DOVER (April 9, 2013) – DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program is seeking nominations for the 2013 Delaware Wetland Warrior Award, which recognizes exemplary efforts to protect wetlands and the critical services they provide to all Delawareans.

DENVER – Officials are cautioning travelers that a spring storm making its way across the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains region will bring periods of freezing rain, heavy snowfall, and extremely high winds from Monday evening and into Wednesday.

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Reporters: Study results will be presented at a public meeting hosted by the Verde River Basin Partnership on Thursday, April 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Camp Verde Multi-Use Complex Auditorium. Please contact Jennifer LaVista to reserve a seat. 

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. —The streamflow of the Verde River—one of Arizona's largest streams with year-round flow—declined from 1910 to 2005 as the result of human stresses, primarily groundwater pumping, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study. The study's findings suggest that streamflow reductions will continue and may increase in the future.

Water demands in the Verde Valley have increased because of the growing population in the area. Water is pumped from the ground and diverted from the Verde River to meet these needs, which has raised concerns about past, present, and future human-induced stresses on water resources.

"The results of the study emphasize our basic understanding of hydrologic systems, which is that when water is removed by being pumped through wells, it is no longer available in other parts of the system," said USGS hydrologist Bradley Garner. "This study is important because it allows us to examine human-caused stresses, namely groundwater pumping, independently from other factors that change over time, such as annual precipitation rates."

The study used the Northern Arizona Regional Groundwater Flow Model to estimate how human stresses on the hydrologic system in and around the Verde Valley affected streamflow in the Verde River from 1910 to 2005. Future conditions were also examined using three hypothetical human-stress conditions for 2005 to 2110. The computer model used by the study simulates how recharge from rainfall and snowmelt moves through the region"s aquifers and eventually provides water to streams and rivers. The full report and an accompanying USGS Fact Sheet are available online.

"Groundwater flow models provide a sophisticated tool to help communities responsibly manage, develop, and use their groundwater resources," said William M. Alley, Ph.D., Director of Science and Technology for the National Ground Water Association. "Studies that quantify movement of water between groundwater and surface water systems can help in establishing a scientific basis for new management strategies."

Like many regions in the West, the population of the Verde Valley is growing rapidly. Between 2000 and 2010, Verde Valley grew by 13 percent. Verde Valley municipalities such as Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, and Sedona pump groundwater to meet the needs of a growing population. In Arizona, groundwater provides about 43 percent of the State’s water supply.

Groundwater pumping has the potential to reduce flows to streams and rivers that are hydrologically connected to the underlying aquifers. Through a process known as capture, groundwater pumping can intercept groundwater that would otherwise have flowed to connected streams or draws flows from streams into the aquifer. For this reason, questions have been raised about the effects of groundwater pumping on the Verde River, which provides wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In case you missed it, today on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) blog, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate called on tribal communities to take part in consultations regarding changes to the disaster assistance process. The Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 included a provision to amend the Stafford Act allowing tribes direct access to federal disaster relief.

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TRENTON, N.J.--Disaster assistance to New Jersey survivors of Hurricane Sandy by the numbers as of April 8:

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The release of new maps covering Texas and New York continues the US Topo revisions, updates and product improvement

The newest sets of US Topo maps cover the states of Texas and New York. The 4,309 quadrangles for Texas and 972 quads covering New York replace the existing US Topo maps for those states, and will be added to the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection. All of these maps are available for free download from The National Map and the USGS Map Store website.

Last September the USGS marked the important milestone of completing the initial round of US Topo map production for the 48 contiguous states. The agency is continuing to improve the US Topo map product, moving into the next round of national map revisions. Hawaii is currently in production and Alaska production will start later this year.

"The US Topo program is a dynamic product and the new maps over Texas and New York demonstrate our commitment to a very aggressive three year revision cycle while at the same time adding new content", said Mike Cooley, the US Topo Project Manager. "I encourage you to take a look at these maps and drop us a comment on how we are doing via our drop box, as your input is important to us."

New feature additions and improvements on the updated US Topo maps include:

• Woodland tint derived from the National Land Cover Dataset
• Fire stations
• Hospitals
• State and county boundaries
• Forest service boundaries  
• Commercial roads in lieu of census roads
• Forest Service roads and road numbers  

US Topos are derived from key layers of geographic data found in The National Map, which delivers visible content such as high resolution aerial photography, which was not available on older paper-based topographic maps. The new US Topo maps provide modern technical advantages that support wider and faster public distribution and on-screen geographic analysis tools for users.

Future enhancements to the US Topo are scheduled to include additional tools and map content such as a shaded relief layer, updated structures, enhanced transportation, additional federal boundaries and Forest Service trails. Wyoming, which was added in the fall of 2012, also featured Public Land Survey System (PLSS). The USGS expects to produce more than 18,500 revised quadrangles annually. US Topo maps are updated every three years.

The new digital electronic topographic maps are delivered in GeoPDF image software format and may be viewed using Adobe Reader, available as a no cost download.

For more information, go to: http://nationalmap.gov/ustopo/

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's disaster declaration issued for the State of Oklahoma.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Oklahoma to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 24-26, 2013.

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San Juan, PR – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved $1.62 million to the Puerto Rico Ports Authority for the rehabilitation of the Terminal Cargo Ramp in Culebra. The funds were made available under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to enhance the resilience of the sole cargo ramp in the Island Municipality, which provides normal daily services, as well as during emergency situations.

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SMYRNA, Del. -- More than $1.2 million in federal funding has been awarded thus far for Hurricane Sandy recovery in Delaware, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.

As DEMA and FEMA continue to partner in Hurricane Sandy recovery, additional funding will be forthcoming following state and federal review and approval.

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If you have experienced a loss as a result of Hurricane Sandy, here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare to file your 2012 taxes:

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DOVER (April 8, 2013) – To encourage water conservation and promote wise use of it throughout the state, DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship is again offering rain barrels at a discounted price to Delaware residents in April at pickup locations in each county. Having a rain barrel provides an innovative way to capture rainwater from your roof and store it for later use. Water collected from rain barrels can be used to wash cars and to water lawns, gardens and indoor plants.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today approved $3,143,531 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the village of Whitefish Bay, Wis., for the upgrading of several storm sewers, including the construction of a dry detention basin to alleviate flooding to nearby properties.

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CHICAGO—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that $1,530,928.28 has been made available to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in federal disaster aid for repairs to a historic bridge in Carlton County, Minn.

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DOVER (April 8, 2013) – Wildlife art enthusiasts, stamp and print collectors, waterfowl hunters, anglers, birdwatchers and wetland conservationists will gather at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 11 at the Delaware Agriculture Museum and Village in Dover to watch the judging of Delaware’s annual Waterfowl Stamp (formerly known as Duck Stamp) and Trout Stamp contests. Entries will be on display at the museum through Monday, April 29.

DOVER (April 5, 2013) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, between March 27 and April 3 DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents made 1,231 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters and the general public. These included 132 boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks, which resulted in five anglers being cited for unlicensed fishing during a tournament.

DOVER (April 5, 2013) – The 2013 Delaware spring turkey hunting season opens Saturday, April 13, and runs through Saturday, May 11, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Hunters are reminded that all birds taken must be checked at an authorized turkey check station by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt.

FEMA Corps arrived in Lynnwood, Washington on March 28th, 2013 to work with the FEMA Region 10 External Affairs office. FEMA Corps, which is part of  AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), will be planning and implementing at least three events focused on community involvement in disaster preparedness. This is the team’s first assignment since completing 6 weeks of in depth training.

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