President's Message

It is all a matter of perspective.

The fish pictured here weighed about twice as much as a Minnesota northern pike of the same length. Walleye, the Minnesota state fish, were so plentiful, at one point I caught over 20 in a 40-minute period with a bare jig hook. I no longer fish in Minnesota – although many people do and they have a wonderful experience – but I cannot replicate my Canadian experience. I spent two weeks ‘in the bush’ and thoroughly enjoyed myself and was completely relaxed. Part of my experience was the company – two of my father’s high school buddies who have kept up the fishing tradition 18 years after my father died. Part of it was the environment – in the boonies with no phones or any other communication - we were alone for 12 days on this remote lake. Believe it or not, I did see a small algae bloom in one of the back bays, but we also enjoyed three bald eagle families fishing with us.

What got me thinking was – why were these fish so big and plentiful when my experience in Minnesota lakes was the opposite, and Minnesota lakes are highly managed (stocking, slot limits, etc.)? I don’t think it was the remoteness. The lake was regulated by a First Nations tribe, and we could only use single, barbless hooks with no live bait; we were required to catch and release everything but shore lunch; and they regulated the number of anglers. Sometimes “management” is not doing things.

Here is the point I want to make – lakes can be managed in this way, if we are willing to set aside the idea that all lakes can be all things for all people. When lakes are managed for a single purpose, like trophy northern pike, they will not support all other recreational objectives. This area of Canada (sorry, a secret) has the luxury of thousands of lakes in an unpopulated area, so this approach works. Most other places do not enjoy those luxuries of course. That does not mean lake managers do not confront these issues and conflicts. Too often we try to squeeze multiple conflicting or competing objectives into our management approaches. To overcome this, lakes must be viewed in a larger policy context. For example, should some lakes be set aside for single purposes, meaning restricting or prohibiting other uses or values? If so, how is this reconciled in lake-poor regions? Challenging questions, but the flip side is lakes being managed for multiple uses and values, which often leads to more uses, but of diminished quality.

Other Happenings - by Osgood

The Chicago Lakes meeting is nearing. This year the theme is “Building Partnerships for Improved Fisheries and Lake Water Quality.” As always, Bob Kirschner has organized a fast-paced and information-packed event. The NALMS Board takes advantage of this meeting venue too. Our semi-annual business meeting is on the afternoon of May 2nd, and a board retreat has been planned for all day on May 3rd. Any NALMS member interested in participating in the board retreat should contact Sharon Anderson, chair of NALMS Board Development Committee (steward@cayugalake.org) . All are welcome.

Lake Superior is down a half inch compared to normal April lake levels. This is significant in light of a trend of lower Great Lakes levels. Did you know that a half inch of water in Lake Superior represents a quarter of a trillion gallons!?

I had the honor and pleasure of attending the 5th Lake of the Woods Forum last month. Lake of the Woods, as well as Lake Winnipeg immediately downstream, is experiencing numerous challenges such as algae blooms, spiny waterflea, and fisheries impacts. The forum has been supported in significant part by two long-time NALMS members, Steve Heiskary and Bev Clark. The Forum has focused on better understanding the nature of these problems and coordinating a meaningful response among international jurisdictions. The principals of the Forum have clearly been active in monitoring and analysis. I challenged the Forum to begin implementing management actions.

Quote of the Month

“All the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this the have (the idea of) what ugliness is: they all know the skill of the skillful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is” Partial 2nd verse, Tao te Ching, Lao-Tsu.

            --Partial 2nd verse, Tao te Ching, Lao-Tsu.

Once we set standards - such as beauty or skill – then we are forced to consider the duality – such as ugly or unskilled. But these dualities are subjective - beauty in the eye of the beholder – and forces us into considering value scales. What we should strive for is considering all things as beautiful or skillful, not weighed against their opposites.

Now, I think this has practical meaning. We are planning a board retreat in association with the Chicago Lakes meeting. The agenda is navigating the transition to a governance board. Any transition is necessarily a transition from something (which is known) to something else (which may not be known). As Tom Conry, NALMS Secretary, recently pointed out, we have known we want to make a transition for 10 years – let’s do it. I say, yes of course, and let’s make transition to something “beautiful” – that is, we know what we have and while we may not know what the future version may look like, it will not be “ugly.” When a transition is not viewed as a duality, I believe we can be most productive.

Arlo Guthrie paraphrased the Tao quote like this: “You can’t have a light without a dark to stick it in.” He also said (or sung), “You can get anything you want …” But then, how is that reconciled with the Rolling Stones? Sorry, dualities again.

Alright, it is perhaps getting strained, but it is better than counting Susan’s days of employment (178).

Within NALMS - Word from the Executive Director - Susan Urbas

I would like to take this opportunity to announce the exciting news that NALMS has been awarded a Clean Water Grant by the Boat U.S. Foundation. The Clean Water Grant Program funds projects which educate boaters about actions they can take to reduce their impact on the environment while boating. The focus of the 2008 Grant Program is on educating boaters about practical habits that will help prevent the further spread of invasive species. NALMS applied for a grant to help us create a series of pocket-sized card reminders, initially focusing on the identification of Eurasian Watermilfoil, Zebra Mussels, Hydrilla, and Curlyleaf Pondweed, with a few simple steps that recreational boaters can take to prevent their spread to other lakes. While NALMS is certainly not the first organization to produce cards aimed at educating lake users, our purpose in applying for the Boat U.S. Foundation grant was to begin to generate tools which we can put in the hands of our Affiliates and their networks of lake associations to accomplish our shared mission. We expect the NALMS cards to be made available to our affiliates by spring 2009. In the meantime, we will be exploring other avenues for expanding the content and reach of this effort.

As we head into the 21st Annual National Conference on Enhancing the States’ Lake Management Programs in Chicago at the end of this month, I want to take a moment to encourage those who will be attending the conference to participate in two events:

Affiliates Meeting: Wednesday, April 30th, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Both NALMS President Dick Osgood and I will be there to launch a new initiative for strengthening the relationship between NALMS and its Affiliate members. The Chicago meeting is an ideal forum for beginning to map out an action plan. For background to this initiative, see my column in the Spring 2008 issue of LakeLine. You can also contact Steve Lundt for more details about the meeting.

Board Development Retreat: Saturday, May 3rd, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Do not be dissuaded from participating in this event by the ominous sounding title. To be sure, it is focused on starting to make an orderly transition in our organizational structure to a governance Board. But it does “take a village” to succeed in accomplishing this evolution, because what is involved is more than merely a tweaking of the Board itself. Every member of the NALMS community who self-identifies as among its past, current, and future leaders is also a part of this process and needs to be part of understanding the elements of transition and the part they can play in helping to accomplish it. It promises to be both an enlightening and enjoyable event. (See the March E-Newsletter for more details).

An RSVP is the price of admission. If you wish to participate in the retreat and commit to taking an active role in shaping NALMS for the future, please RSVP to Sharon Anderson, Chair of the NALMS Board Development Committee, via e-mail at steward@cayugalake.org by April 15, 2008 (a date we know you won’t forget). If you would like to discuss the retreat with Sharon, please call her on her mobile phone at 607-280-5580.

Susan Urbas
NALMS Executive Director

NALMS Committee Updates

Help Out a Fellow NALMS Member – Looking for Your Experience Dealing with Clashing Mega-Farms and Neighboring Residents

Below is a request from Sharon Anderson, Watershed Steward for the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network in New York. Please send any advice or suggestions directly to Sharon.

Request by Sharon Anderson
In the past decade, the size of dairy farms in central New York have grown significantly, with smaller farms sold or rented to entities that now run much larger farms. As a result, non-agricultural neighbors and the residents of the remaining small farms live near operations that have increased their herd size ten fold. At the same time, residential populations have increased and fewer families are engaged in agriculture. Residents not involved in farming and from smaller farms blame the larger farms for perceived degradation of water quality and quantity. While the intensity of these concerns have ebbed and flowed over the past four to five years, the trajectory is clearly toward increasing conflict.

This type of conflict is not unique to Central New York. I am seeking information on how others have attempted to address this type of concern. Please contact me, Sharon Anderson (Cayuga Lake Watershed Network) at 607-280-5580 or steward@cayugalake.org if you have successful and unsuccessful experiences to share.

Thanks,

Sharon K. Anderson
Watershed Steward
www.cayugalake.org

Another Inquiry for Your Input from a NALMS Member

This is from Tom Gordon, NALMS President 1981. Please send any comments directly to Tom at Thomas.u.gordon@verizon.net. All replies will be held as confidential.

Request by Tom Gordon
In the latest issue of “Lake & Reservoir Management”, NALMS first President Denny Cooke called for social scientists to become more involved with lake management issues. And in the January 2008 NALMS Notes, our current President Dick Osgood suggested that lakes might be considered holy places.

I would go a little further and suggest that lakes are indeed holy places and that our spiritual connection to lakes drives and nourishes our commitment to lake management. Lately, I’ve been developing some writing on ecopsychology as part of my studies at Cherry Hill Seminary. Over the past three decades, I’ve read many technical papers, policy statements, educational articles, etc. from many of you in the lake management community. Now, I’d like to know:

• Have you ever had a spiritual connection with a lake?
• Has your lakes experience provided any form of restoration of your psyche or spirit?
• What caused you to work with lakes, vs. river or marine environments?
• Are you hopeful about the future of lakes?

To comment on any of these questions, or anything else that moves you, please feel free to correspond with me. I look forward to some interesting dialogue with you.

Tom Gordon
Rustling Leaves Sanctuary

9th Annual NALMS Lakes Appreciation Month Poster Contest

Promote the protection and stewardship of our aquatic resources by encouraging students to participate in the NALMS 2009 Lakes Appreciation Month Poster Contest. Both the students and their schools will benefit from this contest. The student winner will have their poster displayed throughout the country on the 2009 NALMS Lakes Appreciation Month poster and will receive a $100 cash prize. The school which the winner attends will receive a $500 cash prize to use towards materials related to lake ecology.

Students in grades 4-8 may participate. Poster themes should focus on any lake and watershed issues and may include topics such as pollution, aquatic invasive species, aquatic life, aquatic plants, lake ecology, and lake health. Posters should be no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches in size and be in a style that is easily reproduced (i.e., crayon, watercolor, colored pencil, or marker).

Please pass this early announcement along to those that may be interested in having their schools participate in this poster contest. The deadline for poster submission isn’t until October 31, 2008, but schools may like to do this as a spring project for their students and submit posters early. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Smagula at 603-271-2248 or asmagula@des.state.nh.us.

Time to Order Your 2008 Lakes Appreciation Month Posters

If you would like to order copies of this year’s attractive poster for Lakes Appreciation Month, please contact Amy Smagula (603-271-2248 or asmagula@des.state.nh.us). Act soon, the posters are popular for promoting local July lake events and go quickly every year.

Upcoming Conferences & Events

Call for Papers for NALMS 2008, 28th International Symposium - Lake Management in a Changing Environment

NALMS and the Alberta Lake Management Society invite you to submit an abstract and attend NALMS 2008 at Chateau Lake Louise, in beautiful Lake Louise, Alberta. Our symposium theme concerns lake management during unprecedented development, water scarcity, and climate change. The Call for Papers and other details are available on the NALMS website at www.nalms.org/Conferences/2008LakeLouise, and the deadline for abstracts is June 1, 2008.

Lake Louise Teaser – Fairmont Château

Fairmont Château Lake Louise is a four star, historic hotel located over a mile high in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Nestled within the pristine Banff National Park, this secluded landmark hotel will be your winter hut for the 2008 NALMS symposium. As you bounce from session to session and retreat from the captivating outdoors, this cherished Canadian icon will provide all the comforts that you will need. This fully renovated landmark hotel has 550 rooms, an award-winning spa & salon, and eight restaurants and lounges.

To compliment NALMS’s efforts to make the natural world a better place, the Château is recognized globally for progressive environmental stewardship and responsible tourism. So remember to hang your towel up and save some water.

Conference room rates start at $149 CDN plus tax for single and $169 CDN double occupancy for a Mountain View Fairmont Room. It doesn’t hurt to reserve your room now. Remember to identify yourself as being with NALMS so that you receive the conference rate. Other room rates will be available on the web ( http://www.fairmont.com/LakeLouise). To make your reservations for the Fairmont Château Lake Louise, call (403) 522-1866 or 1-800-441-1414.

National Monitoring Conference to be Held in Atlantic City, NJ

The sixth National Monitoring Conference will be held May 18th through 22nd in Atlantic City, NJ. Sponsored by the National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC) and USGS, the conference will feature the latest information on water quality monitoring science and practices. The conference will highlight the importance of monitoring in achieving the goal of clean water for all and will include over 300 platform presentations, technical posters, workshops, an exhibition, short courses, and regional tours. Information on NWQMC and previous conferences is at http://acwi.gov/monitoring/, while upcoming conference information can be found at www.wef.org/ConferencesTraining/ConferencesEvents/NatlWaterQualityMonitoringConference/. NALMS managed the 2006 version of this biennial conference; WEF is handling the 2008 conference, but a number of NALMS members are part of the planning effort.

2008 NALMS Southeast Regional Conference and FLMS Conference

The Florida Lake Management Society will host the 2008 NALMS Southeast Regional Conference in combination with the 19th Annual FLMS Conference and Meeting (FLMS 2008) at the beautiful Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Sandestin, Florida (www.sandestin.com) from June 2-5, 2008. The 2008 Conference will include a full day of workshops on Monday, June 2, covering a wide variety of lake management topics. Conference sessions begin on Tuesday, June 3 and run through the morning of Thursday, June 5. We have an exciting and informative agenda, with technical sessions held on a wide variety of topics related to water resources and lake management issues. The Conference will offer CEUs for the NALMS CLM/CLP certifications. An attendance of 200+ participants and 25+ exhibitors is expected. For more information, go to www.flms.net

East Coast Affiliates, Individual Members and CLM/CLPs!

The Rutgers University Office of Continuing Professional Education is pleased to offer the following classes in lake and water resource management. These courses have routinely been attended by members of the North American Lake Management Society. While they are New Jersey-based courses, the content is universal.

Pond Design, Management and Maintenance
May 1, 2008 This one-day class will help you properly design, maintain and manage your pond to minimize water quality problems while maximizing aesthetics and function. This course will be led by Dr. Stephen Souza, President, Princeton Hydro LLC (Past President, PALMS, 1993 and Past President, NALMS, 2001). For details, please visit: http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/courses/current/ew0315ca.html.

Stream Restoration
June 24, 25 and 26, 2008 This course is designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge in the science of applied fluvial geomorphology that practitioners can build upon as they seek to better understand natural channel stability and the variables determining river form. For details, please visit:http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/courses/current/al1101ca.html. 

Lake Management
October 30 and 31, 2008 From small ponds to large lakes, drinking water reservoirs to fishing lakes - if you want your lake and watershed management efforts to be successful, you need a technically sound foundation to properly investigate and diagnose water quality problems and to develop cost-effective, long-term restoration plans. This popular two-day course will teach you how to monitor water quality, identify problem algae and aquatic plants, and select the correct types of lake rehabilitation measures needed to protect, enhance or improve the quality of your pond, lake or reservoir. For details, please visit:http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/courses/current/ew0301ca.html. 

Lake News & Information

Correction for the March E-newsletter

In the item titled “New Partnership to Develop a "Practical Vision" for the Yahara Lakes” the website address was mistakenly shorted so that the link does not work. Here is the full URL address, http://www.danewaters.com/YaharaLakesLegacyPartnership.aspx. Sorry about the confusion.

Job Posting – FT Watershed Ecologist

Salary: $59,500k
Close Date: Friday, April 18th

The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) is a coalition of Huron Valley residents, businesses, and local governments. The Council is the oldest regional river protection organization in Michigan. The mission of the Council is to inspire attitudes, behaviors, and policies that protect, rehabilitate, and sustain the Huron River System. Services of the Council include hands-on citizen education, technical assistance, and direct river protection projects.

General Description: The Watershed Ecologist directs and implements HRWC’s river and lake monitoring programs. These programs focus on monitoring macroinvertebrates, habitat, geomorphology, and hydrology throughout the watershed. Some targeted chemical monitoring is also included. The Watershed Ecologist sets strategic direction for monitoring programs, oversees the monitoring, manages data input, and analyzes and presents the data results.

The Watershed Ecologist works with HRWC’s Adopt-A-Stream Director and other staff to enable volunteers to protect the river system by monitoring its condition and promoting stewardship by the local community. The Watershed Ecologist also leads the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), the statewide lake and stream volunteer monitoring program. Responsibilities for MiCorps include trainings, grant administration, quality control, and strategic direction for river and lake monitoring groups.

Qualifications: M.S. or Ph.D. in aquatic ecology or related field, experience with stream and lake monitoring methods and data analysis, and aquatic macroinvertebrate identification skills required. Creative thinker with excellent written and oral communication skills and editing ability. Proven project management and data collection and management skills. Ability to track and evaluate project progress and effectiveness. Commitment to an organization that requires staff time to maintain the culture of both participatory decision-making and support for other staff members to achieve their best.

Send resume, cover letter, a short example of writing and 3 references to:
Laura Rubin
Huron River Watershed Council
1100 N. Main St., Suite 210
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
lrubin@hrwc.org 

Countdown to YoS09

The Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) is preparing to shine the national spotlight on science in 2009 and beyond. Established in 2007, COPUS is making plans now to celebrate the Year of Science 2009 (YoS09). The goal of this national, year-long celebration of science is to engage the public and improve public understanding about the nature and process of science. COPUS is a grassroots network - composed of more than two hundred participating organizations representing universities, scientific societies, science centers and museums, government agencies, advocacy groups, media, educators, businesses, and industry - formed in response to recent concerns about national scientific literacy.

In concert with the formation of the national coalition, regionally based Hubs are forming in communities from coast to coast, including a tenth Regional Hub that recently formed in Boulder, CO. COPUS participants are crossing traditional scientific disciplinary boundaries and partnering with others within their communities to develop activities, programs, and special events in support of Year of Science 2009. By working together to coordinate programs and events that explore the overarching YoS09 theme, “How we know what we know,” COPUS participants are aiming to engage the general public in dynamic ways that will makes science personally meaningful and locally relevant.

COPUS planners have declared 2009 as the Year of Science because it coincides with the anniversary of a number of important events in the history of science, including the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species and the 200th anniversary of the birth of its author, Charles Darwin; the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, founder of the National Academy of Sciences; the 400th anniversary of the publication of Johannes Kepler’s first two Laws of Planetary Motion; and the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of a telescope to study the skies.

For more information about COPUS and the Year of Science 2009, please visit: www.copusproject.org or www.yearofscience2009.org.

AWWA Announces Educational Book for Children

Water Adventures Around the World, written by Sandy Koerner, Colin Murcray, and Gay Porter DeNileon and illustrated by Lisa Tarr, takes young readers along with Ryan and Kendra, two kids who live in rainy Washington State, as they use a magic postcard to travel around the world and learn about water. Stops along the way include the Olympic Rain Forest in Washington, Alaska's Glacier Bay, Antarctica, Gobi Desert in Mongolia, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Dead Sea in Israel, the River Seine in France, the Nile River in North Africa, and Argentina's Iguazu Falls. They somehow missed the new NALMS office in Madison, WI, but we’ll forgive them this time. In each locale, children learn something new about water: the three forms of water; the water cycle; water pollution and its effects on all life; fog and rainbow formation; fresh water and salt water, water conservation; and other useful information. Intended for grades 3 – 5, this 30-page softcover booklet is available for $4.50 through AWWA.

AP Report on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Leads to Congressional Response

The Associated Press (AP) published a three-part series on pharmaceuticals in source water and drinking water. According to the AP, the articles were the result of a 5-month long investigation in urban and rural areas in all fifty states. The first article reported that the AP found “minute concentrations of a vast array of pharmaceuticals” in the drinking water supplies of 24 of the 28 tested major metropolitan areas. Subsequent articles in the series discussed potential harm to animals and aquatic life and the lack of a federal strategy or mandates to regulate pharmaceuticals in water. The AP cited wastewater treatment plant discharges as well as failing septic systems and feedlots as sources of pharmaceuticals. The AP reports led Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) to ask EPA to establish a national task force, and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leaders Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced they will hold oversight hearings in early April. Senator Boxer wrote to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson on March 18 requesting more information about the agency’s plans for regulating the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in drinking water supplies.

Congressional Briefing on Water Availability

Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), held a briefing in March on water availability issues in the U.S. The briefing covered the connections between water use and water quality and how they can ultimately affect water availability for critical uses. Held in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program, the briefing highlighted a new USGS study on salinity in the Southwest and provided examples of how agricultural practices, pumping, and other water uses have impacted water quality in New Jersey and California.

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Water Strategy to Respond to Climate Change

EPA released a draft strategy on March 28 that describes the potential effects of climate change on clean water, drinking water, and ocean protection programs and outlines EPA actions to respond to these effects. The National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change focuses on actions designed to help managers adapt their water programs in response to a changing climate. This has been a hot topic of discussion among NALMS leaders in recent months, and is on President Osgood important issues agenda. Elements of the draft strategy include steps needed to strengthen links between climate research and water programs, and to improve education for water program professionals on potential climate change impacts. The strategy also identifies contributions that water programs can make to mitigate greenhouse gases. Some of the potential impacts of climate change on water resources reviewed in the strategy include increases in certain water pollution problems, changes in availability of drinking water supplies, and collective impacts on coastal areas. The public comment period is open until May 27th. The draft strategy is available at www.epa.gov/water/climatechange. The impact of actions to ease the energy crisis, like creation of more ethanol-based fuels and emphasis on electric automobiles, are worth evaluating; in many cases an energy issue is addressed by creating a water issue!

Yet Another Link to Global Warming – Lake Tahoe

Global warming and global climate change are two very popular phrases these days. From calculating your carbon footprint of reading this e-newsletter to linking unusual weather patterns, the talk of global warming is finding its way into every field of science, including lake and reservoir management. The Associated press came out with the below March 24th article about a new study on Lake Tahoe and how warmer epilimnion will reduce the frequency of lake turnovers. It is interesting to see how lakes and reservoirs will be affected by global warming – warmer water, shallower lakes, more algal blooms, etc… Only time will tell.

(Original article can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23784292/from/ET/ .)

RENO, Nev. - A new study predicts water circulation in Lake Tahoe is being dramatically altered by global warming, threatening the lake's delicate ecosystem and famed clear waters.

The University of California, Davis study said one likely consequence is warmer lake temperatures that will mean fewer cold-water native fish and more invasive species — like carp, largemouth bass and bluegill.

"What we expect is that deep mixing of Lake Tahoe's water layers will become less frequent, even nonexistent, depleting the bottom waters of oxygen," said Geoffrey Schladow, director of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center at U.S. Davis. On average, water in Lake Tahoe — at 1,644 feet deep — mixes every four years, the researchers said. The water circulation brings nutrients from the bottom to the surface, where they promote algae growth. Oxygen from the surface, meanwhile, is spread through the lake and supports aquatic life. The new study showed that, if global greenhouse-gas emissions continue at current levels, mixing could become less frequent and less deep, and possibly stop as early as 2019.

When the oxygen is gone, the study said phosphorus contained in lake-floor sediments would be released and spur algae growth, further damaging the lake's clarity and water quality.

EPA Issues Manual on Water Quality Assessment

EPA released a draft Survey of the Nation’s Lakes Field Operations Manual on March 25th that describes protocols for a statistical assessment of the condition of U.S. lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Much of the groundwork for this manual was laid at the last two Chicago conferences on Enhancing the States Lakes Programs. The purpose of this and similar assessments being conducted by the agency, states, and tribes is to generate statistically valid reports on the quality of U.S. water resources and identify key stressors to these systems. Coastal waters, wadeable streams, rivers, and wetlands are also subject to similar assessment programs. The field manual is available at www.epa.gov/owow/lakes/lakessurvey/finaldraftfieldops0307.pdf.

Nominations for 2008 Clean Water Act Awards Sought

The March 27 Federal Register notes the availability of application and nomination information for EPA's 2008 Clean Water Act (CWA) Recognition Awards. The awards recognize municipalities and industries for outstanding and innovative technological achievements in wastewater treatment and pollution abatement programs. The awards are intended to educate the public about the contributions wastewater treatment facilities make to clean water and to encourage public support for municipal and industrial efforts. The awards also recognize communities that use innovative practices to meet CWA permitting requirements. Nominations are due from EPA Regional offices to headquarters no later than May 30. To view the Federal Register notice, visit www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2008/March/Day-27/w6281.htm.

Editorial Board for Lake and Reservoir Management Reviews Major Paper

In a flurry of emails starting on April 1, members of the Editorial Board for the NALMS peer-reviewed journal, Lake and Reservoir Management, engaged in heated debate over the merits of a controversial paper entitled “A possible role of social activity to explain differences in publication output among ecologists”. The paper has reportedly been submitted to several European journals, not LRM, and supports the hypothesis that beer consumption leads to lowered scientific publication output. Some editors believe that this finding, localized within the Czech Republic by author T. Grim, stands in stark contrast to North American experience. A controlled experiment is being planned for Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, in conjunction with the Annual International NALMS Symposium in November, 2008. Editor in Chief Jim LaBounty claims that the initiation of this discussion on April Fool’s Day was pure coincidence, but we think not.

Website of the Month

 http://inforain.org/watershed/

This is a great, interactive mapping website, but so far it only covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. Go to the site and type in an address, town or city, or a name of a watershed and presto, you have access to a wealth of information that you can take with you to a meeting or use to beef up your presentation. After you enter a location, a map will appear. Below this initial map is a watershed ladder that is linked to six different watershed levels. You can click on each level and a new scaled map with watershed statistics pops up.

Open Invitation to Add to the Next E-newsletter

If you are having a conference, have a lake-related question, need advice, looking for similar lake problems/solutions, have an interesting story to share, or just want to be heard throughout NALMS, please send your material to Steve Lundt.

All e-newsletter material is due to Steve Lundt by the first Friday of each month to be considered for inclusion in that month’s e-newsletter.