*Reprinted with permission from Stormwater magazine.www.StormH2o.com. Copyright 2012 Forester Media, Inc. All rights protected.*   

It is not unusual to hear from stormwater program staff who must track and report on permit compliance that the cooperation and support needed throughout their organization is not as effective as it could be. With an increased focus on enforcement from regulators and expanding complexity in permit requirements, local government stormwater managers need an effective strategy for engaging all of the operational units within their government to build a strong management program for their MS4 permit implementation.    

The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announces the opening of the 2013 DEP Environmental Education Grants Program. 

The program funds environmental education projects that address: 

• Watersheds
• Air Quality
• Brownfields
• Energy Education
• Environmental Literacy
• Formal and Non-formal EE Certification
• STEM Education
• Curriculum Revision or Integration Other Environment and Ecology Topics

Grant round opens: Oct. 1, 2012

Barbara Huberty manages stormwater for the City of Rochester, Minnesota with the motto "Keeping it Clean."  Put away the PowerPoint presentations for your next educational event and take a cue from Huberty - throw a party and offer ponds up for adoption!  Besides popularizing rain gardens as examples of sustainable gardens, Barbara has amped up community awareness with other fun ideas like a "Race for the Watershed." 

Rain Garden Parties 

Rochester asks residents who have received help with installing a rain garden on their property to pay it forward.  Following the model of  "Tupperware® parties," the proud homeowner commits to host a rain garden party at their house and invites guests to attend.  At the party, the host leads a variety of fun, interactive activities and distributes materials empowering homeowners to get started with their own native plantings. Resources on the Rochester Stormwater website include a host guide, party kit contents, checklist and more! 

Adopt a Pond 

Like the Adopt a Highway program in Pennsylvania, the Adopt a Storm Water Pond program allows community groups, businesses and individuals to improve water quality by agreeing to personally care for City-owned storm water ponds. Volunteers can be recognized with a sign at the pond or on the City's stormwater website.

Visit Rochester's stormwater website for more ideas.

DCNR to Require Leases from Gas Companies Drilling under Publicly-Owned Waterways

Early this summer, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) issued a policy statement on "Shale Gas Development Beneath Publicly-Owned Streambeds." The policy requires gas companies to obtain leases and pay when traversing publicly owned streams and rivers. Because the mineral rights beneath publicly-owned streambeds belong to the state, Marcellus Shale gas companies are required to obtain a lease before drilling beneath a streambed owned by the citizens of the Commonwealth.  

What does publicly-owned mean? Any waterway in the Commonwealth is considered publicly-owned if it is, or has ever been, used for commercial trade or travel. The unofficial list and maps of the waterways compiled by DCNR include hundreds of streams throughout the state's Marcellus Shale region. (DCNR notes that the list is not final.) The Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers are examples of publicly-owned waterways which are located in areas currently being drilled.  

DCNR is working on agreements with companies who want to drill horizontally under streams and rivers and those who use hydraulic fracturing to draw gas from deep rock formations under these waterways. DCNR is also seeking compensation retroactively from gas companies that have already drilled under publicly-owned streams and rivers.