urban Waters Small Grants. The Small Grants emerge as the latest work of EPA’s Urban Waters Program and will be awarded to projects across the country that improve water quality and support community revitalization.

To learn more about the grants and submit a proposal, visit http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/funding/index.html

Register Today for New Webinar Series on USGS Nutrient Management Tool!

Posted on: November 29, 2011

On Friday, December 2, 2011, from 2:00-3:00pm EST, the United States Geological Survey will kickoff a host of webinars about its new regional SPARROW models and online decision support tool. The first webinar will provide an overview of the tool’s main uses: prioritizing areas for nutrient reduction, identifying sources that contribute large quantities of nutrients to local waterways, and evaluating nutrient reduction scenarios.

To learn more and register for the December 2 webinar, visit https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/941521630.

New Forest Service Maps Show the Trickle Down Effect Between Healthy Forests and Healthy Water

Posted on: November 14, 2011

The U.S. Forest Service recently unveiled its Forests to Faucets project, a series of maps that illustrate the importance of forests in sustaining healthy sources of surface drinking water. The interactive maps use a geographic information system to show the essential role forests play in providing clean drinking water to urban communities.

Click here to learn more about the U.S. Forest Service’s Forests to Faucets Project.

Register Today for Free Webinar Series on EPA Nitrogen and Phosphorus Reduction Tools!

Posted on: November 11, 2011

In light of the increasing problem posed by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency announced its new Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution Data Access Tool (NPDAT) and a free demonstrative webinar on November 30, 2011. In addition to NPDAT, the series will feature other useful tools for tracking and reducing nitrogen and phosphorus levels.

Source Water Collaborative’s Guest Article in NACD Magazine “The Resource”

Posted on: November 10, 2011

The Source Water Collaborative (SWC) has earned a guest article in the National Association of Conservation Districts’ fall publication of “The Resource.” Co-written by various member groups, the article explains SWC’s mission and the importance of joint efforts by SWC and NACD.

Click here to read the full article in NACD’s “The Resource.”

New USDA Report Shows Cropland Conservation in the Great Lakes

Posted on: October 25, 2011

A new study by the USDA’s Great Lakes Conservation Effects Assessment Project, (CEAP), found that farmers in the region have reduced losses of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorous by employing effective conservation techniques.

Source Water Webinar Now Online

Posted on: October 10, 2011

The recent Ground Water Protection Council webinar on Stormwater Management and Source Water Protection is now available online at http://www.gwpc.org/source_water/swp.htm
Downloadable PDFs and videos of the webinar presentations are also available online.

Report Emphasizes Value of Conservation

Posted on: October 5, 2011

NACD’s “Conservation Benefits: Putting Value Where It Belongs,” which focuses on several ecosystem services, including source water, is now available.

New USGS Water Quality Findings

Posted on: September 28, 2011

New USGS Water Quality Findings: No Consistent Declines in Nitrate Levels in Large Rivers in the Mississippi River Basin. New USGS findings released in the journal of Environmental Science & Technology, accessible at: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pubs/nitrate_trends/

SWC-Sponsored Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative Update

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Check out the latest newsletter from this collaborative in New Hampshire and Maine online at
http://www.prep.unh.edu/sfwc/docs/August%202011%20newsletter.pdf

New NAWQA Agricultural Chemicals Team Report Available

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Subsurface transport of orthophosphate in five agricultural watersheds, USA: Journal of Hydrology, in press and available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.08.014

New USGS Study on Trace Elements in U.S. Groundwater

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A new USGS study evaluates the occurrence of 23 trace elements and radon in groundwater samples from over 5,000 wells collected nationwide from 1992-2003. The report presents trace element occurrence, describes factors that influence the spatial distribution of trace elements, and compares concentrations to human-health benchmarks. A news release and the full report can be accessed online at http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/trace/pubs/sir2011-5059/index.html

Friend of Conservation Award

Posted on: September 7, 2011

Know a great supporter of conservation who deserves national recognition? NACD is now taking nominations for awards! This year’s deadline is Sept. 30. Click here for more information.

Atlanta Source Water Roundtable

Posted on: August 25, 2011

GWPC Announces Interregional Source Water Roundtable as part of 2011 Annual Forum on September 28th in Atlanta, GA. The forum will showcase the success of the SWC, regional collaboratives, and state program efforts to foster support for future regional collaborations.

Funding Available

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New Funding Opportunity for Forest and Water Climate Adaptation Planning is Available. Application Deadline: 9/19/11. Six rural communities will be provided $10,000 scholarships. The Model Forest Policy Program is now accepting applications for 2012 Climate Solutions University: Forest and Water Strategies.