EPA Seeks Mississippi River Basin Nutrient Pollution Impact Photos for Education and Outreach

The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water has announced that it is looking for digital photographs depicting the adverse impacts of nutrient pollution within the Mississippi River Basin (i.e., those showing algal blooms or fish kills, or other impacts on recreation, tourism and public health).  EPA hopes to use the images collected for public outreach and education in order to raise public awareness about the negative results associated with Mississippi River Basin nutrient pollution.

Photos should ideally  be medium to high quality (size: 300 dpi or greater).  Interested persons should contact Patricia Scott at scott.patricia@epa.gov to discuss details.

Mississippi River Basin-Related Congressional Hearings for the Week

Only one particularly Mississippi River Basin-relevant hearing is scheduled to take place this week on Capitol Hill.  That one is:

• The House Science, Space and Technology Committee's Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on EPA science program improvement; February 3, 10 AM (Eastern); room 2318 Rayburn House Office Building  (Note that this will be the third in a series of Subcommittee hearings on the general topic of "Fostering Quality Science at EPA: Perspectives on Common Sense Reform."  The first hearing was held on November 17 and the second on November 30, 2011.  The subcommittee's information for those two hearings can be found here (November 17) and here (November 30)).

Controversial St. Croix River Crossing Project Bill Passes U.S. Senate

Stillwater Lift Bridge

On January 23, the U.S. Senate passed the St. Croix River Crossing Project Authorization Act (S. 1134) by unanimous consent, clearing the way for the much-debated and controversial measure to be considered by the House.  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), with three cosponsors would permit "any federal agency to authorize and assist in the construction of a new bridge crossing" over the St. Croix River as long as "specified mitigation items" contained in a "2006 St. Croix River Crossing Project Memorandum of Understanding for Implementation of Riverway Mitigation Items" are included within the project conditions.  The new bridge would replace an 80 year-old Stillwater Lift Bridge, which most people agree was never intended to carry the level of traffic that it currently does, is gradually failing structurally, and needs to be replaced.

However, two issues have consistently arisen at the center of a running controversy regarding the appropriateness of the bridge replacement project approved by the Senate's bill: the project's cost and its suitability, especially given the St. Croix River's Federal designation as a Wild and Scenic River.  Proponents, including Senator Klobuchar and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN-6), maintain that the new bridge represents a safe and efficient alternative to the lift bridge that it would replace.   Bridge opponents argue that the project is not fiscally responsible and would be environmentally damaging, especially in light of what they say are readily-available, less costly alternatives (see, for example, this release from Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4) and this from American Rivers, both in response to the Senate passage of St. Croix River bridge legislation).

The St. Croix River originates in northeastern Wisconsin, flowing out of Upper St. Croix Lake.  It joins the Namekagon River, and a few miles downstream of that confluence a considerably wider St. Croix River forms the boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin (for approximately 130 miles until its confluence with the Mississippi River).

The bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Budget committees for consideration.  To date, no action has been scheduled in any of those committees on the measure.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Farm Bill-

• Rep. Peterson (D-MN-7): ‘relatively optimistic’ about new Farm Bill this year; Rep. Walz (D-MN-1): little prospect http://bit.ly/yn3J9x 
• MN DNR estimates 550,000 acres of MN ag land will expire from Conservation Reserve Program in next 3 years http://bit.ly/yLirDg
• Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) doubts Congress will find will to write new farm bill this year; looks to extension instead http://argusne.ws/AkMK7m
• House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas feels strong urgency to complete Farm Bill in 2012 http://bit.ly/xR08Pm

Water Quality -

• EPA study to focus on clean water value to various economic sectors: tourism, farming, fishing, manufacturing, etc. http://1.usa.gov/xwJBY4
• TN issues water quality violation notice to coal company for discharging >1.4 M GAL into New River http://bit.ly/yseMBP
• House Natural Resources Comm GOP threatens subpoena Administration to get upcoming stream protection rule documents http://bit.ly/yF91OI PDF

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

• J of Soil & Water Conservation: Impacts of 2011 induced levee breaches on Mississippi River Valley agricultural lands http://bit.ly/xMDLYW
• Agreement moves ahead for refurbishment work on Coon Rapids Dam (Mississippi River - MN) http://bit.ly/wvifUQ
• Inland Waterways Users Board caught in "bureaucratic limbo" as its authority to exist expires http://bit.ly/yIO56l
• Crown Hydro seeks new hydroelectric project location from Corps on St. Anthony Falls lock & dam property (MN) http://bit.ly/zrUut8
• Army Corps will clear (dredge) barge traffic chokepoint at mouth of Mississippi River w/ $5 Million in extra funds http://bit.ly/zSOlEH
• May 2011 Mississippi River floods created legacy of damage in 100s of agricultural acres http://bit.ly/wuNmYY
• Iowa to receive $10.8 Million in Federal (USDA) farm-flood recovery funds http://bo.st/wP1bjC
• Fracking in Kansas pushes water use permits to new high, even as sections of state struggle with drought http://bit.ly/wXEpu5
• Harpeth River (TN) advocates excited at this summer's dam removal and prospects for improved fish/mussel passage http://tnne.ws/waslkf
• Research calls into question whether constructed wetlands compensate for destroyed/buried ones they "replace" http://nyti.ms/x4g8vH

Agriculture -

• Kansas Governor, Attorney General object to proposed EPA Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Reporting Rule http://bit.ly/z9EMyq
• Op-ed: "President Obama Should Spend $6 Billion in Corn Ethanol Subsidies on Biofuels and Renewable Energy" http://bit.ly/wDiryq
• USDA releases new map of nation's growing zones; confirms what many already know: warmer winters http://bit.ly/A4lXrV
  
• USDA Announces New Ag Energy Website http://bit.ly/wyTlss
• Agriculture and Climate Change, Revisited (NY Times): Future climate talks need strong food production focus  http://nyti.ms/xYtFO4
• EPA meets w/ Region 7 & 8 state agriculture directors to discuss ag sector interests & concerns; news: http://bit.ly/zZ490u & EPA release: http://1.usa.gov/AeGhKk
• Nat Geog: "Raiding the Bread Basket: Use and Abuse of the Mississippi River Basin" http://bit.ly/wJCONb [costs of industrial agricultural]
• U of MN River Life blog overview of major federal-state effort to curb farm-based water pollution starting up in MN bit.ly/wHEy8x
• Sen. Cardin (D-MD) calls for end to preferential treatment of corn-based ethanol http://wapo.st/A5jcWd
• Congressional Research Service releases new report: “The Role of Local Food Systems in U.S. Farm Policy” http://bit.ly/zscMA7 (PDF)
• National Assoc of Farm Service Agency County Office Employees calls on Congress to review proposed USDA office closures http://bit.ly/xEec7n

 Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Australian company to harvest carp from MN waters & open new MN processing plant http://bit.ly/A5pdye
• Parish along Ouachita River has highest number of invasive plant species in Louisiana (359) http://tnsne.ws/ylOB9Y
• NOAA & USFWS Draft National Fish, Wildlife & Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy open for Public Review thru March 5 http://bit.ly/w6PQhD

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Louisiana state $923 million coastal restoration & hurricane levee spending plan proposed http://bit.ly/we0dBY
• Louisiana's new flood plan relies more on wetland restoration; not past's heavy reliance on levees and seawalls http://bit.ly/wxBwgv
• Fishers object to LA proposed 50-yr coastal restoration & protection plan reliance on freshwater & sediment diversions http://bit.ly/w2f1dR

Resource extraction -

• WV state legislator to introduce >20 bills this session to amend Marcellus Shale measure passed last month http://bit.ly/z5kr18
• Ohio House members looking into ways to tighten state's regulation of fracking & injection disposal wells http://ohne.ws/yiLyx5
• VW DEP: Study finds no link between mining and complaints of polluted groundwater in southern WV http://bit.ly/xIs6k8
• WI DNR has no plans for new limits on growing sand mining industry http://bit.ly/wwDNec

Federal Budget -

• Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) confirms that House Republicans will move a budget resolution this year http://bit.ly/zvUwEe
• Obama Administration delays 2013 budget release one week until February 13 http://bit.ly/wlOrVW
• See our Federal Budget &Appropriations Update here for the latest on where things stand politically & legislatively http://bit.ly/yBTgCL

Events-

• Great Waters Coalition Webinar on Regional Restoration Program Authorizations; Feb 9; 4 PM EST http://bit.ly/AwqN8E (PDF file)
• Registration deadline for the 2012 Upper Midwest Stream Restoration Conference is THIS Friday, January 27 http://bit.ly/xbTKQw
• EPA Nutrient Removal Webinar: Nitrogen Control at Wastewater Treatment Plants; March 8, 1:00-4:30 PM EST  http://1.usa.gov/AASLZZ
• WI Assoc for Floodplain, Stormwater & Coastal Mgmt Feb. 16 seminar on fish passages at road crossings; Waukesha, WI http://bit.ly/yFW2fd
• USDA Webinar: "Assessing the Vulnerability of Water and Watersheds to Climate Change" February 2, 12:00 PM EST http://1.usa.gov/xuMTUz
• Horinko Group Webinar: Agricultural Water Usage-Trends, Indicators, and What It All Means; February 16, 1:30 PM EST http://bit.ly/xwN869
• RT @InvasiveNotes: National Invasive Species Awareness Week, February 26 - March 3, 2012 Washington, DC bit.ly/4vuLqO

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• January edition of "Mississippi River Basin Update" now available online; full of River Basin policy & science news http://bit.ly/woxjwQ

Other news-

• Minneapolis had the first centralized hydroelectric power in the nation http://bit.ly/ydx80y
• Scientists develop way to use satellites to help farmers improve harvests http://reut.rs/x3ynXH  could be available for wide use in 2 yrs
• Johnson Foundation Report: urban water and sewage systems will need to overhaul to adapt to climate change http://bit.ly/xrybNh (PDF file)
• Nijmegen's (Netherlands) "Room for the River" plan receives "Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award 2011" http://bit.ly/Ah4r1H

Political Scene -

• Freshman US Rep. DesJarlais (R-TN-4) catches break and will not face a primary challenge from state Sen. Ketron http://bit.ly/zP9y0B
• US Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) suffers serious stroke but should be able to return to his full Senate duties http://politi.co/xZ3llo
• US Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN-6) confirms that she will run for 4th term in Congress this year http://bit.ly/xPAgnR
• New Tennessee Congressional district map helps assure Republican dominance http://bit.ly/wUZqMa

Last Word -
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."– Albert Einstein

Federal Budget and Appropriations Update

The Obama Administration has announced that it will release its 2013 Fiscal Year budget proposal on Monday, February 13: a budget highly-expected to be more frugal on Federal discretionary spending than last year’s version. Anticipating criticisms from the left, the White House has preemptively hinted that their proposal will present a disappointingly slim budget, warning its political allies to brace themselves for an austere plan.

“Traditionally,” the release of the Administration’s budget proposal kicks the Federal appropriations process into high gear. Following its release, members of Congress would customarily start to negotiate and adopt a Budget Resolution in response to the President’s budget; House and Senate committees would schedule and hold budget hearings regarding the agencies under their jurisdiction, and Appropriations Committees in both the Senate and House would go about developing legislation to allocate funds (ostensibly in line with Fiscal Year 2013 spending ceilings set by the Budget Resolution). There are twelve appropriation subcommittees in each chamber, and each would be tasked with drafting legislation to allocate funds to government agencies within their respective jurisdictions.

However, few fiscal years end up reflecting that “traditional” appropriations approach. Last year’s example was a case in point, when the House developed a Budget Resolution, only to look on as the Senate declined to follow suite.

House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) confirmed earlier this month that House Republicans plan to once more move a Budget Resolution forward in 2012, laying to rest rumors that the House would wait first for the Senate to act, in order to avoid a repeat of 2011.

An informative, June 2011, Congressional Research Service introduction to the Congressional budget and appropriations process can be read on-line or downloaded here (PDF file).

The latest news on appropriations efforts in Congress can be tracked on the respective House and Senate Appropriations Committee’s web pages, or on this Library of Congress web page.

January Mississippi River Basin Update Now Available On-Line

The January edition of the "Mississippi River Basin Update" is now available for reading or downloading online (PDF file here).  The January edition includes these stories:

RIVER BASIN NEWS AND NOTES

• New Farm-Water Quality “Regulatory Certainty” Strategy to be Piloted in Minnesota
• 2012 Water Protection Network Annual Meeting to Have a Mississippi River Basin Focus
• Federal Draft Ocean and Coastal Implementation Plan Includes Mississippi River Basin Actions
• NRCS Issues Request for Proposals under its Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative
• Applicants Sought for Mississippi River Policy Manager Position in River Region
• EPA Advisory Committee Completes Water Quality-Agriculture Report
• Upcoming Conferences, Events and Workshops

LEGISLATION, BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

• 2012 Farm Bill
• Water Resources Development Act
• Federal Budget and Appropriations Update

New Farm-Water Quality "Regulatory Certainty" Strategy to be Piloted in Minnesota

One of the more significant River Basin related news items for the week was a Tuesday announcement by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, together with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, of a new program to be piloted in Minnesota to increase voluntary use of farm conservation practices. The related USDA news release can be seen here.

The program is part of a wider federal strategy that would effectively give farmers "certainty" with respect to water quality regulations if they voluntarily choose to put land conservation practices in place for the benefit of improved water quality. Agricultural producers who implement a significant degree of conservation practices to reduce nutrient run-off and erosion would receive assurance (or "certainty") from Minnesota that their farms will meet the state's water quality standards and goals throughout the duration of the certainty agreement.

According to the USDA news release, the USDA and EPA will "offer support to Minnesota in developing its certainty process for water quality improvements on private agricultural lands and eligible tribal lands in high priority watersheds. While this idea is new to protection of water quality, 'certainty agreements' have been successful for encouraging private landowners to conserve wildlife habitat."

Details of the program have yet to be developed, and Minnesota plans to form a Technical Advisory Committee to help it develop those details. That committee will solicit input from stakeholders in designing the initiative. One group of stakeholders, the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, responded to Tuesday's announcement with a press releasesetting forth the key elements that the Partnership believes "any agricultural water pollution clean-up program must" contain, including ensuring water quality will meet standards, targeting resources to the greatest needs, ensuring accountability from farm operators, and being consistent with existing pollution reduction programs and laws.

EPA has been exploring a variety of certainty mechanisms in conjunction with USDA and several states for some time, and the Minnesota pilot certainty initiative could be viewed as one component of the Obama Administration's draft action plan to address the challenges facing ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, announced on January 12 and reported on here last week. Among other goals, that action plan calls for the "development of State regulatory certainty programs for reducing nutrient and sediment loads that will accelerate the adoption of voluntary conservation efforts" by 2013.