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. 01'\" ,.. n ') Ul. 0 u ..~. April 9, 1993 Issue No. 986 WESTERN STATES WATER TIIE WEEKLY NEWSLETfER OF THE WESTERN STATES WAlER COUNCIL Creekview Plaza, Suite A-201/942 East 7145 So. 1 Midvale, Utah 84047 1 (801) 561-5300 1 FAX (801) 255-%42 editor - Tony Willardson typist Carrie Curvin ENVIRONMENT/WATEA QUAUTY Watershed Management . The state of Oregon's Governor's Watershed Enhancement Board (GWEB) has joined other state and local agencies to implement measures to protect the state's watersheds. Motivated by a desire to reverse the decline ill migratory fish populations, GWEB, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program, programs of the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon State University Extension Service, and soil and water conservation districts now have approximately 200 projects in various stages of operation. Most focus on stream dynamics, and how stream conditions can be modified to improve watershed attributes. Rocks, logs, and other obstructions are placed in waterways, with riprap on shorelines for stabilization. Efforts are made to increase water flows, reduce summer temperatures, improve spawning gravel quantity and quality, and trap vegetation. On agriculluralland, fences are used to protect streams from grazing animals and screens are used to protect fish from irrigation works. Buffer areas are created in forests along streams, and old logging roads are re- vegetated. . Oregon officials report a change in attitude among many who are involved in watershed protection programs as they participate and their efforts begin to show success. Demonstration projects provide good examples and 'hands-on' learning opportunities, while positive peer pressure, other types of education, and other incentives also exist. A number of showcase projects are currently ill operation. Some observers hope that one outcome of President Clinton's summit on the spotted owl controversy might be funding to involve unemployed loggers in forest/watershed restoration projects. chairman - Dave Kennedy executive director - Craig Bell WATER QUAUTY Clean Water Act-AeauthoritationlNon-point Source Pollution (NPSP) Rep. James Oberstar's (D-MN) staff is circulating a draft bill dated March 18 entitled 'The Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Prevention Act of 1993' which builds on Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319. The bill requires revision in state NPSP management programs to target high priority watersheds for special management efforts. EPA would be required to issue implementing regulations and guidelines. Following this, states would have two years to determine priorities for watershed protection. Five priority groups would be recognized. Using 'site-level implementation programs,' states would require landowners and operators to target watersheds for NPSP monitoring and abatement. The purpose of the implementation program would be 'to achieve full restoration and protection...before the expiration of the four-year period beginning on the date of approval of the implementation program.' States would have enforcement responsibilities with respect to site-level programs. Each implementation program, however, would have to be submitted to and approved by EPA. States that do not have an approved NPSP program would be prohibited from issuing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits alld Section 404 wetlands permits, and would lose CWA Section 319 funds. After six years, states would be required to enforce more stringent protection measures for watersheds that were not yet fully restored. Where states failed to implement programs, EPA would design programs for them. Citizen actions programs would be established to help state officials with water quality monitoring. Also, NPSP abatement on federal lands would be