If you'd like to suggest a time to talk one-on-one this week, please send a few suggestions . If email exchanges suit you better, that's great too.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Please check your email inbox
I sent a message at 4:40pm today. If you don't see an email from me in your inbox, please check your Spam or Junk folders (maybe there are others from me!).
If you'd like to suggest a time to talk one-on-one this week, please send a few suggestions . If email exchanges suit you better, that's great too.
If you'd like to suggest a time to talk one-on-one this week, please send a few suggestions . If email exchanges suit you better, that's great too.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint
From CBF:
You've been hearing a lot lately about the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, and how when it's fully implemented, it will bring in an additional $22 billion to our regional economy year after year. But what is it really, and how is it our best—and perhaps last—chance at real clean water restoration in our region? Click here to take a look at our Blueprint infographic to get the full story. Then share it with your friends! It's a good one . . .
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Virginia Precipitation and Stream Flow October 7-14, 2014
I'm posting this because we are likely to see some major changes in our regional watersheds today through Saturday. - Jim
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Virginia Precipitation and Stream Flow for the 7-day Period Ending October 14, 2014by araflo |
Below are images showing precipitation in the southeastern United States and stream flow in Virginia over the seven-day period ending October 14, 2014. The Virginia Water Resources Research Center thanks the agencies mentioned below for providing precipitation and stream-flow information and images. For monthly reviews of precipitation, stream flow, and drought, please see the News Grouper posts available at this link: http:// vawatercentralnewsgrouper. wordpress.com/?s=Monthly+ Water+Status.
Precipitation
The following maps show southeastern U.S. precipitation amounts over the past seven days (top map), and the percent of normal precipitation for the given location at this time of year (bottom map). The maps were accessed on 10/15/14 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Southeast Regional Climate Center, located at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill; online athttp://www.sercc.com/ climateinfo/precip_maps. As of 10/15/14, these data areprovisional (needing to be verified for accuracy and subject to possible revision).
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grants
For full documentation, go to the EPA RFP Site.
EPA is soliciting proposals for the management of the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant. The purpose of the grant is to accelerate and expand the strategic protection of healthy freshwater ecosystems and their watersheds across the country. EPA expects to issue a cooperative agreement to fund a single grantee to manage the Healthy Watersheds Consortium grant program and issue subawards on a competitive basis.
Eligible applicants for this RFP are non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations, interstate agencies, and inter-tribal consortia which are capable of undertaking activities that advance healthy watershed programs on a national basis. Eligible entities for the subawards include public and private nonprofit institutions / organizations, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, states, local governments, U.S. territories or possessions, and interstate agencies.
Anticipated federal funding under the competition is approximately $3.75 million over six years. Proposals are due January 5, 2015. For detailed information regarding this RFP, please refer to the PDF below and the associated deadline table.
Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant RFP (PDF) (32 pp, 457K, About PDF)
Questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail and must be received by the Agency Contact identified in Section VII by December 4, 2014.
EPA is soliciting proposals for the management of the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant. The purpose of the grant is to accelerate and expand the strategic protection of healthy freshwater ecosystems and their watersheds across the country. EPA expects to issue a cooperative agreement to fund a single grantee to manage the Healthy Watersheds Consortium grant program and issue subawards on a competitive basis.
Eligible applicants for this RFP are non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations, interstate agencies, and inter-tribal consortia which are capable of undertaking activities that advance healthy watershed programs on a national basis. Eligible entities for the subawards include public and private nonprofit institutions / organizations, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, states, local governments, U.S. territories or possessions, and interstate agencies.
Anticipated federal funding under the competition is approximately $3.75 million over six years. Proposals are due January 5, 2015. For detailed information regarding this RFP, please refer to the PDF below and the associated deadline table.
Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant RFP (PDF) (32 pp, 457K, About PDF)
Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Proposal Deadlines
Information Session / Webinar (Check back at a later time for more information) |
November 13, 2014 |
Last day to submit questions about RFP | December 4, 2014 |
Deadline for receipt of proposal in hard copy or electronically | January 5, 2015 |
Questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail and must be received by the Agency Contact identified in Section VII by December 4, 2014.
Monday, October 13, 2014
New playboating park at Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna
Reposted with permission from Lancaster Online.
$4 million whitewater playboating park below Holtwood Dam tested, about to open to public
By AD CRABLE | Staff Writer | Posted 2 hours ago
By remote control, a metal gate opens on the York County side of the Holtwood Dam and impounded Susquehanna river water gushes down a 100-year-old stone fish ladder at 755 cubic feet per second.
Soon, a newly constructed channel is transformed into churning, splashing whitewater reminiscent of a Western river.
The scene last Wednesday morning is just what Matt Samms, a 40-year-old kayaker from Safe Harbor, had been dreaming about for eight years now.
Samms, in a wetsuit, protective helmet and ear plugs, eases himself into a short, snub-nosed Pyranha kayak that weighs a mere 45 pounds.
Over the next several hours, he and eight other devotees of the whitewater freestyle kayaking sport of playboating spin, surf — even roll underwater on a whim — their kayaks in powerful artificially-created waves and momentum-stopping hydraulics.
They test different flows to see which will make the playground all it can be.
“We’re working out some bugs,” announces Samms as wailing sirens and strobe lights announce the water release from the dam and that the downstream river level will soon be rising. Four bald eagles soar overhead.
After years of planning and initially testy negotiations, the $4 million waterpark built by PPL is about ready to open to the public. Backers believe it will offer world-class whitewater features and become a popular spectator sport that will boost local economies.
The whitewater playground was tested by area kayakers three days last week and it was pronounced ready to rock.
All that remains is for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to sign off on a safety plan for spectators lining the banks. Once that happens, likely a few days to several weeks from now, the park will be open for use by the public.
Samms says it may be open almost daily throughout October and November. To find out when the park will open, and a daily schedule of hours, check out this website. The site is currently inactive until the park gets the green light.
An expansive flat area borders the whitewater where the public can bring lawn chairs and watch the playboaters.
Area kayakers and American Whitewater, a national whitewater advocacy group, mounted a persuasive coalition when they learned that PPL’s expansion of capacity at its Holtwood Dam hydroelectric facility would remove many of the riverbottom boulders that had created what some considered the best playboating features on the East Coast.
$4 million whitewater playboating park below Holtwood Dam tested, about to open to public
By AD CRABLE | Staff Writer | Posted 2 hours ago
By remote control, a metal gate opens on the York County side of the Holtwood Dam and impounded Susquehanna river water gushes down a 100-year-old stone fish ladder at 755 cubic feet per second.
Soon, a newly constructed channel is transformed into churning, splashing whitewater reminiscent of a Western river.
The scene last Wednesday morning is just what Matt Samms, a 40-year-old kayaker from Safe Harbor, had been dreaming about for eight years now.
Samms, in a wetsuit, protective helmet and ear plugs, eases himself into a short, snub-nosed Pyranha kayak that weighs a mere 45 pounds.
Over the next several hours, he and eight other devotees of the whitewater freestyle kayaking sport of playboating spin, surf — even roll underwater on a whim — their kayaks in powerful artificially-created waves and momentum-stopping hydraulics.
They test different flows to see which will make the playground all it can be.
“We’re working out some bugs,” announces Samms as wailing sirens and strobe lights announce the water release from the dam and that the downstream river level will soon be rising. Four bald eagles soar overhead.
After years of planning and initially testy negotiations, the $4 million waterpark built by PPL is about ready to open to the public. Backers believe it will offer world-class whitewater features and become a popular spectator sport that will boost local economies.
The whitewater playground was tested by area kayakers three days last week and it was pronounced ready to rock.
All that remains is for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to sign off on a safety plan for spectators lining the banks. Once that happens, likely a few days to several weeks from now, the park will be open for use by the public.
Samms says it may be open almost daily throughout October and November. To find out when the park will open, and a daily schedule of hours, check out this website. The site is currently inactive until the park gets the green light.
An expansive flat area borders the whitewater where the public can bring lawn chairs and watch the playboaters.
Area kayakers and American Whitewater, a national whitewater advocacy group, mounted a persuasive coalition when they learned that PPL’s expansion of capacity at its Holtwood Dam hydroelectric facility would remove many of the riverbottom boulders that had created what some considered the best playboating features on the East Coast.
Reminder - no meetup on the holiday.
In case you didn't see this on the Anticipation Guide, no meetup tonight.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
and for Urban Planning folks...
Green Infrastructure and its Values in Developing and Urban Landscapes are Focus of Nov. 20, 2014, Workshop in Charlottesville, Va.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Virginia Water Quality Summit
When these conferences are convenient to you and affordable (many are free to students, just ask!), you'll find this is a great way to understand the profession or see a new dimension of your current profession. And when water quality is involved, you'll also learn many citizen science opportunities.
Ashland is just a little north of Richmond.
On November 8, 2014, 9 a.m.-3:30 a.m., the Virginia Citizens for Water Quality will hold its annual summit at Randolph Macon College in Ashland. This year's theme is why waterways are impaired and how property owners can reduce their impact on local streams. For more information, visithttp://vcwq.wordpress.com/.
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Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Intersex conditions expand in mid-Atlantic rivers
If this is a concern in your watershed, I'll provide additional resources. While endocrine disruptors come from a predictable variety of agricultural sources, many are surprised to learn how human drugs can make their way into our rivers because they are unaffected by bacteria that digest our sewage (e.g., urine of women using birth control pills).
Intersex Conditions in Pennsylvania River Basins Fish Examined in USGS Study Published in June 2014 |
In June 2014, a research team led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Science Center in Leetown, West Va., published a study finding that fish in three Pennsylvania river basins showed the condition known as “intersex,” where male fish contain immature eggs or show other female characteristics. The study found intersex fish in the Delaware, Ohio, and Susquehanna River basins in the Keystone State. Previous USGS work has documented intersex fish in the Potomac River basin and in rivers basins around the country.
The intersex condition is thought to result from exposure to chemicals called “endocrine disruptors.” According to the USGS news release on the Pennsylvania study, the authors believe that the sources of chemicals causing the condition are probably a complex mixture of substances from agricultural sources, wastewater treatment plant effluent, and other wastewater; more research is being conducted to “characterize the sources and timing of exposure to these complex mixtures in relation to fish health.”
The study is “Reproductive Health Indicators of Fish from Pennsylvania Watersheds: Associations with Chemicals of Emerging Concern,” by V.S. Blazer et al., published inEnvironmental Monitoring and Assessment, October 2014, Volume 186/Issue 10, pages 6471-6491. Information on the study is available in the following USGS news release: “Intersex Fish Now in Three Pennsylvania River Basins,” 6/30/14, online at http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/ article.asp?ID=3921#.VDU7Axa_ 4_s.
Information on previous USGS work on intersex fish nationwide is available in the following news release: “Widespread Occurrence of Intersex Bass Found in U.S. Rivers,” 9/14/09, online at http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/ article.asp?ID=2305&from=rss_ home#.VDU77Ra_4_t.
Monday, October 6, 2014
No Hangout Tonight!
Sorry all, I'm on a panel presenting this evening during our regular meeting time.
For those of you keeping up a good pace, keep rolling and send me questions or other interesting things. I'll check in with some of you to see if I can offer support and help.
I've updated the gradebook for all the work I see on your blogs. If I've missed anything, send me a note. I've made comments on many things for which I may not have given a score, often only to make suggestions.
Of course I sometimes post directly to your blogs. Good work so far.
For those of you keeping up a good pace, keep rolling and send me questions or other interesting things. I'll check in with some of you to see if I can offer support and help.
I've updated the gradebook for all the work I see on your blogs. If I've missed anything, send me a note. I've made comments on many things for which I may not have given a score, often only to make suggestions.
Of course I sometimes post directly to your blogs. Good work so far.
Friday, October 3, 2014
FYI: Upcoming Webcasts
October 21: Fall 2014 Hypoxia Task Force Public Meeting and Webcast
Join the Hypoxia Task Force Public Meeting on Tuesday, October 21, at Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois, or via live webcast, from 8:15 am - 5:15 pm CT. Register and find more information here:
October 29: Watershed Academy Webcast on Climate Resilience
Join a live webcast on October 29 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET on "Climate Resilience: What to Expect, How to Prepare, and What you can Learn from Others." This webcast will share findings from the most recent National Climate Assessment report concerning climate change and water resources. It will also discuss a new workbook from EPA called Being Prepared for Climate Change: A Workbook for Developing Risk-Based Adaptation Plans, developed to help communities prepare for climate change impacts. The webcast will highlight how the workbook has been used in a pilot project with the San Juan Bay Estuary Program. Register for the webcast here:
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