~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~
Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week
Status
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| Click http://1.usa.gov/RZsVlq to see full size USDA Drought Designation map |
NOAA: "Exceptional drought conditions" expanded over the last week in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma http://bit.ly/rak0SU
Return of the Dust Bowl: parched Midwest prairies face a natural disaster not seen since 1930s 'dusters' ind.pn/NpaaDx
Nature Climate Change article confirms climate model predictions-future US droughts will be more severe http://wapo.st/OeLSwL
Map of USDA 2012 Secretarial Drought Designations to Date (PDF file): http://1.usa.gov/RZsVlq
Impacts
- Wired Science Blog: Why King Corn Wasn't Ready for the Drought http://bit.ly/OUN1Lg
- Oil companies desperately seeking water amidst Kansas drought http://cnnmon.ie/NkDZc7
- Drought prompts USDA reductions in US crop forecasts http://nyti.ms/NkErqB and http://bit.ly/NkEItQ
- National Crop Insurance Services: too early to tell how large farm industry’s drought losses will ultimately be http://bit.ly/NkFwPb (PDF)
- Army Corps predicts Missouri River flow this year will be at about 85 percent of average due to drought http://sacb.ee/MtZ3eT
- Cooler weather and rain in Midwest slow crop deterioration but won’t make much of a difference http://wapo.st/Mu0REt
- As US farmers plan upcoming planting of 2013 winter wheat crop, concern mounts re: when and if drought will ease bit.ly/PmoZdw
- NBC News: 2012 drought has humbled mighty Mississippi River as barge industry gets stuck http://nbcnews.to/RZvDHv
- Mississippi River saltwater intrusion prompts Chalmette officials to declare state of emergency; buy New Orleans water http://bit.ly/PsGybS
- Mississippi River Is Drying Up As Massive Drought Continues alturl.com/krpbx
Federal Policy
- Arkansas, North Carolina Governors ask EPA to waive ethanol fuel mandate; issue rife with political implications http://reut.rs/N2tmF1
- Federally mandated ethanol quota debated by corn farmers and meat industry in light of drought http://nyti.ms/Rnh2Xr
- USDA designates 172 additional counties in 15 states as primary natural disaster areas due to drought and heat http://1.usa.gov/Oj2jVP
- Drought and climate skepticism abound in corn belt and thwart climate policy changes http://on.ft.com/Oj3aFW
- Omaha World-Herald editorial: while politicians bicker, agricultural producers left to cope with drought http://bit.ly/RZtlrU
- Contract awarded to build saltwater barrier protecting Mississippi River drinking water http://bit.ly/NgXsG8
Farm Bill-
We could post plenty of tweets here on the status of the U.S. Farm Bill but they would all basically say the same thing:
We could post plenty of tweets here on the status of the U.S. Farm Bill but they would all basically say the same thing:
- "The (Senator/House Member/President) said during the meeting that it is crucial that a comprehensive five-year farm bill be passed as soon as possible and it is a shame that it hasn't been passed yet. (He/she) stressed that (he/she) is willing to work with the other side, but that it is the (Republicans/Democrats/President) who (is/are) simply shirking (their/his) responsibility by (going on recess/playing politics) while farmers suffer."
- Survey: Agricultural researchers find it difficult to communicate findings; communication needs support http://bit.ly/PeGPiq
- Report: Corn ethanol waiver's effect on corn prices uncertain http://bit.ly/OiXnAq
- Despite drought, some of best US corn-growing land still selling for more than $10,000 an acre on.wsj.com/N8nkTe
- InvestigateWest: "Agriculture is nation's biggest water polluter but usually goes unpunished" http://bit.ly/RnhtRt
Water Quality -
- Lowest Minnesota River summertime flow in 24 years provides unique water quality research opportunity http://bit.ly/MtZx4H
- New Method to Remove Phosphorus from Wastewater (ScienceDaily) http://bit.ly/NGWeGV
- Patriot Coal reaches agreement with environmental groups re: selenium pollution from WV mountaintop mines http://bit.ly/Rnil8I
- Scientists intently studying health of Minnesota wetlands http://bit.ly/RGnUhx
- Scientific American: Farmers deplete "fossil water" around the world http://bit.ly/Tlcuy2
- April 14, 1956 Southeast Missourian photo essay: Mississippi River viewing before flood wall http://bit.ly/RZwisw
In the States -
- Federal and Ohio state officials defend safety of "fracking" waste disposal via injection wells http://bit.ly/MtZPs7
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
- New study: North American freshwater fish species extinction rate highest ever observed http://exm.nr/RwUali
- They're coming! Asian carp invasion encroaching on Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers and their tributaries http://bit.ly/MtZaa0
- Editorial: time for Ohio River states to demand Federal effort to keep Asian carp out of Ohio River system http://bit.ly/OiWHLa
- Emerald ash borers spread south of Minneapolis, MN http://bit.ly/PsJRQ7
- Interior Dept. Survey: Wildlife-related recreation rebounds after 20-year decline http://on.doi.gov/OiZkgj (PDF)
- Minnesota Public Radio: Losing wetlands to crop production could greatly affect wildlife http://bit.ly/OzQDnA
- Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge approved by DOI; runs from Wisconsin into Illinois http://goo.gl/t4z30
Gulf Coastal Region-
- Questions linger re: Louisiana ability to administer BP-funded Gulf restoration-nation's largest ecosystem project ever http://bit.ly/MTAZmW
Resource Extraction -
- Plans for Western KY 692-acre strip mine reveal shifting alliances between environmentalism and community-building http://nyti.ms/PYK0pi
- Environmental orgs decry Kentucky coal producer agreement to export 9M tons of coal/yr to India over 25 years http://cjky.it/PsBp3n
Events-
- 5th Annual Upper Mississippi River Conference: "Make Room for the River" Sept 26-28, Stoney Creek Inn, Moline, IL http://bit.ly/MUHR1O
- America's Great Watershed Initiative Summit, Sept. 26-27; St. Louis, MO http://bit.ly/Oj1SLj
- Security and Sustainability Forum's Food Security in an Urbanizing World webinar; Sept 5; 1:15 - 2:45 PM EDT http://bit.ly/NedwwN
- Save the date: Annual Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference; Dec 9 - 12, Wichita, KS - Call for papers now http://bit.ly/NcHT2a
- EPA Schedules Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Meeting, Aug. 30 in Arcadia, Iowa http://bit.ly/PtHo88 (EPA release: http://1.usa.gov/N8lamE)
- The Army Corps' summer edition of "Our Mississippi" can be read here http://bit.ly/Mv57nf
Other news-
- EPA seeking feedback on beta version of Community-Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool http://1.usa.gov/NgTygv
- Volunteers on front line in protecting Ohio's 14 scenic rivers http://bit.ly/Mv5NJi
- "Top 8 State Parks in America" include four in Mississippi River Basin (MN, OK, TN, KS), and River's source http://bit.ly/RZxJXV
Political Scene -
- New Gallup poll: one in 10 Americans approve of job Congress is doing - an all time record low http://bit.ly/OvqrKJ
- Former WI Governor Thompson wins Wisconsin's GOP US Senate primary; will face Rep. Baldwin in fall http://politi.co/PmiAPr
- Former US Rep Nolan wins Democratic nomination for MN 8th district US House seat; to face freshman Rep. Cravaack (R) http://bit.ly/PmjWtq
- State Rep. Mark Pocan (D) wins primary race to fill Rep Tammy Baldwin's WI-2 US House seat (Baldwin running for Senate) http://bit.ly/Pmkq2K
- KY state lawmaker’s potential gain from massive Kentucky-India coal deal raises concern http://bit.ly/RngwZl
Last Word-
"Mr. Peabody's coal train has hauled it away." - From "Paradise," a John Prine lament
over the destruction caused by coal mining in Kentucky's Green River valley (this, in light of the announcement this week of a deal to strip and ship 225 million tons of Kentucky coal to India).
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