Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Briefing on New USGS Water Quality Management Tool
The Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Water Environment Federation invite you to an October 28 briefing in Washington, DC on new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) findings that provide vital information on major sources of nutrients to streams, on how nutrients move downstream, and on nutrient loading to rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries. USGS announced the roll-out of the new tool in a September 6 press announcement, “New Science to Help Water Managers Target Areas to Improve Water Quality." For more briefing details, please see here.

Update on Congressional Appropriations and Debt Reduction Activities
The Senate and House have now passed a stop-gap continuing resolution (CR) to keep the Federal government running through October 4. Following Senate defeat of a House-passed CR last Friday, both chambers worked this week to pass the CR, with the Senate passing the bill on Monday, and the House on September 29.  More details about upcoming appropriation's activities and the interrelated work of the debt reduction "supercommittee" can be found here. 

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Agriculture-

• World Resources Institute: A New Approach to Feeding the World http://bit.ly/o1OP1d
• Rabobank Group believes world is entering into continuing period of food scarcity, rising prices & market volatility http://bit.ly/p9rNde
• Newly formed US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance begins fresh PR campaign to reshape food supply dialogue http://nyti.ms/pyYlUL
• EWG: 2 new polls show agreement on consumer concerns re:  quality of food & how it’s produced http://bit.ly/qIpRHU
• New report authors claim major river basins have enough water to sustainably double future food production http://bit.ly/qzbTmL (pdf file)
• Renewable Fuels Assoc against proposal to waive portion of Renewable Fuels Standard when corn stocks-to-use ratio dips http://bit.ly/ofi8PG
• New USDA ERS report: Nitrogen in Agricultural Systems: Implications for Conservation Policy http://1.usa.gov/opZxmJ

Farm Bill-

• Chicago Tribune editorial board (re: Farm Bill subsidies): "giveaways at taxpayer expense must stop" http://trib.in/oKBY6E
• National Corn Growers Assoc supports bipartisan Senate bill to replace direct payments with revenue-based safety net http://bit.ly/neu3a6
• American Soybean Association board approves farm safety net proposal for 2012 Farm Bill http://bit.ly/r1T82k
• Major US commodity groups working on proposals for reforming agriculture safety net http://bit.ly/mYws09
• Coalition outlines key principles for Conservation Title of 2012 farm bill and ways to trim federal deficit http://bit.ly/oCbifF
• Sen. Grassley (R-IA) unsure if farmers who buy fed-subsidized crop insurance should face land conservation requirements http://bit.ly/ohFBez
• American Farm Bureau Federation Policy Recommendations for the 2012 Farm Bill (PDF) http://bit.ly/rkL4uG

Water Quality -

• Missouri River Basin flood water inundating nutrient-rich land leads to algal blooms in Kansas reservoirs http://bit.ly/pr00pW
• Coal industry & states blast Obama administration on mining stream proposal (hearing testimony): http://bit.ly/nTwD3t
• EPA Announces Healthy Watersheds Initiative National Framework and Action Plan, 2011 http://1.usa.gov/pSg5Ud
• Cap-and-trade system to protect Ohio River & Gulf of Mexico moving along slowly; could be operational in a few years http://bit.ly/pR4bnt

In the States -

• KY Energy & Environment Cabinet proposes $507,000 fine for coal company's Clean Water Act violations http://bit.ly/ruZDPN
• Homeowners say Wisconsin law favors big farms, leaves them powerless against smells, pollution http://wapo.st/qFPZYm

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Coalition of state attorneys general  from 17 states calls for disconnecting Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins http://bit.ly/mQcH2o

Federal Budget -

• Senate leaders strike stopgap spending bill deal averting government shutdown http://bit.ly/raEKQY
• House Budget Committee Chair Ryan (R-WI) plans to unveil new Congressional budgeting process reforms http://bit.ly/qcTDM2
• Debt reduction supercommittee has become supersecret about most of what it’s doing http://bit.ly/ocXWhY
• Calculating the odds of a US deficit deal: will it be "deal" "no deal" "partial deal" or delayed deal?"  http://reut.rs/odZGsI
• House passes stopgap spending bill to keep the Fed government going through Oct. 4 http://bit.ly/rc4oIE

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Scientists & environmentalists cheer bill as "once-in-a-lifetime chance for major Gulf Coast environmental restoration" http://bit.ly/oSLncb
• Science & engineering panel recommends Gulf of Mexico oil spill response should address overall ecosystem needs http://bit.ly/pe2Nii

Resource extraction -

• Shale gas fracking wastewater is big business at Ohio underground disposal site http://bit.ly/qpSzrY
• Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Rep. Markey (D-MA) letter to DOI: Feds not doing job on coal mining issues http://bit.ly/qovCz4 
• Contentious Tuesday Keystone pipeline hearing in Lincoln NE  http://dld.bz/aghs
• Parties advocate for and against tougher natural-gas-drilling industry regulation in Arkansas http://bit.ly/rhjUrn
• Chesapeake Energy official: WV Marcellus and Utica Shale gas boom "only starting" http://bit.ly/qHwi9R

Events -

• Call for Presentations & Posters: Wisconsin Wetlands Association 17th Annual Conference http://bit.ly/oASQXU
• October 28 Briefing on New USGS Water Quality Management Tool; Washington DC bit.ly/qkCZ9a

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• September 29 Tennessee Clean Water Network e-newsletter  http://bit.ly/oEm1g4
• September Update (PDF file) from the Northeast-Midwest Institute on Mississippi River Basin issues bit.ly/n3iVVr

Other news-

• Nitrogen pollution disrupts Pacific Ocean ecology http://bit.ly/qvPWFd
• Water scarcity, flooding & poor sanitation disproportionately affect women worldwide http://bit.ly/pmYdwG
• USDA Economic Research Service releases "Rural America at a Glance, 2011 Edition" report http://1.usa.gov/q4Gyss

Political Scene -

• Some supporters of ex Wisconsin Gov. Thompson want him to stay retired rather than run for US Senate seat http://bit.ly/oXZM8W
• The Other ‘L’ Word: Can Tammy Baldwin win Wisconsin US Senate seat as a 'liberal?' http://bit.ly/qals02
• US House is having a polite year, according to new report that assesses chamber insults http://bit.ly/ojubbj

Last Word - "And there's always next year." - White House Press Secretary Jay Carney at the top of yesterday's press briefing, referring to the Boston Red Sox monumental September collapse - but, nonetheless, good advice for us all.

September Update on Mississippi River Basin Issues

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

RIVER BASIN NEWS AND NOTES

• Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar 
• USDA ERS report: Nitrogen in Agricultural Systems: Implications for Conservation Policy 
• EPA Healthy Watersheds Initiative National Framework and Action Plan-2011 
• USGS Water Quality SPARROW Model “Featured Collection” in Journal of the American Water Resources Association 
• Briefing on New USGS Water Quality Management Tool
• Upcoming Conferences, Events and Workshops

LEGISLATION, BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

• Budget Control Act and Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations 
• Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act

Briefing on New USGS Water Quality Management Tool

The Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Water Environment Federation invite you to an October 28 briefing in Washington, DC on new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) findings that provide vital information on major sources of nutrients to streams, on how nutrients move downstream, and on nutrient loading to rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries. USGS announced the roll-out of the new tool in a September 6 press announcement, “New Science to Help Water Managers Target Areas to Improve Water Quality."

The briefing will run from 10 – 11:30 AM (including time for questions and answers), and will be held in the House Transportation and Infrastructure hearing room (2167 Rayburn House Office Building).

At the briefing, USGS will describe the information available through these models and a new NAWQA online decision support system based on them.  The system can be used by anyone to access this important information for any stream reach or geographical area.  It can also be used to evaluate various nutrient reduction options that target one or multiple sources and predict the resulting water quality improvement.  This capability makes it an excellent tool to help local, state, and national decision makers design efficient, cost-effective nutrient reduction strategies for any area of the country.  

Also at the briefing, officials from Minnesota and Tennessee will describe how their states are using these and other models to reduce excessive nutrients and the essential relationship between ongoing water-quality monitoring and accurate, effective models.
 
Speakers at the briefing will include:

• Alan Vicory, Executive Director of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, moderator
• Steve Preston, USGS NAWQA Hydrologic Systems Team  
• Saya Qualls, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Water Pollution Control.
• Wayne Anderson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Update on Congressional Appropriations and Debt Reduction Activities

The Senate and House have now passed a stop-gap continuing resolution (CR) to keep the Federal government running through October 4.  Following Senate defeat of a House-passed CR last Friday, both chambers worked this week to pass the CR, with the Senate passing the bill on Monday, and the House today (September 29). 

Under an arrangement reached by Democrats and Republicans over this past weekend, the Senate on Monday approved a CR that would fund the government for six weeks, through November 18, and (to buy time for the House to return next week to consider the six-week measure) also approved a one-week CR that would fund the government through October 4.  That second, one-week, CR is the one that the House approved today by unanimous vote in a pro forma session that did not require House members to return to Washington from their current one-week recess. The longer-term Senate bill would cut discretionary program spending by 1.4 percent compared to last fiscal year.  Those cuts would be in line with the mandate contained in the Budget Control Act of 2011, which established the $1.043 trillion budget cap for fiscal 2012 spending.

Meanwhile the Senate Appropriations Committee has been gradually unveiling its broad outline for an omnibus spending bill that will cover Federal funding for the remaining 45 weeks of this fiscal year following the expiration of the CR.  Senate appropriators have set a goal of finishing the omnibus bill by the weekend heading into the House Thanksgiving recess.  House leaders have all but resigned themselves to going along with the Omnibus approach, rather than passing any individual appropriations bills. 

The debt reduction "supercommittee" has met several times now, both publicly and in private. Most of their work sessions have been private; while public sessions have been primarily window dressing.  Here are the upcoming key supercommittee deadlines, as outlined in the Budget Control Act of 2011:

• October 14: the last date that each House and Senate committee may transmit its recommendations for changes in law to reduce the deficit to the supercommittee.
• November 23: the Supercommittee will consider those and other recommendations to make targeted cuts from Federal programs between now and November 23, and vote on a report and legislative language to make those cuts by November 23.  Approval is by simple majority vote of the supercommittee.
• December 2:  by this date the supercommittee is to issue its approved report and legislative language to make cuts it has approved and agreed upon, presenting them to the House and Senate on a "take-it-or-leave-it" basis. 
• December 23: Congress will need to vote on the supercommittee's proposal by this date.  If December 23 passes without Congressional approval of the supercommittee’s proposal, then “sequestration” forces automatic spending reductions of $1.2 trillion.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Agriculture -

• U of TN Agricultural Policy Analysis Center editorial on farmers regaining the high ground on environmental issues http://bit.ly/oaUZGj
• A good FarmPolicy.com summary of current state of Farm Bill, budget and policy landscape:   http://bit.ly/ovX37Z
• Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) to farmers: ag subsidies may soon disappear http://bit.ly/nt1CTW
• Farm groups rushing to craft ideas for overhauling farm subsidies as congressional deficit supercommittee starts work http://bit.ly/pIaFUR
• Editorial: farm-bill historians will look back on 2011 as a Farm Bill / farm policy turning point year http://bit.ly/q6bZb3
• Obama's proposed $3 trillion in tax & spending cuts would cut USDA farm programs by $33 billion over 10 years http://bit.ly/mXdjSb
• USDA Secretary Vilsack: crop insurance industry should be able to live with additional cuts in federal subsidies http://bit.ly/nGBroE
• President's debt reduction plan would eliminate direct farm payments; cut public crop insurance support http://1.usa.gov/o7vqkv
• Negative reactions from various parties on Obama debt reduction farm cuts: http://1.usa.gov/pwWHnM http://bit.ly/oOSHuj http://bit.ly/n1cj0E
• Farm lobby's power "withers" in the face of looming federal budget cuts http://politi.co/oCkQ1z
• Cooler weather has arrived in Arkansas but a severe drought lingers http://reut.rs/ro9sQC
• Climatewire: Farmers in Southern Plains brace for multi-year drought bit.ly/p4fdwb (PDF file)
• Bill being drafted in US House to reduce federal fuel ethanol use mandate when corn supplies are tight http://bit.ly/qZOVan

Water Quality -

• One year after Troubled Waters film controversy, land practices portend more trouble ahead http://bit.ly/pRqKbM
• Algal blooms on St. Croix River prompt action plan to examine phosphorus in its tributary: Apple River http://bit.ly/nodFSk & http://bit.ly/quXcXZ
• FL lawmakers urge EPA to drop water quality nutrient standards for state, citing Mississippi River Basin precedence http://bit.ly/olcsj2

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

• Army Corps of Engineers commissions study of its handling of Missouri River Basin flood control http://bit.ly/oG9Xm0
• Army Corps: Price tag for 2011 floods estimated at $2 Billion; Corps has $150 Million on hand http://bit.ly/nP5jXb
• Rep King (R-IA-5); 11 cosponsors introduce bill directing Army Corps to revise Missouri River Water Control plan http://bit.ly/qvb3qr
• Univ of MN's Pat Nunnally suggests people view Mississippi River from new perspective http://bit.ly/p2uVbK
• Col. Margaret Burcham receives command of Army Corps Great Lakes and Ohio River Division http://bit.ly/q2flwl
• Mississippi River sandbars snag barge traffic as River levels drop http://bit.ly/qyvIEd
• Researchers' Chance Viewing of River Cutoff Forming Provides Rare Insight (ScienceDaily) http://bit.ly/nMIWqU
• Following flow thru spillway to relieve Mississippi River flooding, MS seeks oysters, shrimp disaster declaration http://bit.ly/nACC7j

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• MN DNR 2007 plan to build underwater Asian Carp barrier across Mississippi River has gone nowhere fast http://bit.ly/pphHn3
• MN council charged with distributing funds for outdoors projects sets aside $3 M to fight invasive Asian carp http://bit.ly/rgeRMF
• IL DNR launches program to help eradicate both Asian carp and hunger http://bit.ly/nCGvpx
• Mississippi biologists to begin sampling for endangered pallid sturgeon in Mississippi River http://bit.ly/oLHGit
• NY Times: Can the paddlefish sustain itself in northeastern reaches of Mississippi River Basin? http://bit.ly/oroekD
• Invasive plants found in popular Mississippi River waterfowl area http://bit.ly/ntpidK
• Rock Snot Threatens Missouri's Aquatic Ecosystems (TV news video) http://bit.ly/o1DNdL
• Beetle Being Used to Battle Milfoil in Minneapolis MN area http://bit.ly/qW7GL9
• Ag Secretary Salazar Announces New Members of Invasive Species Advisory Committee http://on.doi.gov/r53s3C

Federal Budget -

• Federal stopgap spending bill narrowly passes House in late-night session; Senate issues remain http://politi.co/rhDBJ9 & http://bit.ly/qHIzhJ

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Senate EPW committee approves bill directing BP spill fine $$ to Gulf Coast states for restoration http://bit.ly/oTVs1R & http://bit.ly/qXWol1

Events -

• Water Footprint Network to Host Global Water Footprint Training Course; Nov 15-17, Washington, DC http://bit.ly/khF1m
• Save the date: USGS briefing on nutrients & water quality modeling; updates from MN & TN officials; Washington DC; Oct 28 (details later)

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• America's Waterway September River Currents Newsletter online http://bit.ly/qXRKv8

Other news-

• Illinois River Trail takes you on a path of pure solitude http://bit.ly/o4tW6L
• State of Mississippi will face anemic economic growth into 2012 http://bit.ly/qztgRH
• The Nation: Resisting the Corporate Theft of Seeds  http://alturl.com/j9num
• National Academies Workshop Summary: "Global Change and Extreme Hydrology:  Testing Conventional Wisdom" http://bit.ly/nbObC9

Political Scene -

• Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) files to run for WI US Senate seat http://bit.ly/nhCuli
• Obama's new debt reduction plan begins more combative phase of presidency likely to last until 2012 election http://nyti.ms/qdS3bg
• Former state Rep. Hoffman (D) will challenge US Rep. Johnson (R) in newly competitive IL 13th district http://bit.ly/q8V750
• Rep Walsh (R-IL) announces re-election bid setting up face-off between 2 GOP members in redrawn 14th district http://bit.ly/rthzVzDemocrat Earl Ray Tomblin up 10% in race for WV governor’s spot (Oct. 4 special election) http://bit.ly/oZs6yn

Last Word - "Anonymous U.S. Officials Push Open Government" - AP headline  (to read the somewhat surrealistic dialogue between a reporter and the Federal moderator at Tuesday's briefing announcing the Open Government initiative, see here)

Mississippi River-Basin Relevant Congressional Hearings and Meetings for the Week

Below are the Senate and House Committee hearings and legislation mark-up meetings scheduled for the upcoming week and related to Mississippi River Basin/Gulf Coast water resource issues (links are to the respective hearing or meeting web site):

• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Business Meeting to consider S. 1400, Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2011; Wednesday, September 21; 10 AM; 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing: Economic Importance and Financial Challenges of Recapitalizing the Nation's Inland Waterways Transportation System; Wednesday, September 21; 10 AM; 2167 Rayburn House Office Building
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations  hearing on EPA’s Regulatory Planning, Analysis, and Major Actions; Thursday, September 22; 9 AM; 2322 Rayburn House Office Building

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Budget and Appropriations Update
The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday introduced a $1.043 trillion Continuing Resolution (CR) designed to keep the Federal government running through November 18, when the House is scheduled to recess for Thanksgiving week.  Congress will take up the stopgap appropriations bill in earnest next week.  The bill would cut discretionary program spending by 1.4 percent compared to last fiscal year over those first seven weeks of this, the 2012, fiscal year.  Those cuts would be in line with the mandate contained in the the Budget Control Act of 2011, which established the $1.043 trillion budget cap for fiscal 2012 spending (the full text of the House CR can be viewed here as a PDF file).  Although bipartisan Congressional leadership is describing the bill as “clean,” it is a tad "dirty," containing several policy riders, including a provision extending Federal Flood Insurance availability.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has been gradually unveiling its broad outline for an omnibus spending bill that will cover Federal funding for the remaining 45 weeks of this fiscal year following the expiration of the CR.  House leaders have all but resigned themselves to going along with the Omnibus approach (see related link below under "Federal Budget").  Senate appropriators have set a goal of finishing the omnibus bill by the weekend heading into the House Thanksgiving recess.

 

In the meantime, the debt reduction "supercommittee" has met several times now, both publicly and in private. Their next public meeting has been set for September 22, while under the committee's own rules, private meetings may occur at any time and without public notice.  For a "Deficit Reduction Supercommittee Primer," including an overview of the committee, its activities and deadlines (and how its work might impact Federal program spending this fiscal year and into the future), see our article here.  That primer includes a listing of the 12 supercommittee members and links to their Congressional web pages.

 - - - - - - - - - -

There was not much other pressing news being generated this week.  But as David Brinkley once observed about his journalistic medium, “The one function that TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if there were.”  So, in that spirit and in the absence of substantive news, we press on with this week's "Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week"

Agriculture -

• House Agri Comm completes audit series to increase committee members farm policy understanding, pre-Farm Bill drafting http://1.usa.gov/pVENnu
• Editorial: Iowa Farm Bureau farm subsidy switch "disheartening" http://bit.ly/qJkQ1Q
• Farm Foundation launches initiative to deliberate critical issues facing modern food & agricultural systems http://bit.ly/oz3LVY
• Nat. Corn Growers Assoc's Agriculture Disaster Assistance proposal would replace ACRE & direct payment programs http://bit.ly/ps7Klt
• Midwestern Governors Assoc co-hosts meeting Monday PM: advancements in biofuels; Minneapolis, MN agenda link here: http://bit.ly/rmYGBr
• Case study: U of MN farm nutrient loading monitoring effort looks to solve runoff debate http://bit.ly/nfE0gt
• MPR: "Farm runoff – 'If you won't swim in it, you can do better' http://bit.ly/qDQnI2
• Clean Up the River Environment fosters conversations between traditionally at-odds groups like farmers & enviros http://bit.ly/ne49l9

Water Quality -

• 50 pounds of mercury spilled into Hiwassee River (TN) upstream of Chattanooga drinking water intake http://bit.ly/qOF0wY & http://bit.ly/qXX0LW
• Environmental Law Institute report on Clean Water Act jurisdictional gaps; waters & wetlands going unregulated http://bit.ly/pMfxn2 (PDF)
• MPR: People discovering innovative solutions to MN water quality problems http://bit.ly/qt8dp0
• Track MN's performance at maintaining & improving water quality by watching key locations http://bit.ly/qqhC51
• Duluth, MN looks to better-manage stormwater runoff; reduce erosion http://bit.ly/nsCpHe
• Crow Wing County, MN land use ordinance one of MN's most progressive re:  addressing runoff http://bit.ly/r5ziZ2

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

• After three months, Missouri River flooding ends in Omaha, NE http://huff.to/oxgADA
• U.S. can learn lessons from Dutch "no-nonsense approach" to water management http://bit.ly/nLFkXJ

In the States -

• Kentucky DEP proposes settlement with coal company over 1000s of alleged violations of Clean Water Act http://bit.ly/o6hqeN
• State study may provide framework for discussion & more integrated approach to dealing with MN water problems http://bit.ly/pXlaTn
• IL Lt. Gov. Simon relaunches Science Advisory Committee; mission-protect IL rivers & reduce flood damage http://1.usa.gov/q1Ps8T

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• MN state officials propose Action Plan for combating spread of Asian Carp http://bit.ly/obWgh2
• Asian carp search enters new phase on Mississippi, St. Croix, Minnesota rivers; new round of environmental DNA tests http://bit.ly/q3o6yB

Federal Budget -

• House Appropriations Committee introduces $1.043 trillion stopgap measure to keep government running through Nov 18 http://t.co/Kz6Y9ffh
• Debt supercommittee is unlikely to "go big" & find more than $1.5 trillion in budget cuts http://bit.ly/r1VNnr
• Next super committee public hearing Sept. 22 & will feature testimony from top tax code expert http://bit.ly/pb41v7
• House Republicans almost sure to bundle 12 annual appropriations bills into one package http://politi.co/oTgaCA

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Gulf of Mexico dead zone research recognized with Heinz award for extraordinary contributions to the environment http://bit.ly/otF4KO
• Native Americans demand a say in Louisiana gulf coastal restoration plans http://bit.ly/qZmoja

Resource extraction -

• Ohio moves ahead with shale gas exploration while other states wait http://bit.ly/rg0M9k
• AR lawmakers debate need for stronger gas drilling regulations http://bit.ly/nPCab7 DEQ says regs are "sufficient" http://bit.ly/oKRboE

Events -

• October 25 Water Resources Summit: Sustaining Our Nation's Water Resources; College Park, MD http://bit.ly/kPiTwx

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• The Horinko Group's Sept. environmental e-newsletter is now available online (with many upcoming events) http://bit.ly/q0aglm

Other news-

• Clean Water Network of Florida criticizes USEPA water quality decision: Obama "as bad or worse than Bush" http://bit.ly/oNZP0u
• EPA seeks comments on proposed atrazine ban http://1.usa.gov/nlCrRV (Federal Register notice)
• EPA adds Sandoval, Illinois, heavy metals contamination site to Superfund National Priorities List http://1.usa.gov/prwEvN

Political Scene -

• Race Ratings: Wisconsin GOP likely to keep US House seat majority http://bit.ly/nS2N9n
• Study of major House votes: narrative of tea party freshmen frustrating will of GOP leadership is not true http://politi.co/roDw82
• EPA Administrator Jackson staying put despite speculation that she might step down after White House smog limit shift http://politi.co/pijTPo
• Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI-3) officially opts out of Wisconsin Democratic US Senate primary http://bit.ly/ny452r

Last Word - “No one has a finer command of language than the person who keeps his mouth shut.” - Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for seventeen years in the 48th, 50th and 52nd Congresses, the longest House Speaker tenure in U.S. history.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Federal Budget and Appropriations

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (or "supercommittee"), formed under provisions of  the Budget Control Act of 2011, held its first public meeting on Thursday, formally kicking off its two-month-long attempt to trim $1.2  to $1.5 trillion from the Federal deficit over the next ten fiscal years.  Also this week House and Senate appropriators indicated that they plan to schedule a vote on a stopgap spending bill (or Continuing Resolution (CR)) to fund the Federal government before going on their respective recesses during the last week in September.  The plan is to craft a CR that lasts at least until November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, and also the supercommittee’s deadline for making its proposal for cutting Federal program spending.

The way the supercommittee and appropriations calendars are meshing, it appears likely that Congress will be poised to consider one, massive 2012 spending bill for the entire Federal government (an Omnibus bill), at about the time the CR authority runs out.  The CR would appropriate $1.043 trillion for fiscal 2012 spending; a spending limit established under provisions of the Budget Control Act, and no longer in dispute.  What is up for debate, however, is exactly how the $1.043 trillion should be divided among specific agencies and programs.  On Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled its proposed discretionary spending caps for their respective spending bills (known as 302(b) allocations).  And Senate maximums differ from their corresponding House versions (PDF file). 

Even though no new individual appropriations committee spending bills will be voted on by either chamber, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will still work to prepare each of their respective 12 spending bills for Fiscal Year 2012, since their details would form the basis for debating the details of the Omnibus measure.  The appropriators hope to have the spending bills prepared while allowing enough time for negotiations on the Omnibus spending package.  The more detailed spending levels for particular agencies and their programs contained in the respective House and Senate spending bills are certain to differ, and be open for debate as the Omnibus spending measure is being hammered out.

Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act Passes Senate Committee

On Thursday (September 8) the Senate Committee on Banking and Urban Affairs passed “Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act,” its version of a bill to extend the authorization of the fiscally-nonviable National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until September 2016 and add a measure to pay down its nearly $18 billion debt through a series of annual rate increases for policyholders.  The NFIP is set to expire at the end of the month unless Congress acts.  The bill now goes to the full Senate, although there is yet no schedule for the full Senate consideration.  The Senate bill differs somewhat from a similar measure passed by the House on July 12.  For more on both bills and their prospects for passage, see here.

Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar Rescheduled Following Earthquake

The Northeast-Midwest Institute will host the last webinar in a series of four Natural Floodplain Function Alliance-sponsored presentations on floodplain issues. The "Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar," originally scheduled on August 23, was postponed due to that day's east coast earthquake.  The new date for the webinar is Wednesday, September 21, 2011 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT). 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, with the USEPA's Office of Water, and Dave Stearrett, Chief, Floodplain Management Branch at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  Click here to be directed to the webinar registration page. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. 

USGS Water Quality SPARROW Model “Featured Collection” in Journal of the American Water Resources Association

There will be a USGS Water Quality SPARROW Model “Featured Collection” in the next issue of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (here is a related USGS press release).  The full articles are available for reviewing on line now.  A listing of all of the "Featured Collection" articles – all available with full public access and many bearing on nutrient loading modeling and load reduction management and planning - are available at this Journal link.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week: 

Agriculture -

• Op-ed: Next farm bill must address long-term food needs http://bit.ly/pfaU7H
• Des Moines Register Editorial: Iowa Farm Bureau farm subsidy policy switch disheartening http://bit.ly/qJQnPC
• National Farmers Union top Farm Bill priority will be federal crop insurance http://bit.ly/qnQe63
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: Updated Farmers’ Guide to Conservation Stewardship Program http://bit.ly/qH1TMA (PDF)
• EPA issues compliance orders to 6 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Iowa, Kansas & Nebraska http://1.usa.gov/pSLZz1

Water Quality -

• USGS Water Quality SPARROW Model “Featured Collection” in Journal of the American Water Resources Association bit.ly/pxfDLz (see article above)
• Company to pay $430,000 civil penalty for Columbia, MO construction stormwater violations http://1.usa.gov/oP9YwU

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

• Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee approves flood insurance reform bill as program lapse nears http://bit.ly/oN0Cln
• Nominations open for American Rivers’ 2012 America’s Most Endangered Rivers; nomination form: http://bit.ly/rgkFBj
• Frustration with Corps levee inaction in Louisiana reemerges in wake of Tropical Storm Lee http://bit.ly/pe71B0
• One-third of Iowa continues to be parched by drought despite rain http://bit.ly/pcCOpY
• Unprecedented flooding from Montana to Missouri along Missouri River lasts from Memorial Day to beyond Labor Day http://bit.ly/pjwAlz
• Army Corps: Missouri River flooding should ease by mid-October http://bit.ly/oswDnA
• As Missouri River Valley waters recede, levee and disaster aid funding debates rise http://lat.ms/qRd80D
• From NW TN to LA, Mississippi River tried changing course during flooding, leaving >$750 million bill http://bit.ly/qXkhw0

In the States -

• Ohio AG sues Miami Valley housing developer for polluted waterway http://bit.ly/nmOcGD
• IL EPA denies water quality permit for proposed northern Illinois mega-dairy http://trib.in/oOgrcO
• WI Supreme Court hears case; may determine if municipality can set stricter farm water-quality standards than state http://bit.ly/r5X1sI & http://bit.ly/pTVV7m

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Southern Illinois University researchers study economics of turning Asian Carp into preferred food http://bit.ly/py4a5w
• Search fails to catch any Asian carp in St. Croix River over nine days http://bit.ly/nQ5fFw

Federal Budget -

• Budget cut recommendations' deadline to Supercommittee for standing committees: Oct 14; Senate Ag Comm lagging http://bit.ly/ntwQht
• With Senate & House time running out, Fiscal Year 2012 short-term continuing resolution likely by Sept. 30 http://bit.ly/pWJ0nJ
• Opening meeting of bipartisan debt ‘supercommittee’ will be held Sept. 8; first public hearing Sept. 13 http://bit.ly/nSEgtZ
• Super committee writing a plan to slash federal budget deficit that's expected to target direct farm payments http://bit.ly/rtHGvM
• Congressional Research Service report on current status of 2012 FY Agriculture spending legislation: http://bit.ly/rhbHKH (PDF)
• Congress in deal-making mood & moving fast on spending bills with Sept. 30 deadline looming http://politi.co/nqGoaA
• Senate Appropriations Comm decides how $1.043 trillion in FY 2012 spending is to be divided among 12 spending bills http://bit.ly/n3fsaH
• Senate Appropriations Committee approves 2012 ag spending bill that cuts farm conservation programs http://1.usa.gov/qDFdNB
• Land conservation programs take hit in Senate Appropriations Committee’s 2012 spending bill http://bit.ly/pNbkkl 
• Senate Appropriations Committee releases overview of its 2012 agriculture spending allocations http://1.usa.gov/qEueot 
• 16 of nation’s leading hunting & angling groups oppose disproportionate cuts to Farm Bill conservation spending http://bit.ly/r8qVqT (PDF)
• Senate Appropriations Comm votes on bill that maintains steady Army Corps funding http://1.usa.gov/oOrwBP

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Most Americans say Gulf coast is federal government's responsibility http://bit.ly/rkZ7hU
• China and US university research estimates climate change's effects on Gulf of Mexico wetlands http://bit.ly/pfgRfJ
• USGS National Wetlands Research Center new Louisiana coastal land loss video: http://gallery.usgs.gov/videos/433

Resource extraction -

• Ohio natural gas drilling opponents to seek moratorium on hydraulic fracturing  http://bit.ly/niZafG
• Hydrofracking prompts water quality and use controversy in Kansas http://bit.ly/rl6eRK
• Chief executive of one of top US natural gas producers attacks critics of fracking http://bit.ly/qGm6Tw
• Missouri coal ash waste lagoon has been leaching contents into groundwater since 1992 http://bit.ly/niqRXr
• Goodhue County MN officials want to study impacts of Mississippi River valley sand mining before allowing operations http://bit.ly/qrMNmy
• Oil company disappointed in one-year moratorium on frac sand mining in MN county http://bit.ly/qj8beV
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sand mining health impact report "inconclusive" http://bit.ly/oLsFOQ
• PA sues coal company over massive 2009 fish, mussel, amphibian kill along 30 miles of PA and WV stream http://bit.ly/nXiG0d

Events -

• American Planning Assoc. workshop "Planning for Flood Resilient Communities" Nashville, TN, Sept 28, 2011 http://bit.ly/qaT6jo
• Tennessee Sustainable Economy Summit; Nashville, TN; October 28-29 http://conta.cc/pKUZi8
• Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar; Sept. 21; 3 PM EDT (Rescheduled from "earthquake day") http://bit.ly/ne4iGW (see article above)

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• Here is the latest Tennessee Clean Water Network e-newsletter http://bit.ly/paz6KC

Other news-

• RT @unifymissriver Calls 4 strong Mississippi Riv fed policy miss point http://bit.ly/nTQA9I need unified constituency http://tiny.cc/p2iup
• New EPA report on assessment challenges associated with Aquatic Ecosystems, Water Quality & Global Change http://1.usa.gov/oEShun
• Afternoon coffee break: Mapping generic names for streams in the contiguous US http://bit.ly/qfVH2h

Political Scene -

• Washington Post: On environmental regulations, Obama administration strategy confounds both right and left http://wapo.st/r4ONbP
• Washington parlor game: Will EPA's Lisa Jackson leave in wake of Obama smog regulation shift? http://politi.co/p80PbS
• Liberal Senate Dems to White House: Don’t retreat on other EPA rules after smog-ozone cave http://bit.ly/pwcBho
• 2 state legislators enter Democratic race for WI 2nd district US House seat http://t.co/tRpFelJ

Last Word - “Your proposition may be good, but let’s have one thing understood: Whatever it is, I’m against it! And even when you’ve changed it or condensed it, I’m against it.” - Groucho Marx in the 1932 movie “Horse Feathers”

Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act Passes Senate Committee

Earlier today (September 8) the Senate Committee on Banking and Urban Affairs passed “Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act,” its version of a bill to extend the authorization of the fiscally-nonviable National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until September 2016 and add a measure to pay down its nearly $18 billion debt through a series of annual rate increases for policyholders.  The NFIP is set to expire at the end of the month unless Congress acts.  The bill now goes to the full Senate, although there is yet no schedule for the full Senate consideration. 

The Senate bill differs somewhat from a similar measure passed by the House on July 12, H.R. 1309, the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011.  For example, the House version would attempt to reach actuarially sound flood insurance rates by allowing rates rise at a rate up to 20 percent a year. The Senate bill caps the maximum rate at 18 percent.  The Senate version would forgive the NFIP's current debt, which the House bill does not.

Assuming that the Senate passes its legislation, the House and the Senate will have to come to a compromise soon to renew the program by September's end.  U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL), Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity, and sponsor of the House bill, has been quoted as saying, "The House and Senate versions of this bill include far more areas of agreement than disagreement, and I’m confident that we can work out a compromise."

Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar (Rescheduled)

Your are invited to attend the last in a summer series of four Natural Floodplain Function Alliance-sponsored webinars on floodplain issues: the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar, hosted by the Northeast-Midwest Institute.  This webinar was originally scheduled to be held on August 23, but was postponed in the aftermath of the east coast earthquake.

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, 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: Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT (2:00 PM - 3:00 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.

USGS Water Quality SPARROW Model “Featured Collection” in Journal of the American Water Resources Association

There will be a USGS Water Quality SPARROW Model “Featured Collection” in the next issue of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (here is a related USGS press release).  The full articles are available for reviewing on line now. 

Here is a listing of key articles – all available with full public access - that have a bearing on nutrient loading modeling and load reduction management and planning (not included below but available in the Journal are additional articles that are of a regional nature and outside of the Mississippi River Basin and Gulf of Mexico, including the Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions):

• New USGS SPARROW models for 6 United States regions help to target nutrient pollution reduction efforts http://bit.ly/qaBPl3
• Nutrient Sources and Transport in the Missouri River Basin, With Emphasis on the Effects of Irrigation and Reservoirs http://bit.ly/ojRT44
• Sources and Delivery of Nutrients to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico From Streams in the South-Central United States http://bit.ly/q6fYmj
• Source and Delivery of Nutrients to Receiving Waters in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic Regions of the United States http://bit.ly/q4CUd9
• The Regionalization of National-Scale SPARROW Models for Stream Nutrients http://bit.ly/ojMwi7
• Factors Affecting Stream Nutrient Loads: A Synthesis of Regional SPARROW Model Results for the Continental United States http://bit.ly/oFBB7i
• Nutrient Loadings to Streams of the Continental United States From Municipal and Industrial Effluent http://bit.ly/rh45Hz
• Nutrient Dataset Used to Estimate Loads, Improve Monitoring Design and Calibrate Regional Nutrient SPARROW Models http://bit.ly/mRBOD6
• Web-Based Decision Support System for Assessing Regional Water-Quality Conditions and Management Actions http://bit.ly/p9rtHQ