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).

Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Below are the activities currently scheduled this week in the U.S. House and Senate that relate to Mississippi River Basin natural resources. If the House Rules Committee sets rules for debating the measure on Tuesday night, later in the week, the full House may consider a one-year $19.5 billion appropriations bill for agriculture programs and related agencies. Where available, links are provided to the relevant Committee and legislation pages on the Internet. Many of the proceedings are webcast live (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.

Tuesday

• Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Markup of the FY14 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill; 10:00 AM; room SD-192 Dirksen Senate Office Building 
• Senate Energy and Natural resources Committee hearing on "Challenges and opportunities for improving forest management on federal lands;" 10:00 AM; room SD-366 Senate Dirksen Building
• House Rules Committee will meet to determine rules for the full House to consider the Fiscal Year Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act; 5:00 pm in H-313 The Capitol

Wednesday

• Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia hearing: "Are We Prepared? Measuring the Impact of Preparedness Grants" (developing metrics to assess preparedness for natural and manmade events); 10:00 AM; room SD-342, Dirksen Senate Office Building 
• House Budget Committee hearing on "America’s Energy Revolution: A New Path to Jobs and Economic Growth" (discussing natural gas development); 10 AM; room 210 Cannon House Office Building
• House Science Subcommittee on Environment hearing on "Restoring U.S. Leadership in Weather Forecasting, Part 2;" 10:00 AM; room 2318 Rayburn House Office Building
• House Appropriations Committee mark up of FY 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill; FY 2014 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill; and Revised Report on the Suballocation of Budget Allocations for FY 2014; 10:30 AM; room 2359 Rayburn House Office Building
• House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard: Government Perspectives; 1:30 PM; room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building 

Thursday

• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation  Oversight Hearing on “Outdoor Recreation Opportunities on State, Local and Federal Land;”  2:00 PM; room 1334 Longworth House Office Building
• Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the fiscal year 2014 Appropriations Bills for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies and Energy and Water Development; 10:00 AM; room SD-106 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News of the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

This Week and Next in Washington
Following what looked to some to be the House's adoption a "poison pill" amendment at the very end of two days of farm bill amendment consideration, Democratic support for the House's farm bill quickly evaporated from more than 40 to 24 members, and the farm bill failed to pass yesterday afternoon by a vote of 195-234 (link to roll call vote summary here). In the end, 62 Republicans joined with 172 Democrats voting against the bill.  This defeat surprised many Congressional leaders and outside observers, and left the path forward on the farm bill uncertain. For more about the farm bill's fate and possible future, check out the articles below (under "Farm Bill"), and this link to our latest 2013 farm bill news and resources update page.  

With the farm bill temporarily in a figurative ditch and rear-view mirror, our attention turns to next week, when there are a few Congressional hearings at least marginally related to Mississippi River Basin water resources (on forests, energy development, water development appropriations, weather forecasting and emergency preparedness).  You can see a listing of those scheduled events here.  

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Water Quality -

• Scientists project large Gulf of Mexico hypoxic ‘dead zone’ this summer ow.ly/maYsk ow.ly/maYuO ow.ly/maYyZ

  

  2012 Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone" (depicted in red)
  (click to enlarge)

• U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals weighs EPA bid for rehearing on wastewater discharge rules http://ow.ly/m7tq9
• Scientists: more research needed to reach any conclusions on widely-used pesticide's (atrazine) human health impacts http://ow.ly/m6m4u
• EPA is delaying its projected release of proposed water quality criteria revisions for chloride http://ow.ly/m7tXn
• EPA finalizes list of 109 chemicals, pesticide active ingredients included in Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program http://ow.ly/m6mvG
• USEPA orders Minnesota to impose more stringent limits on pollutants discharged into state’s lakes and rivers http://ow.ly/m2kpy
• Wisconsin poised to add nearly 150 impaired water bodies to list of those not meeting state water quality standards http://ow.ly/m2kNi
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens' Board to consider Construction Stormwater general permit at June 25 meeting http://ow.ly/m63jB
• Four Minnesota watersheds chosen to pilot program where farmers will adopt projects to protect water from pollutants http://ow.ly/m8W0q
• USGS scientists check Missouri waters for impacts from hundreds of pesticides and nutrients used in farming http://ow.ly/m8WHV
• Fearing EPA preemption, Ohio pushing a novel numeric nutrient water quality index; environmentalists support approach http://ow.ly/m96MF
• Proposed USEPA rules would impose first-ever caps on pollution from power plant water discharges http://ow.ly/m6htm (for more in-depth legal analysis, see: http://ow.ly/m6Hl2)
• Broken sewer valve spills up to 1M gallons of untreated wastewater into River des Peres near Mississippi River ow.ly/maYZo
• Environmental groups sue over discharges from former West Virginia mountaintop coal mines http://ow.ly/meKu0

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

New Madrid Floodway
(click to enlarge)

• "Science, Politics and Status of the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project" webinar slides and presentation: http://ow.ly/m8KPc
• Flood waters leave 40- to 50- foot breach in the Missouri River levee at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area http://ow.ly/m2nHr
• New satellite data show significant fluctuations since 2003 in water reserves of six U.S. regions http://ow.ly/m2pAq
• FEMA Report: Climate change could increase areas at flood risk by 45%, impacting National Flood Insurance Program http://ow.ly/m67nz
• House passes amendment to funding bill that would block large hikes in flood insurance premiums http://ow.ly/m67yU
• Army Corps of Engineers chief says U.S. might need to strengthen levee designs in response to climate-induced changes http://ow.ly/m8RMg
• Rare wetlands mitigation bank lawsuit may test EPA-Corps rule, challenges regulatory “restoration” definition http://ow.ly/m6ghH
• NPR: two doctrines govern surface water rights in the U.S. - one for the West and one for the East http://ow.ly/m6jsM
• Innovative land management could replenish wetlands, limit flood damage and keep New Orleans from sinking http://ow.ly/m6KYB
• Wetlands Initiative restoration ecologist discusses how one can tell when a wetland restoration project is on track http://ow.ly/mc1EV
• With Mississippi River west bank flood-protection ring complete in Louisiana, focus shifts to still-vulnerable areas http://ow.ly/m8X4A
• Flooding creates opportunities as well as consequences for wildlife in Indiana http://ow.ly/m6njw
• Army Corps funding passed by House appropriations subcommittee ow.ly/maTSC

Farm Bill-

• Shocking House leaders, chamber soundly defeats farm bill http://ow.ly/meLG1
• Reuters: U.S. House deals shock defeat to Republican farm bill http://ow.ly/mfLHA
• In blow to GOP leaders, House rejects 5-year farm bill 195-234; only 24 Democratic vote yes; 62 Republicans opposed ow.ly/meI92
• House farm bill failed even though House Agriculture Committee leaders effectively managed the bill-until the end http://ow.ly/mfM7C
• Conservatives' 'overreach' on food stamps spells doom for the farm fill in the House; future now unclear http://ow.ly/mfMub
• New York Times editorial board farm bill defeat reaction: "Collision Over the House Farm Bill" http://ow.ly/mfMQ3
• Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas is assessing all farm bill options in face of House defeat of the bill ow.ly/meIMF
• Farm bill faces uncertain future after House collapse over food stamp cuts and agriculture subsidies http://ow.ly/mfLrM
• Those involved in farm bill debate, irate at sudden defeat, say dysfunctional U.S. House just isn't working http://ow.ly/mfGIQ
• Opposition to House Farm Bill Spans Political Spectrum ow.ly/m98eB (this was a pre-vote article, but germane nonetheless)

Agriculture -

• Missouri soil scientists say they’re seeing more erosion on farmland than they have in years http://ow.ly/mg0jz
• US Circuit Court of Appeals: in break with status quo BLM must study more Missouri River Breaks grazing alternatives http://ow.ly/m2oPF
• IL Agricultural Economist Scott Irwin farmdoc daily blog “An Updated Look at the Profitability of Ethanol Production” http://ow.ly/m6bnA
• New York Times editorial board: “The EPA Backs Off on Factory Farms” ow.ly/m6ayO
• Minnesota Gov. Dayton asks USDA to ease conservation rules; allow livestock grazing on conservation land after tough winter http://t.co/km1gcjsTj5
• In Nebraska, where corn is king, a new appreciation grows for grass-fed beef http://ow.ly/m8Vn6
• Indiana University research reveals value of restoring wetlands and riparian habitat on agricultural lands ow.ly/mc0RN
• Food production yield trends insufficient to meet needs and double global crop production by 2050 http://t.co/HizfzW3RiQ

June 18 US Drought Monitor Map
(click to enlarge)

Climate and Weather -

• More Great Plains heat and dry conditions expected over the next couple of weeks http://ow.ly/lzFWU
• Fracking's new frontier and its high water demands are expanding into areas hit by severe drought http://ow.ly/m6mYP
• Obama considers sweeping climate plan ow.ly/m9YLX

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• National Wildlife Federation study: Massive climate-induced shifts in bird migration patterns and habitat have begun http://ow.ly/m9Ksn
• Journal of Applied Ecology: class of pesticides linked to deaths of bees may be harming other wildlife species http://ow.ly/m2k3X
• Peregrine falcons making comeback in Minnesota http://ow.ly/m6kq9
• Study: cow elk unfazed at prospect of crossing wide Missouri River sections during spring migration http://ow.ly/m6kVk
• Study in Europe and Australia: Pesticide use has sharply reduced regional stream invertebrate biodiversity http://ow.ly/m8UYa
• Researchers: Small dam construction to reduce greenhouse emissions is causing ecosystem disruption; biodiversity loss http://ow.ly/m9GKf
• White House starts review of rule on Interior Department determination of ESA critical habitat designation costs http://ow.ly/mcsDN

In the Cities -

• EPA to host Green Street Design Workshop in Joplin, MO to minimize stormwater runoff while removing pollutants http://ow.ly/m6OMF

In the States-

• Wisconsin expands general permit scope to allow faster cleanup of accumulated biological debris in non-Great Lake waters http://ow.ly/m6Qy8

Gulf Coastal Region-

• 100s face off against Coastal restoration officials claiming Mississippi River diversions will harm wildlife, fishing http://ow.ly/m8Q6x
• Sea level rise, climate change and coastal erosion mean more inland St. Tammany Parish (LA) flooding during hurricanes http://ow.ly/mbt3w
• Attempts fail to limit Gulf Coast oil spill penalty money to coastal restoration in the Louisiana Constitution http://ow.ly/mbtqG
• Op-ed: Lessons in coastal restoration from Vietnam (applicable to the Mississippi River Delta in Louisiana) http://ow.ly/mfSxv

Resource Extraction -

• Terre Haute, Indiana city council passes moratorium on fracking within city limits http://ow.ly/m2ldI
• Tennessee officials close door on more drilling for natural gas (via fracking) on state land http://ow.ly/m2lFO
• Illinois governor signs landmark fracking bill into law; includes disclosure, permit appeal and lawsuit provisions http://ow.ly/m8Sqj
• Mother Jones: Illinois fracking law looks more like a tactical concession than an environmental victory http://ow.ly/mfZba
• Company seeks to undertake tar sands extraction at proposed strip mine in southwestern Kentucky http://ow.ly/m8Y1v

Federal Budget -

• House Appropriations subcommittee passes 2014 spending bill that would maintain Army Corps infrastructure funding http://ow.ly/m9KWm and http://ow.ly/m9L9T
• Full Senate appropriations committee sends $20.9B agriculture spending bill on to Senate floor http://ow.ly/meLZ5
• Senate Agriculture Committee release includes broad summary of its fiscal 2014 Agriculture spending bill http://ow.ly/mfNcy (PDF file)

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

• EPA Webcast: Harmful Algal Blooms and Their Impacts in Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems; June 25; 1:00 PM EDT http://ow.ly/m625e
• June 24 Washington DC seminar: Impact of the Precautionary Principle on Feeding Current and Future Generations http://ow.ly/m9OH4

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• June 18 Water Headlines from EPA's Office of Water http://ow.ly/m9C6b
• 1Mississippi campaign June River Citizen Newsletter http://t.co/fOGKFEPFvG
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's most recent and archived WaterWays e-newsletter links: http://ow.ly/klTzd
• St. Croix River Association June 19 e-newsletter http://ow.ly/mcjtK
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency River Connections for June 2013 http://ow.ly/mfWK7
• Green Lands Blue Waters bi-weekly update on Mississippi River Basin agricultural land conservation-right hand column: http://ow.ly/mfXqP

Other news-

• EPA updated report: Technical Review of the Interactions among Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality ow.ly/m79jP
• House subcommittee members fail to reach coal ash compromise ahead of committee markup; Dems predict ultimate defeat http://ow.ly/mb3BW
• Mississippi World Trade Center enters into alliance promoting "stakeholder interests of ...world’s greatest waterway” http://ow.ly/m2okz
• Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks seeks input on managing recreation on the Madison River, headwater to Missouri River http://ow.ly/m7uu9
• 27-year-old Chicagoan navigating entire 2,400 miles of Missouri River on his standup paddleboard http://ow.ly/m8QwX
• High water levels on the Mississippi River making for an especially dangerous recreational boating situation ow.ly/maZ9T

Political Scene -

• Farm Bill’s Failure Poisons Well in House http://ow.ly/mfSWo
• Minnesota state Rep. Mike Benson (R) to challenge Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN-1) for US House seat http://t.co/qyI7MGEGXZ
• Kentucky Governor mulls Congressional redistricting do-over, complicating an already-protracted effort http://ow.ly/m8GpI
• Huge climate change gap between Democrats and Republicans on display in House Science, Space and Technology Committee http://ow.ly/mbu6g

Last Word -

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." - On this date in 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and last-needed state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thereby making the document the law of the land.

Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Farm Bill
House leaders believe that they are close to lining up the 218 member votes needed to pass a comprehensive five-year farm bill, and House Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA-7) has placed the House version of the bill on this week's House calendar. Debate will likely begin on Tuesday or Wednesday and run through at least Thursday. House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK-3) said on Saturday that he expects from 30 to 60 amendments to be considered. Cantor said on the House floor last week that he believes the House will end up having a considerable debate on "all subject matter in the bill," with some of the major areas ripe for debate being food stamps (SNAP), sugar and dairy support, conservation and crop insurance. An update posted last Friday by the House Rules Committee schedules an "emergency" 5 PM, meeting today (Monday) to consider the farm bill, during which the Committee will set the rules for the bill debate. The Committee will meet again on Tuesday to set the amendment limits. The Rules Committee Internet page for the farm bill can be found here, where the Monday amendment submission deadline and a list of currently-submitted amendments can be viewed.  Here is a link to the latest 2013 farm bill status in the Senate and House, and our routinely-updated farm bill resources list.

Below are the other activities currently scheduled this week in the U.S. House and Senate that relate to Mississippi River Basin natural resources. Where available, links are provided to the relevant Committee and legislation pages on the Internet. Many of the proceedings are webcast live (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.

Tuesday

• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation oversight hearing on “Citizen and Agency Perspectives on the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act;” 10:00 AM; room 1324 Longworth House Office Building
• House Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Mark Up - FY 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill; 10:30 AM; room 2362-B Rayburn House Office Building
• Senate Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee business meeting to markup proposed legislation making appropriations for agriculture programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014; 10:00 AM; room SD-192 Dirksen Senate Office Building
• House Energy and Commerce full committee markup and vote on H.R. 2218, the “Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013;" Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 4:00 PM and Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 10:00 AM; room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building (legislation to pre-empt U.S. EPA's ongoing rulemaking on power plant combustion waste)

Wednesday

• House Energy and Commerce full committee markup and vote on H.R. 2218, the “Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013;" 10:00 AM; room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building (see above)

Thursday

• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs oversight hearing on "Why Does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Want to Expand the Boundaries of the Chickasaw and Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuges in Tennessee and at What Cost?” 9:30 AM; room 1324 Longworth House Office Building
• Senate Appropriations Committee meeting re: Adoption of the FY 2014 Spending Allocations and Markup of the FY 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bills; 10:30 AM; room SD-106 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News of the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

This Week and Next

House leaders spent much of the last week attempting to line up the 218 member votes needed to pass a comprehensive five-year farm bill, and believe that they are getting close to achieving that goal.  Assuming the passage votes are queued up, House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK-3) said on Thursday that he expects the chamber to take up the House version of the bill sometime next week (most likely beginning on Wednesday), and be completed in two days time.  Lucas said that he thinks that the House will end up voting on a total of 30 to 40 amendments covering every title of the farm bill, with some of the major areas ripe for debate being food stamps (SNAP), sugar and dairy support, conservation and crop insurance. This Thursday's  relatively contentious House Appropriations Committee markup and approval of the GOP fiscal year 2014 Agriculture appropriations bill, where nutrition cuts took center stage, gave a taste of what we can expect on the House floor when the farm bill comes up for consideration (see additional news articles about this under "Agriculture, below).  The Senate passed its version of the farm bill on Monday (June 10) on a 66-27 roll call vote.  For more on the farm bill, here is a link to more on the 2013 farm bill status in the Senate and House, and our routinely-updated farm bill resources page.  You can also see more than a dozen other articles and editorial pieces relating to the legislation, below, under "Farm Bill."

There is other Capitol Hill activity next week beside the farm bill, and here a link to a listing of the hearings and business meetings currently scheduled in the U.S. House and Senate that relate to Mississippi River Basin natural resources.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Water Quality -

• Ohio EPA launching several studies of lower Muskingum River tributaries and Southwest Ohio River tributaries http://ow.ly/lOpB9
• Groups call on EPA to revise its water quality standards rules to bolster stricter nationwide antidegradation policy http://ow.ly/lOFnm
• Led by Tyson Foods, groups try to delay development and deployment of joint OK-AR federal pollution standards ow.ly/lRY4f
• USEPA pollution limit model development for Illinois River (OK) watershed likely will proceed despite delay requests ow.ly/lRYm3 (also see article immediately above)
• Columbus, OH Three Creeks park counts on windmill to fight blue-green algae ow.ly/lUytQ
• Federal sequestration may stall work toward development of pollution limits for Tenkiller Lake (OK) ow.ly/lUzc6
• Vilsack launches MN farm water-quality program: 4 pilot watersheds selected in first-in-the nation voluntary program ow.ly/lV2sQ
• Master Naturalist program in Minneapolis area aims to improve water quality by training people to advise neighbors http://ow.ly/lYchr
• Illinois "goes easy" on coal mining company: Mining permit renewed despite history of water pollution violations http://ow.ly/lZTrS
• US and Arkansas file joint complaint against ExxonMobil for Pegasus Pipeline oil spill in Mayflower, Arkansas http://ow.ly/m0tIT
• EPA narrows its list of drinking water contaminants subject to testing under its endocrine disruptor screening program http://ow.ly/m21cO

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

• Missouri River flooding, contamination cut off water service to Poplar, Montana ow.ly/lRYyB
• EPA could miss court-ordered June 27 deadline for issuing final power plant cooling water intake rule http://ow.ly/m21Ro

Farm Bill- 

• Five-year Farm Bill clears Senate, setting stage for long-delayed fight on House floor next week ow.ly/lUANk
• House Ag Committee Chair: farm bill to go to House floor next week, assuming 218 vote count to pass is there http://ow.ly/m1PI6
  
  
• Farm bill faces uncertain House fate ow.ly/lUBBd
• DTN Editor Emeritus Urban C. Lehner - "Moment of Truth for the Farm Bill" ow.ly/lY5gk
• Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) faces a divided conference and tricky legislative waters in trying to manage House farm bill http://ow.ly/lY8YZ
• US House Speaker Boehner (R-OH) says that he will vote for the House farm bill despite reservations ow.ly/lXPBY
• House Speaker Boehner: “There are parts of the farm bill I hope are improved on the floor of the House through an open amendment process.”
• Crop insurance restrictions are making the Senate farm bill less attractive to people who would receive its benefits ow.ly/lRYMW
• Chicago Tribune editorial: "Senate passes a bad farm bill; crop insurance has got to go"  http://ow.ly/m1O0E
• House-Senate food stamp showdown may mean current farm bill would continue on autopilot for at least another year ow.ly/lRZ7Q
• Ames (IA) Tribune op-ed: Farmers belong on a tractor, not under a bus ow.ly/lUxfH
• Congressional Budget Office's latest analysis: House version of farm bill would cost $939 billion over next decade ow.ly/lUAib (news article)
• Here is latest CBO Analysis of the House farm bill (June 7, as ordered reported by the House Judiciary Committee) ow.ly/lULMc
• Conservative House Republicans call for decoupling food stamp program from the farm bill http://ow.ly/lY8mt
• 50 group-letter to House Leaders warns to tread carefully in making farm bill crop insurance changes http://ow.ly/lZuom (PDF file of letter)

Agriculture - 

• Increasingly, Great Plains farmers are switching from wheat to corn, driven by technology, market and climate changes http://ow.ly/m1Std
• Corn growers feel impact of cool, wet spring but are still expected by USDA to bring in record crop http://ow.ly/lZuGy
• Renewable Fuels Association report: no direct correlation between federal biofuels mandates and increasing food prices http://ow.ly/lZw6x
• IATP: "Planting the seeds: Connect kids with farms using the MN [Dept. of Agriculture] Grown directory" http://ow.ly/lZMdR
• House Appropriations Committee approves Fiscal Year 2014 agriculture appropriations bill over Democratic opposition http://ow.ly/m0uqO
• House Appropriations Committee passes $19.45B USDA, FDA budget; cuts nearly $1.3B from what Congress passed in March http://ow.ly/m1Sbt

June 11 Drought Monitor Map
Click to enlarge

Climate and Weather -

• June 11 US Drought Monitor summary; produced in partnership among National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, NOAA http://ow.ly/lzFWU
• Massive dust storms hit Southeastern Colorado, evoking 1930s ow.ly/lRXRI
• Nature Climate Change: By century's end, much of central US may see decreased flooding, according to a new study ow.ly/lUxKU
• NY Times: After drought, rains plaguing Midwest farms ow.ly/lUy5J
• Missouri River Basin as a whole still faces drought impacts despite rain and flooding in the east http://ow.ly/lZDU7
• KS state school board approves public school science standards including evolution and climate change as key concepts http://ow.ly/lZX4G
• U of WI Water Resources Institute to fund projects to strengthen community planner climate change response abilities http://ow.ly/m04NV

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduces bill to prevent the import of harmful non-native fish and wildlife http://ow.ly/lP0tB
• Kentucky tries to to piece together protected isolated land sections through acquisitions and conservation easements ow.ly/lRXwK
• Kentucky "Conservation islands" fight effects of mining, climate change ow.ly/lUyQk
• Fort Knox, KY and 22-square-mile Bernheim Arboretum both part of new effort to create natural corridors ow.ly/lUz1e
• Agricultural, chemical companies now trying to track down cause of mysterious bee deaths some think they have caused ow.ly/lUxW8
• Bald eagle population surges in Wisconsin; numbers expected to set record ow.ly/lUycM
• Green River Ketnucky is Ohio River Basin's most biologically diverse ow.ly/lUyFo
• Push to somehow plug the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to stop Asian carp, other invasive species, gains momentum ow.ly/lUzm0
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial: Illinois governor right: Close the Chicago canal http://ow.ly/lY37i

In the Cities -

• Wausau receives $400,000 from EPA for Wisconsin River riverfront brownfields cleanup and redevelopment http://ow.ly/lZD94
• Google street maps now has special StreetView coverage of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO http://ow.ly/m0E47

Gulf Coastal Region-

• Advisory Group appointed to guide National Academies' new Gulf of Mexico Program development and implementation http://ow.ly/lP4WW

Resource Extraction -

• Theodore Roosevelt National Park along Little Missouri River seeing impact from North Dakota fracking development http://ow.ly/lZDzW

Federal Budget -

• Budget showdown looms; House Republicans, Senate Democrats are over $90 billion apart on discretionary spending caps ow.ly/lUG44

Happy World Oceans Day (June 8)-Click to enlarge

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

• June 17 webinar; 3 PM EDT: The Science, Politics and Status of St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project ow.ly/lUzL6
• Association of Climate Change Officers' Inaugural Climate Strategies Forum, October 14-17, Washington, DC http://ow.ly/lOXIM
• "Iowa Wetland Assessment and Restorable Wetland Inventory" webinar June 26 at 3:00 p.m. http://ow.ly/lY76D
• Call for Abstracts - 9th National Monitoring Conference, April 28 - May 2, 2014 Cincinnati, Ohio http://ow.ly/m0zJD

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Waterfront Bulletin for June 2013 http://ow.ly/lO6Sq
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Watershed Network News - June 11, 2013 http://ow.ly/lY2mR
• EPA Climate Change and Water News for June 2013 http://ow.ly/lOXpJ
• Tennessee Clean Water Network June 10 e-newsletter ow.ly/lUzY5
• EPA Office of Water June 11 Water Headlines http://ow.ly/lY3qa
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's June 10 and archived WaterWays e-newsletter links here: http://ow.ly/l1dB5
• The Wetlands Initiative June e-newsletter with news of Illinois flooding and the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge; other news http://ow.ly/lZpPq

Other news-

Burning Barge On The Ohio River,
May 1972

• 41 years ago, photographer documented daily life along Ohio River for EPA's Documerica project: http://ow.ly/m0yhy (link to 75 National Archive photos)
• Federal regulators: Monticello nuclear power plant on Mississippi River long been unprepared for worst-case flooding http://ow.ly/lYcHg
• Sputtering growth in retirement, recreation areas hits a rural economy already impacted by farm population declines http://ow.ly/lZuWm

Political Scene -

• Two GOP candidates so far declare their intentions to run for the open Minnesota 6th district US House seat ow.ly/lUCP2
• Republican Rhonda Sivarajah announces that she is running for Minnesota’s 6th District US House seat http://ow.ly/lZwsn
• Democrat environmental activist Adams announces run in open race for Minnesota's 6th District US House seat http://ow.ly/lY49g
• Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) expects that former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) will decide to run for Senate http://ow.ly/m1TFe
• Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) decides to not run for US Senate in South Dakota http://ow.ly/lY9C2
• POLITICO Photo Gallery: 13 things more popular than the U.S. Congress http://ow.ly/lH059
• Congress now ranks as least popular societal institution in U.S. history, according to a new Gallup poll http://ow.ly/m1SQZ

Last Words - 

William Hodges - Jacques and the Wounded Stag
 'As You Like It,' Act II, Scene I

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players," - the phrase that begins a monologue from William Shakespeare's "As You Like It," spoken by the melancholy Jaques in Act II Scene VII.

"Last year the House leadership didn’t bring the [farm] bill up for a floor vote, so for supporters the prospect of a floor debate represents progress.  Further progress will depend on whether the House is a legislative body or a stage." - the phrase that closes a Tuesday blog update written by the not-so-melancholy DTN Editor Emeritus Urban C. Lehner in Act I, Paragraph XI.

Happy World Oceans Day (A Bit Late)!

Happy World Oceans Day . . . yes, I know I'm a day late!  But celebrate nonetheless, eh?

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News of the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Authorized by State

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has signed legislation authorizing and funding the state’s new agricultural water quality certification program. Under the new program, agricultural producers who implement a significant degree of conservation practices to reduce nutrient run-off and erosion will receive assurance (or "certainty") from Minnesota that their farms will meet the state's water quality standards and goals throughout the ten-year duration of a certainty agreement between the state and producer.  This first-in-the-nation program resulted from a state-federal collaborative effort among the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency, Department of Agriculture, Board of Water and Soil Resources, and Department of Natural Resources.  The program is being administered by the state Department of Agriculture, which is developing program operational measures and identifying four watersheds that will be used to roll-out the program on a pilot scale. The Obama Administration has been exploring a variety of certainty mechanisms in conjunction with several states for some time, and the Minnesota initiative could be viewed as one component of a wider Administration action plan, announced in January 2012, to address challenges facing ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources.  You can read more details regarding the program on this Minnesota web site, and in this blog article.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -

• EPA greatly narrowing geographic scope of activities to address water pollution from livestock operations http://ow.ly/lMhGi (more CAFO news under "Agriculture")
• EPA looking to bridge Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act gaps to better protect source waters http://ow.ly/lLqtf
• Sanitary sewer system operators pushing controversial bill to allow wastewater treatment bypass during heavy rains http://ow.ly/lGEWY
• EPA willing to allow municipal green infrastructure use, integrated stormwater planning to reduce sewer overflows  http://ow.ly/lNS92
• Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy has been completed; now available; news: http://ow.ly/lGDxr and strategy site: http://ow.ly/lGDA8
• Recent Iowa floods have washed fertilizer off farms and into rivers providing drinking water to much of state http://ow.ly/lJmLH
• Gulf of Mexico ‘Dead Zone’ May Be Larger Than Usual This Year http://ow.ly/lGDie
• NOAA and National Ocean Service: Spring floods may increase 2013 Gulf of Mexico "dead zone" http://ow.ly/lGD6M
• Kentucky Waterways Alliance is celebrating 20 years of working for clean water in Kentucky this week http://ow.ly/lEAIQ
• Minnesota Dept. of Health revised trichloroethylene health-based guidance prompts re-look at Metro area contamination http://ow.ly/lA2Sf
• Environmental advocates say EPA coal ash settlement points to many more Missouri coal ash-related water contamination sites http://ow.ly/lA4g8
• Beckley Sanitary Board receives environmental excellence award from WV DEP for its stormwater work http://ow.ly/lEiwr

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

• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair hopes Water Resources Development Act is on House floor before August recess http://ow.ly/lJbcg
• At hearing: House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee eyes streamlined WRDA; Army Corps seeks more funding http://ow.ly/lLW5G
• EPA establishes new "Watershed Assessment and Rapid Response Team" to aid pressed wetlands regulatory program http://ow.ly/lHb6n
• Center for Neighborhood Technology issues new report, finding that "Urban flooding is chronic and costly, but not correlated with floodplains" http://ow.ly/lJcmd
• FEMA releases 2013 National Preparedness Report; summarizes efforts; makes key findings; addresses flood mitigation http://ow.ly/lLoHK
• Corps of Engineers completes two major levee setbacks; other projects in wake of historic 2011 Missouri River flooding http://ow.ly/lLWzE
• Army Corps plans summer release of stalled St. Johns Bayou-New Madrid Floodway Project environmental impact statement http://ow.ly/lLZws
• House amendment to Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act freezes flood insurance rates for one year http://ow.ly/lNXCR

Flooding

• Iowans respond to saturated spring-the wettest in state history http://ow.ly/lA3uE
• Iowa flooding eases during drier weekend http://ow.ly/lEbWz
• Missouri River expected to overtop agriculture levee in Chesterfield Valley (western suburb of St. Louis; Sunday) ow.ly/lEcyV
• Missouri River at major flood stage near Jefferson City, MO (Sunday, June 2) ow.ly/lEcjU
• June 4 news stories on Mississippi River flooding: West Alton http://ow.ly/lGUdP Dutchtown, MO http://ow.ly/lGUgT St, Louis area http://ow.ly/lGUok and http://ow.ly/lGUqZ
• Heavy rains spur a second round of spring flooding this year in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri http://ow.ly/lH6zm
• Floods halt Mississippi River shipping, shut Port of St Louis http://ow.ly/lH9hp
• Mississippi River bursts through levees; threatens to turn Allenville, Missouri into an island http://ow.ly/lK8xU
• Mississippi River recedes after second levee breach forces more evacuations from small community north of St. Louis http://ow.ly/lJnW0
• Middle Mississippi River recedes during June 5 and 6 from its crest http://ow.ly/lO01f after causing flooding http://ow.ly/lO04O

Farm Bill-

2012 Farm Bill Direct Payments by Zip Code
Click to Enlarge

• The strong Farm Bill showing in the Senate Thursday now puts added pressure on the House to move ahead quickly http://ow.ly/lNPFj
• Senate busy on two major bills that will test House GOP leadership abilities: farm and immigration ow.ly/lE906
• Senate will wrap up its Farm Bill debate on Monday with two 5:30 PM votes: one on an amendment; one on bill, itself ow.ly/lNEBn
• Washington Post editorial: Congress may fail to pass farm bill over House-Senate food stamp cut differences http://ow.ly/lE9hK
• U.S. map graphic illustrates locations of recipients of government’s farm bill ‘direct payments’ program http://ow.ly/lE5Im
• Washington Post: Congress set to kill farm subsidy program yet still doles almost $5 billion/year through farm bill http://ow.ly/lE5n7
• House, Senate Farm Bills Seek To Limit EPA Regulation Of Agriculture http://ow.ly/lHayf
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition analysis comparing Senate and House farm bill funding on variety of issues http://ow.ly/lE9Xg
• Op-ed: "Message to Congress: Stop Messing With Conservation Budgets" http://ow.ly/lJ8xp
• House members introduce conservation-corp insurance bill similar to language in Senate Agriculture Committee mark of farm bill http://ow.ly/lLmJF

Agriculture -

• Newly introduced House bill would link crop insurance subsidies and conservation http://ow.ly/lLVzt
• Reps. Thompson (D-CA-5) and Fortenberry (R-NE-1) introduce Crop Insurance Accountability Act of 2013 (press release: ow.ly/lLmUy) - news article immediately above and one under Farm Bill
• Millions of farm subsidy dollars for irrigation aimed to conserve water have led to more water use, not less http://ow.ly/lO4c4
• Drought, wildfires spur USDA climate adaptation initiatives; USDA release: http://ow.ly/lLjLr news article: http://ow.ly/lLjCB
• As huge livestock farms have boomed in US the last 30 years, federal environmental regulators have failed to keep up ow.ly/lI039
• Farm-state senators question EPA's handling of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) data release http://ow.ly/lNNv0
• Letter from bipartisan group of farm-state Senators presses EPA for answers on CAFO data release (PDF file of letter) http://ow.ly/lNQ1n
• New study predicts rising irrigation costs, reduced yields for US corn http://t.co/QnRBhuNXGo
• Farmers scramble to sow final stages of corn and soybean crops http://dlvr.it/3S1dXG
• Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program passed by State Legislature and signed into law http://ow.ly/lAFXI
• U.S. Department of Agriculture removing regulatory procedure that it believes delays rural  grant and loan benefits http://ow.ly/lGMMV

Climate and Weather -

June 4 Drought Monitor Map
Click to Enlarge

• U.S. Drought Monitor: Midwest largely drought-free now; Plains states show some areas improving, some much drier http://ow.ly/lO2pN
• Federal, state and local leaders say New Orleans area is well-prepared for 2013 hurricane season http://ow.ly/lElZi
• National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office for Central Illinois: “Spring 2013: One of the Wettest on Record” http://ow.ly/lGMqI
• Iowa has received the most spring rainfall since record-keeping began 141 years ago; crop planting slows as a result http://ow.ly/lEaqs
• Spring rain may save Iowa from summer drought http://ow.ly/lJ656
• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack tells nation’s farmers they need to brace for climate change and adapt http://ow.ly/lM1Kq

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Groups request Congressional Asian carp oversight hearing; permanent Great Lakes; Mississippi River system separation http://ow.ly/lAkSC
• Illinois Governor supports multi-billion dollar proposal to separate Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins http://ow.ly/lEkR8
• Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) echoes call for Mississippi River Basin-Great Lakes separation to stem Asian carp invasion http://ow.ly/lJcUs
• House Democrats decry vilification of "sue-and-settle tactics" by GOP, business; calling criticism a "scare tactic" http://ow.ly/lJbRX
• Company plans to build processing plant, export Mississippi River Basin Asian carp http://ow.ly/lMgZo

In the Cities -

• Minneapolis tops Trust for Public Land's 2013 ParkScore® national index of 50 largest cities and their park systems http://ow.ly/lJ86a

Gulf Coastal Region-

• Gulf Oil Spill Commission Co-Chairs' op-ed: progress on plan for restoring Gulf of Mexico unacceptably slow http://ow.ly/lNRtB
• Senate committee to examine status of Gulf restoration efforts three years after 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster http://ow.ly/lH8zf (post-hearing coverage in article below)
• Proponents of ecosystem restoration push at Senate hearing to assure RESTORE money is spent on Gulf restoration http://ow.ly/lNP7G
• Coastal panelists say rising sea levels, stronger storms will be a threat through end of century http://ow.ly/lJolM

Forestry-

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative faulted by ForestEthics and Greenpeace http://ow.ly/lAlVz in 22 page FTC filing http://ow.ly/lAm0b

Resource Extraction -

• National Research Council panel members highlight need for improved fracking health and ecosystem effects data http://ow.ly/lNSAh
• Illinois bill to permit and regulate hydraulic fracturing passes Legislature and heads for Gov. Pat Quinn approval http://ow.ly/lEiU8
• Illinois DNR must adopt new ‘fracking’ rules and hire experts before high-volume oil drilling begins in the state ow.ly/lH6k4
• Detailed state fracking law splits Illinois: Needed economic development or potential environmental nightmare? http://ow.ly/lM29e
• University of Tennessee and environmental groups continue to battle over fracking on U of TN forest research land http://ow.ly/lElgG
• Upswing in Tennessee fracking puts supporters and environmental groups at odds http://ow.ly/lElIa
• Op-ed: Obama administration proposed hydraulic fracturing (fracking) rules on public lands put water supplies at risk http://ow.ly/lGHqg
• Kentucky land agents prepare to secure easements for new interstate gas liquids pipeline across northern state tier http://ow.ly/lH905
• Frac sand mine approved in Winona County, MN, with 40 conditions; Opponents fear mining will now expand http://ow.ly/lJnoH
• Wisconsin needs more field inspectors to ensure regulatory compliance as frac sand  industry accelerates http://ow.ly/lM1nZ
• Drillers silence private property owner "fracking" complaints across the US with sealed settlement agreements http://ow.ly/lM0Pg

Federal Budget -

• House Appropriations subcommittee approves 2014 Agriculture Appropriations bill (bill found here http://ow.ly/lJ5jj); sends to full committee (article: http://ow.ly/lK4uG)
• Veto threat foreshadows fall budget standoff, as White House takes stand against GOP sequester plans and budget cuts http://ow.ly/lGHHE
• White House warning: President Obama will veto any 2014 spending bills based on the House GOP budget http://ow.ly/lGGYN
• House and Senate are on separate tracks to write fiscal year 2014 spending bills; making compromise unlikely http://ow.ly/lGMee

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

• Attend Kentucky Waterways Alliance 20-year anniversary gala; Glenview, KY; June 8; 6:30 PM.  Details: http://ow.ly/lEBLp
• National Roundtable on Water Quality Trading; July 18; Hilton Netherland Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio ow.ly/lNR0K
• Aquatic Invasive Species webinar series: The Science Behind Aquatic Invasive Plants; June 18, 1 PM EDT http://ow.ly/lEQfG
• National Research Council July 16-17 meeting on assessing environmental and other effects of US food system; Washington, DC http://ow.ly/lEuTJ

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• EPA releases “A Quick Guide to Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters” - PDF available at: ow.ly/lI1pc
• Kentucky Waterways Alliance May 2013 eNewsletter http://p0.vresp.com/Gnr6bN
• June 4 "Water Headlines" from USEPA Office of Water http://ow.ly/lJ9Jn
• BALMM "Currents" Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota June e-newsletter http://ow.ly/lJvB1
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's June 4 and archived WaterWays e-newsletter links here: http://ow.ly/l1dB5
• St. Croix River Association June 5 e-newsletter lists events and volunteer opportunities http://ow.ly/lJUCU
• Volume 7 of the USGS Cooperative Water Program - Quarterly Highlights, June 2013 http://ow.ly/lNZ0a

Other news-

• Director of the Missouri River Institute at University of South Dakota, takes us on a video Missouri River tour ow.ly/lEcbn
• Environmentalists expected to back 3 Obama nominees to serve on U.S. Court of Appeals despite some troubling rulings http://ow.ly/lJRtB
• Nonprofit conservationist Andrew McElwaine to become president of the American Farmland Trust in early July http://ow.ly/lGFFn
• Arkansas rice farmer and 30-year volunteer to head Ducks Unlimited http://ow.ly/lEfOq
• EPA Survey Shows $384 Billion Needed for Drinking Water Infrastructure by 2030 ow.ly/lHYzR

Political Scene -

• Jason Smith (R) easily wins Missouri 8 District House special election; vows to reduce federal regulations; spending http://ow.ly/lJaHk
• 10 things to know about Jason Smith (R), who won Tuesday special election for MO 8th district US House seat:  http://ow.ly/lGG6h
• Democrats see farm bill, rural voters as key to 2014 election http://ow.ly/lGGMY
• Hotel magnate Jim Graves (D) drops bid for Minnesota’s 6th District seat after Rep. Bachmann announces retirement http://ow.ly/lEdjf
• Former state Rep. Emmer (R) expected to seek GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (MN-6) US House seat http://ow.ly/lLrOh
• WV Democrats optimistic about chances of replacing retiring Sen. Rockefeller with another pro-coal Democratic Senator http://ow.ly/lGI7S
• Republican Erika Harold to face freshman US Rep. Rodney Davis for GOP IL-13 Congressional District nomination ow.ly/lGWve
• Stephen Colbert’s “Better know a district” segment looks at Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional district and Rep. Mark Pocan (D) http://ow.ly/lGXIC

Last Word -

"Kindergarten's out in most of the rest of the country except in the U.S. Senate, and it's still in session here, and we ought to be disgusted by ourselves." - Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Tuesday on the U.S. Senate floor, after he attempted to bring up nine farm bill amendments and each time was blocked by objections made Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) (or by Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) on behalf of Landrieu).