Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Republicans and Democrats Complete Appointments of 113th Congress House Committee Leaders


Republicans and Democrats have, for the most part, completed the task of assigning top House committee leadership rolls for the 113th Congress that begins on January 3.  Below is an alphabetical listing of U.S. House Committees and their newly-ratified Republican committee chairs and Democratic ranking members.  Each committee is accompanied by a link to the committee's internet home page.

On the Republican side, there will be seven newly appointed chairs (new committee leaders are marked with an asterisk). Thirteen other chairpersons will be returning to the same lead committee position that they currently hold in the 112th Congress.  The returning chairmen of five committees represent districts within the Mississippi River Basin: Agriculture (Frank D. Lucas (R-OK-3)), Appropriations (Harold Rogers (R-KY-5)), Budget (Paul D. Ryan (R-WI-1)), Education and the Workforce (John Kline (R-MN-2)), and Small Business (Sam Graves (R-MO-6)).

House committee ranking members elected by the Democratic Steering Committee include four members newly appointed to leadership positions: Nita Lowey (D-NY-18), the first woman to hold a leadership spot on the powerful Appropriations panel; Maxine Waters (D-CA), Financial Services, Elliot Engel (D-NY-17), Foreign Affairs, and Michael Michaud (D-ME-2).  Most ranking members in the 113th Congress will retain the top positions held in the 112th.  From a natural resources perspective, key returning ranking members include Colin Peterson (D-MN-7), Agriculture; Henry Waxman (D-CA), Energy and Commerce; Ed Markey (D-MA-7), Natural Resources; Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), Science; and Nick Rahall II (D-WV-3), Transportation and Infrastructure.

The ranking members of three committees represent districts within the Mississippi River Basin: Agriculture (Colin Peterson (D-MN-7)), Homeland Security (Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2)), and Transportation and Infrastructure (Nick Rahall II (D-WV-3)).

One committee chair (Ethics) has yet to be named.  That position is largely seen as one of the more thankless committee head slots, since it involves leading investigations into the activity of fellow House colleagues.
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Monday, December 3, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Events Calendar Launched

The Northeast-Midwest Institute's Mississippi River Basin Blog has launched an on-line "Mississippi River Basin Events Calendar," which will list information of upcoming meetings, workshops, webinars, briefings, conferences and other events that might be of interest to those with a stake in the sustainable economy and environment of the River Basin.  The event calendar will be available through a direct link (link here) and will appear within the Blog, itself, on the upper right hand corner of the Blog page.  It will routinely be updated with events, as they are received (and that are also listed weekly in the Blog's "Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week").  Calendar information will include the event name, location and dates, as well as a link to follow for additional event information.

If you or your organization have an appropriate event that you would like to have listed on the calendar, please contact your FNB (Friendly Neighborhood Blogger) with the relevant details.

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Friday, November 30, 2012

Congressional Leaders Announce 2013 Legislative Calendars

Congressional leaders announced legislative calendars today for 2013 that (unlike recent years) match each other quite closely.  In fact through the first ten months of 2013, they match each other exactly.

House 2013 Calendar
(click to enlarge)
The first day of the Congressional 2013 session will be Thursday, January 3, as required by the Constitution. Scheduled recesses in both chambers of Congress will fall on the weeks of February 18 (beginning on Presidents Day), March 25, April 5 (including both Passover and Easter), April 29, May 27 (beginning on Memorial Day), July 1 (including Independence Day), and October 14 (starting on Columbus Day).  The summer recesses for both the House and Senate will begin on August 5 and last five weeks until the Monday (September 9) following Labor Day.

The Senate will not recess after that, although the House will recess the weeks of November 4 and 25, and adjourn for the year by December 13.  As is tradition, the Senate has set no target adjournment date.

Here are links to the respective House and Senate calendars.
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Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Republicans and Democrats Approve Many House Committee Leaders; Five From Mississippi River Basin
Republican and Democratic U.S. House members this week ratified many of their respective committee leaders (chairpersons and ranking members) for the 113th Congress that begins in January.  On the Republican side, the returning chairmen of five committees represent districts within the Mississippi River Basin: Agriculture (Frank D. Lucas (R-OK-3)), Appropriations (Harold Rogers (R-KY-5)), Budget (Paul D. Ryan (R-WI-1)), Education and the Workforce (John Kline (R-MN-2)), and Small Business (Sam Graves (R-MO-6)).  There were six newly appointed chairpersons, while thirteen other members will be returning to the same lead committee position that they currently hold.  The chairs of two committees - Ethics and House Administration -  have yet to be named.   Democrats are part way through their process.  On Thursday, they voted for Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8) to keep his ranking member status on the Budget Committee. In addition to Van Hollen, Louise Slaughter (D-NY-28) will remain ranking member on the Rules Committee, and Robert Brady (D-PA-1) will return as the ranking member of the House Administration Committee. Votes for the remaining top Democratic ranking member seats are tentatively scheduled for today (Friday). For the most recent list of each House committee, its 113th Congress chairpersons and ranking members, and an accompanying link to each committee's Internet home page, see here.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -
  • EPA has recommended new recreational water quality criteria for states to "better protect public health" http://1.usa.gov/QnY9m0
  • USEPA updates water quality guidelines for nation's beaches http://lat.ms/SqPhKD
  • Ohio will see influx of 'Fracking' waste disposal wells http://bit.ly/V0gWQZ
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency releases monitoring and assessment report for Mississippi River-St. Cloud watershed http://bit.ly/V83Hho
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency releases a "mixed" report on the Mississippi River watershed in the St. Cloud area http://bit.ly/V57q17
  • Rare low-water testing opportunity on the Minnesota River shows positive results in reducing phosphorus http://bit.ly/V54W2J
  • National Research Council: Report: Cleanup of some contaminated U.S. groundwater sites unlikely for decades http://bit.ly/V575LV
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
  • Congress prepares for bailout of National Flood Insurance Program amid Sandy claims that will deepen the Program's debt http://bit.ly/Qo6UMZ
  • Bloomberg News: Drought-Parched Mississippi River Is Halting Barges http://buswk.co/V53v4v
  • Mississippi River’s low water levels are now a political issue http://bit.ly/V88jnR (a year after the River's high flood levels were)
  • Army Assistant Secretary: Army Corps will consider cutting amount of Missouri River water held back from Mississippi http://wapo.st/QS6Feu
  • Army Corps on Friday began planned reduction of Missouri River flow; expected to worsen Mississippi River low-water http://bit.ly/S0nAIv
  • Army Corps of Engineers'  flow reduction at Missouri River reservoir sets up conflict with Mississippi River users http://bit.ly/10cHbd8
  • Businesses and Federal agencies focus on keeping Mississippi River open during low water http://bit.ly/10ebRul
  • Shippers and lawmakers pressure President to declare a federal emergency along the Mississippi River due to its low water levels and threat to shipping efficiency http://bloom.bg/V7Ygzg
  • American Farm Bureau Federation media release urges President to issue declaration of emergency for Mississippi River http://bit.ly/V7YC8T
  • Amount of water used by Ohio power plants to produce electricity has decreased by 0.5 trillion gallons/year http://bit.ly/Qo1IZu
  • In the midst of a deep drought, residents battle high water in South Dakota town http://bit.ly/QS4is7
Drought-
NOAA November 27 drought monitor map
(Click to enlarge)
  • NOAA: Mostly dry weather prevailed across the already drought-hit areas of the contiguous U.S. over the past week http://bit.ly/rak0SU
  • Worst level of drought in the contiguous 48 U.S. states reaches its highest point in a year http://bloom.bg/QS6fVv
  • Drought disrupts Mississippi River barge traffic but the Ohio River is not impacted, yet http://cjky.it/V55xBE
  • NY Times: Drought-reduced water flow could hurt Mississippi River transport http://nyti.ms/UUcg17
  • As U.S. Midwest drought expands, winter wheat growers lose hope for a profitable season http://bit.ly/Qo3CZS
Farm Bill-
  • "Five year farm bill gets new life" following House and Senate farm bill leader meeting with USDA Sec. Vilsack http://bit.ly/QS3Ytw
  • USDA Secretary Vilsack to meet with Hill players Thursday as pressure grows for Farm Bill resolution before end of year http://politi.co/X1u52r
  • Sen. Debbie Stabenow: Farm Bill "very much part of the (Fiscal Cliff deal) discussion right now" http://bit.ly/V5ROsk
  • Senate Ag Chair Stabenow: White House “very open to" including Senate's $23B in Farm Bill savings in fiscal cliff deal bit.ly/V5S36R
  • DTN's Jerry Hagstrom: House Agriculture Committee Chair preparing a Farm Bill "backup plan" involving an extension http://bit.ly/V5SoX6
  • Sen. Grassley: House and Senate farm bill differences can be worked out by Ag Committee leaders in fiscal cliff deal http://bit.ly/V5SMVu
  • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Policy Director: "The Five "Ds" of a Farm Bill Extension" http://bit.ly/V5TbYa
  • Questioning the logic of a possible Farm Bill extension; it would take more work than passing a new bill http://bit.ly/UbLiS7
Agriculture -
  • Latest rumors have Tom Vilsack staying on as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture http://wapo.st/QS50p7
  • Mississippi River Collaborative offers ideas concerning Minnesota's new agricultural pollution "certainty" plan http://bit.ly/V813sd (press release PDF file)
  • Mississippi River Basin Initiative "lets land along Mississippi River return to nature" http://bit.ly/Qo6qX2
  • 2012 US net farm income forecast to decline slightly ($4 billion) from last year's record http://1.usa.gov/V5TTon and http://1.usa.gov/NwGNDj
  • Researchers: Climate change increases stress and the need for restoration on grazed U.S. public lands http://bit.ly/V58z8Z
  • U.S. about to see a boom in nitrogen fertilizer production. http://dld.bz/bS7HY
  • Obama debt deal proposal contains some upfront cuts in programs like farm price supports, but is short on detail http://nyti.ms/QS5R9n
In the States -
  • Kentucky's Governor Beshear administration to pay $270,000 to its fired director of mine permits http://cjky.it/V0gxOm
  • Iowa DNR seeks more environmental inspectors to monitor livestock operations and other water pollution point sources http://bit.ly/V51y8j
Forestry -
  • University of Minnesota conducting invasive Emerald Ash Borer  three-year flight and cold tolerance research http://bit.ly/V54vFS
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Journal of Wildlife Management: "Annual and seasonal survival of trumpeter swans in the upper Midwest" http://bit.ly/Qo0woJ
  • Army Corps looking to close Indiana wetlands' pathway where invasives can cross between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds bit.ly/UWFwYW
  • Bill to improve wildlife habitat; expand hunting and fishing access to federal lands defeated in U.S. Senate http://politi.co/QnZvNH
  • Senate derails popular outdoors bill over fight about how to count a proposed $10 increase in duck stamp prices http://politi.co/V5QYMl
  • Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study 90-Day Interim Report Released to Congress http://1.usa.gov/WWtVJV
  • Army Corps of Engineers releases eight draft Wisconsin Aquatic Pathway Assessment Reports for comment (invasives) http://1.usa.gov/Qo1YHK
  • Journal of Functional Ecology new "Invasions and Infections" special feature articles: http://bit.ly/Qo4ZI7
  • Environmental Defense Fund's habitat credit exchange aims to keep lesser prairie chicken off endangered species list http://bit.ly/V83A5t
  • EPA settles Clean Water Act case for wetlands violations (filling in wetlands) in West Virginia (Ohio River Basin) http://1.usa.gov/Yan7JX
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Gulf Coast states at odds over potential allocation of civil and criminal penalties from BP oil spill http://nyti.ms/V59Blv
Resource Extraction -
  • GAO: Coal will remain "key fuel source" but industry's power generation share will decline; especially in Appalachia http://bit.ly/V501Pj
Federal Budget -
  • Fiscal cliff deal emerging and "here’s what to expect" http://bit.ly/V7WNc0
  • House and Senate on track to adopt continuation of internal prohibitions on earmarks this month http://bit.ly/Qo0Xzp
  • Washington Post: Everything you wanted to know about the fiscal cliff but were afraid to ask http://wapo.st/QnWTz8
  • Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) declares the fiscal cliff talks at an "impasse;" derides Obama's "road show" http://bit.ly/V5TIJC
  • Boehner, House GOP reject debt deal offer from White House http://bit.ly/QRXDy4
Events-
  • Webinar: Watershed Restoration Analysis and Integration with Urban Planning- December 6 (cost: $79) http://bit.ly/V5afPP
  • 2013 International Congress for Conservation Biology- July 21-25, 2013; Baltimore, Maryland, USA http://bit.ly/V5bbno
  • 5th World Conference on Ecological Restoration; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; October 6-11, 2013 http://bit.ly/V5bQoH
  • Register to watch December 4, Webcast of EPA Symposium: "Importance of Water to the U.S. Economy" http://1.usa.gov/YRBNdN
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
Other news-
  • Amtrak has begun running trains at 110 miles per hour on part of its Chicago-to-St. Louis route http://bit.ly/Qo09dT
  • University of Toledo researchers attempt to make process of turning algae into fuel more efficient and profitable http://bit.ly/Qo3h9y
Political Scene -
  • Illinois House approves setting special election to replace former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL-2) for April 9 http://bit.ly/V7WnT3
  • Rep. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia (R-WV-2) announces that she will run for the U.S. Senate in 2014 http://bit.ly/Qo1kdg
  • Democrats are threatening to change U.S. Senate filibuster rules in what will likely prompt a GOP revolt  http://bit.ly/Sp7Q1N
  • Harry Reid's plan would have filibustering senators actually speaking on floor http://wapo.st/V84XRL but many resist http://nyti.ms/V852VI
  • No women will lead any of the major House committees in the 113th Congress http://politi.co/TkKFEh
  • House Republican leaders pick six new committee chairmen, with Lamar Smith (R-TX) chairing the Science Committee  http://bit.ly/V5Rf1Q
Last Word 
“The whole government, and the Democrat party, the Republican party - they’re all dinosaurs.” U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX-13), in an interview with The Fold.
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

Your FNB (Friendly Neighborhood Blogger) will be on hiatus until next Tuesday, November 27, so we leave you with this photo of some very large and content turkeys at the USDA's Beltsville, Maryland, Agricultural Research Center.  If you haven't been there, it's definitely worth the visit!  Have a Happy Thanksgiving (for those readers in the U.S.)!
Turkeys seen on visit to USDA's Beltsville, Maryland
Agricultural Research Center
(click to enlarge)
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Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week - Early Holiday Edition

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Missouri River Flow Reduction Places Army Corps Under Increased Scrutiny
Mississippi River Navigation
Obstructions near Thebes, IL that the
Army Corps plans to remove
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to reduce the flow of Missouri River water at Lewis and Clark Lake (Gavins Point Dam) in South Dakota toward the end of this week from the current 36,500 cubic feet per second to around 12,000 cubic feet per second over the course of several days.  The flow reduction places at risk the normal movement of barge traffic on the Mississippi River downstream of its confluence with the Missouri River, since  Mississippi River water levels are already low as a result of the persistent drought in the country's mid-section, and the Missouri River currently is adding about 60% of the water flow to the Mississippi where the two rivers meet (The November 19 Mississippi River flow at St. Louis, Missouri was recorded at 79,200 cubic feet per second, while the Missouri River flow near its mouth was 48.500 cubic feet per second.).  Ironically, the Army Corps' plans have placed it under increased scrutiny by the barge industry, the public and elected officials at a time when the Corps' ability to thoroughly evaluate its management of the complex Missouri River system has been restricted.  To read more details of the planned reduction, why it's happening, what else the Army Corps is doing related to the issue, and what Federal policy comes into play when Missouri River system decisions like this are made, see our analysis here.  And you can also read regional news coverage on this topic under the "Water Resource Management" section, below.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -
  • USEPA releases "Coal-Tar Sealcoat, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Stormwater Pollution" publication on website bit.ly/QMzaKg
  • EPA announces water quality coordination efforts with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service http://bit.ly/Ua86DQ
  • EPA restores eight water bodies to, removes one from Missouri’s list of impaired waters; 258 impaired waters total http://1.usa.gov/Q5yn5W
  • Minnesota River's dissolved oxygen levels can support fish and other aquatic life, according to low flow testing http://bit.ly/XtynAY
  • Nature: Researchers begin to compile effects that human medications in water seem to be  having on freshwater fish http://bit.ly/WfaQ0u
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
  • Army Corps moving forward with its plans to reduce flow on Missouri River http://bit.ly/ZMG57G
  • 15 senators from 8 Mississippi River states urge Army Corps to take steps to keep Mississippi River barges moving http://cbsloc.al/UKWuUt
  • Senators want Corps to abandon plans to slow Missouri River flow http://bit.ly/QszUnX
  • Barge industry warns of far-reaching economic losses if Mississippi River water levels continue to drop http://bit.ly/WjiU4T
  • Persistent upper Midwest drought threatens Mississippi River barge traffic http://bit.ly/QTf8h2
Drought-
Click to Enlarge
  • Middle-US drought shows no sign of abating this winter, throwing into doubt 2013 spring planting season http://dmreg.co/TMhM2X
  • Nebraska officials: farmers along Republican River may have to limit water use more next year due to dry conditions http://bit.ly/QTb5kR
  • Watch a NOAA 12-week animated map of the changing extent of the U.S. drought here: http://bit.ly/pyioTb
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 90% chance 2012 will be U.S. warmest on record http://bit.ly/UvAkVL
  • 138 Iowa college and university scientists call on state to fight climate change before the next drought or flood http://dmreg.co/QsubP3
  • Drought and Midwest-Great Lakes water scare gets attention of agribusiness giant Archers Daniels Midland http://nbcnews.to/TOc82t
Farm Bill-
  • Farm bill being viewed more and more as partial solution to federal debt and budget crisis http://bit.ly/TMhhGb
  • Prospects for a Farm Bill passing during the lame duck session remain tenuous, as speculation trumps actual progress http://bit.ly/SdVSYE
Agriculture -
  • EPA rejects requests by governors of major livestock-producing states to waive federal corn-ethanol mandates http://bit.ly/QMvSGI
  • New USDA Economic Research Service report: “Potential Farm-Level Effects of Eliminating Direct Payments” http://1.usa.gov/TMhuck
  • Purdue University agricultural economist: U.S. remains world’s corn export leader, although "its empire is shrinking" http://bit.ly/Q7yxtk
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture awards more than $15.7 million in funding to 189 advanced biofuel developers http://bit.ly/QsuWYo
  • Despite drought, US farmers having their most-profitable year ever because of record- high prices; insurance claims http://bloom.bg/SdXDF8
In the States -
  • Draft Iowa report expected to detail plans on reducing farm pollution and sewage treatment runoff draws criticism http://dmreg.co/QMwxba
  • Iowa releases Nutrient Reduction Strategy criticized as too ag-friendly; sidestepping question on Farm Bureau role http://dmreg.co/Xtqo6V
  • Changes made to Iowa draft plan to control surface water runoff pollution; public has until January 4 to comment http://dmreg.co/TVEQhQ
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Mississippi River mouth is migrating north, offering both risks and coastal restoration and navigation opportunities http://bit.ly/Uaao65
  • Wall Street Journal quick guide to the details of the BP - U.S. Government Gulf of Mexico oil spill settlement http://on.wsj.com/RWsB66
  • Christian Science Monitor: BP fined $4.5B in Gulf oil spill. "Is it enough?" bit.ly/Xh8PHe "Is legal saga over?" bit.ly/Xh91pV
  • What Mississippi River and Gulf Coast stakeholders are saying about BP settlement of oil spill criminal charges http://bit.ly/T0UWG6
  • BP Gulf oil spill settlement a boon to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation http://wapo.st/TbwchO
  • Gulf Coast town of Dauphin Island, Alabama is a monument to federal government generosity in face of repeated storms http://nyti.ms/QTbTX8
Resource Extraction -
  • Political obstacles to oil and gas fracking start to fade as public and politicians jump on the energy boom bandwagon http://usat.ly/TVDWlw
Federal Budget -
  • Various scenarios are possible as Congress and White House look for solutions to looming fiscal cliff problem http://reut.rs/QsB2YM
  • Rough start for fiscal cliff talks, as Democrats balk at GOP’s first offer in closed door negotiations http://politi.co/SdU6qC
Events-
  • Free EPA Watershed Academy Webinar: “How’s My Waterway? and Other Water Quality Apps" Nov. 28, 1-3pm EST http://1.usa.gov/dCcmO0
  • Big River Lives Leadership Forum convened by  America's Wetland Foundation; December 6, 9 AM-5 PM CST, St. Louis, MO http://bit.ly/SZcnGT
  • EPA Webcast: Sustainability Considerations Incorporation into Water-Wastewater Alternative Analysis; 12/13, 2-3 PM ET http://bit.ly/XtoYtd
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • The Horinko Group's November "sustainabulletin" is available on line http://bit.ly/Xtt6sZ
  • November 20 "Delta Dispatches" issue reports on efforts to restore the Mississippi River Delta http://bit.ly/Qsxpls
  • Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee Fall newsletter http://bit.ly/RJkZE1 (PDF file)
Other news-
  • World Bank issues climate change report: "Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C warmer world must be avoided" http://bit.ly/QTcU1c
  • Industry and environmental groups disagree on strategies to improve EPA's chemical risk assessment program http://bit.ly/QssRvz
Political Scene -
  • Democrat Rick Nolan is returning to Congress as US Representative from Minnesota after 32-year Hill absence http://wapo.st/TMihdb
  • U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee seat is on the wish-list for North Dakota Senator-elect Heidi Heitkamp (D) http://bit.ly/MuRelq
  • New state capitol superpower in Great Plains and South, where bulging Republican super majorities were voted in http://yhoo.it/TVDu6L
Last Word
Adam Sandler's Saturday Night Live homage to Thanksgiving, “The Thanksgiving Song”
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Monday, November 19, 2012

Missouri River Flow Reduction Places Army Corps Under Increased Scrutiny

Gavins Point Dam - Click to Enlarge
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to significantly reduce the flow of Missouri River water at Lewis and Clark Lake (Gavins Point Dam) in South Dakota toward the end of this week (on or about November 23), as it does annually to maintain enough water in upstream areas of the watershed to ostensibly meet various, sometimes competing, water resource needs in the region. The flow reduction (from the current 36,500 cubic feet per second to around 12,000 cubic feet per second over the course of several days) places at risk the normal flow of barge traffic on the Mississippi River downstream of its confluence with the Missouri River because the water levels in the Mississippi River are already low as a result of the persistent drought in the country's mid-section this year, and the Missouri River currently is adding about 60% of the water flow to the Mississippi River where the two rivers meet (The November 19 Mississippi River flow at St. Louis, Missouri was recorded at 79,200 cubic feet per second, while the Missouri River flow near its mouth was 48.500 cubic feet per second).

Ironically, the Army Corps' plans for managing the Missouri River's flow have placed it under increased scrutiny by the barge industry, the public and elected officials at a time when the Corps' ability to thoroughly evaluate its management of the complex River system has been limited by Congress.

The Drought and Mississippi River Barge Traffic
Rock Pinnacles near Thebes
Click to Enlarge
Barge industry representatives, members of the U.S. Congress, state governors and local officials have called upon the Army Corps to adjust their Missouri River management plans in light of the drought, to ameliorate adverse impacts to the flow of barge traffic.  Major Gen. John Peabody, commander of the Army Corps' Mississippi Valley Division has said that the reductions in Missouri River flows will take place, as planned, in order to adequately accommodate other authorized uses. Peabody has also indicated, however, that the Corps would implement two additional measures to mitigate the impact of lower Missouri River flows and resulting lower Mississippi River water levels: first, additional water will be released from upstream Mississippi River storage areas in Minnesota that should have the effect of adding three to six inches to the depth of the Mississippi River downstream; and second, the Army Corps will demolish (dynamite) rock pinnacles in the Mississippi River that have historically caused navigation restrictions under low water conditions in the vicinity of Thebes, Illinois.  You can click here for the latest Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River navigation channel condition status report.

Missouri River Authorized Purposes and Conflicting Water Resource Uses
Multiple users of Missouri River’s water resources (both human and non-human), and the multiple demands those diverse users place (under law) on the Army Corps' water management strategies often come into conflict, and the drought has served to sharpen those points of conflict this year, placing the Army Corps under added scrutiny over how it manages the Missouri River Basin's water for a variety of often-conflicting purposes (what the Army Corps calls “Authorized Purposes” - authorized by the 1944 Flood Control Act (Pick-Sloan Act)). The authorized purposes are (in alphabetic order): fish and wildlife habitat, flood risk management, irrigation, navigation, power generation, recreation, water quality and water supply. Those authorized purposes all are supposed to have equal priority under the law and under the resulting Army Corps management plans. For example, the Army Corps stores additional water in upriver reservoirs beginning in the autumn, so that River water resources may be available later (i.e., in the spring) for some water users who rely upon the River water for its authorized purposes (such as agriculture irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat, downstream Missouri River navigation, power generation and water supplies).

Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study
The U.S. Congress directed the Army Corps to conduct a Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study (MRAPS), the first review of the eight authorized purposes of the Missouri River since passage of the 1944 Flood Control Act. Under MRAPS, the Army Corps would evaluate whether it should still manage the Missouri River based on concepts prevalent in 1944, and then recommend changes to the 1944 Flood Control Act to Congress, so that the River management strategy can be modernized. However, the 2011 massive Missouri and Mississippi River flooding brought with it accusations of Corps' River mismanagement, and Congress barred the Corps from spending any funds toward MRAPS in fiscal year 2012 (which ran through September 30, 2012). Those restrictions are still in place as a result of the fiscal year 2013 Continuing Resolution passed by Congress in September   Accordingly, the Army Corps has been forced to suspend MRAPS, at least temporarily.  In the meantime, examination of the Corps and its unenviable water resources balancing act continues, along, it seems, with the inevitable criticism that follows.
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