Clinch-Powell Clean River Initiative Bi-Annual Strategic Planning Meeting

September 21-22, 2011

Laura Gabanski, Manager Healthy Watersheds Program

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds

Clinch River, Dungannon, VA

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Maintain existing healthy watersheds and increase their numbers over time

Raise the visibility and importance of protecting high quality waters Listing of impaired waters and focus on cleanup

important---but so is protection of high quality waters

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A systems approach to maintenance of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters (CWA Section 101(a)) ◦ Protection of aquatic ecosystems within a spatio-temporal

context that acknowledges their dynamics and interconnectivity (dependence) in the landscape – as they occur in nature

State-scale implementation of strategic watershed protection priorities that leverages programs and resources across state agencies

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Partnerships are established to identify and protect healthy watersheds

Healthy watersheds are identified by States with their partners using scientifically-sound, integrated assessments

Healthy watersheds are listed, tracked, maintained and increased in number

Healthy watersheds are protected and, if applicable, enhanced using the best regulatory and non-regulatory tools

Progress on protecting healthy watersheds is measured and tied to EPA’s Strategic Plan

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Healthy watersheds are identified, listed, and tracked in all 50 states

States implement coordinated programs for protecting healthy watersheds by leveraging resources across state agencies

Healthy watersheds protection is integrated into EPA Water Programs

NGO’s, local communities, & others are active partners in protecting healthy watersheds

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Habitat of sufficient size and connectivity for native aquatic and riparian species

Green infrastructure network of native vegetation in the landscape that maintains natural hydrology and nutrient and organic matter inputs to aquatic ecosystems

Biotic refugia or critical habitat (e.g., deep pools, seeps & springs for survival during droughts)

Natural hydrology (flow regime, lake water levels) that supports aquatic species and habitat

Natural transport of sediment and stream geomorphology that provide natural habitat

Functioning natural disturbance regimes (floods, fires)

Water quality that supports biotic communities & habitat

Healthy, self-sustaining aquatic biological communities

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Watershed

Ecosystem

Condition

Geo-

morphology

Assessment

Landscape

Condition

Assessment

Hydrology

Assessment

Habitat

Assessment

Biological

Condition

Assessment

Water

Quality

Assessment

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Identifying “Targeted Ecological Areas”

Best of the Best

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Habitat Protection Vermont River Corridor Protection Program Washington Growth Management Act Local Critical Areas Protection

Program (e.g., codes, conservation easements) Maryland GreenPrint Program Instream Flow Programs Vermont Hydrology Criteria, Maine Instream Flow & Water Level Stds,

Connecticut & Washington Streamflow Regulations Proposed Michigan’s Groundwater Withdrawal Stds & Tool, Ohio ELOHA Water

Withdrawal Tool State WQS Antidegradation Programs Tennessee instream flow protection Tax Credits & Landowner Stewardship North Carolina conservation tax credit and landowner stewardship

programs Virginia Land Preservation Tax Credit (Governor McDonnell’s

400,000 acre goal by end of his administration), VA Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund Land Conservation Loan Program

Local Watershed Zoning and other protection programs

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HWI is a EPA Administrator priority: Coming Together for Clean Water EPA’s Strategy to Protect

America’s Waters (March 2011)

National Water Program Guidance FY 11, 12 HWI Measures

HWI web site and fact sheet

Outreach to other Federal Agencies, states, & NGO’s

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HWI Pilot Projects funded in FY 11

Healthy Watersheds Integrated Assessments Workshop, Nov. 2010, Estes Park, CO

Developing EPA Program Integration Guidance

Draft Economic Benefits of Protection Healthy Watersheds paper

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Healthy Watersheds state pilots with TNC

Collaboration with the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative

EPA Regional support to the states Instream flow standards

Green Infrastructure

Integrated assessment approaches

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An assessment of stream bank condition or fluvial geomorphology and sediment transport for the two watersheds?

A green infrastructure assessment and implementation plan for the watersheds and encompassing counties?

Hydrology protection using Virginia’s instream flow regime expectations for the area?

Other ideas?

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New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services New Hampshire Fish and Game Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Maryland Department of Natural Resources North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Kentucky Division of Water Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Georgia Department of Natural Resources Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Oklahoma Conservation Commission New Mexico Environment Department Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Iowa Department of Natural Resources Kansas Water Office Kansas Department of Health and the Environment Missouri Department of Conservation Utah Department of Environmental Quality Arizona Game and Fish Department California State Water Resources Control Board Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Washington Department of Ecology Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Alaska Department of Fish and Game

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For more information:

www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds

Laura Gabanski, Manager

Healthy Watersheds Program

gabanski.laura@epa.gov

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