News
Campus RainWorks Challenge
This week EPA announced the winners of the 11th annual Campus RainWorks Challenge, a national competition that engages college students in the design of green infrastructure solutions that address stormwater pollution at their schools and in their communities. This year 13 teams from across 10 states and 12 academic institutions competed with green infrastructure designs that not only treated and managed stormwater, but also addressed problems like flood protection and improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity. This year’s winners are:
- First Place: University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon – This project integrates stormwater management and nature play into at a K-8 school through a co-design process with students and other state and local partners. The design included rain gardens, bioswales, a dry-creek infiltration trench and permeable material in play areas, and a school yard forest. The team effectively employed stormwater modeling tools and a design that adhered to local stormwater codes and policies. Watch the team’s video about their design.
- Second Place: Hobart and William Smith Colleges – This project emphasizes reducing stormwater flow into Odell’s Pond, a campus stormwater retention pond, and preventing localized flooding of the Odell’s Village while improving the pedestrian experience. The team used the campus’ long-term master plan to meet other goals, such as utilizing space on campus more efficiently; restoring native plants; and providing more outdoor recreation and education opportunities. The master plan also addressed stormwater permitting requirements, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and maintenance and implementation funding. Watch the team’s video about their design.
The first-place teams will receive a $30,000 student prize to be split among team members and a $5,000 faculty prize to support green infrastructure research and training. The second-place team will receive a $12,000 student prize and a $3,000 faculty prize. Since 2012 nearly 850 teams have participated in the Campus RainWorks Challenge. View previous winners and teams, along with information on how to participate in and the deadline for the 12th RainWorks Challenge.
EPA Releases the “Aquatic Resource Monitoring and Assessment Dashboard”
EPA’s NARS team is pleased to announce the release of the Aquatic Resource Monitoring and Assessment Dashboard. This application provides states, territories and Tribes a way to track and communicate statistical (probability) survey results in an easy-to-use interface. The dashboard presents the percentage of aquatic resources in different condition categories for water quality indicators assessed and reported based on a statistical survey design. The dashboard displays assessment results for the most recent survey year reported and a comparison to results from previous survey years, if available. Users can explore different aquatic resource types, sub-populations, indicators and condition categories across survey cycles. Users are also provided with an explanation of the results by hovering over a graphic.
This dashboard is a joint effort between EPA and EPA Partners. EPA will host the application and partners will have full control of the results by uploading their data to the ATTAINS Surveys module which powers the dashboard. Once data is submitted through ATTAINS it is automatically updated in the dashboard. For additional support, here are links on How to upload data to the ATTAINS Surveys Module and How information in the module is displayed in the dashboard.
ACWA will host an information session on this application on Thursday, October 17, 2:00pm EST. Registration info will come at a later date.
EPA Upgrades ECHO Database
This week EPA announced the release of the Water Quality Indicators which allows users to compare millions of data records from water monitoring stations. Facilitated by a mapping tool, the WQI makes it easy to explore nutrient and pathogen data and identify the potential sources that are contributing to water quality problems. The WQI allows users to see pollutant level trends from nearby monitoring stations and compare to other stations across the country. The tool also provides facility data including compliance records and environmental justice indicators. The agency is developing a short video tutorial to help users get started with the WQI tool which will be shared here (ECHO Video Tutorials page). EPA will provide a webinar to demonstrate the webinar training WQI tool on Tuesday Oct. 1, 2024, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST. Register for the webinar at WQI Tool – Public Training.
EPA ORD Report, “Estimates of Lake Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Chlorophyll-a Concentrations to Characterize Harmful Algal Bloom Risk Across the United States”
EPA’s Office of Research and Development has published a report, “Estimates of Lake Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Chlorophyll-a Concentration to Characterize Harmful Algal Bloom Risk Across the United States.” Excess nutrient pollution contributes to the formation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) that compromise fisheries and recreation and that can directly endanger human and animal health via cyanotoxins. Efforts to quantify the occurrence, drivers, and severity of HABs across large areas is difficult due to the resource intensive nature of field monitoring of lake nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations. To better characterize how nutrients interact with other environmental factors to produce algal blooms in freshwater systems, we used spatially explicit and temporally matched climate, landscape, in-lake characteristic, and nutrient inventory data sets to predict nutrients and chlorophyll-a across the conterminous US. Key findings from the report include:
- Chlorophyll-a and nutrient concentrations in ∼112,000 lakes were predicted using widely available national data sets and machine learning;
- Nutrients far outweigh other environmental predictors in driving chlorophyll-a concentrations in lakes;
- With more information about likely chlorophyll-a concentrations, managers can prioritize lakes at risk for harmful algal bloom production.
Association Updates
2024 National Stormwater Roundtable – In-Person Registration Closing 10/8
Dates: October 22 – 24, 2024
City: Washington, DC
Meeting Space: EPA HQ Meeting Space
Hotel: Sold Out – please contact Lexy for alternative options (abailey@acwa-us.org).
Website: 2024 National Stormwater Roundtable
Registration: In-person registration is closing!! There are only 6 seats left!! Registration will close after all seats are filled or on October 8th, 2024 – whichever comes first. For those registering virtually, please use this link.
Meetings and Webinars
October 2024 Virtual NPDES Permit Writers Course
Dates: October 10 – November 14, 2024
Course Description and Registration Information
The objective of this course is to provide the basic regulatory framework and technical considerations that support the development of wastewater discharge permits required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The course was designed for permit writers with six months to one year of experience in the NPDES program, but experienced permit writers wanting a refresher course and other water program staff wanting to learn more about the NPDES program also are welcome.
The 5-week course will begin on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Participants should anticipate a time commitment of approximately 8 -10 hours per week and should seek supervisor approval before signing up. The course is scheduled to conclude on November 14th, however a “rain date” of November 19th should be reserved by the participants in case of technical issues.
Each week, participants will have assigned “homework” consisting of NPDES online modules and permit writing exercises. These modules and exercises will then be discussed in a live virtual classroom setting on Tuesday and Thursday of each week. Participants will have the opportunity to join live office hour discussions with instructors and other participants each Tuesday as well. Participants will be expected to complete some pre-course assignments the week of October 7th prior to the course start.
Microsoft Teams will be utilized for the virtual classroom and can be accessed through the desktop application or a web browser. Course materials will be provided electronically on the Microsoft Teams classroom site for download by the participants prior to the start date.
As a foundational course, the training does not address in detail specialized topics such as industrial and municipal stormwater, concentrated animal feeding operations and pesticide discharges. For more information on these specialized topics, please visit EPA’s NPDES Web site at www.epa.gov/npdes
If you have questions regarding the course, please contact Sean Ramach at: npdestraining@epa.gov or call him directly at (202) 564-2865.
Job Opportunities
Water Quality Permit Inspector (Natural Resource Specialist 2
Location: Bend, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, or The Dalles, Oregon (finalist may choose work location)
Closing Date: September 25, 2024
For more information and to apply, click here.
Environmental Analyst – Technical Assistance Provider
Location: Augusta, ME
Closing Date: October 1, 2024
To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org by October 1, 2024. Please reference #24-DHHS-DWP-003 in the email subject line. A full position description may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Environmental Engineer, PE
Location: Albany, NY
Closing Date: Open until filled
To apply, submit your cover letter and resume by email to jobs@neiwpcc.org. Please reference #24-NY-IEM-001 in the email subject line. Accepting applications until the position is filled. A full position description and benefits listing may be viewed at: https://neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers.
Freshwater Monitoring Unit Supervisor, Western Operations Section (WMS Band 1)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Water Quality Data Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 3)
Location: Lacey, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Shoreland, Wetland, Aquatic Resource Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3 or 4)
Location: Yakima County – Union Gap, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Water Quality Standards Program Supervisor
Location: Wyoming
Closing Date: Continuous
The Water Quality Standards (WQS) supervisor is responsible for developing the state’s surface water quality standards (Chapter 1, Water Quality Rules). Other program responsibilities include supervising the states harmful cyanobacteria bloom (HCB) and waterborne pathogen notification programs in coordination with the Wyoming Department of Health and reviewing and commenting on federally proposed National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) activities and projects in Wyoming to ensure State water quality rules are followed.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Natural Resource Analyst (Nonpoint Source Program)
Location: Various Locations – Wyoming
Closing Date: Continuous
The Wyoming Nonpoint Source Program works to reduce unregulated nonpoint sources of pollution to Wyoming’s water resources by providing technical and financial assistance for voluntary, locally-led projects to protect and restore waterbodies, thereby fulfilling state responsibilities under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The purpose of this position is to lead and implement the Wyoming Nonpoint Source Program, including administering CWA Section 319 and Section 205(j)/604(b) grant funds, completing strategic program planning, evaluating program effectiveness, conducting outreach and education activities, coordinating program oversight with the Nonpoint Source Task Force, and building partnerships with agencies and organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. This position works extensively with other DEQ/WQD Clean Water Act programs to effectively conduct watershed protection, restoration, and monitoring activities. This position routinely coordinates with the Environmental Protection Agency to administer grants and ensure compliance with federal requirements.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Construction Stormwater Inspector (Environmental Specialist 4)
Location: Spokane, WA
Closing Date: Continuous
For more information and to apply, click here.
Be sure to check out other opportunities on ACWA’s Job Opportunities page.
