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-

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• 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).

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.

The MRRP home page can be found here.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Water Infrastructure Bill To Be Introduced
Because the U.S. House and Senate continue to recess until November 13, the Tuesday after Election Day and the day after Veterans Day, not much is happening on the Federal legislative side of Mississippi River Basin water issues, with the notable exception of a water infrastructure bill that Senator Lamar Alexander (R) of Tennessee says he intends to introduce when Congress reconvenes.  Sen. Alexander's "American Waterways Act," will, according to media reports and the Senator's press release, address chronic issues surrounding the financial viability of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (that funds river system infrastructure projects) and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The bill is still being drafted but reportedly will seek to:

• Remove the requirement that the Army Corps of Engineers' Olmsted Lock project (on the Ohio River) be funded using Inland Waterways Trust Fund revenues.  Such a shift is intended to "free up revenue to address needed lock and dam repairs across the country," according to the Senator's press release;
• Provide full federal funding for maintenance of harbors up to 50 feet deep (currently Federal funding is only available at full funding to depths of 45 feet; larger post-Panama Canal expansion ships will typically require a 50-foot channel depth);
• Establish an accounting method for revenues from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund that will allow them to offset annual Harbor Maintenance spending;
• Speed construction permit approval and provide states with the ability to appeal "slow moving regulatory decision making by adopting a Federal Highway Administration-like "MAP-21" type approach to project management;
• Authorize a five-year construction program to advance projects that deepen ports to accommodate post-Panama Canal expansion ships (i.e. providing harbors and channels with a needed 50-foot depth);
• Require the Federal government to follow the Inland Waterways Capital Development Plan developed by the Inland Waterways User's Board that (among other things) shifts responsibility for water project construction and maintenance costs among parties and provides for a minimal increase in a fuel tax that funds the Inland Waterways Trust Fund; and
• Open the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for use on currently-ineligible port projects, such as "landside" projects.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -

• Minnesota hog producer to pay a $14,000 penalty for pumping manure into field that drained to nearby creek http://bit.ly/TXNqLn
• Study: Pollution from agricultural production degrades coastal salt marshes more quickly than previously thought http://bit.ly/TXJk6c
• EPA October Nonpoint Source News-Notes Special Issue: Controlling Nutrients through Non-Regulatory State Efforts http://1.usa.gov/TzeoOS

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

• Upper Mississippi River Restoration - Environmental Management Program (Army Corps) launches new Web site http://1.usa.gov/XsKCec
• Nebraska project to increase water flows to Republican and Platte Rivers subject to water agreements with other states http://bit.ly/TXO8sj
• Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) to introduce American Waterways Act to "modernize" American waterways, ports http://bit.ly/TXHWQW
• Keeping the Federal Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill afloat without the banned earmarks http://bit.ly/RWjLCi

Drought-

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• This past week the U.S. drought eased very slightly, but not in worst-hit areas http://bit.ly/rak0SU
• U.S. drought shows little sign of easing; farmers close out corn and soybean harvests; turn attention to winter wheat http://bit.ly/XsSoVz
• Worsening dryness in the U.S. is a threat to hard red winter wheat http://bloom.bg/Xm4vne
• U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: world better prepared to ride out tight grain supplies and extreme weather http://dmreg.co/TaH2UH
• U.S. drought demonstrates global need to improve water management to prevent crop disasters http://buswk.co/XsFMOe

Farm Bill-

• Majority Leader Eric Cantor: House will vote on Farm Bill during post-election lame duck session http://bit.ly/VqJ6FE
• USDA Secretary: Farm Bill link between federal crop insurance and conservation compliance ‘isn’t going to happen’ http://dmreg.co/XTmT65
• Conservation land protections await farm bill approval http://bit.ly/Slv7ki

Agriculture -

• New York Times Op-ed (Mark Bittman): A simple fix for farming http://nyti.ms/RKsub4
• Southwest Iowa Growers Fight to Safeguard Soil Amid Weather Extremes http://bit.ly/XsHa3g
• Across U.S. Corn Belt, Farmland Prices Keep Soaring http://nyti.ms/WFDOLz
• New record price for farmland in Iowa, 80.5 acres of northwest Iowa land sold at auction for $21,900 an acre http://bit.ly/XsRmsz

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Iconic species has found a home at the new eagle aviary in Dubuque, Iowa's National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium http://bit.ly/XsMkfD
• IL organizations collaborating to stop 2-way invasive species transfer between Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins http://bit.ly/RWjn6T
• 200 scientists warn Administration of invasive species risk as EPA weighs new biofuels feedstocks http://bit.ly/Tzf9aF

Gulf Coastal Region-

• State of Louisiana requests jury trial against BP over $1B in economic losses from Deepwater Horizon disaster http://bloom.bg/XsJbwm

Resource Extraction -

• Environmental groups protest an Ohio watershed conservancy district's short-term water sales to oil and gas industry http://bit.ly/QBBb8G
• Frac sand mining company and 2 mine owners take Houston County, Minnesota to court to clear way for mining; processing http://bit.ly/T2YZA2
• Environmental groups sue in attempt to block permitting at two Kentucky and West Virginia mountaintop surface mines http://bit.ly/T2Zeel

Federal Budget -

• List of what Federal programs might fall under the budget axe if congressional leaders strike a "fiscal cliff" deal http://bit.ly/TaGQo8
• Senators' efforts to come up with a plan to avoid a Federal "fiscal cliff" pick up speed http://bit.ly/RPZezA
• Washington Post - National Association of Manufacturers' dire U.S. budget report: "Fiscal Shock: America's Economic Crisis" http://wapo.st/XsUpRz

Events-

• Possibilities for Addressing Our Nation’s Water Infrastructure Backlog; Horinko Group Lecture; Dec. 5, Washington, DC bit.ly/XsxtSw
• Mississippi River Network holds annual meeting http://bit.ly/WFEalk

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• The Horinko Group's October "sustainabulletin" e-newsletter is out - http://bit.ly/XswdPi
• EPA's October 2012 issue of Watershed News is now online http://1.usa.gov/XsDiiB

Other news-

• Rural economy: 15% of Iowa children lived in poverty in 2010, rising at faster rate than in rest of US over a decade http://dmreg.co/TaGjTd
• Great Rivers Partnership announces 10 "proof-of-concept" projects re: system-scale outcomes in Mississippi River Basin http://bit.ly/XsEouR
• National Research Council releases report on Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels in the U.S. http://bit.ly/TaJbeG
• Mining company tells EPA railroad should help clean lead contamination along hundreds of miles of Missouri rail lines http://bit.ly/TeeRzC

Political Scene -

• Kerrey (D) struggling in Nebraska's U.S. Senate race http://yhoo.it/XsVj0n
• Washington Post: “2012’s worst candidate? With Mark Clayton, Tennessee Democrats hit bottom.” (U.S. Senate race) http://wapo.st/TzdSjY
• New poll says race for North Dakota U.S. Senate is a statistical dead heat http://bit.ly/TXGqym
• Recent River Basin Congressional race polls: Minnesota-8th District House http://bit.ly/SlrjPK  Indiana U.S. Senate http://bit.ly/X78zHR

Last Word

"You know, sometimes, when they say you're ahead of your time, it's just a polite way of saying you have a real bad sense of timing." - former U.S. Senator from South Dakota, George McGovern, who died on Sunday, October 21.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

National Research Council: Army Corps Faces "Unsustainable Situation"
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers faces an "unsustainable situation" in maintaining its national water projects at acceptable levels of performance, according to a new report released this week by the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC). A pre-publication copy of the NRC Committee report, "Corps of Engineers Water Resources Infrastructure: Deterioration, Investment, or Divestment?" has been made available by the authoring NRC "Committee on the United States Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Science, Engineering, and Planning" through the NRC report web site. For more information, you can read this recent blog update.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Drought-

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• The week's storm system spread significant rain amounts from Oklahoma to Upper Great Lakes, moderating drought a bit http://bit.ly/rak0SU
• Six week animation of extent of drought in the U.S. (September 11 - October 16) bit.ly/RMHIzf
• Drought that ravaged the United States this year does not appear to be abating and may spread through the winter http://trib.in/RMGnZk
• Rivers and rainfall approaching record low levels; MN officials want homeowners to eliminate nonessential water use http://bit.ly/T2YG8e 
• Effects of scorching weather this summer in the Midwest now hitting restaurants http://lat.ms/RtLUkk 
• EPA to decide by early next month whether to reduce the amount of corn-based ethanol in gasoline because of drought http://bit.ly/RtMiiD 
• Welcome Midwestern U.S. rains are forecast, but so are severe storms http://bit.ly/RtPYRs

Water Quality -

• EPA launches new website for information on U.S. lakes, rivers and streams via smart phone, tablet or computer http://1.usa.gov/RX7qON
• USGS and IL EPA "multi-parameter, water-quality super station" recently implemented on Illinois River at Florence on.doi.gov/S5z6TI
• EPA's monthly "Success Spotlight" stream is Turkey Creek, Oklahoma for sediment and nutrient control http://1.usa.gov/XiTTVf
• Extreme weather turns out to be a "mixed bag" for aquatic "dead zones" http://bit.ly/SY5vrK
• New York Times Q and A with marine ecologist Nancy Rabalais: Tracking a Worrisome Dead Zone http://nyti.ms/RAQ6SA
• Abandoned underground salt cavern blamed for sinkhole; aquifer contamination in sparsely populated Louisiana swampland http://bit.ly/RtPHhF
• Illinois Attorney General's office files air; water pollution complaint against owner of Douglas County mine http://bit.ly/RtQf78
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Deputy Commissioner commentary: Important (water quality) change isn't spontaneous http://bit.ly/RWYTvi

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

• NRC reports on status of operations, maintenance and rehabilitation of Army Corps water resources infrastructure http://bit.ly/Xn6Ux2
• "Pros and cons about improvements to (Mississippi River system) locks and dams" http://bit.ly/OtCGXY
• Public able now to weigh in on issues related to re-licensing of two WV Ohio River basin hydroelectric projects http://bit.ly/RtO8A2
• Army Corps releases findings regarding remaining "vulnerabilities" in Missouri River Basin following 2011 flood http://1.usa.gov/V1lI71
• Missouri River levels are showing extreme variation: jumping up higher and dropping down lower than ever before http://bit.ly/R2N0pM
• Army Corps: more Missouri River system repairs, research, monitoring needed to mitigate future high flow damage http://bit.ly/XiZBX9

Farm Bill-

• Op-ed CEO of Ducks Unlimited: Farm bill delay endangers wildlife http://politi.co/RWRign
• Des Moines Register editorial: Farm subsidies a tougher sell now http://dmreg.co/RIL9Hq
• Vice-chair of House Agriculture Committee confident 2012 farm bill will be approved before end of 2012 http://bit.ly/RtKM0b
• Democrats try to use angst over farm bill passage failure to gain Midwestern seats in November 6 election http://reut.rs/RtLbQ4

Agriculture -

• BioRisk journal: surplus lands' productive capacity and potential use for biofuels may be greatly overestimated http://bit.ly/RMH6d9
• Missouri farmers work with state and National Park Service staff to restore old fields on NPS land on.mo.gov/RWUPLA
• According to a new analysis, genetically-modified crops have led to a significant increase in herbicide usage http://bit.ly/RtPgDT
• 'Vertical farming' advocates say growing crops in urban high-rises will eventually be both greener and cheaper http://on.wsj.com/SY4wrw

In the States -

• Minnesota DNR making $225,000 available for grant proposals to restore native aquatic habitat; November 9 deadline http://bit.ly/RWWCQW

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• BBC: Scientists say billions required to meet globally agreed conservation targets by 2020 http://alturl.com/ib3fi
• A very nice video overview of aquatic invasive species, especially for introducing the subject to the uninitiated http://bit.ly/RtVt2G
• Grafton, Illinois Asian carp processing plant still on track to start construction within a month http://bit.ly/V1sQAi

Gulf Coastal Region-

• Negative impact of nutrients on coastal ecosystems: environment begins 'falling apart' in less than 7 years http://bit.ly/ViIc3E
• Gulf Coast U.S. senators want Obama Administration to ensure that BP spill deal is fair http://bit.ly/RtJl1H
• Gulf coastal restoration task force: Mississippi River "land building" diversion "is working better than expected" http://bit.ly/RWVLzB
• Controversial sediment and freshwater diversion near Mississippi River mouth to remain open for at least ten more years http://bit.ly/RtJToh

Resource Extraction -

• Northeastern Iowa residents concerned about frac sand mine possibility http://bit.ly/SY4H60

Federal Budget -

• Four environmental groups argue case for avoiding sequestration cuts in new report http://bit.ly/RX2PfG (PDF file)

Events-

• National Park Service "State of the River” Mississippi River Forum, October 26, Minneapolis, MN http://bit.ly/RMy1Rw
• Big River Lives Leadership Forum; December 6, Hilton St. Louis, MO information: http://bit.ly/RKadha registration: http://bit.ly/RKadhc
• Society for Ecological Restoration 5th World Conference on Ecological Restoration; October 6-11, 2013, Madison, WI http://bit.ly/RKaNeJ
• Excellent Horinko Group annual summit yesterday on "Next Generation of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement" bit.ly/RWNVWH
• Louisville, KY proclaims and holds official day of celebration for the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act http://cjky.it/SY5ofG
• Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota (BALMM) will meet Wednesday, Oct. 24 http://bit.ly/Py0JX3
• ASFPM's 2013 Annual National Conference presentation proposal submittals are due October 31 http://bit.ly/RWYbhB (floodplain management)
• Forum takes aim at threats facing the Mississippi River http://bit.ly/RMAATw

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• Here is this week's "News Flow" - the Iowa Water Center's weekly newsletter http://bit.ly/OtAMXb

Other news-

• Major dust storm closes down Interstate 35 in North-central Oklahoma http://bit.ly/RMEV9l
• Louisville, Kentucky begins efforts to adapt to harsher climate, including flooding, intense storms, sewer overflows http://cjky.it/RtNvXm
• Teacher guide wins award: Our Mississippi: Educational Activities about the Upper Mississippi River http://bit.ly/RtSEyK
• UN warns of looming worldwide food crisis in 2013 due to low reserves, unstable climate and rising prices http://bit.ly/RtUoIh

Political Scene -

• In Louisiana, Rep. Landry vs. Rep. Boustany (member-vs.-member) U.S. House race is heating up http://bit.ly/XiST3v
• New Democratic Sen. McCaskill internal poll shows her U.S. Senate (Missouri) race lead expanding over GOP Rep. Akin http://bit.ly/Xn5lPB
• An internal Bob Kerrey (D)  poll has State Sen. Deb Fischer (R) leading the former U.S. senator by five points in the Nebraska Senate race
• Sen. Inhofe (R-OK): upcoming EPA Regulations postponed until 2013 "spell doom for jobs" and economy http://1.usa.gov/XtiLcT

Last Word
“Politics is the fine art of deciding what's next best when best is not available.” – Joan Chittister, OSB

National Research Council: Army Corps Faces "Unsustainable Situation"

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers faces an "unsustainable situation" in maintaining its national water projects at acceptable levels of performance, according to a new report released this week by the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC).  A pre-publication copy of the NRC Committee report, "Corps of Engineers Water Resources Infrastructure: Deterioration, Investment, or Divestment?" has been made available by the authoring NRC "Committee on the United States Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Science, Engineering, and Planning" on the NRC Committee web site.

Source: National Academies

An ill-defined distribution of responsibility among Congress, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the Army Corps regarding national-level prioritization of investments in maintenance and rehabilitation for existing water infrastructure lies at the core of the ultimate unsustainability of the nation's water resource project infrastructure.  And the report authors call for moving away from that governance model toward a more systematic approach toward water infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation.  That shift will require, they say, that those institutions (the Army Corps, Congress and the White House) break with some of their historically-entrenched management traditions and practices.  The report stresses that partnerships with states, communities and the private sector have the potential to yield new resources and more efficient methods, especially in the areas of hydropower generation, flood risk management, and port and harbor maintenance, and calls for an independent investigation of the opportunities for such additional partnerships.

Among the report's other "key findings" are:

• Dwindling federal resources have limited funds available for water infrastructure operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation, and there is a considerable backlog of deferred maintenance
• The Army Corps faces challenges in its operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation duties given that its roles, partnerships, and successes in one mission area are not transferred easily to other areas or activities
• Higher congressional and administration priority on operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation issues will require some reorientation away from the present strong focus on the Water Resources Development Act
• Future operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation investments should be guided by principles based on economics of infrastructure investment
• More specific direction from Congress regarding priority maintenance investment needs will be crucial to sustaining the Army Corps' high priority and most valuable projects
• The executive branch should play a more aggressive role in promoting dialogue between the Corps and the Congress

The report was sponsored by the Army Corps of Engineers.  Members of NRC's U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Science, Engineering, and Planning Committee are listed here.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

USDA Launches National Soil Health Initiative at Central Ohio Farm
On October 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the launch of a new soil health awareness and education effort called “Unlock the Secrets in the Soil.” The new USDA initiative is "meant to highlight the benefits of improving and maintaining America’s soil," according to the news release announcing the project. The related NRCS "soil health" web page describes the main intent of the soil initiative, which is education-based, and designed to focus "more attention on soil health," and educate USDA "customers and the public about the positive impact healthy soils can have on productivity and conservation."  Commodity and conservation organizations have come out in support of the healthy soil initiative.  For links to associated USDA and news outlet web pages, see under "Agriculture," below, and this earlier blog post.

USDA Provides Partner Updates on Two Key Mississippi River Basin Initiatives
On October 9, staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service ("NRCS") provided updates to more than two dozen partners on two key programs impacting agricultural sustainability and water resources in the Mississippi River Basin: one on increasing the successful adoption of agricultural drainage water management for conservation benefits;  and a second on the status of NRCS’s Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative or "MRBI."  Speakers presented recent information regarding both NRCS projects.  For the drainage initiative portion of the meeting, program outreach and the significant increase in the number of on-the-ground projects in the planning and implementation phases were stressed.  The MRBI update included an overview of past project milestones, and emphasized an increased focus on measuring and tracking project outcomes and successes going into the future.  For additional meeting details and materials, and background information on both initiatives see here.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Drought-

October 9 Drought Monitor Map
(click to enlarge)

• Drought conditions expanded last week across central WI, southeast MN and SD; drought eased in IN, IL, ND and northwest MN   http://bit.ly/qBRrqC
• Analysis from Rabobank: World on track for record food prices 'within a year' due to US drought http://bit.ly/OabRI7
• Farm insurance claims come in on heels of severe drought, but much less than $40 billion expected earlier in summer http://bit.ly/UH6xzE
• US milk production headed for biggest contraction in 12 years; drought-fueled feed cost spike sends cows to slaughter http://bloom.bg/UH7NCT
• U.S. on track to harvest smallest soybean crop in nine years due to summer’s drought damage in the Midwest http://on.wsj.com/VTLqcT
• Fears over basic foods' supply follow one of the worst U.S. droughts in half a century; corn prices spike http://on.ft.com/QhcePH

Farm Bill-

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board: Both Senate and House Farm Bills cut too much from conservation http://bit.ly/QhcBtv
• Election outcome may indicate what farm bill option Congress will pursue during the lame-duck session http://bit.ly/PTR87m
• House Majority Leader Cantor (R-VA):  proposed House farm bill version will have to be changed before it passes House http://bit.ly/UH5Ypx
• Farm-focused conservation programs feel immediate effects of 2008 Farm Bill expiration and new continuing resolution http://bit.ly/T9jifU

Agriculture -

• USDA launches new NRCS soil health awareness and education effort http://1.usa.gov/Q2wHoS and http://1.usa.gov/Q2wJxa
• Coalition of 21 commodity, farm and conservation groups support USDA's new nationwide Soil Health Initiative http://bit.ly/Qh7WYp
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's Mississippi River Basin Initiative update bit.ly/UHdrF4 (PowerPoint presentation PDF)
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's presentation: Increasing Successful Ag Drainage Water Management Adoption bit.ly/UHgugt
• Carbon capture moves forward by degrees in Illinois farm country http://bit.ly/Oa7JI5
• Agricultural Research Service and U.S. Forest Service working on making elephant grass feedstock for cellulosic ethanol http://bit.ly/SBScRQ

Water Quality -

• GAO makes recommendations to improve effectiveness of EPA’s wastewater effluent guidelines program http://1.usa.gov/T9ixmQ (PDF file)
• Jim Oberstar, a contributing founder of the Clean Water Act, comments on the Act’s 40th anniversary (story and video) http://bit.ly/RwAegR
• Owner of four coal-fired Illinois power plants faces legal complaints about waste pond chemicals, heavy metals http://trib.in/Oa7mNu
• Environmental groups file legal action to force clean up of groundwater they say was polluted by leaking coal ash ponds http://bit.ly/Oa7Xij
• Scientists: no quick or easy solutions to clear blue-green algae from Grand Lake, St. Marys, Ohio http://bit.ly/Oa8xwF  (Ohio River Basin)
• EPA publishes four papers highlighting purported sustainability of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment http://1.usa.gov/Oa9TYh
• Groups sue EPA for removal of Chesapeake Bay watershed plan's water pollution trading provisions http://huff.to/PTGUUL (national implications)
• EPA and Farm Bureau face off in a Chesapeake Bay water quality court case that will impact entire country http://bit.ly/QhdRwG
• Mississippi River oil spill cost liability being argued in court four years after the event http://bit.ly/PTSuiB
• High-profile Kentucky enforcement action involving hundreds of alleged clean water act violations coming to a close http://cjky.it/PTTPWw
• Citizens Reach Landmark Settlement in Kentucky Water Pollution Case http://ow.ly/elrQu
• Kansas City breaks ground for three new wastewater treatment facilities as part of plan to upgrade city’s sewer system http://bit.ly/PTUGGQ
• IN Dept of Environmental Management offers to settle 2010, 107,650 fish kill complaint vs. pork producer for $1000 tspne.ws/RwxkZz

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

• Great Falls photographer chronicles low Missouri River water http://bit.ly/Oa3TyA
• Ceres report: "Stormy Future for U.S. Property/Casualty Insurers: Growing Costs and Risks of Extreme Weather Events" http://bit.ly/OaausI
• UNL Extension update on how crops are faring in fields affected by last year's Missouri River flooding http://youtu.be/3efW3nhoJOY (video)
• What "best-educated amateur planners" learned in hindsight from a series of U.S. tropical storms and hurricanes http://bit.ly/TBVsi4

In the States -

• Public comments opposing fracking called "stupid;" dismissed as jokes by TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation staff http://bit.ly/RwwNH7

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Army Corps of Engineers releases Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study 90-Day Interim Report http://1.usa.gov/v8c9mA
• Editorial: congressional Asian carp inaction threatens Mississippi River and well-being of Minnesota lakes and rivers http://bit.ly/QaC1ZK
• Wisconsin considers removing 16 species from and adding eight endangered and threatened species to its state list http://bit.ly/PTOXkv

Gulf Coastal Region-

• 8 freshwater mussel species in Alabama and Florida rivers flowing into Gulf added to Federal endangered species list http://bit.ly/UH9Yqb

Resource Extraction -

• Race to drill for oil breaking up North Dakota's grasslands and wetlands, with severe consequences for state's wildlife http://bit.ly/PTUeby

Federal Budget -

• Federal "fiscal cliff's" complicated and wide-ranging potential impact make it more like a "fiscal hill" or "slope" http://nyti.ms/UH7esR
• "Gang of Eight"-four senators from each party-labors to reach agreement on nearly $4-trillion deficit reduction plan http://lat.ms/VTK9m5

Events-

• Army Corps to hold Missouri River Fall Public Meetings for Draft Annual Operating Plan http://1.usa.gov/UImHsJ
• Leadership for Midwestern Watersheds: Measuring Results; Oct 31-Nov 1, Ankeny, IA http://bit.ly/UHj4mG Upper Mississippi River Basin Project

Other news-

• NPR Talk of the Nation: Planning For A Sustainable Mississippi River http://n.pr/Oa5AvQ
• New Orleans power utility develops one of more aggressive climate risk plans in US - based on wetland conservation http://buswk.co/Oa6YPg
• NOAA: first nine months of 2012 were the warmest on record for contiguous US and many Mississippi River Basin cities http://1.usa.gov/Rwz8lt
• Six of eight National Climatic Data Center model scenarios have 2012 ending as the warmest in U.S. since 1895 http://nbcnews.to/T9k5gF
• Two-month, 1000-mile swim down Missouri River completed by British adventurer http://bit.ly/UIoq0Z
• Revisiting the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927, through film and jazz bit.ly/URy9wF

Political Scene -

• Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow campaign focusing on issues such as farming and bipartisanship http://bit.ly/Oa62dG
• Midwest http://bit.ly/PTHu4G and Plains http://bit.ly/PTHqC2 states' congressional race summaries
• Polls: MN 8th District U.S. House race is "deadlocked" between former Rep. Nolan (D) and incumbent Rep. Cravaack (R) http://bit.ly/Qh9UrX
• Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) popularity sinks to new low.  Only 26% of voters back him; discontent highest Downstate http://trib.in/QhanKA

Last Word

"If we take home one . . . lesson from the . . . experience of the past two decades, may it be that the Army Corps’ success in fast-tracking massive structural engineering projects during 2006–2012 . . . be replicated for nonstructural coastal restoration during the 2010s and 2020s."  - Geographer Richard Campanella, Senior Professor of Practice at Tulane University and author of several books, including Bienville's Dilemma: A Historical Geography of New Orleans, Delta Urbanism: New Orleans and Lincoln in New Orleans (in this essay)