EPA's Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee

The EPA-established Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC)  met for two days this week (March 29-30) in the Washington, DC area in the second of a series of more recent meetings specifically designed to produce a report for the EPA that advises the agency on how best to focus its efforts in protecting and improving water quality with respect to impacts from agricultural practices (see the meeting agenda here - pdf file).

EPA formed the FRRCC in 2008 to provide independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to the Agency on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities.  FRRCC members include representatives from academia, industry (e.g., agriculture and allied industries), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and state, local, and tribal governments.

The past week's meeting included presentations for the Committee members on USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs and specific water resource-agriculture issues across the US (Great Lakes and California).  Among the points presented were several directly relevant to Mississippi River Basin conservation.  Specifically:

• The USDA is currently involved in discussions with the EPA and USGS (NAWQA Program) to develop a network of monitoring beyond the edge-of-field monitoring related to the NRCS Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI), and (among other things with respect to monitoring) is exploring avenues with the EPA through which 319 grant money could be provided to NGOs for the NGOs to assist with monitoring efforts.
• USDA is or will soon be focusing money and staff resources on high-priority landscapes (including the Mississippi River Basin) through Strategic Watershed Action Plans (SWATS) in an effort to improve technical assistance to farmers and landowners (See this March 16, 2011 testimony of NRCS Chief Dave White before the House Agriculture Committee where he discusses the SWAT initiative for the Chesapeake Bay - pages 6 and 7).

The meeting also included an update for Committee members by Larry Elworth (Agricultural Counselor to the EPA Administrator) on major issues currently in front of EPA with respect to the FRRCC mission.  That overview included discussion of the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolutions, Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal and hearings, EPA Congressional oversight hearings (on ethanol, livestock, dust, milk spillage, pesticides, Chesapeake Bay), a review of the USDA NRCS CEAP and recent reports on the Upper Mississippi River Basin and other watersheds, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Chesapeake Bay lawsuit, Chesapeake Bay-centered pending legislation, and the various Florida Everglades lawsuits (five - now consolidated into one).

The FRRCC has divided itself into three workgroups to facilitate the development of the water quality report to EPA (with the target for report completion early this Fall).  The three workgroups are science, partnerships and resources (resources being both human and monetary).  The workgroups divided into break-out sessions and reported back to the entire committee with their results.  Here are some key workgroup conclusions, which will guide their report drafting work over the next several months:

Science Workgroup
EPA should focus on several key issues:

• Models leading to standards (assure that real improvement will be achieved at the water quality standards developed through models; reduce or clarify the levels of uncertainty)
• Data and monitoring (needs to be transparent and science-based; requires adequate funding)
• Scientific evaluation and assessment of goals
• BMPs (look at science behind the measurement of success; formalize interagency coordination)
• Establishing TMDLs (see models, above)
• Scientific research

Partnerships Workgroup
All partnership issues relate back to one and drive one fundamental issue, which is a lack of progress by all participants in achieving water quality goals.
What EPA needs to do:

• Look to past and current successful partnership efforts as models
• Utilize 319 grants, which make sense as partnership catalysts

Problem areas:

• Data variability
• Moving targets for farm community
• Lack of comfort level among farmers
• Confidentiality
• High tensions among parties (need to be reduced to achieve progress)

Overall, EPA's philosophy should be to establish goals at the integrated, higher levels, but achieve results (take action) at the local level.  EPA needs to be at the table to help but not to regulate.

Resources Workgroup
EPA should:

• Focus resources into planned programs and in key watershed.
• Allign resources to focus on water quality-related issues at the Federal level but then allow (facilitate) the coordination of resource application at the local level.  
• The coordination role-player needs to be local, trusted and be able to provide a long-term commitment (cannot be the EPA).  
• Mid-level coordination can occur within the individual State Technical Committees.

The workgroup stressed that education is a critical resource need (both for farmers and for agencies).  Land grant universities could play a key education role.  They also noted that access to resources is just as critical as the amount of resources available at large (i.e., sometimes resources are authorized but not readily available to the farmer/landowner).  The Resources Workgroup also identified several areas where the workgroup needed more information from EPA to continue the workgroup's activities.

Full notes and other materials from the March meeting will be posted on the FRRCC meeting page within 60 days (i.e., by early June).  Past meetings' materials are posted already on that web page.  The next FRRCC meeting will be on June 22-23 in the Washington, DC area, and will be open to the public.

Farm Bill Resources

(NOTE: This is an update of an earlier post)

As congressional hearings and discussions on and off Capitol Hill regarding that next (2012) Farm Bill continue, there is a growing conviction in Washington among a variety of interest groups, including members of the Congress, that the next Farm Bill could very likely be fundamentally different than its predecessors. As a resource for those following the Farm Bill debate and discussions, here are some resources available online (all in pdf file format; through the highlighted Internet links) that provide an overview of the current (2008) and past Farm Bills, as well as perspectives leading into 2012 Farm Bill discussions.

2008 Farm Bill

• Here is a December 2010 update of a 2008 Congressional Research Service overview of the current Farm Bill: "What Is the “Farm Bill"?"
• This 2008 Farm Bill Comprehensive Overview is provided by USDA's Economic Research Service
• Congressional Research Service Report: "Farm Commodity Programs in the 2008 Farm Bill"
• Congressional Research Service Report: "Conservation Provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill"
• Congressional Research Service Report: "Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance in the 2008 Farm Bill"
• 2008 Farm Bill Fact Sheets from the House Agriculture Committee, arranged by Title:
  Title I - Commodity Programs
  Title II - Conservation
  Title III - Trade
  Title IV - Nutrition
  Title V - Credit
  Title VI - Rural Development
  Title VII - Research
  Title VIII - Forestry
  Title IX - Energy
  Title X - Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
  Title XI - Livestock
  Title XII - Crop Insurance
  Title XIII - Commodity Futures
  Title XIV - Miscellaneous

• Here is a concise explanation of the Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program by the USDA Farm Service Agency

 2012 Farm Bill

• Congressional Research Service Report, “Actual Farm Bill Spending and Cost Estimates” from October 7, 2010 (highlights the difficulties facing Congress as it ramps up to work on the 2012 Farm Bill, particularly as that bill relates to the tight Federal budget)
• Congressional Research Service Report:"Previewing the Next Farm Bill: Unfunded and Early-Expiring Provisions"
• Farm Foundation Forum's "Budget Implications for the Next Farm Bill" from a September 14, 2010 forum (provided by Farmpolicy.com Inc.) 
• Congressional Research Service Report Farm Safety Net Programs: Issues for the Next Farm Bill (September 10, 2010)

USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program Releases New Agricultural Land Use Report

The USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAQWA) has released a new data-series report and maps that could prove to be very useful in spatial and statistical analyses of land-management practices and their possible effects on the quality of water in nearby surface-water bodies and of groundwater.   The data set documents county-level tillage practices by 8-digit hydrologic unit watersheds.  County-level data were aggregated in cooperation with the Conservation Technology Information Center, including three types of conservation tillage (no-till, ridge-till, and mulch-till), reduced tillage, and intensive tillage. The dataset includes total planted acreage by tillage type for selected crops (corn, cotton, grain sorghum, soybeans, fallow, forage, newly established permanent pasture, spring and fall seeded small grains, and “other” crops) for 1989-2004. For more information, USGS suggests contacting Nancy Baker at mailto:ntbaker@usgs.gov or (317) 290-3333, ext 185. 

Senate and House hearings of interest this week

Hearings listed chronologically (with links to hearing details on Committee web pages)

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee Hearing on the National Park Service budget; Wednesday, March 30, 2:30 PM, Room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building
• Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing on 2012 budget request for the Army Corps of Engineers; Thursday, March 31; 2:30 PM; Room 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building
• House Natural Resources Commerce Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Subcommittee Hearing on 2012 budget request for NOAA; Thursday, March 31, 2 PM, Room 1334 Longworth House Office Building
• House Appropriations Committee Hearing on 2012 budget request for NOAA; Friday, April 1, 10 AM, Room H-309, U.S. Capitol Building
• House Financial Services Committee hearing on the national flood insurance program; Friday, April 1, 10:30 AM, Room 2128 Rayburn House Office Building

March Update on Mississippi River Basin issues

Here is the link to the March Update (pdf file) from the Northeast-Midwest Institute on Mississippi River Basin issues.   If that link doesn’t work, you can cut and paste the following into your Internet browser’s address field: http://www.nemw.org/images/2011-03%20Upper%20Mississippi%20River%20Basin%20Newsletter.pdf.  The March Update contains these items:

River Basin News and Notes

• National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration
• NRC Report Released on National Water Resources Challenges Facing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• USGS Seeking Comments on Report to Congress on Climate Change and Water
• New USDA Initiative Announced to Increase Adoption of Agricultural Drainage Water Management
• EPA Framework for State Nutrient Reductions
• Environmental Organizations File Notice of Intent to Sue over Mississippi River Basin Pollution
• Other Publications of Note
• Upcoming Conferences, Events and Workshops

Legislation

• National Flood Insurance Program Legislation Introduced
• Legislation Calls for Expedited Study to Separate Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins

Budget and Appropriations

• Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations
• Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations
• CHIMPS and the Federal Budget

NRC Report Released on National Water Resources Challenges Facing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

On March 25 the National Research Council (NRC) released a new report describing the "water planning paradox" faced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as the nation's water demands increase and become more complex, while investments in water infrastructures decline.  The NRC report (available here) concludes that expectations on the Army Corps cannot be met consistently in the face of those increasing demands and within a reality of constrained funding. Despite those challenges, the NRC report says, the situation offers "opportunities to develop and implement creative water planning."

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

New USDA Initiative: Increasing the Adoption of the Management of Agricultural Drainage Water
On March 23, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced at an “Increasing the Adoption of the Management of Ag Drainage Water” briefing and dialogue session that it will soon be launching a new initiative to foster greater voluntary adoption of the management of agricultural drainage water by producers, especially in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.  Read more about the new NRCS project and background on drainage water management here.

USGS Seeking Comments on Report to Congress on Climate Change and Water
On March 23, the U.S. Geological Survey published a notice in the Federal Register (notice available here) providing the opportunity for public comment on the Draft Report to Congress: "Strengthening the Scientific Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources of the United States" (report copy available here as a pdf file).  The Report responds to the Omnibus Public Lands Act (Section 9506 of Public Law 111–11, Appendix A, which incorporates the SECURE Water Act) and identifies key actions to improve the Nation’s capacity to detect and predict changes in freshwater resources that are likely to result from a changing climate.  The ultimate goal of the report is to help decision-makers and water resource managers by facilitating improvements in observational, data acquisition, and modeling capabilities.

Comments on the draft report should be submitted by email to Terry Schertz (tschertz@usgs.gov) no later than April 14, 2011.  Include "9506 Report" in the subject line of the message. Those preferring to submit comments by regular mail, should send an original and three copies of comments to:
Terry Schertz
U.S. Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
MS 412
Reston, VA 20192

For those interested in discussing their perspective on the report, Wendy Norton, Executive Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Water Information and Chief of the USGS Water Information Coordination Program is scheduling a WebEx for the afternoon of Wednesday April 6.  Details on that event will be publicized in the near future.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week: 

Agriculture -

• Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Stabenow wants Senate’s work on next farm bill completed in 2011 http://bit.ly/eUfOIY
• Sen Baucus (D-MT): Serious crafting of next farm bill probably still a year off but cut discussions starting now http://bit.ly/fuZaK4
• USDA ARS grass breeder rediscovers forage grass ideal for intensive rotational grazing http://1.usa.gov/fVz7ir
• Rep. Jordan (R-OH-4th; GOP Study Committee Chair): "time to end" direct payments to farmers in both good & bad years http://bit.ly/hcomY9
• House Ag Committee Ranking Member Peterson (D-MN-7th): EPA farm regulations unclear & process murky http://bit.ly/gpP8rP
• U of IL policy brief: “Measuring Indirect Land Use Change with Biofuels: Implications for Policy” http://bit.ly/hyrhCd
• AR House Agriculture Committee to discuss bills mandating clean air & water from well fracking http://bit.ly/dR9UtT
• Two-Stage Ditches Reduce Downstream Nutrient Transport from Farmland http://bit.ly/dVdqcY
• Sen Lugar (R-IN) of Agriculture Committee looking to cut sugar and other agricultural subsidies http://bit.ly/eOAoEw

Water Quality-

• EPA Clean Water Act interactive state-by-state Trends Map & Annual Noncompliance Report updated http://bit.ly/idMBkA
• Large Gulf of Mexico ‘slick' could be huge algal bloom fueled by Mississippi River nutrients; next stop: dead zone http://bit.ly/hiveZb
• Coast Guard: miles-long patch of "goop" in Gulf of Mexico due to resuspended Mississippi River sediment http://on.msnbc.com/h3lObS
• Environmental Science & Technology: Nitrogen contamination of surficial aquifers--A growing legacy (USGS) http://bit.ly/dUx9Km
• PA (Ohio R watershed) coal-fired power plant liable for more than 8,600 Clean Water Act violations http://bit.ly/fAFHJi
• Environmental groups sue WV coal company over selenium discharges http://bit.ly/elJny4 (pdf of plaintiff complaint)

In the States -

• Natural Resources Board urges WI Gov Walker to reconsider rollback of phosphorus water quality rules http://bit.ly/g35SMN
• Pending IA state legislation would shift clean water programs from DNR to Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship http://bit.ly/glwe6w
• Latest (March 22) issue of the Tennessee Clean Water Network e-newsletter http://bit.ly/fcx2Ub
• MN Senate approves bill repealing MN DNR authority to update development rules along Mississippi in Twin Cities area http://bit.ly/hzBQUV
• River Network selects Eastern TN farmer as "national river hero" for work to decrease stormwater pollution http://bit.ly/e1dZ6h

Flooding, Floodplains, Dams and Navigation -

• U of MN's River Life Partnership has put together multi-platform digital flood forum to gather info from across region http://bit.ly/ewIU1i
• Bipartisan Senate bill introduced "to increase capacity & generation of hydropower" (Hydropower Improvement Act ) http://1.usa.gov/gy50mL
• RT @PAODanaClark: #USACE @StPaulUSACE employees fill sandbags to prepare for #flooding http://flic.kr/p/9riik2 [near Onalaska, WI]
• Study: People who directly experience flooding more likely to be worried about climate change http://bit.ly/eK75DO
• Spring Floods Begin, Expected to Worsen through April in North Central US through Midwest & Northeast http://bit.ly/hoaYAZ
• Window closing on buying insurance against looming floods  http://bit.ly/fAUEZN (St Louis Post-Dispatch)
• FEMA: Highlighting some of local efforts to battle ongoing & potential Midwest flooding http://bit.ly/i0T23h
• Modeling the Mississippi: The USACE's Physical Model http://bit.ly/gT3AUZ

Federal Budget -

• Sixty senators call on Obama to tackle entitlement reform http://bit.ly/gOjjdl
• While negotiating 2011 spending bill with Dems, House GOP leaders plan to unveil "aggressive" 2012 budget in 3 weeks http://politi.co/i1VfsA
• Congressional leaders agree on need to reach deal to fund federal government through September http://wapo.st/f3CGWn (but riders are deal-breakers)

Events -

• Stakeholder Meeting: EPA's Development of New or Revised Recreational Water Quality Criteria; June 14-15, New Orleans http://bit.ly/hLCM3V
• New film "Bag It" re: bags & waste; if interested in hosting screening see trailer http://bit.ly/fkV7hl then go here http://bit.ly/e3Z9qF
• Public Events Celebrate USDA ERS 50th Anniversary; Washington DC, May 4-5; info: http://1.usa.gov/he2Bb1 register: http://1.usa.gov/dL1zft
• Fish Passage 2011: National Conference on Engineering & Ecohydrology for Fish Passage; June 27 - 29, Amherst, MA http://bit.ly/e1f0wd

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Sen Mark Pryor (D-AR): new federal law banning transport of live Asian carp across state lines unfair http://bit.ly/hsB9bV
• MN Gov & DNR Commissioner support state bill to raise $4 M/yr to fight aquatic invasive species http://bit.ly/hXbK0V
• LA state waterfowl expert: Programs that flooded farmland didn't keep migrating birds away from oily marshes http://bit.ly/i2JUUP
• Tomorrow US FWS will publish final rule adding bighead carp to federal injurious wildlife list http://bit.ly/hfFZDk

Other news-

• Scotts Miracle-Gro Co announcing today that it will stop making lawn care fertilizer with phosphorus http://bit.ly/dIpA1L
• America’s Great Waters Coalition Designates Nine New Waterways to Advocate for Restoration Needs http://bit.ly/f91wBF
• Commentary: ‘If you control water, you control everything’ http://bit.ly/idgvbw
• Happy World Water Day . . . take a glass of water out to lunch and celebrate the gift of clean water! http://bit.ly/ktRG
• Public Comment Period Open; USGS Draft Report to Congress on Climate Change and Water Resources  http://bit.ly/fhM29H
• George W. Bush rulemaking expert blasts EPA's use of guidance use to change rules absent public comment http://nyti.ms/e2pvN2
• IG report: EPA promoted coal ash reuse without adequate risk data http://1.usa.gov/gC9u3G (pdf file)

Political Scene -

• Number of Republicans queued to run against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) in 2012 growing http://bit.ly/heLXmk
• Louisiana’s post-census redistricting battle begins-losing one US House seat http://bit.ly/fHIA8T
• New survey in 50 most competitive battleground Congressional districts: GOP House majority at risk in 2012 http://bit.ly/f4ZGKR
• Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN-6th) will form presidential exploratory committee http://bit.ly/dKwItr

Last word
"They have yet to learn what a Haley Barbour is and that will be a challenge." - Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R), quoted by the New York Times

New USDA Initiative: Increasing the Adoption of the Management of Agricultural Drainage Water

On March 23 the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced at an “Increasing the Adoption of the Management of Ag Drainage Water” briefing and dialogue session that it is launching a new initiative to foster greater voluntary adoption of the management of agricultural drainage water by producers, especially in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 

Background
A June 2010 NRCS Conservation Effects Assessment Project (or "CEAP") Report entitled “Effects of Conservation Practices on Cultivated Cropland in the Upper Mississippi River Basin,”  documented the progress made in reducing sediment, nutrient and pesticide losses from farmland through the implementation of a variety of conservation practices, but also noted that additional conservation treatment (primarily a more complete and consistent use of nutrient management) is needed to achieve additional, measurable environmental outcomes.   Important in achieving nutrient management is the greater management of water flow from tile drainage, where concentrations of nitrogen (primarily as nitrate) are often greater than in surface field runoff. 

In October 2010, the USDA NRCS proposed (draft) guidance on the implementation of its National Nutrient Management Strategy, informed by CEAP outcomes that identified improvements in water quality resulting from Nutrient Management Conservation Practice Standard planning.  That guidance (National Bulletin 450-11-4, National Nutrient Management Strategy Implementation) and supporting attachments relate directly to NRCS's new drainage water initiative, particularly in that it identifies “Drainage Water Management (DWM)”  as one of a suite of required Cropland Nutrient Management System Core Practices "to advance nutrient management and address growing concerns about the environmental impacts of nutrients lost from cropping systems."

The March 23  briefing included findings about the barriers to adoption, lessons learned, and recommendations to accelerate the greater implementation of the DWM initiative. NRCS plans to continue to solicit ideas and input from stakeholders and will hold at least one additional briefing on the matter before finalizing its ideas and formally launching the initiative.

Public Comment Period Open for USGS Draft Report: "Strengthening the Scientific Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources of the United States"

Tomorrow, March 23, the U.S. Geological Survey will publish a notice in the Federal Register providing the opportunity for public comment on the Draft Report to Congress: "Strengthening the Scientific Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources of the United States" (copy available here as a pdf file).  The Report responds to the Omnibus Public Lands Act (Section 9506 of Public Law 111–11, Appendix A, which incorporates the SECURE Water Act) and identifies key actions to improve the Nation’s capacity to detect and predict changes in freshwater resources that are likely to result from a changing climate.  The ultimate goal of the report is to help decision-makers and water resource managers by facilitating improvements in observational, data acquisition, and modeling capabilities.

Comments on the draft report should be submitted by email to Terry Schertz (tschertz@usgs.gov) no later than April 14, 2011.  Include "9506 Report" in the subject line of the message. Those preferring to submit comments by regular mail, should send an original and three copies of comments to:
Terry Schertz
U.S. Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
MS 412
Reston, VA 20192

For those interested in discussing their perspective on the report, Wendy Norton, Executive Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Water Information and Chief of the USGS Water Information Coordination Program is scheduling a WebEx for the afternoon of Wednesday April 6.  Details on that event will be publicized in the near future.

It's Complicated - The Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Debate, CHIMPS and the 2012 Farm Bill

In the U.S. Congress, the acronym "CHIMPS" stand for "Changes In Mandatory Program Spending;" changes that happen when an Appropriations Committee makes cuts in a spending bill to mandatory programs whose spending amounts are authorized under another piece of legislation.  Such a CHIMP can be viewed as usurping the jurisdictional authority of the committee(s) drafting the original piece of authorizing legislation.  Although CHIMPS normally just impact spending for the particular fiscal year in which the CHIMP is enacted, CHIMPS can have serious long-term ramifications in certain situations.  One such situation is agricultural spending related to Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, since FY 2012 is the year that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Senate and House Budget Committees establish the baseline used to set USDA funding for the next 10 years (that is, through FY 2022).   They use FY 2012 to establish the baseline since 2012 is the year in which many agriculture programs' authorizations expire.

So, it was with the spectre of CHIMPS in mind that minority staff (Craig Jagger, Minority Economist) for the House Committee on Agriculture last Friday (March 18) released a paper describing the potential impact of CHIMPS during the FY 2012 budget cycle could have on agricultural spending for years to come, potentially undermining the amounts of funding allocated to agricultural programs in the next Farm Bill (here is a link to the Agriculture Committee CHIMP paper, by way of FarmPolicy.com).

Using the USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) as an example, the paper explains that a hypothetical $342 million cut (or CHIMP) from the FY 2012 budget would translate over the next 10 fiscal years after into an accumulated 11-year cut of $3.76 billion from the program.  The paper explains that "substantial reductions in funding for the Ag Committee’s programs through CHIMPS have been a fixture of Ag Appropriations bills for many years," and that "CHIMPS reductions on other Ag Committee programs would cause even larger reductions to the Farm Bill baseline."

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

House Agriculture Committee Sends Budget Recommendations to Budget Committee
On March 15 the House Agriculture Committee adopted and then sent a letter to the House Budget Committee containing recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2012 budget cycle, with respect to the agencies and programs under the Agriculture Committee's jurisdiction (including the USDA).   Within that context, the letter also explains how the Committee intends to prepare for drafting the 2012 Farm Bill. 
The letter notes that "(t)he main component of the farm bill preparation will be an "audit" or inventory of all policies under the Agriculture Committee's jurisdiction, including those relating to . . . conservation.  This audit along with field hearings and hearings in Washington with affected groups will establish the framework with which the Committee will make decisions on which programs to prioritize and which programs need to be eliminated or consolidated."

Providing input to individual Agriculture Committee members (see here for member listing) that would inform the Committee audit, or providing input at the appropriate Committee hearings would be opportunities for those desiring to influence the nature and scope of the next Farm Bill.

Ferd Hoefner of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has prepared a concise and substantive review of the House Agriculture Committee letter, and puts it into a farm and natural resource conservation context very well.  You can read Ferd's analysis here.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week
Agriculture -

• Ag land field tile and flooding a topic at MN State Senate ag committee hearing http://bit.ly/eQDyzU
• FDIC conference summary: "Don’t Bet the Farm: Assessing the Boom in U.S. Farmland Prices" http://1.usa.gov/dOLBBg
• EPA broiled in House Ag Subcommittee hearing re: Chesapeake Bay TMDL, farm practices & implications on US watersheds http://bit.ly/hXvJDL
• USDA's NRCS Chief White confident that Chesapeake watershed farmers on track to complying with tightening TMDL http://bit.ly/f5IKnS
• Agriculture Committee Chair Lucas: Conservation Reserve Program & $5 B/yr direct payments could be cut from Farm Bill http://reut.rs/gHxRDA
• Senate Agriculture Chair Stabenow-Budget decisions regarding agriculture should not be made until 2012 farm bill http://bit.ly/fUI1hk
• Data from field trials: Corn may be more vulnerable to global warming than previously thought http://bloom.bg/gwGpDx
• Federal court: EPA can't require CAFOs to obtain Clean Water Act permits until manure discharges into water of the US http://bit.ly/ecbpPH
• Sens. Klobuchar & Lugar introduce bill to appoint 3 members to EPA Science Advisory Board with agricultural background http://bit.ly/dWlLFc
• Chesapeake Bay-farm issues subject of USDA report http://1.usa.gov/hkV7sP & http://bit.ly/hwD8Rg & House hearing http://1.usa.gov/gvgjdH

Water Quality-

• USGS documents phosphorus sources for estuaries/bays along South Atlantic & Gulf Coast http://bit.ly/hmTQAN & http://1.usa.gov/hrSlPS
• New journal article: "TMDL Implementation in Agricultural Landscapes: A Communicative and Systemic Approach" http://bit.ly/f8FsFB
• Senators propose bill to provide loans & loan guarantees for large energy, water & transportation infrastructure projects http://bo.st/htO7ZB
• EPA's new memo/guidance on working with states to achieve reductions in phosphorus & nitrogen water pollution http://bit.ly/e5dsa5

In the States -

• Former WI DNR official: rollbacks of clean water regs in Gov's proposed budget could put WI in violation of US laws http://bit.ly/gZWsmV
• GOP members bring new priorities to MN panel that directs $ to environmental projects http://bit.ly/f0a37M
• MN state bill would relax rules aimed at replacing wetlands lost to development of northern MN mines http://bit.ly/fdgA9J
• Koch Industries accused of polluting Arkansas waterway http://bit.ly/gxjiqw

Flooding, Floodplains, Dams and Navigation -

• NWS: spring flooding will worsen in Minnesota River & Mississippi R from headwaters downstream to St. Louis http://bit.ly/eGrKVt
• Upper Mississippi River flooding could become an issue as early as weekend http://bit.ly/idspPQ
• Flooding could delay start of shipping season on Mississippi R in WI http://bit.ly/gxlYEC
• Interactive weather hazards map from National Weather Service - including flood warnings http://1.usa.gov/2eN94O
• FEMA Administrator Agrees to Senators’ Request to End “Without Levees” Policy in Modernizing Flood Maps http://bit.ly/e5uvhy
• "Good news" for St. Louis metro-east property owners: FEMA changes decision on levees http://bit.ly/f1bQYX
• Minnesota Commerce Commissioner urges Minnesotans to buy flood insurance http://bit.ly/em3iPB
• Two National Flood Insurance Program reform bills introduced last week http://bit.ly/hL73Ko
• It’s Flood Safety Awareness Week http://1.usa.gov/ichAnY & http://on.fb.me/e9Gh4R 
• Mississippi River Coon Rapids dam expansion to make it Asian carp barrier under debate http://bit.ly/i0ct28

Federal Budget -
2011 Budget

• House Appropriations Committee Introduces Three Week Continuing Resolution; reduces/terminates 25 programs http://1.usa.gov/gbECKw
• 271-158 vote on House stopgap spending bill Tuesday revealed splits in both parties http://on.wsj.com/dSFdqG (bill moves to Senate)
• Senate  approves legislation to fund government 3 more weeks; 2 parties $50 billion apart on long-term bill http://on.wsj.com/gvfurA

2012 Budget

• House Agri Committee adopts FY 2012 budget recommendations for its agencies/programs (includes USDA) http://1.usa.gov/h0BBat (pdf file)

Events -

• USDA & Farm Foundation co-hosting National Agricultural Landscape Forum Washington DC April 7-8; info/register http://bit.ly/gkQDPY
• EPA Regional Administrator Brooks to host Regulatory Reform Listening Session; March 15; Springfield, MO http://1.usa.gov/euiDI8
• 4th National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER) 2011; Baltimore, MD August 1-5 http://bit.ly/hkfQVR
• Free EPA Webcast: Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution Series: Nitrate in Ground Water March 29; register: http://bit.ly/edd0iA
• 12th annual “Protecting the St. Croix Basin” conference; April 5, University Center, River Falls, WI http://bit.ly/eSprZA
• 29th Annual National Conference Native American Fish and Wildlife Society; May 3-5, Crazy Horse, SD http://bit.ly/gAx0tb

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• MN Gov Introduces Proposal to Fight Aquatic Invasive Species; 3 articles: http://bit.ly/fJU8x8 http://bit.ly/fEWu5T http://bit.ly/hdOjUL
• Whooping Cranes spotted at newly restored wetland along an IL River http://bit.ly/i3p1LY
• Photo-essay: Spring waterfowl migration begins in the Illinois River Valley http://bit.ly/h3Bofq; Story: http://bit.ly/ecQuYE
• Editorial: Asian carp invasion up the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers is imminent without action http://bit.ly/eFll63
• Link to the announcement of new invasives book: http://bit.ly/hRByIB with link inside it to book itself
• Mississippi River Coon Rapids dam expansion to make it Asian carp barrier under debate http://bit.ly/i0ct28
• Ag officials hope spraying in Wisconsin and Minnesota slows advance of gypsy moths http://bit.ly/ghfRvh

Other news-

• EPA Announces Public Comment Period for Draft Report, Aquatic Ecosystems, Water Quality & Global Change http://1.usa.gov/h71L6l (pdf)
• Corps of Engineers' $2.9 B plan to rebuild wetlands destroyed by Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet faulted http://bit.ly/eXhdCS

Political Scene -

• Poll: Former AR Gov. Huckabee & Rep. Bachmann (MN) have highest positive intensity of possible GOP prez candidates http://bit.ly/eIS4N2
• OH has buyer's remorse over new Gov: In hypothetical rematch of Nov vote Strickland (D) beats Gov Kasich (R), 55-40% http://bit.ly/ea9to0

Last word
"I like hearing things incorrectly. I think that’s how I get a lot of ideas is by mishearing something."  - Singer-songwriter Tom Waits (inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year) . . . and here's a link to a live video recording of one of his famous songs: "Let It Rain"

New EPA Framework on Working with States to Achieve Reductions in Phosphorus and Nitrogen Water Pollution

Yesterday, March 16, the EPA Office of Water released a memorandum sent to the Agency's ten Regional Administrators entitled, "Working in Partnership with States to Address Phosphorus and Nitrogen Pollution through Use of a Framework for State Nutrient Reductions."  According to the memo's lead paragraph, it (along with an accompanying "framework") is guidance designed to reaffirm "EPA's commitment to partnering with states and collaborating with stakeholders to make greater progress in accelerating the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to our nation's waters. The memorandum synthesizes key principles that are guiding and that have guided Agency technical assistance and collaboration with states and urges the Regions to place new emphasis on working with states to achieve near-term reductions in nutrient loadings."

EPA says that it offers the framework "as a planning tool, intended to initiate conversation with states, tribes, other partners and stakeholders on how best to proceed to achieve near- and long-term reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in our nation's waters.  However, the memorandum goes on to state that, while EPA will support states that follow the framework, the Agency "retain(s) all its authorities under the Clean Water Act," implying that those authorities could be used in cases where adequate progress in nutrient reduction was not being achieved.

A copy of the EPA memorandum and framework can be viewed and downloaded here (pdf file).

House Agriculture Committee Sends Budget Recommendations to Budget Committee

Yesterday (March 15) the House Agriculture Committee adopted and then sent a letter to the House Budget Committee containing recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2012 budget cycle, with respect to the agencies and programs under the Agriculture Committee's jurisdiction (including the USDA).   Within that context, the letter also explains how the Committee intends to prepare for drafting the 2012 Farm Bill.  Ferd Hoefner of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has prepared a concise and substantive review of the letter, and puts it into context very well.  You can read Ferd's analysis here.

National Flood Insurance Program Legislation Introduced

A National flood insurance reform bill was introduced last Friday (March 11) by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL-13^th), Chair of the Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee (the "Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011" – no bill number yet).  Here is a link to Friday’s Subcommittee hearing where Rep. Biggert discussed the bill.  And here is a link to a pdf file of the bill.

 

Another bill (H.R. 1026) with the same “reform” objective but differing means was introduced the day before (March 10) by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-35^th), with six co-sponsors, “to extend the authorization for the national flood insurance program, to identify priorities essential to reform and ongoing stable functioning of the program.”  Here is Rep. Waters’ press release on the bill.  This bill is essentially a reintroduction of H.R. 5114, the “Flood Insurance Reform and Priorities Act of 2010,” also introduced by Rep. Waters and passed by the House 329-90 last July, but not considered by the Senate.  Sources indicate that Rep. Biggert may be willing to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 1026.

 

Both bills would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (a program intended to reduce flood risk, encourage smart floodplain management and provide affordable flood insurance) through September 30, 2016.  On September 30, 2010, the President signed the National Flood Insurance Program Reextension Act of 2010, which Congress passed on September 24, 2010. That law extended the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2011.

See our other recent articles on flood insurance reform here and here (in each case the flood insurance piece is about half way into the blog posting).

Senate and House hearings of interest this week

House Hearings (with links to hearing details on Committee web pages)

• House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry hearing on Chesapeake Bay agricultural conservation practices, and their implications on national watersheds; Wednesday; 10 AM, 1300 Longworth Building http://1.usa.gov/ic3N6f
• House Appropriations Committee hearing on Fish and Wildlife Service 2012 budget proposal; Wednesday, 1 PM, B-308 Rayburn Building http://1.usa.gov/hxqueK
• House Appropriations Committee hearing on USGS 2012 budget proposal; Thursday 9:30 AM, B-308 Rayburn Building http://1.usa.gov/dGUJJ0
• House Appropriations Committee hearing on NOAA 2012 budget proposal; Thursday, 2 PM, 2359 Rayburn Building http://1.usa.gov/dWQV2Z

Senate Hearing (with link to hearing details on Committee web page)

• Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on EPA 2012 budget proposal; Wednesday, 2 PM, 124 Dirksen Building http://1.usa.gov/g4urBf

House Appropriators Introduce Three-Week Continuing Resolution; Would Cut $6 Billion

House Republicans this afternoon (March 11) introduced a Continuing Resolution (CR) proposal to fund the Federal government, largely at current spending rates, for three additional weeks beyond March 18 (until April 8) in a measure that would cut $6 billion in spending by reducing or eliminating 25 programs (cutting $3.5 billion) and by cutting earmarked funding that was automatically renewed in the CR approved by the Congress in December 2010 (cutting $2.6 billion).  The full text of the legislation (H.J. Res 48) can be read here (for an earlier background story, see here).

According to a House Appropriations Committee press release, the CR would terminate the following earmarks (and the indicated funding cuts) that are either directly or indirectly related to programs associated with water body (such as the Mississippi River Basin) restoration and conservation:

Agriculture

• $37 million – Natural Resources Conservation Service – Conservation Operations
• $30 million – Natural Resources Conservation Service – Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations
• $115 million – Agriculture Research Service
• $122 million – National Institute of Food and Agriculture - Research and Education
• $11 million – National Institute of Food and Agriculture - Extension

 Commerce/Justice/Science

• $99 million – NOAA – Operations, Research, and Facilities
• $18 million – NOAA – Procurement Acquisition and Construction

 Interior

• $1 million – Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Management of Lands and Resources
• $2 million – BLM - Construction
• $3 million – BLM - Land Acquisition
• $12 million – Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) – Resource Management
• $10 million – FWS – Construction
• $22 million – FWS – Land Acquisition
• $17 million – NPS – Land Acquisition
• $7 million – U.S. Geological Survey – Surveys, Investigations, and Research
• $6 million – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Science and Technology
• $26 million – EPA – Environmental Programs and Management
• $1 million – EPA – Buildings and Facilities
• $172 million – EPA – Tribal Assistance Grants
• $0.4 million – Forest Service (FS) – Forest and Rangeland Research
• $6 million – FS – State and Private Forestry
• $1 million – FS – National Forest System
• $7 million – FS – Capital Improvement and Maintenance
• $30 million – FS – Land Acquisition
• $6 million – FS – Wildland Fire Management

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Budget Debates and Cuts Continue
Ten Senate Democrats joined 48 Republicans on Wednesday in voting against a Democratic Continuing Resolution (CR) to cut less than $5 billion from the Federal budget through the remainder of this Fiscal Year (58 against and 42 for; roll call here), with five of those ten Democrats planning to run for re-election in 2012 (including, in Mississippi River states, Herb Kohl in Wisconsin and Claire McCaskill in Missouri), and each of the five up against potentially formidable opponents. On that same day, the Senate voted on a GOP bill that would have cut $57 billion from current spending. That vote was 56 against and 44 for (roll call here).

Since Senate Republicans and Democrats are still more than $50 billion apart on those dueling alternatives to fund the government, House Republicans today (March 11) plan to unveil yet another CR that would finance government operations an additional three weeks beyond March 18, when the current CR expires. Details are unknown at present, but it's expected that the GOP proposal will contain about $6 billion in additional budget cuts. The cuts will likely come from earmarks already slated in the 2011 budget for agriculture, law enforcement, scientific, defense, military construction, environmental, public lands and foreign aid projects. Republicans are divided as to whether the new CR will be a "clean" funding bill or will include "riders" that limit or eliminate government authority or the ability to implement Federal programs already in place. However, it would be safe to bet on a "clean," rider-free CR, so that it sails relatively smoothly through the House and Senate before next Friday's CR deadline.

A chronological review of the week's budget "highlights" is included in our "Federal Budget" section, below.  Look to our blog for details on the new Republican proposal when it is released later on March 11.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week: 

Agriculture -

• Wall Street Journal:  world is consuming grains faster than farmers are growing themhttp://on.wsj.com/efehMu
• RT @ChrisClaytonDTN: DTN's Urban Lehner [Commodity Agriculture] "Ag Plays Defense on Federal Budget Cuts." http://dld.bz/aFjk
• Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testimony Thursday on USDA 2012 budget proposal (link here: http://1.usa.gov/gm8Eiq)
• EPA Administrator Jackson questioned re: EPA regs during House Ag Committee hearing http://1.usa.gov/fte6Fc & http://bit.ly/eoVx5d
• Ethanol subsidies coming under attack on two fronts in US Senate http://bit.ly/h3P3sD
• New working group of lawmakers & EPA & USDA heads has 1st mtg http://bit.ly/hdvmHm (USDA report) http://bit.ly/ejaNJC (Stabenow statement)
• Christian Science Monitor analysis: Farmers, EPA clash over Chesapeake Bay regulations http://bit.ly/hH0gbW

Water Quality-

• Pharmaceutical chemicals widespread in water samples from 25 sewage treatment plants across MN http://bit.ly/g3SM6q
• National Association of Water Companies calls for more tax-free financing to invest in water/wastewater systems http://bit.ly/fYvrFb
• Chicago's Link to Gulf Hypoxia http://bit.ly/e8PhPx

In the States -

• MN Gov Dayton signs into law bill to speed state environmental reviews & permits for businesses http://bit.ly/fALI9b
• Coal ash waste management plan raises concerns in Missouri community http://bit.ly/g4HjHr
• Here is the latest issue of the Tennessee Clean Water Network e-newsletter http://bit.ly/fMZAfq
• Environmental group demands that MN regulators impose new clean-up plan on abandoned iron ore pit owner http://bit.ly/i9zh5r
• Four environmental groups accuse KY coal mining companies of Clean Water Act violations http://bit.ly/fxuwVa
• Army Corps issues permit for WV mountaintop mine http://bit.ly/dJvhng
• Environmental groups say that water quality protections take big hit in WI Gov. Walker's budget http://bit.ly/if9Tqb

Flooding, Floodplains, Dams and Navigation -

• Op-ed: "Increasing Flood Risk: Is This Our Floodplain Management Policy?" http://bit.ly/gEbXaO
• Articles on high upper Mississippi Basin flood threats http://bit.ly/gqdbtehttp://bit.ly/dJEacQ http://bit.ly/iiYVGe http://bit.ly/eU5bnm

Federal Budget - (happenings during the week in chronological order from top to bottom)

• Monday: Senate Democrats introduce own budget for remainder of fiscal year  http://bit.ly/ihUpku  full bill: http://bit.ly/hG87KI
• Wednesday: Senate rejects competing spending plans, leaving legislative stalemate http://bit.ly/f9EwRn
• Wednesday: Dem proposal to cut $6 billion from 2011 federal spending defeated http://bit.ly/dEfMiB
• Thursday: Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) ready to compromise on spending cuts after GOP bill gets more votes than Dem's http://bit.ly/eSJhdZ
• Friday: House Republicans plan to unveil another short-term bill today to keep government running 3 more weeks http://on.wsj.com/fVQQNX

Events -

• National League of Cities’ Conference in DC this weekend to highlight EPA's new stormwater rulemaking http://bit.ly/hHS5Fb
• April 2, 2011 "Green Tie Affair" Nashville, TN Benefits the Tennessee Environmental Council http://bit.ly/gA0kmo

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Missouri Trout anglers' help sought in keeping damaging algae strain out http://bit.ly/gWfAR9

Other news-

• RT @NestDC: DC gets another great local coffee house [on Capitol Hill for us Federal policy wonks] http://bit.ly/i8qv9k
• New carbon model contributes new info on role of rivers as sources & sinks for organic carbon at various scales http://1.usa.gov/h8O6nq
• American Water Resource Association adopts 2 new water policy statements http://bit.ly/dNpJf8 &  http://bit.ly/fv77oX (pdf files)
• New AWF report calls for greater urgency, tough decisions in saving wetlands in Mississippi River delta http://bit.ly/goii7M

Political Scene -

• Despite failing scores from interest group, House GOP freshmen defend environmental credentials http://nyti.ms/eOz0a1
• Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) may be in more trouble over billing for political trips http://politi.co/fxmDhs (possible ethics violations)

Last word- "We need to get back to where we can talk about compromise. It's a word that people have kind of demonized." - Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) quoted in this Time magazine article.

Senate and House hearings of interest this week

House Hearings (with links to hearing details on Committee web pages)

• House Natural Resouces Committee Hearing on BLM and Forest Service budget Tuesday, 10 AM, 1324 Longworth Building http://bit.ly/fu9wi4
• House Appropriations Commitee Hearing on the Department of Interior budget; Tuesday 1 PM, 2359 Rayburn Building http://1.usa.gov/gdZum1 (MS Word document)
• House Appropriations Hearing on USDA natural resources and environment budget; Wednesday 10 AM, 2362-A Rayburn Building http://1.usa.gov/gdZum1 (MS Word document)
• House Natural Resources Committee Hearing on USGS budget; Wednesday 2 PM, 1324 Longworth Building http://bit.ly/f8ofPI
• House Science, Space and Technology Committee Hearing on EPA and NOAA budgets; Thursday, 10 AM, 2318 Rayburn Building http://1.usa.gov/h3fXHh
• House Appropriations Committee Hearing on Army Corps budget; Thursday, 10 AM, 2362-B Rayburn Building http://1.usa.gov/gdZum1 (MS Word document)
• House Agriculture Committee Hearing on EPA's Impact on Agriculture; Thursday, 2 PM, 1300 Longworth Building http://1.usa.gov/hLQkdd
• House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on EPA budget; Friday, 10 AM, 2123 Rayburn Building http://1.usa.gov/gxis1o

Senate Hearing (with link to hearing details on Committee web page)

• Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on Department of Interior budget; Wednesday 3 PM, 124 Dirksen Building http://1.usa.gov/f2PnHD

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Environmental Organizations File Notice of Intent to Sue over Mississippi River Basin Pollution
The Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and Prairie Rivers Network on March 1 filed a 60-day "notice of intent to sue" with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, notifying the District of their intent to sue it over water pollution impacts resulting from wastewater discharges that reach from Chicago, Illinois, down the Chicago, Des Plaines, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers and into the Gulf of Mexico. The Notice and its attachments (which include correspondences related to the issue and a photo of algae mats on Chicago waterways) are available here. 

Legislation Calls for Expedited Study to Separate Great Lake and Mississippi River Basins
Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in the Senate and Representative Dave Camp (D-MI-4th) in the House announced on March 3 that they will be introducing companion legislation to require that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conduct and expedite a study to determine the best way to permanently separate the Mississippi Basin from Lake Michigan, while still permitting shipping and boating passage ("ecological separation").  The bill, called the "Stop Asian Carp Act of 2011," will require the study begin within 30 days and be completed within a year and a half of the legislation's passage.  Both Senator Stabenow and Representative Camp introduced similar legislation during the 111th Congress, last year.  Notably, Senator Durbin did not co-sponsor that Senate bill (important because he is from Illinois), and neither measure was brought up for consideration in committee (see here for the 2010 bill summary).
Among other things, the Stop Asian Carp Act would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to study the Illinois, Chicago and Calumet Rivers watersheds to determine the feasibility and best means of implementing the ecological separation of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basins to prevent the introduction or establishment of populations of aquatic nuisance species into the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins through the Chicago Area Water System and other aquatic pathways.

Continuing Resolution Provides a Narrow Two-Week Window for Budget Summit and Compromise - Agriculture and EPA Likely to Take Hits
Republicans and Democrats  agreed that certain programs proposed to be cut by President Obama for the next fiscal year should no longer be funded in this fiscal year, and passed a short-term budget bill to fund the Federal government through March 18 (see text here and a summary of cuts - including those relevant to Mississippi River Basin water issues - here).
The Continuing resolution (CR) provides a mere two legislative weeks for negotiations on a long-term funding bill before current spending authority expires at the start of the next week-long Senate and House recess.  It will be difficult during that limited period to bridge the wide gap between the cuts envisioned by House Republicans in its long-term CR passed two weeks ago, and the view of Senate Democrats, who have labeled those GOP cuts "draconian."  In recognition of the enormity of that task, the President on Wednesday called for a budget "summit" among Congressional Democratic and Republican leaders and the Administration, and assigned Vice President Joe Biden to spearhead an effort to develop a funding compromise and break the long-term funding impasse.  After initially balking at the summit concept, GOP Congressional leaders (House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH-8th) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)) accepted Obama’s offer to begin face-to-face spending negotiations with the Administration. 
The pair met late in the day on Thursday in Biden’s ceremonial Capitol Hill office with the Vice President, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, Office of Management and Budget Chief Jack Lew, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-8th).  “We had a good meeting, and the conversation will continue," Biden said following the meeting.  However, there were no tangible signs of progress at the meeting, with aides saying afterward that additional short-term  measures to keep the government funded are a virtual certainty, especially since Biden is expected to leave Sunday for a week-long trip to Europe.  He will be back in Washington, DC only several days before the current CR authority expires.
Democratic Senate appropriators are working on their own long-term CR that would run through the remainder of 2011, and will likely be presenting a bill next week, which Reid has promised to present for debate on the Senate floor.  More than two-dozen Federal spending accounts have been identified as potential targets for cuts by appropriators on the Senate side, with the biggest cuts likely coming from agriculture, EPA state revolving funds, and FEMA state and local grants.

Who to Contact in Congress on Funding Legislation
See our article, "Regional Voices Inform the Budget Debate," for contact information for House Members and Senators in your state or district and for House and Senate appropriators.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week: 

Agriculture -

• Rice University: Overfertilizing corn bad for both ethanol biofuel and the environment http://bit.ly/gjIXfS
• Economist magazine special report: "Simply using more of everything to produce more food will not work" http://econ.st/fVle7r
• House Ag Chair Frank Lucas says election year-2012-is best year to write next Farm Bill http://bit.ly/f0dq6T
• Diverse coalition urges Congress to end ethanol subsidy; GOA says subsidy not needed http://bit.ly/eFxp5o
• 35 groups send letter to Senate, urging rejection of disproportionately high farm conservation program cuts http://bit.ly/fjyvku
• 2 upcoming House Agriculture Committee hearings: impact of EPA regs on agriculture & Chesapeake Bay TMDL implications for US watersheds http://bit.ly/g2omdq
• World food prices rose 2.2% in February from previous month to record peak http://ht.ly/46XUN

Water Quality-

• USDA ARS finding: Much of Mississippi River's sediment load comes from stream bank collapse & failure http://bit.ly/fEOnK7
• Enviro groups intend to sue Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District re: polluting Mississippi basin waters http://bit.ly/eoc0RA

In the States -

• Mid-day coffee break: Google Earth Flyover of the Minnesota River Valley click "go to tour" then "play tour" http://bit.ly/eDc73o
• Environmental coalition urges MN Governor Dayton to resolve contentious St. Croix River crossing issue http://bit.ly/eIffsL
• WI bill would effectively repeal rule requiring municipalities to disinfect drinking water http://bit.ly/fVQZkI
• Legislative Auditor report calls MN environmental permitting process slow, uncertain, duplicative http://bit.ly/i2p4Ob

Flooding, Floodplains, Dams and Navigation -

• Flooding forecast risks still moderate to high in upper Mississippi River basin; NOAA map here: http://bit.ly/g9IiFx
• Army Corps statistics: Lock and dam 21 grain shipments on Mississippi River continue downward trend http://bit.ly/dO7K3g
• Army Corps statistics: Lock and dam 5 barge shipments on Mississippi River also continue downward trend http://bit.ly/hpSdMO

Federal Budget-

• Nonpartisan economic analysis: House GOP proposed budget slash could cost US 700,000 jobs http://bit.ly/hqz9v6
• 35 groups send letter to Senate, urging rejection of disproportionately high farm conservation program cuts http://bit.ly/fjyvku
• Continuing Resolution aside, GOP & Dems still miles apart on a broad agreement to fund government thru FY 2011 http://bit.ly/hvRnM6
• House appropriators know how to get around earmark ban, rendering it window dressing http://bit.ly/gUPkLI

Events -

• Registration open for National Agricultural Landscapes Forum, April 7 & 8, Washington, DC http://bit.ly/gGBkRX
• National Agricultural Lands Forum REGIONAL ROUNDTABLES March 3-22; various locations http://bit.ly/htGEEW
• 3rd Annual Conference for floodplain & stormwater managers in Nebraska; June 23 http://bit.ly/eMaCFT
• RT @ChrisClaytonDTN: IA Farm Bureau writer Tom Block @ruralroots now joining NOAA climate meeting in Des Moines. [see http://bit.ly/esVwDz]
• New film: "Green Fire" is first full-length documentary of Aldo Leopold-premier show dates listed http://bit.ly/gymtg5
• Heading out soon to the RFF Seminar "Water Conflicts and Resolution: Economy vs. Environment?" more info on topic: http://bit.ly/eKzZsA

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Minnesota citizens committee to tackle Zebra Mussel threat to lakes http://bit.ly/f2hkGU
• Conservation & Fishing Groups: Antiquated animal import legislation root cause of Asian carp crisis http://bit.ly/fir3sX
• RT @highcountrynews: RT @nijhuism: Have some invasive species for lunch: http://bit.ly/hXCzQE lols!
• Largest alligator gar ever recorded caught in Mississippi River oxbow lake near Vicksburg, MS http://bit.ly/ijgXeE (327 pounds)
• Start of Missouri's trout season could herald influx of aquatic invasive species http://bit.ly/hKxKhT
• Asian Carp & 162 other aquatic invasive species 'Knocking on the Door' of lower Wisconsin River http://bit.ly/ejlakj
• US Fish & Wildlife Service: Eastern Cougar officially "extinct" & will be taken off Endangered Species List http://on.msnbc.com/gIL0tu
• Legislation Calls for Expedited Study to Separate Great Lake and Mississippi River Basins http://bit.ly/dTvaql
• RT @InvasiveNotes: Invasive Species – a Question of Harm ~ http://bit.ly/gAZXJj [well worth the read]WI survey suggests ongoing efforts to educate boaters & anglers about aquatic invasive species pay off http://bit.ly/hrMUeT

Other news-

• Plans for a new Memphis TN Art Park include enhanced viewscape of the Mississippi River http://bit.ly/dM4OTJ
• Federal biodiesel tax credit helps Iowa biodiesel plants to "bounce back" http://bit.ly/h9sp4v
• Water demand will 'outstrip supply by 40% within 20 years'; agriculture will suffer http://bit.ly/eVMJkj
• Latest edition of Delta Dispatches posted online, with news on Gulf Coastal restoration and protection http://bit.ly/ef5T4a

Political Scene -

• Poll: Senate Ag Chair Stabenow (D-MI) & former Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) in virtual tie in 2012 prospective matchup http://bit.ly/hV7FOa (pdf)
• League of Conservation Voters offers supplemental report card on House budget votes http://bit.ly/fHzXoy

Last word- Appropriate for the annual rite of rising floodwater watching, we'll leave this week's last word to Led Zeppelin