Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Ring Out the Old; Ring in the New
As the last days of the 111th Congress wind down, with a final adjournment expected next week, preparations are being made for the 112th Congress, which will convene on January 5, 2011.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Senate and House, respectively, released their 2012 legislative calendars (which differ from each other considerably; see here for more details).  And on Wednesday, the House Republican Conference approved new committee chairs for the 112th Congress (listed here).

Key Committee Chair assignments that impact directly upon Mississippi River Basin water resource issues include: Agriculture (Frank Lucas (R-OK-3rd)); Appropriations (Harold Rogers (R-KY-5th)); Budget (Paul Ryan (R-WI-1st)); Natural Resources (Doc Hastings (R-WA-4th)); and Transportation and Infrastructure (John Mica (R-FL-7th)).  Links for each chairperson are to their congressional web page.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week: 

In the States -

• Environment Iowa calls on Iowa leaders to curb agriculture pollution http://bit.ly/gygYfc
• USGS: Biofuels production has unintended consequences on water quality & quantity in Mississippi (state) http://bit.ly/i4CRZ9
• Ducks Unlimited & USDA-NRCS's Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Prog returning IL farmland to wetlands http://bit.ly/fz1aa1
• Study at former Rhinelander WI manufactured gas plant site along Wisconsin River resumes http://bit.ly/ftpiql
• WI Brd of Ag considering adding ~10,000 Ac to 1.2 M where herbicide atrazine cannot be used due to polluted wells http://bit.ly/i6Lye0
• Two natural Mississippi River waterfalls could be recreated around downtown Minneapolis island http://bit.ly/gSoUfJ

Floodplains, Dams and Navigation -

• RT @PAODanaClark: Corps to dredge ox bows lakes  - Kaskaskia River http://bit.ly/gMNzvA via @AddThis #USACE
• Army Corps using Recovery Act $ to open up silted-in oxbows on Kaskaskia River stretch http://bit.ly/efIa6k  & http://bit.ly/eX4RJ7
• MO homeowners near Mississippi River concerned about "Plan H" flood plan they say protects some areas more than others http://bit.ly/dRDnt1

Agriculture -

• Denmark regulations on ag fertilizer use & disposal may have curbed N in groundwater http://bit.ly/gkzyue
• Corn & Soybean Digest: Pointers for Keeping Farm Nitrogen Where Farmers Benefit Most http://bit.ly/f7awhC
• On farm subsidies: question no longer whether to cut but by how much & which programs http://bit.ly/fFvfA9
• CO Farm Bureau approves policy that supports elimination of direct payments in 2012 Farm Bill http://bit.ly/iieZxX
• Illinois Farm Bureau delegates declare direct payments to be a favorite Farm Bill program http://bit.ly/dGN5ZV
• Congress likely to extend major ethanol incentive, rather than let it expire at end of Dec, but w 20% cut http://reut.rs/gh08W5
• Tax credits for ethanol & other biofuels among issues under debate for sweeping tax bill http://reut.rs/ejzCgI
• Report: World grain prices could as much as double by 2050 due to population growth & climate change http://bit.ly/dEiD30
• Purdue U: Climate change may mean new crop strategy for US Midwest farms http://bit.ly/e57Lpv & http://bit.ly/gA3WwI & http://bit.ly/g4jtY6
• RT @InvasiveNotes: set of resource materials 2 help farmers make practical & profitable responses 2 climate changes http://bit.ly/hkLdm0
• Ag giant Cargill defends environmental record http://bit.ly/f3lDtZ

Water Quality-

• Parking lot/driveway sealants largest contributors to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban lakes & reservoirs http://bit.ly/icmvcc
• Minneapolis, St. Paul, Blaine & Prior Lake MN show interest in installing SAFL stormwater baffles http://bit.ly/eFO4Lv
• Florida Sues EPA Over Water Standards (may have nationwide repurcusions) http://bit.ly/eDwuuT

Events -

• Call for Abstracts (due by 12/31/2010): Philadelphia Low Impact Development Symposium: Greening the Urban Environment http://bit.ly/dRj2Sx
• Mississippi River Research Consortium 43rd Annual Conference April 28-29, 2011 La Crosse, WI http://bit.ly/erwZ7V & http://bit.ly/dH8NmE
• "Leaders in Corporate Sustainability" webinar December 16, 2:15 – 3:45 EST http://bit.ly/eXBVTS
• Soil & Water Conservation Society 2011 Annual Conference July 17-21, Washington DC; abstracts due 12/17 http://bit.ly/eT5HcS

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Congress passes Asian Carp import prevention bill [tho that horse may have already left the barn] http://bit.ly/fwqb6y
• KY and TN considering reopening hunting for sand hill cranes http://bit.ly/gmVBX4
• Columbia Environmental Research Center researchers study intersex sturgeon in the Missouri River http://bit.ly/gmwDKq
• RT @InvasiveNotes: USDA-ARS climate change & invasive weed address at AGMasters conference http://bit.ly/i851Xu
• Penn State research: states might want to establish invasive species quarantines at their borders http://bit.ly/hYYe2f
• National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species launches redesigned invasive species website & resource page http://bit.ly/fnTBPu

Other news-

• Iowa State University to burn wood chips or pellets in 104 year-old higher-sulfur coal plant http://bit.ly/g5L0jA
• EWG report: Farmers in Chesapeake Bay region excessively applying phosphorus to fields  http://bit.ly/i5VMKs & http://bit.ly/hYlFzy
• US House reps call on FDA to ban triclosan-common ingredient in antibacterial soaps http://bit.ly/hRry0e
• The Nat Great Rivers Research & Education Center's December E-Newsletter is now available online http://bit.ly/gFtCxd
• EDF’s latest issue of Delta Dispatches, with news on efforts to restore Coastal Louisiana, now on-line http://bit.ly/fsK0K8
• Strong evidence emerges of BP spill oil on Gulf of Mexico seafloor http://on.wsj.com/hQVZs3

Political Scene -

• GOP gets queasy on earmark ban; some think party may have overreached; impact on Army Corps projects cited http://bit.ly/eGUGiX
• Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) chosen to lead powerful House Appropriations Committee http://bit.ly/hX8395
• Democratic push to pass >100 public lands & water bills in lame duck session escalates http://politi.co/fD9qJ7
• 120 groups sign ad urging omnibus water/wilderness bill passage http://bit.ly/gWmaVY (pdf of full page add)
• SanFran Examiner Editorial: GOP must pick the right committee chairs http://bit.ly/hGhHz3
• Political campaign reprise: How WI (D) Sen Russ Feingold lost http://bit.ly/hIiqtI
• New poll shows Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) "would cruise to reelection" vs any Republican opponent http://bit.ly/fOW1MX
• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) releases 2011 Senate calendar; convenes Jan 5 http://bit.ly/eqT7JB
• 2011 House Calendar now available on Majority Leader-elect Eric Cantor’s website (pdf) http://bit.ly/eHp6J6
• Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) selected to chair House Agriculture Committee in 112th Congress http://bit.ly/eo8E0E
• House narrowly passes year-long FY 2011 Continuing Resolution; Senate fate unknown http://bit.ly/KVmsr