"Back to the Start"

Coldplay's song "The Scientist" is performed by Willie Nelson in this new short (2:20 minute) film entitled, "Back to the Start" and posted on YouTube.  The animated film, by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer who slowly turns a family farm into an industrial animal operation before opting for a return to a much smaller scale operation.  Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle, so there is a very innocuous add placement for chipotle.com at the end of the piece, along with the message, "Cultivate a Better World."

August Issue of "Mississippi River Basin Update" Published

Here is the link to the August Update (PDF file) from the Northeast-Midwest Institute on Mississippi River Basin issues.  The August Update contains these items:

RIVER BASIN NEWS AND NOTES

• USGS: No Consistent Nitrate Declines in Mississippi River Basin 
• NRCS Hosts Mississippi River Basin Initiative Briefing 
• Great Lakes & Mississippi River Interbasin Study Aquatic Nuisance Species White Paper 
• New, Enhanced University of Minnesota “River Life” Internet Site 
• Upcoming Conferences, Events and Workshops

LEGISLATION, BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

• Budget Control Act and Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations

Deficit Reduction Supercommittee Primer

The President signed the Budget Control Act of 2011 into law on August 2 (text available here).  The law authorized a $900 billion increase in the Federal debt ceiling.  The legislation in part created a twelve-member bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (which almost immediately became known as the "Supercommittee").  The job of the Supercommittee is to identify from $1.2 to $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction (in the form of either spending cuts or new revenue) over the 2012 to 2021 period and to submit that proposal to Congress for a straight up or down vote.  

Between September 7 and November 23, the Supercommittee will have its window of opportunity to make targeted cuts from Federal programs.  If a proposal is developed and then approved by the Supercommittee, the committee’s report and legislative language is required to be issued by December 2, and then be presented to the House and Senate on a "take-it-or-leave-it" basis.  Congress will need to vote on the Supercommittee's proposal by December 23.

If December 23 passes without Congressional approval of the Supercommittee’s proposal, then “sequestration” forces automatic spending reductions of $1.2 trillion, including $600 billion in defense cuts, and $600 billion in cuts from all other programs, through 9 percent across-the-board spending reductions (except Medicare, which would be cut by only 2 percent).

If the Supercommittee fails to reach agreement or produces less than $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, then the President is authorized to increase the debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion.  However, if Congress passes a Supercommittee plan to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion (or more), then the President may increase the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion.

Although provisions to raise the debt limit and create the Supercommittee drew most of the attention to the legislation, the measure also importantly established federal spending limits for the next two fiscal years (2012 and 2013).  And while members of Congress will likely still disagree over how much spending is funneled toward which Federal agencies and defense, Congressional Democrats and Republicans alike have noted that the bipartisan compromise on 2012 and 2103 spending contained in the legislation makes it unlikely that an appropriation's impasse will bring the Congress to the brink of closing the government before Federal spending authority runs out on September 30 (the end of the current fiscal year).

The 12 Super Committee members, with links to their official web pages) include:

• Representatives Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Dave Camp (R-MI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) (appointed by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH))
• Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA) (appointed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA))
• Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), John Kerry (D-MA), and Patty Murray (D-WA) (appointed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV))
• Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), and Rob Portman (R-OH) (appointed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY))

Senator Murray and Congressman Hensarling will serve as Supercommittee Co-Chairs.

University of Minnesota's River Life Announces New, Enhanced Web Site

The River Life web site is very rich in information and well worth visiting on an ongoing basis.  The following new web site announcement was received from the River Life folks this morning.

River Life, a program of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, is pleased to announce the launch of our new web site at riverlife.umn.edu.

Launched in late August, 2011, the web site reflects our evolving program and our commitment to help our audience learn more about rivers and river issues. River Life uses social media, a digital atlas, and case study reports to develop and share knowledge on the scientific and professional practices that create inclusive, sustainable rivers. We discuss science, planning, engagement, inclusion, sustainability and river issues in a spatial, thoughtful, and timely manner.

While visiting the web site you can explore useful and interesting River Resources, keep up-to-date on what has caught our attention in the media in the River Portal, and examine the stories of how communities and individuals have lived with the river at River Stories. Make the river a part of your curriculum or teaching and get on the ground experience with the river as a part of River Rangers. See how stories, resources, and issues connect spatially with the River Atlas – a bird’s eye view of rivers and river issues. For more information you can read our River Talk blog, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Rivers represent perhaps the most complex biological and physical systems in the world. Yet our great rivers are threatened: water quality and quantity both are at peril from overuse, from competing uses, and from a generalized failure to recognize how valuable and imperiled the resource really is. Our work is grounded in a conviction that future river managers will need to be conversant in the sciences, public policy, design, planning, and in the engagement programs that reach the broadest sectors of the populace.

There’s great work happening all over.  Exemplary projects, programs, and places.  All this and more at the River Life site riverlife.umn.edu.  Go take a look and tell us what you think!

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

"Look!  Up in the sky!" - What to Expect from the Deficit Reduction Supercommittee

The president signed the Budget Control Act of 2011 into law on August 2.  The law authorized a $900 billion increase in the Federal debt ceiling.  The legislation in part created a twelve-member bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (which immediately became known as the "Supercommittee").  The job of the Supercommittee is to identify from $1.2 to $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction (in the form of either spending cuts or new revenue) over the 2012 to 2021 period and to submit that proposal to Congress for a straight up or down vote.  

Between September 7 and November 23, the Supercommittee will have its window of opportunity to make targeted cuts from Federal programs.  If a proposal is developed and then approved by the Supercommittee, the committee’s report and legislative language is required to be issued by December 2, and then be presented to the House and Senate on a "take-it-or-leave-it" basis.  Congress will need to vote on the Supercommittee's proposal by December 23.

If December 23 passes without Congressional approval of the Supercommittee’s proposal, then “sequestration” forces automatic spending reductions of $1.2 trillion, including $600 billion in defense cuts, and $600 billion in cuts from all other programs, through 9 percent across-the-board spending reductions (except Medicare, which would be cut by only 2 percent).

If the Supercommittee fails to reach agreement or produces less than $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, then the President is authorized to increase the debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion.  However, if Congress passes a Supercommittee plan to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion (or more), then the President may increase the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion.

The 12 Super Committee members include:

• Representatives Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Dave Camp (R-MI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) (appointed by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH))
• Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA) (appointed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA))
• Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), John Kerry (D-MA), and Patty Murray (D-WA) (appointed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV))
• Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), and Rob Portman (R-OH) (appointed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY))

Senator Murray and Congressman Hensarling will serve as Supercommittee Co-Chairs.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week: 

Agriculture -

• USDA Secretary Vilsack: economics makes continuation of farm conservation efforts uncertain http://bit.ly/qmQyb0
• SD GOP Senator John Thune: "the biggest (budget cut) bulls-eye right now is on direct payments" http://bit.ly/qdzXgc
• Kansas-based corn waste to energy project to commercialize cellulosic ethanol by 2013 http://1.usa.gov/p0XaRW
• Agribusiness confidence slips for first time since August 2010 on back of ethanol uncertainties http://bit.ly/o7sMmY
• International Water Management Institute: Water resources at risk from growing global demand for food http://bit.ly/nad8cP
• USDA publishes 20-year WRP commemorative “Restoring America’s Wetlands: A Private Lands Conservation Success Story” http://1.usa.gov/p0qjvV
• EPA Issues Clean Water Act Compliance Orders to 6 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Iowa, Kansas; Nebraska http://1.usa.gov/oANk8u
• USDA "AmberWaves" Sept 2011 Featured Article: Reducing Agriculture’s Nitrogen Footprint http://1.usa.gov/p3HWeR
• USDA ERS study analyzes whether federal farm programs encourage native grassland losses http://1.usa.gov/pQ91AK
• Native grassland advocates worry rising crop prices cause farmers to plow under native SD grass to grow more grain http://bit.ly/oV0dS5
• Intriguing chart showing USDA conservation program spending by category from 1949-present (and ERS analysis): http://1.usa.gov/pqapRX
• Links to testimony from August 25 Farm Bill field hearing by the Senate Agriculture Committee in Wichita, KS: http://bit.ly/qfDPx4
• Senate & House Agricultural committees will start writing versions of latest farm bill in matter of weeks http://bit.ly/pBCdFr

Water Quality-

• Second exposed petroleum product pipeline ruptures in Missouri River flood zone http://on.wsj.com/rpcuAF
• Iowa City Press-Citizen Editorial: Significant steps needed to restore the Iowa River http://bit.ly/p1xmQi
• Keeping water on the land is the solution to erosion, pollution & flooding that plague Iowa River http://bit.ly/r9XvdJ
• Study: Ag land associated with good water quality in highly-urbanized watersheds, but to pollution in less-urbanized http://bit.ly/r8r37W
• Environmental groups: KY coal company submitted >17,000 possibly false water pollution discharge reports http://bit.ly/oSzXON

Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Flooding, etc.) -

• Army Corps' Mississippi & Missouri Rivers' work won't be done in time to protect areas from run-of-mill 2012 floods http://on.wsj.com/pIc3DM
• Group opposes multimillion dollar Illinois River island-building project http://bit.ly/p0oK1k
• 7 Missouri River governors pledge cooperation to convince Army Corps to make flood control top priority http://bit.ly/qBTuM2 & http://bit.ly/ngGFyI
• Op-ed: Army Corps Flood Failures on Mississippi Demand New Vision http://bloom.bg/nn0kPV

In the States -

• WI DNR announces restructuring plan to make agency more responsive to public http://bit.ly/psV33S
• Funding cuts have some worried about Iowa’s commitment to protecting its rivers http://bit.ly/nboGqk
• UMETCO Minerals Corp clean water violations & lack of AR DEQ enforcement frustrate public http://bit.ly/oOCPvt

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• MN DNR wants sonic bubbler barrier against invasive carp in St. Croix River http://bit.ly/qOFG0L
• MN DNR: no Asian carp captured during 5 day search of St. Croix River http://cbsloc.al/mPXsWf
• MN DNR Search Continues for Asian Carp in St. Croix River http://bit.ly/p6XEdg
• North Dakota's waterlogged landscape attracting massive flocks of breeding ducks http://bit.ly/oKViUx
• Invasive Oriental bittersweet control in Minnesota: A presentation by MDA [available to view on-line] http://bit.ly/poIOcf

Federal Budget -

• OMB to Federal agencies: cut your budgets by 5-10% for FY 2013 budget request (OMB memo: http://bit.ly/rkVlkc (PDF file))
• Debt-ceiling agreement providing little help to congressional appropriators running late on their funding bills http://bit.ly/qPrShg
• House Ag Committee Chairman & Ranking Minority Member mapping out unified Farm Bill program spending cut strategy http://bit.ly/nQsdVR
• Conservation Stewardship Program is "low-hanging" Farm Bill fruit that could be cut or eliminated by Supercommittee http://bit.ly/r7vQhk

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Invasive Apple Snails continue to spread in Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary region (Texas & Louisiana) http://bit.ly/q5blha

Resource extraction -

• EPA officials tour eastern Kentucky coal mining region to hear community concerns http://bit.ly/nn9m1a
• WV enacts temporary shale drilling regulations http://bit.ly/qsQbBh

Events -

• 31st International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society; Oct 26-28; Spokane, WA http://bit.ly/rdV3rf
• Managing Water. Harvesting Results - America's Ag Water Management Summit.  October 11-12; Bloomington, MN http://bit.ly/p5iiPs
• First Illinois RiverWatch Biennial Symposium; Peoria, Illinois, October 4 http://bit.ly/qwukM5
• 2011 Horinko Group Water Resources Summit; October 25; U of MD College Park http://tinyurl.com/3zganno
• World Agricultural Forum Congress: Rethinking Agriculture To Sustain Growing Global Population; Nov 18-Dec 1, Brussels http://bit.ly/nemvFj
• Kentucky Stormwater Association is having its annual convention September 27-29; Frankfort, KY http://bit.ly/q6fw2J
• National Nonpoint Source Monitoring workshop/Low Impact Development conference  Sept 25-28, Philadelphia, PA http://bit.ly/bVpnUT
• Iowa Farm Bureau will hold its annual summer policy conference next Tuesday - Wednesday http://bit.ly/nUjhXw

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• Latest issue of Journal of Sustainable Human Development now available online http://bit.ly/n9tf7j

Other news-

• Okla. tribes sue state over water rights, seeking to stop exports until water rights are analyzed & allocated http://nyti.ms/peSg7M
• Stream restoration key to Cincinnati's battle against urban blight & excess stormwater runoff http://nyti.ms/qdiNbR
• Analysis: Role of Baseline Data & Analytical References in Restoring Ecological Integrity in Highly Regulated Rivers http://bit.ly/pI0rUk
• Severe hurricanes prompt talk of changing storm scales and adding "Category 6" http://bit.ly/pTEnUM
• Journal PLoS Biology: # of species on Earth: 8.7 million give or take http://reut.rs/pSckjs

Political Scene -

• Poll has Missouri Lt. Gov. Kinder (R) trailing Gov. Nixon (D), 48 to 41 % in the governor's race http://politi.co/omEuxL (pdf file)
• Former GOP congressman Mark Neumann set to announce US Senate campaign for Kohl's WI seat http://bit.ly/phj6a6
• No criminal charges will be filed in  WI Supreme Court fisticuffs case http://bit.ly/oTww35 (and you thought Midwesterners were docile!)

Last Word -"They used to cane each other and have duels! The Speaker of the House Henry Clay was in at least one duel!"  - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), in an interview with Slate, on why the 112th Congress isn't so bad.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week - Lake Wobegon Edition

It's Been a Quiet Week in Lake Wobegon
And inside the Capital Beltway, as well, as most of the nation's politicians have fled DC's heated air and its even more heated debates for home soils, vacation vistas or international junkets.  But the waters of the Mississippi River basin continue to flow south to the Gulf in large quantities, carrying nitrogen and phosphorous along for the ride, invasive species continue to move north into an ever-widening reach of streams, and people still contribute to solving or exacerbating those and many other River Basin problems - both purposely and (mostly) unintentionally.  That's all conveniently captured in the following summary of the week's news.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week: 

Agriculture -

• USDA Economic Research Service: The Ethanol Decade: An Expansion of US Corn Production, 2000-09 http://1.usa.gov/roRURD
• Iowa Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative project highlighted in Dubuque Telegraph Herald http://bit.ly/n04c7j
• Op-ed: "Iowa, the leading state for political hypoxia" leads to a damaging fresh & coastal water http://bit.ly/pLY4fU
• China’s struggle to meet growing middle class demands could upend corn's world trade flows http://on.wsj.com/r50F4p

Water Quality-

• Paper mill admits fish kill fault as dead fish flow into Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain http://bit.ly/nXXdyT
• Gulf of Mexico sends warning to SD about agriculture's contributions to hypoxia http://bit.ly/opeTJ0

Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Flooding, etc.) -

• Missourians opposed to "Plan H" Mississippi River-taming effort http://bit.ly/o6oJCV
• CBS St Louis: Another year, another "flood of the century'' on the Mississippi River; is river taming worth it? http://cbsloc.al/oh4KaZ
• Op-ed-"Nation needs fresh view of its rivers"-Mark Davis, Inst on Water Resources Law & Policy, Tulane Law School http://bit.ly/pJtlFa
• Missouri River governors to meet with Army Corps on flood issues http://bit.ly/p2LmSa
• This year's "once-in-500-year" Missouri River flood may not be so once-in-a-500-ish http://bit.ly/qwuTax
• Army Corps budget cuts may slow Birds Point, MO levee rebuilding http://bit.ly/qJdrPj
• >100 years after Chicago River flow was reversed, engineers consider re-reversing out of Mississippi basin http://bit.ly/pNIQV8

In the States -

• Environmental groups file notice of intent to sue EPA to move water quality authority from Iowa DNR http://bit.ly/pGe8ay
• Iowa CCI files ethics complaint against environmental commissioner  claiming conflict of interest http://bit.ly/pLvPQZ

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Evidence of invasive Asian Carp found in St. Croix River by MN DNR http://cbsloc.al/pwo1Rz
• MN DNR: Asian carp may be in or may soon be in some of MN's largest waterways http://bit.ly/qcS1rp
• Asian (Bighead) carp caught by angler in Lower Wisconsin River http://bit.ly/pnGVv5
• MN DNR dispatches fisheries crews to search for Silver Carp in St. Croix River http://bit.ly/o3f42X

Federal Budget -

• Focus now on Congressional committees of jurisdiction - have until Oct 4 to send recommendations to debt supercommittee http://bit.ly/oN2031

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Public meetings ongoing re: Louisiana's Coastal Master Plan & recommending specific actions for saving coast http://bit.ly/o9JWiW

Resource extraction -

• Poll: Appalachian voters oppose mountaintop mining; favor regulation http://bit.ly/pi0IDC
• Seeking a safer future for electricity's coal ash waste [National Geographic] http://bit.ly/oAotar
• Circuit Court judge strikes down ban on fracking by Morgantown, WV  http://bit.ly/o8VpT9
• Environmental Integrity Project coal waste report spotlights IL-home to 2nd highest number of US ash dumps http://bit.ly/nINLDW
• Enviro groups' report on 37 states highlights "inadequate" coal ash state regulations http://bit.ly/oGscUB

Events -

• 2011 Horinko Group Water Resources Summit; October 25; U of MD College Park http://tinyurl.com/3zganno
• Public meetings ongoing re: Louisiana's Coastal Master Plan & recommending specific actions for saving coast http://bit.ly/o9JWiW
• Save the dates: Oct 18-19 Memphis TN workshop: Assessing Recreation Impacts from Hydrokinetic Energy Projects http://bit.ly/qY0ecN
• 13th biennial Governor's Conference: "Illinois River: A National Opportunity" Oct 5-6; Marquette IL http://bit.ly/qbuwRp & http://bit.ly/8YbqO
• Screening of "The Big Uneasy", award-winning documentary of New Orleans & Katrina; Sept 8; 6:45 pm, Minneapolis MN http://bit.ly/p7uYAb

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• The latest Minnesota Forest Insect & Disease Newsletter from @MNDNR:  http://bit.ly/3q1juD
• The U of MN River Talk blog has moved over to its new web site at http://bit.ly/rp6X1A

Other news-

• River cruising poised to return to the Mississippi next year http://on.msnbc.com/qO30tn
• Obama to use USDA and SBA to attract venture capital to rural areas (announcement Tuesday) http://bit.ly/nTu7ts

Political Scene -

• Democrats survive in final Wisconsin recalls http://politi.co/pV5rQQ

Last Word - The labor monument at Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha, Nebraska on Tuesday, when the Missouri River was measured at 33.98 feet; the first time that the River had been below 34 feet since June 20. 

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week-Early Edition

USGS: No Consistent Nitrate Declines in Mississippi River Basin
On August 9 the USGS released news of a research effort that found there have been no consistent nitrate concentration and loading declines in large Mississippi River Basin rivers over recent years, and that, in fact, the Missouri River, upper Mississippi River and River Basin groundwater are rising sources of nitrate to the Gulf of Mexico.  The release states, in part, that "(d)espite efforts to reduce nitrate levels in the Mississippi River Basin, concentrations and transport at eight major study sites did not consistently decline from 1980-2008. These results are based on a new scientific model developed by the USGS that takes into account variation in river flows in order to gain an accurate understanding of long term trends."  The results of the new USGS study are published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology (link to the study here).

Major study findings include:

• Nitrate transport to the Gulf of Mexico was 10% higher in 2008 than 1980.
• Nitrate concentrations increased considerably at two sites with low concentrations in 1980.
• Nitrate concentrations remained the same or increased at the other six sites, including those where concentrations were relatively high in 1980.
• Increases in nitrate concentrations in groundwater are contributing to increases in river concentrations.

Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar
Your are invited to attend the third in a summer series of Natural Floodplain Function Alliance-sponsored webinars on floodplain issues: the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar, hosted by the Northeast-Midwest Institute. The Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force was authorized and established by Congress in 1975 to develop a “unified national program for floodplain management.”  The  Task Force works to advance that goal by promoting flood hazard mitigation and environmental stewardship of floodplains.   This webinar will present an overview of the Task Force, its history, goals and objectives, and current status.  Presenters will include Pete Rabbon, Special Assistant on the National Flood Risk Management Program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, John McShane, National Estuary Program Team Leader with the USEPA’s Office of Water, and Dave Stearrett, Chief, Floodplain Management Branch at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Title:    Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar
Date:    Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Time:    3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT (2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CDT)

Click here to be directed to a webinar registration page.    After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week: 

Agriculture -

• Process of cutting Federal spending may accelerate decisions on next farm bill http://bit.ly/n1TISA
• American Farmland Trust: new set of questions could lead to farm policy transformation next year http://bit.ly/oSYrmx
• Happy National Farmers Market Week everyone! Here's how to celebrate: http://bit.ly/pObQSU
• New York Times editorial board: time to end ethanol subsidies http://nyti.ms/o4ZuUY
• USDA expanding emergency grazing into land conservation areas in 5 states http://bit.ly/nWt6Fc
• Cellulosic biofuel could help reverse trend of reduction of acres enrolled in USDA Conservation Reserve Program http://bit.ly/pVDlK0

Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, etc.) -

• North Dakota governor to broach idea of state compact to manage Missouri River http://tinyurl.com/3f52yk7
• U.S. District Court Judge: FEMA flood mappers failed St. Louis Metro East area http://bit.ly/nqk27V
• Senators call on Army Corps to outline what it is doing to prepare for potential Missouri River flooding next year http://bit.ly/qtwZeO

Current Flooding -

• Army Corps: Flood Threat Along Missouri River Not Over Yet http://cbsloc.al/mYg1CW

Water Quality-

• EPA & USDA create partnership to improve rural drinking & waste water systems http://1.usa.gov/pLfoDg
• USGS: No consistent nitrate declines in large Mississippi River Basin rivers http://on.doi.gov/pP2JU1
• Stakeholder reaction to USGS report documenting MN & WI nutrient contributions to Gulf of Mexico dead zone http://bit.ly/qVxrj7
• Environmental Working Group: "Corn Lobby Offers Flawed Data To Deflect Blame for Dead Zone" http://bit.ly/qC8zn7 & http://bit.ly/qwxz4g
• Members of congressional subcommittee blast EPA's FL water quality rules as job-killing & too costly http://thesent.nl/oqELIP

In the States -

• WI DNR IDs nearly 2,300 "hazardous waste sites" in Marathon & Lincoln counties http://bit.ly/rszYqT & http://bit.ly/p5SDK3
• University of WI launches Central Wisconsin Water Initiative re: agricultural impacts on region's groundwater http://bit.ly/ojCDBo
• South Skunk River fish kill (IA) traced to hog confinement concrete manure holding structure http://bit.ly/oidds9
• MN Board of Water & Soil Resources announces $16.6 M competitive grant program to protect, restore state water http://bit.ly/o9vhk1 (PDF)
• US Office of Surface Mining concerns RE: Alpha Natural Resources coal waste impoundment not yet investigated by WV DEP http://bit.ly/r8p7jD
• Kentucky submits new clean water rules to prevent further deterioration of state’s rivers & streams to EPA http://bit.ly/oHQ0lM

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• DuPont to stop selling/recall Imprelis herbicide after complaints that it has killed 1000s of trees http://tinyurl.com/3tdtfry
• Wasp may be key to saving ash trees from Emerald Ash Borer http://bit.ly/pXVlgb
• MN DNR has new powers to inspect & decontaminate boats to slow spread of invasive zebra mussels http://bit.ly/pox6a1 & http://bit.ly/qPaY3F
• AR state fisheries biologists confirm invasive Northern Snakehead breeding population in Mississippi River tribs http://bit.ly/oEmI1X
• US Fish & Wildlife Service funds WI DNR mobile decontamination unit to fight aquatic invasives http://bit.ly/o0kZzN
• Wisconsin Task Force takes on aquatic invasive Water Celery http://bit.ly/pPFdRc
• WI DNR to recommend Mississippi River as a third waterfowl hunting zone http://bit.ly/q9ddvN
• KY fish (Cumberland darter) receives protection under Endangered Species Act; at risk from mountaintop mining http://bit.ly/qszfyB
• Answers to Asian carp frequently asked questions, as it travels north on Mississippi River & threatens Great Lakes: http://bit.ly/niuBHw
• Invasive Bighead Carp found in "Iowa Great Lakes" - presence linked to recent river flooding http://bit.ly/naaDMh

Federal Budget -

• EPA employee union launches bid to battle funding cuts http://bit.ly/rm0dV0
• GOP announces its six picks for Fed debt reduction "Super Committee" http://bit.ly/mRByvX
• Senate Majority Leader Reid names 3 Democratic senators to 12-member debt "Super Committee" http://1.usa.gov/owG93Z
• House Minority Leader Pelosi picks Reps Clyburn, Van Hollen, Becerra for Super Committee, rounding out group of 12 http://bit.ly/nWwg0N

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Environmental groups: more needed to mitigate Gulf of Mexico dead zone http://bit.ly/nB2WHo
• Researchers document failure of 3 LA coastal restoration projects intended to reverse wetland loss via river diversion http://bit.ly/n90OQL
• EPA Administrator Jackson: Wetlands restoration/Mississippi will be major considerations in Gulf of Mexico recovery http://bit.ly/p7kHY9

Events -

• Minnesota forum set on Farm Bill; West St. Paul; August 22; 10-3 (Central) http://bit.ly/r0NzMH
• Save the date: Integrating Human Dimensions into Fish and Wildlife Management; Sep 24, 2012; Breckenridge, CO http://on.fb.me/ovhH43
• 100-year anniversary of the butter cow at this year's Iowa State Fair http://bit.ly/jizSbP
• Free Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar; August 23; 3 PM (EDT) http://bit.ly/oOrO2n

Other news-

• 90 degree F Tennessee River temperature forces nuclear plant to 50% power production http://bit.ly/pcYKHa
• EPA seeking public comment on draft Scientific Integrity Policy through Sept 6 http://1.usa.gov/o5obKu
• EPA's scientific integrity policy draft skimpy on specifics, critics charge http://nyti.ms/q8R1M1
• House Dems want to limit loophole exempting hydraulic fracturing from Safe Drinking Water Act rules http://bit.ly/qgJCQ9
• USGS: Falling autumn leaves transfer as much atmospheric Hg to environment as precipitation http://on.doi.gov/oo9iQD
• NSF-funded project launching to systematically monitor US environment on continental scale http://bit.ly/pF1EKQ
• CNN to explore mountaintop removal environmental issues: "Battle for Blair Mountain: Working in America" August 14 http://bit.ly/n37WRU

Political Scene -

• Polls: US Congress less popular than ________ (fill in the blank with anything else) http://wapo.st/nNl9h3
• Dozens of House Republicans have broken ranks and taken pro-environment positions http://tinyurl.com/3kmdrxw
• WV's US Congressional redistricting plan makes only minor changes http://bit.ly/nvpdZD & http://bit.ly/nNTkEk
• Wisconsin GOP holds on to State Senate after recall http://politi.co/r2iVS7

Last Word -  "You know what's interesting? People from the Midwest, no matter their political stripe, never look like a**holes." - Jon Stewart on Wisconsin politicians during the Daily Show

Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar

Your are invited to attend the third in a summer series of Natural Floodplain Function Alliance-sponsored webinars on floodplain issues: the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar, hosted by the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force was authorized and established by Congress in 1975 to develop a “unified national program for floodplain management.”  The  Task Force works to advance that goal by promoting flood hazard mitigation and environmental stewardship of floodplains.   This webinar will present an overview of the Task Force, its history, goals and objectives, and current activities.  Presenters will include Pete Rabbon, Special Assistant on the National Flood Risk Management Program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, John McShane, National Estuary Program Team Leader with the USEPA’s Office of Water, and Dave Stearrett, Chief, Floodplain Management Branch at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Title:    Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar
Date:    Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Time:    3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT (2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CDT)

Click here to be directed to a webinar registration page.  After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Great Lakes & Mississippi River Interbasin Study Aquatic Nuisance Species White Paper Conference Call

The Army Corps of Engineers has announced that it will host a conference call tomorrow, August 10, at 11:00 AM (CDT) for interested parties to ask questions of the technical team that developed the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) White Paper as part of its Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS).

Call in information is:
USA Toll-Free: (888) 684-8852
Access Code: 3027302
Security Code: 3010

GLMRIS is an evaluation of alternatives that might be used to prevent the transfer of aquatic nuisance species (sometimes called "ANS") between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through aquatic pathways (see our initial article on GLMRIS here).    On July 27, the Army Corps released its Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Aquatic Nuisance Species White Paper (report pdf).  The White Paper is the first interim product of the GLMRIS. The purpose of the ANS White Paper is to catalog potential non-native species within the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins and identify which high-risk species will be an initial focus in GLMRIS.

For more information visit here.  Any questions about the White Paper can be directed to the GLMRIS Project Manager, Dave Wethington, at (312) 846-5522.

USGS: No Consistent Nitrate Declines in Mississippi River Basin

The USGS released news of a research effort this morning which finds that there have been no consistent nitrate concentration and loading declines in large Mississippi River Basin rivers over recent years, and that, in fact, the Missouri River, upper Mississippi River and River Basin groundwater are rising sources of nitrate to the Gulf of Mexico.  The release states, in part, that "(d)espite efforts to reduce nitrate levels in the Mississippi River Basin, concentrations and transport at eight major study sites did not consistently decline from 1980-2008. These results are based on a new scientific model developed by the USGS that takes into account variation in river flows in order to gain an accurate understanding of long term trends."

The results of the new USGS study are published in the Journal Environmental Science and Technology (link to the study here).

Major findings of the study are:

• Nitrate transport to the Gulf of Mexico was 10% higher in 2008 than 1980.
• Nitrate concentrations increased considerably at two sites with low concentrations in 1980.
• Nitrate concentrations remained the same or increased at the other six sites, including those where concentrations were relatively high in 1980.
• Increases in nitrate concentrations in groundwater are contributing to increases in river concentrations.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

EPA Denies Mississippi River Basin Water Quality Petition

In a July 29 letter from its Office of Water, the EPA responded to and denied a petition for rulemaking filed on July 30, 2008 by the Natural Resources Defense Council and other petitioners (submitted to the EPA under section 4 of the Administrative Procedures Act).  The 2008 petition had requested in part that EPA “exercise its powers under Sections 303(c)(4) and 303(d) of the (Clean Water Act) . . . to prepare and publish numeric water quality standards and establish TMDLs needed to protect the nation’s waters, or at least the waters in the Mississippi Basin” (a pdf file of the petition is available here; a related Houston Chronicle news story is here).    In denying the petition, EPA contended that its current approach of encouraging states to develop their own water quality limits would be a better use of the agency's limited resources, stating, "we do not believe that the comprehensive use of federal rule making authority is the most effective or practical means of addressing (the petitioners') concerns at this time." The entire, six-page EPA letter can be viewed and downloaded here.

Congressional Recess
The U.S. House and Senate are not in session, their August recesses having started earlier this week following passage of Federal debt limit legislation. Except for pro forma sessions designed in part to negate the ability of the President to make unilateral Executive Branch recess appointments, the next Senate session starts at 2 PM on Tuesday, September 6, while the next significant House action is scheduled for Wednesday, September 7 (the Senate may also take a brief break today (Friday) from its recess to address a lack of funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, whose spending authority ended on July 22, when the last of a series of 20 short-term FAA spending extensions expired).

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week:

Agriculture -

• Comments due August 15 on Draft NRCS Plan on Agricultural Drainage Water Management http://tinyurl.com/42y5nrn
• USDA YouTube video on preventing farm field runoff from reaching Mississippi River http://youtu.be/AFtdTnyTUZ0
• USDA Blog: Improving Mississippi River Water Quality, 1 Farm at a Time http://tinyurl.com/3mlb56y
• Budget deal implications for Farm Bill, agriculture unclear http://tinyurl.com/3g2u7bx http://tinyurl.com/3c6e8su http://tinyurl.com/3urcmng
• Senate budget committee chair: We have to expect that agriculture will have to contribute to deficit reduction http://tinyurl.com/4xa3boy
• New Union of Concerned Scientists report on jobs and local/regional food systems http://tinyurl.com/43rlg2c
• USDA Land Values Report: values up 6.8% since 2010 http://tinyurl.com/3fhowag (PDF)
• Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX): "Agriculture Matters: The New Role of Farm Policy" http://t.co/dWY0C6w
• Farm Bill in hands of ‘super committee’ http://tinyurl.com/3qcnnux
• NSAC update: Agriculture Committees will very likely delay any mark ups on next farm bill until 2012 at earliest http://tinyurl.com/3k7arg2
• Senate Agriculture Committee hearing: Opportunities for Specialty Crops and Organics in the Farm Bill http://tinyurl.com/3t2lgux
• PBS NewsHour: “Heat Wave, Drought Create ‘Grim’ Crop Yields for Farmers in Plains, South" http://tinyurl.com/3atu7x6
• Report: US agriculture, particularly north-central Midwest, is economic & scientific powerhouse http://tinyurl.com/3wrk8l6 (pdf)

In the States-

• EPA tells Wisconsin to improve water quality permitting http://tinyurl.com/4ytkwfx
• Park Rapids MN water contaminated with nitrates; many suspect source is fertilizer used on local farms http://tinyurl.com/mvfa4n
• Judge orders IA company to pay penalty following cattle manure discharge & land application http://tinyurl.com/3vk3l43
• WV Center on Budget & Policy warns state not to over-rely on mining & drilling booms - busts will follow http://bit.ly/pN5ylY (PDF)
• WV has to greatly improve abandoned mine pollution treatment as part of proposed settlement with enviro groups http://tinyurl.com/3lmlujy

Water Quality-

• Agricultural Retailers Association, others, ask EPA to withdraw Clean Water Act jurisdiction guidance http://tinyurl.com/3rn8ju7
• Coalition Challenges Agricultural Runoff Exemption from Clean Water Act Permitting http://tinyurl.com/3vjoxsc
• Opponents of proposed FL federal water pollution regulations lose court appeal http://tinyurl.com/3kg97hd
• EPA tells Wisconsin to improve water quality permitting http://tinyurl.com/4ytkwfx (also see another link below)
• EPA directs WI Dept of Natural Resources to fix 75 water pollution regulatory "deviations" in next 2 years http://tinyurl.com/429vwu9
• Pew Environment Group report on fast-growing US poultry industry & associated water pollution http://tinyurl.com/3vz7bs3
• Scientist: Tropical Storm Don whipped water, prevented record dead zone in Gulf of Mexico http://tinyurl.com/3v78g7t
• Gulf of Mexico hypoxic (dead) zone large, but not near predicted record http://tinyurl.com/3gke6wa
• EPA/DOJ strike $4.7B settlement with Metropolitan St. Louis (MO) Sewer District over sewage overflows http://tinyurl.com/3jn7ghw

Floodplains, Dams and Navigation -

• Commentary: Paying Farmers to Flood Their Fields Makes Sense http://tinyurl.com/3dld56o
• In the Flood Zone, but Astonished by High Water (NY Times) http://tinyurl.com/3jo7thz
• Mississippi River Commission later in August will conduct annual low-water inspection on River http://tinyurl.com/3trrvwx
• Federal judge denies IL county injunction request vs FEMA re flood insurance rate maps & accreditation of levees http://tinyurl.com/3osbhzg

Current Flooding -

• Army Corps official says Missouri River flooding caught Corps off guard http://tinyurl.com/3olm2o5
• Army Corps lays out plans to cut releases into Missouri River through end of September http://tinyurl.com/4x4smya
• Corps: Missouri River basin sustains third record runoff month in row http://tinyurl.com/3qlksmt
• Corps of Engineers will reduce amount of water being released into Missouri River in late August & September http://tinyurl.com/3cgwlgy
• MO farmers, levee managers frustrated with Corps of Engineers http://tinyurl.com/3o2dod6

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Army Corps releases Great Lakes & Mississippi River Interbasin Study Aquatic Nuisance Species white paper http://tinyurl.com/3sj9sxu (report pdf)
• Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study white paper IDs 'Feared 40' interbasin invasive species http://tinyurl.com/3r6yy7o (article)
• Wisconsin DNR Collaborates with River Alliance to plan invasives workshop http://tinyurl.com/42tadet

Federal Budget -

• Details of the debt plan posted online: Section-by-section analysis: http://tinyurl.com/3uvqmu7 (pdf)
• Editorials on the budget agreement in 3 major newspapers: http://tinyurl.com/3qc6gzk http://tinyurl.com/3e4zlw9 http://tinyurl.com/4ysn94w
• OMB Watch: Spending Bill Appropriations Riders Threaten Fundamental Environmental Protections http://t.co/UeHXhd6
• Federal debt limit deal spending caps dramatically reshape energy & environmental agency fiscal future http://t.co/UfEODUA (pdf)
• In debt ceiling cuts, nobody is safe from Congressional super committee http://tinyurl.com/3zfjjet & http://tinyurl.com/3f7kyx7

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Scientists set to convene Tuesday to solve Gulf of Mexico environmental problems http://tinyurl.com/3qpqglg
• Gulf of Mexico habitats ID'd by scientists as among world's most vulnerable deep-sea habitats http://tinyurl.com/3gu2rbs
• Presence of eels points to suffocating Gulf of Mexico sea floor http://tinyurl.com/3q6jkkn
• New Orleans Times-Picayune Editorial: Shrinking the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico http://tinyurl.com/3glcobu

Events -

• Recording & presentation for Horinko webinar "Clean Water Act Following Rapanos: Clear as Mud?" now online http://vimeo.com/27051078
• Ohio River Museum Inland Waterways Festival this weekend (Marietta OH) http://tinyurl.com/3g7ultb
• 2011 Horinko Group Water Resources Summit; October 25; U of MD College Park http://tinyurl.com/3zganno
• Upper Mississippi River Basin Association August 16-18 meeting packets, including agendas & background materials http://tinyurl.com/3tztx6x

E-newsletters and Publications

• Tennessee Clean Water Network releases latest e-newsletter http://tinyurl.com/3l43z6u
• Northeast-Midwest Institute's July Update on Mississippi River Basin issues is now available: http://bit.ly/raK59e
• EDF's latest issue of Delta Dispatches with latest news on Gulf Coastal restoration now available http://tinyurl.com/3kzrqe9

Other news-

• USDA Releases National Report on Sustainable Forests 2010 http://tinyurl.com/m8aj2s
• Southern Nevada Water Authority would drop instate project if US pipes Missouri-Mississippi water to southwest http://tinyurl.com/4ymsbpa
• Exceptional drought conditions spread across a record ~12% of US last month http://tinyurl.com/3dm8etc
• Frosty Wooldridge op-ed blog: WATER: THE NEXT GREAT PREDICAMENT FOR AMERICA http://t.co/UdLQtwS
• Journal of Commerce: Mississippi River Turbines Generating Interest http://tinyurl.com/3er8377
• Interns get valuable experience at NGRREC (Great Rivers Center, Alton, IL) http://tinyurl.com/3uj2lhp
• New Natural Resources Defense Council climate analysis: Mississippi basin facing higher flood risks; more heat http://tinyurl.com/3ar2udw

Political News-

• Greene County State’s Attorney set to challenge US Rep. Johnson (R-IL-13) in newly redrawn, competitive district http://tinyurl.com/4xuygdl
• GOP hoping to hang on in Wisconsin recalls http://tinyurl.com/3g6mf6h with Tea Party help http://tinyurl.com/3obscta

Last Word - 

“A. Be a glutton for punishment; B. Have a real good bladder; and C. Be able to spend some time in August at this job, which none of us want to do.” - U.S. Senate Republican Jon Kyl (IA), describing his recommended qualifications for people named to the “supercommittee” that will be formed by the end of next week and empowered to come up with another $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction before Thanksgiving.