GLIN==> Federal Register Announcement on Draft National Lakes Assessment Report - PLUS Webcast Jan. 5

The Federal Register announcing the availability of the Draft National
Lakes Assessment report for public comment was published today (Dec. 23,
2009) at
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-30494.pdf. Comments are due
by Jan. 22, 2010.

In addition ...

EPA's Watershed Academy presents:

A Webcast on Jan. 5, 2010 at 1-3 pm Eastern Time:

"National Lakes Assessment: Reporting on the Condition of the Nation's
Lakes" 

Join us for a Webcast to learn about the first-ever assessment of the
condition of the nation's lakes. This draft report, the National Lakes
Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation's Lakes, is available for
public review and comment at: www.epa.gov/lakessurvey.  The report
shows that 56% of the nation's lakes support healthy biological communities.
The report also identifies poor lakeshore habitat
conditions and high levels of nutrients as widespread stressors impacting
lake water quality in the United States. 

Tune into this Webcast to learn more about the National Lakes Assessment
(NLA), which is the latest in a series of surveys of the nation's
aquatic resources being conducted by EPA and its state and tribal partners.
The NLA provides unbiased estimates of the condition of natural and man-made
freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs greater than 10 acres and at least
one meter deep. Using a statistical survey design, 1,028 lakes were selected
at random to represent the condition of the larger population of lakes
across the lower 48 states. The NLA presents data on the extent of lakes
that support healthy biological communities, selected stressors impacting
lake quality, and information on recreational indicators of lake condition
such as microcystin, an algal toxin which can harm humans, pets, and
wildlife.  The NLA also reports on lake trophic status and includes
comparisons of current data to 1972 data on wastewater-impacted lakes.

Register for the Webcast at: www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts 

Note that Webcast participants are eligible to receive a certificate for
their attendance. Also, the Webcast presentations are posted in advance
at www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts and participants are encouraged to download
them prior to the Webcast. 

*Instructors:* 
Sarah Lehmann, Team Leader for National Aquatic Resource Surveys, Monitoring
Branch, U.S. EPA's Office of Water Sarah Lehmann serves as Team Leader for
the National Aquatic Resource Surveys in U.S. EPA's Monitoring Branch.  In
this role, she provides leadership for each of the national surveys
including lakes, rivers ands streams, coastal waters, and wetlands. Prior to
this, Sarah worked in EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago as the Regional
Monitoring Coordinator. She worked with states and tribes in the development
and implementation of monitoring and assessment strategies and served as the
regional contact for the national surveys. Sarah has a master's degree in political
science from American University and a bachelor's degree in Politics and
Government; and German from Ripon College. 

Neil C. Kamman, Chief, Water Quality Monitoring, Assessment and Planning,
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Neil Kamman is a water
quality monitoring and assessment specialist with considerable expertise in
limnology.  He holds a B.S. in forestry, and an M.S. in water resources,
both from the University of Vermont.  He oversees Vermont's Water Quality
Monitoring, Assessment and Planning Program in the Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation.  Neil has authored numerous peer-reviewed
research publications regarding mercury in the northeast North American
environment and studies the impacts of development on the ecological
integrity of northeastern waterways.  Neil recently completed a 15-month
detail assignment to the
U.S. EPA to manage the analysis and reporting of the National Lakes
Assessment. 

*The Watershed Academy *
The Watershed Academy is a focal point in EPA's Office of Water for
providing training and information on implementing watershed approaches.
The Academy sponsors live classroom training and online distance learning
modules through the Watershed Academy Web at www.epa.gov/watertrain. For
more information, visit www.epa.gov/watershedacademy.

*Registration*
You must register in advance to attend this Webcast. Register at the
Watershed Academy Webcast Web site at: www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
Note: Your computer must have the capability of playing sound in order to
attend this Webcast. To view archived Webcasts, go to
www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/webcasts/archives.html. 

Questions? Please contact Amber Marriott at amber.marriott at tetratech.com.

The materials in this Webcast have been reviewed by EPA staff for technical
accuracy. However, the views of the speakers and the speakers organizations
are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of EPA. Mention of
commercial enterprises, products, or publications does not mean that EPA
endorses them.



Anne Weinberg
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Communications Coordinator
Assessment and Watershed Protection Division
____________________________________________________
Mailing Address:                            Off. Location & Fed Ex
Address
Mail Code 4503T                          1301 Constitution Ave. NW
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW            Room 7417K
Washington, DC 20460                 Washington, DC 20004

Phone: 202-566-1217
Fax:      202-566-1333
Email:    weinberg.anne at epa.gov


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