State Revolving Fund (SRF) Webinars

Feb. 8, 2022

This webinar was not recorded because of its participatory nature.
CWSRF Sponsorship allows wastewater treatment system improvements to be financed at a reduced interest rate in exchange for the completion of a nonpoint source (NPS) project. Are you wondering whether sponsorship as a means of directing SRF toward NPS management activities suits your state, program, or project?

During this virtual workshop, participants heard from Tee Thomas of Quantified Ventures, Lee Wagner of Iowa Finance Authority, and Chris Marko of Oregon DEQ, among other state and federal partners, who discussed the function and utility of sponsorship and alternatives for SRF programs to fund nonpoint source management activities.

Presentation PDFs and supporting resources:
EPA Sponsorship Guidance
Lee Wagner’s slides
– Iowa Sponsored Projects Home Page
Tee Thomas’ slides
– Vermont WISPr Home Page
Oregon Sponsorship Option Flyer

Feb. 2, 2022
This webinar recording can be accessed here.
State Revolving Funds offer numerous ways to support and encourage the implementation of projects aimed at the protection of source waters. Kara Goodwin of US EPA opened the session with a national overview of SRF-related tools currently available to environmental entities interested in source water protection. Also, check out EPA’s FITS: Funding Integration Tool for Source Water.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program (DWSRF) funds Source Water Protection through two different optional set-asides: State Program Management (10%) and Local Assistance and Other State Programs (15%). April Byrne, US EPA ORISE Fellow, showcased recent source water protection project eligibility and spending trends within these two set-asides. Increases to the DWSRF capitalization grants would in turn increase opportunities to fund source water protection efforts. Learn how to maximize these two set-asides to benefit source water quality.

With most of the state of Nebraska sourcing their drinking water from groundwater, Tatiana Davila of Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, shared how Nebraska is utilizing DWSRF Set-Asides for groundwater protection and capacity building for education and outreach programs.

Faced with increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, Lindsey Jones of Arizona Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, presented how Arizona is using Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) to thin forests in an effort to protect watershed health and source waters for the City of Flagstaff. This PISCES-awarded project was recognized for Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection.

Dec. 16, 2021
This webinar recording can be accessed here.
During this webinar, coordinated by NEIWPCC, three presentations demonstrated how to use CWSRF to address NPS challenges. Hear about the new CWSRF Best Practices Guide for Financing Nonpoint Source Solutions from US EPA, explore Iowa’s approach to using CWSRF to manage a variety of nonpoint sources, and dive deep on a PISCES award-winning project to address agricultural runoff and stream bank erosion in Virginia using CWSRF.

Speakers:
CWSRF Best Practices Guide for Financing NPS Solutions: An Introduction
Don Waye, US Environmental Protection Agency

Iowa State Revolving Fund Nonpoint Source Funding Programs
Lee Wagner, Iowa Finance Authority – SRF
Rob Davis, Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Virginia’s Agricultural BMP Loan Program & AgBMP Success Story
Phil Davis, Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality

In-Depth Description:
EPA’s new CWSRF Best Practices Guide for Financing Nonpoint Source Solutions is designed to help the 51 state-level CWSRF programs direct greater resources toward addressing the challenge of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. EPA developed the guide to help state staff better align and integrate their state’s CWSRF and NPS management programs. The guide suggests strategies and key elements needed to expand the use of CWSRF resources to address priority needs as specified in state NPS management program plans, and it identifies potential obstacles and how to overcome them. The guide provides helpful case studies of successful and innovative partnerships underway across the country.

Iowa’s SRF uses a variety of funding mechanisms linked deposit loans, loan participation, direct loans, investment, and sponsored projects to provide financial assistance to public and private borrowers for nonpoint source water quality projects. Lee Wagner with the Iowa SRF and Rob Davis with the Iowa Department of Agriculture will provide a brief background of Iowa’s SRF nonpoint source programs and discuss the successes and challenges Iowa has experienced with implementing these programs.

Garber Farms was experiencing significant over-grazing in their pastures adjoining its streams and severe erosion of stream banks due to livestock access. Paired with other funds, the Virginia CWSRF provided no-interest funding for the installation of nearly 27,000 feet of stream bank and cross fencing (27,000′ of stream bank was excluded including both sides of the streams), over 12,000 feet of water lines and 11 watering troughs, and the creation of 77 acres of riparian buffers. This PISCES-awarded project was recognized for Excellence in System Partnerships.

April 28, 2021
Co-moderated by Jeff Lerner, Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program, we will be hearing about two collaborative efforts to acquire land for the protection of water resources. First, we will explore work in the Sebago Lake watershed in Maine which utilized DWSRF and other funds for source water protection to maintain Portland’s water supply. Second, we will be hopping to the west coast to hear about an effort by the Western Rivers Conservancy in partnership with the Yurok Tribe in California to use CWSRF in combination with other funds to protect thousands of acres, establishing a sustainable community forest and habitat sanctuary in the Blue Creek watershed.

Below-Market Financing for Land Conservation
Alison Souders, US EPA

Sebago Clean Waters: The Future is Clear
Paul Hunt, Portland Water District, and Spencer Meyer, Highstead Foundation

The Making of the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest
Zach Spector and Mik McKee, Western Rivers Conservancy

March 29, 2021
Hear from Don Waye at EPA who will provide a national overview of the obstacles and opportunities for using CWSRF for nonpoint source reduction activities such as addressing nutrients from agriculture. Then Dwight Wilcox will share insights from Minnesota’s Agricultural Best Management Practices Loan Program in advocacy of using SRF for NPS projects. Lastly, Amanda Reed of the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment will speak to their funding of interseeders for large scale soil health and other ways the state has utilized SRF for NPS projects.

Using CWSRF to Reduce Nutrients from Agriculture: A National Overview of Challenges and Opportunities
Don Waye, US EPA

The Secrets to the Success of the Minnesota AgBMP Loan Program
Dwight Wilcox, formerly of the Minnesota AgBMP Loan Program

Building Implementation Capacity for KS Water Quality Improvement Programs
Amanda Reed, Kansas Department of Health and the Environment

March 22, 2021
Joining us from the west coast, Eliza Keeley-Arnold will share Washington’s approach to prioritizing projects using SRF and §319 through their unique Combined Funding Program. Sharing the virtual stage with Eliza, Vermont’s Celia Riechel will share the various ways SRF is being utilized to address NPS pollution. With an emphasis on how partnerships play an integral role in this overlapping work, both of our speakers will help you explore opportunities within your own work.

Non‐Point Source Funding Under Vermont CWSRF
Celia Riechel, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

Nonpoint Pollution Control with Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loans
Eliza Keeley-Arnold, Washington Department of Ecology

August 4, 2020
The webinar recording can be accessed here.
The first webinar in this series includes case studies from New Hampshire on sustainability programs for wastewater projects as well as funding partnerships and incentives to help achieve program goals. Additionally, speakers from Maine present on the implementation of climate adaptation plans as well as a technical case study from work completed in Brownville, ME. Lastly, we explore changes to water infrastructure projects in New York following Hurricane Sandy.

Sharon L. Nall, P.E., Supervisor Planning, Protection and Assistance Section
Wastewater Engineering Bureau, Water Division | New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

Brandy M. Piers, P.E., Senior Environmental Engineer, Bureau of Water Quality Management | Maine Department of Environmental Protection

James Lord, P.E., Senior Project Engineer | Dirigo Engineering

William A. Brizzell, Jr., P.E., Deputy Director, Division of Engineering and Program Management | NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation