SIFN members participate in a break out session.

SIFN Holds 3rd Annual Workshop

The Southern Instream Flow Network (SIFN) held its third annual workshop December 1-2, 2010, in Orange Beach, Alabama. Forty-three participants from resource agencies and universities, three federal agencies, and two non-profit organizations, represented 11 states in the southeast region.  The workshop produced several valuable outcomes including discussion of next steps to implement the Research Agenda and guide researchers and funding sources towards productive research needed to support protective state instream flow standards.  Continued progress was also made on the development of a river classification framework, with working sessions dedicated to gathering participant input, and the hydrologic alteration assessment, the status of which was presented.  As a result of a data sharing effort facilitated by SIFN, nine states are now contributing fisheries data to the Multistate Aquatic Resource Information System (MARIS), which will help researchers develop stronger flow-ecology relationships and ultimately work toward stronger instream flow protections.

In addition to presentations on the compilation of a regional aquatic database, the development of a river classification framework, ecological responses to flow alteration in the region, and communicating the value of instream flows, three other presentations were featured.  Dr. Paul Montagna of the University of Texas, Corpus Christi described his efforts and progress in developing estuarine freshwater inflow needs for Gulf of Mexico estuaries, and ways that SIFN could support that work.  Rua Mordecai, the Science Coordinator for the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (SALCC), connected work by SIFN to the new U.S. Department of Interior LCC effort.  During a session addressing flow-ecology relationships, Tara Moberg of The Nature Conservancy's Pennsylvania Chapter provided information about how the Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration (ELOHA) was successfully applied in the Susquehanna River Basin. Workshop participants also had the opportunity to share updates on instream flow-related issues, challenges, and progress in their states and agencies.

The Southern Instream Flow Network was funded by a three year Multi-State Conservation Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service using Sportfish Restoration Funds.  The grant expired at the end of 2010.  SIFN will continue as a program of SARP, but funding will be limited and our funding source has changed.  The Network is receiving funding from the SALCC to support critical work over the course of the next year.  While SIFN will maintain a regional presence, the focus for the next year will be on the south Atlantic states. Freshwater inflows to south Atlantic estuaries will be one of several important issues applicable to the broader region that SIFN will address.  We want to thank to all presenters, participants and supporters for making this year's workshop, and the entire three year SIFN project, a success.

For more information, contact Mary Davis at mdavis@tnc.org.  To access workshop presentations and handouts click here.

Science & Data Committee Hones Prioritization Efforts

During the last quarter of the year, SARP's Science & Data (S&D) Committee continued to make strides in its development of assessment and prioritization tools.  The riparian assessment is complete; a white paper, spatial database and spatial analysis tool will be released in the coming weeks after a final review by the S&D Committee; and considerable progress has been made on the hydrologic alteration assessment.  Additionally, there have been positive developments with EPA Region IV's Water Quality Analysis Branch regarding data sets that will benefit the water quality assessment work that the S&D Committee is undertaking.  SARP plans to work closely with EPA to include impaired waters, streams that have TMDL's developed, and water quality data to evaluate impairment of fish habitat.  EPA has also shared locations of their priority watersheds and specific watershed improvement projects to evaluate compatibility of SARP and EPA priorities for fish habitat restoration, protection, and water quality improvement. 

For more information about the work of the Science & Data Committee or to serve on the Prioritization Tool Subcommittee, contact Will Duncan at will_duncan@fws.gov.

Call For Nominations -- Gulf Guardian Awards

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's Gulf of Mexico Program partnership is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2011 Gulf Guardian Awards! First recognized in 2000, the awards were developed to honor the businesses, community groups, individuals, and organizations that are taking extraordinary steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. Awards will be presented at a special Gulf Guardian awards ceremony. SARP encourages nominations of individuals, organizations and projects that have positively impacted the quality of life and economic well being of the Gulf of Mexico.
 

For the year 2011, the Gulf of Mexico Program partnership will be awarding 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards for seven (7) categories: Business & Industry, Environmental Justice/Cultural Diversity, Civic/Non-Profit Organizations, Partnerships, Youth Environmental Education, Individual, and Bi-National partnership efforts. To complete a nomination application for 2011, go to the Gulf of Mexico Program's web site at http://www.epa.gov/gmpo, and then click on the Gulf Guardian Application button. Nominations are due by March 15, 2011. For more information, contact Diane Altsman at (228) 688-7015 or email at altsman.diane@epa.gov.