Project Grant 02J96401

DESCRIPTION:SECTION 320 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT AUTHORIZES THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE EPA TO CONVENE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR ESTUARIES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT ARE THREATENED BY POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT, OR OVERUSE. THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO TILLAMOOK ESTUARIES PARTNERSHIP (TEP) FOR NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (NEP) TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEP COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY, PROTECT THE NATURAL HABITAT AND LIVING RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE HUMAN USES IN THE ESTUARY. TEP BUILDS ON THEIR CURRENT PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS AND PROVIDES A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF RESTORATION, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT, DEVELOPING NEW TECHNICAL TOOLS AND FILLING GAPS IN THE EXISTING SCIENCE AND MONITORING INFORMATION. THEIR COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP APPROACH IS INTENDED TO RESTORE HABITAT WHILE ADVANCING SCIENCE AND IMPROVING ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE NEP STUDY AREA, AS WELL AS EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE TILLAMOOK BAY ESTUARY.ACTIVITIES:THE RECIPIENT WILL PRIMARILY SUPPORT STAFF TO PERFORM PROJECTS THAT IMPLEMENT THE EPA APPROVED COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING THREE OVERARCHING GOALS: MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE BENEFICIAL USES OF ESTUARIES AND WATERSHEDS FOR HUMANS AND NATIVE AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL SPECIES; CONSERVE AND RESTORE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF TILLAMOOK COUNTY'S ESTUARIES AND WATERSHEDS TO BENEFIT NATIVE AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL SPECIES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND OF THEM; AND FOSTER AWARENESS OF TILLAMOOK COUNTY'S ESTUARIES AND WATERSHEDS, ENGAGE IN PROBLEM SOLVING, AND TAKE ACTION TO CONSERVE AND ENHANCE NATURAL RESOURCES. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS THE KEY CHALLENGES FACING THE ESTUARY INCLUDING ASSESSING TRENDS IN WATER QUALITY, HABITATS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND USES, COORDINATING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CCMP BY THE NEP, ALONG WITH THE STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL AGENCIES, STAKEHOLDERS, NGOS, CITIZENS, PARTNERS, AND OTHERS; AND MONITORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED UNDER THE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE APPROVED CCMP AND ANNUAL WORKPLAN.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES AND DELIVERABLES INCLUDE MEASURABLE PROGRESS TOWARD THE FOLLOWING GOALS: MEET OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BACTERIA STANDARDS AT 50% OF MONITORING SITES BY 2028 DUE TO IMPROVED FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND IMPROVED RESIDENTIAL/URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE; IDENTIFY STATUS AND TRENDS AND QUANTIFY CHANGING CONDITIONS TO INFORM ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IMPACTING TILLAMOOK COUNTY ESTUARIES; CREATE SEPTIC SYSTEM INVENTORY WHICH FOCUSES ON PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO STREAMS, RIVERS, SLOUGHS, AND BAYS, AND WHICH MAY BE USED TO PRIORITIZE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BY 2028; PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTNER-LED HABITAT MONITORING EFFORTS TO BUILD CAPACITY AND TO ENSURE STANDARDIZED METHODOLOGIES AND COMPARABLE DATA ACROSS PACIFIC COASTAL REGION; SUPPORT THE LONG TERM OBJECTIVE OF RECONNECTING AND RESTORING TIDAL WETLANDS, AND PROVIDE GENETICALLY APPROPRIATE NATIVE VEGETATION AND PROMOTE ITS USE AMONG HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT PARTNERS; AND MINIMIZE LIMITING FACTORS FOR MIGRATION OF SALMONIDS AND LAMPREY. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS GRANT AND NATIONAL PROGRAM ARE THE PUBLIC AND THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK AND RECREATE IN AND AROUND TILLAMOOK COUNTY'S ESTUARIES AND WATERSHEDS.