~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~
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This year's Capitol Christmas tree originated in the Upper Mississippi River Basin in Central Minnesota. The official lighting of the tree occurred on Tuesday, and on the left is a photo of the tree following the ceremony, posing nicely next to the U.S. Capitol Building dome (currently under repair).
Next Week in Washington
There is only one U.S. House committee hearing and no Senate committee activity currently scheduled for next week that relates to Mississippi River Basin water resources. Lawmakers, by-and-large, look to clear major pieces of legislation ahead of the winter recess scheduled to begin on Friday, December 12, when the 113th Congress will effectively be no more. The main piece of pressing legislative business remaining is passage of a measure to fund the federal government beyond December 11 (when the current spending authorization lapses). Spending bill amendments that impact environmental programs remain a possibility, but no details on those have come to light to date. In addition, there will likely be some other floor activity in each chamber that relates to the River Basin natural resources or to those in the nation as a whole. To see details (updated as needed), follow this link.
Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week
Water Quality -
Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on Voluntary Conservation
to Protect our Land and Waters
- Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on Voluntary Conservation to Protect our Land and Waters web site (testimony and video) http://ow.ly/FlJn5
- Concerns expressed that Obama Administration's proposed Clean Water Act rule could lessen farmer conservation program interest http://ow.ly/FlIxq
- Toledo, Ohio mayor calls for federal government to devote full attention to improving U.S. surface water quality http://ow.ly/FlKMu
- Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) questions USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Chief about the Lesser Prairie Chicken and WOTUS rule; Roberts' media release and video: http://ow.ly/FlKeS
Other Water Quality News
- Opponents of Obama administration's proposed clean water rule hope to kill the measure through spending bill rider http://ow.ly/FnqI8
- Prairie strips strategically planted in corn, soybean fields near Iowa's Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge reduced nutrient loss to surface waters http://ow.ly/FlMmo
- Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advances bill to permanently exempt small commercial fishing vessels from need to obtain Clean Water Act vessel discharge permits http://ow.ly/FfgPQ
- In Chesapeake Bay case, Farm Bureau challenges EPA authority over states to enforce TMDLs http://ow.ly/Ffpbt
- Army to halt environmental tests at southern Indiana firing range that is part of the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge after years of testing water and soil http://ow.ly/FibiO
- State approves 10,000-hog farm in central Missouri despite water pollution concerns of neighbors http://ow.ly/FisLZ
- USGS study seeks to find mercury source in Bighorn Reservoir (Missouri River Basin)
http://ow.ly/FitOu
The Buffalo River in Arkansas - Minnesota town leaders say their efforts to clean up Lake Hendricks are threatened by proposed 4,000-cow dairy farm http://ow.ly/Fiv9S
- Waste water system pits environmental rules vs. Amish ways in southeastern Minnesota http://ow.ly/FiA24
- The downside of the boom: For every barrel of North Dakota oil, about 1.4 barrels of brine are produced, far more of it spilling than does oil http://ow.ly/FiDiB
- Des Moines, Iowa again struggling with nitrate in its water supply source http://ow.ly/FiE7p
- Study: Mining operations can affect waterways and fish habitats far downstream on a regional basis; abstract: http://ow.ly/FjpIj and story: http://ow.ly/Fjq0e
- Federal judge: USDA and SBA violated environmental laws by guaranteeing $3.6 million loan to large Arkansas hog farm near the Buffalo River; story: http://ow.ly/Fjox2 (ruling: http://ow.ly/FjoeA)
- Advanced treatment capabilities gain traction, enabling cities to augment drinking water supplies with purified wastewater http://ow.ly/FdT9O
- White Bear Lake settlement suspends litigation for 3 years, calls for water diversion from Mississippi River, reduced consumption (Minnesota) ow.ly/FdUbU
- Colorado officials crafting plan to address 163 billion gallon projected water shortfall reluctant to commit to consumption reductions http://ow.ly/FdVhX
- Oklahoma sets ambitious water plan goal premised on using no more water in 2060 than it does today http://ow.ly/FpT01
- Water and wastewater industry leaders tout innovations amid many challenges at Senate hearing; hearing information: http://ow.ly/Fi03i (story: http://ow.ly/Fi0mE)
- Barge industry would win long-sought fuel tax increase, boosting Inland Waterways Trust Fund under House-passed bill provision http://ow.ly/FpOK3 (see related link below)
- Section 205 of House bill passed Wednesday increases cargo vessel fuel excise tax that funds Inland Waterways Trust Fund http://ow.ly/Fi8f1
- 27 non-governmental organizations pledge support, align resources with Urban Waters Federal Partnership http://ow.ly/Fiivd
- Purdue University Economist: it’s time to retire the myth that the world doesn’t make new farmland anymore http://ow.ly/FhPwy
- Illinois corn belt will soon be home to first-of-its-kind technology to extract valuable corn protein during ethanol production http://ow.ly/FdHsT
- USDA ERS: Prospects for continued growth in agricultural productivity are uncertain, particularly in light of climate change http://ow.ly/FdNGz
- USDA ERS: Milk production continues shift to large-scale farms, reducing prices but making small and mid-sized farming start-ups more difficult http://ow.ly/FdPtI
- Ohio and Indiana teaming up with college to fly drone missions to help farmers boost crop yields http://ow.ly/FhKaE
- Iowa corn and soybean growers face a grim economic outlook over the next couple of years http://ow.ly/FiqO3
- Obama Administration selects 26 communities in 19 states to develop local food projects, encourage economic expansion http://ow.ly/FiLkH (click here for the full list of communities: http://ow.ly/FnxIL)
- About one in four Iowa farmers uses cover crops http://ow.ly/FlH7a
- Op-ed: "A Wake-Up Call For U.S. Farmers: The EPA Is Trying To Put You Out of Business" http://ow.ly/FlHye
- Special Report: one of the most potent antibiotics used by U.S. cattle and dairy farmers is often misused http://ow.ly/FpQQ8
- University of Illinois agricultural economists: “How Much Will Falling Gasoline Prices Affect Ethanol and Corn Demand?” http://ow.ly/FpRbW
- This year is on course to be the warmest on record around the world: http://bbc.in/11UDopu
- Leading meteorologists are on the verge of declaring the emergence of the El Niño weather phenomenon http://ow.ly/FhQiO
- US drought update: water deficits continue to mount in Minnesota, Dakotas; most of southern Plains continued to be dry over past week http://ow.ly/wmTdv
- NOAA Climate Prediction Center monthly drought outlook for December http://ow.ly/q3yAx
- The ice sheet of the Amundsen Sea in West Antarctica is melting at an alarming rate http://ow.ly/FmXok
- Research: Grasslands may fare better, remain more stable under warmer conditions, increased carbon dioxide exposure http://ow.ly/Ffidd
- Council on Environmental Quality report: "State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience: Recommendations" http://ow.ly/FftXC
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases annual lists of plants, animals that are candidates for Endangered Species Act protection http://ow.ly/FlMYA
- Excelsior Brewing Co. launches new ale made with zebra mussel shells, Eurasian milfoil, an
invasive lake plant (Minnesota) http://ow.ly/Fjntm
Invasive Zebra mussel - What happens when you put fish on the pill? Researcher tests estrogen's effect on fish at a lakewide scale http://ow.ly/FdRrH
- Policy conundrum looms as Federal agencies are poised to treat honeybee as an invasive species http://ow.ly/Ffg8v
- U.S. Geological Survey Models the Response of Imperiled Freshwater Mussels to Climate Change http://ow.ly/Ffuq1
- Senate approves House-passed bill (H.R. 5069) to increase price of annual permits to hunt migratory waterfowl by $10 http://ow.ly/Fi29V
- EPA approves use of potash on Christmas Lake to kill off zebra mussels (Minnesota) http://ow.ly/FicrI
- Federal Forums Reveal Deep Divisions On Causes of and Solutions to Pollinator Decline http://ow.ly/FirgK
- In Appalachia, beekeepers say reclaimed surface mines make a lot of sense for the trade http://ow.ly/FiyVb
- Clinton, Iowa permeable pavers' major purpose to provide storm water runoff water quality
treatment http://ow.ly/FiNgi
Memphis, Tennessee "Pyramid" - Columbia, Missouri and Boone County move forward on green infrastructure plan http://ow.ly/FiORo
- Winnebago, Minnesota takes on project to benefit Blue Earth River along with downstream Minnesota and Mississippi rivers http://ow.ly/FiPTp
- Bass Pro Shops empire to place store and hunting-fishing center at Memphis Pyramid along Mississippi River http://ow.ly/FlAff
- White House recognizes Minneapolis for its recent environmentally friendly initiatives; named one of 16 “Climate Action Champions” http://ow.ly/FlYOJ
- Franklin Circuit Court Judge: Kentucky environmental regulators can no longer effectively enforce clean-water rules http://ow.ly/Fis03
- Advocates hope federal coal ash rules spur oversight in Missouri of unlined pond waste disposal practices http://ow.ly/FiulB
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- Federal judge returns Louisiana parish lawsuit against 19 oil and gas companies for environmental (wetland) damages to state court http://ow.ly/Fjp5e (related figure, to right)
- Major deltas 'could be drowned' by sea level rise; Some of lowest-lying are particularly vulnerable, including the Mississippi http://ow.ly/FlXqH
- Top fuel manufacturer threatens to sue USEPA for failing to meet 2015 proposal deadlines for renewable fuel mandate (RFS) http://ow.ly/FdQyF
- U.S. ethanol production is likely to continue at a record rate http://ow.ly/FhQP2
- NY Times: Oil boom impacts and politics mix quite well in North Dakota http://ow.ly/FiB3W
- Keystone XL pipeline would be sizable but it would account for under 0.8 percent of the oil pipelines already spread across the U.S. http://ow.ly/FlPJo
- Forest Service finalizes plan forbidding drilling from atop federal lands in Colorado's eastern plains http://ow.ly/Fnwqc
- House leaders to reveal on Monday measure tying together 11 spending bills to fund government through September 2015 http://ow.ly/FpQaB
- House Speaker John Boehner worries he’ll need Democratic votes to pass spending bill to avert government shutdown but has little choice http://ow.ly/Fm4L2
- What is the "cromnibus?" It's not a croissant or donut. but a government-funding bill that Congress is leaning toward passing http://ow.ly/FhNqv
- House passes bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the Coast Guard for 2015, setting up Senate vote http://ow.ly/FlBFK
- USEPA and Interior Department likely spared from major year-end spending bill "riders" (amendments) http://ow.ly/Fi1fP
- USEPA State Level Nutrient Reduction Strategies webinar: Conservation Cropping And Soil Health; Dec. 10, 10 AM CST http://ow.ly/Ff1xO
- National Water Quality Monitoring Council Webinar: "Monitoring During Extreme Events (Floods and Droughts)" December 16, 2 PM ET http://ow.ly/Ffo68
- National Research Council's January 7 and 8, “Community-based Flood Insurance Options” meeting (Washington, DC) http://ow.ly/FfsPU (Parts of January 6 meeting open to the public)
- Mississippi River Research Consortium solicits platform and poster papers for presentation at the 47th Annual Meeting, April 22-24, 2015 http://ow.ly/Ffd9I
- Lower Mississippi River Dispatch, No 267, Tuesday, Dec 2; “I Saw Three Canoes Come Sailing In…” http://ow.ly/Ff5n7
- Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's TUWaterWays November 26 http://ow.ly/Ffa6R and December 2 e-newsletter http://ow.ly/FnARG
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Industrial Stormwater Program, December 2014 Newsletter http://ow.ly/Ffjv8
- Fall/Winter edition of National Water Quality Monitoring Council's online National Water Monitoring News http://ow.ly/Ffmnr
- Montana Watershed Coordination Council's November 26 http://ow.ly/FfmSJ and December 4 http://ow.ly/FpKVv Watershed News
- Latest Green Lands Blue Waters update, highlighting Continuous Living Cover on Mississippi River Basin agricultural land http://ow.ly/FfoDD
- Latest issue (Volume 4, 2014) of the Aquatic Sciences Chronicle http://ow.ly/FlFra (from U of WI's Sea Grant and Water Resources institutes)
- December 2014 NW PAssages e-newsletter about Northwest Pennsylvania's Greenways, Heritage & Recreation Opportunities http://ow.ly/FlQgE
- Gulf Restoration Network's December 4 "GulfWaves" e-newsletter http://ow.ly/FnAld
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Feedlot Update - Dec. 4 http://ow.ly/FpPmZ
- Graduate Assistantship, Natural Resource Social Science Beginning Farmer Project; Purdue University Dept. of Forestry and Natural Resources http://ow.ly/FpGJI
- Coca-Cola is preparing a U.S. nationwide launch of a high-end "supermilk" called Fairlife in 2015 http://ow.ly/FlDqQ
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program 2015 Request for Proposals open (due date February 3) http://ow.ly/FiO4P
- Journal of Applied Ecology: "The evolving linkage between conservation science and practice at The Nature Conservancy" http://ow.ly/FdLbz
- White House releases semiannual regulatory agenda detailing short- and long-term regulatory goals for every agency http://ow.ly/Ffqns
- House, Senate lawmakers attach public lands, energy, biofuels bills to defense authorization bill set for vote over next week http://ow.ly/FhYJt
- House districts where single party rule applies (where representatives, both senators and
governors will all be from the same party) - in the U.S. mid-section, Minnesota is the only blue region http://ow.ly/FpMs8
Click to enlarge - Congressional Management Foundation releases study based on about 450 congressional staff interviews explaining how to best manage Congressional meetings http://ow.ly/FlTbY
- Lame-duck dilemma: More than 130 Obama nominees still await Senate action, including five nominees to Environmental Protection Agency posts http://ow.ly/FhO51
- How productive are lame duck Congresses? Maybe more than the lame name implies http://ow.ly/FlRf9
- There’s a runoff election in Louisiana’s Senate race Saturday, but Sen. Landrieu (D) is presumed politically dead http://ow.ly/Fm5Hd
- For those who missed it, here is the U.S. House calendar for 2015 (no Senate version yet): http://ow.ly/Fdimf
- Come January, nearly half of Congress (48.8 percent) will have been in office for four years or less - elected in 2010 or later http://ow.ly/FiCcc
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| Black bear cubs in Southwestern Pennsylvania (Photo source: The Guardian) |
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