ECRR Resources

Wow! Something from Microsoft I Actually Like

From Water Words that Work
I’m still nursing a grudge against Microsoft about the whole Windows Vista fiasco, but I’m impressed with the collection of nonprofit “templates” they’ve posted on their Microsoft Office Online collection.
There are sample fundraising letters, press releases, petitions, membership questionnaires, and other useful templates for environmental writing and communication of most kinds. You might find a few “Foolproof Photos” in clip art in the collection that you could use in your next environmental advertising campaign.
Click the link for Microsoft templates that you can use for environmental communications!
Use the database to search for enforcement actions taken by federal or state authorities against municipal sewer authorities and sewage treatment plants between January 2003 and February 2008. Select a facility from the list to learn more about any enforcement actions taken against that plant or municipal authority .

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Didymo Resources
Now that summer time is here and many recreational activities are underway, it is important to keep in mind the many issues associated with such activities. One particularly important issue for folks where recreational fishing occurs is the potential spread of an invasive species named Didymo. Didymospenia geminata Didymo, or “rock snot”, is native to cold, high altitude waters found in other continents but has spread to some streams in North America with devastating effects. Many scientists believe Didymo is primarily spread by fisherman with contaminated waders, particularly those with felt soles (which could include folks out monitoring streams with similar equipment).
Many of our streams are at risk of contracting Didymo if proper education, caution, and preventative measures are not provided to those using our waterways. This is a serious threat to water quality, aquatic species, and local economies! I encourage everyone who does not know about Didymo to learn more and start your own campaign to educate and help prevent the spread of this nasty invasive species. I have attached an article from the Nytimes on the spread of Didymo, a .pdf on how to construct a wader wash station to place at local fishing sites, and a Trout Unlimited explanation of Didymo.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/science/16invasive.html?pagewanted=1&ref=science

http://midatlanticconservation.org/docs-pdf/WaderWashStation.pdf

http://www.tu.org/site/c.kkLRJ7MSKtH/b.4506175/k.BBC0/Didymo.htm

National Directory of Volunteer Monitoring Programs
A lot of time has passed since we published the National Directory of Volunteer Monitoring Programs on-line. Check it out at http://yosemite.epa.gov/water/volmon.nsf/ or by clicking from the EPA volunteer monitoring website at http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/

While we continue to add new programs, much of the information on older programs is out of date, and many new programs are not listed.

Please help us make this a more useful networking tool for volunteer monitoring programs and for the growing number of people searching for opportunities for public service in their communities. Check the directory for your program; it's probably easiest to search by state. If the information posted is more or less still correct, no action is needed, or you can send in an "Update your volunteer monitoring info" email for minor corrections (such as new websites or contact telephone numbers). If the information is very wrong or if nothing is there for your program, please fill out a new form on-line (under "Add your program" in the left hand blue bar).

And, here is this season's edition of the Volunteer Water Monitor:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/newsletter/volmon20no1.pdf

If your watershed has or is threatened by Aquatic Invasive Species I recommend you read this. It provides a lot of information on the topic.

Environmental Education Materials
http://facweb.stvincent.edu/EEC/Lessons.htm
site has curriculum you can download for free plus they sell a grade school level workbook called "Goodbye orange water" which you can purchase for $1each or you can print out individual pages for free.

Webinar: Intro to GIS and ArcView
Sponsored by TechSoup, this webinar was recorded in February of this year but you can view the archive:
https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=1e0a12wgb7t45

"An Economic Benefit Analysis for Acid Mine Drainage Remediation in the West Branch Susquehanna Watershed, Pennsylvania", West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition and Trout Unlimited. The report was produced by Downstream Stategies out of Morgantown, WV. A sample of their findings is quoted below. Though this is a watershed specific study, it provides a model that could be extended to other states and watersheds in order to make compelling arguements for investments in AMD remediation.

"Benefits from the low estimate of $110 million in remediation expenditures can conservatively be expected to generate $204 million in economic activity, not including the additional benefits that would accrue from restored streams. Benefits from the high estimate of $453 million in remediation expenditures would generate $817 million in additional spending within the Commonwealth.
In terms of employment, about 185 permanent jobs in Pennsylvania would be created based on the annual O&M expenditures. The initial capital expenditures would generate between 1,531 and 5,892 direct and indirect jobs in Pennsylvania. An estimated 52% of these jobs are likely to be green-collar jobs."

The full document is available at:
http://www.wbsrc.com/documents/economicbenefits/fulldocument.pdf (*warning this is a LARGE file)
You can also download the report in chunks by visiting http://www.wbsrc.com/economicbenefits.html
Or, for a free hardcopy mailed to you, e-mail Rebecca Dunlap at RDunlap@tu.org


EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds Watershed News is now on-line at http://www.epa.gov/watershed/winnews/2009/0905.html.


It's a Wet, Wet, Wet, Wet World New Water Law Reading Room Water is at the heart of agriculture. Without water, crops and livestock would not be able to survive. Water used in agricultural production can come from surface waters, such as rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds, or from groundwater, such as an aquifer. The allocation of this important resource is left up to each state, with very little federal intervention. Each state has its own regulatory system to allocate boththe surface waters and the groundwater in the state.Many important legal issues are presented by the use of water in agriculture. The new Water Law Reading Room http://nationalaglawcenter.org/readingrooms/waterlaw/ deals with issues such as allocation, irrigation, and other problems common to agriculture's use of water. The room contains specific information related to the interplay between water and agriculture and includes a comprehensive case law index, Center publications, an overview article, a federal statute compilation, and a compilation of each state's water laws and regulations. The room also contains valuable links to federal agencies, a listing of states' water offices, water organizations, and other resources. The Center thanks Professor Jesse Richardson, Associate Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning and Urban Affairs and Planning Coordinator at the Virginia Tech University, for his careful review of drafts of the reading room and for his insights and comments that insured the reading room would be the best it could be.


PA Wilds Greenways has a new website. Serves Clearfield, Jefferson, and Elk Counties. The Pennsylvania Wilds Greenways Partnership is a non-profit association of stakeholders aspiring to the stewardship of Gov. Ed Rendell and the Secretary of DCNR with a mission to:
· Create green jobs and sustainable economic growth through tourism and conservation in North Central PA.
· Connect and transport residents and visitors to regional communities, natural assets and PA Wilds signature projects.
· Transform PA Wilds communities into places where the economy and livability create a sense of place, a welcoming atmosphere and the right mix of services for residents and visitors.
Conserve wilderness and preserve rural areas.
http://www.pawildsgreenways.org/