Notice: The views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may not necessarily reflect

1
Notice The views expressed here are those of the
individual authors and may not necessarily
reflect the views and policies of the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Scientists in EPA have prepared the EPA sections,
and those sections have been reviewed in
accordance with EPAs peer and administrative
review policies and approved for presentation and
publication. The EPA contributed funding to the
construction of this website but is not
responsible for it's contents. Mention of trade
names or commercial products does not constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use.
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Highlands Action Program How to Transform the
Legacy
A citizens inspired program for collaborative
monitoring, research, management, and restoration
activities within the Mid-Atlantic Highlands
.
Canaan Valley Institute
3
Highlands Action Program--Background

• 2001 Congressional language called for EPA to
  establish HAP
• Language for HAP continues in EPA legislation
• CVI cited as a logical partner because of its
  community watershed focus and experience
• CVI produced report to
• Show need for HAP
• Recommend stakeholder driven approach for HAP

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Significant EPA Investment in HAP

• EPA already has significant investments in CVI
  and the Highlands
• 6 years of senior staff time
• Outreach, science, and technical staff
• Education, training, and demonstration sites
• ORD focus on Highlands for last 10 years

5
Highlands Action Program--Existing Regional
Programs

• HAP is the next generation of geographic programs
• Place-based initiatives
• have added value
• Action, action, action
• Top-down meets
• bottom-up

DBP
HAP
CBP
DIB
MB
AP
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Achieving Sustainable Solutions--HAPs Innovative
Approach
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The Highlands--A Special Place

• Biodiversity
• Terrestrial and aquatic diversity
• National hotspot

• Economic importance of natural resources
• Tourism26 billion/year
• Forestry11 billion/year and 186,000 jobs
• Energycoal, oil, natural gas, and wind

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The Mid-Atlantic Highlands--Pulse

• Landscape indicators show that 47 of the region
  is fair or poor
• Based on the type of birds found, 57 of the
  landscape is not in
• good condition
• Based on the type of fish found in the streams,
  67 of stream
• miles are not in good condition
• Based on insects, 75 of stream miles are not in
  good condition

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The Mid-Atlantic Highlands--Stressors

• Water Quality Stressors
• 25 stream miles impaired by sediment
• 22 by loss of riparian habitat

From US Environmental Protection Agency. (2000).
Mid-Atlantic Highlands Streams Assessment. US
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
EPA/903/R-00/015
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The Mid-Atlantic Highlands--Human Activities

• Urban Infringement rural sprawl fragment
  natural areas

• Assessed streams not meeting standards are shown
  in 303(d) Stream Listings

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The Mid-Atlantic Highlands--Economic Conditions

• High rates of children in poverty
• Low educational attainment
• High unemployment rates
• Low labor force participation rates
• Low per capita income
• Consequences
• Environmental justice issues
• Outmigration of working-age population

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The Mid-Atlantic Highlands--Economic Conditions

• Low Per Capita Income
• From US Department of Commerce, Census Bureau.
  1990 Decennial Census.

• Lack of High-Speed Internet Access
• From Federal Communications Commission.
  High-Speed Services for Internet Access
  Subscribership as of June 30, 2001.

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Opportunities for Stewardship--Create a
Restoration Industry

• Restoration industry needs the regions skilled
  workers

• Restoration spending creates more jobs than road
  construction, utility construction, or defense
  contracts

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Highlands Action Program--Possible Outcomes

• 18,000 stream miles will be revitalized
• 5000 square miles of forest will be revitalized
• 105,954,000 ton/yr reduction in sediment load
• 3000 jobs will be created