What We Learned This Week - "That'll do, pig"

The President issued a budget proposal for the nation (one that has Mississippi River Basin implications) and Wisconsin's Governor issued one for that state (one that would tighten control over the DNR, cut science, and halt conservation purchases). The White House issued an Executive Order establishing flood risk reduction standards for federal assets.   Manure runoff was debated at an Ohio legislature hearing, where "sound science" came up.  U.S. pork production is expected to surpass beef production this year for first time since 1952.  A Tennessee federal judge ruled in favor of environmental groups over the Obama administration in the case of fish species threatened by mining-related pollution.  Major voluntary strategies used to curb Midwest farm fertilizer runoff don't work well enough.   Rep. Aaron Schock’s (R-Ill.) new Rayburn Building office in Washington, DC has a “Downton Abbey” feel to it . . . just don't photograph it.   Environmental groups filed a lawsuit against several federal agencies regarding pallid sturgeon endangerment by Missouri River Basin dams, and another set of environmental groups sued the Interior Department to protect another rare fish population; in the Upper Missouri River basin.  Minnesota farmers have adapted with drainage systems to big rains, but the result has caused downstream problems.   The GOP says that its new "sue and settle" bill will stop the EPA from developing regulations behind closed doors with special interest groups.  A bill was introduced to permanently extend the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The USDA will propose soon to cut off farm subsidies to "city slickers."  And last but not least, a small woodland creature named "Phil" in Pennsylvania may have ruined Americans’ week by predicting a long winter, but Phil's groundhog cousin, "Jimmy," in Wisconsin, ruined a mayor's day in the town of Sun Prairie.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~

2016 Budget Plan and Mississippi River Basin Water Resources

On February 2, the Obama Administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the President's fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget plan.  Here, you can find an overview of some of the budget plan's significant
provisions as they relate to the Mississippi River Basin, noting key line items for the U.S. EPA, USDA, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Interior, NOAA and FEMA. Links are also provided to each agency's budget summary and to the respective OMB budget appendix sections relating to the highlighted Federal agencies, where much more detail can be found.

What's Next

The release of the Obama administration's budget proposal precipitated a series of House and Senate hearings on the plan, and may ultimately result in a series of spending bills (ideally passed before the end of September 2015), which allocate funds for the next fiscal year across the agencies of the Federal government. In this overview of the Federal appropriations process we take a look at what might happen in the upcoming months, should the so-called "regular order" of appropriations lawmaking be followed.

In the short-term, there are several River Basin-related budget hearings scheduled for next week, as well as a few other, more directly Basin-centric, Hill activities. They are all summarized (and updated "on-the-fly") in "Capitol Hill Next Week - What to Watch For."

If you'd like to skip all of the details, and cut right to the chase, see this one-paragraph River Basin news' summary: "What We Learned This Week - 'That'll do, pig.'"

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -

• Study: Major voluntary strategies used to curb Midwest farm fertilizer runoff that feeds the annual low oxygen Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone" don't remove enough nutrients http://ow.ly/ItByz
• Lawmakers, and EPA and Army Corps officials go back-and-forth on details and scope of proposed clean water rule at joint committee hearing http://ow.ly/Iv58y
• Congressional lawmakers tell EPA Administrator McCarthy that many states still seek clarification on proposed clean water rule http://ow.ly/Ixnj1
• Tennessee federal judge rules in favor of environmental groups over Obama administration in

  

  Source: NPR

  case of fish species threatened by mining-related pollution http://ow.ly/IeqOP
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial: Contaminant-laden runoff from farms is one of the largest remaining challenges for Wisconsin waterways http://ow.ly/ImcpA
• Blacktail Creek spill is largest wastewater spill since North Dakota oil boom began nearly 10 years ago, and state's spill problem is getting worse http://ow.ly/Ipp6G
• NPR Morning Edition: "Here's How To End Iowa's Great Nitrate Fight" http://ow.ly/ItrPm
• USEPA report: Getting to Green: Paying for Green Infrastructure, Finance  Options and Resources for Local Decision-Makers http://ow.ly/IBbhK
• House Energy and Commerce subcommittee advances bill requiring EPA to develop a plan for addressing algal toxins http://ow.ly/IBlg2
• Railroad officials: unclear how much ethanol made its way into the Mississippi River following eastern Iowa train derailment http://ow.ly/IBvNH

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

• White House issues Executive Order establishing flood risk reduction standards; provides public comment opportunities http://ow.ly/ICFoT (related article below)
• Obama Executive Order: Federal construction projects must plan for flood risks from climate change http://ow.ly/IkKPI
• Center for Neighborhood Technology: ‘RainReady Nation’ - tools to "build resiliency in our communities" http://ow.ly/IkXxP
• Minnesota farmers adapt with drainage systems to big rains, but water draining from fields can cause downstream problems http://ow.ly/ItCKG
• New York Times: Barges Sit for Hours Behind Locks That May Take Decades to Replace http://ow.ly/Ixc3e

Agriculture -

• Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) introduce bill to cap crop insurance premium subsidies; S. 345: http://ow.ly/IztW0
• U.S. cattle herd expanded in 2014 for the first time in eight years, reversing drought-fueled decline http://ow.ly/IkZaO
• U.S. pork production is expected to surpass beef production this year for first time since 1952 http://ow.ly/ItjNv
• Federal Reserve Bank analysis: Government payments (both direct subsidies and crop insurance indemnities) remain an important part of farm sector income http://ow.ly/IoZnk
• Minnesota near the top in recent USDA agricultural crop and livestock production report http://ow.ly/IpeGZ
• USDA will soon issue a proposed rule for determining who is “actively engaged” in farming for the purpose of receiving farm bill benefits http://ow.ly/IB8oy
• Farming Goes High Tech But High-Tech Is Increasingly a Liability http://ow.ly/IBxdL

Climate and Weather -

• MPR special report: Climate Change in Minnesota: More heat, more big storms http://ow.ly/Il3ZP
• US weekly drought update: Midwest dry conditions largely removed in response to this week's precipitation; drought expands in northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas http://ow.ly/wmTdv
• NOAA Climate Prediction Center monthly drought outlook for February: short and medium-term forecasts favor near or sub-median precipitation in U.S. mid-section http://ow.ly/q3yAx

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

Pallid Sturgeon (click to enlarge)

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases first annual report to Congress on managing the threat of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins http://ow.ly/Iu5bm
• Defenders of Wildlife and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) file lawsuit against Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, and Fish and Wildlife Service over pallid sturgeon endangerment by Missouri River Basin dams http://ow.ly/ItlHA  (Also see the underlying USGS study, below)
• January USGS study is first to directly link dam-induced changes in sediment transport to reduced oxygen levels and pallid sturgeon survival http://ow.ly/Itmkt
• Environmental groups sue Department of Interior to protect rare Montana, Upper Missouri River basin fish population http://ow.ly/IBduf
• Senators introduce S. 338, a bill to permanently extend the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which authorizes up to $900 million annually for land acquisition and conservation http://ow.ly/ItpRS
• Center for Food Safety study: Monsanto's signature herbicide has nearly eradicated the monarch butterfly http://bit.ly/18SBY2D (link to study here: http://ow.ly/IBfe5)

In the Cities -

• MPR: As climate changes, cities have to deal with more and bigger rains in Minnesota http://ow.ly/ItF4S
• Sun Prairie, Wis., mayor bitten on the ear by the city's groundhog, "Jimmy," during Tuesday's Groundhog Day ceremony http://ow.ly/ItnwD

In the States -

• Kansas budget fix would avoid cash flow crisis by tapping into various state funds http://ow.ly/Iv1ZU (bill: http://ow.ly/Iv2hK)
• North Dakota state bill would require elected officials to sign off on reductions of fines against oil and gas companies http://ow.ly/IerJF
• Ohio Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure Loan Program offers below-market rate loans for the design and construction of green infrastructure http://ow.ly/IkGgu
• Manure runoff debated at Ohio legislature hearing: Farmers urge Ohio House to employ sound science http://ow.ly/IkPkS
• Ohio state senators introduce bill to ramp up state efforts to fight toxic algae, support clean drinking water http://ow.ly/ItE8P (link to Ohio bill http://ow.ly/ItEve)
• Minnesota struggles to slow deforestation, protect water, as state loses natural landscapes to farming http://ow.ly/Il201
• Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday proposed a new spending plan for Wisconsin that relies on borrowing and spending cuts http://ow.ly/ItsRP (also see: Wisconsin Governor's budget proposal would tighten control over DNR, cut science, halt conservation purchases http://ow.ly/ItDc4)

Gulf Coastal Region-

• Louisiana coastal officials propose spending $773 million in coastal restoration and hurricane protection for 2015-16 fiscal year http://ow.ly/Ipo5h
• New Orleans Times-Picayune editorial: "Don't cut off offshore revenue-sharing, President Obama" http://ow.ly/Iv3T2

Resource Development-

• House Republican leadership planning vote next week on Senate’s Keystone XL oil pipeline bill, which amends original House bill http://ow.ly/IkEjK
• Department of Interior issues new rule for the restoration of abandoned non-coal mines, providing communities with an opportunity to reclaim abandoned non-coal mines (including cleaning polluted surface water, among other things) http://ow.ly/IxlvE
• 20 groups getting together in attempt block proposed Bakken oil pipeline’s path across Iowa http://ow.ly/IxysV

Federal Budget-

• Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chair Murkowski hopes to keep EPA riders out of spending bill http://ow.ly/IBke9
• Obama Administration's Office of Management and Budget releases the President's fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget plan ow.ly/Im4Jy
• Obama budget proposal seeks to cut crop insurance to offset higher projected direct farm-program subsidies http://ow.ly/IoZNj
• President's proposed 2016 EPA budget is 5.8% greater than current funding; over  8% higher than the last year's request http://ow.ly/Ip173
• Three weeks before the Department of Homeland Security's funding runs out (includes FEMA), GOP leaders are pointing fingers at each other http://ow.ly/IBvbq

Events - Information on all past and future events listed here each week can be viewed in the on-line calendar, located above and to the right (and here as a stand-alone calendar)

• National Great Rivers Research and Education Center to host weekly seminar series in February (Alton, Illinois) http://ow.ly/IriRR
• Webinar: Green Infrastructure Planning at Multiple Scales: From Landscape to Site, February 10, noon - 1 PM ET, Penn State Extension http://ow.ly/Iznm5
• National Water Quality Monitoring Council Webinar Series: "The Water Quality Portal" 
• (USGS presentation) February 18, 2 pm ET http://ow.ly/IB51A
• 2nd Colorado Water Summit, Marriott Denver South, March 3-5 http://ow.ly/ItkQC
• Minnesota Erosion Control Association Conference: March 10-12, Duluth Convention Center http://ow.ly/IzoD
• Association of State Wetland Manager’s Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination Meeting; March 24-26, Shepherdstown, WV http://ow.ly/Ixpdf

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia -

• Gulf Restoration Network January 30 GulfWaves e-newsletter http://ow.ly/Ieg3Q
• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy February e-newsletter http://ow.ly/IkIOB
• NW PAssages February 2015 e-newsletter covering NW Pennsylvania's Nature, Heritage and Recreation http://ow.ly/Ith44
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Feedlot Update - February 4 http://ow.ly/Iv6co
• The Wetlands Initiative's February "World of Wetlands" e-newsletter http://ow.ly/IxmhG
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's February "River Connections," including an update on big river TMDLS http://ow.ly/Iyq36
• National Great Rivers Research and Education Center February 2015 E-News http://ow.ly/Iyr4F
• February 4 Green Lands Blue Waters Update, re: Continuous Living Cover on Mississippi River Basin agricultural land http://ow.ly/IzpIp
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's February 4 TUWaterWays e-newsletter http://ow.ly/IBfGr
• Montana Watershed Coordination Council's February 5 Watershed News http://ow.ly/IBaFd

Other News-

• GOP says new "sue and settle" bill would prevent EPA from developing regulations behind closed doors with special interest groups http://bit.ly/1DjGyCC
• House passes H.R. 50, Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act http://ow.ly/IB70s; requires agencies to determine how legislative changes to existing federal programs might shift costs to state, local and tribal governments
• House passes H.R. 527, Regulatory Flexibility Act, 260-163, bill requires federal agencies to assess the indirect, in addition to the direct, costs of rules http://ow.ly/IB6mN (news article: http://ow.ly/IB8WJ)
• American Water accepting applications for 2015 Environmental Grant Program; 13 states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia http://ow.ly/IkGRC
• Rethinking How America Buys Infrastructure: A public-private paradigm http://ow.ly/IkLkf
• Sens. Cornyn (R-Texas) and Leahy (D-Vt.) introduce "FOIA Improvement Act of 2015" http://ow.ly/Ipa5q (Freedom of Information Act)
• Job: Friends of the Mississippi River (Twin Cities area, Minnesota) seeks to fill an Ecologist's position http://ow.ly/Iri0B
• Coke is coming out with premium milk; will have more protein and less sugar, and cost double the price of regular milk http://ow.ly/Ituzn
• New Senate bill package would boost hunting, fishing and target shooting opportunities on public lands http://ow.ly/IBccq
• Senate Judiciary Committee approves bill to make a number of changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) http://ow.ly/IBcKe (bill link: http://ow.ly/IBcTv)

Politics and People-

• House Oversight Committee chairman plans to take on what he sees as EPA overregulation, mismanagement http://ow.ly/Ip6cC
• Senate Environment and Public Works Chair names full Republican rosters for each of four EPW subcommittees http://ow.ly/Ip9yb
• March 7, inaugural Iowa Ag Summit promises to be politically steeped http://ow.ly/Ixoc1

Your Moment of Zen -

Capitol This Next Week - What to Watch For

1888 Blizzard

Below are the U.S. House and Senate activities currently scheduled for this week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources.  The week started off with Monday's release of the Obama administration's fiscal year 2016 budget proposal (which can be found at this White House OMB page).  The budget's release jump-starts a series of House and Senate hearings on the proposal, including a House Ways and Means Committee hearing scheduled for Tuesday (see below)

Links are provided below to relevant committee web pages, and, where appropriate, to pieces of legislation. Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these should be, as well (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.  This page will be updated as warranted. 

Tuesday

• House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Proposal; 10:00 AM, room 1300 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Rules Committee meeting on the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2015 and the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015 (bills that would impact the federal rulemaking process); 3:00 PM, room H-313 U.S. Capitol Building.

Wednesday

• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee-House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee joint hearing on the "Impacts of the Proposed Waters of the United States Rule on State and Local Governments;" 10:00 AM, room 210 HVC (House Visitors Center of the U.S. Capitol).  Witnesses will include EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy; Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy; Oklahoma State Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt; Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam; El Paso County, Colo., District 3 County Commissioner Sallie Clark; Clear Creek, Colo., District 1 County Commissioner Timothy Mauck; and Lemuel Srolovic, chief of the Environmental Protection Bureau in the New York State attorney general's office.
• House Budget Committee hearing on the Obama Administration's FY 2016 budget (testifying: Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan); 10:30 AM, room 210 Cannon House Office Building.  NEW

Thursday

• House Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy hearing on H.R. 212 the "Drinking Water Protection Act" "to provide for the assessment and management of the risk of cyanotoxins in drinking water" (bill is intended to provide for better federal agency and drinking water utility ability to deal with algal-based toxins.); 10:00 AM, room 2123 Russell House Office Building.

The Obama Administration's 2016 Budget Plan and Mississippi River Basin Water Resources

On February 2, the Obama Administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the President's fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget plan. A variety of relevant Federal agencies, departments or programs are highlighted below, along with an overview of some of the budget plan's significant provisions as they relate to the Mississippi River Basin. Links are provided to each agency's budget summary and to the respective OMB budget appendix, where much more detail can be found.

The FY 2016 proposed budget would cost $3.99 trillion, and includes a $474 billion budget deficit. The President's proposal seeks to do away with across-the-board Federal spending cuts that are automatically scheduled under provisions of the Budget Control Act of 2011. Known as "sequestration," these mandatory cuts kick in if Congress fails to enact a deficit-reduction bill containing at least $1.2 trillion in cuts (which Congress failed to do). The role that those sequestration requirements will have on the budget and spending debate in 2015 should be significant to say the least.

Environmental Protection Agency (Links to EPA "Budget in Brief" (PDF file), EPA Congressional "Budget Justification" (PDF file) and OMB's EPA budget appendix)

• EPA's overall budget would increase under the proposal for the first time in several years, coming in at 5.8% more than the current FY 2015 funding and over 8% higher than the President requested in his budget last year.
• The budget would provide $2.8 billion for environmental programs and management, an increase of around $200 million compared with the $2.6 billion appropriated in FY 2015.
• $2.3 billion are provided for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which help to fund drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.  This total includes $50 million for technical assistance, training, and other efforts to enhance the planning and financing capacity of communities and states.
• The budget contains a slight increase for state and tribal assistance grants, proposing almost $3.6 billion to provide states the funding for environmental programs and infrastructure assistance (compared with $3.55 billion last year).

U.S. Department of Agriculture (Links to USDA Budget Summary (PDF), U.S. Forest Service Budget Justification (PDF), and OMB's USDA budget appendix)

• The budget proposes $25 billion in discretionary funding and $131 billion for mandatory programs for the USDA in FY 2016, a slight increase over the $23.7 billion request in FY 2015, and approximately $800 million more than the FY 2015 funding actually provided to the USDA. 
• The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs (both mandatory and discretionary) would receive $4.45 billion under the budget proposal, which is $362 million more the FY 2015 actual allocation. That total includes $1.031 billion in discretionary funding and $3.417 billion for mandatory NRCS farm bill programs. 
• The President proposes to cut three million acres from the maximum ten million acres per year eligible under the 2014 Farm Bill for landowners to sign up under the voluntary NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program. That acreage cap reduction is equivalent to a funding cut of $54 million a year. 
• The budget proposes to cap funding for the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program at $1.35 billion, $300 million less than authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill. The program provides financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices, or activities like conservation planning, that address natural resource concerns. 
• The Farm Service Agency (known as FSA), which manages the Conservation Reserve Program, would receive nearly $1.632 billion under the budget plan, less than the $1.735 billion the FSA received in FY fiscal 2015. 
• The Agricultural Research Service would receive close to $1.426 billion for "in-house" research, while the National Institute of Food and Agriculture is budgeted $1.508 billion. 
• Forest Service budget is proposed at $4.94 billion (a slight decrease from the $5.07 billion in actual FY 2015 Forest Service funding), and includes funding increases for national monuments, logging and landscape restoration. 
• The budget proposal seeks to cut crop insurance outlays to offset higher projected direct farm-program subsidies.

Army Corps of Engineers (Links to Civil Works Budget Overview (PDF) and OMB's Civil Works budget appendix)

• The Army Corps would receive $4.73 billion in discretionary funds under the President's plan. Although this is slightly higher than last year's proposed $4.5 billion budget, it is 15 percent lower than the $5.5 billion Congress appropriated to the Corps FY 2015.
• The proposed Corps' construction budget is $1.72 billion.  The Army Corps is Congressionally limited to starting construction on four new projects each year. For FY 2016, the administration proposes that those projects include an Alaska harbor project, a California flood protection project, a Kentucky flood protection project (Ohio River shoreline at Paducah), and a Minnesota environmental restoration project (Marsh Lake, Minnesota River Authority).
• One ongoing construction project - the Olmsted Lock and Dam project on the Ohio River between Illinois and Kentucky - would receive $180 million under the proposal.
• The Army Corps' operations and maintenance budget is reduced to $2.71 billion from $2.9 billion it was allocated in FY 2015.
• The Army Corps' regulatory budget would see a slight $5 million increase under the FY 2016 budget proposal, to $205 million. The agency's Clean Water Act permitting program is funded under that budget line item.
• The "Mississippi River and Tributaries" Army Corps projects, would be budgeted $225 million, $77 million less than the FY 2015 actual appropriation.  Those projects, according to the Corps budget summary, involve "ongoing construction, operation and maintenance, and investigation activities, with emphasis on the 1,600 miles of levees and related features on the main stem of the lower Mississippi River and in the Atchafalaya Basin, which reduce the flood risk to a large region."

Some of the Mississippi River Basin project budget line items include the following (note: this is not an inclusive list; to see the full project breakdown, go to this link):

Mississippi River Basin Investigations (Studies)

• Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration- Mississippi River Hydrology, LA $50,000
• Illinois River Basin Restoration, IL $400,000
• Interbasin Control of Great Lakes-Mississippi River Aquatic Nuisance Species, IL, IN, OH, WI $500,000
• Minnesota River Watershed Study, MN, SD (Minnesota River Authority) $600,000

Mississippi River and Tributaries Construction, Operation and Maintenance, and other items “Remaining Items”)

Construction

• Upper Mississippi River Restoration, IL, IA, MN, MO, WI $19,787,000 (down from $33,170,000 appropriated in FY 2015)
• Olmsted Locks And Dam, Ohio River, IL, KY $180,000,000
• Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Recovery, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, ND, SD $47,127,000
• Mississippi River Levees (construction) AR, IL, KY, LA, MS, MO, TN $15,909,000
• Channel improvement (construction) AR, IL, KY, LA, MS, MO, TN $43,231,000

Operation and Maintenance

• Channel Improvement (operation and maintenance) AR, IL, KY, LA, MS, MO, TN $65,124,000
• Mississippi River Levees (operation and maintenance) AR, IL, KY, LA, MS, MO, TN $9,175,000

Other Army Corps' proposed budget line items that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources, but are also highly relevant beyond the River Basin, include:

• $915 million in income from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, for harbor maintenance, construction, and operations activities;
• $53 million in income from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund for construction and rehabilitation of the nation’s inland waterways infrastructure; and
• $28 million for the Asian carp dispersal barrier project on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins.

Department of Interior - U.S. Geological Survey and Fish and Wildlife Service (Links to Department of the Interior "Budget in Brief," Fish and Wildlife Service "Budget Justification," USGS Budget Highlights (PDF) and OMB's Department of Interior budget appendix)

• The President's Department of Interior budget request of $13.2 billion represents a nearly $1 billion (8 percent) increase above FY 2015 spending levels, and includes $530 billion in discretionary spending  - $37 billion over the Federal spending cap under provisions of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (known as sequestration).
• The budget is premised on more than doubling the funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) - anticipating the full $900 million funding authorized for LWCF ($400 million in discretionary funds and $500 million in mandatory funds).  LWCF is the main Federal program that can be utilized to acquire new lands; preserve private farm, ranch and forest land; and increase urban parks.  Beyond FY 2016, the President's proposal anticipates that Congress would provide all of the $900 million from mandatory funding.
• The budget proposes to divert more than $3 billion in future offshore oil and gas money (designated under the 2006 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) to fund nationwide land conservation, rural counties, wildlife grants, coastal restoration or other "national priorities."

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Link to NOAA in this Department of Commerce "Budget in Brief")

• NOAA would receive nearly $6 billion under the President's budget proposal, $500 million more than the FY 2015 NOAA appropriation.
• The budget requests $50 million for NOAA's regional coastal resilience grants, funding the work of state and local governments to prepare for increased flood risks, sea-level rise and other risks from climate change.  That program's FY 2015 budget is $5 million.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (Links to Department of Homeland Security Budget Fact Sheet and OMB's Department of Homeland Security budget appendix)

• The budget proposal provides for slightly more than $200 million in pre-disaster mitigation funding "to provide technical assistance and risk-based grant funding to State, local, and tribal governments to reduce the risks associated with disasters. Resources support the development and enhancement of hazard mitigation plans, as well as the implementation of pre-disaster mitigation projects."
• The budget proposes funding the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program (known as "Risk MAP") at $279 million (FY 2015 funding provided was $97 million).  RiskMAP supports the mapping and community engagement needs of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• $156 million is budgeted for Flood Mitigation Grants; $156 million for Floodplain Management and Flood Mapping; and $26 million for FEMA Flood Mitigation and Flood Insurance Operations.  That total represents about a $31 million increase over FY 2015 spending levels.
• The National Flood Insurance Fund established under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4017) is budgeted at no more than $133,252,000 for operating expenses; $1,123,000,000 for commissions and taxes of agents; and $175,000,000 for flood mitigation actions and for flood mitigation assistance.

What's Next

The release of the Obama administration's budget proposal precipitates a series of House and Senate hearings on the proposal, and (under a legislative term of art known as "regular order") may ultimately result in a series of spending bills (ideally passed before the end of September 2015), which allocate funds for the next fiscal year across the agencies of the Federal government. We provide an overview of what might happen, should the regular order of appropriations be followed, in this overview of the Federal appropriations process.

The President Has Proposed a Budget; Here's What's Next

Photo Credit: House Appropriations Committee

The February 2 release of the Obama administration's Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget proposal (which can be found at this White House OMB page) jump-starts a series of House and Senate hearings on the proposal, and (under a legislative term of art known as "regular order") would ultimately result in a series of spending bills that allocate funds for the fiscal year across the agencies of the Federal government.  Here is an overview of what might happen, should the regular order of appropriations be followed (something that has not happened in recent memory).

It is good to remember that the Administration's budget proposal is just that - a proposal. In recent years nothing closely resembling the President's budget request has made its way through Congress and been reflected in appropriation measures that were finally passed.

Coincident with the budget proposal hearings mentioned above, the House Budget Committee would typically prepare and release its FY 2016 budget plan, which will form the basis for a subsequent House Budget Resolution.  The Committee's spending plan and resulting Budget Resolution will effectively be a Republican response to the President’s proposed budget. The House-passed Budget Resolution is sent on to the Senate for its consideration.

Assuming the Senate and House agree on and pass a common Budget Resolution, it will be used, in part, to set spending ceilings for bills to be developed in the House and Senate to fund the government during the 2016 fiscal year.  Following approval of the Budget Resolution (assuming it is, in fact, approved), Appropriations Committees in both the Senate and House would develop legislation to allocate funds.  The bills would ostensibly fall line with Fiscal Year 2016 spending ceilings set by the Budget Resolution, and would ideally be passed and signed into law before the FY 2015 spending authority lapses at midnight on September 30. These so-called "regular appropriations bills" provide funding for the upcoming fiscal year. If regular bills are not enacted by the beginning of the new fiscal year, Congress would need to adopt one or more continuing resolutions to provide stop-gap funding until regular bills are enacted.

There are twelve appropriation subcommittees in each chamber, and each traditionally would be tasked with drafting legislation to allocate funds to government agencies within their respective jurisdictions. The appropriations subcommittees with jurisdiction over funding for Federal departments and agencies that manage key Mississippi River Basin programs, and links to their web pages are: 

• Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (USDA, except the U.S. Forest Service) - House Site; Senate Site
• Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies (Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior-Bureau of Reclamation) - House Site; Senate Site
• Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (USEPA; U.S. Forest Service; Department of the Interior, except Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project) - House Site; Senate Site

An informative, November 2014, Congressional Research Service introduction to the Congressional budget and appropriations process can be read online or downloaded here (PDF file).  Once appropriations activities start, 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 Congress.gov web page.

What We Learned This Week - "Civilized" is in the Eye of the Beholder

Over 100 U.S. House members believe that the Obama administration is practicing "regulatory overreach" with its proposed clean water act rule, and proposed a bill to stop that.  The Senate Agriculture Chairman pledged to work with the President to resolve farmers' concerns about that proposed rule. The Des Moines Register editorial board believes that a Des Moines Water Works lawsuit would be a "civilized approach" to resolving a public health threat.  That opinion isn't universally held.  The U.S. Senate passed a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline - a bill that is highly unlikely to become law, assuming the House passes the Senate version. Seventy-two dams were removed across the U.S. last year, including nine in the Mississippi River Basin.  A Federal judge ruled in favor of the U.S. EPA in an agribusiness information privacy case; a ruling quickly appealed by the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Pork Producers Council. The cost projections for new farm bill risk management programs are higher than anticipated; and Minnesota's Rep. Collin Peterson expects criticism of those high costs to follow.  A new study predicts a rise in the frequency of climate change-induced extreme weather events.  Minnesota's statehouse Republicans are eager to scale back environmental regulations that they say hinder economic growth. The U.S. Senate fell one vote shy of permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund.  The World Resources Institute reports that the world cannot both meet its future food needs and produce bioenergy.  The Electric Power Research Institute was recognized with a "water prize" for its Ohio River Basin water quality trading project.  And last but not least, there are officially over 70 kinds of cheese, but there's no such thing as "nacho cheese."

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~

Next Week

The U.S. House and Senate are both scheduled to begin their work weeks on Groundhogs Day, with the House planning for four days, and the Senate five days of activity. The week will start off with a scheduled Monday release of the Obama administration's fiscal year 2016 budget proposal (which will be found at this White House OMB page after its release).  The President has already said that his proposal will peg government spending at seven percent ($74 billion) over caps agreed to in a bipartisan "sequestration," deficit-reduction agreement reached three years ago.  That hint of what the budget will entail has already drawn fire from Republicans, and its release will kick off a series of House and Senate hearings, including a House Ways and Means Committee hearing already scheduled for next week.  You can find all of the Capitol Hill activities currently scheduled next week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources on this web page.

The budget proposal announcement is just the opening move in a series of maneuvers that has become an annual Washington ritual, symbolic in recent years of the partisanship that has characterized Washington, DC relationships. We will post an analysis of the Administration's proposal with respect to Mississippi River Basin natural resources in this blog site once details become available.

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -

• Over 100 U.S. House members cosponsor "Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act" (H.R. 594) http://ow.ly/IcVl2
• Regulatory reform and the Obama Administration's proposed clean water jurisdiction rule will be top issues for Senate Agriculture Committee http://ow.ly/I96fp
• Senate Agriculture Chair Roberts pledges to work with Obama administration to resolve farmers' concerns about proposed clean water rule http://ow.ly/IcPEr
• Federal appeals court: Clean Water Act shields coal mining company from liability for selenium releases (Kentucky case) news article: http://ow.ly/I2sVs ruling: http://ow.ly/I2seW
• West Virginia federal court judge rules that Consol Energy subsidiary is liable for elevated levels of conductivity in regulated waterway http://ow.ly/I94zY
• Des Moines Register editorial board: Des Moines Water Works lawsuit would be a "civilized

  

  Des Moines, Iowa

  approach" to resolving a public health threat http://ow.ly/HWH0J
• Des Moines Water Works lawsuit reopens debate over how best to manage nutrient flow from U.S. farms into streams http://ow.ly/IcJfP
• Wisconsin’s frac sand industry is big business and big trouble for the state’s waterways http://ow.ly/HWeVI
• Thousands of Greenbrier County (WV) residents, businesses without water after a diesel spill contaminates Greenbrier River http://ow.ly/HWBga and http://ow.ly/HWCEN
• Pipeline source of oil spilled into Montana's Yellowstone River lies exposed on riverbed, not buried at 8 feet http://ow.ly/HYlam
• EPA reduces estimate for amount of oil spilled into Yellowstone River from pipeline from 40,000 to 30,000 gallons http://ow.ly/I2vWv
• Yellowstone River shovelnose sturgeon and emerald shiners to be tested for exposure to oil from January 17 spill http://ow.ly/I1cfr
• Major North Dakota brine pipeline spill's contamination reaches Missouri River; wildlife and
  
  
  drinking water supplies not affected http://ow.ly/HYm78
• Environmental Protection Agency approves Minnesota's amendments to State Water Quality Standards addressing eutrophication of rivers and streams http://ow.ly/I1v1A
• "Nutrient Roadmap Primer: The Future of Nutrient Removal and Recovery," now available from Water Environment Federation http://ow.ly/I2Bcy

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

• Department of Energy releases update to modeling tool evaluating water consumption associated with fuel production http://ow.ly/HWilo
• Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) decries "closed-door, multiagency efforts" to update flood risk

  

  American Rivers' Dam Removal Map (1936-2014)

  standards for federal investments http://ow.ly/I0NVz
• Four flood-prone Missouri River properties purchased to make room for a now-scrapped North Dakota levee to be auctioned off http://ow.ly/I12Os
• What makes Baton Rouge's drinking water so good? And is the region at risk of losing it? http://ow.ly/I13vv
• EPA awards $1 million in National Wetland Program Development Grant funds to six projects designed to bolster state and tribal capacity to protect and restore wetlands http://ow.ly/I350W
• American Rivers' report: 72 dams were removed across the U.S. last year, including (in the Mississippi River Basin) 5 in Iowa, 2 in Illinois, and 2 in Tennessee http://ow.ly/I4Ws3 (related story below)
• National Geographic News: Movement to take down thousands of dams goes mainstream http://ow.ly/I9iI2

Agriculture -

• Federal judge rules in favor of EPA in agribusiness information privacy case: ruling: http://ow.ly/I9cqI article: http://ow.ly/I9cDi (related story below)
• American Farm Bureau Federation, National Pork Producers Council appeal court CAFO privacy ruling http://ow.ly/IcPnd
• USDA issues Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Announcement for Program Funding; Pre-proposal deadline February 24 http://ow.ly/HXNMc (USDA CIG funding press release: http://ow.ly/HXUu2)
• Drop in North Dakota dairy farm numbers leads to scrutiny of state law allowing only family members to form farming corporations http://ow.ly/HWxKt
• Minnesota Rep. Peterson (ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee) expects criticism of high farm bill costs http://ow.ly/HWFKy
• Unmanned drones could play key roles in food supply: "Herding cattle. Counting fish. Taking an animal's temperature. Applying pesticides" http://ow.ly/I0To3
• Neighbors worry about Sonstegard Foods plans to open six-million-chicken facility in South
  
  Dakota near Vermillion River http://ow.ly/I11Cq
• Nebraska tries to attract out-of-state dairy farmers with promises of abundant land, plentiful water and feed, agriculture-friendly rules http://ow.ly/I14hv
• USDA workshops being held to help organizations submit Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program grant applications http://ow.ly/I2qDY
• USDA Farm Service Agency: non-irrigated "pivot corners" now eligible for Conservation Reserve Program habitat creation http://ow.ly/I2up2
• USDA kicks off "Organic Survey" to gather detailed data on U.S. organic agriculture production http://ow.ly/I2IYF
• Drone to be used for Clark State Community College's precision agriculture program (west-central Ohio) http://ow.ly/I4ZCx
• EPA loosens restrictions on, sets permissible level of sulfoxaflor: pesticide used for agricultural purposes http://ow.ly/I4SgZ

Climate and Weather -

• U.S. Midwest's climate future: Missouri like Arizona, Chicago like Texas http://ow.ly/HWfCv 
• US weekly drought update: improvements along Louisiana Gulf Coast; another dry and warm week over the Midwest and High Plains http://ow.ly/wmTdv
• NOAA Climate Prediction Center monthly drought outlook for February (will be published on Friday at 3 PM Eastern time) http://ow.ly/q3yAx
• New study based on climate modeling predicts rise in frequency of extreme weather events http://ow.ly/I1qJz

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Petition seeks habitat protection by FWS for Ohio River Basin's freshwater clubshell mussel, and 8 eastern species http://ow.ly/HWjEe (see figure to the right →)
• Minnesota’s battle against aquatic invasive species is going local http://ow.ly/HXTZ6
• Bald eagles return to Iowa again as they migrate south http://ow.ly/HY9pq
• Congressional Republicans aim to revamp key Endangered Species Act requirements http://ow.ly/I0MPa
• Coalition asks Fish and Wildlife Service to reclassify nearly all U.S. gray wolves as threatened http://ow.ly/I4YaT

In the Cities -

• Baton Rouge, La., Polk County, Iowa and Cincinnati, Ohio among 22 communnities to receive EPA technical assistance to pursue sustainable development strategies http://ow.ly/I1KZm

In the States-

• Former Missouri Department of Natural Resources employee: DNR lacks "political appetite" to enforce state laws http://ow.ly/I2xDh
• Two Missouri bills introduced to eliminate, decrease Conservation Sales and Use Tax that funds state conservation http://ow.ly/I9awI and http://ow.ly/I9aCF
• Interactive 2015 states' Legislatures' session map http://ow.ly/HY9Yr and legislative calendars table http://ow.ly/HYa3W
• Minnesota's House GOP is eager to scale back environmental regulations that they say hinder economic growth http://ow.ly/I19YL
• Minnesota Governor's proposal prompts lively discussions on vegetative buffer strips along streams http://ow.ly/I99dC
• Ohio appeals court rules that Oxford Mining Co. is authorized to operate in protected wetlands in east-central Ohio http://ow.ly/HQgqj
• Ohio House committee holds public meeting "to discuss water quality, nutrient management, and the important role Ohio farmers play in protecting our aquifers" http://ow.ly/I93cQ and http://ow.ly/I93eD
• Newly-introduced Indiana state legislation would mandate a Wabash, White, and Ohio Rivers aquifer study http://ow.ly/HYgCm
• Montana lawmakers introduce state bills targeting landowners who illegally block access to public land http://ow.ly/HYmCz (House Bill 304 http://ow.ly/HYmTq and House Bill 286 http://ow.ly/HYmZm)
• Wisconsin Natural Resources Board votes to conduct a "strategic analysis" of the frac sand mining industry http://ow.ly/IcLtm
• Pennsylvania Governor Wolf to sign moratorium on new gas drilling leases in state parks, forests http://ow.ly/IcMcB

Gulf Coastal Region-

• New FEMA elevations causing some Iberia Parish (Tete Bayou, Louisiana) residents to buy flood insurance http://ow.ly/I4YRt

Forestry -

• Report examines the efficacy of Forest Stewardship Council standards for conserving bat habitat in Minnesota http://ow.ly/I0OUS

Resource Development -

• World Resources Institute: world cannot meet future food needs and produce bioenergy at the same time http://ow.ly/IcL3h
• Senate on Thursday passed by a vote of 62 to 36 legislation to approve TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL oil pipeline http://ow.ly/IcNxl

Federal Budget -

• Congressional Budget Office annual budget outlook: federal deficit will begin to rise in 2017 and expand with an aging population http://ow.ly/I0S2Y
• CBO report: Falling crop prices are raising cost projections for new farm bill risk management programs http://ow.ly/IcTtR
• Obama fiscal year 2016 proposed budget will “fully reverse” sequester cuts to the domestic budget http://ow.ly/I8X85 and http://ow.ly/IcNWc (budget to be released February 2)

Events - Information on all past and future events listed here each week can be viewed in the on-line calendar, located above and to the right (and here as a stand-alone calendar)

Click to enlarge

• Great Mississippi River Photo Shoot; February 1 http://ow.ly/I0QjV (details to the right →)
• March 6 Capitol Hill briefing will highlight USGS report on groundwater quality across the nation http://ow.ly/I1XcP
• 10th Annual Regional Stormwater Seminar: new developments in stormwater practices and permit policies; April 17; Atlanta (southeast region includes TN, KY, MS) http://ow.ly/I1d8r
• Mississippi River Research Consortium solicits platform, poster papers for its 47th Annual Meeting, April 22-24 http://ow.ly/I9f2o
• Penn State Extension Green Infrastructure Webinar Series: free events 2-3 times monthly into June (with more to follow) http://ow.ly/HPt8a (link to flyer: http://ow.ly/HPtGx)

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -

• Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 275, January 27 http://ow.ly/HY99i
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Watershed Network News - Jan. 28 http://ow.ly/I98Po
• Montana Watershed Coordination Council's January 29 Watershed News http://ow.ly/IcN7o
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's January 28 TUWaterWays e-newsletter http://ow.ly/Id1nv

Other news-

• U.S. Water Alliance gives U.S. Water Prize to Electric Power Research Institute for its Ohio River Basin water quality trading project http://ow.ly/I2z6m
• Four Mississippi River Basin areas receive USDA rural development loans for small businesses in poor, underserved areas http://ow.ly/HPpnt
• Job: University of Montana Department of Society and Conservation in the College of Forestry and Conservation seeks Assistant Professor of Water Policy http://ow.ly/HQiBX
• Safe Food Act of 2015 introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) would establish Food Safety Administration http://ow.ly/I90XR (link to bill: http://ow.ly/I9gQG)
• Petroleum spills may promote the release of naturally-occuring arsenic to groundwater http://ow.ly/IcImC
• Senate comes up one vote shy of permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund http://ow.ly/IcJTX

Politics and People-

• Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chair Agriculture Committee, announces new Subcommittee assignments for 114th Congress http://ow.ly/I95Q1
• House Agriculture Committee Chair Conaway (TX-11) announces subcommittee assignments http://ow.ly/I9e7U
• Senate Appropriations Committee announces full roster of its 12 subcommittees http://ow.ly/IcOa7 (Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to chair Agriculture Subcommitee)
• Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) announces she will seek re-election this year, sidestepping other state races http://ow.ly/I0Ma2
• New Pew Research Center poll: Republicans dislike U.S. EPA even more than they did a year ago; Democratic support up; article: http://ow.ly/HQeMT and EPA table: http://ow.ly/HQeuh
• Despite progress, U.S. still lags many nations in women leaders, including national legislators http://ow.ly/HWVZ4

Your Moment of Zen -

Eric Gaillard/Reuters