Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Water Quality -

• EPA Administrator: Iowa ahead of other Mississippi River Basin states in nutrient water pollution reduction strategy http://ow.ly/tCz0o
• New Louisiana plan relies heavily on existing and proposed sediment and freshwater diversions to reduce nutrients causing Gulf of Mexico dead zone http://ow.ly/tCI1e
• USGS April briefing will focus on Mississippi River Basin nutrient and pesticide water quality trends ow.ly/tvojM 

  

  Nutrients concentration in Nation's streams
  and groundwater

  
  
• Water quality cap-and-trade program involving point and non-point sources not a straight-forward concept to implement http://ow.ly/tvheH
• MN's Ag Water Quality Certification Program now enrolling farms; certified producers receive "regulatory certainty" ow.ly/ttyU5
• Southeast Iowa hog producer will pay fine/improve operations after manure spill into a dry creek in November http://ow.ly/tsPzG
• One of Iowa's largest hog operations fined $10,000 for manure spill into tributary of Des Moines River http://ow.ly/tCFWW
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee holds field hearing to discuss Jan. 9 spill of from Freedom Industries Inc. WV facility http://ow.ly/ttHZl
• U.S. House field hearing into spill provides few answers on West Virginia water safety http://ow.ly/tvx2k
• Eastern  proponents of water credit trading look westward toward Ohio River Basin initiative http://ow.ly/ty03n
• Roughly six miles of Fields Creek were blackened by a coal slurry spill in eastern Kanawha County, WV Tuesday morning http://ow.ly/ty7eP
• Senate passes Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act; research on algal harm to fish http://ow.ly/tA6cz (see the bill here: http://ow.ly/tA6j1)
• Arkansas hog farm opponents crticize Big Creek, Buffalo National River pollution study, claiming research is flawed http://ow.ly/tBaC7

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

• House Majority Leader: House will take up "modified version" of Senate bill to delay scheduled flood insurance rate hikes http://ow.ly/tAl2j
• Army Corps of Engineers defends validity of it future plans for managing the Missouri River http://ow.ly/tsJks
• Army Corps has plan to abate spring Missouri River flooding http://ow.ly/tyv0n 

  

  Proposed Arkansas River Harbor
  Project (click to enlarge)

• Corps of Engineers releases Missouri River water level projections http://ow.ly/tCGic
• Cold weather forces Corps of Engineers to adjust Gavins Point dam water releases to downstream Missouri River http://ow.ly/tyvwY
• When drought occurs, fracking and farming interests collide over need for sparse water http://ow.ly/tsRyA
• FEMA levee standard changes trigger painful decisions for cash-strapped cities; while insurance bills stun homeowners http://ow.ly/tsVXX
• In cities and in court, continued focus keeps replenishing depleted White Bear Lake a priority (Twin Cities area, MN) http://ow.ly/tsY7y
• Many mayors of Arkansas cities would like to see Arkansas River’s shipping channel deepened from 9 feet to 12 feet http://ow.ly/ttJ9q
• Arkansas River Task Force members meet to discuss creation of a new low-water dam, and Zink dam improvement costs http://ow.ly/tCHhF
• Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study for proposed Arkansas River harbor project expected to be released soon http://ow.ly/tCGTw
• More barges carrying oil down the Mississippi River, in part due to fracking boom in Pennsylvania, North Dakota http://ow.ly/tCGEA

Agriculture -

• Disputed expansion of Northeastern Wisconsin dairy's concentrated animal feeding operation may have statewide impact ow.ly/tsO78
• Iowa farmers plan a significant 2014 shift from corn to soybeans; planting about 11 percent more than in 2013 http://ow.ly/tvhyP (US increase = 7%)
• USDA: Farm income expected to fall by 27% this year; to its lowest level in four years http://ow.ly/tysmB
• Sober warning of what lower corn prices could mean for the cost of the new farm bill over the next few years http://ow.ly/tCDF2
• The nearly invisible crisis of Iowa's topsoil: it appears to be eroding at a much higher rate than the USDA estimates imply http://ow.ly/ty9kC
• A growing farmland sale trend: unrealistic expectations from sellers and more caution on the side of buyers http://ow.ly/tA4EW

Farm Bill -

• President Obama signed the $956 billion farm bill on Friday at Michigan State University http://ow.ly/tswS6
• Ag/FDA Blog-The OFW Law Blog: "Hidden Gems in the Farm Bill" http://ow.ly/ttXB2
• 2014 Farm Bill Summary: Key Farm Safety Net Provisions http://ow.ly/tveX8
• Energy Programs in the New Farm Bill http://ow.ly/txZcF
• Conservation Programs in the New Farm Bill http://ow.ly/tvgWC

Climate and Weather -

February 11 Drought Monitor Map
(click to enlarge)

• Ferbuary 11 NOAA/NWS national drought update: most of Mississippi Valley remained status-quo last week  http://ow.ly/q3w3u
• Snowfall over Missouri River Basin is tracking slightly higher than the 30-year average ow.ly/ttJGh
• House passes bill reauthorizing National Integrated Drought Information System; 365 - 21 roll call vote: http://ow.ly/tvero; bill information: http://ow.ly/tvevW
• House handily passes bill to extend the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) through 2018 http://ow.ly/tvJpk (news coverage)

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Interior Department will consider free-market habitat exchange to conserve and restore imperiled lesser prairie chicken http://ow.ly/tsQvT
• Controversial interpretations of federal and state water laws drive much of Army Corps' Asian carp project costs and timeline http://ow.ly/tsVbK
• Waterloo, Iowa digital tree database will play vital role in invasive Emerald Ash Borer management http://ow.ly/tsYMa
• In recent months, four whooping cranes have been shot; two each in Louisiana and Kentucky http://ow.ly/ttGXQ

Downtown Davenport, Iowa

In the Cities -

• Louisville, KY looks to expand natural filtration of Ohio River drinking water with "riverbank filtration system" http://ow.ly/ty7R0
• Bringing Back Mississippi Riverfront Towns Through Bike Trails and Wetlands http://ow.ly/tyuAy
• Casper City Council (WY) approves $450,000 for design and construction of multiple Platte River bank stabilization projects http://ow.ly/tywjI
• Controversy swirling around proposed park along Mississippi River in Hastings, MN, includes eminent domain issues http://ow.ly/tCHzC

In the States-

• Nebraska lawmakers hope to counter drought and other water stresses by investing in water projects across state http://ow.ly/tsSTx
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial: Phosphorus regulation bill would help state address runoff pollution http://ow.ly/tyAbm

Louisiana Coastal Region-

• Poll: support for restoring coastal wetlands has increased dramatically in Louisiana over the past decade http://ow.ly/ty8Fd

Federal Budget -

• House passes a Federal debt-ceiling hike of undetermined size with no added "riders" ow.ly/txPIQ
• Senate approves federal debt ceiling hike http://ow.ly/tz292
• House Budget Committee passes bill to put Congress on two-year budgeting cycle, but bill's fate is uncertain at best http://ow.ly/tytOb

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

• Illinois RiverWatch Network to host statewide workshops on volunteer water quality monitoring of Illinois streams http://ow.ly/ttl3x
• USEPA stormwater webinar: Stormwater Management Incentives and Public Private Partnerships; February 25, 1 pm http://ow.ly/tyMYU
• Upper Mississippi River Basin Association has posted the February 25-26 meeting packets, including agendas http://ow.ly/txVrf
• Mississippi River Connections Collaborative Meeting; March 11 - 13, 2014 – Downtown, Memphis, TN http://ow.ly/tu0Gy
• Midwestern Governors Association briefing on aquatic invasive species for Congress and the public; March 12; 10 AM ET http://ow.ly/tyzdN
• "Wings Over the Platte" is the region's oldest and largest artist exhibit dedicated to life on the Platte River ow.ly/tCIo0

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -

• St. Croix River Association e-newsletter http://ow.ly/tsBmF
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Waterfront Bulletin for February 2014 ow.ly/ttxIK
• Montana Watershed Coordination Council's February 13 Watershed News http://ow.ly/tB7u3

Other news-

• Resource-strapped U.S. EPA conducted fewer inspections and pursued fewer civil and criminal cases in 2013 than in 2012 http://ow.ly/ttHyI
• U.S. EPA preparing to offer buyouts and "early outs" to up to 1,375 employees nationwide http://ow.ly/tyNS7 and http://ow.ly/tyO5g
• New Senate bill would provide direct funding to states for fisheries management, habitat conservation, boating programs; Legislation: http://ow.ly/tAlR7 (see article here: http://ow.ly/tAm6l)

Politics and People-

• Evidence mounts that Congress has all but wrapped up its most consequential work of 2014 http://ow.ly/tsM5C
• League of Conservation Voters releases its annual legislative scorecard on Congress http://ow.ly/tysKy
• Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announces that Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh (D) will be Max Baucus's replacement in US Senate http://ow.ly/tsABO
• Professor Kevin Crow joins the GOP race for retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn's (OK) seat. http://bit.ly/1fQIm7R
• GOP Attorney General Jon Bruning officially enters Nebraska's gubernatorial race http://ow.ly/tvdE0
• Former GOP state House Speaker Catherine Hanaway joins Missouri 2016 governor's race http://bit.ly/1nqRxPe
• Activist Shelley Hendrix (R) to announce bid for GOP Rep. Cassidy's (R-6-LA) U.S. House seat, which he is vacating http://ow.ly/txU4v
• Louisiana Republicans urge Sen. Landrieu (D-La.) to oppose President's Interior Department's wildlife and parks programs nominee http://ow.ly/tyrEx
• Senate makes it official: Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) will chair Energy and Natural Resources Committee http://ow.ly/tAkx4
• Sen. Mary Landrieu’s (D-La.) new powers as Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair could come with political risks http://ow.ly/tCIYD
• Rep. Ralph M. Hall (R-TX-4), the oldest member of Congress, prepares for his final campaign for office http://ow.ly/tyT19 (represents Mississippi River Basin district)
• Nebraska state Auditor Mike Foley enters gubernatorial race, joining crowded GOP primary field http://bit.ly/1m8UU24
• Todd Batta nominated as USDA Assistant Secretary of congressional relations, would work closely with House and Senate Agriculture Committees http://ow.ly/tAlut
• US Rep. Tim Griffin (R-3-Ark.) who months ago said he would not seek re-election,  to Run for Lt. Gov. in Arkansas http://ow.ly/tB5T0
• GOP state Rep. Debra Hobbs plans to lower her Arkansas election sightes down from governor to lieutenant governor http://bit.ly/1b0gy3m
• House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) plans to retire at the end of the year http://ow.ly/tBaXw

Last Word -

Mike Trout - outfielder for the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

"It’s like a Swiss Army knife. It’s like a Mike Trout." - President Barack Obama, describing the farm bill by referring to the Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels' center fielder, Mike Trout. Trout is known as a "five-tool player" for his versatile skills, and while not a New York Yankee, he's still pretty good.