Wednesday, February 29, 2012

February Mississippi River Basin Update Now Available On-Line

The February edition of the "Mississippi River Basin Update" is now available for reading or downloading online (PDF file here).  The February edition includes these stories:

RIVER BASIN NEWS AND NOTES
  • Mississippi River Basin and Gulf of Mexico Grant Opportunity Announced
  • Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative Launched
  • Save the Date: 2013 National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration
  • Upcoming Conferences, Events and Workshops
LEGISLATION, BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
  • 2012 Farm Bill Update
  • Controversial St. Croix River Bridge Crossing Bill Moves Through Congress
  • Federal Budget and Appropriations Update

Monday, February 27, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Relevant House and Senate Hearings for the Week

Environmental and conservation issues take center stage on Capitol Hill this week, as a flurry of hearings are slated addressing a variety of issues, all with implications for Mississippi River Basin natural resource conservation and sustainability.  Below is a listing of the key hearings, along with links to the specific committee or subcommittee hearing web site (where, often, the hearing can be viewed live).

House 
Senate

Friday, February 24, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

New Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative Launched
This week the Northeast-Midwest Institute launched a new Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative ("MRCI") to help create a strong and influential voice for the Mississippi River by organizing River cities and towns on matters of mutual concern. One of MRCI's primary objectives will be to dramatically increase demand throughout the River Basin and in Washington, DC for effective river protection, restoration and management by articulating and helping to drive multi-stakeholder solutions to nagging federal and state policy problems that currently impede such solutions. You can read more details and view a one-page MRCI fact sheet here.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 
Agriculture -
  • US farmers expected to "go on a planting binge this year"-Planting of 8 major crops forecast to rise 2.2% http://reut.rs/wKWopA
  • Video highlights USDA NRCS drainage water management initiative's potential benefits http://youtu.be/NOcFpGUlpCU
  • USDA announces new conservation initiative to protect up to 750,000 acres of nation’s most highly erodible croplands http://1.usa.gov/yUeLE7
  • NRCS Chief seeks to leverage funds, promote soil health, while seeing farmland & woodlot conservation challenges ahead http://bit.ly/zaRl1h
  • USDA's Tennessee River Basin studies show conservation reduced farmland losses of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus http://bit.ly/yNnLMj
  • USDA: # of 2011 US farms ~2.2 M; down from 2010; farmland down 1.85 million AC from 2010; Ave. farm size now 420 AC http://bit.ly/xJJcRP (PDF)
  • New Oregon State University study: Forest buffer zones can help control stream nitrogen pollution http://bit.ly/y7Sm7A
Farm Bill-
  • Stakeholders spar via pages of New York Times, trading perspectives and opinions on farm policy and Farm Bill http://nyti.ms/xSnOk5
  • Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO-8): Obama budget complicates efforts to complete Farm Bill on time this year http://bit.ly/zRzLn1
  • Former U.S. Department of Agriculture official assesses chances of Farm Bill in 2012 http://bit.ly/wF9nkj
  • Register Guard Editorial: "Plow under farm subsidies; Time for Congress to end wasteful federal program" http://bit.ly/wxJADl via @DonEWG
  • Senate Agriculture Committee to convene Feb. 28 Farm Bill hearing on strengthening conservation http://bit.ly/zVzrop
  • Senator Franken’s (D-MN) staff to hold "Farm Bill Outreach Tour" in communities across Minnesota http://bit.ly/wrF4BM
Water Quality -
  • Nitrates in Midwest groundwater an increasing worry and frequent topic of discussion http://bit.ly/wlebms
  • Streams and lakes in St. Croix River watershed placed on Minnesota's latest impaired waters list http://bit.ly/yel0zT
  • Iowa State U study of IA lake sediments finds lakes far more polluted now than before farming & development http://dmreg.co/x5WmAR
  • OK Assoc of Conservation Districts: state ranks # 2 state at reducing nutrient loading to streams and rivers http://bit.ly/x3BudZ
  • Some remain skeptical about recent reports claiming improvements in OK water phosphorus pollution reduction results http://bit.ly/ACfZrj
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -
  • Economist article talks of "perverse incentives" that promote floodplain development and court disaster http://econ.st/xt6PyX
  • Forecasters optimistic the Minnesota and Upper Mississippi River basins will escape flooding this spring http://bit.ly/wsYx4o
  • Army Corps awards $4.7M for Missouri River levee repairs near Nebraska City; work to be done by March 1 http://bit.ly/zKjkMi
  • Army Corps: Repairs of flood-damaged Missouri River levees nearing completion http://reut.rs/yzsONq
  • Barge collision results in Mississippi River oil spill; River navigation closure http://wapo.st/z0U9LZ
  • Army Corps reissues 48 nationwide permits; 2 new permits re: permits under Clean Water & Rivers & Harbors acts http://1.usa.gov/wAcPUK (PDF)
In the States -
  • Firing of 2 leaders and proposals to cut dozens of positions at TN Dept. of Environment & Conservation worries allies http://tnne.ws/xUqOJQ
  • WI legislature approves major changes to wetlands regulations to ease restrictions over development http://bit.ly/xIybeU
  • US District Judge agrees with environmental group: MO has violated federal Clean Water Act; but dismisses other claims http://bit.ly/zLx5E7
  • MN Dept of Agriculture loan program helps farmers diversify operations & implement environmentally sound practices http://bit.ly/A6cHhP
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • FWS and NPS proposing to work in partnership with landowners and local communities increase Missouri River conservation http://bit.ly/ADtYpP
  • As Asian carp move toward Great Lakes from Mississippi basin several senators urge Army Corps to finish 5-year study http://bit.ly/zc1c0g
  • Administration holds Asian Carp control briefing http://bit.ly/xXlWzg announcing Great Lakes-Mississippi carp control strategy http://bit.ly/yYBeQj
  • Feds plan to spend $51.5 M in 2012 to protect Great Lakes from Mississippi basin's Asian carp http://wapo.st/yFdxra
Gulf Coastal Area-
  • Gulf of Mexico oil spill partial settlement would give Louisiana $13.5 million for environmental projects http://bit.ly/xveUHD
Resource extraction -
  • Army Corps of Engineers renewing streamlined permitting for surface coal mines, despite fierce opposition http://1.usa.gov/wTCASJ (PDF)
  • Tennessee television ad campaign promotes ban on mountaintop-removal mining; news: http://bit.ly/zZMEj5 video: http://youtu.be/FEqH9Xl6Dlk
Federal Budget -
  • USDA Secretary Vilsack defends Obama administration's 2013 agency budget request before House committee http://1.usa.gov/w7kpJJ
  • House Agri Committee Chair Lucas: Budget Committee Chair Ryan may have 2013 FY budget resolution done by end of  March http://bit.ly/wl5DPp
Events-
  • 10th Annual Catfish Rodeo, Nashville, TN to benefit the Cumberland River Compact (KY and TN), June 11 http://bit.ly/xEMylQ
  • Feb. 26 through March 3 will be National Invasive Species Awareness Week; event schedule in DC: http://bit.ly/4vuLqO
  • 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting live, free Webcast, communication plenary panel: Science Is Not Enough; Feb 18, 8 - 9:30 PM ET http://bit.ly/xW09eZ
  • Conference on Public Participation in Scientific Research, August 4-5; Portland, OR http://bit.ly/zlqLw6
  • New Detailed Agenda and Updates - Water Protection Network 2012 Membership Meeting; St. Louis, MO; Mar. 18-20 http://bit.ly/xgVZRU
  • Short course: Sustainable Approaches to Water Infrastructure & Climate Change Planning online “anytime” format Apr 9-22 http://bit.ly/zOYZYk
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • Tennesse Clean Water Network e-newsletter is out, with coal-water and events news updates http://bit.ly/woGj8g
  • Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl Advocate February edition now available online http://bit.ly/yF898J
Other news-
  • Mississippi River Connections Collaborative promotes "Summer of Paddling"-series of Mississippi River paddling events http://bit.ly/zV0PDR
  • Cornell University Postdoctoral position: socio-ecology of agricultural landscapes http://bit.ly/ze28vO
  • Draft Fiscal Year 2013 National Water Program Guidance Released for Comments by EPA 1.usa.gov/zhyCCe
  • New Regulations.gov website designed to allow easier access to federal regulations http://1.usa.gov/xeU9T2
  • Iowa scientists urge state lawmakers and candidates to make climate change a top priority http://bit.ly/yX6828 (news) and http://bit.ly/wryHn8 (PDF)
  • National Academy of Sciences Releases Report on Challenges and Opportunities in the Hydrologic Sciences http://bit.ly/xzzYak
Political Scene -
  • Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) won't switch districts; stakes claim on MN's newly redrawn 6th Congressional district http://bit.ly/xJ2Qzs
  • Marquette Law School poll: Former WI governor Thompson (R) would beat US Rep. Baldwin (D) in head-to-head Senate race http://bit.ly/Ay2pLU
  • WI Secretary of State Doug La Follette (D) is moving towards run for governor against Sen. Scott Walker (R) http://bit.ly/wnq2rC
  • Democrat Christie Vilsack’s IA US House run said by Incumbent to be clearing way for Tom Vilsack 2014 US Senate try http://dmreg.co/A6CHjW
Last Word
"When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean." - Humpty Dumpty, in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass. 

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Northeast-Midwest Institute Launches New Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative

This week the Northeast-Midwest Institute launched a new Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative ("MRCI") to help create a strong and influential voice for the Mississippi River by organizing River cities and towns on matters of mutual concern.  Some 3.2 million people collectively reside in the more than 120 Mississippi River main stem cities and towns. These riparian population centers are soundly River-centric, and face many common issues, including degraded water quality and natural habitats, flooding and floodplain issues, a desire for River-focused recreation, the need for sustainable economies, and celebration of the River culture and history. Those population centers also represent significant sources of water pollution and habitat degradation in their own right, and therefore, are potential water and habitat improvement locales, as well.

One of MRCI's primary objectives is to dramatically increase demand throughout the River Basin and in Washington, DC for effective river protection, restoration and management by articulating and helping to drive multi-stakeholder solutions to nagging federal and state policy problems that currently impede such solutions. Toward that end, the MRCI is specifically intended to:
  • Give rise to a common voice from those who depend most upon the River - people living and working in and governing River cities and towns,
  • Span diverse cultural, political and economic arenas,
  • Tap into a nascent desire for integration of and collaboration among transportation, farming, industrial, municipal and environmental interests, and
  • Inspire and launch lasting solutions to River management issues.
You can read a "prospectus" further describing the makeup and goals of the MRCI here (as a PDF file). Persons with questions or suggestions regarding the Initiative should contact its Director, Colin Wellenkamp at the Institute by telephone at 202-464-4008 or by email at cwellenkamp@nemw.org.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Grant Opportunity Announced with Several Mississippi River Basin and Gulf of Mexico Geographic Focus Areas

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has announced a new conservation partnership grant opportunity that includes three geographic focus areas within the Mississippi River Basin: Upper Mississippi River Basin, Gulf of Mexico, and the Prairie Pothole region. The "Conservation Partners" grant initiative's purpose, according to the NFWF program Internet site, is to "provide grants on a competitive basis to support field biologists and other habitat conservation professionals (ecologists, foresters, range cons, etc.) working with NRCS field offices in providing technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, foresters and other private landowners to optimize wildlife habitat conservation on private lands" by focusing and increasing "the effectiveness of Farm Bill assistance funded through programs such as Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and others."

Priority for funding will be given to proposals targeting species and ecosystems of shared interest between NFWF and NRCS, including the three priority project areas noted above (as well as a Northeast Forests priority area), and outlined on the map below, which can also be accessed by clicking on the map or clicking here.)



The deadline for grant applications is March 13, 2012. NFWF will host an information webinar for prospective applicants on Thursday, February 23, at 11:00 AM (EST) (register here).

Additional information useful to potential grant applicants can be found on the NFWF program web site. Prospective applicants may also contact John Curry (john.curry@nfwf.org ; 612-564-7285), NFWF's Assistant Director, Central Partnership Office with questions and for assistance.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Neither Here Nor There - The President's Budget
On February 13 the Obama Administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the President's fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget plan, modifying slightly in the process several of the Administration's consistent conservation, natural resource and environmental initiatives.  Spending proposals for a variety of relevant Federal agencies, departments or programs are highlighted at this link, along with an overview of
some of the budget plan's significant provisions as they relate to the Mississippi River Basin.  Links are provided to each institution's budget summary and to the respective OMB budget appendix, where much more detail can be found.

As far as what this all means: it's best remembered that the Administration's budget proposal is just that - a proposal.  In recent years nothing closely resembling the President's budget requests have made their way through Congress and been reflected in appropriation measures that were finally passed.  And during this election year, in particular, the budget plan has much more to do with a 2012 re-election bid than with any actual spending ability that Federal agencies will see anytime soon.  In the meantime, House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) is already preparing his own FY 2013 budget plan, which will form the basis for a House Budget Resolution.  Ryan plans to release his budget blueprint in the near future.  That plan will effectively be a Republican response to the President’s proposed budget (hint: Republican leaders have already declared the President's proposal "dead on arrival").

On top of these election-year complications, there is the matter of across-the-board $1.2 trillion in Federal spending cuts that are automatically scheduled to begin on January 1, 2103 under provisions of the Budget Control Act of 2011, passed by Congress and signed into law last August.  Known as "sequestration," these mandatory cuts kick in if Congress fails to enact a deficit-reduction bill containing at least $1.2 trillion in cuts (which Congress has failed to do).   The role that looming sequestration will have on the budget and spending debate in 2012 is largely unknown, but should be substantial to say the least.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Agriculture -
  • Comprehensive and finest-resolution analysis to date finds global agriculture consumes 92% of fresh water used annually http://bit.ly/xbUtWC
  • President's FY 2013 Budget Proposal calls for significant USDA program changes: subsidies, insurance, conservation http://bit.ly/xu6MvI
  • EPA's new Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Permit Writers’ Manual http://1.usa.gov/zHfOpY  (explains CAFO permitting requirements)
  • Agri-Pulse Online covers Senate Agriculture Committee hearing featuring USDA Sec. Vilsack; crop insurance discussions http://bit.ly/ygjDzP
  • Crop insurance importance and criticism of President’s proposed cuts to it were repeated themes at Senate USDA hearing http://bit.ly/czMh8p
  • Economic pressures could be tempting many farmers to choose corn & soybean crops rather than conservation http://bit.ly/AFj95g
  • 4-year Iowa State University study: Corn yield jumps 5-10 % using cover crops; helps reduce soil erosion http://bit.ly/yEqfv8
  • 2011 farmland values in heart of US corn belt escalated 22 % - biggest annual increase since 1976 http://bit.ly/zddZF1 (PDF)
Farm Bill-
  • Group of 82 diverse organizations send letter to Congress: farm bill should be written and completed this year; article: http://bit.ly/wJO6jA; letter PDF: http://bit.ly/zlc1nA
  • Senate Agriculture Committee leaders called for quick action on writing a new farm bill http://bit.ly/wS7UVv
  • Delta Farm Press article: “Crop insurance likely a key component of new farm bill” http://bit.ly/zEIPMo
  • House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Peterson [D-MN]: next Farm Bill could be tied to payroll tax cut bill http://bit.ly/xkysZq
  • Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Stabenow (D-MI): agrees with President's budget on direct payments; not insurance http://bit.ly/yV2Bg8
  • Senate Ag Committee Chair Stabenow (D-MI): Obama budget proposal cuts reinforce need for new Farm Bill this year http://bit.ly/ycT3xI (PDF)
  • AGree Online background paper on farm policy: “Farm Program History and Policy Considerations” http://bit.ly/zO8ioC
  • Senate Ag Committee held first Farm Bill  hearing of year on Wednesday as ramp up to Bill debate starts; info here: http://bit.ly/z66IB1

Water Quality -
  • Sen. Paul (R-KY) introduces "Defense of Environment and Property Act" - redefines Clean Water Act jurisdiction http://bit.ly/yq3Z2n
  • Groups issue notice of intent to sue Office of Surface Mining over TN coal mine discharges http://bit.ly/yIFNZ2
  • EPA issues orders to 2 LA chicken facilities for discharging into Dugdemona River tributary (Mississippi basin) http://1.usa.gov/y8Vqxh
  • New study finds Minnesota groundwater is contaminated with low levels of chemicals of emerging concern http://bit.ly/yE7IKa
  • Background: lawsuit by 22 IL drinking water providers vs Syngenta AG subsidiary, demanding payment for atrazine removal http://bit.ly/zGvA2O
  • National implications: FL water pollution standards rule clears Legislature; head toward administrative law hearing http://bit.ly/yMyVmU
  • Bill introduced to reauthorize water research institutes; add green infrastructure program http://1.usa.gov/xDW4NFhttp://bit.ly/xG2KiN
  • EPA issues 2012 Clean Water Act construction general permit; implements new effluent limitations guidelines http://1.usa.gov/4cTrLO
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -
  • New University of Twente (Netherlands) study maps global water consumption; US ranks third among nations http://nyti.ms/zogAMa
  • Tribal representatives express concern over de-funding of long-term Missouri River Recovery ecosystem study http://bit.ly/wHL1wN
  • Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) wants to remove Corps of Engineers from lead role on Federal construction water projects http://bit.ly/xD1xqo
  • Mississippi levee board asks court to revive flood control project vetoed by EPA in 2008 over wetland concerns http://bit.ly/yMnu8x
  • Senate leaders being pressured to pass flood insurance bill before program expires and hurricane season starts http://bit.ly/xklTks
  • Senators join conservation and taxpayer group CEOs in push for Flood Insurance Program reauthorization http://1.usa.gov/wdaOco
In the States -
  • Minnesota agencies release their first collaborative report on state's Clean Water Fund; showing 2010-11 activities http://bit.ly/xORQnM
Forestry -
  • USDA Blog: US Forest Service to host 7th annual “Virtual Summit” http://t.co/tKcHPFzQ
  • House Natural Resources Committee considers bill requiring USFS to expand national forest resource development http://bit.ly/x2j6bp
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Feb. 17 is last day to comment on Army Corps options for controlling Mississippi-Great Lakes non-native aquatic species http://bit.ly/u6Nkaw
  • MN boating fees will likely rise, but other funding sources needed to battle aquatic invasive species http://bit.ly/AfjQfs
  • Patrick Nunnally from River Talk  @RiverLifeUMN Looks at the Asian Carp Issue http://bit.ly/AxcujV
Gulf Coastal Area-
  • Gulf Restoration Network's opinion piece on Louisiana’s decision to not list state coastal waters as impaired: http://bit.ly/wjZKni
  • New nonprofit science institute formed to coordinate research on restoring Louisiana coast http://bit.ly/wZt30s
  • House passes bill directing most BP spill fines to Gulf restoration; fate of bill uncertain http://bit.ly/wACrie
Resource extraction -
Federal Budget -
  • USA Today analysis: Spending by states and cities declines: Budget restraint is most in a decade http://usat.ly/yLIO4V
Events-
  • Registration now open for the 2012 Ohio Stormwater Conference; June 6-8; Toledo http://bit.ly/zESU32
  • Public Information Sessions on Draft National Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Climate Adaptation Strategy; Feb 14 & 22 http://bit.ly/wiOXWF
  • USDA Blog: US Forest Service to host 7th annual “Virtual Summit” http://t.co/tKcHPFzQ
  • Save the date: EPA Safe & Sustainable Water Resources Stakeholder meeting; March 28 Washington, DC (more to follow) http://1.usa.gov/AhaItl
  • EPA webinar: Recovery Potential Screening Tool for Comparing Impaired Waters Restorability; Feb. 22, 1 PM EST http://1.usa.gov/dCcmO0
  • Upper Mississippi River Basin Assoc has posted Feb 29-March 1 meeting agendas; background materials http://bit.ly/9Q0m9F (open to public) 
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • The Horinko Group's monthly "sustainabulletin" is now available on line with farm and water resource news updates; more http://bit.ly/woATih
  • EWG launches daily report on "food and farm news during the 2012 farm bill debate" sign up here: http://bit.ly/wya5j7
Other news-
Last Word 
“Zero.” - Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) when asked by a Politico reporter what the chances are that Congress will deal with issues of profound consequence between now and November.  Graham added, “If you’re looking for a positive spin on this, I don’t have one to give you.”

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Making Sense of the Obama 2013 Budget Plan's Impact on Water Resource Issues

On February 13 the Obama Administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the President's fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget plan, modifying slightly in the process several of the Administration's consistent conservation, natural resource and environmental initiatives.  A variety of relevant Federal agencies, departments or programs are highlighted below, along with an overview of some of the budget plan's significant provisions as they relate to the Mississippi River Basin.  Links are provided to each institution's budget summary and to the respective OMB budget appendix, where much more detail can be found.

But, before you go on, below, reading the tantalizing details, we should first pause to address perhaps a more vexing topic: just what does this all mean?

It's best remembered that the Administration's budget proposal is just that - a proposal.  In recent years nothing closely resembling the President's budget requests have made their way through Congress and been reflected in appropriation measures that were finally passed.  And during this election year, in particular, the budget plan has much more to do with a 2012 re-election bid than with any actual spending ability that Federal agencies will see anytime soon.  In the meantime, House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) is already preparing his own FY 2013 budget plan, which will form the basis for a House Budget Resolution.  Ryan plans to release his budget plan in the near future.  That plan will effectively be a Republican response to the President’s proposed budget (hint: Republican leaders have already declared the President's proposal "dead on arrival").  If you want to read further about what the Washington spending debate may look like in 2012, check our recent budget and appropriation's overview here.  

On top of these election-year complications, there is the matter of across-the-board $1.2 trillion in Federal spending cuts that are automatically scheduled to begin on January 1, 2013 under provisions of the Budget Control Act of 2011, passed by Congress and signed into law last August.  Known as "sequestration," these mandatory cuts kick in if Congress fails to enact a deficit-reduction bill containing at least $1.2 trillion in cuts (which Congress has failed to do).   The role that looming sequestration will have on the budget and spending debate in 2012 is largely unknown, but should be substantial to say the least.

Okay, now on to the budget analysis.

Environmental Protection Agency (Links to agency "Budget in Brief" (PDF file) and OMB's EPA budget appendix)
The budget proposes trimming EPA's FY 2013 budget by $105 million, marking the third year running that the Administration has proposed cutting the agency's funding. The FY 2013 budget would give EPA $8.3 billion, down 1.2 percent from the $8.4 billion that Congress provided the agency in the FY 2012 omnibus spending bill. The most significant cuts would be dealt to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which would be cut to $2 billion, down from $2.38 billion appropriated in FY 2012 (the Clean Water State Revolving Fund would be cut $0.291 billion, receiving $1.175 billion; the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund would be cut $68 million from FY 2012 levels to $850 million). The State Revolving Funds (or "SRFs" as they are also known) provide grants to States to capitalize their own State-run revolving funds, which provide loans to support improvements in municipal wastewater and drinking water systems.  

The funding news for EPA was not all negative, however.  The budget plan includes $27.7 million for EPA's wetland protection program, which would be approximately $6.5 million more than FY 2012 levels.  The budget also proposes to give $1.2 billion in grants to states and Tribes for their delegated environmental programs, an increase from the approximately $1.1 billion enacted by Congress for FY 2012.  EPA has also proposed setting aside funds in FY 2013 for invasive Asian Carp control.  There is a line item in their "Justification of Appropriation Estimates for the Committee on Appropriations" entitled “Multiple Agencies: Asian Carp” which proposes a $19.5 million FY 2013 allocation under EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).   Later Asian carp references in the document state, “GLRI has been central to the Administration’s coordinated efforts keeping self-sustaining Asian carp populations out of the Great Lakes,” and "Coordinated activities to implement the Initiative include . . . protecting the Great Lakes from invasive species, including Asian carp."

U.S. Department of Agriculture (Links to USDA Budget Summary and Annual Performance Plan (PDF) and OMB's USDA budget appendix)
The President's budget proposal calls for significant mandatory and discretionary spending reductions across numerous USDA programs, and proposes to eliminate some programs entirely. At the agency-wide level, the budget would provide $23.9 billion in FY 2013 discretionary funding to support USDA programs, a decrease of $3.2 billion from the FY 2010 enacted level. The USDA budget proposal has been analyzed in detail in other places (including this blog and by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition in this fine, comprehensive summary).  Suffice it to say for the purposes of this overview, the budget plan proposes significant changes in USDA's Farm Bill programs, including the eventual elimination of the Federal direct-payment subsidy program, reduction in Federal subsidies for crop and income insurance, and significant cuts to natural resource conservation programs. 

Overall, the Administration proposes spending $827 million in discretionary funding toward conservation, a decrease from $898 million actually appropriated in FY 2011 and from an estimated $851 million that will be spent in FY 2012. The budget plan also calls for cuts to Farm Bill mandatory spending for conservation with over $1 billion in permanent rescissions. The budget proposes “to reduce conservation funding by $1.8 billion over 10 years by better targeting conservation funding to the most cost-effective and environmentally-beneficial programs and practices.”

Within the USDA, the Administration requests a slight increase in U.S. Forest Service funding.  Under the plan, USFS would receive $4.861 billion in FY 2013, a $15.5 million increase compared to FY 2012 funding levels. The request would fund the collaborative forest landscape restoration program at $40 million, which is the maximum authorized funding level and the same as FY 2012 funding levels. 

Army Corps of Engineers  (Links to Civil Works Budget Press Book (PDF) and OMB's Civil Works budget appendix)
The budget proposal requests $4.7 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works budget, down $271 million from what the agency actually received in FY 2012.  That federal funding would consist of $3.744 billion from the general fund, $848 million from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, $95 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and $44 million from Special Recreation User Fees.  Under the 2013 plan, funding will be allocated for Operation and Maintenance ($2.398 billion), Construction ($1.471 billion), and Mississippi River and Tributaries (essentially Lower Mississippi River navigation activities; $234 million).  Some of the more notable Mississippi River Basin proposed spending projects in the budget plan include (alphabetically):
  • Coralville Lake Operations and Maintenance, Iowa City, Iowa ($4,235,000)
  • Farm Creek Reservoir Operations & Maintenance, East Peoria, Illinois ($457,000)
  • Humboldt, Iowa, Ecosystem Restoration ($230,000)
  • Illinois River Basin Restoration Planning (three-state area) ($400,000)
  • Illinois Waterway Operations & Maintenance ($32.727 million)
  • Inspection of Completed Works; Rock Island District ($728,000)
  • Lake Red Rock Operations and Maintenance, Knoxville, Iowa  ($4.579 million)
  • Lock and Dam 27, Mississippi River, Illinois (funded to completion)
  • Lockport Lock and Dam, Upper Pool, Illinois ($3,600,000)
  • Louisiana Coastal Area, Ecosystem Restoration, Louisiana ($16.8 million)
  • Mississippi River Operations & Maintenance (Rock Island District) ($56.758 million)
  • Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Recovery (seven states) ($90 million)
  • Olmsted Locks and Dam, Illinois and Kentucky ($144 million)
  • Saylorville Lake Operations and Maintenance, Des Moines, Iowa ($5.489 million)
  • Upper Mississippi River Restoration (Environmental Management Program) ($17.88 million)
Department of Interior - U.S. Geological Survey and Fish and Wildlife Service (Links to Department of the Interior "Budget in Brief," USGS Budget Justification (PDF) and OMB's Department of Interior budget appendix
The Department of Interior’s overall FY 2013 budget request is $11.5 billion, representing an increase of $97.9 million over the FY 2012 enacted spending level. At $1.1 billion, the USGS FY 2013 budget request likewise is slightly ($34.5 million) higher than the FY 2012 level.  Notably, the budget would provide an increase of $51.0 million to fund USGS research in areas such as Asian Carp research (increased $3 million), disaster response, hydraulic fracturing (or "fracking"), coastal and ocean stewardship and ecosystem restoration.  

The USGS FY 2013 budget proposal includes $209.8 million for its Water Resources programs, a cut of $4.8 million from FY 2012 enacted levels, including a proposed $731 million cut to the National Water Quality Assessment Program.  However, within that Water Resources budget category, USGS science programs that support ecosystem management for what it terms "priority ecosystems" would be increased overall by $16.2 million.  Those ecosystems include the Upper Mississippi River (increased $9.2 million), Chesapeake Bay, California Bay-Delta, Columbia River, Everglades, PugetSound, Great Lakes, and Klamath Basin.  The USGS Invasive Species, Asian Carp Control Framework-Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi budget includes a program increase of $3.0 million for research on new methods to eradicate, control, and manage Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi River Basin and prevent their entry into the Great Lakes.

Also within the Department of Interior, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) would see an increase of $72.0 million in the budget proposal above the FY 2012 enacted level to $1.5 billion. The FWS Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Conservation budget line includes a program increase of $2.903 million associated with Asian Carp monitoring.   Of that, $900,000 will be for “traditional gear sampling as part of a comprehensive surveillance and monitoring program for Asian carp species in the Great Lakes.” And of that $2.9 million, an additional program increase of $2.0 million in 2013 will “support the development of a comprehensive early detection and surveillance program for Asian carp through the establishment of eDNA labs at FWS’ Regional Fish Technology Centers. This sampling will be conducted in high-risk ecosystems and habitats such as the California Bay-Delta, Mississippi River Basin, and Columbia River Basin.”

National Infrastructure Bank
Although not an existing program or housed within a specific Federal institution, the Administration's proposed "National Infrastructure Bank" is significantly spotlighted in the Obama budget plan and has the potential to substantially impact water infrastructure-related funding nationwide (funding, for example, relating to currently SRF-supported water projects highlighted above).  The OMB notes in its description of the initiative that the Bank would be "led by infrastructure and financial experts" and "would offer broad eligibility and unbiased selection for transportation, water and energy infrastructure projects."  The bank would offer loans with the same interest rate as similar U.S. Treasury securities and would have a life span of up to 35 years.

Monday, February 13, 2012

President's Budget Proposal Calls for Significant USDA Program Changes

The President's budget proposal released this morning (February 13) calls for significant mandatory and discretionary spending reductions across numerous U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, and proposes to eliminate some programs entirely. At the agency-wide level, the budget would provide $23.9 billion in fiscal year 2013 discretionary funding to support USDA programs, a decrease of $3.2 billion from the fiscal year 2010 enacted level. Significant changes proposed in the budget include the gradual elimination of a Federal direct-payment subsidy program, reduction in Federal subsidies for crop and income insurance, and cuts to natural resource conservation programs.

Direct Payments

Farm Bill Title 1 direct payment provisions supply producers fixed annual income assistance for having historically planted crops that were supported by Government programs, regardless of whether the farmer is currently producing those or any other crops. As proposed in its previous three budget plans, the Obama Administration recommends eliminating direct payments to farmers. Although spending for direct payment subsidies would increase by $516 million (20 percent) to $12.1 billion in fiscal year 2013, over a ten year period they would be eliminated, saving a total of $22.7 billion through fiscal year 2022. Although Congressional leaders in both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees agree that the direct payment title will need to be significantly changed and direct payments reduced in the next iteration of the Farm Bill, the Administration’s proposed cuts are deeper than either panel has proposed in the past.

Federal Crop Insurance
With the likely significant reduction or elimination of direct commodity payments on the horizon, the Federal crop insurance program is seen by many as a vital “safety net” for the nation’s farms, and crop insurance management and funding will be key areas of discussion as the next Farm Bill is deliberated in Congress this year.

Crop insurance program delivery is a joint effort between the Federal government and the private insurance industry. Insurance is available to protect against agricultural production losses due to unavoidable causes such as drought, excessive moisture, hail, wind, hurricane, tornado, lightning and insects. In addition to these causes, revenue insurance programs are available to protect against loss of revenue stemming from low prices, poor yields or a combination of both. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) pursues initiatives (such as private insurance company subsidies) that make higher levels of crop insurance protection more affordable to farmers and producers. The fiscal year 2013 budget requests $9.4 billion for Federal crop insurance, an increase of $5.9 billion above the 2012 enacted level of $3.5 billion. However, the Administration proposes a significant reduction of Federal subsidies paid to crop insurance companies over ten years (realizing a total savings of $7.6 billion). The reduction would reduce government spending by $1.2 billion through fiscal year 2022 by lowering the return on investment that subsidized crop-insurance companies can collect from approximately 14 percent to about 12 percent. The budget would also lower the cap on administrative expenses that the government pays to insurance companies, saving approximately $2.9 billion over ten years.


Conservation Programs
The 2008 Farm Bill reauthorized a number of USDA's popular conservation programs, administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through a variety of cost-sharing, monitoring, easement, financial assistance, and technical assistance mechanisms. The conservation programs help farmers, ranchers and landowners adopt and maintain systems that provide numerous conservation benefits, including protecting water quality, reducing soil erosion, protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat and wetlands, conserving water, and sequestering carbon.

Overall, the Administration proposes spending $827 million in discretionary funding toward conservation, a decrease from $898 million actually appropriated in fiscal year 2011 and from an estimated $851 million that will be spent in fiscal year 2012.

The budget plan also calls for cuts to Farm Bill mandatory spending for conservation with over $1 billion in permanent rescissions. The budget proposes “to reduce conservation funding by $1.8 billion over 10 years by better targeting conservation funding to the most cost-effective and environmentally-beneficial programs and practices.” Three conservation programs targeted for notable reductions are the Conservation Stewardship Program, cut by $977 million over the next ten years (by capping enrollment at 30 million acres; a permanent reduction of almost 760,000 acres), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (cut by $100 million in fiscal year 2013), and both the Grasslands and Wetlands Reserve Programs (GRP and WRP). Both of the latter programs are effectively eliminated, since the authority for each expires at the end of the current fiscal year, unless they are reauthorized in the next Farm Bill.

In addition to those and other specific Farm Bill conservation programs, NRCS provides technical assistance to a variety of stakeholders, including agricultural producers, private landowners, conservation districts, Tribes and other organizations, in order to provide them with the knowledge and conservation tools they need to conserve, maintain and improve natural resources. The 2013 budget requests $728.8 million for NRCS technical assistance; a slight decrease ($0.6 million) from the fiscal year 2012 enacted level.

This Week's Mississippi River Basin Related House and Senate Committee Action

Several House Appropriation subcommittees will meet this week to interview Obama administration department and agency heads on their budget requests (to be released today by the Obama Administration).  Three with particular relevance to Mississippi River Basin water resource issues include:
Meanwhile, two other Congressional panels will hold River Basin-relevant hearings this week:

Friday, February 10, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Farm Bill Conservation Hearing Details Emerge
The Senate Agriculture Committee has provided additional details on two of its upcoming Farm Bill related hearings (see the Committee's hearing calendar overview page here). Of particular relevance to Mississippi River Basin water issues, the Committee's Farm Bill Conservation Title hearing ("Strengthening Conservation Through the 2012 Farm Bill") will be held on Tuesday, February 28, at 10 AM (EST) in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building (the Committee's link to hearing details and streaming video can be found here).

Federal Budget and Appropriation Season Kicks Off in Earnest
Discussion of and Links to Key Resources
As the Administration and Congress gird themselves for what is likely to be a long and arduous election-year battle over Federal spending, key milestones in the annual budget and appropriation's ritual are on the immediate horizon.  House Appropriations subcommittees have sent out official calls for Fiscal Year 2013 spending and language requests that Members wish to be included in appropriation bills, and the President is set to release his Administration's FY 2013 budget proposal next Monday, February 13. And this is just the beginning! For an overview of the upcoming Federal budget and appropriation season, and a discussion of and links to key resources, see here. Watch this blog space next Monday for updates on what the Obama Administration budget proposal means for vital River Basin water resource issues.

Groups Seek Broad Organizational and Business Support for Farm Bill Conservation Programs
Several conservation groups (including American Farmland Trust, American Forest Foundation, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Land Trust Alliance, National Association of Conservation Districts, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, The Nature Conservancy and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership) have taken the lead in drafting a Farm Bill conservation program support letter that will be sent to U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership. It is available on-line to review and (for organizations and businesses interested in signing) for Internet sign-on at this link.  The deadline for signatures is Friday, February 24.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Agriculture -
  • USDA awards $40 million grants to boost local farm/food projects http://reut.rs/zgE8tV
  • US Sen. Grassley (IA-R) questions USDA Secretary Vilsack about USDA's announced Farm Service Agency office closures http://bit.ly/z2kN9p
  • Scientific American/Reuters: Eying Greener Acres, New Farmers Reap Growing U.S. Aid http://bit.ly/zMKd2S
  • Reminder: March 12-April 6 USDA general signup for farmers to participate in Conservation Reserve Program http://1.usa.gov/zHx5uk
Farm Bill-
  • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition highlights “major factors influencing" 2012 Farm Bill debate http://bit.ly/AhOSng
  • Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): "If we don’t get a farm bill done by June, there won’t be a farm bill" http://bit.ly/AERCSZ
Water Quality -
  • Region 7 EPA director to agribusiness: no standards for N levels in water that could impede the use of N fertilizers http://dmreg.co/xusTWO
  • Scientific American: What is stormwater runoff, and why does it matter? http://bit.ly/xw3IoR
  • NRDC report recommends range of actions to promote private investment in green urban stormwater retrofits  http://bit.ly/w1uDIf
  • EPA approves all but one of WV's proposed water quality standards (except  "weight of evidence" nutrient standard) http://bit.ly/x4xLbb
  • 175 miles of Knoxville, TN wastewater transmission system replaced/rehabilitated to stop sewage overflows http://bit.ly/wqMwP6
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -
  • With levees rated unacceptable, officials along Mississippi River fight the Army Corps "unreasonable" safety standards http://nyti.ms/wzGDP0
  • Here's a [Google map based] snapshot of river restoration efforts in the US via American Rivers http://ow.ly/8RqwC
  • Baraboo River (WI) is longest stretch of river in US restored to free-flowing, after multiple dam removals http://1.usa.gov/AxnJ3J
  • Corps of Engineers will not recommend controversial "Plan H" Mississippi River flood control plan to Congress http://bit.ly/w35dvx
  • Army Corps today released fiscal year 2012 civil works plan; link to report: http://1.usa.gov/xn5eba; critique here: http://bit.ly/yEUWYP
  • Taxpayer group believes Army Corps of Engineers FY 2012 work plan is effort to end-run Congressional earmark moratorium http://bit.ly/yEUWYP
  • Oklahoma governor asks Chickasaw and Choctaw nations to withdraw water rights lawsuit vs. state http://bit.ly/wzKIvg
In the States -
  • MN's conservation "Legacy Fund" is being used to cover cuts to conservation programs, as stakeholders argue the matter http://bit.ly/zE9dfC
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Congress members prod Army Corps on new plan to sever Great Lakes & Mississippi River watersheds (re: Asian Carp) http://on.wsj.com/wzH3jR
  • Wisconsin bill being considered that would require state Dept. of Natural Resources to create Sandhill Crane season http://fondul.ac/yQ89Bj
Gulf Coastal Area-
  • Already low and vulnerable Louisiana coast prepares for sea level rise http://post.cr/zxyAzB
  • Report: Louisiana's coastal restoration & levee projects should anticipate average 3.3-ft sea level increase http://bit.ly/AkdLLs
Resource extraction -
  • OH DNR considers "all aspects" of oil/gas exploration-related regulations as it crafts new legislation recommendations http://bit.ly/zQn1UJ
  • Are a mild winter, sluggish economy and stricter federal law enforcement brewing the "perfect storm" against coal? http://bit.ly/yENtmG
Federal Budget -
  • Next week's Obama 2013 FY budget plan to mirror his plan from Sept 2011, related to deficit-reduction deal http://on.wsj.com/xe61HU
Events-
  • Free EPA Webinar on Tool for Comparing Impaired Waters Restorability; February 22, 1-3 PM EST; details and register: http://bit.ly/xHxIbe
  • Association of State Wetland Managers meeting; March 13-15; "Sustaining Commitment to No Net Wetlands Loss" http://bit.ly/wLHynx
  • Save the Date: 2013 National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration dates and location have been set.  Don't miss it! http://bit.ly/zesXv1
  • Assoc. of State FloodPlain Managers May 20-25 2012 Conference Program and Registration Now Available http://bit.ly/yebctq
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • American Rivers River Policy Monthly Update: "2011 Wrap-Up" is now on line http://bit.ly/yOf0j2
  • Northeast-Midwest Institute has a new Mississippi River Basin water policy Google+ page: bit.ly/xTUS1D
  • American Farmland Trust's February E-news issue is now available on line http://bit.ly/zet1Er
  • America's Waterway February 2012 River Currents (Mississippi River) Newsletter now online http://bit.ly/xj4u5h
Political Scene -
  • Former Sen. Kerrey won’t make bid for US Senate, leaving Dems with no viable run for retiring Sen. Nelson's seat (D-NE) http://bit.ly/ziUxiS
  • Poll shows Adam Kinzinger tied with Don Manzullo for GOP US House primary race in newly redrawn Illinois 16th district http://bit.ly/zSljKd
  • KY state Legislature deadlocked over new US Congressional redistricting map, courts may need to resolve http://bit.ly/xWVMmf
 Last Word -
In light of the results of a new Gallup poll (released this past Wednesday) showing an historic low for the U.S. Congressional approval rating (now at 10 percent), it seems appropriate to leave this week's "last word" to Pogo and his 1971 Earth Day message, "We have met the enemy and he is us.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Senate Agriculture Committee Provides Additional Details on Upcoming Farm Bill Hearings

The Senate Agriculture Committee has provided additional details on two of its upcoming Farm Bill related hearings (see the Committee's hearing calendar overview page here). 
  • The Committee's hearing to "examine policies that make investments in jobs and opportunities for farmers and rural businesses through new markets, entrepreneurship, regional strategies and energy innovation" (entitled "Energy and Economic Growth for Rural America") will be held on Wednesday, February 15, at 9:30 AM (EST) in room G50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building (link to hearing details and streaming video here).  The Committee will also hold a general business meeting at that time to vote on several Federal appointment nominees (link to details here).
  • Its Farm Bill conservation title hearing ("Strengthening Conservation Through the 2012 Farm Bill") will be held on Tuesday, February 28, at 10 AM (EST) in room  216 of the Hart Senate Office Building (link to hearing details and streaming video here).

Groups Seek Broad Organizational and Business Support for Farm Bill Conservation Programs

Several conservation groups (including American Farmland Trust, American Forest Foundation, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Land Trust Alliance, National Association of Conservation Districts, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, The Nature Conservancy and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership) have taken the lead in drafting a Farm Bill conservation program support letter that will be sent to U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership. It is available on-line to review and (for organizations and businesses interested in signing) for internet sign-on at this link.  The deadline for signatures is Friday, February 24. 

Questions on the letter and related issues should be emailed to K. Diane Hoskins, khoskins@tnc.org, Federal Legislative Campaigns, at The Nature Conservancy.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Federal Budget and Appropriation Season Kicking Off in Earnest - Discussion of and Links to Key Resources

As the Administration and Congress gird themselves for what is likely to be a long and arduous election-year battle over Federal spending, key milestones in the annual budget and appropriation's ritual are on the immediate horizon.  House Appropriations subcommittees have sent out official calls for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 spending and language requests that Members wish to be included in appropriation bills, and the President is set to release his Administration's FY 2013 budget proposal next Monday, February 13.

Next week's Obama FY 2013 budget plan (which can be found on this Office of Management and Budget site early Monday morning) is widely expected to mirror the rather austere spending plan from September 2011 (called the "President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction"), which was released following the August deficit-reduction deal (see news coverage here).  Traditionally, the release of the Administration’s budget proposal sets the stage for development of a Budget Resolution, for hearings on the President’s budget proposal and for appropriation bill development.  

Chairpersons of the House Labor-HHS-Education, Financial Services, and Interior-Environment Appropriations subcommittees have kicked off that process, each sending "Dear Colleague" letters to House Members, calling for spending request submittals and setting a March 20 deadline for their submission via an electronic database (accessible starting on February 13).  Similar letters from the other nine House appropriation subcommittees are expected to follow shortly.  During this period of each year's fiscal planning cycle, House Members often hear from constituents in their respective districts (and other advocates) regarding stakeholder spending priorities.  Those priorities can sometimes be reflected in Member-submitted spending requests.

House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) is reported to be already preparing a Budget Resolution. Congress would typically negotiate and adopt the Budget Resolution as its response to the President’s budget proposal. The Budget Resolution is used, in part, to set spending ceilings for appropriations bills that would fund the government during the upcoming fiscal year.

Following approval of the Budget Resolution (assuming it is, in fact, approved), Appropriations Committees in both the Senate and House would normally go about developing legislation to allocate funds, in line with Fiscal Year 2013 spending ceilings set by the Budget Resolution. The appropriations subcommittees with jurisdiction over funding for Federal departments and agencies that manage key Mississippi River Basin programs, and links to their web pages are:
The words “traditionally,” “typically,” and “normally” are used very intentionally in the above descriptions of what may be to come. During many (if not most) years the process does not follow any “traditional” pathway at all (look to the Fiscal Year 2012 funding process as a prime example). An informative Congressional Research Service introduction to the Congressional appropriations process and its multiple variations can be found here.

Save the Date: 2013 National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration

The date and locale for the 2013 National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration ("NCER 2013") have been set The renowned biannual restoration conference will be held in the Great Lakes Region (specifically in the Greater Chicago, Illinois area at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel) from July 30-August 2, 2013. You won't want to miss this one. Here is the NCER home page to view past conference information and get a flavor for what will be coming in just 18 short months!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Mississippi River Basin-Related Congressional Hearings for the Week and Beyond - Including Farm Bill Hearing Schedule Updates

There is only one U.S. Congressional hearing scheduled this week of particular relevance to Mississippi River Basin water resource issues.  That is:
Looking beyond this week, on the hearing schedule, here are the currently-scheduled, upcoming Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Farm Bill Hearings (note the schedule change of the Conservation hearing):
  • Wednesday, February 15: Energy and Economic Growth for Rural America
  • Wednesday, February 28: Strengthening Conservation through the 2012 Farm Bill (note that this is a date change from the originally-announced February 29 date)
  • Wednesday, March 14: Healthy Food Initiatives, Local Production and Nutrition
  • Wednesday, March 21: Risk Management and Commodities in the 2012 Farm Bill

Friday, February 3, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Senate Agriculture Committee Sets Farm Bill Hearing Schedule
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has announced the Committee’s Farm Bill hearing schedule for February and March. It includes a February 29 hearing on the Conservation Title (Title 2), entitled "Strengthening Conservation through the 2012 Farm Bill." The hearings will set the stage for an anticipated Spring 2012 Farm Bill "Chairwoman's mark;" a draft bill that will be considered by the full Senate Committee.  For more details and the complete hearing schedule through the end of March see this Committee announcement.

Controversial St. Croix River Crossing Project Bill Passes U.S. Senate
On January 23, the U.S. Senate passed the St. Croix River Crossing Project Authorization Act (S. 1134) by unanimous consent, clearing the way for the much-debated and controversial measure to be considered by the House.  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), would permit "any federal agency to authorize and assist in the construction of a new bridge crossing" over the St. Croix River as long as certain mitigation measures are included within the project.  Two issues have consistently arisen at the center of a running controversy regarding the appropriateness of the bridge replacement project: the project's cost and its suitability, especially given the St. Croix River's Federal designation as a Wild and Scenic River.   For more information, including bill proponent and opponent views, and links to the bill and related details, click here.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Agriculture -
Farm Bill-
  • Op-ed: "Attaching conservation measures to crop insurance should not be a bad thing"  http://dmreg.co/z6Wt9I
  • Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI-3) hopeful that Congress in 2012 reforms farm policy that spends billions of $$ in crop subsidies http://bit.ly/wTOui2
  • Leaders of major farm and commodity groups look to end their very public feud over Farm Bill safety net priorities http://bit.ly/yGdruq
  • 40 leaders from 13 farm commodity organizations meet and agree to work together on Farm Bill issues http://bit.ly/wAMY1c
Water Quality -
  • EPA pushes to reduce environmental and water quality impacts of 2,300-acre WV mountaintop mine project http://bit.ly/wFayWA
  • OH EPA to use alum in fight to control excessive phosphorous in Grand Lake St. Marys (Ohio River Basin) http://bit.ly/zkWfqA
  • Louisiana draft 2012 impaired waters report delists nearshore impaired waters, cites lack of data; links/comment: http://1.usa.gov/w5LfwD
  • Natural resources district eyes use of N-inhibitors in attempt to control farm region drinking water contamination http://bit.ly/Adn7uN
  • EPA seeks Mississippi River Basin nutrient pollution impact photos for education and outreach http://bit.ly/yIB51w
  • Sierra Club: EPA pollution control standards (TMDL) set but little has been done to improve Hinkson Creek's (MO) condition http://bit.ly/AsPo78
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -
  • Report: Policy & $ changes needed to support US freshwater system efficiency, reliability & environmental upgrades http://bit.ly/zJrQIs
  • Army Corps of Engineers performing daily inspections of previously-breached Mississippi River's Birds Point levee (MO) http://bit.ly/xCz0f5
  • Army Corps creates 700,000 acre-ft additional Missouri River basin flood storage capacity; says flood concerns low http://argusne.ws/xtDdJT
  • 128 floodplain homes to be purchased by Louisville KY Metropolitan Sewer District; area will then collect floodwater http://cjky.it/zczkBO 
  • Rebuilding river delta wetlands by managing the muddy Mississippi http://bit.ly/AbYucj 
In the States -
  • Indiana Dept of EM effort to establish numeric standards for phosphorus in lakes and reservoirs moving forward slowly http://bit.ly/yxmTYZ
Forestry -
  • USFS's 1st planning rule in 30 yrs places more emphasis on watershed protection in 193 million acres of land http://1.usa.gov/zHHHdz
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Missouri ban on porous  angling waders to take effect on March 1 http://bit.ly/zM2wRe (aquatic invasive species issue)
  • New MN law requires mandatory zebra mussel training for those in dock and boat service businesses http://bit.ly/yelnIc 
  • Report proposes dividing Great Lakes, Mississippi basins http://bit.ly/x66Dt3
  • Report demonstrates that permanent physical barriers to protect Great Lakes & Mississippi River "feasible" http://bit.ly/z7m46L [Asian carp]
  • Great Lakes Commission: natural divide between Mississippi River & Great Lakes can be rebuilt; suggests 3 alternatives http://bit.ly/yLLBXc
  • UMN River Life blog: We Can’t Afford to Stop Invasives; We Can’t Afford Not To http://bit.ly/wVtZLo
  • IL DNR trying to create consumer demand for Asian carp in effort to rid state’s waterways of them http://bit.ly/xMagwD
  • MN panel in charge of deciding how to spend state Legacy fund debate its use for Asian carp fight http://bit.ly/wkX1od
  • Many frac sand companies mine in WI ; only 1 applied for permit to legally destroy endangered butterfly habitat http://bit.ly/xn4lzj
Gulf Coastal Area-
  • New study finds Louisiana's second Gulf of Mexico dead zone is 4x larger than that found in 2010 http://bit.ly/wKBpwG
  • OP-ED: "The Mississippi River Delta Must Be Restored" (NY Times) http://nyti.ms/ySIomE
  • Times-Picayune editorial: "Take the long view on Louisiana's coastal restoration plan" http://bit.ly/xED6ab
  • LA scientists lay groundwork to create carbon storage industry that could help rebuild coastal wetlands http://bit.ly/zjTtQn
Resource extraction -
  • SELC list of southern endangered ecosystems includes VA and TN mountains in Mississippi River Basin (coal mining) http://nyti.ms/yNdzC9
  • RT @americanrivers: Collateral damage from fracking: runoff from roads surrounding hydrofracking wells http://ow.ly/8L36W [Ohio River Basin]
  • IL state House bills aim to control fracking to extract natural gas http://bit.ly/AzShkN
Federal Budget -
  • House Budget Committee Chair Ryan will work off FY 2012 budget the GOP passed last year when writing new FY 2013 budget http://bit.ly/z9VIcO
Events-
  • EPA annual Rachel Carson “Sense of Wonder” contest; 4 water-focused categories: photography, essay, poetry & dance http://1.usa.gov/TC8OR
  • 2012 National River Management Symposium; April 24-26; Asheville, NC; for information and registration: http://bit.ly/zgUSkK
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • National Great Rivers Research and Education Center February E-News Update now available http://bit.ly/zdeDak
Other news-
  • UN: world running out of time to assure enough food, water & energy to meet needs of rapidly growing population http://huff.to/wdqoie
Political Scene -
  • MN & ND's American Crystal Sugar cooperative-one of US's most powerful lobbying groups; calls for sugar price supports http://bit.ly/xAa0IU
  • Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL-8) faces tough reelection fight after redistricting; but is focusing on defeating Obama http://bit.ly/yHH4dA
  • New survey: Western state voters of all political affiliation call themselves conservationists; views differ from DC's http://bit.ly/xZzSbq
  • US Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN-5), a 15-term congressman, announces that he will retire at the end of this term http://bit.ly/y5rKGX
  • Rep. Latham (R-IA) has campaign bankroll ~4x that of opponent Rep. Boswell (D-IA) heading into redrawn district race http://bit.ly/xWyKNp
  • KY Legislature, long-deadlocked over US Congressional redistricting map, takes big step toward passage of final map http://bit.ly/x5CBYi
 Last Word -
Paula the Penguin
"Are you talking about the penguin that just defecated on the floor?" Kentucky State Senate President David Williams, asked of State Senator Katie Stine.  Stine was describing a resolution, thanking the Newport Aquarium "for its contributions to the ecology of our world and the economy of Kentucky," including the "second most diverse collection of cold-weather penguins in the country."  Paula, the Aquarium's "pooping penguin," as it quickly became known, was in the Senate chamber for a reading of the proclamation.  Click here for a video of the ensuing frivolity.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Senate Agriculture Committee Sets Farm Bill Hearing Schedule

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has announced the Committee’s Farm Bill hearing schedule for February and March. It includes a February 29 hearing on the Conservation Title (Title 2), entitled "Strengthening Conservation through the 2012 Farm Bill." The hearings will set the stage for an anticipated Spring 2012 Farm Bill "Chairwoman's mark;" a draft bill that will be considered by the full Senate Committee. For more details and the complete hearing schedule through the end of March see this Committee announcement.