Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Below are the U.S. House and Senate hearings and meetings currently scheduled for this week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources. Links are provided to the relevant Committee pages on the Internet. Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these may be, as well (follow the appropriate link). All times are Eastern.

At some time during the week, most likely on Wednesday or Thursday, the full House is scheduled to take up H.R. 3370 - the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. Among other things, that bill would prohibit Federal Emergency Management Agency from implementing flood insurance rate hikes for certain properties, scheduled to take place under provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. For more background on this issue, see this article.

Date to-be-determined

• The House Rules Committee may meet at some point during the week of February 24 to establish a rule that could limit the amendment process for subsequent House floor consideration of H.R. 2804, the All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act of 2013. Among other things, the bill would require the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to list rules online for six months before finalizing them (opponents say the bill is meant to stymie the administration's development of regulations and guidance); Room H-312 The Capitol.

Tuesday

• Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider President Obama's nominee (John Cruden) to lead the Department of Justice's environmental office.  Room 255 Dirksen Senate Office Building; 10:00 AM.
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight hearing entitled, “Natural Resource Adaptation: Protecting ecosystems and economies;"  Room 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building; 2:30 PM.

Thursday

• House Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources oversight hearing on "Obama Administration Oversight: GAO Report - Interior Hiring and Retention Challenges;" Room 1324 Longworth House Office Building; 2:00 PM.

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's Water and Power Subcommittee hearing to consider pending legislation, including S. 1800, the Bureau of Reclamation Transparency Act, a bill

  

  Angostura Dam and Reservoir
  Cheyenne River, South Dakota

  that, among other things, would require the Department of Interior to report to Congress information on maintenance needs and potential public safety threats at individual Bureau of Reclamation projects due to aging infrastructure, and major repair and rehabilitation needs (i.e., related to the safety of dams, extraordinary operations at and maintenance of dams, deferred maintenance, and all other significant repairs and extraordinary maintenance). Bureau of Reclamation's Missouri River Basin program in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming is composed of about 150 "units," each of which has been or is being constructed or investigated; SD-366 Senate Dirksen Building; 2:30 PM.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Capitol Hill Next Week - What to Watch For

The U.S. Congress was recessed this week for its annual President's Day break, but both chambers are back in session next week.  There are several Congressional committee activities scheduled that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resource issues, including a meeting on a bill that would place new regulatory and guidance development requirements upon the Administration, a hearing on a bill to require new dam infrastructure reporting from the Bureau of Reclamation (applicable in the Missouri River Basin), an oversight hearing on Department of Interior hiring and retention procedures, and others.  For details on these activities, and links to related materials, you can see our summary, here.

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -

• Federal and state efforts - regulating farmers, studying problems - not enough to protect Ohio’s waterways from harmful algal blooms http://ow.ly/tJPq4
• Editorial: "EPA's Cooperative Approach to Regulating Algae Pollution Falls Flat" http://ow.ly/tK0fN
• Study: methylmercury concentrations in estuary waters, not in sediment, better predict extent of food chain mercury contamination http://ow.ly/tNbD7
• Iowa farmers and other rural residents press the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission for cleaner water http://ow.ly/tNkkL
• Activists: Iowa panel overseeing water quality too aligned with farm interests to aggressively enforce environmental law http://ow.ly/tNkBs
• West Virginia DEP: Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission tests show no water quality change following coal slurry spill in Kanawha River tributary http://ow.ly/tOIBW
• New nitrogen and phosphorus water quality trading system will start with about 30 farms across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky http://ow.ly/tPyEy
• Midwest farmers ease into industry-created water quality credit system to fight Gulf of Mexico hypoxia http://ow.ly/tPzjS
• University of Missouri researchers join national effort searching for solutions for nutrient runoff from farms http://ow.ly/tR6Bh

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

• Seven-county Twin Cities (MN) metro area's relentless demand for groundwater could leave millions of people dry http://ow.ly/tJVls
• Army Corps hosts public hearing on southern Illinois, Mississippi River levees http://ow.ly/tN8dJ
• Vice President Biden tours Mississippi River port at Granite City, Illinois to push for more port infrastructure funding http://ow.ly/tOCYt
• Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) urges congressional leaders to delay flood insurance premium increases http://ow.ly/tOD9N
• From Dubuque, Iowa to Gregory Landing, Missouri, Mississippi River spring flood risk near normal to slightly elevated ow.ly/tR5Yv

Agriculture -

• An estimated 400 million acres of U.S. farmland will likely change hands over next two decades-much going to private investors ow.ly/tNjv0
• USDA 2012 Census shows value of farmland sales up dramatically; number of farms and land in farms down slightly http://ow.ly/tPuk2 (see press release here: http://ow.ly/tPuqG)
• USDA to invest in efforts to help landowners conserve grasslands and wetlands in the Prairie Pothole region http://ow.ly/tJQNw
• Major producers of corn-based ethanol are reporting record returns thanks to dramatically lower corn prices http://ow.ly/tJT5b
• Tight farm profit margins suggest farmers should think twice about investing in more land http://ow.ly/tMVAD
• Roundup-resistant "superweeds" crowding in on corn, soybeans in Midwest http://ow.ly/tJW6c
• Illinois agricultural statistics implicate 2011 flooding for farmland productivity losses http://ow.ly/tN8Cx
• DTN Ag Policy Blog: “Cover Crops: Health Care for the Soil” http://ow.ly/tOEjz

February 18 National Drought Map
(click to enlarge)

Climate and Weather -

• Mississippi River valley rain over past week diminished drought in parts of Louisiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin; little relief in Plains http://ow.ly/tOZOS
• Drought expected to persist or intensify into Spring across the Southwest and Southern Plains http://ow.ly/tR1ZB

In the Cities -

• Cincinnati decision to decertify flood levee surrounding airport instead of bringing it up to standards under scrutiny http://ow.ly/tK1DK

In the States-

• Proposed numeric nutrient standard rules have been filed by Montana; copies are available at the following website: http://ow.ly/tJNX7
• Indiana lawmakers close to passing measure that opponents say would favor big agribusinesses http://ow.ly/tJVSP
• Indiana lawmakers urged to reject environment rules bill by coalition of 16 environmental, health and citizens groups http://ow.ly/tOWUW

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• As cold engulfs Great Lakes, Pittsburgh's open three-rivers' water is an attractive alternative for gulls ow.ly/tJNhs
• Iowa: New Bison trucked in to help keep prairie balanced at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge http://ow.ly/tN3Rc
• Science World Report: "Dangerous Fish: Asian Carp Posing Threat to Boaters in Mississippi River Waters" http://ow.ly/tN7Sg
• Wild bumblebees worldwide in trouble; they provide substantial portion of worldwide flower and food crop pollination http://ow.ly/tOEBo

Louisiana Coastal Region-

• NOAA makes coastal land loss official: removing 40 place names from Coastal Louisiana nautical maps ow.ly/tJOGe

Forestry -

• Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility: U.S. Forest Service's law enforcement division freezes staff and cuts enforcement after requesting budget cut http://ow.ly/tNaUU

Resource Development -

• Court finds that a law giving Nebraska governor approval of Keystone pipeline route violated the state constitution http://ow.ly/tOCrU (Also see: http://ow.ly/tODjD)
• Iowa ethanol plant - to be operational in June - will be one of the first producers of biofuels made from crop waste http://ow.ly/tOEMn
• Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear endorses legislation that would hamper development of Bluegrass Pipeline through state http://ow.ly/tOXk2

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

• 19th Annual Tulane Environmental Law and Policy Summit, February 21-22, Tulane Law School, New Orleans, LA http://ow.ly/tOBAL
• Farm Bill overview webinars, February 26; March 5 and 12, hosted by American Farmland Trust and National Association of Conservation Districts http://ow.ly/tR0SK
• USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta to Host Google+ Hangout on the Changing Face of Agriculture; February 24; 3 PM ET http://ow.ly/tNmAZ
• Registration open: 2014 State of the Coast Conference, New Orleans, LA, March 18-20 http://ow.ly/tON0Q
• Registration now open for the Society for Ecological Restoration Midwest Great Lakes Chapter meeting; Univ of Minnesota, St. Paul; March 28-30 http://ow.ly/tN4aA

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia -

• Winter Update from America's Watershed Initiative http://ow.ly/tMW58
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's weekly "TUWaterWays" newsletters (February 14 ow.ly/tDDAO and February 19: ow.ly/tOBbs (PDF files))
• February "1 Mississippi" newsletter, highlighting River Citizens getting results (and having fun!) ow.ly/tDUgy
• St. Croix River Association's February 18 e-newsletter http://ow.ly/tMWD2
• Bi-weekly Green Lands Blue Waters update, highlighting Continuous Living Cover on Mississippi River Basin agricultural land ow.ly/tOAT0
• The Wetlands Initiative February e-newsletter http://ow.ly/tQZhb
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 2/20 Feedlot Update looks at Wisconsin's manure management weather alert system ow.ly/tPtod
• Montana Watershed Coordination Council Watershed News 2. 20.14 http://ow.ly/tR0eO
• American Farmland Trust February newsletter, with news of upcoming free Farm Bill webinars http://ow.ly/tR0yK

Other news-

Click to enlarge

• Four senators (three from Mississippi River basin) want halt to Endangered Species Act consultations over EPA power plant cooling water intake rule http://ow.ly/tNabZ
• Mississippi Delta's rich history, both prehistoric and historic, is in danger of being lost (Arkansas and Mississippi) http://ow.ly/tN92H (map to the right)
• Dozens of amateurs not only building large canoes - they're also going to paddle them down the Missouri River http://ow.ly/tK03e
• Illinois Water Resources Center now accepting grant applications for Student Research Awards program; deadline March 14 http://ow.ly/tPJM6

Politics and People-

• Environmental Council of the States names Alexandra Dapolito Dunn as its new executive director http://ow.ly/tN9L8
• Dick Lambert, MN DOT’s director for ports and waterways, retires after 50 years in waterways transportation sector http://ow.ly/tK0LT
• Edwin Edwards planning a 2014  run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-6-LA) http://ow.ly/tOC3B
• Heber Springs Mayor Jackie McPherson (D) enters US House race against GOP incumbent Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR-1) http://goo.gl/yr1sTx

Last Word -

"It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment." - Photographer Ansel Adams, born on February 20, 1902

2014 Farm Bill Resources Page

On February 4, the Senate passed a compromise House-Senate Conference Committee farm bill on a 68-32 roll call vote. Forty-six Democrats, 20 Republicans and two independents voted for the final bill. The House had previously (January 29) passed the bill, on a 251-166 roll call vote. The measure was then sent on to the President and signed into law on February 7.

The farm-nutrition legislation will cost $956 billion to implement over 10 years, based on a January 28, Congressional Budget Office report. According to the Conference Committee's analysis, the bill cuts $2.3 billion a year overall from current spending levels, including $400 million in annual food stamp (or "SNAP" benefit) cuts, and an elimination of direct payments to farmers: direct subsidy payments made regardless of whether they had a successful or bad crop year.

From a conservation perspective, the legislation restores a previous farm bill provision that links receipt of crop insurance premium subsidies by farmers to requirements for conserving highly erodible land and wetlands. The bill also includes a regional "sodsaver" provision that will affect the Prairie Pothole Region states of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. That provision would eliminate crop insurance premium subsidies for farmers who convert native grasslands into crop production.  That part of the bill is not national in scope; a requirement that many conservation groups were backing.

Below are links to resources you may find useful regarding the 2014 farm bill.

General Resources

• Overview of Senate and House Agriculture Committees, their membership, and links to Mississippi River Basin member home pages
• Tables listing House members and Senators, along with their Washington, DC contact information and agriculture legislative aide contact information (PDF files)

House-Senate Conference Committee

• H.R.2642 - Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (Conference committee consensus farm bill)
• Congressional Budget Office final scoring of the farm bill on H.R. 2642: http://ow.ly/t44tr

U.S. Senate

• Senate farm bill passed by the full Senate: text, summary and legislative status (S. 954) Library of Congress legislation page
• Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Home Page
• Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Hearings Page
• Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Farm Bill Page
• CBO Analysis of the Senate Agriculture Committee-passed "S. 954, Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013"

U.S. House

• House farm bill passed by the full House: text, summary and legislative status (H.R. 2642) Library of Congress legislation page
• House stand-alone nutrition bill: H.R. 3102 "To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and for other purposes"
• House Agriculture Committee Home Page
• House Agriculture Committee Hearings Page

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Water Quality -

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

  

  Nutrients concentration in Nation's streams
  and groundwater

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

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

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

  

  Proposed Arkansas River Harbor
  Project (click to enlarge)

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

Agriculture -

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

Farm Bill -

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

Climate and Weather -

February 11 Drought Monitor Map
(click to enlarge)

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

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

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

Downtown Davenport, Iowa

In the Cities -

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

In the States-

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

Louisiana Coastal Region-

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

Federal Budget -

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

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

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

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -

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

Other news-

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

Politics and People-

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

Last Word -

Mike Trout - outfielder for the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

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

USGS Briefing to Focus on Mississippi River Basin Water Quality Trends

The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program will present a public and Congressional briefing on trends in nutrients and pesticides in the Nation’s rivers and streams on April 11, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. The briefing will be cosponsored by the Northeast-Midwest Institute and Water Environment Federation.

Nutrients concentration in Nation's streams
and groundwater

At the briefing, Lori Sprague, Surface-Water Trends Coordinator for NAWQA, will present findings on trends in nutrient and pesticide concentrations, focusing on the Mississippi River Basin, which covers about 40% of the Nation. The Mississippi River Basin landscape encompasses many of the agricultural, urban, and climatic influences on water quality that impact national water quality trends. A highlight of the briefing will be information on trends in nitrate levels from the Mississippi River Basin to the Gulf of Mexico, first reported in late October, 2013.

At the briefing, NAWQA will also address several important questions that have arisen regarding how and why these trends have emerged. For example, nitrate loading to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River increased more than 10 percent from 1980 to 2010, despite efforts to improve and expand the use of agricultural and urban water quality management practices that might arguably result in a reduction of nitrate loading. NAWQA found that one increasing source of nitrate is the slow movement of nitrate-rich groundwater into streams and rivers. Slow movement of nitrate in groundwater can cause delays in realizing any of the water-quality improvements sought from recently applied nutrient management practices. On the other hand, NAWQA found that pesticide contamination trends are largely dependent on pesticide use (i.e., declining pesticide usage has been reflected in declined water concentrations, while newly introduced pesticides are appearing in increasing concentrations in streams and rivers as their use has increased).

Dr. Suzanne Bricker of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Ocean Assessments, Status, and Trends Branch will also speak, describing her work to assess estuarine health and will relate that to the trends seen in NAWQA’s monitoring and assessments.

The briefing will be free and open to the public.  Details on the briefing location are yet to be determined, and will be made available at a later date.

Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Below are the U.S. House and Senate hearings and meetings currently scheduled this week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources.   In addition, on Monday, the full House is scheduled to consider H.R. 2431 - The National Integrated Drought Information Systems Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Sponsored by Rep. Ralph Hall / Science, Space, and Technology Committee). That bill would amend the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 to specify that the National Integrated Drought Information System Program's purpose is to better inform and provide for more timely decision-making to reduce drought related impacts and costs.

Links are provided to the relevant Committee pages on the Internet.  Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these may be, as well (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.

Monday

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee field hearing on West Virginia chemical spill; Ceremonial Courtroom 4, 2nd Floor, 407 Virginia Street, East, Charleston, WV 25301; 9:00 AM

Tuesday

• House Science, Space and Technology Environment Subcommittee Hearing - "Ensuring Open Science at EPA;" Room 2318 Rayburn House Office Building; 10:00 AM
• House Budget Committee markup of biennial budgeting bill; room 210 Cannon House Office Building; 10:00 AM (to outline the timetable and rules for establishing the two-year federal budget)
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Panel on Public-Private Partnerships roundtable on use of and opportunities for public-private partnerships (P3s) across all modes of transportation, economic development, public buildings, water, and maritime infrastructure and equipment; Room 2167 Rayburn House Office Building; 2:30 PM

Wednesday

• Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing on cost of not being prepared for extreme weather events; Room 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building; 10:00 AM

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Habemus Morbi Rutrum! ("We Have a Farm Bill!")

"Habemus Morbi Rutrum!" (U.S. Capitol Building)

On February 4, the Senate passed a compromise House-Senate Conference Committee farm bill on a 68-32 roll call vote. Forty-six Democrats, 20 Republicans and two independents joined together to vote for the Farm Bill conference report. The House had previously (on January 29) passed the bill, by a 251-166 margin. The bill has been sent on to the President for his signature, ending three years of often contentious deliberation.  The President is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday during an event at Michigan State University, alma mater of Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

There were several notable votes in opposition to the bill from Senators representing Mississippi River Basin states. Both Oklahoma Sens. Tom Coburn (R) and Jim Inhofe (R) voted against the conference report, as did Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Pat Roberts (R-KS). Grassley, a longtime member of the Agriculture Committee, cited provisions passed by the Senate but then removed from the final bill that would have reduced the number of people associated with one farm who can collect farm subsidies. Roberts indicated in a news release that he "voted against final passage of the 2014 Farm Bill conference report because it goes backwards towards protectionist subsidy programs, instead of forward with innovative and responsible solutions for producers and the taxpayer.”

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -

• U.S. District Court orders Stabl Inc. to pay $2.2 million penalty for Clean Water Act violations (Lexington, Neb.) ow.ly/tggtZ
• "How Protective of Designated Use are Nutrient Criteria?" ow.ly/teAod
• Wisconsin DNR proposes to add 192 waterways to list of lakes, rivers, streams failing to meet water quality standards ow.ly/tdQX4
• Kansas Attorney General joins other states in appealing USEPA’s proposed regulation of nutrients in farm, lawn runoff http://ow.ly/tgEno
• Environment and Energy: Twenty-one states join agriculture interests' appeal challenging court decision upholding USEPA's Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan http://ow.ly/th6XL
• Washington Post: AGs in 21 states are backing attempt to derail EPA’s Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan, fearing use of that authority elsewhere http://ow.ly/tl76t (Here is their joint amicus brief filed this week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit: http://ow.ly/tl7zR)
• Federal grand jury investigation launched into West Virginia chemical spill that left 300,000 people unable to use water supply http://ow.ly/tj5xH
• Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in water supply lake has cost Columbus, Ohio $723,000 in treatment expenses http://ow.ly/tj6M6
• American Farm Bureau at House committee hearing: expanded EPA/Army Corps Clean Water Act jurisdiction would negatively affect farmers http://ow.ly/tl8s1 (PDF of Farm Bureau testimony: http://ow.ly/tl8FS)

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

• House - Senate negotiations over final Water Resources Development Act back "on track" after mid-winter's stall http://ow.ly/tnIkX
• Army Corps to invite contractors for $1-5 million Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers dredging services http://ow.ly/tgj8s
• IWMI Study: best way to protect wetlands is to find the right balance between farming and conservation ow.ly/tdQr3
• Proposed water pipeline to carry Missouri River water into the Red River Basin gets state legislative look http://ow.ly/tiUbI
• National Weather Service: minor flooding in Ohio River valley may continue into Saturday http://ow.ly/tlfnJ and http://ow.ly/tleTL
• Ice-clogged Illinois River slows barge traffic http://ow.ly/tiUwn
• Army Corps is closely monitoring Ohio River during unusually icy winter http://ow.ly/tnKst
• Residents evacuate as ice-clogged Platte River floods Kearney, Nebraska neighborhood http://ow.ly/tiUOj
• After receiving criticism during 2011 Missouri River flood, Army Corps of Engineers vows to be more transparent and open http://ow.ly/tleuJ
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approves North American Wetlands Conservation Act, would extend conservation program authority http://ow.ly/tma4u

Farm Bill- 

• New farm bill pares down conservation programs to just 13 by combining smaller programs, folding others into larger ones http://ow.ly/tlczI
• The Hill: "Senate sends farm bill to Obama" http://ow.ly/thq4o
• President is expected to sign the farm bill into law Friday during an event at Michigan State University http://ow.ly/tj3Xn
• Washington Post editorial questions central premise of farm bill: that U.S. agriculture requires centralized planning ow.ly/tiJn9
• Kansas City Star: Farm bill easily passes Senate, will change operations for farmers nationwide http://ow.ly/tj61H
• New York Times: Senate Passes Long-Stalled Farm Bill, With Clear Winners and Losers ow.ly/tjlLX
• How did your senators vote on the farm bill (interactive map) http://ow.ly/tk1ka
• Here's how the Senate's 68-32 farm bill passage vote broke out (by Senator and state): http://ow.ly/thASi
• The story behind how the "conservation compliance" provision came to be included in the final farm bill http://ow.ly/tiQs0
• Des Moines Register editorial: Taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance under farm bill comes with an important conservation "string" ow.ly/tdKwo
• Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Stabenow (D-Mich.) offers defense of farm bill's controversial aspects ow.ly/tdHO6

Agriculture - 

• National Corn Growers Association to create science advisory council to develop practices that boost soil health http://ow.ly/tmaIg (The Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund are providing technical support)
• Arkansas groups suing in hopes of moving hog farm away from Buffalo River: one of last free-flowing U.S. rivers http://ow.ly/tgDWc
• Number of Iowa manure spills last year was a 65 percent jump from 2012, when 46 spills occurred http://ow.ly/tgDtK

Climate and Weather -

February drought forecast
(click to enlarge)

• National drought monitor: significant precipitation deficits mount in Louisiana; Missouri River down substantially  http://ow.ly/q3w3u
• NOAA's Climate Prediction Center February drought outlook http://ow.ly/q3yAx (see figure to right)
• New USDA "climate hubs" program designed to help farmers, ranchers, rural communities combat climate change, adapt to extreme weather http://ow.ly/tiM38
• Senate approves Drought Information Act of 2013; bill to keep a federal drought information system going but with budget cut http://ow.ly/tiS1g

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

American Burying Beetle

• Plan being considered for consistent fish catch limits in all of Mississippi River's Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa waters http://ow.ly/t9Wts
• Iowa State University researchers: Honey bee threats include farm pesticide, loss of habitat to urban sprawl http://ow.ly/t9K0V
• Five large oil, gas companies enroll in plan to keep lesser prairie chicken (southern Great Plains) off endangered species list http://ow.ly/t9V8K
• Stunning migration of trumpeter swans turns Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary into tourist hot spot (Alton, IL) ow.ly/tdGYS
• South Dakota State University research: more diverse ant population marks a more completely-restored grassland http://ow.ly/tlb1Z
• Newly-introduced bill would require separating Lake Michigan from Mississippi River watershed in Chicago area http://ow.ly/tleGo
• Fish and Wildlife Service documents: two officials repeatedly committed scientific misconduct in estimating Oklahoma endangered insect's range ow.ly/tnGi5

In the Cities -

• Brainerd (Minnesota) seeks applications for Mississippi River Partnership Plan steering committee membership http://ow.ly/tgjzo
• Online Nashville Low Impact Development Tour; Spotlighting Low Impact Development in Nashville, Tennessee ow.ly/ta2R1
• Latest report in McKnight's “Food for Thought” series: "A River Runs Through Us-Why the Mississippi River is crucial to Minneapolis-St. Paul's future" http://ow.ly/th9IJ
• Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, OH announced as one of four 2014 U.S. Water Prize winners http://ow.ly/tjg24
• Endangered Species Act Congressional Working Group releases its final Report, Findings and Recommendations http://ow.ly/tl7Rp (press release: http://ow.ly/tl7UR)
• Cities utilize mix of green and traditional infrastructure in combined sewer overflow control ow.ly/tmwZY
• Big oil projects being planned for both sides of the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge http://ow.ly/tnKaF

Louisiana Coastal Region-

• Lake Pontchartrain storm surge protection for Mandeville, Louisiana could cost nearly $30 million, engineer says http://ow.ly/tj7nS
• Eight teams to develop proposals to rescue Mississippi River delta wetlands from sinking into the Gulf of Mexico http://ow.ly/tleh5

Forestry -

• Farm bill boosts forest restoration; gaining both timber and environmental interest support for forestry measures http://ow.ly/tlave
• Mississippi River Basin subwatersheds will see some of USDA's $30 million this fiscal year to address wildfire threats and water quality http://ow.ly/tnHme

Resource Development -

• Study: Policymakers should be cautious when it comes to allowing new sand-mining operations in northeastern Iowa http://ow.ly/t9JPI

Federal Budget -

• House GOP divided on debt ceiling, while Obama administration says Congress needs to lift ceiling this month ow.ly/tiNpT

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

• Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee and federal agencies to hold public meeting on Missouri River Recovery Program; Feb. 11-13, Kansas City http://ow.ly/t9W0j
• State Level Nutrient Reduction Strategies Webinar; February 19, 10-11:30 CST; details and log-in information: ow.ly/tgfPh
• Army Corps to hold Feb. 19 public meeting at Wolk Lake, MO on two Middle Mississippi River training structure projects http://ow.ly/tnKUC
• Upper St. Croix Basin Forestry Conference: roll of healthy forests in keeping water clean; February 27; Hinckley, MN ow.ly/tggcf
• Missouri Coalition for the Environment annual meeting; March 2, 1-3 pm Ruthie's Grill, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO ow.ly/tgh86
• Midwest Great Lakes Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration Chapter Meeting; March 28-30; St. Paul, MN http://ow.ly/tlbrv
• Save the dates: 2014 America's Watershed Initiative Summit; Louisville, Kentucky; September 30-October 2 http://ow.ly/tlWZJ
• Living Lands and Waters now coordinating 2014 Great Mississippi River Cleanup up and down entire Mississippi River; more information here: http://ow.ly/tl6ze

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -

• Bi-weekly Green Lands Blue Waters update, highlighting  Continuous Living Cover on Mississippi River Basin agricultural land http://ow.ly/tjWMp
• Montana Watershed Coordination Council's Watershed News February 6 edition http://ow.ly/tl64q
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's February 6 TUWaterWays newsletter http://ow.ly/tlY9s (pdf file)
• National Water Research Institute February 6, E-Newsletter http://ow.ly/tnCvm
• Water Environment Federation's "Stormwater Report" for February 2014 ow.ly/tmh4z

Other news-

• Environmental Protection Agency agrees to establish rules for coal ash disposal by Dec. 19, as part of environmental and citizen group lawsuit settlement http://ow.ly/t9JbK
• Fish consumption advisories unlikely to effectively reduce prenatal exposures to persistent organic pollutants ow.ly/tdSg8
• Research using Susquehanna, Delaware, Allegheny and Shenandoah river water indicates estrogenic compounds may change fish heart development http://ow.ly/th8zS
• Comment deadline on Ozark National Scenic Riverways General Management Plan: February 7 ow.ly/tdJ0i
• Four new job postings at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Alton, Illinois http://ow.ly/tiLhf
• Opening of Mississippi River levee bike path in Louisiana delayed as Army Corps fixes problems http://ow.ly/tiTsJ
• Cost of dealing with sediment dredging materials piled along Minnesota River threatens to run into the millions http://ow.ly/tiTP2
• Taking the longer view of public-private partnerships for conservation and environmental management http://ow.ly/tjbNQ
• House passes broad package of hunting, fishing measures; blocking Democratic endangered species, climate amendments http://ow.ly/tld4F (see H.R. 3590 - Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013 here: http://ow.ly/tldvY)
• Extreme Midwestern temperature fluctuations have brought a rare natural phenomenon known as "frost quakes" http://ow.ly/tnHPG
• Canadian Pacific oil tanker train leaves 65-mile long oil spill trail from Red Wing to Winona along Mississippi River http://ow.ly/tnKFl

Politics and People-

• New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu wins landslide victory and a second term ow.ly/tdFzK
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has chosen his chief of staff, Tina Smith, as his running mate for this year: http://strib.mn/1k9Z9IG
• Oklahoma Democratic state Rep. Joe Dorman announces he's challenging GOP Gov. Mary Fallin in 2014 election http://bit.ly/1k9YUxp
• Garret Graves, Louisiana's point person on coastal issues, announces his resignation http://ow.ly/tjGdr
• Iowa bridge construction contractor Robert Cramer announces entry into GOP race for retiring Rep. Latham's (IA-3) seat http://dmreg.co/1nbzz2Z
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advances key Obama Administration Interior and EPA nominations http://ow.ly/tm95h (including Ken Kopocis, nominee to be EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water)
• Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) may act swiftly in appointing a U.S. Senate successor to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) http://ow.ly/tnEfj and http://ow.ly/tnEwF
• With Sen. Max Baucus off to China as the next U.S. ambassador, key Senate committees' chairs up for grabs http://ow.ly/tnJ8b
• Mike Boots to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality; to take position later this month http://ow.ly/tnGXS

Last Word - 

"(They) have the farsightedness and confidence in what they know is happening to ignore the headless chicken brigade and do something practical to help." - Britain's Prince Charles, paying tribute to youngsters vying for the Prince of Wales Young Sustainability Entrepreneur Prize, while dismissing climate change "deniers."