Sustainable Communities

Healthy Watersheds

Office of Wetlands,

Oceans and 

Watersheds

2010 Annual Report
2

Note from the OWOW Director 
3 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010Annual Report

In This Report...

About OWOW ......................................................................................................4

Fiscal Year 2010 Highlights.................................................................................5

Chapter One: Strengthening Wetlands and Water Programs .....................6

Draft Guidance to Clarify Waters Covered by the Clean Water Act 

EPA Reduces Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining in Appalachia

EPA Guidance for Chesapeake Bay Helps Control Nonpoint Source Pollution 

Addressing Impacts from Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution: Nutrients Framework Document 

and Memorandum

Memorandum on Ocean Acidification Addresses Rising CO2 Levels

Chapter Two: Advancing Watershed Protection through Partnerships....10

Hypoxia Task Force Urges States to Develop State-Specific Strategies

EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program Reduces 

Pollution in Communities

OWOW helps Launch New National Ocean Policy

2010 International Coastal Cleanup Urban Waters Event

Coastal Wetlands Workgroup Conducts Reviews in Key Watersheds 

Nonpoint Source Program Showcases 215 Success Stories

Interstate Management Conference Advances Coordination on Mercury Emissions

Chapter Three: Achieving New Milestones in Monitoring and ................16

Assessment 

OWOW Assists in Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Spill Response

OSV BOLD Conducts 29 Scientific Surveys 

Data Collection Continues on Four Major National Aquatic Resource Surveys

Chapter Four: Building Capacity through Tools and Technologies...........18

Climate Ready Estuaries Program Helps Reduce Vulnerabilities to Climate Change 

Ex-USS Kittiwake Sunk at Last: First International Vessel-to-Reef Project
About the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and 

O

Watersheds (OWOW)

WOW is one of four program offices within the Office of Water at EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC that works to protect and restore the nation’s 

aquatic ecosystems. The office provides leadership, policy direction and 

financial support to our 10 regional offices and to the states, tribes, and territories that 

implement our programs. OWOW also works collaboratively with sister EPA offices, 

other federal agencies, as well as with local governments, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations to carry out our mission. In addition to its Clean Water Act authorities, the office has authorities under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (Ocean Dumping), Coastal Zone Management Act, National Environmental 

Policy Act and several other environmental statutes.

OWOW Programs and Initiatives

• Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program

• Control of Vessel Discharges • Dredged Material Management 

• Five-Star Restoration Program • Impaired Waters and Total Maximum 

Daily Loads • Marine Debris •Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico 

Watershed Task Force • National Aquatic Resource Surveys 

• National Estuary Program • National Water Quality Inventory 

• Nonpoint Source Program• Ocean Dumping

• Ocean Monitoring and the Ocean Survey • OSV Bold 

• Targeted Watersheds Grants• Volunteer Monitoring

• Wetlands Permitting • Wetland Program Development Grants

For more information about OWOW, 

visit www.epa.gov/owow

4
Fiscal Year 2010 Highlights 

• Developing Draft Guidance to Clarify Waters Covered by the Clean 

Water Act: OWOW worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

to develop draft guidance for determining whether a waterway, 

water body, or wetland is protected by the Clean Water Act. 

• Reducing Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining in 

Appalachia: EPA issued comprehensive interim guidance to protect 

water quality in Appalachian streams from the harmful effects of 

surface coal mining and also reviewed numerous proposed Section 

404 permits for surface coal surface mining operations. 

• Assessing the Condition of the Nation’s Waters: OWOW issued the 

National Lakes Assessment, the first-ever comprehensive assessment 

of the nation’s lakes, which found that habitat loss and nitrogen 

and phosphorus pollution are leading causes of impairment. These 

important findings will be critical for managers in setting priorities, 

targeting resources and communicating with the public on the 

condition of the nation’s waters.

• Addressing Impacts from Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution: OWOW worked with the Office 

of Science and Technology to draft a State Nitrogen and Phosphorus Reduction Framework 

that states can use to develop strategies that address the degradation of drinking water and 

environmental quality due to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. 

• Controlling Polluted Runoff in the Chesapeake Bay: OWOW issued new guidance that 

will help control runoff in the Chesapeake Bay watershed from federal lands and on federal 

facilities. The guidance addresses major categories of nonpoint source pollution, including 

nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and sediments.

• Responding to the BP Oil Spill: During the environmental crisis, OWOW staff were 

instrumental in assessing the collected data against risk-based aquatic life and human health 

benchmarks and posting the data on the web.

• Attaining State Water Quality Standards: In FY 2010, 2,909 waterbodies, identified in 2002 as 

not attaining water quality standards, met state standards. 

• Developing “Pollution Diets” for Impaired Waters: 4,951 Total Maximum Daily Loads 

(TMDLs) or “pollution diets” were developed by states and approved by EPA or established by 

EPA on a schedule consistent with national policy.

• Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution: In FY 2010 an additional 68 waterbodies identified by 

states (in 2000 or subsequent years) as being primarily nonpoint source (NPS)-impaired were 

partially or fully restored. OWOW’s Nonpoint Source “Success Stories” Web site now features 

215 examples of how Clean Water Act Section 319 funds have helped restore waterbodies 

degraded by polluted runoff.

• Advancing Wetlands Protection and Restoration: In FY2010, 130,000 wetland acres were 

restored and improved under 5-Star Restoration Program, National Estuary Program, Clean 

Water Act Section 319, and Great Waterbody Programs.

5
6 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010 Annual Report

Chapter 1

Protecting America’s Waters and Wetlands: Draft Guidance to 

Clarify Waters Covered by the Clean Water Act

Americans depend on clean and 

abundant water. However, over 

the past decade, interpretations 

of Supreme Court rulings 

removed some critical waters 

from Federal protection, and caused 

confusion about which waters and wetlands 

are protected under the Clean Water Act. 

As a result, important waters now lack clear 

protection under the law, and businesses and 

regulators face uncertainty and delay. 

In 2010, OWOW worked with the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers to develop draft guidance 

for determining whether a waterway, water 

body, or wetland is protected by the Clean 

Water Act. This draft guidance would replace 

previous guidance to reaffirm protection for 

critical waters. It also will provide clearer, 

more predictable guidelines for determining 

which water bodies are protected by the Clean 

Water Act. 

The draft guidance will reaffirm protections 

for small streams that feed into larger streams, 

rivers, bays and coastal waters. It will also 

reaffirm protection for wetlands that filter 

pollution and help protect communities 

from flooding. Discharging pollution into 

protected waters (e.g., dumping sewage, 

contaminants, or industrial pollution) or 

filling protected waters and wetlands (e.g., 

building a housing development or a parking 

lot) require permits. This draft guidance will 

keep safe the streams and wetlands that affect 

the quality of the water used for drinking, 

swimming, fishing, farming, manufacturing, 

tourism and other activities essential to 

the American economy and quality of 

life. It also will provide regulatory clarity, 

predictability, consistency and transparency. 

The draft guidance was made available for 

public comment on May 2, 2011. 

http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/

wetlands/CWAwaters.cfm. (Donna Downing, 

Pine Barrens Swamp, Photographer: Anneke Davis 202-566-1783)

Aerial of wetlands in Butte County, CA, Photographer: 

Lynn Betts, NRCS Photo Gallery

Approximately 117 million Americans get 

part of their drinking water from small 

headwater streams and intermittent and

ephemeral streams. Many of these waters 

also provide critical habitat for fish, ducks 

and other wildlife prized by hunters, anglers, 

birdwatchers. The sporting and conservation 

community injects more than $76 billion 

annually into the economy.
7 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010Annual Report

Strengthening Wetlands and Water Programs

EPA Reduces Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining in 

Appalachia

On April 1, 2010, EPA issued 

detailed interim final guidance 

to protect water quality in 

Appalachian streams from the 

harmful effects of surface coal 

mining. Based upon reviews of past practices 

and emerging science, including two major 

EPA scientific reports, the guidance clarified 

existing requirements of the Clean Water Act 

Section 404 and 402 permitting programs that 

apply to pollution from surface coal mining 

operations in streams and wetlands. With an 

important focus on the latest science regarding 

the impacts of elevated conductivity levels 

on stream life and other areas of concern, the 

guidance has been a valuable tool for EPA 

Regions in providing clear and consistent 

environmental review of proposed Clean 

Water Act permits for surface coal mining 

operations. In conjunction with the guidance, 

EPA’s Office of Research and Development also 

released two draft scientific reports – The Effects 

of Mountaintop Mines and Valley Fills on Aquatic 

Ecosystems of the Central Appalachian Coalfields,

and A Field-based Aquatic Life Benchmark 

for Conductivity in Appalachian Streams – 

highlighting the adverse environmental 

effects on aquatic ecosystems caused by 

mountaintop mining. In 2011, EPA will make 

necessary modifications to the guidance after 

consideration of public comments and the 

final results of the Science Advisory Board 

technical review of the EPA scientific reports. 

In 2010, EPA Regions in coordination with the 

Wetlands Division also reviewed numerous 

proposed Section 404 permits for surface coal 

mining operations. These reviews provided 

recommendations for reducing water quality 

impacts through improved monitoring of 

streams, implementation of Best Management 

Practices, and enhanced compensatory 

mitigation for stream impacts. (Chris Hunter, 

202-566-1454).

Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia Section 404(c) Veto – 13th in EPA History

On September 24, 2010, EPA Region 3 recommended that EPA exercise its CWA Section 404(c) “Veto Authority” for the 

Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia. Region 3’s assessments and analyses concluded that the placement 

of fill material in Pigeonroost and Oldhouse Branches, two of the highest quality streams remaining in the Coal River 

sub-basin, would likely lead to unacceptable adverse impacts on wildlife. While EPA offered various alternatives, EPA 

and the company could not reach agreement on options for redesigning the mine in ways that would meaningfully 

reduce anticipated unacceptable adverse environmental and water quality effects. After reviewing comments provided 

by the public, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and Arch Coal Company, EPA Headquarters 

(HQ) issued a Final Determination in January 2011, prohibiting new impacts to these high quality streams at the site 

but allowing ongoing mining activities to continue. EPA’s action protects high quality stream systems from being buried 

under tons of rock and mining spoil and prevents pollution of downstream waters. The final decision reflects significant 

effort by EPA HQ and Region 3 to gather an incredible amount of scientific and technical data about mining techniques 

and environmental impacts to water quality and wildlife habitat. 

Valley Fill and Sediment Pond, Perry County, 

Kentucky. Photographer: Brian Topping
8 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010 Annual Report

As part of a series of actions designed to help protect and restore the Chesapeake 

Bay, in May, 2010, EPA published guidance for managing federal lands in the 

Chesapeake Bay watershed. The guidance provides information and data on 

appropriate, proven and cost-effective tools and practices for nonpoint source 

implementation on federal lands and at federal facilities. While an important step, 

EPA recognizes that the vast majority of land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is nonfederal 

land that private landowners, states, and local governments manage. Thus, the agency 

has emphasized that the same set of “proven cost-effective tools and practices that reduce 

water pollution” are appropriate for all land managers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. If

implemented broadly, the practices outlined in the guidance will enable the Chesapeake Bay 

to be restored (assuming all necessary point source reduction and other restoration actions are 

taken).

Extensive studies of the Chesapeake Bay indicate that the great majority of nonpoint sources 

need to be controlled in order to restore the Bay. Accordingly, the guidance addresses many 

categories of nonpoint sources that contribute the majority of nutrient and sediment pollution, 

including the following categories of activities on federal lands: Agriculture; Urban Areas, 

including Turf (excluding sources regulated as point sources); Onsite/Decentralized Treatment 

Systems; Forestry; Riparian Areas; and Hydromodification. http://www.epa.gov/nps/

chesbay502. (Katie Flahive, 202-566-1206)

Addressing Impacts from Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution: 

Nutrients Framework Document and Memorandum

OWOW worked with the Office of Science and Technology to draft a State 

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Reduction Framework that states can use to 

develop strategies that address the degradation of drinking water and 

environmental quality due to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. On March

16, 2011, Office of Water Acting Assistant Administrator Nancy Stoner 

issued a Memorandum to all EPA Regional Administrators that included 

the “Recommended Elements of a State Framework for Managing Nitrogen 

and Phosphorus Pollution.” The memo describes the extent of the problem and 

reaffirms the agency’s commitment to partnering with states and collaborating 

with stakeholders to accelerate reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus loadings.

According to a recent joint Task Group of senior state and EPA water quality and drinking water 

officials, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution has the potential to become one of the costliest and 

challenging environmental problems the nation faces. The Framework initiates a conversation with 

states and other stakeholders on how best to achieve both near- and long-term reductions in nitrogen 

and phosphorus pollution. It envisions that as states proceed in efforts to develop numeric nutrient 

criteria and related schedules, they also reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution by targeting the most 

effective practices to the areas with highest contributions. The Framework recognizes that collaborative 

efforts with United States Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders will be critical for success. 

EPA Guidance for Chesapeake Bay Helps Control Nonpoint 

Source Pollution

Chapter 1

Photo by the Natural Resources 

Conservation Service
9 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010Annual Report

O

and that the resulting lowered 

pH levels and carbonate ion 

(CO32-) concentrations in ocean 

waters can have serious cascading 

effects. Specifically, a reduction in 

CO32- could negatively affect the 

survival of calcifying organisms 

(e.g., algae, snails, clams, oysters, 

coral reefs) that rely on the 

availability of CO32- to build their 

calcareous shells and skeletons, 

causing changes up the food 

chain. Recently, the National 

Research Council stated that while 

the ultimate consequences of OA 

are still unknown, there is a 

risk of ecosystem changes that 

threaten coral reefs, fisheries, 

protected species, and other 

natural resources. 

In November 2010, EPA released a memorandum on OA to assist the states and Regions in 

preparing and reviewing integrated water quality reports related to OA impacts under the 

Clean Water Act. Under Section 303(d), states, territories, and authorized tribes are required 

to develop lists of “water-quality limited segments” every two years. The memorandum 

recognizes the seriousness of aquatic life impacts associated with OA and describes how 

states can move forward to address OA during the 2012 listing cycle using the current 303(d) 

Integrated Reporting (IR) framework. At the same time, this memorandum acknowledges 

that information is largely absent or limited to support the listing of waters for OA in 

many states. The memorandum concludes that states should list waters not meeting water 

quality standards, including marine pH water quality criteria (one parameter that reflects 

OA impacts) for their 2012 lists, and should also solicit available information on OA. The 

memorandum also encourages states to focus on OA-vulnerable waters (e.g., waters with 

coral reefs, marine fisheries, shellfish resources) that already are listed for other pollutants 

(e.g., nutrients) in order to promote ecological restoration. http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/

lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/oa_memo_nov2010.cfm. (Christine Ruf, 202-566-1220)

Memorandum on Ocean Acidification Addresses Rising CO2 Levels

cean acidification (OA) refers to the decrease in the pH of the Earth’s oceans 

caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas (GHG), from 

the atmosphere. Scientific research over the last 10 years indicates that the 

implications of OA for ocean and coastal marine ecosystems are potentially very 

serious since the ocean has a large capacity to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, 

Top left to right: Foraminifera (David Field); pteropod, Limacina 

helicina (NOAA); oysters Bottom left to right: Wild pink salmon, 

Pacific coast (Barry Kovish); Rapture Reef, French Frigate Shoals of 

the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (James Watt) Organisms and 

ecosystems that could be negatively affected by ocean acidification

Strengthening Wetlands and Water Programs
10 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010 Annual Report

Chapter 2

Over the past 50 years, the amount of nitrogen and 

phosphorous entering our waters has dramatically

escalated, and now poses significant water quality 

and public health concerns. Significant sources 

include agricultural runoff from cropland, 

especially in heavily farmed areas, as well as from 

residential/commercial fertilizers, animal waste, 

sewage treatment plants, and air deposition from 

utilities and vehicles. The ecological, human health, 

and economic impacts of excess nitrogen and 

phosphorus have the potential to become one of the 

costliest, most difficult environmental problems in 

the 21st century. 

When a body of water acquires a high concentration 

of nutrients, it can trigger excessive algae growth. 

As the algae die and decompose, they can deplete 

oxygen levels, causing the death of fish and 

other aquatic organisms. In the Gulf of Mexico, 

a hypoxic zone of over 15,000-square kilometers 

(almost 5800-square miles) threatens aquatic life through changes in temperature and habitat 

losses. The Gulf is critical to the national economy and provides some of the nation’s most 

valuable fisheries.

 In 1997, the establishment of the Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico/Watershed (Hypoxia) 

Task Force offered a new federal-state partnership to help coordinate activities to address 

Gulf Hypoxia. The Hypoxia Task Force currently is comprised of five federal agencies and 

12 Mississippi Atchafalaya Basin states. It provides a forum for federal and state agencies 

to partner on local, state, and regional efforts and encourage a holistic approach that takes 

into account upstream sources and downstream impacts. Since the release of the Task Force’s 

2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan, the Task Force has been focusing on approaches to reduce 

the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution that collect and ultimately discharge at the mouth of 

the Mississippi River, where they fuel the Northern Gulf hypoxic zone. Development and 

implementation of state nutrient reduction strategies is a key Task Force focus, and during 2010 

the Task Force adopted a nutrient reduction strategy “road map” to help guide the Task Force 

states with strategy development, and also convened a nutrient reduction strategy workshop 

for the lower Basin states. In addition, in 2010 the Task Force agreed to a shared federal-state 

leadership structure, so that now EPA serves as the federal Co-chair, working closely with the 

state Co-chair, currently the State of Mississippi. 

http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/named/msbasin/msbasin_index.cfm. (Hazel Groman, 

202-566-1219)

Hypoxia Task Force Urges States to Develop 

State-Specific Strategies

The Task Force’s goal to reduce the size of the Gulf “dead 

zone” to 5,000 square kilometers is a formidable task that 

will require a staggering 45 percent reduction in riverine 

nitrogen and phosphorus.
11 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010Annual Report

C

Advancing Watershed Protection through Partnerships

EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) 

Program Reduces Pollution in Communities

ARE is a community-based, community-driven program 

that works with county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations,

and universities to help the public understand and reduce pollution. In 2011,

EPA’s Office of Water assumed the lead role for the CARE program, which entails 

coordinating across the many EPA program offices in headquarters and the 

regions. The Office of Air and Radiation serves as co-lead.

The CARE program helps communities build capacity to reduce pollution through local 

collaboration. This “collaborative planning” is essential to leveraging skills and resources, 

looking at problems holistically, and ensuring sustainable solutions for the community. 

Consistent with OWOW’s watershed protection approach, the CARE program shares a focus 

on holistic planning, collaboration, and building sustainable solutions for the community.

Since 2005, CARE has provided technical assistance and $14 million in funding to 80 

environmentally overburdened communities in 39 states and territories. These CARE 

grantees have helped communities reduce pollution and protect people’s health. Over 90% of 

CARE Communities are Environmental Justice communities of concern. In addition CARE 

communities have leveraged one-to-one funding from community partnerships. Over 1,700 

partners have been engaged in local CARE projects, including local and state agencies, 

businesses, citizen groups, and universities. A recent evaluation by the National Association 

of Public Administrators (NAPA) recognized the CARE program as a solid tested framework 

for engaging communities. NAPA noted that CARE partners are reducing pollution in their 

communities. http://www.epa.gov/care/ (Gale Bonanno, 202-564-2243)

Wheeling West Virginia CARE Program

The Wheeling Jesuit University’s partnership, 

which consists of seven rural West Virginia (WV) 

communities, used the CARE Roadmap to prioritize 

140 environmental concerns voiced by citizens, the 

most pressing of which was drinking water quality. 

This community project secured temporary potable 

water supplies to three WV communities and 500 

families. Municipal water lines were extended to 

hundreds of families. West Virginia’s state legislature 

also mandated a study of the underground injection 

of coal slurry on groundwater and community health 

along with enacting a temporary moratorium on 

underground injection of coal slurry in the area. The 

CARE model is now being replicated to reach other 

West Virginia communities with similar water quality 

problems.

Brushy Fork coal sludge impoundment in Raleigh County, 

W.Va..Photo by Vivian Stockman/ www.sludgesafety.org

Flyover courtesy SouthWings.org. 

Another view of Brushy Fork--which is a Massey 

Energy operation. Photo by Vivian Stockman. Flyover 

courtesy SouthWings.org.
12 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010 Annual Report

OWOW Helps Launch New National Ocean Policy 

On July 19, 2010, the President issued Executive Order 13547 (EO) that establishes 

the nation’s first comprehensive National Policy for the Stewardship of the 

Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes. The EO also establishes a National 

Ocean Council, which includes Administrator Jackson and 26 other federal 

members. The EO adopts the Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean 

Policy Task Force, and directs Federal agencies to take action on nine priority objectives most 

of which relate to EPA’s mission and activities. OWOW’s Oceans and Coastal Protection 

Division staffed Agency participation in the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force by assisting 

in identification of priority areas needing action, ensuring the inclusion of underserved 

communities, and defining a broad geographic scope that includes inland sources of 

impacts. EPA also helped coordinate public and stakeholder listening sessions, reviewed and 

considered public comments on the draft recommendations, and contributed to legal and other 

documents to ensure a smooth launch of the new National Ocean Policy. OCPD continues to 

staff the Agency’s participation in the National Ocean Council, co-chairs the Strategic Action 

Plan on Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land, and leads cross-agency participation 

in the development of the other eight Strategic Action Plans in addition to other activities. The 

EO, Final Recommendations, and other key documents can be found at the National Ocean 

Council website. http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans (Paul Cough, 202-566-0688).

Chapter 2

2010 International Coastal Cleanup Urban Waters Event 

EPA’s Marine Debris Prevention and Urban Water Teams partnered with the Ocean Conservancy 

(OC) on September 25, 2010, to host a pilot International 

Coastal Cleanup Urban Waters event at Anacostia 

Park in Washington, DC. EPA and OC worked 

closely with local partners including the Anacostia 

Watershed Society, Ward 8 Environmental Council, 

Sierra Club - DC, and Howard University to make 

the event a great success. The event included the 

cleanup of the river, educational exhibits and 

demonstrations, entertainment, and fun. More than 200 

participants from the local community, Anacostia River 

organizations, and the federal government participated. 

Volunteers collected trash in the park, along the river, 

and on the river via canoes. Participants collected over 150 bags of trash, a few large tires, a bicycle, 

a fire extinguisher, and many other interesting items. Following the cleanup, volunteers enjoyed 

food and music while browsing through interactive exhibits about the urban-coastal connection 

and keeping waterways clean and trash-free. The Anacostia Park Aquatic Center was also open for 

visitors. In addition, the event received a DC Mayoral Proclamation declaring September 25, 2010, 

Urban Waters International Coastal Cleanup Day. (Katherine Weiler, 202-566-1280) 

Photographer: John McShane
13 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010Annual Report

C

Coastal Wetlands Workgroup Conducts Reviews in Key Watersheds

oastal wetlands provide important ecosystem services that are vital to the health 

and well-being of our nation, but they are highly susceptible to loss due to coastal 

development, sea level rise, stormwater runoff, pollutant runoff from agriculture, and 

other factors. A report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and

the United States Fish and Wildlife Service found that between 

1998 and 2004, in the Eastern United States alone, coastal 

wetlands disappeared at an average rate of 59,000 acres per year. 

EPA launched the Coastal Wetlands Initiative in 2009 to seek a 

more complete understanding of:

• Why are coastal wetland losses occurring? 

• Which tools and strategies can combat losses? 

• What specific areas of need remain in order to 

enhance their protection? 

As part of this effort, EPA is conducting on-site reviews in 

specific coastal watersheds. The goals are to gather local 

information and obtain insights from local stakeholders on sources 

of coastal wetland stressors, effective management tools, and gaps 

and needs to more effectively address the losses that are representative of the region. In 2010, 

reviews were held in focal watersheds of the Neuse River, NC and Buzzards Bay, MA, bringing 

to five the total number of reviews conducted along the Atlantic coast. Information collected 

as part of these reviews is being finalized in regional review reports that will help inform 

actions of the Interagency Coastal Wetlands Workgoup to reduce or reverse coastal wetlands 

loss nationally. In 2011, EPA turned its focal watershed review efforts to the Gulf Coast. (Nancy 

Laurson, 202-566-1247; or Jennifer Linn 202-566-1258) 

Mangrove, Photographer: 

Nancy Laurson

Advancing Watershed Protection through Partnerships

P

New EPA – NOAA Memorandum of Agreement Provides Support for Coastal Communities 

opulations and built environments in coastal watersheds are growing rapidly, putting fragile 

coastal ecosystems and coastal communities at considerable risk. Coastal regions also are 

very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. During 2010, OWOW’s Oceans and Coastal 

Protection Division co-led development of an EPA-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA) five-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will help coastal communities sustain 

their natural resources and economies as well as adapt to climate change. The new MOA responds 

to a recent Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force recommendation that federal agencies integrate and 

coordinate their partnerships with non-federal entities. Under the MOA, EPA and NOAA will use their 

respective scientific resources and expertise and provide technical assistance to states, tribes, and local 

governments working to build their own capacity to help coastal communities protect and restore their 

coastal ecosystems; develop strategies and use tools to effectively adapt to climate change; and maintain 

strong economies. The technical assistance will include scientific information, training for natural 

resource managers and local planners, educational materials, and information about best management 

practices. (Jamal Kadri,202-566-1248).
14 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010 Annual Report

Nonpoint Source Program Showcases 215 Success Stories

The Nonpoint Source (NPS) 

Program’s Success Stories document 

the restoration of water quality 

in previously NPS-impaired 

waterbodies. Over the last five years, 

the program has documented 215 remediated 

waterbodies across 46 states and territories, 

totaling 1,650 restored stream miles and 

64,567 acres of lakes and reservoirs. To qualify 

as a success, the project must demonstrate 

achievement of water quality standards for 

one or more pollutants and/ or the attainment 

of one more or more designated uses. These 

Success Stories showcase many excellent examples of efforts to 

control a wide array of pollutants from a variety of sources.

• Puerto Rico attained secondary contact designated uses (e.g., waters safe for boating, wading, 

and rowing) for 31 miles of tributaries comprising the Río Grande de Manatí sub-basin as a 

result of several years of efforts to control bacteria from livestock enterprises, urban runoff, 

communities lacking sanitary systems, landfills, and wastewater discharges. After several years 

of conducting outreach and ensuring that livestock enterprises developed and implemented 

waste management plans, fecal coliform levels dropped precipitously in the sub-basin and 

designated uses for secondary contact were met. 

• California restored a total of 58 river miles of Sacramento and Feather River segments impaired 

by widespread use of the organophosphate pesticide, diazinon. The Central Valley Water Board’s 

implementation of the diazinon Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) water quality objectives 

and allocated reductions was instrumental to the successful remediation of these waters, 

motivating the agricultural community to adopt best management practices and transition to 

pest management practices that limit diazinon use. 

• Cobbossee Lake, a large 5238-acre lake in central Maine, valued for its recreational use and as 

a secondary source of drinking water for the state’s capital, Augusta, was restored after a long 

history of nuisance algae blooms. Almost four decades of restoration efforts, including upstream 

alum treatments, widespread installation of best management practices, and the collaboration 

of nine municipalities, resulted in improved water quality and attainment of water quality 

standards. 

• Pennsylvania restored nearly 14 miles of Babb and Pine Creeks Watershed, impaired by 

abandoned mine drainage. After nearly two decades of remediation by active and passive 

treatment systems, pH and metal concentrations are now meeting water quality standards. 

http://www.epa.gov/owow_keep/nps/Success319/ (Dov Weitman, 202-566-1207)

Chapter 2
15 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010Annual Report

Interstate Management Conference Advances Coordination on 

Mercury Emissions

I

n June 2010, the first-ever Clean Water Act 

Section 319(g) Management Conference 

took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

EPA convened the Management Conference 

in response to a petition from seven 

Northeast states – Maine, New Hampshire, 

Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode 

Island, and New York. Under Section 319(g), a 

state may petition EPA to convene an interstate 

management conference if the state is not meeting 

water quality standards in whole or in part as a 

result of nonpoint source pollution from another 

state. The Northeast states based their petition on 

the Northeast Regional Mercury Total Maximum 

Daily Load (TMDL), which indicated that 

reductions in mercury emissions from outside the 

Northeast region are needed to meet water quality 

standards. The petition named eleven upwind states 

as contributing to deposition in the Northeast: Illinois, 

Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, 

North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and 

West Virginia. Air and water program experts from 

seven Northeast states, the eleven named states, and 

EPA Headquarters and Regions participated.

The conference included presentations on the Northeast states’ Regional Mercury TMDL 

and 319(g) petition, EPA’s mercury deposition modeling, and EPA’s schedule of upcoming 

air regulations to address mercury emissions. Conferees shared successes and lessons 

learned and identified key areas for further action at the state and national levels in the 

areas of: technology, global deposition, communications, and product stewardship (i.e., a 

product-centered approach to environmental protection, which calls on those in the product 

lifecycle—manufacturers, retailers, users, and disposers—to share responsibility for reducing 

the environmental impacts of products). The conference highlighted the fact that significant 

action is already underway to reduce mercury emissions. It was agreed that reducing 

mercury is a national and international issue, not just an upwind downwind states issue. 

There was great interest among the states in continuing to meet in order to advance mercury 

reduction efforts at both the state and national levels. States also expressed a strong desire 

for federal leadership and a comprehensive approach to addressing mercury emissions at the 

national level. The petition, meeting summary, and other related information are available at: 

http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/mercury/319g.cfm. (Ruth Chemerys, 

202-566-1216)

Advancing Watershed Protection through Partnerships

Photographer: Eric Vance 

Mercury in the air eventually settles into water or 

onto land where it can be washed into water. Once 

deposited, certain microorganisms can change it into 

methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in 

fish, shellfish and animals that eat fish.
16 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010 Annual Report

W

Chapter 3

Data Collection Continues on Four Major National Aquatic 

Resource Surveys

orking with partners in the states, tribes, 

and other federal agencies, OWOW 

is leading a series of statisticallyrepresentative surveys of the nation’s 

waters. These National Aquatic Resource 

Surveys (NARS) report on the condition of the nation’s 

waters using core indicators and standardized lab and 

field methods. The NARS help improve the states’ 

capacity for water quality monitoring and assessment. 

The survey team and its state, tribal, and federal partners 

made significant progress in all four assessments in 2010. 

The Fifth National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA)

During the summer of 2010, field crews completed 

sampling from more than 1,300 sites in the nation’s estuarine waters and the Great Lakes. 

Scientists monitored a wide range of water column constituents such as dissolved oxygen, 

temperature, pH, and nutrients; sediment indicators such as sediment toxicity and benthic 

macrofauna; and fish tissue. State and contract labs will be analyzing and validating the NCCA 

data in early 2011, with a final report expected by December 2012. http://water.epa.gov/type/

oceb/ (Contact Greg Colianni, 202-566-1249)

National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) In 2010, scientists conducted lab analysis of 

National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) samples collected in the summers of 2008 and 

2009. The NRSA includes an evaluation of changes in the condition of small streams compared 

to the finding of the 2004 Wadeable Streams Assessment, as well as an assessment of the current 

condition of streams and large rivers (including the Great Rivers such as the Mississippi and 

Missouri Rivers), and the key stressors in those waters.

The National Wetlands Condition Assessment (NWCA) This first-ever survey of the ecological 

integrity of the nation’s wetlands will help inform the public about the health of the nation’s 

wetlands and identify the most common causes of wetland degradation. In 2010, the NWCA 

planning team finalized plans for sampling, set to begin in 2011. The team selected locations, 

finalized methods, and produced technical support documents. These accomplishments 

were the culmination of more than four years of rigorous scientific research, pilot surveys, 

and stakeholder outreach to ensure the technical products supporting the NWCA are of the 

highest quality. As with the other National Aquatic Resource Surveys, results will be provided 

in a report, to be issued in 2013. When paired with national information produced by Fish and 

Wildlife Service describing the quantity or extent of wetland resources, wetland managers will 

have a stronger basis for developing effective protection strategies . http://water.epa.gov/type/

wetlands/assessment/survey/index.cfm. (Contact Michael Scozzafava, 202-566-1376)

The second National Lakes Assessment was in its research and planning phase, with sampling 

scheduled to begin in 2012. www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys (Sarah Lehmann, 202-566-1379)

Participants in the National Wetlands 

Condition Assessment set up a vegetation 

sampling plot. Photographer: Joan Hurley
17 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010Annual Report

Achieving New Milestones in Monitoring and Assessment

OSV BOLD Conducts 29 Scientific Surveys 

The OSV BOLD supported EPA regional and headquarter priorities 

along the East Coast, and in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean 

during 2010. A wide variety of environmental monitoring was 

conducted over 238 sea days. Some 29 scientific surveys were 

performed and 3 educational events were held for the public and 

community leaders at several major ports, including ports in urban 

waters. The primary mission of the OSV BOLD is to conduct surveys 

of the nation’s Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Sites (ODMDS). 

Seven disposal sites were evaluated along the East Coast and in the 

Caribbean in 2010. The data collected 

indicate that the disposal sites are being 

used properly; they are performing as designed; and no impacts to 

human health or aquatic life were demonstrated. In addition to the 

ODMDS evaluation surveys, the OSV BOLD also performs coastal 

eutrophication and toxicity assessments, monitors ocean outfalls, 

assesses critical coral reef habitats and the impacts of invasive coral 

species, monitors hypoxia conditions within the Gulf of Mexico, 

and gathers marine debris data. http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/

assessmonitor/osvbold_index.cfm (Kennard Potts, 202-566-1267)

Photographer: Charles LoBue 

Photographer: Chris McArthur

Responding to the Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Spill 

In response to the massive BP Oil Spill that began in the Gulf of Mexico 

in April 2010, EPA regional and contractor crews collected pre- and 

post-spill samples along the Gulf coast and beyond for chemicals related 

to oil and dispersants; supported and advised federal partners in efforts 

to clean reclaimed oil and waste from shorelines; and monitored the 

effects of dispersants in subsurface waters. 

During the crisis, OWOW staff played an instrumental role in 

assessing the collected data against risk-based aquatic life and human 

health benchmarks and posting the data on the web. To document 

the impacts of the oil spill and determine if contaminants are accumulating over time, these data are 

now being compared to long-term, consistent, baseline water-quality data, primarily National Coastal 

Condition Assessment data from 2000 to 2006 (http://www.epa.gov/emap/nca/index.html). Though these 

data may not include all contaminants of concern, they will support evaluation of changes following 

the spill and subsequent restoration activities. EPA continues to coordinate with federal agencies such 

as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and Food and 

Drug Administration to provide sampling locations, advocate indicators to sample, and share data and 

protocols. http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/ (Treda Grayson, 202-566-0916)
18 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010 Annual Report

Chapter 4

Climate Ready Estuaries Program Helps 

Reduce V

D

ulnerabilities to Climate Change 

uring 2010, the The Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) 

Program and its National Estuary Program (NEP) partners became increasingly 

involved in climate change adaptation efforts across the country and were at the 

cutting edge of this field. The White House Council on Environmental Quality 

(CEQ) recognized CRE for its work in helping resource managers reduce their 

vulnerability to climate change effects, and CEQ’s Climate Adaptation Task Force cited CRE as 

a good example of a Federal program helping to facilitate adaptation at the local level.

EPA provided targeted support to NEPs through grants and technical assistance, access to 

key resources, and tools through the CRE website and Coastal toolkit and EPA also facilitated 

collaboration and communication among NEP Partners and other federal, state, regional, 

and local organizations. NEP partner accomplishments include: the development of climate 

change indicators by two NEPs, one NEP’s sponsorship of a vulnerability assessment and 

development of adaptation options for several key resources in the NEP study area; and the 

development by one NEP of a report providing scientific projections about climate change for 

the NEP’s study area followed by the NEP’s development of an outreach plan for educating 

local decision makers and stakeholders about the contents of that report. http://www.epa.gov/

climatereadyestuaries/. (Michael Craghan, 202-566-1946)

Ex-USS Kittiwake Sunk at Last: First International Vessel-to-Reef Project 

EPA, the United States Maritime Administration, the 

Cayman Islands Tourism Association, and the Cayman 

Islands Department of the Environment worked closely 

to successfully complete the First International Vesselto-Reef Project. The Ex-USS Kittiwake was prepared 

and cleaned to maintain a clean and safe marine 

environment, as well as to provide potential habitat for 

aquatic organisms. On November 12, 2010, EPA issued 

a clearance letter to the Cayman Islands government, 

indicating that both the requirements of TSCA and the 

cleanup goals of the BMP Guidance had been met. On 

December 17, 2010, the vessel towing from Norfolk, Virginia to the Cayman Islands 

commenced, and the Kittiwake arrived at Grand Cayman on December 25. The vessel was 

sunk off the lee side of Grand Cayman on January 5, 2011. The vessel is currently sitting 

upright at a depth of 65 feet, with the uppermost structure of the vessel just 15 feet below 

the surface. (Laura Johnson, 202-566-1273)   
19 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010Annual Report

Building Capacity through Tools and Technologies

Environmental Justice Geographic Information System (GIS) Tools

I

n 2010, the Watershed Branch spearheaded development 

of a series of GIS applications which allow users to identify

and map low-income and minority communities in relation 

to various National Water Program interests. For example, 

census tracts in the Philadelphia/Trenton area that ranked 

among the top 5 percent in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in terms 

of the percentage of residents living below the poverty level and 

those that are minorities can be displayed along with the locations 

of waters listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) program. Armed with 

such information, EPA and its state partners can target and prioritize TMDL and related 

restoration efforts that would benefit Environmental Justice (EJ) communities, helping to 

fulfill the Administrator’s pledge to “address our long-neglected urban waters.” Examples of 

other custom EPA GIS application utilizations include:

 1) The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water helping to facilitate their analysis of 

drinking water facilities in relation to EJ communities; 

 2) The National Urban Waters Team helping to explore the consequences of alternative 

definitions of “urban” in support efforts that aid recovery of urban waters; and 

 3) The Office of Wastewater Management’s EJ outreach and impacts assessment as part of the 

upcoming Confined Animal Feedlot rulemaking. 

Updates are anticipated in 2011 as the 2010 National Census data become available as well as 

additional analyses that target other water programs. (Dwight Atkinson, 202-566-1226)

Lake Outreach Materials Developed for National Lakes Assessment

The National Lakes Assessment (NLA), the first-ever comprehensive, statistically-based survey of the 

quality of U.S. lakes, found that shoreline habitat loss and nutrient pollution are two major causes of 

lake impairment. In fact, poor biological health was found to be three times more likely in lakes with 

poor lakeshore habitat. In 2010, OWOW reached out to state fishing agencies, realtors, lake managers, 

lake associations, and watershed groups to stress the importance of protecting and restoring natural shorelines. The 

following new products are available on the EPA Clean Lakes page at www.epa.gov/owow/lakes:

• Learning About Lakefront Property- A short guide to help prospective waterfront property owners and existing 

lakefront property owners learn about about benefits and responsibilities of lakefront property ownership

• Healthy Lakes & Higher Property Values- Fact sheet to help real estate professionals learn about

ways to protect our nation’s lakes and lake shores and property values

• Lake Shoreland Protection Resources Clearinghouse for Information on Lakeshore Protection 

and Restoration – a comprehensive listing of fact sheets, websites, and other resources developed 

by states, academics, federal agencies and nonprofits on lakeshore protection and restoration 

topics.

• Archived EPA Watershed Academy Webcasts on the National Lakes Assessment: Reporting 

on the Condition of the Nation’s Lakes and Healthy Shorelines Through Better Shoreline 

Stewardship 

• Natural Lakeshore Tips Downloadable Widget 
20 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2010 Annual Report

EPA Document Number: 840R11001

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds,

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (4501T)

Washington, DC 20460

June 2011

www.epa.gov/owow

Please note that mention of any commercial product, enterprise or service 

does not mean that EPA endorses them.