November 2023 - Issue #107

Project Update: PCB Source Assessment for Baltimore County

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of human-made compounds widely used from 1929 through 1979 in manufacturing and industrial applications because of their exceptional fire-retardant and insulating properties. Rising concerns about the toxicity, human health effects, and persistent nature of PCBs in the environment led to a federal ban on the sale and production of PCBs in 1979. Even though PCBs have not been manufactured for many years, their unregulated, historic uses have led to “legacy” PCB contamination.

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CWP Board Profile: Meet Luis Valdivieso

Marlyn Argueta interviews Luis Valdivieso, CWP's Board Secretary. Where are you from and what do you do? Originally from Texas, and have been in living in Maryland for the past 20 years. Over the years, I have had the pleasure to work as an IT consultant to nonprofit organizations across the country. Ensuring that nonprofit organizations have the IT strategies to implement their vision is what makes what I do worthwhile. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card? Golf Galaxy What was your favorite TV show when growing up? Batman the Animated Series What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? Watch Star Trek tv series If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose? The power of invisibility, I could make a lot of money as a spy!! If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy? Pay off debt, does that count? If not, then a couple of vacation homes.

CWP Staff Profile: Meet Acadia Kyle

Marlyn Argueta interviews Acadia Kyle, the Center's new intern. How did you get started working on watersheds? I grew up camping and exploring outdoors. I want to protect nature through my work and continue to discover elements of the natural world. What is your favorite part about working for the Center? My favorite part about working for the Center is learning about a variety of projects that protect waterways and the intersectionality of project benefits. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card? I could easily over-spend at a hardware store. I like learning to use new tools and have endless creation ideas. Which sea creature is your favorite? Sea sponges are my favorite sea creature because they are so different from what I usually think of as animals. What is your favorite river? The Youghiogheny River in Western Maryland. The harmony of the river’s movement and surrounding landscape provides lively spirit. What’s the strangest talent you have? I am good at choosing spices and making weird food combinations work. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy? If I won the lottery I would buy land in a forest with a clearing. I would then buy materials to build my own house in the woods and a greenhouse in the clearing.

CWPA Member Spotlight: In-Situ

More content coming your way from CWP Member, In-Situ: a two-part AquaPod series features a collaborative monitoring project aimed at understanding the impacts of agricultural practices and wildfires on Northern Colorado watersheds. And a new customer story highlights work in Mammoth Cave National Park, where dye tracing is helping build a high-resolution 3D model of the Great Onyx Basin.

CWP News

We are hiring for a Water Resources Engineer!

Join the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) team and use your skills to make a substantial difference in watershed practices across the nation. We are looking for a water resources engineer with a strong technical foundation and excellent communication skills. This engineer’s main role will be to help CWP provide stormwater site plan reviews and manage other stormwater research, training, and policy work in Washington, DC. Learn more!

Submit your abstracts for the 2024 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference

The Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. is now accepting abstracts from those interested in presenting at the 2024 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference. The Conference will take place Monday, April 8th – Thursday, April 11th, 2024, in Kansas City, MO. The National Conference’s central theme is: Evolving stormwater technology and data for changing watersheds. Learn more!

Help guide us to meet our biochar goals!

Our mission at Scaling Up Biochar is to promote a sustainable future by accelerating the application of biochar amendments in urban landscapes. Our ultimate objective is to reduce runoff and enhance water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Learn more here!

Become a Clean Water Certificate Instructor at CWP! Next class in February 2024

Apply to become an Instructor for the Clean Water Certificate Training Program (CWC Program)! The CWC Program for workforce development is an ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited certificate program that promotes job growth in the stormwater industry and delivers hands-on, classroom, and field-based learning on industry-specific skills and knowledge. Register here!

Funding Opportunities on grants.gov: Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities, Under the BIL and IRA – December 19, 2023 National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Collaborative Science Program 2024 – February 9, 2024 2024 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program – February 29, 2024 The Adaptation Sciences (AdSci) Program – March 20, 2024 Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program: Implementation Grants (General Competition) – April 1, 2024 Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program – November 21, 2024  Funding Opportunities from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program – January 31, 2024

Upcoming Events 2023 Webcast 10: Maintaining Forests in Stream Restoration December 13th, 2023, 1:00 - 2:30 PM EST Description: Stream restoration requires a landscape-scale approach to truly sustain a healthy stream corridor, and forestry is one of potentially multiple layers to address this challenge. From the treetops to the leaf litter, there are endless ecological benefits to incorporating trees and shrubs into restoration. The Maryland Forest Service will discuss those benefits and how best to achieve them in a sustainable way in an increasingly dynamic environment. Speakers: Lisa Fraley-McNeal from the Center for Watershed Protection Register today! Lunch and Learn Series (CWPA MEMBERS ONLY): Dayton Marchese from Opti presents "Optimize Your Stormwater Management" December 14th, 2023, 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST Description: Communities across the U.S. face considerable pressure to address water quality and flooding challenges attributed to urban stormwater runoff. Traditionally, addressing these issues involved standardized approaches and adhering to regulations, but with shifting watersheds, land changes, and evolving technology, stormwater management is dynamic. This presentation examines an approach to stormwater management that will adapt to changing rainfall patterns and regulations by integrating automated and adaptive controls in both new and retrofit applications. Join us to navigate the complexities and ensure stormwater systems adapt swiftly, protecting both people and infrastructure in today's ever-changing environment. Become a Member Here! 2024 Webcast 1: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) January 24th, 2024, 1:00 - 2:30 PM EST Speakers: Dan Angelescu from Fluidion and Ken Schiff from the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Register today! Lunch and Learn Series (CWPA MEMBERS ONLY): Erin Rothman from Stormwater Investment Group presents "Weathering the Storm" January 25th, 2024, 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST Description: Join Stormwater Investment Group as we explore the dynamic interplay between climate change and watershed health, both in urban and rural contexts. Uncover innovative strategies for adapting to increased flooding, droughts, and water quality challenges, and learn how to envision and prioritize solutions for your own urban watershed. Become a Member Here! Clean Water Certificate Training Program: Instructor Preparation Program February 26 – March 1, 2024, 1-3pm EST each day Description: Apply to become an Instructor for the Clean Water Certificate Training Program (CWC Program)! The CWC Program for workforce development is an ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited certificate program that promotes job growth in the stormwater industry and delivers hands-on, classroom, and field-based learning on industry-specific skills and knowledge. Successful completion of the Instructor Preparation Program (IPP) will permit qualified candidates to continuously administer the CWC Program, no continued education units required Learn More! 2024 National Watershed and Stormwater Conference April 8th - 11th, 2024 Join us in Kansas City, Missouri Learn More!

Learning Links

EPA Stormwater Smart Outreach Tools Turning Climate Information into Action for Stormwater Management in the Mid-Atlantic Region Floating Sea Farms: A Solution to Feed the World and Ensure Freshwater by 2050 NASA Scientists Test New Tool for Tracking Algal Blooms Generating Electricity From Wastewater – Bioengineered Bacteria Produce Power These five cities could be one natural disaster away from a catastrophic water crisis Water-Quality Risks Linked More to Social Factors Than Money Hybrid catalyst produces critical fertilizer and cleans wastewater Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water Aquatic animals can help purify our wastewater Ultrasound may rid groundwater of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ Sewage Release Is Worse for Rivers Than Agricultural Runoff, Study Finds How we’re using AI to combat floods, wildfires and extreme heat Regreening suburbia: An analysis of urban greening approaches in U.S. sprawl retrofitting projects Plants transformed into detectors of dangerous chemicals Green infrastructure can set off a virtuous cycle of climate action Why Public Space Is a Critical Tool for Climate Resilience Tap water of more than 19 million Americans polluted by ‘Civil Action’ carcinogen that EPA is poised to ban How cities are working to improve ‘tree equity’

The Center for Watershed Protection | www.cwp.org

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