LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY | Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto
A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
The report tracks interim progress on the actions accomplished in Fiscal Year 2011 by Task Force member states and federal agencies and their partners to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loading in the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Masin (MARB) and, ultimately, to reduce the size and severity of the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone.
The USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC) had its origins in the 1990 Farm Bill. It began as a Forest Service Research and State & Private Forestry effort in 1992 and expanded into a partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in 1995. It is administered by the Forest Service's, Washington, DC, office of Research and Development. NAC offices are located in Lincoln, Nebraska and Blacksburg, Virginia. NAC accelerates the application of agroforestry through a national network of partners. Together, we conduct research, develop technologies and tools, coordinate demonstrations and training, and provide useful information to natural resource professionals. Agroforestry intentionally combines agriculture and forestry to create integrated and sustainable land-use systems. Agroforestry takes advantage of the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock. Agroforestry practices include: Alley Cropping, Forest Farming, Riparian Forest Buffers, Silvopasture, and Windbreaks.
Established by Section 320 of the Clean Water Act; Provides for the identification of nationally significant estuaries that are threatened by pollution; for preparation of conservation and management plans; Provides for Federal grants to State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies to implement the plans. The National Estuary Program (NEP) is a network of voluntary community-based programs that safeguards the health of important coastal ecosystems across the country. The Barataria-Terrebonne NEP (BTNEP) is a NEP in Louisiana.
The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is the surface water component of The National Map. The NHD is a digital vector dataset used by geographic information systems (GIS). It contains features such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, canals, dams and streamgages. These data are designed to be used in general mapping and in the analysis of surface-water systems.
The Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve is part of the National Park Service and USGS Water Quality Partnership. Project types include technical assistance and fixed station monitoring. Information on water quality, and fish and aquatic invertebrate community is available for Barataria Preserve in Louisiana.
This program empowers U.S. Geological Survey scientists and National Park Service resource managers to work in a partnership setting to provide the hydrologic information and understanding needed to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. In 1998, the National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initiated the NPS/USGS Water Quality Partnership Program with support from the Clean Water Action Plan (Environmental Protection Agency 1998). Prior to 1998, NPS and the USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program worked together to implement a pilot water-quality monitoring program in national parks (Long et. al 1997, Long 1999). To date, 173 partnership projects have been implemented in 115 national park units. The program supports a range of science activities focused on providing Park resource managers data and information necessary to make scientifically defensible management and policy decisions. These activities range in scope from basic technical assistance to fixed station monitoring to intensive/synoptic projects. The Jean Lafitte Preserve (Barataria) is located within Louisiana.
Established by Section 402 of the Clean Water Act Controls point-source discharges from treatment plants and industrial facilities (including large animal and poultry confinement operations).
Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) are agricultural operations where animals are kept and raised in confined situations. AFOs generally congregate animals, feed, manure, dead animals, and production operations on a small land area. Feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures. Animal waste and wastewater can enter water bodies from spills or breaks of waste storage structures (due to accidents or excessive rain), and non-agricultural application of manure to crop land.
In 1987 the CWA was amended to require EPA to establish a program to address storm water discharges. In response, EPA promulgated the NPDES storm water permit application regulations. Storm water discharge associated with industrial activity means the discharge from any conveyance which is used for collecting and conveying storm water and which is directly related to manufacturing, processing, or raw materials storage areas at an industrial plant (40 CFR 122.26 ). These regulations require that facilities with the following storm water discharges apply for an NPDES permit: (1) a discharge associated with industrial activity; (2) a discharge from a large or medium municipal storm sewer system; or (3) a discharge which EPA or the state/tribe determines to contribute to a violation of a water quality standard or which is a significant contributor of pollutants to waters of the United States.
A number of NPDES permit program areas affect how a municipality handles its sanitary wastewater and stormwater runoff. Properly managed municipal facilities, such as publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), and wastewater systems, such as separate and combined storm sewer systems, play an important role in protecting community health and local water quality. Municipalities rely on assistance from other partners, such as industry, developers, and homeowners, to ensure that they can meet the requirements contained in their municipal NPDES permits. Municipal staff, who are responsible for meeting NPDES permit obligations, must understand how the NPDES permit program works, who should be involved and educated about the NPDES program, and what information is available to help perform their jobs effectively.