Mississippi River Water Resource News for the Week

As drainage way for much of the country's most productive agricultural land, the sustainability of Mississippi River watershed and its people depends significantly on activities on its farms. The next Farm Bill is slated for 2012, but already, because of its importance and complexity, the House Committee on Agriculture is scheduling public hearings to review U.S. agriculture policy in advance of the 2012 bill. The next hearing in Washington, DC will be on Wednesday, April 21 at 11:00 AM in room 1300 of the Longworth House Office Building. Live audio and video access to all public hearings and business meetings held by the House Agriculture Committee are streamed online here.

On April 13, the Wisconsin Third District Court of Appeals in Wausau, Wisconsin ruled that the public has a right to challenge the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (WI DNR) permit system if it believes there is a violation of the federal Clean Water Act. The Court also ruled that WI DNR is required to follow federal clean water standards in its wastewater permitting process. The Clean Water Action Council of Northeast Wisconsin and the National Wildlife Federation filed a challenge in 2006, objecting to the DNR’s water pollution permit to Fort James Operating Company. A news article covering the decision can be found here; while the Court decision can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

The Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition and Northeast-Midwest Institute welcome Christine Kontra as the Coalition's new Legislative Director. Prior to joining the NEMW Congressional Coalition, Christine worked as a Legislative Assistant to Rep. Steve LaTourette (OH-14), for whom she handled appropriations, environment, defense, national security, veterans and arts issues. In addition, she spent two years working in the Columbus, Ohio, office of Senator George Voinovich, and worked in the communications department of the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University. Christine has BA degrees in Political Science and History of Art from The Ohio State University. She is a native of Willoughby, Ohio.

You can contact Christine at Christine.Kontra@mail.house.gov.

Living Lands and Waters will be hosting the first-ever simultaneous, one-day cleanup of the Upper Mississippi River, called the "Great Mississippi River Cleanup," from St. Paul, Minnesota to St. Louis, Missouri on June 19, from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. To read more, help their effort by donating and organizing, or to register for the clean up, go here.