Coyotes in New York City

Coyotes in New York City: A Bonus? (From NYT blog)

Spring Coastal Cleanup Dates

The Connecticut Fund for the Environment has scheduled spring cleanup dates up and down Long Island Sound beaches. View their schedule for dates and locations.

Outreach & Education Guidelines

AKRF is in the process of drafting education & outreach strategies for the watershed-based plan. We wanted to share this EPA guidance that we've found very useful:

Getting in Step: A Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns (USEPA 2003).

EPA Green Infrastructure Technical Assistance

"This request for letters of interest (RLI) announces the availability of direct assistance (through EPA contract support) for projects that facilitate the use of green infrastructure to protect water quality. Technical assistance will be directed to watersheds/sewersheds with significant water quality degradation associated with urban stormwater. Assistance may be offered to communities with any level of green infrastructure implementation." See the request for letters of interest.

Useful Reference: Ecoregional Nutrient Criteria

The USEPA has established recommended nutrient criteria for rivers and streams in fourteen ecoregions across the country. Criteria for the Eastern Coastal Plain were established in 2000; these criteria are meant as general guidance, and should be adjusted and refined based on regional or state-specific conditions. While CT DEEP currently maintains narrative rather than numeric water quality standards for nutrients, this document may be a useful reference for watershed managers interested in developing instream monitoring programs.

Weekend Reading

• From the NRDC, some excellent case studies & reference material
• The ruling on the NY State MS4 permit case, or if you're in a hurry, a summary of the case from Stormwater magazine.

Annual Meeting of the CT Association of Wetland Scientists

This year's program: "Monitoring Wetlands and Watercourses: Methods and Benefits"

Thursday March 22, 2012
8:15 am to 4:30 pm
Holiday Inn in North Haven
201 Washington Avenue, North Haven, CT