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)