EPA’s Office of Wetlands,

Oceans and Watersheds

Sustainable Communities

Healthy Watersheds

2009 Annual Report
Note from the OWOW Director

I

 incerely,

Denise Keehner, Director 

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds

S
3

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report

In This Report... 

Pages

About OWOW 

New Initiatives/Partnerships 

4 

 National Ocean Policy 5

National Lakes Assessment 6

Coastal Wetlands Initiative 8

Healthy Watersheds 9

Surface Coal Mining 10

Capacity Building and Community-Based Watershed Protection

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) 11

Watershed Central and Wiki 12 

Climate Ready Estuaries 13

Analysis	of	Intermittent,	Ephemeral	and	Headwater	Streams

and Public Drinking Water Sources 14

First-ever Water Quality Video Contest 15

New OWOW Capacity Building Team 15

Marine Debris Summit 16

Vessel Discharges 16

Vessel-to-Reef Project 17

Stormwater Management

New Guidance for Federal Facilities 18

Reduce	Runoff	Video	 	 	 18

Environmental Management and Performance 

Interactive Toolbox for Public Lands 19

TMDL Results Analysis Project 20

DARTER System for Section 404 Permits 21

New Wetlands Program Framework 21

Monitoring and Assessment

 Ocean Survey Vessel Bold 22

 Water Quality Exchange (WQX) 22

 Wetlands Mapping Standard 23
4 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

etlands, Oceans and About the Office of W

Watersheds (OWOW)

OWOW is one of five program offices within the Office of Water at EPA Headorks to protect and restore the nation’s quarters in W

aquatic ecosystems. The office provides leadership, policy direction and fi

ashington, DC that w

-

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

ely with our sister EPA implement our programs. OWOW also works collaborativ

ernments, the private sector and ell as with local gov offices, other federal agencies, as w

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 SancAct, National Environmental tuaries Act (Ocean Dumping), Coastal Zone Management 

Policy Act and several other environmental statutes.

OWOW Programs and Initiatives

• National Estuary Program • Dredged Material Management 

• Ocean Dumping • Marine Debris • Control of Vessel Discharges 

• Ocean Monitoring and the Ocean Survey • OSV Bold 

Aquatic Resource Surveys entory • National • National Water Quality Inv

• Volunteer Monitoring • Nonpoint Source Program • Wetlands Permitting 

e-Star Restoration Program otal Maximum Daily Loads • Fiv

atersheds Grants

• Impaired Waters and T

elopment Grants • Targeted W • Wetland Program Dev

ed Environment (CARE) program • Community Action for a Renew

For more information about OWOW, 

visit www.epa.gov/owow
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 5

Accomplishments 2009

New Initiatives/Partnerships

Presidential Task Force Proposes New Policy and 

Framework	for	Improved	Stewardship	of	the	Oceans,	our	

Coasts and the Great Lakes

F rom JuOcean 

led EPA’s pa

Interagency

ne to December 2009, OWOW’s 

and Coastal Protection Division 

rticipation in the President’s 

 Ocean Policy Task Force. EPA 

helped to develop the nine priority objectives 

proposed by the Task Force, including:

• Ecosystem-Based Management: 

Adopt ecosystem-based management 

as a foundational principle for the 

comprehensive management of the ocean, 

our coasts, and the Great Lakes. Examples 

of EPA programs that embody ecosystembased management include the 28 National Estuary 

Programs, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Gulf of Mexico Program. 

• Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: Implement comprehensive, integrated, ecosystembased coastal and marine spatial planning and management in the United States. EPA 

helped to develop various aspects of the proposed Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning 

Framework, such as its geographic scope, which extends from the outer edge of the U.S. 

Exclusive Economic Zone to the mean high water line, including inland bays and estuaries

The Framework also may include upland areas that deliver pollutants to coastal and 

estuarine waters. 

• Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: Strengthen 

resiliency of coastal communities and marine and Great Lakes environments and their 

abilities to adapt to climate change impacts and ocean acidification. For example, EPA’s 

Climate Ready Estuaries Program increases resiliency and adaptation to climate change.

• Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration: Establish and implement an integrated 

ecosystem protection and restoration strategy that is science-based and aligns conservatio

and restoration goals at the Federal, State, tribal, local, and regional levels.

• Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land: Enhance water quality in the ocean, 

along our coasts, and in the Great Lakes by promoting and implementing sustainable 

practices on land. This objective would incorporate much of EPA’s work on hypoxia, 

nutrients, urban waters, marine debris, and stormwater management.

For more information, visit: www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/oceans. 

(Contact: Paul Cough, 202-566-0688

. 

n 
6 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

New Initiatives/Partnerships

National Lakes Assessment Finds Degraded 

Habitat and Nutrients as Leading Causes of 

Problems in Nation’s Lakes 

Working with partners in the states, tribes, and other federal agencies, OWOW 

is leading a series of statistically-representative surveys of the nation’s waters. 

These National Aquatic Resource Surveys are designed to report 

on the condition of the nation’s waters using core indicators and 

standardized lab and field methods, and to help improve states and 

I

tribal capacity for monitoring and assessment. 

n 2009, OWOW issued the draft National Lakes 

Assessment report (www.epa.gov/lakesurvey) the firstever baseline study of the condition of the nation’s lakes 

(both natural and man-made). 

Key Findings from the National Lakes Assessment:

•	 56% of lakes support healthy biological communities 

and the remaining lakes are in fair or poor condition 

(See figure on page 7). 

•	 Degraded lakeshore habitat, rated “poor” in 36 percent 

of lakes, is the most significant of the problems assessed

Poor biological health is three times more likely in lakes 

with poor lakeshore habitat relative to lakes with good 

habitat. Removal of trees and shrubs and construction 

of docks, marinas, homes and other structures along 

shorelines all contribute to degraded lakeshore habitat. 

•	 Two nutrients—nitrogen and phosphorous—are at high levels in 20 percent of lakes. Poor 

biological health is 2.5 times more likely in lakes with high nutrient levels. Excess levels of 

nutrients contribute to algal blooms, weed growth, reduced water clarity, and other lake 

problems.

OWOW’s National Aquatic Resources Survey Team also successfully concluded the second of 

two years of sampling for the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (a report is scheduled 

for 2011) and moved forward with the planning for the upcoming National Coastal Assessment 

(sampling in 2010) and National Wetland Condition Assessment (sampling in 2011). For more 

information, see www.epa.gov/aquaticsurveys (Contact: Sarah Lehmann, 202-566-1379) 

. 

Conducting a lakeshore habitat assessment 

in Idaho (photo: USEPA Region 10)
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 7

Accomplishments 2009

Biological Condition of the Nation’s Lakes (from Draft National Lakes Assessment report) 
8 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

Coastal Wetlands Initiative Seeks to 

Curb Growing Threats from Storms 

and Climate Change

Growi

areas

caus

recent repor

ng awareness of severe threats to coastal 

 posed by climate change, devastation 

ed by recent hurricanes, and two 

ts have prompted EPA to examine the 

management of the nation’s coastal wetlands. A 

report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

(NOAA) and the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service (USFWS) finds that, 

from 1998 to 2004, wetlands in coastal watersheds in the 

Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts have experienced an 

average net decrease of 59,000 acres per year. A second report 

by the Association of State Wetland Managers recommends 

facilitation among climate, watershed and coastal zone 

programs, and identification and dissemination of best 

management practices to protect and help wetlands adapt to 

impacts of climate change. 

In response to these findings, EPA’s Wetlands Division and Oceans and Coastal Protection 

Division created a Coastal Wetlands Initiative with the goals of: 

1) confirming wetland loss and better understanding contributing stressors; 

2) identifying and disseminating tools, strategies, policies and information to protect 

and restore coastal wetland resources; and 

3) raising awareness of the functions and values of, threats to, and opportunities to protect and restore coastal wetlands. 

One significant undertaking of the Coastal Wetlands Initiative is to conduct seven regional reviews of coastal wetlands to understand the stressors as well as restoration and protection strategies to reduce or reverse loss. EPA will use the regional reviews and follow-up workshops to 

gather input and to stimulate dialogue among stakeholders to facilitate a more coordinated and 

robust effort to protect and restore coastal wetlands. Reviews have been completed in the MidAtlantic and South Atlantic regions. In pursuing these goals and activities, EPA is coordinating 

with an Interagency Coastal Wetlands Workgroup including NOAA, USFWS, US Department 

of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, US Geological Survey, and the Federal Highway Administration. (Contact: Clay Miller, 202-566-1365; or 

Nancy Laurson, 202-566-1247)

New Initiatives/Partnerships

Recent studies show an 

average net loss of 59,000 

acres of coastal wetlands per 

year. A new Interagency 

Workgroup will coordinate 

restoration and protection 

strategies.
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 9

Accomplishments 2009

. 

t 

ed 

e 

s 

e 

Healthy Watersheds Initiative 

Focuses on Protecting Clean 

Waters 

Recognizing the need to conserve and protec

healthy aquatic ecosystems, as well as to 

restore impaired ones, EPA recently launch

the Healthy Watersheds Initiative. The Healthy 

Watersheds Initiative focuses on using a holistic 

approach to protect and restore ecosystems. 

The cost of protecting watersheds is much less 

than the cost of restoring waters, so choosing to 

protect ecologically valuable systems will save 

money in the long run. Additional benefits includ

preserving habitat for fish and other wildlife, 

providing recreational opportunities, offering 

better protection against storms and floods, and 

lowering water treatment costs. In April 2009, 

EPA launched the Healthy Watersheds Web site, 

www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds, which presents

a series of conservation and protection approache

and provides links to case studies and reports. Th

Web site also provides tools for:

• Habitat and biodiversity conservation

• Green infrastructure and landscape conservation

• River corridor protection

• Instream flow protection

• Land protection programs and local land use 

ordinances

In July 2009, EPA developed a 4-page fact sheet 

(available on the Healthy Watersheds Web site) 

that explains the approach and its benefits. In 

2010, EPA anticipates releasing a Healthy Watersheds technical guide. EPA is also working in

partnership with the states on a Healthy Watersheds Initiative National Framework and Action

Plan, a companion communications plan, and a 

set of indicator measures for healthy watersheds

(Contact: Laura Gabanski, 202-566-1179)

Why EPA launched the Healthy 

 Watershed Initiative

Despite significant efforts to restore aquatic 

ecosystems in various watersheds across 

the nation, the unfortunate trend is the 

continued decline of these valuable systems. 

For example, the rate at which new waters 

are being added to EPA’s listing of impaired 

waterbodies continues to outpace the rate at 

which restored waters are being removed from 

this list. Pollution and water quality problems

tell only part of the story; our nation’s aquatic

ecosystems are also imperiled by loss of 

habitat and stream connectivity, hydrologic 

alteration, invasive species, and climate 

change.

 

The number of imperiled North American freshwater and diadromous fish 

taxa continue to climb (Jelks, et al., 2008)]
10 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

EPA Signs Interagency 

MOU to Improve Oversight 

of Surface Coal Mining 

Activities in Appalachia

On June 11, 2009, EPA, the U.S. 

Department of the Army, and the U.S. 

Department of the Interior signed 

a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 

implementing an interagency action plan on 

Appalachian surface coal mining. This action 

plan was designed to significantly reduce 

the harmful environmental consequences of 

Appalachian surface coal mining operations. 

The Action Plan includes both short-and long 

term actions for: 

•	 strengthening existing policy and 

guidance

•	 gathering public input

•	 assessing the effectiveness of current policy, and 

•	 developing regulatory actions. 

“

environmental impacts, and its permanent 

Mountaintop coal mining cannot 

be predicated on the assumption 

of minimal oversight of its 

degradation of water quality. Stronger reviews 

and protections will safeguard the health of local 

waters, and thousands of acres of watersheds in 

Appalachia.”

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson

A picture of a mountaintop removal site. 

Appalachian coal mining has buried an 

estimated 2,000 miles of streams in states 

including West Virginia. Scientific studies 

have increasingly identified significant water 

quality problems below surface coal mining 

operations that can contaminate surface waters for hundreds of years. Data from coalfield communities also indicate that coal mining can be responsible for causing fish kills 

and contaminating fish and wildlife. A key 

feature of the MOU is enhanced coordination 

among agencies on the review of 79 imminent 

mining permits, which is expected to provide 

for reduced environmental impacts of mining 

operations, improved monitoring of streams, 

and enhanced compensatory mitigation for 

stream impacts, among other improvements. 

(Contact: Brian Frazer, 202-566-1652)
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 11

Accomplishments 2009

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) 

Program Reduces Pollution in Communities

EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency

Response and Office of Water (OW) are 

co-leading EPA’s multimedia Community

Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) 

program, which is achieving measurable 

environmental results at the community level. 

Starting in 2011, OW will coordinate the 

program with the Office of Air as its co-lead.

CARE is a community-based program that 

works with county and local governments, 

tribes, non-profit organizations and 

universities to help the public understand and 

reduce toxic risks from numerous sources. 

The CARE process helps communities build 

capacity to reduce toxics and 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. 

The CARE program and OWOW watershed 

protection programs share a focus on 

holistic planning, collaboration and building 

sustainable solutions for the community.

Through CARE, EPA has provided technical 

assistance and $12 million in funding 

cumulatively to 68 environmentally overburdened communities in 34 states and 

territories across the U.S. Over 90 percent of CA

communities of concern. In addition, CARE pro

50 percent from local partner organizations. Ov

CARE projects, including local and state agencie

RE projects are in Environmental Justice (EJ) 

jects have leveraged almost an additional 

er 1,500 partners have been engaged in local 

s, businesses, citizen groups, and universities.

A recent evaluation by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) recognized the 

CARE program as a solid, tested framework for engaging communities and other stakeholders. 

The NAPA Panel concluded that the CARE program has successfully demonstrated that 

the concept works well to combine EPA expertise with community capacity-building to 

address risks from all sources of toxics in underserved communities. NAPA noted that CARE 

partnerships are changing their environments and reducing pollution in their communities. 

For more information about CARE, www.epa.gov/care (Contact: Gale Bonanno, 202-564-2243)

Capacity Building & Community-Based Watershed Protection

Toxic Discharges Reduced in 

Lake Superior

The Lake Superior Watershed Partnership, a 

CARE grantee, worked with the State Dentistry Association in Michgian to convince 

more than 30 dental offices to voluntarily 

install mercury-amalgam separators, decreasing the amount of mercury discharged from 

Marquette’s wastewater treatment plant to 

Lake Superior by 19 percent. 

The Partnership also 

furthered environmental stewardship 

by joining with 9 

faith communities 

(125 congregations) 

to focus on pharmaceuticals in water. 

An Earth Day “Clean Sweep” collected one 

ton of unwanted medications from about 

2,000 people and ensured the medications 

were responsibly disposed. 
12 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

Watershed	Central	&	Wiki	Offer	One-Stop	

Shopping for Watershed Practitioners

Re

re

a

manage

storing the health of the nation’s waterways 

quires access to a wide variety of data, 

ssessment tools, and funding sources to 

 pollution effectively. It also depends on 

collaboration between multiple landowners and 

state, local, and federal environmental management 

agencies. Approaching restoration with a well 

documented watershed plan allows stakeholders 

to pull all of the analyses, public goals, and 

clean-up actions together into one orchestrated 

water resource management effort. Until now, 

local watershed managers had to search several 

publications and Web sites for funding, assistance 

programs, and other sources of watershed 

management expertise in order to plan their 

watershed projects. To make watershed 

management related information easier to 

find and use, EPA developed and launched 

“Watershed Central” in 2009 at www.epa.gov/

watershedcentral. 

Watershed Central is a Web site that identifies, 

connects, and organizes relevant federal government and university Web sites, state and local program resources and key publications for state and 

local managers to guide them during each step 

in the watershed management process. The Web 

site includes a “wiki,” which allows watershed 

managers to share information sources and tools 

by writing articles about their resources and posting them online for all to see. Other users of the 

“wiki” can read and comment on these articles, 

ntact experts for additional information. 

e of Research and Development and Office

ershed Central and the wiki. Watershed C

resents the successful use of “Web 2.0” wh

tion and collaboration. Future plans inclu

rate the usefulness of watershed tools, or co

Watershed Central’s Web 2.0 Wiki

EPA’s Office of Water worked with the Offic of 

t enich 

a de 

apping. (Contact: Stuart Lehman, 202-566-

Environmental Information to develop Wa

tral’s wiki is one of EPA’s first wikis and rep

is, in essence, all about two-way communic

modeling assistance and enhanced online m

1205) 

Capacity Building & Community-Based Watershed Protection

The Wiki allows users to:

• Share best practices, case studies and 

lessons learned; 

• See what other watershed 

organizations are doing and learn from 

them; 

• Identify partners in your watershed; 

• Rate and comment on watershed 

management tools or report on new 

tools; 

• View a map with water monitoring 

stations, land use types, watershed 

boundaries, high-resolution aerial 

photography, and more;

• Publish watershed management plans 

for others to learn from; 

• Create a page about your organization, 

add a map, and share it amongst 

members of your group; and 

• Build the community knowledge base. 
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 13

Accomplishments 2009

Climate Ready Estuaries: Enhancing Capacity for Climate 

Change Adaptation in the National Estuary Program

Building on the success of pilot efforts to develop 

climate change vulnerability assessments and 

adaptation plans for six NEPs in 2008, OWOW’s 

Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) program provided 

targeted start-up grants and technical assistance to seven 

NEP partners in 2009. Projects were diverse and built 

upon lessons learned from experience with the 2008 

pilots. 

• Albemarle-Pamlico Sound (North Carolina), Casco Bay 

(Maine), Barnegat Bay (New Jersey) and Charlotte Harbo

(Florida) hosted listening and stakeholder involvement 

sessions for the public and decision makers.

• Partners in the Delaware Estuary (Delaware) and Indian 

River Lagoon (Florida) focused efforts on developing 

vulnerability assessments leading to local adaptation pla

• In Long Island Sound (Connecticut-New York) 

collaborators are working on a climate change monitorin

plan and municipal-level adaptation plan. 

• Tampa Bay (Florida) is developing a handbook to inform “climate 

e Gulf of Mexico. 

nta Gorda (Florida) and the Charlotte 

 became the first CRE program 

icipalities in the nation – to adopt a 

ge.

-

sensitive” habitat restoration in th

• In November 2009, the City of Pu

Harbor National Estuary Program

partner – and one of the first mun

plan for adapting to climate chan

In June 2009, the CRE program convened a two-day workshop, bring

ing partners together to discuss lessons learned and ongoing challenges, and to chart a course for the program. The CRE program 

captured discussions from this workshop and summarized partner 

accomplishments from 2008 and 2009 in a progress report available 

for download on the CRE website (www.epa.gov/cre). The CRE 

program also continued to strengthen its online toolkit of adaptation

resources (www.epa.gov/cre/toolkit.html) in 2009, adding an “Adaptation Planning for the National Estuary Program” guide and the “Synthesis of Adaptation 

ent has been highlighted by other 

ric Administration and USAID, 

tinues to be widely recognized as 

ate change adaptation. (Contact: 

Options for Coastal Areas” document. The Synthesis docum

federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmosphe

and downloaded thousands of times. The CRE program con

a leader and innovator in the fast-moving field of coastal clim

John Whitler, 202-564-1929)

r 

ns. 

g 

In 2009, the City of Punta Gorda 

(Florida) and the Charlotte Harbor 

National Estuary Program became 

the first CRE program partner – and 

one of the first municipalities in the 

nation – to adopt a plan for adapting 

to climate change.

Partner accomplishments are 

summarized in a new CRE report.
14 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

New	Analysis	Highlights	Importance	of	Intermittent,

Ephemeral and Headwater Streams to Public Drinking 

Water Sources

Arece

Gro

and 

over one-th

data with st

those publi

nt analysis conducted jointly by the Wetlands Division and the Office of 

undwater and Drinking Water highlights the importance of intermittent, ephemeral, 

headwater streams as sources of drinking water for about 117 million people, 

ird of the U.S. population. The analysis combined state and EPA drinking water 

ream data from U.S. Geologic Survey’s National Hydrography Dataset to identify 

c drinking water systems that rely at least in part on intermittent, ephemeral, or 

headwater streams. These types of streams are more difficult to protect after the U.S. Supreme 

Court decision Rapanos v. United States. The results were provided to Congress to inform 

their deliberations.on whether to address Rapanos legislatively. In addition, a number of news 

outlets have relied on the study to highlight local public health implications of Rapanos. The 

data are available at a national, state, and county level at www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/

science/surface_drinking_ water/index.html (Contact: Rachel Fertik, 202-566-1452) 

Wetlands Division staff worked closely with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance to provide 

technical assistance to Congress on the full suite of implications resulting from the Rapanos decision. This included 

summarizing the environmental, programmatic, and enforcement effects of the decision, the results of which were 

presented to over 70 key Senate staff. 

Capacity Building & Community-Based Watershed Protection
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 15

Accomplishments 2009

Video Contest Recognized by White House as Milestone in 

Open Government 

Presid

use of the Internet and Information Technology, 

tilizing information sharing, social networking, 

line collaboration tools to engage citizens. 

r OWOW director Craig Hooks recognized the 

of these new technologies to reach out to younger 

u

and on

Forme

value 

generations and came up with the idea of hosting an 

on-line video contest. By marketing on Facebook and using other Web 

2.0 tools, the contest drew an unexpectedly high number of entries. More 

than 250 videos were uploaded to EPA ‘s YouTube Channel – far exceeding

expectations. In addition, the channel generated more than 28,000 collective YouTube views 

between the start and the end of June 2009 when winners were chosen, with thousands 

more hits to date. Contest submissions covered wetlands and watershed protection, 

marine debris prevention and other topics. Videos used creative and humorous ways to 

convey important environmental messages. Some of the best submissions are now being 

used as Public Service Announcements. In addition to the wide appeal this innovative 

project had with the public, 7 different EPA program offices and 2 Regions have expressed 

interest in implementing a similar video contest and approached OWOW for its guidelines/

lessons learned document. To view (and download) the winners and honorable mentions, 

visit: www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html (Contact: Patty Scott, 202-566-1292).

ent Obama’s 2008 political campaign revolutionized the 

OWOW Forms New Capacity Building Team

As part of EPA’s national strategy for improving water quality 

a watershed basis, in 2009 OWOW established a cross-divisional Capacity 

al watershed protection efforts. The role of the 

 the work of local governments and watershed 

ls they need to succeed. The new team is charged

raining and tools to local watershed groups and 

on 

Building Team to accelerate loc

Capacity Building Team is to facilitate

groups by providing them with the too

with targeting the communication of t

government agencies, leveraging 3rd party providers to enhance support to local watershed 

organizations, gaining better external feedback on the effectiveness of OWOW’s capacity 

building tools, and identifying new tools to further enhance capacity building. The team’s 

early accomplishments include delivering the Watershed Academy live training course 

Key EPA Internet Tools for Watershed Management, with updated content at www.epa.gov/

watershed/wacademy/epatools, and completing an inventory of approximately 100 distinct 

tools and activities for which OWOW has a lead role. The team will build from this base. 

(Contacts: Don Waye, 202-566- 1170; Alison Keener, 202-566-3222)
16 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

Marine	Debris	Prevention	Gathers	Momentum	after	

Summit 

Marine debris is a pervasive environmental problem 

that stretches beyond the set responsibilities of any 

individual EPA office or federal agency. EPA’s Marine 

revention Workgroup, led by OWOW, is using a 

hensive approach to address the types, sources, 

ent, and impacts of marine debris. Workgroup 

s include the Office of Wastewater Management; the 

f Solid Waste; the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, 

Debris P

compre

movem

member

Office o

and Toxic Substances; and EPA Regional offices. In 2009, the workgroup hosted a 

mmit to enhance information excha

orts and marine debris prevention. 

adquarters and Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 

successful two-day Marine Debris Prevention Su nge 

am eff

PA He

. The Summit identified a number of key 

and to strengthen the links between progr

Summit participants included staff from E

9, and 10, as well as expert guest speakers

recommendations for 2010. 

In addition in 2009, the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee, co-chaired by 

EPA and NOAA, submitted a progress report to Congress that provided an update on all 

Federal agencies’ activities undertaken between June 2008 and December 2009 to address 

marine debris, as mandated by the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction 

Act. This is the first progress report since the Interagency Report on Marine Debris Sources, 

Impacts, Strategies and Recommendations submitted to Congress in August 2008. More information is available at www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/debris/index.html. (Contacts: Katherine 

Weiler, 202-566-1280; Ashley Greene, 202-566-1738)

EPA Tackles Vessel Discharges

Regulations, best management practices, guidance, recommendations, and research 

are all key components of OWOW’s Vessel Discharges Program. Under Section 

312 of the CWA, EPA is directed to develop standards and management practices 

for certain discharges. In 2009, EPA began assessing the need to revise and update 

vessel sewage standards and also began the development of proposed regulations to 

establish best management practices for discharges incidental to the normal operation 

of recreational vessels under the Clean Boating Act (CBA). The CBA will impact 

approximately 17 million recreational vessels and cover discharges such as bilge water, 

graywater, bottom fouling (invasive species), and cleaning and maintenance discharges. 

In addition in 2009, OWOW completed the Cruise Ship Plume Dilution Report that 

studied the near-field dilution of treated sewage and graywater discharges from docked 

cruise ships in Skagway Harbor, Alaska. (Contacts: Kathryn Benz, 202-564-1223; Brian 

Rappoli, 202-566-1548)

Marine Debris and Vessel Discharges
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 17

Accomplishments 2009

Vessel-to-Reef Project Provides Habitat for Fish and Other 

Aquatic Life

On May 27, 2009, the ex-USS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a 522 ft. former USAF Long 

Range Instrument Platform Tracking ship previously maintained by the Maritime 

Administration, was sunk in 140 feet of water approximately six miles southsoutheast of Key West in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. EPA conducted 

a number of vessel walkthroughs to assess the vessel clean-up and preparation prior to 

its sinking to create an artificial reef. The vessel was scuttled within one minute and 44 

seconds. This new artificial reef, the largest in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 

and the second largest in the world, will provide habitat for reef fish and many other 

aquatic species. (Contact: Laura Johnson, 202-566-1273)

This deck view of the ex-USS Gen. Hoyt S. 

Vandenberg shows the modifications made to 

secure items on the deck that may otherwise 

break free from the vessel during sinking. 

Such modifications, which help avoid the 

generation of marine debris, follow the 2006 

guidance document jointly issued by EPA 

and the Maritime Administration, “National 

Guidance: Best Management Practices for 

Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial 

Reefs.” Two radar dishes which are 30-40 feet 

in diameter can be seen in the center and upper 

left hand corner of the photo. These dishes were 

removed, then welded back to trimmed down 

bases, and further secured to the deck with 

cables. In the water surrounding the vessel is 

a floating boom, used to contain any debris or 

liquid that may escape the vessel during the 

final cleanup and preparation.

The new submerged artifical reef will provide 

habitat for reef fish and other aquatic species
18 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

EPA Guidance Helps 

Federal	Facilities	Better	

Manage Stormwater

I

n December 2009, EPA issued guidance 

to help federal agencies minimize 

the impact of federal development 

projects on nearby water bodies. The 

guidance, issued as part of the Energy 

Independence and Security Act of 2007 

(EISA) and an Executive Order signed by 

President Obama, calls upon all federal 

agencies to lead by example to address 

a wide range of environmental issues, 

including stormwater runoff. Under 

EISA Section 438, federal agencies must 

minimize stormwater runoff from federal 

development projects to protect water 

resources. Federal developments that 

exceed 5,000 square feet must maintain 

or restore pre-development hydrology. 

To assist federal agencies, the guidance 

provides a step-by-step framework that 

will help retain rainfall on-site through 

infiltration, evaporation/transpiration, and 

re-use.

Federal agencies can comply using a 

variety of stormwater management practices often referred to 

as “green infrastructure” or “low impact development,” such 

as reducing impervious surfaces, using vegetative practices, 

porous pavements and green roofs. Although the guidance was 

developed for federal facilities, these stormwater management 

practices are generally appropriate for a broad range of 

developments. OWOW worked closely with other federal 

agencies to develop the state-of-the-art guidance, which 

provides background information, key definitions, 

case studies and recommendations on meeting the new 

EISA requirements. This guidance will help federal facilities reduce stormwater runoff, 

a leading source of water pollution. Runoff can cause increased flooding and stream 

channel erosion, and larger pollutant loads to surface waters, among other impacts. Copies 

of the guidance and related materials are posted at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/

section438/. (Contact: Robert Goo, 202-566-1201)

New Stormwater Video helps Communities 

Educate People about Low Impact 

Development

 

In 2009, OWOW released a 9-minute video, “Reduce 

Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” 

which highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, 

green roofs, and rain barrels that help manage stormwater runoff in a more sustainable manner. The film 

showcases green techniques that are being used in urban 

areas to minimize the impacts of stormwater runoff.

It includes techniques on display at the U.S. Botanic 

Garden’s “One Planet – Ours!” 2008 Exhibit. It also 

highlights green practices at EPA’s Headquarters in 

Washington, D.C., including six 1,000-gallon cisterns 

in the basement at EPA’s West Building. This cistern 

collects roof runoff, and the water irrigates planting beds 

and the grass, helping to conserve water and reduce runoff to the Chesapeake Bay. The video is available online 

at: www.epa.gov/nps/lid. (Contacts: Anne Weinberg, 

202-566-1217; Patty Scott, 202-566-1292)

Stormwater Management

Permable pavement is one technique that helps 

infiltrate stormwater so that it does not runoff 

and pollute downstream waters.
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 19

Accomplishments 2009

EPA and Fish and Wildlife Service Develop Interactive 

Toolbox to Protect Water Resources on Prized Public Lands

become easily and routinely used at all lev

During 2009, EPA and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) jointly completed a 

national assessment of the impaired waters occurring within or near public lands 

managed by the FWS, and co-developed interactive tools to help this information 

els of both agencies. This project was carried 

out to help the FWS better protect, restore and manage the waters of prized public lands 

including National Wildlife 

Refuges, National Fish Hatcheries, and Waterfowl Production 

Areas across the nation. Using 

Geographic Information Systems 

(GIS) and the EPA’s impaired 

waters data, OWOW compared 

impaired waters data with FWS 

property maps to determine specific properties and waters at risk 

as well as impairment causes. 

The project team compiled these 

findings into mapped, tabular, 

and text products. The assessment revealed that, although the 

waters in or near FWS properties 

were in better condition than US 

waters in general, some impaired areas 

do exist (see Figure). A total of 804 

impaired waters totaling 10,755 km in l

FWS properties. The most common im

pathogens, and mercury.

pairment causes include nutrients, oxygen depletion, 

Rather than create a final report text alone, OWOW developed a number of interactive tools 

to enable FWS, from the individual refuge manager up to the regional or national strategic 

planner, access to the most relevant data. A full, national GIS database of the assessment 

maps and data tables was provided to the FWS, along with a “read-only” version browsable 

by users without GIS skills. Additionally, a master spreadsheet was developed to enable 

matching individual properties, impaired waters, and their characteristics at local, regional, 

or national scales as needed. To promote watershed approaches, the assessment also reaggregated the project data by watersheds with FWS property and identified the waters with 

existing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). All of the interactive data and the final report 

will be housed on FWS and EPA Web sites to support access and use throughout both agencies. OWOW continues to work with additional federal partners on this important safeguard for public lands. (Contact: Douglas Norton, 202-566-1221) 

ength and 2,510 sq km in area occur in or near 303 

Total Impaired Waters In/Near FWS Properties by State/Territory

Environmental Performance
20 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

TMDL Results Analysis Project Shows Major Progress in 

Restoring Polluted Waterbodies

Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), developing impaired 

waters lists and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) 

are key parts of restoring impaired waters. A TMDL is 

a calculation of how much pollution a waterbody can receive 

and still meet water quality standards – and an important step 

toward reducing that pollution. Until the TMDL Program 

Results Analysis Project, however, there was limited evidence 

of the effectiveness of the CWA’s impaired waters listing and 

TMDL program. This multi-year project’s goal was to analyze 

impaired waters program progress and its driving factors, 

providing insights for TMDL program improvement. Because 

TMDLs occur midway along a sequence of program steps 

toward restoration, this project studied all stages before, 

during, and after the TMDL in order to consider the 

broader context in which the TMDL program operates.

During 2009, OWOW created a public Web site to house over 30 study reports, fact sheets, technical papers and other products developed under the Results Analysis Project. This site was designed around the “impaired waters pipeline” concept, with five CWA program stages that impaired waters pass through en route to full restoration. The project carried out multiple studies on 

all five stages. Web site highlights from each stage include:

•	 Listing. The listing process has led to the identification and tracking of over 43,000 impaired waters 

nationally; improvements in state list submission and Integrated Reporting were documented in results 

analysis fact sheets online.

•	 Planning. TMDL development passed the 40,000 stage during 2009, and additional national GIS mapping of impaired waters with TMDLs and impaired watershed boundaries were produced to aid states 

in restoration planning.

•	 Implementing. A statistical study of all TMDLs in EPA Region 5 determined that 80% of TMDLs had at 

least some activity occurring to implement pollution controls (see bar chart above). Other studies as well 

found that a majority of TMDLs have increased actions to improve water quality. 

•	 Improving. A two-state study identified driving factors linked with water quality improvements from 

TMDL implementation; another study identified methods for states to document incremental improvements for performance tracking.

•	 Recovery. Using lessons learned about the driving factors underlying TMDL successes, Recovery Potential Screening methods were developed and published to help guide states toward better restoration 

investments that restore more waters earlier, more consistently, and more cost-effectively; a Recovery 

Potential tools site is being developed.

Visit TMDL Program Results Analysis Web site at: www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/results/. (Contact: 

Douglas Norton, 202-566-1221)

A regional-scale study showed that most TMDLs have 

been at least partially implemented through permits or 

nonpoint source control actions in their watersheds
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 21

Accomplishments 2009

DARTER System Improves Tracking of Wetlands Permits 

I

n Octo

Trackin

its wor

ber 2009, OWOW announced the release of an upgraded Data on Aquatic Resources 

g for Effective Regulation (DARTER) system. DARTER is EPA’s system to manage 

kflow in the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permit program. Section 404 

requires a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or states with EPA-approved 

wetlands programs, for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the 

United States. EPA plays a number of roles in the Section 404 permit program including 

developing and interpreting policy, guidance and environmental criteria used in evaluating 

permit applications, determining the scope of geographic jurisdiction and reviewing and 

commenting on proposed Section 404 permits. DARTER allows EPA staff to: 

•	 Track agency involvement in pre-application coordination, review of public notices for 

proposed permits, and proposed jurisdictional determinations; 

•	 Prepare and share EPA-generated jurisdictional determinations; and 

•	 Access shared data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ national regulatory program 

data management system (ORM2).

Improved data access and management will enable EPA to more effectively review CWA 

404 permits and to document environmental improvements resulting from those reviews. 

(Contacts: Brian Topping, 202-566-5680; Rose Kwok, 202-566-0657)

New Wetlands Program Framework Provides Roadmap for 

Successful State and Tribal Wetlands Protection Programs

Aprimary objective of EPA’s Wetlands program is to build state and tribal capacity 

for wetlands protection. In 2009 OWOW finalized, with extensive state and tribal 

input, a Core Elements Framework that provides a comprehensive menu of program 

building activities for all wetland programs, from emerging to well-developed. The core 

elements are basic program functions that form the foundation of wetlands management 

and protection in a state or tribe: 

1. monitoring and assessment; 

2. regulatory activities including 401 certification; 

3. voluntary restoration and protection; and

4. water quality standards for wetlands

State and Tribes now have a clear roadmap to reach their wetland program goals from 

where ever their program currently is. www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/initiative/estp.html

(Contact: Rebecca Dils, 202-566-1378)
22 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

Ocean Survey Vessel (OSV) BOLD 

Conducts	Valuable	Scientific	Surveys

The OSV BOLD supported regional and headquarter 

priorities along the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and 

Caribbean, during 2009. A wide variety of environmental 

monitoring was conducted over 238 sea days. Some 35 scientific 

surveys were performed and12 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). Nine disposal sites were evaluated along the East 

and Gulf coasts in 2009. 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. The Tampa, FL disposal site, in particular, has become a rich habitat 

for fisheries and numerous benthic communities, including coral. The success of the Tampa 

site validated the engineering and management efforts that established the site. Future 

monitoring will ensure that ongoing disposal work will not adversely impact this diverse 

habitat. (Contact: Kennard Potts, 202-566-1267)

Water Quality Monitoring 

Web-based WQX Puts Water Quality Data at the Fingertips 

of	Scientists,	Policy	Makers	and	the	Public

OWOW continues to improve the ease with which organizations large 

and small can store their water quality monitoring in a national 

warehouse. Once data are stored in the National STORET Data 

Warehouse, they are accessible to scientists, government policy makers, and 

the public. 

In 2009, OWOW completed a three-year transition to the Water Quality Exchange (WQX) 

framework (the successor to the STORET data system). OWOW also developed a new 

flexible tool for small data system owners called WQX Web, which allows any organization 

with a connection to the Web to share its data nationally with others. Many smaller groups 

across the country manage their water quality monitoring data using software tools such 

as Microsoft Excel or Access. WQX Web is designed to accept output from these types of 

applications for submittal to the National STORET Data Warehouse. 

OWOW also collaborated with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on a Web services project to facilitate data analysis. The collaboration resulted in a common inter-agency data 

exchange that allows users to seamlessly pull water quality data from the two largest 

repositories of water quality information -- EPA’s National STORET Data Warehouse and 

the USGS’ National Water Information System (NWIS) -- using the same data template. For 

more information, see www.epa.gov/STORET (Contact: Charles Kovatch, 202-566-0399)
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report 23

Accomplishments 2009

Final National Wetlands Mapping Standard Will 

Transform National Wetlands Inventory

Accurate geo-locational information about wetland resources

is a prerequisite to managing the resource well. In 2009 

OWOW came closer to realizing this national goal through 

completion of the National Wetland Mapping Standard. Issuance 

of the standard culminates three years of work by a Federal 

Geographic Data Committee workgroup of multiple Federal 

agencies, States, NGOs and contractors. A consistent national 

standard will allow multiple wetland management agencies 

to share data and understand where the wetlands are, track 

changes, and work towards a mutual goal of better resource 

protection and management. The availability of compatible 

mapped wetland data will also transform how the Fish and 

Wildlife Service collects and uploads data to the National 

Wetland Inventory. The ability to compile data from numerous 

sources means that the Inventory can be more comprehensive and current. 

(Contact: Margarete Heber, 202-566-1189)
24 Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009 Annual Report

24

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 2009Annual Report

EPA Document Number: 840R10001

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds,

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

Washington, DC 20460

April 2010

www.epa.gov/owow

EPA would like to recognize the following individuals 

and organizations for contributing photographs for this report:

NOAA’s National Ocean Service

Douglas Norton

Kennard Potts

Bill and Sharon Draker

Laura Johnson

Brad Cannon

Carrie Perry

USEPA Region 10

John McShane

April Wiese

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

does not mean that EPA endorses them.