Friday, November 9, 2012

Senate Committee Schedules Water Resources Development Act Hearing

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee has scheduled a November 15, Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislative hearing at 10:00 AM EST, in the EPW Hearing Room - 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building (hearing web page here). Although no witnesses have been scheduled yet, the hearing will likely be focused on issues relevant to the Committee Chair's (Barbara Boxer; D-CA) draft WRDA bill (found here as a PDF file).

Briefing on New Findings on the Effects of Urbanization on Streams

The Northeast Midwest Institute and Water Environment Federation, along with Congressional hosts Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) will present a briefing on new US Geological Survey (USGS) findings about the impacts of urban development on streams and their aquatic life. The briefing will be on Friday, November 30, from 10 to 11:30 AM EST in Room SVC 201-00 of the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

The USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program recently released the results of a study designed to better understand the effects of urban development on streams and aquatic life in different regions of the country. The study findings point to priorities and strategies that can protect and restore urban streams for drinking water, recreation and aesthetic pleasure. At the briefing, USGS will describe the study and results, including differences observed in nine metropolitan areas; the reasons for these differences and the implications for stream protection and restoration. USGS will also describe a new innovative tool that can assist decision makers at all levels of government in evaluating how improvements to one or more stream conditions can increase the likelihood of reaching stream goals. For more information regarding the study and how to RSVP to attend the event, see this briefing announcement (PDF file).

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Now and Then - What Happened Tuesday (And What Won't Happen Next) 
Click to Enlarge
Basking in the afterglow of Tuesday's election, we have time to pause and take stock of a few lessons taught (if not learned) from that event, and how they might be relevant to the ongoing pursuit of environmental and economic sustainability in the Mississippi River Basin.  The U.S. Congressional delegation returns next Tuesday to Washington, DC,  and if lame duck history proves to be an accurate predictor, the week on Capitol Hill will be one devoted almost exclusively to leadership elections and incoming congressional member orientations. In these upcoming weeks, congressional leaders will also start to tag members to fill soon-to-be-vacant top positions on several key environmentally-relevant House and Senate committees. With the ideological divide fracturing Congress ever-widening, most legislative initiatives are for all practical purposes politically "toxic."  There is no mandate. Nobody has substantive political leverage. So no one really knows what will happen between now and the holiday recess during the congressional lame duck period (even less so during the first session of the upcoming 113th Congress).  But looking ahead through a post-electoral lens, it's perhaps best not to expect too much legislatively in the near future. Or, to paraphrase former Democratic House Leader Dick Gephardt, lame duck sessions are called lame for a reason. To read more of what happened, what it means and what may come to pass, read our blog analysis, here.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -
  • EPA draft Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program and Grant Guidelines for States and Territories available for public review; comment epa.gov/nps/319
  • Sewer and water system breakdowns in cash-strapped U.S. cities lead to rate boosting to fund long-needed fixes http://bloom.bg/SwHZmY
  • Louisiana Governor Op-ed: "Key to the dead zone lies hundreds of miles north" http://bit.ly/SNrd46
  • Nebraska public hearing focuses on increasing water nitrate levels and nitrogen needs for crop health http://bit.ly/QZfLCx
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency seeking comments on a water quality improvement report for Bluff Creek in Chanhassen http://bit.ly/QhULKe
  • MPCA seeks comments on water quality improvement report for 3 lakes in Sauk River (MN) watershed bit.ly/U4DPCf and bit.ly/SOUTxH
  • Tennessee Valley Authority releases proposed 'natural recovery' option for part of 5 million cubic yard coal ash spill cleanup http://bit.ly/Sulv62
  • St. Joseph County Water Resources Advisory Board (IN) to track how badly county groundwater is contaminated http://bit.ly/SwIQ73
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
  • Army Corps holding meetings to discuss how to manage Missouri River in 2013 with drought and past floods high on agenda http://bit.ly/QhUtDi
  • GAO Report: "Energy-Water Nexus: Coordinated Federal Approach Needed to Better Manage Energy and Water Tradeoffs" http://1.usa.gov/QhTgvC
Click Figure to Enlarge
Drought-
  • Drought lingers; Army Corps plans near-term Mississippi River reservoir storage to ease drought; support navigation http://bit.ly/rak0SU
  • Worst U.S. drought in decades gets worse in parts of the nation’s midsection http://buswk.co/RoibLa
  • Indiana Public Radio: Herbicide residue left after drought could harm winter crops http://bit.ly/QZfeQZ
  • Drought-struck areas of U.S. Plains need a deluge of rain and snow this winter to fully recharge parched farmland http://reut.rs/SNubpg
  • U.S. farms need recharged soil moisture after drought http://reut.rs/YQXDhB
  • Commercial Mississippi River barge traffic south of St. Louis may be restricted; halted next month by drought impacts http://reut.rs/Roit4K
Farm Bill-
  • Des Moines Register op-ed: Farm bill needs to link federal crop insurance and conservation compliance http://dmreg.co/TNZvqe
  • House Agriculture Committee Chair Lucas (R-OK):  If Farm Bill pushed into 2013, expect deeper cuts http://bit.ly/RdLLmn
  • Environmental Working Group and Taxpayers for Common Sense op-ed: "Pass a Fiscally Responsible Farm Bill Extension"  http://bit.ly/RogoFT
  • Senator-elect Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) ‘job one’ in Washington will be helping to craft farm bill legislation http://bit.ly/RohyBb
Agriculture -
  • FarmPolicy.com overview of how membership of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee looks after Tuesday’s election http://bit.ly/SwBAbA
  • NSAC blog: Election Returns Spell Some Changes for Congressional Agriculture Committee Makeup http://goo.gl/fb/Ciy89
  • State says detailed environmental study will not be needed for proposed Gourley Brothers Hog Feedlot (Todd County, MN) http://bit.ly/QZegUN
  • Farm Foundation launches new blog "to broaden agriculture and food system conversations" http://bit.ly/UkQ8jZ
  • U.S. ethanol production is headed for its first decline in 16 years http://buswk.co/RkJTs5
  • North Dakota state record for per-acre value of farmland: 80-acre parcel sells for $10,000 per acre http://bit.ly/RohUba
In the States -
  • News article and video review projects being implemented across Minnesota to maintain and improve water quality http://kare11.tv/QZeUBS
Forestry -
  • Louisiana State University Agricultural Center project explores biofuel potential of switchgrass and cottonwood http://bit.ly/RlQXon
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
Gulf Coastal Region-
Resource Extraction -
  • Frac sand mining is changing the face of rural Wisconsin's landscape physically, economically, politically, permanently http://bit.ly/QhPhPH
  • Companies across eastern Missouri in recent years have emerged as suppliers of so-called frac sand http://bit.ly/QhSjU2
Federal Budget -
  • House Speaker Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) point in different directions on fiscal cooperation http://bit.ly/SwE7lQ
  • House Speaker expects to bridge over fiscal cliff issues this fall http://bit.ly/TurYPq
Events-
  • Two workshops on water quality trading; November 28 and 29; Washington, DC (both also a webinar) http://bit.ly/RlQ0MP
  • Farm Foundation Forum: What 2012 election means for agriculture, food and rural policy; Washington, DC and webcast 11/14 bit.ly/SwxY9q
  • SWCS-sponsored "Building Science Assessments for State-Level Nutrient Reduction Strategies," Nov. 13, Davenport, IA bit.ly/UkTwvd
  • Registration Open for December 4 USEPA Symposium on the Importance of Water to the U.S. Economy (Washington, DC) http://1.usa.gov/YRBNdN
  • Organizations partnering on government and nongovernment disaster response and preparedness webinar; December 13 http://bit.ly/QZhNCD
  • ASFPM 37th Annual National Conference, "Remembering the Past - Insuring the Future" June 9 - 14, 2013, Hartford, CT http://bit.ly/QhQvuq
  • Wisconsin Wetlands Association 18th Annual Wetlands Conference February 12-14, 2013, Sheboygan, WI http://bit.ly/QhQTsJ
  • River Rally 2013 will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, May 17-20, 2013 http://bit.ly/hOz4fp
  • National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Environment: Disasters and Environment; Washington, D.C. January 15-17 http://bit.ly/QhTBON
  • Winter brings best celebrations along Mississippi River in historic Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois communities http://bit.ly/RHZG5G
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • New blog on conservation from a social science perspective: "Thinking Like a Human" http://bit.ly/UkSIX8
  • Association of State Flood Plain Managers News and Views - October 2012 issue http://bit.ly/SNkd7k
  • Army Corps of Engineers' Fall issue of “Our Mississippi” is now available online http://bit.ly/VIkwAk
  • Association of State Wetland Managers Monthly News Chronicle - "Wetland Breaking News" http://bit.ly/QhPXVc
Other news-
  • Ken Burns to co-launch new Mississippi river cruise on the American Queen paddlewheel steamboat http://bit.ly/PMMoqc
  • EPA could be backlogging up to a dozen new major regulations, completed, and ready to roll out after election http://bit.ly/TusA7X
  • Long list of unfinished  Congressional legislative business ensures many items will not be completed in this Congress http://bit.ly/Tushdh
Political Scene -
  • Likely administration exits soon for Secretaries Vilsack (Agriculture) and Chu (Energy);  EPA Administrator Jackson http://wapo.st/SwDs44
  • U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology is set to undergo a significant turnover http://bit.ly/RlR979
  • An overview of how membership of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee looks after Tuesday’s election http://bit.ly/SwBAbA
  • Here is a handy summary of the new 113th Congress Members elected Tuesday, with links to new Members’ bios http://bit.ly/VE54K1
  • Here is an overview of the characteristics of largest freshman Congressional class of the past 12 years http://politi.co/RofMQC
  • Mississippi River corridor's U.S. House districts fall decidedly Democratic in north and Republican in south; map - http://wapo.st/UkREm4
  • Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) defeats Republican Rep. Todd Akin (R) to retain her once-precarious U.S. Senate seat bit.ly/UkQK9o
  • Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) defeats Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R) for Indiana's open U.S. Senate seat http://bit.ly/UkNR8k
  • Rancher Deb Fischer (R) defeats former Governor Bob Kerrey (D) in Nebraska U.S. Senate race http://trib.in/Su9ptQ
  • North Dakota Rep. Rick Berg (R) concedes U.S. Senate contest to former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp (D) http://bit.ly/Sul0sM
Last Word - "I think environmentalism has failed as a movement." - David Suzuki, Canadian scientist, broadcaster and environmental activist, speaking this week in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Now and Then - This Week and Next Through a Post-Electoral Haze

Basking in the afterglow of Tuesday's election, we have time to pause and take stock of a few lessons taught (if not learned) from those events, and how that might be relevant to the ongoing pursuit of environmental and  economic sustainability in the Mississippi River Basin.  And we also pause to look ahead toward next week's return to Washington, DC of a Congressional contingent that has been recessed for what only seems to be an eternity.

This week . . .
In no particular order whatsoever, here are some random thoughts about the week's general election and what it may mean over the short, and perhaps long, term from the policy and legislative perspectives.
  • In the U.S. House, both parties sorted themselves out even more ideologically and geographically than before - to the left (Democrats) and the right (Republicans) and with Democrats aggregating even more-so in the northeast and coastal west and Republicans in the south and mid-section.
  • One major reason for this ever-widening ideological divide fracturing Congress is the arcane House redistricting process that is, itself. ideologically-driven (with the exception of California).  Redistricting is designed to form districts that contain more registered voters of the party doing the redistricting (the party in power at the state level).  As a result, House Members really rarely need worry about the general election and the other party's opponent.  Rather, contenders have to be concerned about winning their primary election against other members of their own party.  And to do that they have to cater to their party's core voters, who tend to come out in the primaries to vote and who tend to be more ideologically extreme.  So to do that catering, candidates have to stake out ever-more extreme (right or left) positions.  It is those more extremely left or right politicians, therefore, who make their way to Capitol Hill.
  • During the post-election gnashing of teeth that the GOP will undoubtedly collectively be doing these next several months and years, the debate (if not civil war) within the party will be between the "priests" and "mathematicians," as one political pundit put it.  The priests will argue for holding to a hard ideological line and allow for no compromise with Democrats over the next four years, while Republicans try once more to take the White House.  The mathematicians - or the realists - will count the numbers (of voters and electoral votes) and contend that Republicans need to form new alliances and partnerships, and compromise and collaborate in order to gain a constituency that can support a successful Presidential run.  Who "wins" that internal battle may dictate how much Congress and the Administration can accomplish collectively over the next three years (the fourth year being eaten up by the 2016 election).
  • As a result of the maintenance of the status quo in Washington, nobody has leverage and no one has a mandate.  Politically, every bill will have toxic elements to it and every policy initiative will somehow be "bad" to someone or to a lot of someones.  So, no one really knows what is going to happen during the lame duck session starting next week, and even less so during the upcoming legislative session.  But from where I sit, I wouldn't expect much to happen, at least in the near-term.  Or, as former U.S. House Member and Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt said at a Wednesday morning, post-election event, "Lame duck sessions are very aptly named. They're always lame."
And next . . .
The U.S. House and Senate return from their pre-election recess next Tuesday, November 13. Even then, however, work on legislation won't be starting in earnest, as the first week of a lame duck session is historically devoted almost exclusively to leadership elections and orientations. There will be at least twelve incoming Senators and 74 House newcomers who will need orienting to the ways of the Hill (including at least eight who are returning after a time away from Capitol Hill).  
Also in these early lame duck days, congressional leaders will start to fill soon-to-be-vacant top positions on several key environmentally-relevant committees, including the ranking member (Republican) on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, ranking member on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chair, House Appropriations Committee ranking member (Democrat), House Science, Space and Technology Committee chair, and chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Stream Nutrient Reductions from Conservation Practices Not Consistently Detectable
Click Figure to Enlarge
Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently published the results of a National Water-Quality Assessment Program-supported study finding that the effects of land conservation practices meant to reduce nutrient loss to streams were not consistently detectable in 133 large-scale watersheds in agricultural areas across the country. The study analyzed stream monitoring data in relationship with conservation practices designed to reduce soil runoff and nutrient loss from farmland (specifically, conservation tillage and the Conservation Reserve Program). The study authors speculate that the lack of correlation could be due to an increase in dissolved nutrients from areas in conservation tillage, where fertilizer, manure, and crop residues are not fully incorporated into the soil, or to changes in water quality lagging behind the implementation of conservation practices. The article detailing the study, entitled "Relating management practices and nutrient export in agricultural watersheds of the United States," can be found at this Journal of Environmental Quality website. A USGS press release summarizing the study can be viewed here.

Army Corps of Engineers Launches New Missouri River Recovery Program Online Tool
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has launched a new "Missouri River Basin Explorer" Internet site; an interactive tool designed to "provide insight regarding the river's natural environment and the efforts of the Missouri River Recovery Program." To read more of the new site and the Missouri River Recovery Program, go to the Missouri River Basin Explorer Internet site, or read our earlier blog post on the topic.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Water Quality -
  • Iowa is preparing report that will detail plans to cut sewage plant nutrient loading; farm fertilizer runoff http://dmreg.co/PEsz4h
  • Catch-22: Midwest's agricultural livelihood feeds Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone" http://townta.lk/PGLLym
  • Missouri Coalition for the Environment; state and others preparing a plan to reduce Kiefer Creek watershed pollution http://bit.ly/T0dKG2
  • Fertilizer regulations in Iowa might lead to easing nitrogen pollution in Gulf of Mexico http://dmreg.co/Q1K4LL
  • Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone" - flow of nitrates down Mississippi River has increased along with average dead zone size http://dmreg.co/WSSNlq
  • USGS: Stream Nutrient Reductions from Conservation Practices Not Consistently Detectable Across U.S. http://on.doi.gov/Tp0skb
  • Phosphorus levels in Illinois River falling http://bit.ly/QZgCD7
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
  • New study confirms slow-moving Atchafalaya River beats Mississippi River at building wetlands http://bit.ly/TXiIYx
  • National implications: Army Corps wants exemption from SC permit for deepening of Savannah River shipping channel http://bit.ly/T0cFOi
  • Mississippi River barge traffic at Minneapolis, Minnesota port could end by 2013 http://bit.ly/TQ6niX
  • High Plains (Kansas) farmers reluctantly starting to reduce their water use, fearing a dwindling supply http://on.wsj.com/S7WY72
  • Army Corps of Engineers develops interactive online tool for exploring Missouri River Recovery Program http://bit.ly/W7iZJI
  • Mayor monitors rising Ohio River at New Cumberland Lock and Dam http://bit.ly/W7jsM6
  • Familiar Mississippi Basin refrain: local NE U.S. officials feared restricting development; spending $ on flood planning; preparing http://on.cpsj.com/Sz3mXl
Drought-
    Click to Enlarge

  • Hurricane Sandy rains bring drought relief to Eastern third of U.S. but other areas remain parched http://bit.ly/rak0SU
  • U.S. drought reverses traditional grain movement patterns; trains and barges shipping corn into-not out of-Corn Belt http://reut.rs/PEsX2H
  • Dust Bowl lesson: Care for and conserve land for future generations http://bit.ly/Sz0olF
  • Department of Agriculture says efforts to help producers rebound from drought include conservation on >1 million acres http://bit.ly/Sz0Ikr
Farm Bill-
  • Farmers fertilize fields; order seed for next growing season, while uncertain of agricultural policies in their toolbox http://bit.ly/PEshu9
  • Op-ed: In the Spotlight: Link crop insurance to conservation compliance http://bit.ly/PCElvY
  • Policy assessment: Obscure conservation compliance provision key to protecting taxpayers and privatizing crop insurance http://bit.ly/PCCk33
  • Lobbyists: Cantor remarks mean, at best, that modified farm bill could be wrapped into another lame-duck bill http://bit.ly/WUWjvB
Agriculture -
  • National Wildlife Federation releases roadmap for increased cover crop adoption; release: http://bit.ly/UnQnFj report: http://bit.ly/UnQyRb
  • Novozymes has developed a new enzyme that allows more ethanol to be produced from the same amount of corn http://dmreg.co/PGLqfb
  • Scientists: further studies are needed on the impact of bioenergy production on marginal lands http://bit.ly/PCBJOK
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture: Farmland rental rates shot up a record 20 percent in Iowa this year http://bit.ly/PEt6Ds
  • Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research: new weather patterns will challenge commodity production http://bit.ly/SeIUZ3
  • Water and land degradation: What can smallholder farmers do? http://youtu.be/1Pb6ewKxY0M (video) 
  • New technologies to aid in farm nutrient management and research were outlined during recent Illinois conference http://bit.ly/Tp0LM0
Forestry -
  • New forest-focused project will review potential impacts of changing climate conditions on Northern Wisconsin http://bit.ly/PGLiwc
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Tiny cave-dwelling fish could have a big effect in Perry County, Missouri if it is added to the endangered species list http://bit.ly/S7knGp
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Gulf of Mexico shrimpers fear long-term harm from dead zone but most doubt much can be done about it http://dmreg.co/S7YCWb
  • Main mission of scientists aboard 116-foot research ship is to track patterns of Gulf hypoxia (low oxygen) http://dmreg.co/S7YmXl
Resource Extraction -
  • Northeast Iowa residents speak out against frac sand mining proposal http://bit.ly/S7iRUD
  • As sand mining intensifies across Wisconsin and Minnesota, county regulators hired away by the industry http://bit.ly/S7XW3c
Federal Budget -
  • Wall Street Journal produces a short, but informative, video looking at the Federal budgetary “fiscal cliff” http://bit.ly/UnXz4g
Events-
  • eARThworks exhibit proceeds benefit Missouri Coalition for the Environment; Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis, MO http://bit.ly/UnUFg4
  • Six November and December Citizens Forums across state will lead up to February 2013 Minnesota Environmental Congress http://bit.ly/UnRIfe
  • Upper Mississippi River Basin Association meetings scheduled for November 27-29 in St. Paul, Minnesota http://bit.ly/d1ksBR
  • Call for Proposals (11/8 deadline): 2013 International Congress for Conservation Biology; July 21-25; Baltimore, MD http://bit.ly/SvqVRR
  • EPA to host Nov 13 Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program stakeholder meeting http://1.usa.gov/UnSnxn (remote access available) 
Other news-
  • Davenport, Iowa's Credit Island bicycle-pedestrian bridge over the Mississippi River has its official ribbon-cutting http://bit.ly/PEC3wn
Political Scene -
  • Have you lost hope that political satire still lives in our post-Mark Twain world? Joss Whedon takes a shot at it http://youtu.be/6TiXUF9xbTo 
  • Mississippi River Network's election night summary of Congressional races for Mississippi River districts /states http://bit.ly/PEoEEA (Excel spreadsheet) 
  • Partisan politics and changed district boundary haunt U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert in Illinois bit.ly/PGJzXM 
  • Two Minnesota 8th district polls show different pictures of race between Rep. Cravaack (R) and former Rep. Nolan (D) http://bit.ly/PEs3U3 
  • House Agriculture Committee Member Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-4) is facing “big trouble” with re-election prospects http://bit.ly/UnWTvM 
  • Polls: former Democratic governor and senator Kerrey closing on GOP Nebraska state Sen. Fischer in U.S. Senate race http://politi.co/PEqu8A 
  • U of VA Center for Politics analysts call House for Republicans; Senate for Democrats; President "too close to call" http://bit.ly/UnVUM4
Last Word
"And now we're back where we started 
Here we go round again
Back where you started
Come on, do it again
Do it again
" - The Kinks


USGS: Stream Nutrient Reductions from Conservation Practices Not Consistently Detectable

Click Figure to Enlarge

Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently published the results of a National Water-Quality Assessment Program-supported study finding that the effects of land conservation practices meant to reduce nutrient loss to streams were not consistently detectable in 133 large-scale watersheds in agricultural areas across the country. The study analyzed stream monitoring data in relationship with conservation practices designed to reduce soil runoff and nutrient loss from farmland (specifically, conservation tillage and the Conservation Reserve Program). The study authors speculate that the lack of correlation could be due to an increase in dissolved nutrients from areas in conservation tillage, where fertilizer, manure, and crop residues are not fully incorporated into the soil, or to changes in water quality lagging behind the implementation of conservation practices. The article detailing the study, entitled "Relating management practices and nutrient export in agricultural watersheds of the United States," can be found at this Journal of Environmental Quality website.

Lori Sprague, the USGS hydrologist who was lead author of the study concluded that "The effects of conservation practices are not yet consistently detectable at a large watershed scale," noting that "current nutrient conditions in streams may still be reflecting agricultural practices that were in place prior to the implementation of the conservation practices."

The USGS press release summarizing the study describes the study as one that, "assessed conservation tillage and the Conservation Reserve Program, both designed to reduce soil runoff and nutrient loss from farmland. Conservation tillage, which limits soil plowing while retaining crop residue on the soil surface, is used on approximately 25 percent of the cropland in the U.S. Approximately eight percent of cropland was enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, through which environmentally sensitive farmland is restored to filter strips, grassed waterways, riparian buffers, and long-term vegetative covers, such as introduced or native grasses.

"The lack of detectable impact from conservation practices could also be due to an increase in dissolved nutrients from areas in conservation tillage, where fertilizer, manure, and crop residues are not fully incorporated into the soil. Other possible explanations include nutrient runoff from nearby cropland without conservation practices in place and an incomplete characterization of the location and spatial extent of conservation practices.

"If changes in nutrient loss from agricultural watersheds do lag implementation of conservation practices, nutrient levels in streams may be reduced in the years beyond the scope of this study, which includes USGS data from 1993 to 2001 paired with conservation data from that time period that has only recently become available. Long-term river monitoring at the large watershed scale can provide future accounting of any changes—lagged or otherwise—resulting from the implementation of conservation practices"
(emphasis added).

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Army Corps of Engineers Launches New Missouri River Recovery Program Online Tool

Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has launched a new "Missouri River Basin Explorer" Internet site; an interactive tool designed to "provide insight regarding the river's natural environment and the efforts of the Missouri River Recovery Program."  The website describes various Program issue areas and how the Army Corps is attempting to address each of those issues, which include the natural environment, endangered species, human activities adversely impacting ecosystem functions, Federal agency actions designed to "alleviate stresses on the ecosystem," and "human values" (the latter issue area still being under development).  Links to each issue area produce a watershed map, where each of five different Missouri River segments can be "explored" with respect to that particular issue.

The Missouri River Recovery Program (also known as MRRP) mission is to research, plan and then implement actions to accomplish Missouri River ecosystem recovery goals in coordination and collaboration with Army Corps' partners and other River stakeholders.  According to an Army Corps MRRP overview, those recovery goals include:
  • Providing habitat for native fish and wildlife by restoring natural features and functions.
  • Raising pallid sturgeon in hatcheries and stocking them in the River.
  • Implementing a more natural flow regimen to benefit native fish and wildlife while seeking balance with social, economic and cultural resources.
  • Ensuring that management decisions are based on the best available science.
  • Establishing collaborative stakeholder processes and educational opportunities to provide insight and recommendations on recovery activities.