~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~
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| "Lame duck" tango move |
Last week, in a nod to a look back to 1984 climate news, we learned that "Ignorance is Strength," and that sometimes a political advert is really just a Jeep commercial in disguise.
Next week could be the last that Congress is in session before the November 4 mid-term elections. And if some Congressional leaders are to be believed, even afterward, during the lame duck session, not much is going to happen before a new Congress is seated in January. After Congress returns in mid-November, there will really only be one key item for its members to attend to in 2014: averting a federal government shutdown after December 11: the expiration date of the proposed stop-gap Continuing Resolution that the House released on Tuesday. Following a last-minute White House request to include authority to take action against the Islamic State in the bill, Congressional work on the government funding measure was put off until next week. That delay further condenses the tight time frame lawmakers already faced, and the current two-week session (scheduled to end next week) may be extended into the week of September 29, as Congress struggles to reconcile the Obama Administration request for additional military spending with varying opinions regarding increased intervention in the Middle-Eastern conflict. Here is a link to the fairly thin list of Mississippi River Basin-related Capitol Hill happenings currently on tap for next week.
Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week
Water Quality -
"Waters of the United States Rule"
- House easily passes H.R. 5078 (bill: http://ow.ly/Bk6Te) - Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 (262-152 roll call vote breakdown: http://ow.ly/Bk6KH) articles on bill passage: http://ow.ly/Bk846 and http://ow.ly/Bk8BQ
- Thirteen of the 35 Democrats voting for bill blocking Waters of the U.S. rule are House
Agriculture Committee members http://ow.ly/Bki6d
Getty Images - Obama Administration strongly opposes, threatens veto of House bill blocking regulations, guidance to clarify Clean Water Act jurisdiction http://ow.ly/Bh1W6 (story here: http://ow.ly/BhgFo)
- PGA of America, National Club Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association fight Waters of the U.S. proposal http://ow.ly/Bk9fw
- USEPA releases seven-page series of questions and answers explaining controversial Waters of the U.S. Rule http://j.mp/1xzAhBM
- EPA official: Obama administration moving ahead with finalizing waters of the U.S. rule; won't be protecting new kinds of water bodies http://ow.ly/B9AND
Other Water Quality News
- New USGS study spanning two decades: pesticides in many U.S. streams continue to occur at levels of concern for aquatic life - striking decline in dangers to humans http://ow.ly/BnWFj
- USEPA Region 7 Administrator delivers keynote address on “Bridging Troubled Waters - the Outlook for Water Quality and Agriculture” http://ow.ly/Bktrb
- Federal judge dismisses environmental group's lawsuit seeking to establish logging road runoff as industrial source of water pollution http://ow.ly/Bkd3e
- Cargill rejects calls to move or close Arkansas hog farm over Buffalo River pollution concerns http://ow.ly/BhhO9
- Heavy chlorination, extensive sampling follow in wake of of amoeba discovery in portion of St. John the Baptist Parish water system http://ow.ly/BdXyQ
- Companion Senate and House bills would direct EPA to release an interim health advisory for microcystin in drinking water http://ow.ly/BlhgG
- EPA announces $140,000 settlement with mining company for Clean Water Act violations in Allegheny River Watershed http://ow.ly/Bn7GS
- House Republicans say the Interior Department's Inspector General is withholding information re: mountaintop removal mining stream buffer zone rule http://j.mp/1CX28fm
- Environmental groups blast Ohio EPA over its plans to streamline wetland permits http://ow.ly/BfenK
- Several Missouri streams and rivers at or near flood stages http://ow.ly/Bq77a
- Number of Mississippi River barges arriving in Winona, Minnesota in August was higher than seen in over a decade http://ow.ly/Bhpdo
- Army Corps' forecast calls for higher fall releases from Missouri River reservoirs to enable sufficient 2015 system capacity http://ow.ly/Bhtd7
- University of Iowa adds a second green roof (600 square feet) on campus; more green roofs planned http://ow.ly/Bhu6f
- American Rivers op-ed in Quad-City Times: "Mississippi River has room to improve" http://ow.ly/Bk3bp
- Pueblo Chieftain Editorial: For the "greater good" "Fountain Creek needs effective flood control desperately" (i.e., dam or dams) http://ow.ly/BkuHt (Arkansas River Basin)
- In wake of near-record Iowa River flooding this year, levee district near Wapello, Iowa pushes to improve infrastructure http://ow.ly/BkvCV
- Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District officials concerned about potential catastrophic floods unless conditions change http://ow.ly/BndNZ
- Army Corps and Upper Minnesota River Watershed District sign agreement for Marsh Lake ecosystem restoration project http://ow.ly/BndAM
- Clarksville, Indiana officials reach out to Army Corps for help with erosion along Ohio River http://ow.ly/Bne5j
- Legislative task force meeting to streamline diversion canal project that would reroute Comite River water to Mississippi River http://ow.ly/BnfdA
- Indiana Corn Growers, Soybean Alliance host Ohio River Lock Tour http://ow.ly/Bq6tb
- Cost estimate for four Tulsa-area low-head dams on Arkansas River goes up by $80 million http://ow.ly/Bq6MM
- USDA providing $328M in conservation funding to help landowners protect, restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) http://ow.ly/BfyuP (also see this AP article: http://ow.ly/Bh0Cw)
- EPA Region 7 Administrator to Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director: EPA not a 'threat' to agricultural producers http://ow.ly/Bog5D
- Corn has been king for almost a decade with help from Congress. That era is set to end. http://ow.ly/BdOLu
- USEPA is working to update herbicide labels, but says that herbicide makers need to help farmers fight resistant weeds http://ow.ly/BogX5
- Flooding that began in late June will lead to millions of dollars in lost crop value for Arkansas farmers http://ow.ly/BdR5q
- Pesticide drift from conventional farms is a persistent problem for organic and small farms http://ow.ly/BdWnF (Iowa case study)
- High-tech seeds that produce big crops also create an unhealthy landscape for bees (Minnesota case study) http://ow.ly/BdWGN
- In shadow of oil boom, North Dakota farmers fight contamination, offer test case of long-term wastewater spill effects http://ow.ly/BdX2p
- Farm state senators sound alarm about delayed crop shipments, ruined crops at Senate committee hearing http://ow.ly/Bn8Tr
- No crash in U.S. farm land prices seen despite tumbling grain prices http://ow.ly/Bh1iN
- Government Accountability Office: federal government could save hundreds of millions of dollars annually by reducing crop insurance premium subsidies http://ow.ly/Bkdtp
- Group spends $10.7m for two farms in Louisiana; one in Nebraska, totalling 2,130 acres, aiming to benefit from farm rents as well as market appreciation http://ow.ly/Bq4Nb
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| June-August Precipitation as a Percent of Average (click to enlarge) |
- Greenhouse gas levels rising at fastest rate since 1984 http://ow.ly/BgUUk (WMO report: http://ow.ly/Bk5Yc)
- Top United Nations official: climate summit later this month will be "major turning point" in climate change fight http://j.mp/1s50QdA
- US weekly drought update: improvements seen in Nebraska, Kansas, northern Wisconsin, western Kentucky and adjacent Tennessee http://ow.ly/wmTdv
- Long-term weather forecasters downgrade likelihood of a strong El Niño developing this fall http://ow.ly/BkjH7
- Western Governors' Association announces launch of new initiative to prepare for, respond to drought impacts http://ow.ly/BpYIA
- Nearly an inch of snow at Rapid City, ND. The earliest recorded snowfall going back to 1888. http://ow.ly/BpYZb
- Audubon Society study: 314 North American bird species at risk from climate change; many facing extinction http://ow.ly/BgV9M
- On heels of Audubon report on birds at risk (see above), U.S. government report finds some of country's birds species in moderate to steep decline http://ow.ly/Bk55R
- Gov. Steve Bullock releases Montana sage grouse conservation strategy: "Montana Sage
Grouse Habitat Conservation Program" http://ow.ly/BkaWu
dusky gopher frog - US FWS accepting public comment until Nov. 10 on newly-released draft recovery plan for endangered dusky gopher frog http://ow.ly/Bner1
- House Natural Resources Committee holds hearing on six bills "aimed at updating and improving the Endangered Species Act" http://ow.ly/BkiMn
- House passes bill to reauthorize Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp http://ow.ly/BgX9x (fundraising postal stamp-previously passed by Senate)
- Minnesota lake first in US to use product that utilizes dead bacterial cells to kill zebra mussels (Hennepin County) http://ow.ly/BhhaF
- Officials confirm that zebra mussels have been found in another lake in the western Twin Cities (MN) area http://ow.ly/Bq7mP
- Industry officials blast proposed Fish and Wildlife Service protections for bat species and Endangered Species Act at House field hearing http://ow.ly/Bhl1c
- City leaders nationwide are preparing for climate change without using the term, avoiding politics and partisanship http://ow.ly/Bknil
- Memphis, Tennessee region is poised to make a huge leap forward in developing a regional greenway and trail system http://ow.ly/BkOZv
- Orleans Parish Sewerage & Water Board: New Orleans drinking water odor coming from algae growing in the Mississippi River http://ow.ly/BnfCZ
- Recount vote results on Missouri "right to farm" constitutional amendment expected to be announced next Monday http://ow.ly/BnmKm
- Projected shortfall for the next two-year Wisconsin state budget ending in mid-2017 nearly $1.8 billion http://ow.ly/BhsPq
- Daily Iowan Editorial: Iowa needs to strengthen environmental standards http://ow.ly/BndjJ
- NPR: For Lack Of Mississippi Silt, The Gulf Is Losing Coastal Land http://ow.ly/Be7Ye
- First in a series of Reuters articles examines the phenomenon of rising seas, and its effects on the United States http://ow.ly/B8Q9W
- Mother Jones: Gulf coast ecosystems were supposed to rebound after the BP oil spill. They haven't. http://ow.ly/BktYe
- Federal magistrate judge: agreement between BP and land trust doesn't require BP to remove all oil from Gulf Coast waterfront property http://ow.ly/BhiBE
- Forest Service Chief defends proposed USFS groundwater directive before skeptical House Agriculture subcommittee ow.ly/Bn82V
Resource Development -
- Minnesota to take its time studying crude oil pipeline alternatives to route near Mississippi River headwaters http://ow.ly/Bq3Se
- Yale and Penn State studies exploring gas drilling health and water issues paint very different potential impact pictures http://ow.ly/Bnm3u
- With plans for a new crude oil pipeline on the table, review indicates that Iowa's pipeline safety record has been "spotty" http://ow.ly/BdVYE
- EPA regulation setting required volumes of ethanol, biodiesel in fuel (Renewable Fuel Standard) sent to White House OMB for review http://ow.ly/Bn60H
- House GOP offers stopgap federal funding bill to run government through Dec. 11; also reshapes future budget landscape - article: http://ow.ly/Bk3Yh; Appropriations Committee release and links: http://ow.ly/Bk4dP
- House Republican leaders delay vote on a stopgap spending bill until next week http://ow.ly/Bn9W8
- Farm Foundation Forum: Water quality, agriculture and Waters of the United States; Sept. 17; 9-11 AM, Washington, DC http://ow.ly/BkeoM
- Precision Agriculture Forum, September 18, 4:30 – 5:30 PM (with reception to follow) Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, DC ow.ly/BdZxS
- National Academies meeting: Reinvesting in Inland Waterways: What Policy Makers Need to Know; Sept 18-19, Washington, DC http://ow.ly/B8XAD (closed to the public; closed session summary posted after the meeting)
- National Water Quality Monitoring Council Webinar: "Continuous Monitoring for Nutrients: State of the Technology and State of the Science" Sept 24, 1 PM ET http://ow.ly/Bn6Pl
- Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No 256 - Tennessee Williams Festival, Oct 3-4 in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi http://ow.ly/BdQka
- Fall Seed Harvest, Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes, October 4, 9 AM CT http://ow.ly/BpVQ5
- Mississippi River Watershed Education Symposium, November 14-15, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, East Alton, Illinois http://ow.ly/Bfdz3
- National Working Waterfronts & Waterways Symposium; Tampa, FL on November 16-19, 2015 http://ow.ly/B9l49
- Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's TUWaterWays e-newsletter for September 10 http://ow.ly/BlvR5
- University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute and Sea Grant Institute "Aquatic Sciences Chronicle" 2014, Vol. 3 http://ow.ly/BnHwz
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Waterfront Bulletin for September 2014 http://ow.ly/BoexQ
- Montana Watershed Coordination Council's September 11 Watershed News http://ow.ly/BpXte
- Federal Railroad Administration proposes new rules requiring train operators to secure hazardous materials transported by rail http://j.mp/1BnDEu7
- Interior Secretary: 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill prompted reorganization of Department of Interior with eye toward safety http://ow.ly/BhyG2
- Stillwater, MN (St. Croix River) http://ow.ly/BhuVx, Parkville, MO (Missouri River) http://ow.ly/BhvFa, Franklin, TN (Harpeth River) http://ow.ly/Bhwgu, Oxford, MS (Yazoo River Basin) http://ow.ly/BhxeL named to top 20 “Best Towns for Fall Colors” in US
- Republicans are putting together an agenda for the first 100 days of 2015 in case they win control of the Senate http://ow.ly/Bq2xp
- Mississippi Supreme Court will hear Senate candidate Chris McDaniel's legal challenge of his Republican primary defeat http://ow.ly/Bk3BE
- Democrat Chad Taylor asks state Supreme Court to remove him from the Kansas U.S. Senate ballot http://ow.ly/Bk4LE
- Nebraska Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann is stepping down from his post and out of the race for re-election http://ow.ly/BkoPq
- Minnesota Council that recommends how to spend $100 million on game, fish, wildlife habitat selects new executive director http://ow.ly/Bof3e
- Lawmakers are privately saying that the post-election, lame-duck work session will be completely uneventful http://ow.ly/Bk4v0
- Gallup poll: 14% of Americans approve of how Congress is handling its job http://ow.ly/BheqS
- Over 220 administration political appointees await Senate confirmation, including several Environmental Protection Agency political leaders http://ow.ly/BhfSV
- 50 richest members of the U.S. Congress: All are white, women comprise 18 percent, 20 Democrats and 30 Republicans http://ow.ly/BebMo
- Sunlight Foundation: "Women make up more than half the U.S. population, less than one fourth of U.S. House witnesses" http://bit.ly/1qGmaWb
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| Two common kingfishers fight over a perch (Photo credit: Shams ul haq Qari) |
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