PUBLICATIONS

Virginia Water Quality Report

Richmond-Times Dispatch – June 16, 2008 State officials have released a six-year study of water quality in Virginia. The state Department of Environmental Quality plans a news conference on June 16th to release the report. It contains an assessment of water quality from January 2001 to December 2006, along with a statewide list of impaired waters. The news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the department's Piedmont Regional Office in Glen Allen. For more information and a link to this draft assessment, visit: http://www.deq.state.va.us/wqa/305b2008.html

Twine Line, Publication of the Ohio Sea Grant The Ohio Sea Grant just published its winter 2008 issue of Twine Line. In this issue they address the following topics: Ohio Sea Grant Technology Uses Algae, Sound Waves to Remove Mercury from Lake Erie Sediment; GLROC: New Sea Grant Consortium to Coordinate Regional Research and Outreach; Sea Grant Extension Broadens Outreach Via On Line Discussion Board New Lake Erie Shipwrecks Web Site Promotes Education and Conservation, among other topics. For a direct link to this publication, go to: http://www.ohioseagrant.osu.edu/_documents/twineline/v30i1.pdf

State Wetland Protection: Status, Trends & Model Approaches The Environmental Law Institute has released a final report of a 50-state study that described and analyzed seven "core" components of state wetland programs: state laws, regulations, and programs; monitoring and assessment; restoration programs and activities; water quality standards; public-private partnerships; coordination among state and federal agencies; and education and outreach activities. This report focuses on status and trends, model programs, and summary data for all 50 states. http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=11279

Environmental Law Institute’s Multi-Year Study on the "Core" Components of State Wetland Programs

State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase I State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase II State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase III State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase IV

Putting A Price On Riparian Corridors As Water Treatment Facilities By Ann L. Riley, Ph.D., Watershed and River Restoration Advisor, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Oakland, CA, Jan. 2008 -- The monetary value of natural riparian environments that provide water quality treatment functions by processing nutrients, storing sediment, moderating temperatures, and other services can be estimated by calculating the costs associated with the construction of brick and mortar water treatment plants built to achieve similar functions. For a direct link to this discussion paper, go to: http://www.aswm.org/putting_price_riparian_corridors_riley_21108.pdf

Smart Watershed Benchmarking Tool   The Center for Watershed Protectin has released a new tool on CD available in PDF and workbook (CD) versions. Using lessons learned from around the country, this self-assessment tool helps local program managers make better decisions on watershed restoration priorities to maximize the performance of staff and financial resources. For more information, visit: http://www.cwp.org/

Gulf of Maine Council/NOAA Habitat Restoration Partnership Final Report: Saltmarsh Restoration Monitoring Near Pemaquid Beach , New Harbor, Maine December 5, 2007 -- The Pemaquid Salt Marsh is a 6-acre back-barrier marsh located behind Pemaquid Beach in Bristol , Maine . Prior to 2005, the marsh had limited saltwater input due to roadway culverts that restricted tidal flow, which was resulting in the marsh transforming into a brackish wetland. The Pemaquid Salt Marsh Restoration Project was a culvert replacement designed to diminish undesirable brackish plant species and increase native salt marsh vegetation by restoring natural tidal flow. Post-restoration monitoring results from 2005-2007 indicate that there have been substantial favorable changes in the marsh. For a direct link to this report, go to: http://www.pemaquidwatershed.org/images/Synopsis_PostRestoration.pdf  For a link to the project description and Pemaquid Watershed Association's website, visit: http://www.pemaquidwatershed.org/waterquality.html

Vegetation Classification and Mapping of New River Gorge National River , West Virginia Authors: Vanderhorst, J. P., J. Jeuck, and S. C. Gawler. 2007 -- Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR-2007/092.  National Park Service.  Philadelphia , PA. A vegetation classification and map were developed by the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program for New River Gorge National River following the standards of the U.S. Geological Survey / National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program. For a direct link to this report, go to: http://www.nps.gov/nero/science/FINAL/NERI_veg_map/NERI_veg_map.htm  For questions and comments, contact Jim Vanderhorst at the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program at jimvanderhorst@wvdnr.gov

Classification and Conservation Assessment of High Elevation Wetland Communities in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia Authors: E.A. Byers, J. P. Vanderhorst, and B. P. Streets. 2007. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Section, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Elkins, WV. Wetland communities above 730 meters (2400 feet) elevation in the Allegheny Mountain region of West Virginia are characterized by exceptionally high biodiversity and conservation value. A new ecological system for the High Allegheny Wetlands and 41 wetland associations were classified, ranked for conservation purposes, and published in the National Vegetation Classification. For a direct link to this publication, go to: http://www.wvdnr.gov/publications/PDFFiles/High%20Allegheny%20Wetlands-web.pdf

ELI Publishes Report on Exploring Opportunities to Integrate State Wildlife Action Plans with State Wetland Mitigation and Restoration Programs ELI has published a report from a workshop: Explore Opportunities to Integrate the State Wildlife Action Plans into Improved Wetland Conservation and Restoration, including audio recordings, PowerPoint presentations, and related documents, are available on ELI’s website at http://www.eli.org/pdf/joint_meeting/ELI%20Workshop%20Final%20Report.pdf

2007 UHN Stormwater Center Report Now Online The University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center 2007 Annual Report is now available online: http://ciceet.unh.edu/unh_stormwater_report_2007/index.php Produced in partnership with the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), this publication contains performance data on the ability of stormwater treatment systems to treat water quality and manage water quantity. To manage stormwater in a way that prevents flooding, protects infrastructure, and safeguards human and environmental health, coastal communities require science-based, independent information on the performance of stormwater treatment systems. The CICEET-sponsored UNH Stormwater Center is unique in its ability to conduct such evaluations in a side-by-side setting. Its field site is designed ot test a range of stormwater treatment systems, from lowimpact development approaches to manufactured devices. This report is one of several tools the enter uses to communicate the results of its research to coastal communities interested in designing stormwater projects that protect water resources and improve resilience in a time of rapid development and more frequent and intense storms. In response to stakeholder feedback, the 2007 report includes information on the land use settings in which the evaluated systems are typically deployed, the type of application to which they are best suited, installation costs, and maintenance. If you have a suggestion for improving next year's report, please take a few minutes to fill out this online survey: http://survey.unh.edu/surveycat/surveys/survey406_unhsc2007.htm

Salt Marsh Booklet Released by Gulf of Maine Council Salt marshes remove pollution from the water, provide food and shelter for fish and birds, protect the shoreline from erosion, and perform other valuable roles in the ecosystem. However, 75 percent of salt marshes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and 37 percent in New England states have been destroyed. A new booklet, Salt Marshes in the Gulf of Maine: Human Impacts, Habitat Restoration, and Long-term Change Analysis offers a reader-friendly look at the ecology of these vital coastal wetlands and ways to bring them back to health. The booklet can be downloaded in PDF format, and hard copies are available upon request. For more information and to obtain the booklet go to, http://www.gulfofmaine.org/saltmarsh/

Dam Removal and the Wetlands Regulations in MA This document, available on Mass DEP's website, provides guidance for conservation commissions and the Department of Environmental Protection, as the permitting authorities, in the application of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and its regulations. For more information, obtain a copy of this document at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/policies.htm#dam

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NEWS

July 2008

FL: EPA Says Fort Meade Mine Would Hurt Peace River

By Greg Martin – Polk County Democrat – July 12, 2008 The 10,885-acre South Fort Meade phosphate mine in Hardee County should not be approved because it would strip out wetlands and cause “significant adverse impacts” to the Peace River - an “aquatic resource of national importance,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In letters sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in July 2007 and August 2007, two EPA wetland permitting officials based in Atlanta leveled some heavy criticism of Mosaic Fertlizer's proposal to excavate the mine over the next 21 years. For full story, go to: http://www.polkcountydemocrat.com/articles/2008/07/12/news/ 01fmmine.txt

FL: Duda fights wetlands decision

By Jim Waymer – Florida Today – July 12, 2008 A. Duda & Sons Inc. appealed a judge's ruling that the company restore wetlands it destroyed years ago west of Viera. Duda, the family-owned agricultural company behind the development of Viera, filed its appeal this week with the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach. In June, an administrative law judge ruled that Duda must either restore a combined 2 square miles of wetlands it destroyed, apply for an "after-the-fact" permit for draining the ecologically essential lands, or some combination of the two. For full story, go to: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080712/NEWS01 /807120318/1006

OR: Farm groups appeal wetlands bank proposal

By Cookson Beecher – Capital Press – July 11, 2008 A controversial wetlands mitigation project on nearly 400 acres of a former dairy farm in Skagit County, Wash., is being heard before the county's hearing examiner. The hearing, which began on July 9, was to run until July 11, and continue on July 18. The project would allow developers who destroy wetlands in the Skagit River watershed to buy credits in the wetland mitigation bank as compensation. Farm groups oppose the project, saying it threatens the county's critical base of farmland. For full story, go to: http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67&SubSectionID=618&ArticleID=42912 &TM=81792.48

CA: Wetlands possible pollution solution

By Ruth Roberts - Bethel Island Press – July 11, 2008 Testing on an experimental wetlands project – located at sewer plant number one in the southwest corner of Discovery Bay – is set to begin later this year. If successful, the project has the potential to create not only an eco-friendly alternative to removing pollutants from the town’s wastewater, but could serve as environmental model for future generations looking for surrogate solutions. For full story, go to: http://bethelislandpress.com/article.cfm?articleID=19982

RI: RI official admits wetlands violation

Providence Eye Witness News – July 11, 2008 Rhode Island's top environmental official says he broke the law when his agency cleared land at a Narragansett campground. Coastal authorities say the decision earlier this year caused damage that will take thousands of dollars to fix. W. Michael Sullivan, director of the Department of Environmental Management, said he didn't believe his agency needed a permit to clear eight acres of land at Fisherman's Memorial Campground. For full story, go to: http://www.wpri.com/Global/story.asp?S=8660114&nav=F2DO

VA: Hearing on Indigo Dunes development postponed

By Deirdre Fernandes – Virginian-Pilot – July 11, 2008 A state agency has deferred a hearing on Indigo Dunes, a proposed 1,063-home subdivision near the Chesapeake Bay. The state Water Control Board was scheduled to vote on the project at its meeting later this month. But officials from the Department of Environmental Quality want more time to review the project and public comments on it, said Sheri Kattan, a project manager for the state's water protection permit program. For full article, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2008/07/hearing-indigo-dunes-development-postponed

FL: Canal weir to help return Alligator Alley acreage to wetlands

Naples Daily News – July 10, 2008 Thousands of acres of wetlands will be returned to a more natural state through a project requested by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and supported by the South Florida Water Management District. Construction of a water-control weir in the L-28 canal near Interstate 75 in Broward County will improve rainfall retention in the wetlands, re-hydrating about 8,000 acres within a triangular area bordered by I-75 and two canal levees, according to the water district. For full story, go to: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/jul/10/canal-weir-help-return-alligator-alley-acreage-wet/

WA: Foresight helps county's wetlands rules hold up

By Jeff Switzer – HeraldNet – July 10, 2008 When Snohomish County adopted stricter rules to protect streams and wetlands last year, officials went out of their way to be different than King County. That move allowed Snoho­mish County to avoid a setback in court. This week, the state Court of Appeals struck down part of King County's controversial environmental protections. For full story, go to: http://heraldnet.com/article/20080710/NEWS01/146004038/1069/BLOG15

ME: Maine Seeks Pre-Approval for Wetlands Destruction – Mitigation

Contact: Kyla Bennett, PEER – Common Dreams.org – July 10, 2008 One of the first state agencies to submit a plan under a new federal rule is seeking a sweeping grant of authority to pave over wetlands in return for use of mitigation banking, according to regulatory comments filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed “Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus” would permit destruction of wetlands in exchange for preservation of other land or creation of new wetlands elsewhere in the state to replace what has been destroyed. One overarching concern is that wetland mitigation fails more often than not. A 2003 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study found that only 17% of the wetland mitigation sites throughout New England were considered to be adequate functional replacements for the filled wetlands. For full press release, go to: http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0710-06.htm

VA: Amphibian populations dropping in Edmonton's wetlands

By University of Alberta staff – Physorg.com – July 10, 2008 Man-made wetlands in Edmonton's new neighborhoods may look good, but do they adequately sustain life? In the International Year of the Frog, that's the question Brett Scheffers wants to answer as part of his master's project in biological sciences. He's monitoring frogs, salamanders and snakes living in urban wetlands to see how well they're surviving. The plight of amphibians worldwide has been a huge concern of late. The World Conservation Union recently reported that at least one third of known amphibian species are threatened with extinction, largely because of the rapid spread of an infectious fungal disease. For full story, go to: http://www.physorg.com/news134918201.html

FL: Home Built on Wetlands

By Ken Amaro – First Coast News – July 8, 2008 In the Nassau County community of Spring Lakes Estates, the streets are lined with big houses. The Connors purchased a six bedroom house as their dream home. Danny Connor says, "I have a large family, four children, one on the way, my wife and I have been married 20 years, I thought it was perfect for us, it is not." Earlier this year the Connors decided to build a swimming pool and dug up a homeowner's worst nightmare. "It is what it is a wetland, our house is sitting on wetlands," says Connor. They found out when the pool contractor applied for a permit and it was denied. County officials said the Connor's property is located in a Conservation Easement. For full article, go to: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=113273&catid=3

NV: Restoring the Wetlands One Block at a Time

By Sonya Padgett – Las Vegas Review Journal – July 6, 2008 Though the Stardust was demolished last year, it still does its part to support the Las Vegas community. Literally. Along a seven-plus mile stretch of the Las Vegas Wash, chunks of the former Strip icon line the banks, holding the soil in place and serving as a buffer against erosion. There's a bit of Westward Ho in there, as well, and some Caesars Palace parking garage. For full story, go to: http://www.lvrj.com/living/23786139.html

IL: Back in the flow: Hundreds of acres of bottomland near Sparland revert to wetlands

By Clare Howard – Peoria Journal Star – July 5, 2008 Four years running, Eric Schenck sat in his Canton office and sent letters to world headquarters of Bunge North America, a billion-dollar global agriculture business with 24,000 employees. Schenck wrote his letters based on hope and environmental objectives. He wanted to open a discussion about buying Bunge land along the Illinois River in Sparland. There was no interest until his final letter. For full story, go to: http://www.pjstar.com/features/x1816438858/Back-in-the-flow

MN: Taking a closer look at bluebills

By Mitch Weegman - Minneapolis Star Tribune – July 5, 2008 As early morning dawns, snow flakes and a strong north wind pound relentlessly against bobbing decoys and duck hunters hunkered down in a makeshift blind along the Mississippi River. Flocks of lesser scaup -- bluebills -- whiz by seemingly at speeds faster than an Indy race car. A few shots echo as the bills fly on unscathed. Indeed, many duck hunters can associate with my memories and those of my twin brother, Matt, of this treasured hunting experience. For full story, go to: http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/22881249.html?location_refer=Outdoors: highlightModules:3

MD: Wetlands Permits Pave Way For Shore Broadband Project

By Shawn Soper – The Dispatch – July 4, 2008 The effort to connect every corner of Worcester County and the Eastern Shore to broadband high-speed Internet access moved closer to becoming a reality this week when the state Board of Public Works approved a wetlands license for the private/public sector group leading the way. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on Wednesday announced the state’s Board of Public Works, consisting of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot, approved a wetlands license for the Maryland Broadband Cooperative, a partnership working to promote economic development through open access to broadband Internet services through a vast fiber optic network from one of the Eastern Shore to the other. For full story, go to: http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/article.php?cid=30&id=3763

PA: Great Lakes Compact Passes PA, Prepares to Head to Congress

Contact: Sharon Cook – Alliance for the Great Lakes – July 3, 2008 Historic protections for the Great Lakes have now cleared the legislatures of all eight Great Lakes states, after the Pennsylvania Senate adopted the measure unanimously this evening. Work on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact now enters its final phase as it prepares to move to the U.S. Congress for ratification. Pennsylvania joins Michigan as one of the last two states to endorse the compact, with Michigan's vote occurring last week. The governors of both states are anticipated to sign it. For full story, go to: http://www.greatlakes.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=778&srcid=243 For more information on the Great Lakes Compact, visit: http://www.greatlakes.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=526&srcid=243

MN: Landowners: Sign up for wetland restoration program by July 18

Crookston Daily Times – July 2, 2008 Landowners interested in restoring a previously drained wetland and owned the property for at least 12 months should contact the SWCD/NRCS and ask about the RIM-WRP partnership. The deadline to apply is July 18, and the payment rates are very competitive because of the state and federal funds available until the end of the current federal fiscal year. Landowners may be eligible for about 140 percent of the estimated market value - amounts vary by township. Polk county easement payments vary from $800 an acre to $2,700 an acre. Contact the SWCD/NRCS for the payment rates for your land. For full story, go to: http://www.crookstontimes.com/articles/2008/07/04/news/19news5.txt

MD: New laws focus on domestic partners, protecting wetlands

By Sean Sedam – Maryland Business Gazette – July 2, 2008 Domestic partner rights and bans on shoreline development and electronic bingo machines are among a number of new state laws that took effect Tuesday. A strengthened critical-areas law bans new development within 200 feet of the tidal waters and wetlands. A fund established by the General Assembly during last fall’s special session set aside $50 million for Chesapeake Bay cleanup. For full article, go to: http://www.gazette.net/stories/070208/montnew193038_32378.shtml

PA: Bald eagles thriving throughout Pennsylvania

Pocono News – July 2, 2008 The bald eagle continues to supplant its recent - and remarkable - nesting successes with new records, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. And from all indications, this raptor isn't done making headlines. This spring, bald eagles are known to be nesting in at least 47 of the state's 67 counties, including Monroe, Pike and Wayne. Their tally of nests is expected to exceed 140 nests. In June 2007, biologists estimated Pennsylvania had 120 known nests in 42 counties. The final count of those nests turned out to be 132, and they produced more than 150 eaglets. For full story, go to: http://www.pocononews.net/news/July08/02/02Jul08-4.html

FL: Crist announces huge Everglades land deal

Florida Today – June 24, 2008 In one of the biggest conservation deals in U.S. history, the nation’s largest producer of cane sugar reached a tentative agreement Tuesday to get out of the business and sell its nearly 300 square miles in the Everglades to the state of Florida for $1.75 billion. The deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. results from a convergence of interests: The state is trying to restore the Everglades and clean up pollution caused by Big Sugar and other growers, while the American sugar industry is being squeezed by low-price imports. For full story, go to: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/BREAKINGNEWS/ 306240010/1086

MD: Follow the Silt

By Cornelia Dean – New York Times – June 24, 2008 Dorothy J. Merritts, a geology professor at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., was not looking to turn hydrology on its ear when she started scouting possible research sites for her students a few years ago. But when she examined photographs of the steep, silty banks of the West Branch of Little Conestoga Creek, something did not look right. The silt was laminated, deposited in layers. She asked a colleague, Robert C. Walter, an expert on sediment, for his opinion. “Those are not stream sediments,” he told her. “Those are pond sediments.” In short, the streamscape was not what she thought. For the full article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/science/24stream.html?_r=1&ex=1215057600&en=a26d21 5ec15df0e7&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

WI: Margaret Krome: Protect wetlands to cut flooding

By Margaret Krome (Opinion) – The Capital Times – June 23, 2008 One of the first sounds I learned to imitate as a child was the UNKachunka-UNKachunka of a pile driver, pounding steel pilings into unstable ground before anyone built a new warehouse, medical building, apartment complex or any other major structure near the waterfront in my hometown of Norfolk, Va. It didn't even have to be at the waterfront, since much of the original town was built on wetlands that had been filled in decades and sometimes even centuries before I was born. Midwestern children might notice wetland loss differently. They might admire the rich black soil of lowland farms, often wetlands drained by piping water into drainage ditches to create highly productive, now-tillable soils. And like communities on glacial terrain throughout the Midwest, a portion of my Midwestern neighborhood is built on filled-in wetlands. For full opinion, go to: http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/292909  For more articles on wetlands, flooding and floodplain issues, visit: http://www.aswm.org/science/floodplains/index.htm

June 2008

ME: Owners of Maine Vacation Parcel Face EPA Fine for Filling a Wetland

Contact: Paula Ballentine – EPA News Release – June 17, 2008 Robert and Gayle Greenhill, owners of more than 3,200 acres of land on the western shore of Moosehead Lake, face a possible EPA fine of up to $157,500 for filling 1.5 acres of freshwater wetlands on their property. The filling of wetlands, occurred during the expansion of an existing private airstrip and the development of a rock quarry, is a violation of the federal Clean Water Act and other federal requirements designed to protect wetlands. This is the second violation of wetlands protections in the federal Clean Water Act by the Greenhills. In 1997, the Greenhills constructed a trout pond on the property, altering approximately 0.4 of an acre without first seeking a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, as required by the federal Clean Water Act. The Greenhills also did not apply for the necessary permit for the current violation.  For full news release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/3b0bd059c9d551e38525746b0054cc8f?OpenDocument

TN: TVA Expert: Nolichucky River Has Some Of Best Wetlands

By Tom Yancey – The Greenville Sun – June 16, 2008 The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) held a public "open house" meeting regarding the Nolichucky and Douglas reservoirs on Thursday, seeking comments about uses of land in this region the giant utility owns. Several TVA officials at the meeting commented on the beauty and uniqueness of the river in Greene County, based on field observations. Kim Pilarski-Brand, a wetlands biologist in TVA's Heritage Resources, canoed much of the river to prepare for the meeting. She said a section of the Nolichucky between Kinser Park and Jones Bridge Road has "some of the nicest wetlands I've seen in our seven-state region." A handful of Greene Countians traveled to Walters State Community College for the meeting, which was conducted by Chris Cooper, a TVA watershed specialist. For full story, go to: http://www.greenevillesun.com/story/295754

KS: Wetlands supporters prepare for next battle

By Sophia Maines – Lawrence Journal – June 16, 2008 In the midst of preparing their latest legal challenge, opponents of the proposed South Lawrence Trafficway wetlands route laid out their case once again Sunday. “I detect in our community a little lessening of our interest in saving our wetlands,” said Joe Collins, a Kansas University herpetologist and speaker at the event. “People don’t understand that this is not something you’re going to recover.” Collins and others involved in the long struggle to divert the proposed highway project from the Baker Wetlands were among about 40 people who gathered at the Lawrence Public Library on Sunday for a public forum on the issue. For full story, go to: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jun/16/wetlands_supporters_prepare_next_battle/?city_local

ND: N.D. duck survey paints mixed picture

By Brad Dokken – Grand Forks Herald – June 15, 2008 North Dakota’s spring survey of breeding ducks and wetland conditions turned up a surprisingly high waterfowl count, but Game and Fish Department biologists caution against reading too much into that finding. According to Mike Johnson, supervisor of migratory game bird management for Game and Fish in Bismarck, wetland counts were the 10th lowest since the department launched the spring survey in 1948. That’s an important number, Johnson said, because lack of wetlands likely will mean poor duck production. For full story, go to: http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=79301&section=Outdoors& CFID=37811622&CFTOKEN=31971801&jsessionid=88301772c0f82d305d4c

LA: Local students to be honored for wetlands art

By Nikki Buskey - Houma Courier – June 14, 2008 Four local students will be recognized for award-winning essays, photos and artwork July 22-26 during the 2008 National Conference of State Legislatures, to be held in New Orleans. The weeklong convention will be attended by more than 2,000 state legislators from around the country. Kaitlin Rodrigue, a student at H.L. Bourgeois, won second place in the high-school competition for "Good Earth Sunset." Leah Champagne of St. Bernadette Catholic School took third place in the same category for her painting of two egrets, "Our Treasure." For full story, go to: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20080614/ARTICLES/806140305/1211/news01&title= Local_students_to_be_honored_for_wetlands_art

WA: County wetland rules appealed

The Whidbey Examiner – June 14, 2008 Two local environmental groups have filed appeals with the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board over Island County's recently adopted wetlands ordinance. Whidbey Environmental Action Network filed an appeal May 20, and Camano Action for a Rural Environment, or CARE, filed an appeal the following day. The Island County Board of Commissioners adopted the wetland rules March 17 as part of a larger effort to update all of the county's critical-areas ordinances. For  full story, go to: http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID= 1469&TM=43789.79

NV: Wetlands add class space

By Rebecca Babicz – Reno Gazette-Journal – June 14th, 2008 The sweet smell of plants permeates the air at Swan Lake Nature Study area, which could be Reno's best-kept nature secret. Its wetlands are home to more than 150 species of birds. And a new improvement to the center opened Thursday: an outdoor classroom. This starting point for visitors includes a shaded structure with seating for about 50 students. Interpretive signs explain why Swan Lake is important by providing information about the area's wildlife and ecology. The center is focused on children and encourages them to embrace open space. For full story, go to: http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080614/ NEIGHBORHOODS02/806140334/1247/NEIGHBORHOODS

TX: Wetlands Reserve Program Tour set June 24 in New Boston

By East Texas Timberland Owner's Association – June 14, 2008 Wetlands Reserve Program Tour:  The East Texas Timberland Owner's Association will conduct a tour of "Last Frontier" Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) 1,950 acre site on Tuesday June 24, 2008.  The tour group will meet in the South parking lot of the Bowie County Courthouse, 710 James Bowie Drive, in New Boston at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday June 24, 2008 and carpool to the reserve site.  Texas Forest Service will have a van for those that want to leave their vehicle at the courthouse.  The tour will be looking at hardwood trees planted over the last four years, and wildlife habitat at a WRP site on the South side of the Red River and just NW of New Boston in Bowie County. For full story, go to: http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_46655.shtml

MI: Wetlands a shrinking resource

By Janet Martineau – The Saginaw News – June 14, 2008 Wetlands. What are they, and who or what lives in them? Those questions are the topic of a live animal show starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Green Point Environmental Learning Center, 3010 Maple in Saginaw. ''Valuable Wetlands'' is presented by the Michigan United Conservation Club and addresses the issue that Michigan has lost more than 70 percent of its wetlands that are of value and importance to both wildlife and humans. Among the live animals often playing a role in the hourlong presentation are the Eastern fox snake, wood duck, mink, snapper turtle and red-shouldered hawk. The program is a part of the ''Nurturing Nature'' series sponsored by the Friends of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and the Saginaw Celebrates Summer event created by the Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission and Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. Admission costs $2 at the door, $5 for families. For full story, go to: http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-1/121342081750360.xml&coll=9

VA: City couple nurturing ‘wild,’ ‘unpredictable’ wetlands

By Eric Beidel - The Winchester Star – June 14, 2008 Only a nature lover could give a playful name to the stealthy copperhead snake that sunk its fangs into his leg. David Worthington keeps an eye out for "Coppy" now whenever he goes into the wetlands outside his Cedarmeade Avenue home. In an otherwise normal-looking neighborhood, the ground sinks next to the house Worthington shares with his wife, Dr. Julie Staggers. The Black-Eyed Susans and daisies grow tall, and rainwater collects at the bottom. A fence surrounds the less than one-acre plot that Worthington has made into a tiny wildlife refuge.Across the street from Frederick Douglas Elementary School and sandwiched between houses and a railroad track, the wetlands looks out of place. Then again, maybe the houses do. For full story, go to: http://www.winchesterstar.com/article_details.php?ArticleID=7382

CT: Glastonbury Landowners Address Panel Over Proposed Wetland Rules

By Peter Marteka – Hartford Courant – June 13, 2008 Landowners concerned about what the town's proposed wetland regulations would do to their property values spoke informally before the conservation commission Thursday. The commission was originally scheduled to hold a public hearing on its new regulations. But when it was determined that the process had gone beyond its 35-day time limit to hold the hearings, the commission voted unanimously to close the public hearing process. Chairwoman Judy Harper said the commission would review potential changes to the regulations during the next few meetings and return with a revised set of regulations and begin another public hearing process later this summer or early fall. For full story, go to: http://www.courant.com/news/local/ec/hc-glahearing0613.artjun13,0,4532570.story

UT: North Park waits on wetlands status

By Janice Peterson – Daily Herald – June 13, 2008 The North Park development in Spanish Fork has had its share of challenges, and they're not over yet. The development will bring big box retailers to the city, but residents initially opposed the project because they did not want to lose park space and a trailer park. Many of the issues have been resolved, but any development of the property is still waiting to begin due to the site's wetlands. Developer Richard Mendenhall, president of Westfield Properties, said the company submitted paperwork to the Army Corps of Engineers more than a year ago in order to follow federal guidelines for the Clean Water Act. Because there are wetlands on the site, the company needed to establish whether or not they are jurisdictional. If they are jurisdictional, developers would need to mitigate the wetlands or change the scope of the project. Non-jurisdictional wetlands are isolated and do not feed into permanent navigable waters. "We believe that those wetlands are not jurisdictional," he said. The main stall in the project is determining whether or not the wetlands are jurisdictional, which would put the developers through a permit process with the Army Corps of Engineers. For full story, go to: http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/270088/17/

AZ: Mosquito-Eating Fish Thrive in Foreclosed US Pools

By Tim Gaynor – Reuters News – June 13, 2008 Public health workers in Maricopa County, which includes the cities of the Phoenix valley, are breeding thousands of so-called mosquitofish to gobble up larvae that thrive in the green pools of abandoned homes across the county. The tiny, silvery fish are being offered to residents and municipal authorities across the parched desert county, which has tens of thousands of swimming pools, and one of the highest foreclosure rates in the United States. For full story, go to: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/48760/story.htm

CA: SEADIP Survey: Wetlands

By Harry Saltzgaver, Editor – Grunion Gazette – June 12, 2008 A citywide survey of opinions about how to deal with development in southeast Long Beach has confirmed public priorities that activists long have claimed — restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands, improvement of traffic flow and only modest commercial development. A relatively large response of 682 responses were received by the Department of Development Services during the two-month survey period. The survey was prompted by a directive in August 2007 from the City Council to solicit opinions and report back before going further to revamp the Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan (SEADIP), a zoning master plan approved in 1977. For full story, go to: http://www.gazettes.com/seadip06122008.html

CA: Wetlands funding effort is approved

By Joe Segura – Long-Beach Press Telegram – June 12, 2008 Three funding packages were approved this week by the Long Beach City Council, injecting new life into efforts to upgrade two of the city's natural resources - the Colorado Lagoon and the DeForest Wetlands. The council gave the nod to the application for a $1 million grant for the Colorado Lagoon restoration effort; a second vote sealed a $1,050,985 contract for an engineering design study for that upgrade effort; and the third gave the green light to the receipt of a grant for $217,593 to assist in the design for proposed upgrades of the DeForest Wetlands Project east of the Los Angeles River in the city's northwest area. The first vote authorized the city manager to execute all documents required for the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, through the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, to help fund the shortfall for the Lagoon Wetlands Restoration Project, according to a report by Parks, Recreation and Marine Director Phil Hester. For full story, go to: http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_9571200

AL: Saving wetlands motivating factor in passage of city moratorium

By Mike Odum – Baldwin County News (Daphne Newspapers) – June 11, 2008 The City Council established a moratorium Monday on “land disturbance permits” that have a negative impact on wetlands within city limits and the city’s building permitting jurisdiction. For full story, go to: http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2008/06/11/local_news/doc484edfe6ac152724099482.txt

PA: Conservancy receives grant to improve wetlands habitat

Susquehanna Independent – June 11, 2008 E.L. Rose Conservancy of Susquehanna County, Inc., Brackney, has been awarded a $2,000 grant as part of the 2008 Rockwell Collins Green Communities Program. The conservancy earned the grant money to be used for erosion and sedimentation control and habitat improvement for wetlands. A record number of grants have been awarded as part of the 2008 Rockwell Collins Green Communities Program. Started in 2004, Green Communities has helped fund numerous projects that have benefited the environment in locations where Rockwell Collins operates. For full story, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19763842&BRD=2279&PAG=461&dept_id= 467076&rfi=6

NY: Mosquito-control permit sparks Suffolk-state battle

By Jennifer Smith – Newsday – June 11, 2008 Soaring temperatures, steamy rains, bug bites -- and litigation? With the advent of mosquito-breeding season on Long Island comes another battle over Suffolk County's mosquito control program and its use of methoprene, a pesticide that targets mosquito larvae. Last week Suffolk sued the state Department of Environmental Conservation over a permit it said hampered the county's ability to protect the public from West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by imposing "improper" restrictions on the use of methoprene on DEC-owned wetlands. For full article, go to: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-limosq0612,0,3915890.story

AL: City honored for wetlands bridge project

By Danny Harrison – Enterprise Ledger – June 11, 2008 Enterprise residents love their public parks, and many say the bridge over the lake at the Enterprise Recreational Complex on Hwy. 167 North is one of the city’s most attractive park additions. Locals aren’t the only ones who have noticed. The city will be honored with an award for the bridge project Thursday in Washington, D.C. According to Tara Emnet, special projects coordinator for the City of Enterprise, more than $78,000 in federal funding was awarded to the city in 2005 for the bridge, and it was constructed in 2006 for a total cost of about $152,000. The city was nominated for the “Accessibility Enhancement” award by the national Coalition for Recreational Trails organization in 2007. For full story, go to: http://www.eprisenow.com/ent/news/local/article/city_honored_for_wetlands_bridge_project/20162/

FL: Florida's Environment Agency Makes Do With Smaller Budget

ENS – June 11, 2008 Governor Charlie Crist Wednesday signed into law a stripped down $66 billion budget that provides just $2 billion to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, DEP, to preserve and enhance the state's land and water resources. Florida's environmental programs have lost roughly one billion dollars per year over the past three budget years. The 2007-2008 budget appropriated about $3 billion for environmental programs, about $1 billion less than the environmental appropriations in the 2006-2007 budget. For full article, visit: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2008/2008-06-11-092.asp

LA: Audubon’s Wetland Express coming soon to a historic site near you

By: Laura McKnight – Houma Courier – June 11, 2008 The exterior of the Wetland Express suffers no lack of bright décor, but the van’s occupants can be even more colorful, especially to curious youngsters. The Audubon Nature Institute’s mobile Wetland Wildlife Education program will soon visit the Thibodaux area to offer local children up-close encounters with the scaly, creepy and crawly critters who call the south Louisiana wetlands home. For full story, go to: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20080613/BIGFUN/431994512/-1/living&title=Audubon_s_Wetland_Express_coming_soon_to_a_historic_site_near_you

CA: Video details Peyton Slough Wetlands restoration

By Jonathan Lockett – Mercury News – June 11, 2008 The restoration of the Peyton Slough Wetlands, once listed as one of the Bay Area's top 10 toxic spots, is the subject of a new video by the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District. The video, titled "Peyton Slough Wetlands: The Crown Jewel of Contra Costa County," describes the environmental hazards that jeopardized wildlife in the slough and highlights measures taken by the Peyton Slough Wetlands Advisory Committee and other agencies to fix those hazards. "The video is a tribute to this very important marsh, how it started out as a toxic area and is now home to dozens of species of wildlife right here in our community," said Karl Malamud-Roam, environmental projects manager for the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District. The video was produced in collaboration between the advisory committee and the district. It will be broadcast on Contra Costa Television, channel 27 for Comcast subscribers and channel 32 for Astound subscribers in Concord and Walnut Creek, on Thursday at 5 p.m. and June 24 at 7 p.m. It also will be shown at other times throughout the year. For full article, go to: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9546264?nclick_check=1

OH/MI: Historic Vote in Ohio Brings Region Closer to Protecting Great Lakes from Water Diversions

Great Lakes Info Network – June 10, 2008 The National Wildlife Federation today praised state leaders in Ohio for passing the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact. “The historic votes by the Ohio House and Senate bring the region a quantum leap closer to protecting the Great Lakes from water diversions outside the region and to promoting water conservation within the region,” said Andy Buchsbaum, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes office. Once Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland signs the compact—which he has signaled he intends to do—Ohio will become the sixth state to pass the water management agreement, joining Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York and Wisconsin. For more about the Great Lakes Basin Compact, visit: http://www.glc.org/about/glbc.html and http://online.nwf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=gl_waterresources

WI: Wisconsin Wetlands Association Announces New Wetlands Awards Program

The Wisconsin Wetlands Association (WWA) is excited to announce the new Wetlands Awards, recognizing individuals and groups whose work advances the threefold mission of the WWA - the protection, restoration and enjoyment of Wisconsin's wetlands and related ecosystems. Please help to launch the new Wetlands Awards program by telling WWA about a deserving wetland enthusiast and protector. WWA seeks nominations in each of the following categories: protection, restoration and enjoyment. To nominate an individual or an organization for a Wisconsin Wetland Award, please complete a nomination form at http://wisconsinwetlands.org/wetland-award-form.pdf . Return the form along with letters of support, newspaper articles, or other supporting materials to our offices by no later than August 1, 2008. For more information, visit: http://www.wisconsinwetlands.org/

KS: Kansas City Area Wildlife Refuge Receives “Tree-mendous” Gift to Restore Habitat

Contact: Jena Thompson (Conservation Fund) – USFWS News – June 10, 2008 Representatives from Allstate, Cambridge Systematics, Delta Air Lines and U-Haul International joined The Conservation Fund (the Fund) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) today to announce the restoration of 775 acres of forestland at Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) near Kansas City. The new oak, hickory and pecan trees will restore sensitive wildlife habitat, enhance public recreation areas and address climate change by trapping more than 230,000 tons of carbon dioxide as the trees grow. For full press release, go to: http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=7414FA2A-B2C3-FC57-6F8767716C5FF437