CICEET Progress Report for the period 9/01/08 Through 2/15/09

Project Title: The Coastal Plain Watershed Network: Adapting, Testing and Transferring Effective Tools to Protect Coastal Plain Watersheds
Principal Investigator(s): Karen Cappiella, Deborah Caraco, Neely Law, Chet Arnold
Project Start Date: October 5, 2007
Report Compiled By: Deborah Caraco

Tables

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Objective Description
Conduct a critical evaluation of existing watershed protection tools to produce revised, effective and simplified tools that are appropriate for coastal plain watershed and the smaller units of government contained within them over an 18 month period.

Tasks to meet objectives
Task 2. Refine Coastal Land Cover Model

Task 4. Revise 8 Tool Framework for Coastal Plain Watersheds

Progress on Tasks
During the reporting period, the project team conducted a review of forty-six research studies that evaluate land use indicators and their influence on the quality of aquatic resources in the coastal plain. See Table 1 for a summary of studies reviewed. The database contains fields that summarize the basic elements of each study (e.g., study location, watershed size, water resource type, land use indicators studied) and key findings. Studies that evaluated multiple land use indicators were included as separate entries for each indicator, for a total of 85 entries in the database.

Once the database was complete, the project team met to discuss which land cover measures were the best predictors of water quality. Based on this discussion, the team drafted an internal review article that summarized results based on the following indicators:

• impervious Cover / Developed and Urban Land / Urban Intensity Index,
• forest and Riparian Cover,
• wetlands, and
• septic systems

As discussed in the “Progress Report for the Period March 1 through August 31, 2008” the team decided to present the eight tools framework in a special electronic issue the Center’s Watershed Protection Techniques journal, which the Center published between 1994 and 2001. An outline of this special issue is provided in Table 2. The “Introduction to the Special Issue” is complete in draft form, and summarizes the land cover research, the survey results (See Objective 5) and an overview of how the 8 tools can be applied in the Coastal Plain.

The team has begun researching and drafting the remaining articles, which describe each of the eight tools in more detail. Although each feature article will be distinct, each article will follow the same basic outline for consistency (See Table 3). During the reporting period, the team met to discuss each of the eight tools in light of the results of the Needs Survey (See Objective 5), and identify possible external reviewers for each article.

The team developed a draft of the feature article entitled, “Adapting piedmont practices for coastal stormwater management” and presented this material to a group of 100 stormwater managers at the Center’s Stormwater Institute, 3-day workshop that took place in Savannah, GA in October of 2008. The team is currently finalizing this article.

Difficulties
The literature review and database for the land cover model are complete, but the team has not finally edited the resulting article, and has not been provided a copy to CICEET. This team will complete the article early in the next reporting period.

Objective Description
Deliver a multi-pronged training program that actively engage 250 innovators, applied researchers, evaluators, producers and local adopters through the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain on how to locally adapt and adopt the improved watershed protection tools by the end of the project.

Tasks to meet objectives
Task 5: Testing and Training of Coastal Plain Tools in Real World Settings

Progress on Tasks
In October of 2008, the Center for Watershed conducted a 3-day workshop, the “Stormwater Management Institute” in Savannah, GA. Over 100 stormwater practitioners from the Southeastern United States attended the workshop. The sessions of the Stormwater Institute focused on Coastal Plain management issues.

Difficulties
None

Objective Description
Work with up to five pilot coastal plain communities to apply, test and refine the improved 8 Tool Framework during and after the project period.

Tasks to meet objectives
Task 5: Testing and Training of Coastal Plain Tools in Real World Settings

Progress on Tasks
The Center has been working with several Coastal Plain Communities during the reporting period. As a part of ongoing work, the Center completed the “Georgia Coastal Stormwater Supplement.” The document serves as a supplement to Georgia’s statewide stormwater manual, focusing on the coastal plain. Although the document focuses on stormwater, it makes specific recommendations with regard to the other eight tools, including: Aquatic Buffers, Land Conservation, Better Site Design, and Erosion Control. Communities throughout Georgia’s Coastal Plain will apply this document.

The Center has also been working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) program under a grant from NOAA. As a part of this project, the Center is making recommendations to local, state, and federal agencies of Southeast Florida to reduce “Land Based Sources of Pollution” that impact the coral reef. The Eight Tools framework is the basis for these recommendations. During the reporting period, Center staff conducted a program review based on a survey conducted by the SEFCRI office, and made draft recommendations.

Under a grant from the Town Creek Foundation, the Center is reviewing stormwater programs, development codes, and the Comprehensive Plan for Caroline County, a coastal plain community in Maryland. During the reporting period, the Center reviewed local development codes, and began reviewing the County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Difficulties
None

Objective Description
Create a collaborative network of at least 30 coastal plain watershed/land use planning experts to develop, review and endorse and disseminate the improved watershed tools. Partner with NEMO and other national organizations that represent coastal interests to amplify dissemination efforts.

Tasks to meet objectives
Task 3. Create Coastal Plain Watershed Network

Progress on Tasks
The project team has identified potential stormwater network members and has begun started to contact these individuals, both to review articles and to participate in the stormwater network. Initial discussions have focused primarily on the needs of communities, and how to structure the network to meet these needs.

Difficulties
Defining the specific nature of the network (e.g., list serve versus web site) has proved challenging, but has been informed by survey results and initial discussions with coastal plain organizations.

Objective Description
Survey 100 progressive and unprepared communities to characterize the social, economic and technical factors that promote/impede the adoption of local watershed protection tools, and define their preferences and formats for future support.

Tasks to meet objectives
Task 1.Needs Survey of Coastal Plain Planners and Coastal Communities

Progress on Tasks
During the reporting period, the team completed the Needs Survey, and submitted a technical memo to CICEET describing the results

Difficulties
None.

Data Generated to date
Compiled survey responses.

Database of research articles for the coastal plain land cover model.

Project Objectives for Next Reporting Period

Description of Project Objectives
Objective 1: Conduct a critical evaluation of existing watershed protection tools to produce revised, effective and simplified tools that are appropriate for coastal plain watershed and the smaller units of government contained within them over an 18 month period.

Objective 4: Create a collaborative network of at least 30 coastal plain watershed/land use planning experts to develop, review and endorse and disseminate the improved watershed tools. Partner with NEMO and other national organizations that represent coastal interests to amplify dissemination efforts.

Work Plan to Meet Objectives
Work will begin or continue on the following tasks in support of the above objectives:
Task 2. Refine Coastal Land Cover Model

Task 3. Create Coastal Plain Watershed Network

Task 4. Revise 8 Tool Framework for Coastal Plain Watersheds

In support of Task 2, the team will provide a report to CICEET in the form of a Watershed Protection Techniques article that describes database results, and a copy of the raw data.

In support of Task 3, the project team will work with network members to refine initial eight tool articles. In addition, the team will develop a final list of “core” network members, and develop a more detailed plan to expand the network.

In support of Task 4, the project team will complete draft versions of all Techniques articles for external review.

Expenditures
As of February 28, 2009, $102,232.87 of the project budget had been expended. This is within the range anticipated for the work accomplished to date.

What Else?
The Center submitted a proposal to the Royal Bank of Canada’s Blue Water Initiative to expand the scope of the Watershed Network and work with three coastal plain communities.