Status
Category**

KEY ACTION ITEMS

STATUS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

CWAP
Pg #

• Study started and laboratory analysis of 274 chemicals began 9/00
• Conducted national workshop; Developed partnerships

• Draft strategy for mercury and other persistent bioaccumulative toxins issued 11/98 Final strategy is being reviewed and will then go to EPA's Office of Water for signature. See: www.epa.gov/pbt

• See completed strategy: www.epa.gov/OST/cs/stratndx.html

• Compiled a list of projects from all Regions
• No funding at HQ level though some projects were completed by EPA Regions

• Reviewed National Fish and Wildlife Consumption Advisory Programs
• Conducted & reported on a National Forum on Contaminants in Fish
• An Evaluation of State Consumption Programs in Comparison with EPA Recommended Methods was published and distributed by American Fisheries Society in 10/00. See: www.epa.gov/OST/fish/

• Funding of Epidemiology Studies in Great Lakes continued from 1992 to present
• Continued coordination with other Federal agencies, EPA Regions, States, Tribes and local government has continued from 1992 to present

• Developed and distributed brochures on health risks where locally caught fish pose risks. See www.epa.gov/OST/fish/

• Brochures were developed and distributed to health professionals See: www.epa.gov/OST/fish/

• Completed report in 1999. It assessed more than 4000 shellfish growing areas See: seaserver.nos.noaa.gov/projects/95register/ and http://state-of-coast.noaa.gov/bulletins/html/sgw_04/sgw.html

• EPA is refining to develop geographically based tools to identify shellfish beds for targeted enforcement
• Proposed draft guidance/tools which complement the draft SSO rule
• Draft storm water audit protocols are being reviewed by EPA's Office of Wastewater Management 26

• BEACH Action Plan issued (5/99) See http://www.epa.gov/ordntrnt/ORD/WebPubs/beaches/

• The BEACH Watch Website came online in 5/98. It provides national listing of water quality conditions at beaches and other swimming locations See: www.epa.gov/ost/beaches/

• video and manual of Microbiological Methods released (11/99)
• Draft Implementation Guidance issued (2/00)
• BEACH Act (10/00) requires adoption of criteria by coastal & Great Lakes states
• CFR Part 136 is currently being revised to include microbiological methods and is expected to be completed by 5/01.

• Enforcement strategy issued 2/1/00

• 7 new projects were initiated in 1999
• 30 additional projects supported assessment goals
• Interagency agreement signed by 10 federal agencies. See: cleanwater.gov/swa/

• Draft Compliance Assistance Targeting Approach completed for Regional review/comment.
• Drafted Criteria for Targeting Units of Local Government to Assist them in Developing and Implementing Watershed Protection Plans.
• 41 plans completed.
• Draft initiative for FY 2001
• Developed Toolbox - Compliance Assistance for Drinking Water

• Completed report for Congress See: www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendo/

• Held Workshop (6/00)
• Reviewed NAS report on endocrine disrupters "Hormonally Active Agents in the Environment" and developed national strategy See: www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendo

• Final issued on 10/18/00 (65 FR 62566) See: www.cleanwater.gov/ufp

• Treated 103,687 acres of land to improve watershed condition
• Improved 9315 miles of Forest Roads and 33,671 acres of lakes for fish habitat.
• Decommissioned:6049 miles of forest roads

• Forest Transportation Regulation proposed in FR (3/31/00); final expected 1/01
• Final Environmental Impact Statement for roadless initiative, issued 11/21/00; Selection of option expected 1/01. See: www.roadless.fs.fed.us

• Issuance of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) rule (7/00) no longer necessitated the pilot program
• EPA considered changes to permit program
• USFS is drafting guidance on best management practices

• Fish & Wildlife, BLM, USFS, TVA, COE, and DOD agreed to work on common units of accomplishment, and common definitions have been reached
• 4,445 miles of stream corridors restored/improved by BLM (FY98 - 00)

• Solicited info and developed models to identify high risk insects and diseases
• Mapped results See: www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/risk_maps/risk_maps.html
• Have initiated the process for wildfire risks

• Convened workgroup to identify specific criteria for assessing the value of forests in the urban-rural interface and the potential for impact due to fragmentation and urban development
• developed methods to test effects of sprawl
• Reviewed pilot results with the Interagency Forest Ecosystem Health Team
• Developing water quality-based assessment methodologies.

• Combined with Item 25 (see above)

• BLM instructed field offices to prioritize allotments so that 10 % are assessed for land health condition annually (FY99)
• Manual is scheduled for FY 01 release on procedures for conducting the above assessments on a watershed scale.

• A draft handbook on rangeland health determination was completed in FY 2000
• Provisional use of these procedures is underway within DOI Bureaus and portions of USDA.

• BLM completed 10 clean-up projects and has 120 in progress
• Goal for the end of the year is to have a total of 45 clean-up projects completed

• Annual progress report issued with compiled data on new cooperative projects and conclusions
• 100% increase in completed clean up projects 1998 (4) to 1999 (8).
• Introduced a watershed coop to directly fund locally sponsored projects
• Introduced a summer internship program to assist local groups

• Administrator signed proposal See: www.epa.gov/ost/guide/coal
• Making progress towards final rule

• hinged on the completion of the Unified Federal Policy
• 35 watershed assessment projects were initiated
• USFS, BLM, EPA, USGS, & Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) developed a "Framework for Analyzing the Hydrologic Condition of Watersheds"

• Training (on analyzing the hydrologic condition of watersheds) involving all agencies was started 12/00

• Initiated characterization of WQ in 5 priority watersheds in FY99 and 2 in FY00
• Completed one of the above characterizations (FY00)

• Included in Unified Federal Policy under section II C 3

• Funded 42 states/tribes to develop Wetland Conservation Plans
• Issued guidance on avoiding impacts to coral reef ecosystems.
• Finalized Guidance on In Lieu of Fee Mitigation (10/31/00)
• Developed rules to maintain program jurisdictions (Tulloch, Wilson, Fill)
• 2 new major conditions on Nationwide Permits, effective 6/7/00

• 119,994 acres of wetlands were enrolled in the WRP
• 14,800 acres of high priority wetlands were restored
• Legislation introduced to expand Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

• Fully funded by four agencies prior to FY 2000 deadline
• NAS review in progress; expect final report 4/31/01
• Completed field review of mitigation sites from around the nation See: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/facts/fact16.html

• EPA had cooperated on 56 wetlands and river corridor projects
• Developed the 5 Star Restoration Challenge Grant which provides financial assistance to any entity for community based wetland/riparian restoration projects. See: www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star/

• NOAA continues to fund States under the coastal zone enhancement grants program ( Sec. 309 of the CZMA ) and through Breaux Act restoration projects which directs substantial offshore oil & gas royalties to coastal Louisiana for wetlands restoration.
• Since 6/19/99 NOAA has initiated partnerships with EPA & USFS to increase coastal wetlands restoration.

• Issued guidance urging restoration to resolve violations.
• Supporting investigation of substantial wetlands losses in NC, VA.

• Fed highway projects created 2.5 acres of wetlands per acre impacted, which is a 150% gain in acres crreated per acres impacted through FY00.
• promoting opportunities to use TEA-21 funds to offset impacts from past highway projects.

• EPA provided training to over 300 individuals on watershed scale wetland restoration approaches and methodologies
• Peer reviewed draft was released for public review & comment, 4/00.

• developed common definitions.
• agreed on what activities result in a gain in wetland acres vs. wetland function

• Provided training through USFWSs National Conservation Training Center and EPAs grant to League of Women Voters for Watershed Training
• Many varied products such as Wetlands Toolkit for Watershed Management; Wetlands & Watershed Newsletters; NACO's "Protecting Wetlands & Managing Watersheds"; and Tribal Wetlands Program Highlights
• Provided Internet access to data and information such as USFWS digital wetlands data; NMFS essential fish habitat GIS maps; EPA wetlands info hotline; USFWS Environmental Conservation Online System; and Army COEs geo-referencing of permit data
• Compiled a list of multiple agencies website URLs

• No funding appropriated to establish wetlands grant program
• 13% of watershed grants (under item 103) went to wetlands related projects

• NRCSs PL-566 funds provided ~ $100M (FY99) decreasing by ~$12M (FY00)
• NMFSs Community Based Environmental Protection Financial Assistance program completed 13 projects in FY 98 & 99
• USFWS coastal grants program provided 10 States with #9.7M (FY99)
• NRCS funded #5M in Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program over 2 years
• USFWS Partners for Fish & Wildlife provided $3M (FY99) to fund habitat programs, plus over $3.64M in non-service funds and in-kind services to restore over 6,762 acres of wetlands. Another $3M was available for FY00

• "Federal Event Response Plan for Harmful Algal Blooms: An Initial Focus on Pfiesteria, Fish Health, and Public Health" was revised
• EPA worked with States and local governments to help focus enforcement authorities on reducing pollutant discharges during events

• published 'FY99 & 2000 NPS Funding Guidance
• Provided $7.2M to 33 States for Implementation of State Coastal NPS Mgmt & Control Programs in 1999
• Draft for comment "Management Measure Document for Agriculture and Marina & Recreational Boating" issued 7/00
• NOAA's release of Coastal Non- Point Program Database to States was delayed due to technical and resource problems
• Workgroup is conducting National & Regional NPS Workshops to Provide Technical Assistance to States & Territories

• Monitoring programs in progress in Maryland and Florida.
• Rapid response system activated 6/99 in response to outbreaks in Maryland.
• Released final national Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Assessments (HABHRCA) which serves as the strategy for addressing the 3 objectives of the action item and providing recommendations.

• 39 of 40 Fishery Management Plans were approved with the exception of the Northwest Salmon Plan. See: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/efh/
• two amendments were approved

• State & Territory Policy Reports (Dredging & Beach Renourishment) were distributed including copies to the Nat'l Dredging Team
• Website on beneficial uses projects: www.wes.army.mil/el/dots/budm/budm.html

• Conditionally approved 29 state Coastal Nonpoint Source Programs (6/30/98)
• Fully approved MD, RI, CA, & PR (FY00)

• EPA implemented the Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy
• Held a technology transfer conference (3/99)
• CZ99 conference held 7/99;
• Sponsor annual National Estuaries Day

• 1998 was International Year of the Ocean See: http://www.yoto98.noaa.gov
• International Conference on Oceans was held 6/98

• Integrated Coastal Research and Monitoring Strategy was finalized 10/00 just needs signing.

• National Coastal Conditions Report (10/00) is being peer reviewed

• Published a Handbook: Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices (10/98)
• Selected 12 ´showcase´ demo projects. See: www.epa.gov/owow/showcase

• 883,000 miles established through FY99
• 997,742 miles established through FY 00 (an additional 114,742 miles)

• 841,000 acres established (FY99)
• 659,933 acres established (FY00)
• 3,591,870 total established from start of CWAP

• National Conservation Buffer Team and National Conservation Buffer Council established partnerships resulting in coordinated campaign that encourages establishment of conservation buffers. See websites: www.ctic.purdue.edu/core4/buffer/Buffers.html, and http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/buffers/

• CREP announced in FR. See: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crep.htm
• Farm Service Agency guidance was issued to all USDA service center offices and States (5/27/98)

• 13 state programs have been completed
• 8 additional states programs are under consideration. See: www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crep/crephome.htm

• Developed background information to use new promotion order authority to promote area wide PPM programs.

• Five risk management insurance products were developed and available from private industries
• Six more products are expected to be available in 2000

• Draft report in 6/99.

• Giving incremental Section 319 funds only to States w/approved programs
• EPA approved 37 upgraded State NPS programs (7/29/00)

• Draft guidance was completed 6/99.
• Final guidance awaiting state-developed case studies.

• Completed a compendium of enforceable mechanisms and an almanac of enforceable state laws to control NPS See: www.eli.org/store/rr98almanac.html
• Compiled case studies document: "Putting the Pieces Together: State NPS Enforceable Mechanisms in Context" (6/00). See: www.epa.gov/OWOW/nps

• For the reporting year (ending 6/30/00) SRF investments in NPS projects totaled $190M, equal to 5% of total assistance provided through the fund.
• States are diversifying NPS projects funded; most common are now agricultural BMPs, removal/remediation of leaking underground tanks, and upgrades of septic tanks.
• EPA "Policy on Using the CW SRF to Fund Non Point Source Problems with Point Source Solutions" issued 1/11/00

• Developed a strategy for the development of criteria tailored to specific needs of all 14 different eco-regions and water body types (6/98)
• For estuarine and coastal marine waters, a technical guidance peer review draft expected 3/01.
• Issued Lakes and Reservoirs Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual 4/00; (FR V65 N100 33322-3)
• wetlands- peer review draft guidance 12/00;
• Issued Rivers and Streams Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual 7/00 (FR V65 N145 46167-69).
• Issued 17 ecoregional numeric nutrient criteria documents for lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams and wetlands 12/00. See: http://www.epa.gov/ost/standards/nutrient.html

• Funded Nitrogen and Mercury deposition monitoring sites for FY01
• 2 Mercury pilots were initiated in FY00; will be completed in FY01

• 2 TMDL pilots underway in Florida and Wisconsin

• Proposed voluntary National Standards for Onsite/decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems See: www.epa.gov/seahome/decent.html
• Draft stds in FR 4/00 for public comment
• Rule was proposed 10/6/00

• Funded demonstration projects in 4 states
• Funded community decentralized demo projects in 3 states See: http://www.epa.gov/owm/decent/demons.htm
• Published Final Guidance on Appropriate use of Loan Funds See: www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/decent/funding.htm

• Final Regulations expanding coverage to smaller construction sites (1-5 acres) and municipal systems (serving < 100,000) was signed 10/29/99
• Published in FR 12/8/99. 64 FR 68721 See rule at: cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swphases.cfm

• Addressed in enforcement/compliance guidance.
• Conducted pilot investigation of Anacostia River watershed to identify noncompliance stormwater facilities

• Developed a national strategy for comprehensive nutrient management plans at all feeding operations (3/99) See cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=7

• USDA & EPA jointly Issued unified national strategy in 3/99; See: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=7

• White House published 'Building Livable Communities Report' See: http://www.cleanwater.gov/progress/livable_communities.pdf

• Issued: Testing the Utility and Practicality of Methodology by the Center for Watershed Protection
• Produced technical manual to enable TMDL developer to use the methodology
• Issued guidance for developing TMDLs in Urban Watersheds See: www.epa.gov/owow/

• Conservation Tax incentives Roundtable met, incl. NACD, AFT, Nat'l Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
• 2nd draft "Tax Incentives for Clean Water and Conservation" report, 5/00.

• Advisory Council on Water Information (ACWI) approved performance based measurement system (PBMS) approach
• developing National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) an internet searchable sampling and methods compendium
• Fact Sheet released 10/00 ACWI approval of Federal Laboratory Accreditation by 12/31/00

• USGS report for Chesapeake Bay published 8/99
• Journal article on Mississippi River Basin published in Nature Vol 403, 2/00
• Models were developed that evaluate nutrients entering the Chesapeake Bay
• USGS ARROW model which estimates nutrient concentration for all RF1 segments will be available for EPA use 12/31/00
• Next round of calibrations which will develop new models for N, P, sediment, fecal coliform, & atrazine has started. Results are expected in 2001

• Workgroup will be initiated in late winter 2000

• WIN, released in 3/99, is a roadmap to consolidated watershed info and services to help communities protect and restore water quality. See: www.epa.gov/win
• Over 2000 records of community groups working in their watersheds were updated in FY00.

• A coordinated compendium of water quality priorities in watershed programs See: www.epa.gov/owow/uwa/
• 56 states and territories and 80 tribes submitted UWAs
• Entire UWAs and short fact sheets published on CWAP web site above
• Supplemental Framework signed 11/99 to encourage updates in 2000

• National guidance provide as part of UWA Framework
• Regional, state and local agencies provided direct support to individual UWAs

• States identified Priority watersheds (category 1a)as part of initial UWAs. See: www.epa.gov/owow/uwa/

• Completed fall 1999 See: www.epa.gov/iwi/

• Issued Unified Watershed Assessments (UWA) /WRAS framework supplement for 2000 on 12/2/99.
• Over 300 WRASs now appear to be under development.

• Guidance prepared for FY99 and separately for FY00 for CWA Sec. 319 funds.
• Limits incremental funds to category 1 watersheds and encourages preparation of WRAS for those watersheds

• USFS (with EPA & BLM) prepared a "Policy and Framework for Developing and Implementing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) in Forest and Rangeland Environment" (FY99)

• Completed 5 UWA Workshops for Tribes
• 80 Tribes developed UWAs

• Draft being revised.
• Final draft expected in early January 2001.

• $557K awarded to local organizations in FY99; $363K awarded in FY00.
• See: www.rivernetwork.org

• The Completed Adopt-your-watershed website lists over 3500 groups by watershed to make it easy for anyone to find out how to get involved. See: www.epa.gov/wi

• Watershed Awards Ceremony conducted 10/98 and 10/99.
• Will try to foster more awards through other organizations, e.g., regional roundtables See: www.cfindustries.com

• Completed inventory in 1999
• Offering new interagency courses See: www.epa.gov/OWOW/watershed/wacademy/catalog.html

• FY2000/01 OECA guidance (4/99) issued to EPA Regions to target priority watersheds or areas where the receiving waters are impaired See: www.epa.gov/oeca/eptdd/eptinit.html
• Issued Compliance Assurance Implementation Plan for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (March 5, 1998) See: www.epa.gov/oeca/ag/aani.html
• 2000 Storm Water Enforcement Strategy updated (2/00)
• Issued Compliance and Enforcement Strategy Addressing Combined Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Overflows (4/00) See: www.epa.gov/oeca/ore/water

• 18 Regional Watershed Round Tables being convened through 2000.
• Planning underway for National Watershed Forum for June 27- July 1, 2001

• An assistance subgroup will continue to foster Watershed Assistance Coordinators in every FCT region and provide a training opportunity for WACs.

• Completed blueprints developed with case examples
• Developed white paper on reinvention opportunities. See: www.cleanwater.gov/reinvent/

• draft report on agency GPRA coordination completed 7/99.
• Working on cross-agency CWAP measures

TOTALS BY CATEGORY