Forum-Global Warming in the Delaware Valley

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia will host a large public forum on May 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., where a panel of scientists and policy experts will discuss the impacts of "Global Warming in the Delaware Valley." This free, town hall-style meeting is one installment in the Academy's "Town Square" series, which is taking place at the museum's headquarters.

Sustainable Community Workshop - PA

Green Village Philadelphia is bringing Paolo Lugari to Philadelphia for a public talk and a unique three day workshop on sustainable community development. Paolo Lugari founded Gaviotas, a sustainable village in rural Colombia that battled the constant threat of Colombia's political turbulence and the country's barren landscape. The event will consist of:

Public Talk: May 1st
Weekend Workshop: May 2 - 4th
Intimate Brunch with Paulo: May 4th

For more information on this event, click here. The event is co-sponsored by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia.

PADEP Offers Growing Greener Workshop

PA DEP will hold an informational session at 1 p.m. on April 22 in Harrisburg to help watershed groups, municipal officials, and community planners apply for 2008 Growing Greener I and II grants. The session will be held at DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office Building and will last until 3 p.m. The session will include a brief overview of the 2008 Growing Greener application package followed by a question and answer session.

F. X. Browne, Inc. can assist with the application and implementation of Growing Greener grant projects. Growing Greener applications must be postmarked or hand delivered by May 16.
For more information on how F. X. Browne, Inc. can help, please contact us.

PA 2008 Integrated List Released

Pennsylvania's 2008 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report and impaired streams listing has been released. The 2008 Report (also known as the 303(d) List or Integrated List) contains summaries of various water quality management programs including water quality standards, point source control, and nonpoint source control. It also includes descriptions of programs designed to protect lakes, wetlands and groundwater quality.

The 2008 Integrated List shows that nearly 16,000 miles out of the 85,399 miles assessed and 38,357 acres of the 74,616 acres of lakes assessed do not meet Pennsylvania water quality standards. To see which lakes and streams are listed as impaired, and for which parameters, check out the report.

Stormwater Webcast Features Urban Retrofit Practices

EPA is presenting a new Stormwater Webcast- The Art and Science of Stormwater Retrofitting, on April 9- 12 - 2 pm EDT. EPA has provided funding to the Center for Watershed Protection to develop a detailed manual to help communities identify, plan, and implement stormwater retrofit practices that will result in water quality improvements. The new "Urban Stormwater Retrofit Practices" manual addresses retrofitting existing urban lands, such as parking lots, residential streets, conveyance systems, and landscaped areas. This webcast will feature presentations from noted experts in the field, including a case study from the City of Charlottesville, VA, which has implemented an effective retrofit planning process. To register for this webcast, please visit www.epa.gov/npdes/training

Fish and Boat Commission State Wildlife Grants Due May 5

The Fish and Boat Commission announced it will accept applications for the State Wildlife Grant Program until May 5. The projects funded through the grant program will address high-priority conservation needs for endangered, threatened and at-risk reptile, amphibian, fish and aquatic invertebrate species across Pennsylvania. Priority topics include: reintroduction of native mussels, at-risk herptile species surveys and status assessments, mussel community assessment in the Lower Susquehanna Basin, and biodiversity of fish assemblages of the Middle and Upper Allegheny River, as well as projects that supply multiple benefits to multiple species.

April Sustainable Environments Launched

The April 2008 edition of our e-newsletter, Sustainable Environments, has been launched. This month's newsletter features an article by F. X. Browne, Inc. Senior Scientist/Fluvial Geomorphologist Deborah Slawson, Ph.D. about natural stream channel design methods used in one of our recent dam removal projects.

WARNING: Killer Mermaids Invade Storm Sewers

We have breaking news to report at this hour.

A client from Cape May, NJ was out walking her dog when suddenly, out of the storm sewer came a tendril of blonde hair that wrapped around her dog's tail and tried to drag the beast down! Fortunately, the woman carries pinking shears in her purse and was able to cut the animal loose to save it, but not before she caught a glimpse of the hideous monster retreating into the depths of the storm grate. A hideous thing, with day-glo scales, an oddly disproportunately shaped body, and excessive amounts of eye makeup. A passerby was able to capture a video clip of this disturbing monster. Beware, the Killer Mermaids are lurking, biding their time, growing ever stronger consuming the nutrients that trickle into their lair with the stormwater runoff.....beware.....

They grow stronger on their diet of spring meltwater....

Only filtration measures and stormwater management practices can save us now!



Oh yeah, and APRIL FOOL!