Regions: In the Pool
to Protect Watersheds

By Kelly Novak, Research Manager, NADO Research Foundation

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Bush Administration are supporting a proposed $21 million in the 2003 budget for EPA’s watershed protection initiative. The initiative, in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, has a community-based format that will target up to 20 of the country’s most highly valued watersheds.

Many regional development organizations will be able to use their water quality experience in conjunction with the initiative’s grants that will go to local governments, tribes, state and non-governmental organizations capable of expanding and improving watershed protection.

Some of the water quality work that regional organizations will be able to employ under the initiative include assisting with total maximum daily loads (TMDL) or allowable pollution levels compliance and community non-point source pollution outreach and education. In addition, the community partnerships that regional development organizations have already established will be useful in facing the initiative’s challenges.

Watersheds and Rural Regions

Watersheds, also referred to as “communities connected by water,” are the heart and soul of many regions in rural America. Rivers, lakes and coastal waterways often are the origin of economic development, as well as a source of drinking water. This dual purpose requires that local governments maintain environmental health and keep water- related economic development opportunities open.

Regional development organizations have helped rural communities balance the two by providing local governments with access to EPA and USDA safe drinking and clean water revolving loan funds, water and waste grants and emergency water assistance. In rural areas, where local expertise and water management technology is limited, they have filled the gap in various ways, such as using their in- house geographical information systems (GIS) to map watersheds and pinpoint runoff sources.

Development organizations have also assisted communities in leveraging other funds for water quality assurance projects, HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for infrastructure development and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood mapping as a water quality mitigation venture.

Green River Region in Kentucky

The Green River Area Development District (Green River ADD), a seven county EDA-funded development district in eastern Kentucky bordering Illinois and Indiana, manages the region’s water resource information system. Using their in-house GIS technology and Kentucky’s Infrastructure Authority guidelines, the Green River ADD recommends water and/or sewer projects according to priority ranking based on the number/income level of households impacted, feasibility, water quality impact and applicability to the regional water plan.

The state’s infrastructure authority in return commits funding to high-priority ranked projects, allowing the program to leverage funds from other resources, such as the EPA safe drinking water and clean water revolving loan funds administered by the Green River ADD. Jiten Shah, Executive Director of the Green River ADD explained, “Our work is part of Kentucky’s overall goal to provide potable water to every Kentuckian by 2020.”

For More Information Contact: Jiten Shah, Green River ADD at 270/926-4433. EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds at 202/260-7786; email center.water-resource@epa.gov or visit www.epa.gov/owow; To find out about your region’s watershed(s) visit www.epa.gov/surf.

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