Watershed Management and the DEP, cont.

The DEP is involved in watershed management at all three levels listed on the previous page. Education and training programs, many of which are offered through the Nonpoint Source Training & Resource Center, are designed to reach citizens living and working in the individual watersheds. Technical assistance is also offered by DEP staff to local groups, who are interested in surveying sources of pollution within their watersheds, and/or in developing watershed management plans. The DEP administers several grant programs designed to offer non-profit organizations assistance in carrying out these activties. At the basin level, the department organizes monitoring and assessment of water quality around the major river basins and bases wastewater license decisions on this information. At the state level, the DEP is working with other state and federal agencies, and non-government organizations to establish lists of the highest priority lakes, rivers and streams, and coastal waters. This information will be used to direct agency resources to these areas. In addition, the DEP administers permit programs to manage potential new pollution sources throughout the organized municipalities in the state, including the Site Location Law, Natural Resources Protection Act and the Stormwater Management Law.

Contact:  Don Witherill (287-3901)