1. Water Program Development
Using General Assistance Program Funds to build program capacity

2. GAP Project Officers: CWA Project Officers Tribal Co-Presenter
Introductions
Timothy Wilhite
Gilbert Pasqua
Damian Willson
GAP Project Officers:
Danielle Angeles
Larry Maurin
CWA Project Officers
Chris Ott (Dry Creek Rancheria)
Tribal Co-Presenter
Introductions of presenters.

3. Introductions around the room
Who is in our audience today?
Introductions from session participants.

4. Epa resources for program development
Appendix I
Guidebook for Building Tribal Environmental Capacity
Appendix IV
EPA Water Program Reference Table
The GAP Guidance is the framework that EPA uses to manage awards made under the General Assistance Program. The Guidance requires the use of capacity indicators, so that EPA can better track progress toward goals identified by recipients. There is also a requirement to develop a joint EPA/Tribal Environmental Plan (ETEP) that articulates the tribe’s program priorities. IF you are developing a water program, that should be expressed first in your ETEP.
In the Guidance there are two specific sections related to developing a water program, that should be referenced when creating your workplans. Appendix I and Appendix IV. We will briefly describe these resources, and then do an example together as a group.

5. Using the gap guidance: Select indicators from the Guidebook
Water capacity indicators can be found in Section D (page 18 of 42).
The GAP Guidance requires the use of capacity indicators, which are found in Appendix I: Guidebook for Building Tribal Environmental Program Capacity.
Capacity indicators for our group activity can be found in section D of the Guidebook. The next slide is an excerpt from that section.

6. The section talks about how to develop a water program, and then lists a number of indicators that can be used as goals to achieve in the development of your water program. There are sections for the Water Quality Monitoring Program, Nonpoint Source Program, Wetlands Program. (SHOW OF HANDS FROM PARTICIPANTS, WHO CONDUCTED ACTIVITIES UNDER EACH PROGRAM).
There is also a section on developing a package for Treatment in a similar manner as a State (TAS) for water quality standards.

7. Using the gap guidance: Appendix IV Epa water program reference table
Appendix IV of the GAP Guidance is a reference table for Water Program Development
Describes what is capacity building (allowable)
and what is implementation (unallowable)

9. Common indicators in GAP Workplans
D Staff has completed training and acquired baseline knowledge and skills related to the CWA and SDWA
D Tribe has developed quality assurance project plan (QAPP) associated with the water quality monitoring strategy.
D Tribe has developed and submitted a TAS package for EPA-approved WQS program.
There are 3 common indicators found in GAP workplans, although each tribe will have specific indicators for their own program goals.
D.3.2 is one of the first indicators that should be explored in the early stages of a developing water program. This indicator is to take training and become familiar with the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. (e.g., become familiar with the major goals, programs, and requirements of the CWA and SDWA; the national structure for implementing the CWA and SDWA; and the EPA regional personnel and organization). WHO HAS TAKEN TRAINING (show hands)?
D.3.11 is an intermediate step that should be achieved before conducting water quality sampling, it is to develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to ensure the data that is collected is accurate and can be used for water quality analysis purposes. WHO HAS DEVELOPED A QAPP (show hands)?
D.3.27 is a goal for a well-developed water quality program, it is to develop and submit a “Treatment in a similar manner as a State (TAS)” package to EPA so that the Tribe can develop EPA-approved Water Quality Standards. Tribes can also develop and adopt their own tribally-approved water quality standards. WHO HAS ADOPTED WATER QUALITY STANDARDS OR DESIGNATED USES THROUGH THEIR TRIBAL GOVERNMENT? WHO HAS DEVELOPED AND SUBMITTED A TAS PACKAGE FOR WATER QUALITY STANDARDS? WHO HAS DEVELOPED EPA-APPROVED WATER QUALITY STANDARDS? (show hands)?

10. Example 1: understand the clean water act
D Staff has completed training and acquired baseline knowledge and skills related to the CWA and SDWA
Here is a slide describing the first example, to complete training and understand the statute. (e.g., become familiar with the major goals, programs, and requirements of the CWA and SDWA; the national structure for implementing the CWA and SDWA; and the EPA regional personnel and organization).
In common terms, I like to think of it as managing the health of the water according to it’s beneficial uses, i.e. is it drinkable/swimmable/fishable? (CUE CLEAN WATER ACT OFFICERS).

11. Example 2: Develop quality assurance project plans
D Tribe has developed quality assurance project plan (QAPP) associated with the water quality monitoring strategy.
Here is our second example – developing a QAPP for water quality monitoring. An approved QAPP is required prior to conducting any data collection, including monitoring under a CWA Section 106 Grant. This is where you take all the parts of the water quality monitoring strategy and write a plan so that the measurements that are taken are valid and accurate. (CUE CLEAN WATER ACT PROJECT OFFICERS).
Keys things to consider when developing a GAP workplan component: who, what, when, where how often, how much?
Possible (not an exhaustive list) steps for developing a QAPP that could go into a GAP Workplan Component:
1. Work with the Tribal Water Section to identify water quality needs and goals for your tribe (Contact your CWA Project Officer or Danielle Angeles, Region 9 Tribal CWA 106 Coordinator, if you do not have a CWA 106 Program) and decide if WQ monitoring is appropriate.
2. If you decide water quality monitoring is appropriate, work with Tribal Water Section to develop a monitoring strategy for your water quality monitoring program
3. Identify who should be writing the QAPP document (ex. Tribal staff, contractor etc.)
4. Review available EPA Region 9 guidance for QAPP development.
5. Contact the Region 9 Quality Assurance Section to set up a scoping meeting for discussion of your goals and any issues or questions (Audrey Johnson, Manager of EPA Region 9 Quality Assurance Section)
6. Identify who (ex. Tribal staff, contractor, lab etc.) will be conducting water quality monitoring, sampling and analysis.
7. Submit the QAPP to the Region 9 Project Officer and Quality Assurance Section for review and approval.
Water Sampling on the Colorado River
EPA Clean Water Act Workshop - May 2017

12. Example 3: applying for treatment IN A SIMILAR MANNER as a state (TAS)
D Tribe has developed and submitted a TAS package for EPA-approved WQS program.
Here is the example that we will do together, to submit a TAS package where the tribe defines their own Water Quality Standards (CUE WATER PROJECT OFFICERS).

13. Tribal TestimonY
ChRIS OTT
DRY CREEK RANCHERIA

14. Creating a General Assistance Water Program
Christopher Ott, P.E. Environmental Director Dry Creek Rancheria

15. Establish Your Big Picture
What is the problem you want to address?
What do you want to do about it?
Who can help you?
Asset mapping (this is most important piece)
Use what you are already doing in a coordinated manner towards your Big Picture
Document Success!

16. Know the Difference Program Approach Project Approach
Definition of a Project
A programmatic approach may not be appropriate for all.
A Project is an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim.
Some projects may instead be better designed as standalone projects and presented as individual funding proposals.
“One-Off”
Definition of a program
A critically important first step toward the programmatic approach is to clearly define what constitutes a program. A “programmatic approach” can be interpreted differently across different contexts.
A program could be defined as a set of interlinked individual sub-projects or phases, unified by an overarching vision, common objectives and contribution to strategic goals, which will deliver sustained results.
 The strategic goals of a program may be oriented around a particular theme or geography, though these approaches are not mutually exclusive.
For instance, a program may be developed to address specific forestry and land use needs. Individual sub- projects would build around that vision, which have clear ties to the overall program.
Defining principles are as follows:
(a) Common and specific objective.
(b) Coherence among sub-projects or phases.
(c) Value of a program versus a project (or series of projects).

17. Tribal Environmental Plans (TEPs).
A Tribal Environmental Plan (TEP) is a comprehensive document that identifies issues a Tribe is facing, what steps may be taken to resolve those issues, and prioritizes those issues for action.

18. Don’t bite more than you can chew
One thing at a time; Water program is a good place to start

19. Questions and Answers Christopher Ott, P.E.
Environmental Director Dry Creek Rancheria

20. Let’s try an example
Now let’s work together to identify an indicator as a program goal, and then write it into a workplan format in a way that the General Assistance Program can fund it.

21. Remember - Indicators are destinations
The indicator goes in your workplan
Break the indicator down into steps
Create a timeline for finishing steps
Calculate work hours needed and costs
(component)
(commitment)
(commitment end date)
(estimated FTE & component $)
Remember - Indicators are destinations

22. Let’s get up and grab some post-its !
Let’s stretch our legs and do an activity! Grab some post-its on the front of the room and let’s list the activities that might lead up to submitting a package for development of a QAPP.
Step 1 – Everyone writes 1-3 activities or workplan commitments to move toward development of a QAPP. You can also pick one of the other common indicators and figure out a few steps to work toward that goal.
Step 2 – Group similar activities together on the wall in front of room
Step 3 – Sequencing the activities (water POs can help facilitate the discussion of how to sequence activities)
Possible (not an exhaustive list) steps for developing a QAPP that could go into a GAP Workplan Component (It’s best not to put this information on the slide, but we can use this, info from Chris Ott, and input from more experienced tribal staff in the room to help):
1. Work with the Tribal Water Section to identify water quality needs and goals for your tribe (Contact your CWA Project Officer or Danielle Angeles, Region 9 Tribal CWA 106 Coordinator, if you do not have a CWA 106 Program) and decide if WQ monitoring is appropriate.
2. If you decide water quality monitoring is appropriate, work with Tribal Water Section to develop a monitoring strategy for your water quality monitoring program
3. Identify who should be writing the QAPP document (ex. Tribal staff, contractor etc.)
4. Review available EPA Region 9 guidance for QAPP development.
5. Contact the Region 9 Quality Assurance Section to set up a scoping meeting for discussion of your goals and any issues or questions (Audrey Johnson, Manager of EPA Region 9 Quality Assurance Section)
6. Identify who (ex. Tribal staff, contractor, lab etc.) will be conducting water quality monitoring, sampling and analysis.
7. Submit the QAPP to the Region 9 Project Officer and Quality Assurance Section for review and approval.
We are going to take an indicator, break it down, and write the activities into a workplan format