~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~
Habemus Morbi Rutrum! ("We Have a Farm Bill!")
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| "Habemus Morbi Rutrum!" (U.S. Capitol Building) |
There were several notable votes in opposition to the bill from Senators representing Mississippi River Basin states. Both Oklahoma Sens. Tom Coburn (R) and Jim Inhofe (R) voted against the conference report, as did Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Pat Roberts (R-KS). Grassley, a longtime member of the Agriculture Committee, cited provisions passed by the Senate but then removed from the final bill that would have reduced the number of people associated with one farm who can collect farm subsidies. Roberts indicated in a news release that he "voted against final passage of the 2014 Farm Bill conference report because it goes backwards towards protectionist subsidy programs, instead of forward with innovative and responsible solutions for producers and the taxpayer.”
Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week
Water Quality -
- U.S. District Court orders Stabl Inc. to pay $2.2 million penalty for Clean Water Act violations (Lexington, Neb.) ow.ly/tggtZ
- "How Protective of Designated Use are Nutrient Criteria?" ow.ly/teAod
- Wisconsin DNR proposes to add 192 waterways to list of lakes, rivers, streams failing to meet water quality standards ow.ly/tdQX4
- Kansas Attorney General joins other states in appealing USEPA’s proposed regulation of nutrients in farm, lawn runoff http://ow.ly/tgEno
- Environment and Energy: Twenty-one states join agriculture interests' appeal challenging court decision upholding USEPA's Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan http://ow.ly/th6XL
- Washington Post: AGs in 21 states are backing attempt to derail EPA’s Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan, fearing use of that authority elsewhere http://ow.ly/tl76t (Here is their joint amicus brief filed this week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit: http://ow.ly/tl7zR)
- Federal grand jury investigation launched into West Virginia chemical spill that left 300,000 people unable to use water supply http://ow.ly/tj5xH
- Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in water supply lake has cost Columbus, Ohio $723,000 in treatment expenses http://ow.ly/tj6M6
- American Farm Bureau at House committee hearing: expanded EPA/Army Corps Clean Water Act jurisdiction would negatively affect farmers http://ow.ly/tl8s1 (PDF of Farm Bureau testimony: http://ow.ly/tl8FS)
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
- House - Senate negotiations over final Water Resources Development Act back "on track" after mid-winter's stall http://ow.ly/tnIkX
- Army Corps to invite contractors for $1-5 million Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers dredging services http://ow.ly/tgj8s
- IWMI Study: best way to protect wetlands is to find the right balance between farming and conservation ow.ly/tdQr3
- Proposed water pipeline to carry Missouri River water into the Red River Basin gets state legislative look http://ow.ly/tiUbI
- National Weather Service: minor flooding in Ohio River valley may continue into Saturday http://ow.ly/tlfnJ and http://ow.ly/tleTL
- Ice-clogged Illinois River slows barge traffic http://ow.ly/tiUwn
- Army Corps is closely monitoring Ohio River during unusually icy winter http://ow.ly/tnKst
- Residents evacuate as ice-clogged Platte River floods Kearney, Nebraska neighborhood http://ow.ly/tiUOj
- After receiving criticism during 2011 Missouri River flood, Army Corps of Engineers vows to be more transparent and open http://ow.ly/tleuJ
- Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approves North American Wetlands Conservation Act, would extend conservation program authority http://ow.ly/tma4u
Farm Bill-
- New farm bill pares down conservation programs to just 13 by combining smaller programs, folding others into larger ones http://ow.ly/tlczI
- The Hill: "Senate sends farm bill to Obama" http://ow.ly/thq4o
- President is expected to sign the farm bill into law Friday during an event at Michigan State University http://ow.ly/tj3Xn
- Washington Post editorial questions central premise of farm bill: that U.S. agriculture requires centralized planning ow.ly/tiJn9
- Kansas City Star: Farm bill easily passes Senate, will change operations for farmers nationwide http://ow.ly/tj61H
- New York Times: Senate Passes Long-Stalled Farm Bill, With Clear Winners and Losers ow.ly/tjlLX
- How did your senators vote on the farm bill (interactive map) http://ow.ly/tk1ka
- Here's how the Senate's 68-32 farm bill passage vote broke out (by Senator and state): http://ow.ly/thASi
- The story behind how the "conservation compliance" provision came to be included in the final farm bill http://ow.ly/tiQs0
- Des Moines Register editorial: Taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance under farm bill comes with an important conservation "string" ow.ly/tdKwo
- Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Stabenow (D-Mich.) offers defense of farm bill's controversial aspects ow.ly/tdHO6
Agriculture -
- National Corn Growers Association to create science advisory council to develop practices that boost soil health http://ow.ly/tmaIg (The Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund are providing technical support)
- Arkansas groups suing in hopes of moving hog farm away from Buffalo River: one of last free-flowing U.S. rivers http://ow.ly/tgDWc
- Number of Iowa manure spills last year was a 65 percent jump from 2012, when 46 spills occurred http://ow.ly/tgDtK
Climate and Weather -
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| February drought forecast (click to enlarge) |
- National drought monitor: significant precipitation deficits mount in Louisiana; Missouri River down substantially http://ow.ly/q3w3u
- NOAA's Climate Prediction Center February drought outlook http://ow.ly/q3yAx (see figure to right)
- New USDA "climate hubs" program designed to help farmers, ranchers, rural communities combat climate change, adapt to extreme weather http://ow.ly/tiM38
- Senate approves Drought Information Act of 2013; bill to keep a federal drought information system going but with budget cut http://ow.ly/tiS1g
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
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| American Burying Beetle |
- Plan being considered for consistent fish catch limits in all of Mississippi River's Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa waters http://ow.ly/t9Wts
- Iowa State University researchers: Honey bee threats include farm pesticide, loss of habitat to urban sprawl http://ow.ly/t9K0V
- Five large oil, gas companies enroll in plan to keep lesser prairie chicken (southern Great Plains) off endangered species list http://ow.ly/t9V8K
- Stunning migration of trumpeter swans turns Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary into tourist hot spot (Alton, IL) ow.ly/tdGYS
- South Dakota State University research: more diverse ant population marks a more completely-restored grassland http://ow.ly/tlb1Z
- Newly-introduced bill would require separating Lake Michigan from Mississippi River watershed in Chicago area http://ow.ly/tleGo
- Fish and Wildlife Service documents: two officials repeatedly committed scientific misconduct in estimating Oklahoma endangered insect's range ow.ly/tnGi5
In the Cities -
- Brainerd (Minnesota) seeks applications for Mississippi River Partnership Plan steering committee membership http://ow.ly/tgjzo
- Online Nashville Low Impact Development Tour; Spotlighting Low Impact Development in Nashville, Tennessee ow.ly/ta2R1
- Latest report in McKnight's “Food for Thought” series: "A River Runs Through Us-Why the Mississippi River is crucial to Minneapolis-St. Paul's future" http://ow.ly/th9IJ
- Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, OH announced as one of four 2014 U.S. Water Prize winners http://ow.ly/tjg24
- Endangered Species Act Congressional Working Group releases its final Report, Findings and Recommendations http://ow.ly/tl7Rp (press release: http://ow.ly/tl7UR)
- Cities utilize mix of green and traditional infrastructure in combined sewer overflow control ow.ly/tmwZY
- Big oil projects being planned for both sides of the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge http://ow.ly/tnKaF
Louisiana Coastal Region-
- Lake Pontchartrain storm surge protection for Mandeville, Louisiana could cost nearly $30 million, engineer says http://ow.ly/tj7nS
- Eight teams to develop proposals to rescue Mississippi River delta wetlands from sinking into the Gulf of Mexico http://ow.ly/tleh5
Forestry -
- Farm bill boosts forest restoration; gaining both timber and environmental interest support for forestry measures http://ow.ly/tlave
- Mississippi River Basin subwatersheds will see some of USDA's $30 million this fiscal year to address wildfire threats and water quality http://ow.ly/tnHme
- Study: Policymakers should be cautious when it comes to allowing new sand-mining operations in northeastern Iowa http://ow.ly/t9JPI
Federal Budget -
- House GOP divided on debt ceiling, while Obama administration says Congress needs to lift ceiling this month ow.ly/tiNpT
Events - Information on all past and future events listed here can be viewed in the on-line calendar (here as a stand-alone calendar)
- Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee and federal agencies to hold public meeting on Missouri River Recovery Program; Feb. 11-13, Kansas City http://ow.ly/t9W0j
- State Level Nutrient Reduction Strategies Webinar; February 19, 10-11:30 CST; details and log-in information: ow.ly/tgfPh
- Army Corps to hold Feb. 19 public meeting at Wolk Lake, MO on two Middle Mississippi River training structure projects http://ow.ly/tnKUC
- Upper St. Croix Basin Forestry Conference: roll of healthy forests in keeping water clean; February 27; Hinckley, MN ow.ly/tggcf
- Missouri Coalition for the Environment annual meeting; March 2, 1-3 pm Ruthie's Grill, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO ow.ly/tgh86
- Midwest Great Lakes Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration Chapter Meeting; March 28-30; St. Paul, MN http://ow.ly/tlbrv
- Save the dates: 2014 America's Watershed Initiative Summit; Louisville, Kentucky; September 30-October 2 http://ow.ly/tlWZJ
- Living Lands and Waters now coordinating 2014 Great Mississippi River Cleanup up and down entire Mississippi River; more information here: http://ow.ly/tl6ze
e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia -
- Bi-weekly Green Lands Blue Waters update, highlighting Continuous Living Cover on Mississippi River Basin agricultural land http://ow.ly/tjWMp
- Montana Watershed Coordination Council's Watershed News February 6 edition http://ow.ly/tl64q
- Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's February 6 TUWaterWays newsletter http://ow.ly/tlY9s (pdf file)
- National Water Research Institute February 6, E-Newsletter http://ow.ly/tnCvm
- Water Environment Federation's "Stormwater Report" for February 2014 ow.ly/tmh4z
Other news-
- Environmental Protection Agency agrees to establish rules for coal ash disposal by Dec. 19, as part of environmental and citizen group lawsuit settlement http://ow.ly/t9JbK
- Fish consumption advisories unlikely to effectively reduce prenatal exposures to persistent organic pollutants ow.ly/tdSg8
- Research using Susquehanna, Delaware, Allegheny and Shenandoah river water indicates estrogenic compounds may change fish heart development http://ow.ly/th8zS
- Comment deadline on Ozark National Scenic Riverways General Management Plan: February 7 ow.ly/tdJ0i
- Four new job postings at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Alton, Illinois http://ow.ly/tiLhf
- Opening of Mississippi River levee bike path in Louisiana delayed as Army Corps fixes problems http://ow.ly/tiTsJ
- Cost of dealing with sediment dredging materials piled along Minnesota River threatens to run into the millions http://ow.ly/tiTP2
- Taking the longer view of public-private partnerships for conservation and environmental management http://ow.ly/tjbNQ
- House passes broad package of hunting, fishing measures; blocking Democratic endangered species, climate amendments http://ow.ly/tld4F (see H.R. 3590 - Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013 here: http://ow.ly/tldvY)
- Extreme Midwestern temperature fluctuations have brought a rare natural phenomenon known as "frost quakes" http://ow.ly/tnHPG
- Canadian Pacific oil tanker train leaves 65-mile long oil spill trail from Red Wing to Winona along Mississippi River http://ow.ly/tnKFl
Politics and People-
- New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu wins landslide victory and a second term ow.ly/tdFzK
- Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has chosen his chief of staff, Tina Smith, as his running mate for this year: http://strib.mn/1k9Z9IG
- Oklahoma Democratic state Rep. Joe Dorman announces he's challenging GOP Gov. Mary Fallin in 2014 election http://bit.ly/1k9YUxp
- Garret Graves, Louisiana's point person on coastal issues, announces his resignation http://ow.ly/tjGdr
- Iowa bridge construction contractor Robert Cramer announces entry into GOP race for retiring Rep. Latham's (IA-3) seat http://dmreg.co/1nbzz2Z
- Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advances key Obama Administration Interior and EPA nominations http://ow.ly/tm95h (including Ken Kopocis, nominee to be EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water)
- Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) may act swiftly in appointing a U.S. Senate successor to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) http://ow.ly/tnEfj and http://ow.ly/tnEwF
- With Sen. Max Baucus off to China as the next U.S. ambassador, key Senate committees' chairs up for grabs http://ow.ly/tnJ8b
- Mike Boots to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality; to take position later this month http://ow.ly/tnGXS
Last Word -
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