The Watershed Research and Training Center’s Post

Organisations you probably didn't know were linked to the UK Civil Service Over 600 departments, agencies, and public bodies are connected to the Civil Service. Lots of these are well-known, like the Department for Education or HM Revenue & Customs. But the vast majority fly under the radar. Here's a list of 10 organisations that people might not realise are in the Civil Service: Crown Prosecution Service →  Ensures criminal cases are handled fairly and professionally. Competition and Markets Authority →  Watchdog for fair trading who ensures businesses play by the rules. The National Archives, UK →  Preserve the nation’s collective memory, from centuries-old documents to digital data. Forestry Commission →  Oversee sustainable forestry and connect people to the environment. Ofsted →  Inspect schools, colleges, and nurseries, ensuring quality learning for all. Social Work England →  Regulate and develop social workers to deliver vital care to society's most vulnerable. Met Office →  Lead climate research and help us prepare for natural challenges. UK Space Agency →  Everything from satellites to space exploration. NS&I (National Savings and Investments) →  Helping people save securely while funding essential public services. This list is just the tip of the iceberg. Every one of the 600+ departments, agencies, and public bodies will play a unique role in shaping our everyday lives. This means that if you're motivated to have a career in the Civil Service, you have a lot of choices about where you work! 🤔 What organisation surprised you the most when you found out it was in the Civil Service?

Today’s takeaway comments about property development vs. wetlands and biology at today’s #NorthStateBIA event: Comment: There’s nothing easy about wetlands permitting. Response: You’re right. The requirements and timelines often do not make sense or are overbearing. The best way to manage these issues is knowing what you are dealing with before buying or applying and then planning your desired outcome. Comment: Is it faster to go through state or federal permits? Response: The EPA’s recent decision to exclude isolated wetlands and waters from federal jurisdiction creates confusion, but also opportunity. State permitting guidelines require agencies to permit projects in 3 months if a complete application is submitted. Comment: The biggest issue we have is with poor customer service and project management. Response: Absolutely. No developer or builder wants to manage someone else’s job. When you hire an environmental consultant, their service should come with response and customer service that anticipates your project goals. #PropertyDevelopment #WetlandsPermitting #EnvironmentalConsultants

📰 A new regulation under Ontario's Conservation Authorities Act (the "Act"), Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits, will come into effect on April 1, 2024. These updates will revoke the existing 36 distinct conservation authority regulations and consolidate them into a single Minister's regulation governing prohibited activities, exemptions and permits under the Act. The changes are designed to streamline approvals under the Act to focus on natural hazards and to improve clarity and consistency in decision-making. The new regulation refines where development is prohibited. It updates the definition of "watercourse" and adjusts the scope of development restrictions around wetlands. The regulation maintains some regulated areas as they were previously described by regulation, including river and stream valley limits, and areas that are adjacent or close to the shoreline of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System or to inland lakes. Certain low-risk development activities, including the construction of small seasonal docks and non-habitable structures, will be exempt from requiring permits from the conservation authority when they occur outside of wetlands and watercourses or follow best practices for municipal drain maintenance. The approved regulation also restricts the conditions conservation authorities are authorized to attached to permits. Conditions imposed by conservation authorities must be directly related to mitigating the impact of natural hazards or any public safety risks due to natural hazards and must be necessary to support the permit's administration or implementation (e.g., reporting and compliance requirements). Finally, new rules have been introduced to ensure that conservation authority permits are administered transparently and consistently. These rules require, among other things, that conservation authorities create publicly available maps, updated annually, depicting areas where permits are required; that conservation authorities not request additional studies or technical information after an application is confirmed complete; and that conservation authorities issue an annual report on permitting statistics. 11 March 2024 by Kristi M. Ross and Jonathan Marun-Batista Aird & Berlis LLP The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances. https://lnkd.in/g7xGZYhj

CP Engineers, Architecture and Environmental Services’ Senior Regulatory Specialist Joe Mikulka attended an important public hearing yesterday by the NJDEP regarding the current drought watch in New Jersey. The NJDEP called this extended dry period “unprecedented”, noting that October was not only the dryest October on record, but it was also the driest month ever recorded in New Jersey. CP will be carefully monitoring the situation and if NJDEP issues a Drought Warning, or subsequently, declares a Drought Emergency, we will assess how any water restrictions may impact our clients, and assist them with compliance. Additionally, further reductions or restrictions impacting water supplies could potentially force water suppliers to utilize other sources, not currently approved, which could require emergency permitting and implementation of infrastructure. #CPengineers #engineering #NewJersey

Check out our article on Karl Stock, the new director of the Bureau of Reclamation's California-Great Basin region from our April issue. Bureau of Reclamation’s California–Great Basin (CGB) Region oversees the Central Valley Project (CVP), which supplies water to irrigate 3 million acres of some of the most productive farmland in the world, as well as Oregon’s Klamath Project; Nevada’s Humboldt, Newlands, Truckee, and Washoe Projects; and Central California’s Cachuma, Orland, Santa Maria, Solano, and Ventura River projects. In this interview, Irrigation Leader talks with Karl Stock, the new regional director of this vast domain, about some of the region’s ambitious projects to increase storage capacity and dam safety and about what it’s like to operate in the wild weather that has become California’s new normal. Another major focus of the region: building a workforce that can face the challenges of the future and take advantage of the “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to make significant progress on longtime challenges with the help of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding. https://bit.ly/3WiRi3B #IrrigationLeader #BureauOfReclamation #CaliforniaGreatBasin #KarlStock #CentralValleyProject #WaterManagement #Infrastructure #DamSafety #WorkforceDevelopment #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw

Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts have secured a grant from the IEPA that will fund updates to the best management practices of the Illinois Urban Manual (IUM), as well as streamlining the functionality of the website. This will not be a comprehensive overhaul, but will encompass many key upgrades. The Manual will continue to evolve over time as funds become available. Steering and Technical Committee have begun their review meetings. If you are an IUM user, your input is welcome! Visit https://lnkd.in/gESJeC_c. The IUM is intended for use as a technical reference by developers, planners, engineers, government officials and others involved in land use planning, building site development, and natural resource conservation in rural and urban communities and developing areas. It is the standard against which Illinois SWCDs perform soil erosion and sediment control inspections. illinoisurbanmanual.org #SoilAndWaterConservation #SustainableUrbanDevelopment

No Adverse Impact 2.0, Building Block #4 Regulations & Development. Thursday, August 15th, noon to 1pm EDS. This training module will take a deeper dive into NAI Regulations and Development Standards activities. One of the benefits of properly prepared land use plans and zoning ordinances is that they usually reduce the amount of at-risk floodplain development. Where floodplain development cannot be avoided, it is important to have regulatory programs and standards that can fully protect it from flood damage and help reduce the impact of that development on others. To sign up go to: https://lnkd.in/ev6X6_Pf

The last in PSU Extension's land use webinar series occurs tomorrow. The focus this month is "Green Infrastructure Planning for Healthier, Resilient Communities." The previous month's programs are recorded and available to be viewed. Additionally, the Extension is a great resource of webinars, courses, and documents on green infrastructure, vegetation for stormwater management and other professional educational programs. Visit their site, https://buff.ly/3UthzK8, for more learning opportunities. #stormwatermanagement #civilengineer

Stormwater University, a leading provider of stormwater management education, proudly announces that its courses have been approved by EnviroCert International, Inc. (ECI) for Professional Development Hours (PDHs) applicable toward ECI certifications. This approval reflects Stormwater University’s dedication to providing high-quality, comprehensive education that meets the professional development needs of environmental practitioners. By offering PDH-approved courses, Stormwater University supports professionals working toward certifications such as the Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ), and other ECI-recognized credentials. These certifications help individuals demonstrate their expertise and commitment to best practices in stormwater management, erosion control, and water quality improvement. Sign up for courses to get certified here - https://lnkd.in/ehy46VQs #EndeavorBusinessMedia #B2BMedia #StormWaterUniversity #ContinuingEducation #CE #ProfessionalDevelopmentHours #PDH #ECICertifications

ACCREDITED ONLINE TRAINING Summer Classes whether you are beginning your career, changing roles, or looking to refresh or enhance your expertise our classes will be valuable. Book here: https://ow.ly/xuvr50S7bbF The work carried out by a farm administrator, bookkeeper or accountant for a farm or rural business requires a solid level of understanding of current issues, rules, regulations and terminology, as well as knowledge of how to keep up to date with changing requirements. Much of this is unique to the agricultural sector – and that’s why training is so important. #Training2024 #ProfessionalDevelopment #StayAhead #IAgSA #CPD #ContinuingProfessionalDevelopment #RuralBusinessProfessionals #FarmSecretary #RuralBusiness #Farming