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· "f and private sectors for a wide variety of planning, design and management functions.... USGS internet sites providing streamflow data...are currently visited an average of one million times each day". Last year, ten senators wrote then Secretary Gale Norton suggesting the appropriate federal investment in . the collection and management of water resources data - given a wide range of federal responsibilities and programs that depend on such data - required CWP/NSIP spending increase by $180M over five years, with at least $20M more annually for NSIP and $15M more for CWP. The organizations signing in full support of the funding request include: the American Canoe Association, American Institute of Hydrology, American Rivers, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water Works Association, American Whitewater Association, Association of American State Geologists, Association of State Dam Safety Officials, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Appalachian Mountain Club, Coastal States Organization, Environmental Defense, Federation of Flyfishers, Interstate Council on Water Policy, National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, National Ground Water Association, National Water Resources Association, National Wildlife Federation, Professional Paddlesports Association, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, Water Environment Federation and the Western States Water Council. Personnel Changes at EP A: Michael Deane has been named Senior Policy Advisor for Infrastructure Financing in EPA's Office of Water and will begin work on August 28. Michael previously worked for the Office of Water from 1988-1995. Since then, he has worked extensively in the private sector demonstrating expertise in infra-structure financing and partnership building. Brent Fewell will serve as EP A Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations from September through January. Fewell will have responsibility for managing EPA's relations with Congress as well as state and local governments. Ann Klee has resigned as EPA General Counsel and rejoined the Washington D.C. Office of Crowell & . Moring LLP, as a partner in the natural resources and environmental group. $19 Million in EPA Grants to be Awarded: Under the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EP A) plans to award up to $19M in grants to help clean and restore the Nation's waterways. Since 2003, EPA has awarded nearly $40M to 46 watershed organizations covering more than 142,000 square miles. Over $2M has gone to five watershed capacity-building organizations to further the activities of more than 3,000 local watershed groups. This grant cycle will focus on community-based watershed approaches and strengthening local capacity to protect and clean up water resources. EPA's due dates for proposals are October 16, for capacity-building grants, and November 15, for project-implementation grants. For details go to: http://www.epa.gov/twg and http://www . grants. gov . End Date for EQIP Energy Conservation Initiative Extended: On August 24 NRCS announced it had extended the deadline for completing environmental projects to qualify for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) energy cost assistance until December 29. Prior to this announcement the deadline for completion of the EQIP projects was September 1. The one-time payment adjustment is available only to program participants who signed EQIP contracts in 2004 or earlier and who have EQIP practices that have been delayed due to increasing energy costs. For more information contact your local USDA Service Center or the EOIP Web page. Montana Issues Call on Yellowstone River: In a July 28 letter to Wyoming's State Engineer, Montana issued a formal "call" demanding the release of water to satisfy the 1950 Yellowstone River Compact. Mary Sexton, Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) Director, wrote: "In mid-July this year, the flows recorded at the gaging stations closest to the Montana-Wyoming border showed that . 8