Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News of the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

This Week and the Next . . . and the Next

One week following the widely-reported announcement by scientists that they project a large Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone (or "dead zone") this summer - a dead zone precipitated primarily by nitrogen in the form of nitrates entering the Gulf from the Mississippi River - officials some 2,500 miles or so upstream of the Gulf in Minnesota released a report describing where at least some of those nitrates are coming from (see links to the news coverage and official reports, below, under "Water Quality"). The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report cited croplands as the primary contributor to the state's high and increasing surface water nitrate concentrations.  The timing of the Minnesota report ironically also followed by a week the failure by the U.S. House to pass a comprehensive five-year farm bill (a bill that includes conservation provisions that would help mitigate nitrate loading from farmland into streams).

This begs the question, "what happens next with the farm bill?"  No one really knows.  All we can say with some certainty is that nothing officially will happen next week on Capitol Hill, since the House and Senate will be recessed for the week and its July Fourth holiday.  House leaders, however, are expressing interest in bringing some form of the farm bill to that chamber's floor the following week (of July 8).  There is much more coverage of the bill's failure and its uncertain fate below, under "Farm Bill."

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency study shows elevated nitrate levels in state surface waters, especially in south ow.ly/mpq4A
• Minneapolis Star Tribune: Nitrogen pollution is widespread in southern Minnesota waters, report finds http://ow.ly/mrDuK
• Minnesota regulators point finger at agriculture for high nitrate levels in surface waters http://ow.ly/mrECh
• New Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report says nitrate levels continue to rise in the Mississippi River http://ow.ly/mtiPY
• Kentucky regulators say coal not polluting public drinking water supplies; researcher disputes findings http://ow.ly/mrE3w
• State says no correlation between metals in water, coal production in Kentucky http://ow.ly/mrF7A
• Industry fears that EPA's water connectivity study could aid Clean Water Act jurisdictional findings http://ow.ly/mmpwe
• Two plead guilty to illegally dumping industrial wastewater in Baton Rouge and Belle River, LA http://ow.ly/mpwcJ
• Advocates claim that Clean Water Act mandates that a turbidity limit be established in EPA construction site effluent limitation guidelines http://ow.ly/mrI8h

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

Rivers of the United States of America
by Nelson Minar - Click to Enlarge

• For your Friday morning coffee break: Very detailed and cool map of the rivers of the United States of America by Nelson Minar http://ow.ly/mtb6z (also click on image to the right) 
• Controversial Michigan wetlands bill tests EPA response to states' dredge-and-fill permit efforts; may set precedent http://ow.ly/mtgQz
• Just-released report: "The Floodway Encroachment Standard: Minimizing Cumulative Adverse Impacts" http://ow.ly/mtbEi (PDF file)
• Barge owners argue need for minimal barge fuel tax hike to support infrastructure maintenance & construction ow.ly/moEqZ
• Barge industry lobbyist predicts a 2012 Water Resources Development Act passage by Congress with a tax increase tinyurl.com/qbsgh86
• Rivers by Design: Rethinking Development and River Restoration  http://ow.ly/mk8Sn
• Recommendations to better prepare Iowa for future floods have run head-on into political obstacles http://ow.ly/mk6hn
• Experts say more grasslands and wetlands are needed to help reduce flooding in Iowa; but few are listening to advice http://ow.ly/mk6AG
• Iowa has a "long way to go" on flood prevention and mitigation; faces floodplain development, outdated forecast maps http://ow.ly/mk6RN
• Inadequate federal grant money dims hopes of flood-weary Mandeville, LA residents for for mitigation help http://ow.ly/mtt5X
• Over $100 million in federal grants approved in response to Spring 2013 Mississippi River flood damage in Illinois http://ow.ly/mknpj
• Citing 2012 drought, company drops plans to install power-generating turbines in the Mississippi River http://ow.ly/mkoMk
• Series of weekend storms cause flooding in southwest Wisconsin http://ow.ly/mkpKi
• More flooding expected along Mississippi River in Louisiana  http://ow.ly/mtiEk
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, expects to close two Mississippi River locks due to rising river ow.ly/moHji
• Rising Mississippi River water will force U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to again close numerous MO and IA locks ow.ly/moGXB
• Central Missouri flooding raises questions concerning Missouri River levee system ow.ly/moH7q

Farm Bill-

What Happened?

• POLITICO: How the farm bill failed "Or in playground terms: taking your ball and going home" http://ow.ly/mk0J1
• Washington Post op-ed: Boehner’s House implodes over flawed farm bill http://ow.ly/mjUkB
• After stunning House defeat, lawmakers scramble to salvage farm bill http://ow.ly/mjV66
• No Easy Fix for House Leaders in the Shambles of the Farm Bill Vote http://ow.ly/mkU5n
• Des Moines Register Editorial: Food stamp showdown jeopardizes farm bill future, as rural-urban coalition collapses http://ow.ly/mk1NJ
• Farm bill illustrates the perils of a whip’s vote-counting job http://ow.ly/mjVFN
• U.S. News Op-ed: "A Farm Bill Bait and Switch" ow.ly/mjUFU

What Happens Next?

• House Majority Leader Cantor pushing for farm bill vote by the full House in July after next week's July 4th  recess http://ow.ly/mtfDx
• Some say likely farm bill outcome will be an extension of current law, despite opposition from top Senate leaders ow.ly/mqMPb
• Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV): Senate will not pass another farm bill extension http://ow.ly/mmkKK
• Three Midwestern Democratic House Members introduce Senate farm bill in House of Representatives ow.ly/mqMEJ
• House Agriculture Committee Vice Chair believes that next farm bill step for Congress is to split out nutrition ow.ly/mqMdg
• House Republicans may split farm bill in two so that the nutrition title and food stamps can be considered on its own http://ow.ly/ms6sP

Agriculture -

• Farmland values are cooling after years of explosive growth http://ow.ly/mk24N
• Des Moines Register op-ed: "Should inaction be a conservation choice?" http://ow.ly/mkTCR
• Wet weather creating havoc for Wisconsin soybean farmers ow.ly/mppuI
• University of Illinois Agricultural Economists: recent period of growth in U.S. corn industry appears to have peaked ow.ly/mqNp6
• Scientists working with Central Illinois farmers to reduce wasted nutrients and maximize crop yields http://ow.ly/mtsNj
• Interest in non-genetically modified crops rises among Missouri farmers http://ow.ly/mttu5

June 25 Drought Monitor Map
(click to enlarge)

Climate and Weather -

• Most of Midwest, Lower Mississippi and Plains drought condition changes this past week were "of the better variety" http://ow.ly/mtk5x
• Obama unveils climate change plan that circumvents Congress http://ow.ly/mml4N
• Experts suggest climate threat is so severe that Obama administration must quickly tackle other parts of economy http://ow.ly/mmlNf

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• New water flow system, oxygen booster for Lower Illinois River to assure survival of fish in Oklahoma "trout capitol" http://ow.ly/mkpm1

  

  Dusky Gopher Frog

• USGS: Mining and smelting in SE Missouri caused widespread soil and songbird contamination with lead, other metals ow.ly/mpp5V
• Diverse coalition issues report; urges Congress to increase funding for National Wildlife Refuge System http://ow.ly/mrJXU
• Judge allows environmental groups to intervene in dusky gopher frog lawsuits (Gulf Coastal region) http://ow.ly/mrKod

In the Cities -

• Mississippi River mayors, Army Corps of Engineers agree to coordinate efforts around River’s future http://t.co/piDslKONw4
• Mayors sign document promoting collaboration with Army Corps on Mississippi River work http://ow.ly/mtijY
• Mayors focus on Mississippi River at conference http://ow.ly/mtiu7 and http://ow.ly/mtj3S

In the States-

• "Interim" Missouri House committee created to address dairy farm, river transportation, conservation impact issues http://ow.ly/mpwDq

Gulf Coastal Region-

• Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council extends plan, environmental assessment report comment period until July 8 http://ow.ly/mkqmm
• "The Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem: A Coastal and Marine Atlas," published by the Ocean Conservancy http://ow.ly/mmql5

Forestry-

• Forests and Water Quality: How Forests Improve the Supply and Quality of Our Water http://ow.ly/mmnNP
• Arbor Day Foundation provides reforestation funds for flood-stricken Auldon Bar Wildlife Management Area (Iowa) http://ow.ly/mgtvk

Resource Extraction -

• Groups cite "dire" environmental situation in urging federal review and possible takeover of WV coal mining oversight http://ow.ly/mmqZt
• National Coal LLC will "effectively" stop Appalachian mountaintop-removal mining in settlement with environmentalists http://ow.ly/mrJe6

Federal Budget -

• White House threatens to veto House Agriculture spending bill, deepening sense of a pending autumnal budget showdown ow.ly/moGj6
• House GOP clears way for consideration of the $19.45 billion agriculture spending bill after July 4th recess ow.ly/mqN1K
• Senate Appropriations committee approves energy, water spending bill with different priorities than House bill; setting up showdown http://ow.ly/mtho9
• House Appropriations panel passes energy & water appropriations bill with significant cuts to US water infrastructure http://ow.ly/mrICg

Events -  Information on all past and future events listed here can be viewed in the on-line calendar (here as a stand-alone calendar)

• Water Environment Federation Conference: Nutrient Removal and Recovery 2013; Vancouver, BC; July 28 - 31 http://ow.ly/mg8ee

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• Society for Ecological Restoration June SERNews http://ow.ly/mgtPs (PDF file)
• EPA Climate Change and Water News for June 2013 http://ow.ly/mjXg0
• Current EPA Science Matters issue focuses on EPA researchers and partners developing latest climate change science http://ow.ly/mjXzp
• New book summary - "Bioengineering Case Studies: Sustainable Stream Bank and Slope Stabilization" ($119) http://ow.ly/ml5dS
• Tennessee Clean Water Network June 25 e-newsletter http://ow.ly/mmJZn
• EPA Office of Water June 25 "Water Headlines" http://ow.ly/mprHq
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's June 25 and archived WaterWays e-newsletter links: http://ow.ly/klTzd
• The Horinko Group June 2013 "Sustainabulletin" Newsletter http://ow.ly/mpsIY
• EPA has released an update to a 2001 publication on engaging stakeholders in watershed actions http://ow.ly/mrBDA (PDF file)

Other news-

• American Rivers: "Has The Log Jam Been Broken? Wild & Scenic River Legislation Passes U.S. Senate" ow.ly/2xUZp3
• Water Environment Federation hosting StormTV Project, calls for videos of innovative stormwater programs, projects http://ow.ly/mkT8b
• Groups are concerned about West Lake Landfill (MO) waste near floodplains; EPA says situation safe ow.ly/moGMF
• Industry groups urge USEPA to develop a risk policy for endogenous chemicals, before completing IRIS assessment ow.ly/moFjl
• Narrow Supreme Court takings ruling limits takings application in environment suits ow.ly/moF2S (see article below)
• Supreme Court rules that permit denials can be interpreted as property "takings" ow.ly/moERk
• Officials say Renewable Fuels Standard cannot be met, as industry is failing to produce advanced and cellulosic fuels ow.ly/mqNXm
• House subcommittee holds first in likely series of hearings on Renewable Fuels Standard; economy, environment effects ow.ly/mqNHp

Political Scene -

• Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) appointed to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee http://ow.ly/mjVrv and http://ow.ly/mklAp
• Former statehouse Speaker Kurt Zellers becomes third Republican to challenge Dayton for Governor in 2014 http://ow.ly/mmlrs
• Kansas Governor Sam Brownback will seek a second term next year http://ow.ly/mmlz1
• John Boehner and other Republican House leaders are feeling the heat from lawmakers sick of farm bill screw-ups ow.ly/mqO7E
• Midwest governors are quietly offering Washington's Republicans a blueprint for governing success http://ow.ly/mtaKs

Last Word -

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.” - The Onceler, in "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss

Tourist walking by "The Father of The Forest" in Calaveras
Grove, California c.1880s. Photograph: Alamy

160 years ago yesterday, on June 27, 1853, a 300 foot-tall, 1,244-year-old giant sequoia in Calaveras County, California was felled after three weeks of cutting by a group of gold-rush speculators.  The event become the inspiration for the national park system (see this Guardian article about "How a giant tree's death sparked the conservation movement 160 years ago" for more on this interesting story).