Three Mississippi River Basin Waterways listed by American Rivers as "Most Endangered Rivers"

This week the river conservation organization American Rivers released its annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers list, a report highlighting "ten rivers facing urgent threats, and (that) encourages decision-makers to do the right thing for the rivers and communities they support." In the Mississippi River Basin, the Smith River (in Montana), Holston and Harpeth rivers (both in Tennessee) were highlighted among the top-ten threatened rivers. The Colorado River once again topped the organization's list.

Smith River
The Smith River flows 60 miles in Montana before joining the Missouri River just south of Great Falls. The River was listed as endangered by American Rivers because of a Tintina Resources Inc. copper mine along Sheep Creek, a major Smith River headwater tributary. For the 2015 list, American Rivers choose rivers facing key decisions over the next 12 months. The Smith River Basin copper mine proposal is expected to be filed with the state sometime in late 2015. Should the mine be opened, American Rivers predicts that the River's wild trout fishery would be subject to "acid mine drainage, contamination with toxic heavy metals, and nutrient pollution."

Holston River

The Holston River and people who rely on its waters are threatened by Research Development Explosive (or "RDX") residuals in wastewater being discharged from the Holston Army Ammunition Plant, located along the River in Tennessee. RDX has been found 143 miles downstream of the ammunition plant, at the confluence of the Holston and French Broad rivers.   RDX, according to American Rivers, "is a toxic chemical used in explosives and recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a possible human carcinogen. It can also cause seizures in humans and animals when large amounts are inhaled or ingested."  Four mid-1900s-era Tennessee Valley Authority dams on the Holston River provide electricity and flood control for the region, and the South Holston River is a drinking water source for many communities that bordering that River branch.

Harpeth River

The Harpeth River is a Tennessee-designated scenic river that flows through four Middle Tennessee counties, including the Nashville metropolitan area, and a series of state, county, and city parks. The River and its tributaries are home to rich freshwater biodiversity, including over 50 fish and 30 mussel species. Both American Rivers and the Harpeth River Watershed Association believe that the River faces two threatening issues: water withdrawal to supply drinking water to the town of Franklin, Tennessee and Franklin's wastewater discharges to the River. In 2014, the Watershed Association sued the city of Franklin claiming it had violated the Clean Water Act.

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News - Holiday Mid-Week Edition

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

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Water Quality -

• Water quality monitoring buoy with near-real-time data collection capability placed in

  

  Photo credit: NGRREC/Ted Kratschmer

  Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois http://ow.ly/L4Alw
• House Republicans ask EPA if agency weighed impact of the proposed “waters of the United States" rule on farmers and ranchers http://ow.ly/L4zzO
• MPR News: New project is designed to improve the way arsenic is measured in Minnesota's private wells http://ow.ly/KSq9i
• Reps. Alex Mooney (R-WV) and Bill Johnson (R-OH) introduce bill to block Interior Department proposal to protect waterways from coal mining http://ow.ly/KYtVV (story: http://ow.ly/KYuKq)
• Stearns County settles with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency over alleged Sauk River polluted stormwater impacts http://ow.ly/KZAyc

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

• Washington Post: Rise in government flood insurance rates to mirror rising waters and flood insurance debt http://ow.ly/L4weO
• Federal funding tight for water infrastructure projects, including Lewis and Clark Regional Water System (Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota) http://ow.ly/KZuA0
• Bureau of Reclamation announces FY2016 budget for rural water projects across Montana, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota http://ow.ly/KZx1x
• Army Corps of Engineers will spend more than $7 million this year to dredge 10 Mississippi River ports in four states http://ow.ly/L1yNS
• Tugboat pushing 21 barges up the Mississippi River strikes bridge pylons, causing the barges to break loose http://ow.ly/KZyGd
• NWS forecasts minor Mississippi River flooding on Wednesday in Baton Rouge and upriver http://ow.ly/L4K0T

Agriculture -

• Democratic senators ask Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee leaders to preserve farm bill conservation funding http://ow.ly/L2JC7
• USDA to make $332 million in financial and technical assistance available through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program; applications received through May 15 http://ow.ly/L2lNP
• Analysts suggest that the UN's Sustainable Development Goals ignore threats associated with nitrogen and phosphorus overuse http://ow.ly/L1xwB
• Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) suggests he may introduce legislation to reverse what he calls cover crop disincentives http://ow.ly/KSmsS
• Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation farmers discuss policy agenda with lawmakers in Washington D.C. http://ow.ly/KYi5P
• Ohio Farm Bureau promoting fertilizer certification training as part of $1 million Water Quality Action Plan http://ow.ly/KYjWJ and http://ow.ly/KYjYm
• President urges Congress to double funding to confront the danger of antibiotic-resistant bacteria http://ow.ly/KYm62
• Analysts predict farmers will plant record soybean acreage this spring for a second consecutive year while cutting corn plantings for the third in a row http://ow.ly/L1pQR
• Sorghum helping Plains' farmers weather sinking corn, soybean and wheat prices http://ow.ly/L2K0j
• Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), US Forest Service Chief and ranchers discuss Dakota Prairie Grasslands region conservation and grazing issues; story: http://ow.ly/L1tuq and Hoeven press release: http://ow.ly/L1tKN
• After peaking two years ago, Iowa farmland values have tumbled about 15 percent http://ow.ly/L4Bwl
• Environmental Protection Agency confirms it will require a weed resistance management plan for glyphosate, key ingredient in the herbicide Roundup http://ow.ly/L4CeL

Click to enlarge

Climate and Weather -

• US weekly drought update (to be released April 2): http://ow.ly/wmTdv
• NOAA Climate Prediction Center monthly drought outlook for April: northern and central Great Plains drought development is anticipated, especially in Nebraska and South Dakota http://ow.ly/q3yAx

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• 26 Kentucky elk arrive in Wisconsin for reintroduction program http://ow.ly/KYkL1 
• Herd of around two dozen bison could be grazing on restored Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie grassland (Illinois) as soon as this fall http://ow.ly/KZz7Q

In the Cities -

• Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas developing long-term plan to separate sewer

  

  Photo credit: WQAD

  network under agreement with EPA http://ow.ly/KYfRm
• Extension of 2026 deadline for mitigating overflowing sewer system unlikely for Pittsburgh metro region municipalities http://ow.ly/KYgsP
• Iowa Secretary of Agriculture announces nine Urban Conservation Water Quality Initiative Demonstration Projects in Ames, Calmar, Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Granger, Storm Lake, Webster City, West Des Moines and (three in) Calhoun County http://ow.ly/KYgMu
• Hampton, Illinois' "Stop pooping on the bike path" sign on the Mississippi Riverside trail is intended for humans http://ow.ly/L1wNe
• Construction begins on 1.6-mile, $2 million trail along the Arkansas River in  Fort Smith, Arkansas http://ow.ly/L4GRf
• Hickman, Mississippi officials push for improvements to Mississippi River port http://ow.ly/L1ysZ
• City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County given consent order extension to explore benefits of green infrastructure to reduce stormwater entering sewer systems http://ow.ly/L2IOZ
• Residents voice concerns over planned development's impact on green space along Illinois River, criticize lack of city of Peoria vision http://ow.ly/L4GdM
• Minneapolis park officials consider allowing construction of corporate building on leased Mississippi Riverside land and adjacent park http://ow.ly/L4Iuv

In the States-

• Freedom Industries, West Virginia sign 2014 Elk River spill site cleanup agreement

  

  States in the news this week

  http://ow.ly/L4SW3
• Republican state lawmakers in Minnesota block an attempt to debate an oil train safety bill http://ow.ly/KYw4I
• Minnesota state bill modified to include provisions to protect water quality and study farmer incentives after concerns were expressed that it would harm state water resources http://ow.ly/L1AuF (link to bill: http://ow.ly/L1AyZ)
• Arkansas House of Representatives passes S.B. 341, prohibiting agriculture disaster payments from being considered income (bill: http://ow.ly/KYiB4) story: http://ow.ly/KYiJz
• Tennessee bill would take back regulatory authority over state's coal industry from Federal government http://ow.ly/KZv1m (link to bill: http://ow.ly/KZvfl)
• North Dakota may sue federal government over new rules regulating hydraulic fracturing on federal lands in the state http://ow.ly/KSSPk
• South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks opens two five-year Black Hills fisheries management plans (for streams and reservoirs) for public comment http://ow.ly/KYjjC
• Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority sends $884 million 2015-2016 budget for levee and restoration projects to state Legislature http://ow.ly/KYvvj

Gulf Coastal Region-

• National Wildlife Federation: BP spill aftermath continues to impact, threaten Gulf wildlife http://ow.ly/KZxKq (NWF report link: http://ow.ly/L1wlo)
• The Guardian: BP says Gulf of Mexico is making a rapid recovery but evidence mounts that wildlife still struggles http://ow.ly/L1vzg
• Cat Island nearly gone; BP oil mat and tar balls still visible on East Grand Terre Island http://ow.ly/L4IWn

Resource Development -

• Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition raises concerns about natural gas drilling beneath Ohio River http://ow.ly/KZxru
• Largest U.S. boating advocacy group has thrown its support behind Senate bill removing corn-ethanol mandate http://ow.ly/KYdzf (link to bill: http://ow.ly/KYdOd)
• Congressional Budget Office releases slides from  “Issues Regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard” presentation by CBO analyst http://ow.ly/KYmyt

Federal Budget -

• House and Senate Republicans begin the task of reconciling their differing budget resolutions http://ow.ly/L4uDB (for the policy geeks among us, here is a primer on the U.S. Congressional budget resolution process http://ow.ly/L4zV7)

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)

• NOAA Interagency Working Group on the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia webinars (Southeast/Gulf of Mexico/Mid-Atlantic)-April 2) (Inland Waters/Great Lakes-April 22) http://ow.ly/L4wyV
• 4th Annual Riverbend Earth Day Festival; Godfrey, IL,  April 18, 12-6 pm http://ow.ly/L4yOn

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -

• Montana Watershed Coordination Council March 27 Watershed News http://ow.ly/KSTeZ
• Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 282, March 30; Grasshopper’s Jumping Journal: Atchafalaya River Expedition http://ow.ly/KZsS3
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Watershed Connections March e-newsletter http://ow.ly/L22K4

Other news-

• Farmer silences Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation committee hearing with invitation to drink water tainted by fracking http://ow.ly/KYp2j
• National Park Service launches major national campaign to attract a new visitors; raise funds backlogged maintenance http://ow.ly/KZtGu
• Kansas City Star editorial: Pick up the pace on Rock Island Trail across Missouri http://ow.ly/KZvTq
• Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway announces the launching of its new updated website http://www.mnrivervalley.com/ (story: http://ow.ly/L4JfX)

Politics and People-

• Reps. Tammy Duckworth, Bill Foster, Robin Kelly and Cheri Bustos all consider entering 2016 Illinois Senate race http://ow.ly/KYnA7 (also see: Tammy Duckworth announces Illinois senate bid  http://ow.ly/KZd5R) - -  After Duckworth entered the race, Illinois Democrat Bustos subsequently said that she won't run for Senate 
• Raja Krishnamoorthi (D), former Illinois deputy treasurer, launches bid to succeed Rep. Tammy Duckworth in Illinois’ 8th District http://ow.ly/L4B6x
• Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility seeks greater protection for USDA scientists http://ow.ly/KYofi

Your Moment of Zen -

Photograph: Fred van Wijk/Alamy

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

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

Mississippi River Collaborative Meets in New Orleans
Representatives of the Mississippi River Collaborative, along with supporting regional and national organizations, gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana this week to review the Collaborative's progress and plan future initiatives designed to advance Mississippi River water quality improvements, and wetland restoration and protection.  Founded by the McKnight Foundation, the Collaborative's goals in the ten-state Mississippi River corridor are to leverage its members' respective capabilities to restore the water quality and resilience of the Mississippi River, restore and protect floodplains and wetlands, achieve cross-boundary and interagency coordination among government agencies to foster improvements to the River's water quality and resilience, and (particularly within Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois) reduce agricultural pollution - focusing on areas with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus input to waterways.

Senate Budget Resolution Amendment Votes Provide Opportunities for Issue-Testing
A wide ranging and lengthy series of votes on non-binding amendments to the Budget Resolution were debated on the Senate floor this week, providing issue-backers and opponents opportunities to see who is supporting a variety of issues. Several of the amendment issues are relevant to agriculture and water resources in the Mississippi River Basin and elsewhere. For example, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) offered an amendment limiting the EPA's ability to adopt "an expanded and broad regulatory definition of ‘Waters of the United States,’" which was approved on a 59-40 vote (Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), already on record opposing the rule, did not vote). In the Mississippi River Basin, Democratic Senators McCaskill (MO), Manchin (WV), Heitkamp (ND) and Klobuchar (MN) joined Republicans in voting to approve the Barrasso amendment. Klobuchar voted against a similar Barrasso amendment in 2013.  In light of the Klobuchar stance shift, and the missing Cruz opposing vote, Senate opponents of the proposed water jurisdiction rule may have the 60 votes needed under Senate rules to pass legislation limiting the its implementation.

Ninety-nine senators voted to approve an amendment from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) establishing what amounts to a budgetary placeholder for "keeping the Federal Water Pollution Control Act focused on protection of water quality." Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AL) offered an amendment to require the Fish and Wildlife Service to consider the "cumulative economic effects" of critical habitat designations, which was agreed to, 52-42.

The amendment roulette proceeded into the early hours of Friday morning, when the Senate passed its budget resolution before recessing for two weeks (here is the final list of 52 amendments voted on Thursday and Friday, and the results of each vote).

Up Next

House Republicans on Wednesday narrowly passed their Budget Resolution; one that would arguably balance the federal budget in nine years while increasing overseas' war spending, cutting domestic programs and beginning the process of Medicare privatization.  GOP negotiators will now attempt to reconcile the two similar plans with the goal of presenting a unified Republican budget to both chambers for approval sometime in mid-April.  The final Budget Resolution, if passed, is not sent to the President, but provides top-line funding limits within which the House and Senate appropriation committees are to work as they draft fiscal year 2016 spending bills.

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -

• The Senate Agriculture Committee met Monday to consider “the impacts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed ‘Waters of the United States’ (WOTUS) rule” http://ow.ly/KM9Qw
• Former assistant secretary of Army for Civil Works says proposed water rule could be vulnerable in court http://ow.ly/KNj3Q
• Key Senate Democrats seem to be open to delaying controversial EPA-Army Corps' proposed clean water rule http://ow.ly/KMUo9 (link to Barrasso amendment: http://ow.ly/KMU7q)
• In an indication of support, a non-binding Sen. Barrasso amendment limiting the scope of EPA's ‘Waters of the United States’ definition passes Senate 59-40 http://ow.ly/KOY0m
• Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sees "major problems" with proposed "Waters of the U.S. rule" (bottom of transcript) http://ow.ly/KS5vY
• After a quarter century, Ohio EPA lifts all "Do Not Eat" fish consumption advisories for the Mahoning River (Ohio River tributary) http://ow.ly/KFW3K
• Now-bankrupt Freedom Industries pleads guilty to three pollution charges related to 2014 spill that contaminated West Virginia river http://ow.ly/KJorW
• Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission will hold an April 14 public hearing on changing a prohibition of mixing zones for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern http://ow.ly/KSaDQ

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

• Army Corps seeks public input on its plans to revise policy relating to eligibility criteria for levee and coastal projects http://ow.ly/KNnRB
• Scientific advisory panel gives green light to Louisiana's continued planning for major lower Mississippi River sediment diversions http://ow.ly/KP7mq (see related article below)
• Opposing opinions on Mississippi River diversions highlight contentious nature of coastal Louisiana master plan http://ow.ly/KSdvg
• Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Urges Integrated Approach By Utilities,

  

  Mississippi River at Natchez, Mississippi

  Officials to Address Water Issues http://ow.ly/KJnNT
• Corps of Engineers chief says Mississippi River’s infrastructure will need money from a variety of sources http://ow.ly/KSbvi
• NOAA spring outlook: Risk of moderate flooding for parts of central and eastern United States http://ow.ly/KJeYW
• Mississippi River at Natchez is projected to reach flood stage today (Tuesday) http://ow.ly/KJfKD
• Modernizing water infrastructure in the Ohio River Basin http://ow.ly/KArnl
• United Nations: water consumption practices will cause a 40 percent shortfall in global water supplies in 15 years http://ow.ly/KB4M4
• Supreme Court declines to review Army Corps' Louisiana Clean Water Act jurisdiction case http://ow.ly/KHhKZ
• New Madrid flood-control project finds supporters, few foes at Mississippi River Commission New Madrid meeting http://ow.ly/KJdta (related article below)
• Environmental groups plan to continue urging Clean Water Act veto of planned Southeastern Missouri flood-control project http://ow.ly/KP5Bm
• Barge traffic has begun moving again on the Mississippi River in the Quad-City area http://ow.ly/KJgyt
• Project intended to carry Missouri River water to Red River valley to augment local water sources on hold http://ow.ly/KJhZ1
• Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) introduces a bill to modify Corps small-port dredging; story: http://ow.ly/KJAtX; bill: http://1.usa.gov/1boWvgt
• FEMA ties state natural disaster mitigation planning to funding http://ow.ly/KMQrX
• Louisiana state legislators are confident they will obtain state/federal funds to raise Mississippi River levee in Tensas Parish http://ow.ly/KSa1n
• Oklahoma cities looking to build low-water dams on the Arkansas River look to wetland mitigation banks as a solution http://ow.ly/KSdaF

Agriculture -

• For the first time this century, Corn Belt farmland cash rents are beginning to recede

  

  Luke Runyon/Harvest Public Media/KUNC

  http://ow.ly/KFMtM
• “Sustainable agriculture” is a trendy term. It sounds impressive, but what is it? http://ow.ly/KFUg9
• The Atlantic: Farmland without farmers: As industrial agriculture replaces people with machines, the landscape loses its stewards http://ow.ly/KJ7vw
• Coast to coast, the topic of U.S. water and agriculture is flooding the conversation in farmland http://ow.ly/KM8sO
• POLITICO analysis shows the total 2014 farm bill package still "bends farm aid downward" http://ow.ly/KP3Ho
• U.S. farm groups want the Federal Aviation Administration to relax proposed regulations on commercial drones http://ow.ly/KPbc2
• Organic dairy farming struggles to keep up with demand http://ow.ly/KSeT2
• NPR: Colorado may be poised "to become the Silicon Valley for agriculture in the 21st century" http://ow.ly/KSf8C
• Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) suggests he may introduce legislation to reverse what he calls cover crop disincentives http://ow.ly/KSmsS

click to enlarge

Climate and Weather -

• More Iowa rainfall means six times as many flood events, eroding soil, stripping nutrients, difficult water management http://ow.ly/KFTS3
• NOAA: December 2014 to February 2015 was warmest winter ever recorded worldwide http://ow.ly/KGT05
• US weekly drought summary: Abnormal dryness, moderate drought in western Dakotas, Minnesota; steady or worsening drought over central Plains http://ow.ly/wmTdv
• The Gulf Stream system may be weakening sooner than anticipated; story: http://ow.ly/KJnes and study: http://ow.ly/KJnjS

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Emerald Ash Borer infestation spreads in Minnesota and Iowa http://ow.ly/KP5Wu

In the Cities -

New Orleans, Louisiana

• Mayor Roy Buol attends meeting in Washington, DC with Viking River Cruises to discuss possible cruise stop in Dubuque's future http://ow.ly/KJex4
• World's largest river cruise line wants to make Davenport a tourist destination in 2017 http://ow.ly/KJgNS
• Port of New Orleans cargo shipments hit 14-year high in 2014 at 8.37 million tons http://ow.ly/KJiee
• St. Cloud Times editorial: Costly St. Cloud, Minnesota trail should be tied to vision for the entire Mississippi riverfront http://ow.ly/KJiKT
• Plans move forward on a potential riverfront development along the Mississippi River in Brainerd, Minnesota http://ow.ly/KP6HV

In the States-

• Op-ed: Another stark contrast between Wisconsin and Minnesota governors: The environment

  

  States in the news this week

  http://ow.ly/KJoN1
• Grand Forks Herald op-ed: Dayton targets farmers with Minnesota buffer-zone proposal http://ow.ly/KPkAL
• Bill Introduced in Minnesota Legislature to incentivize biomass, biofuels, biobased-chemicals http://ow.ly/KFPiN (link to bill: http://ow.ly/KFPnr)
• St. Cloud Times op-ed: "Ag runoff needs attention; mandated buffers won't help" (Minnesota) http://ow.ly/KGgAB
• Minnesota state House Ways and Means Committee sets state spending targets cutting into Governor's environmental budget http://ow.ly/KM7eI
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency releases plan to protect wild rice from industrial pollution; calls for sediment monitoring http://ow.ly/KNkg0
• Missouri lawmakers pass bill aimed at spurring dairy industry growth; providing insurance subsidies, other incentives http://ow.ly/KFUMm
• Proposed Louisiana DEQ policy change re: focusing resources on highest-priority water bodies open for public comment http://ow.ly/KGdrD (link to draft policy: http://ow.ly/KGeBH)
• Colorado state lawmakers vote to allow people to store up to 110 gallons of rainwater flowing off their roofs http://ow.ly/KMRSI (bill: http://ow.ly/KMRXj)
• The top policy issues in the 50 states, according to the reporters who cover them http://ow.ly/KAuZT (Washington Post story http://ow.ly/KAv2N)

Gulf Coastal Region-

• BP report: Gulf rebounding from Deepwater Horizon explosion, oil spill; government officials, environmentalists: BP results are "cherry-picked" http://ow.ly/KFXiD

Resource Development -

• Obama administration announces new fracking standards requiring companies to disclose chemicals used in natural-gas extraction http://ow.ly/KFQXP
• Algae from clogged waterways could serve as biofuels and fertilizer http://ow.ly/KS3RE

Federal Budget -

• House Republicans adopted a 2016 budget in a 228-199 vote on Wednesday, keeping sequestration spending caps http://ow.ly/KOVEk (roll call vote tally: http://ow.ly/KOVYP and link to resolution: http://ow.ly/KOW5y)
• Senate approves Republican budget resolution early Friday morning 52-46, after a "grueling" series of amendment votes http://ow.ly/KRZQz (link to resolution: http://ow.ly/KS0k5)
• Republicans at USGS budget hearing question budget increases, research topic priorities http://ow.ly/KMXGf (hearing web page: http://ow.ly/KMXQ1)

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)

• Midwest Biodiversity Institute and Ohio Wetlands Association 2015 Vernal Pool Workshop; March 28, Delaware, OH http://ow.ly/KFOvi
• Registration open: “The Once and Future River: Imagining the Mississippi in an Era of Climate Change” U of MN, April 8-10 http://ow.ly/KB2oW
• 10th National Monitoring Conference – Working Together for Clean Water; May 2 - 6, Tampa, Florida http://ow.ly/KHv7C

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -

• Gulf Restoration Network March 20 GulfWaves e-newsletter http://ow.ly/KJcBG
• March Missouri Coalition for the Environment update: http://ow.ly/KM5mB
• Green Lands Blue Waters Update on efforts to advance Mississippi River Basin agricultural land Continuous Living Cover http://ow.ly/KMaQ0
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's March 25 TUWaterWays e-newsletter will be eventually found here: http://ow.ly/KOWYb

Other news-

• Popular weedkiller Roundup's active ingredient glyphosate declared a "probable carcinogen" by World Health Organization http://ow.ly/KFVzA
• Monsanto calls for World Health Organization to retract report calling Roundup ingredient glyphosate a "probable carcinogen" http://ow.ly/KMaiW
• New York Times op-ed (by Mark Bittman) re: glyphosate - "Stop Making Us Guinea Pigs"  http://ow.ly/KMQWI
• American Society of Microbiology’s journal mBio study links three widely used herbicides to antibiotic resistance http://ow.ly/KMYXA
• Most federal funding for public transportation, bikeways, pedestrian trails would be eliminated under House bill introduced last week by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-4):  http://ow.ly/KFZIX  (link to bill: http://ow.ly/KG0EJ)
• River farm commodity markets become active as ice dissipates on upper Mississippi River and high water drops on Ohio http://ow.ly/KJhFQ
• U.S. Department of Agriculture issues new regulations for its rural business development grant program http://ow.ly/KM7PJ
• Three-judge U.S. Court of Appeals panel orders Army Corps to reevaluate streamlined strip mining permitting process http://ow.ly/KMbtC
• U.S. EPA defends its new rule to address the disposal of coal combustion waste at House hearing http://ow.ly/KMVEn (hearing web site: http://ow.ly/KMVwC)
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee votes 16-5 to create state-focused system to regulate coal combustion waste disposal http://ow.ly/KNjwS
• Obama administration is set to release long-awaited plan to fight spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria http://ow.ly/KS55u

Politics and People-

• Former U.S. Rep. Robert Kastenmeier (D) who represented the Wisconsin 2nd District for 32 years, dies at 91 http://ow.ly/KJbnR
• Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) announces that he will not seek reelection in 2016 http://ow.ly/KK4wi
• Gallup poll: U.S. adults less worried about most environmental problems than they were a year ago, or in the late 1990s-early 2000s http://ow.ly/KNhs7
• Senate budget resolution "vote-a-rama" - A charade with consequences http://ow.ly/KP3YO

Your Moment of Zen -

Bettendorf, Iowa Photo Credit: Nicolas Doak

What We Learned This Week - "What? Me Worry?"

NOAA predicts a moderate risk of flooding this spring for parts of the central and eastern United States. Both supporters  and opponents of a large New Madrid floodway levee project voiced their opinions at a Mississippi River Commission, New Madrid meeting.  A former Army Corps of Engineers official said that the proposed EPA-Corps clean water rule could be vulnerable to a judicial overturn.  Key Senate Democrats seemed to be open to delaying the controversial rule, including Minnesota's Senator Amy Klobuchar, who says the proposal has "major problems." A scientific advisory panel gave Louisiana the go-ahead to plan for major lower Mississippi River sediment diversions.  U.S. adults are less worried about most environmental problems than they were just a year ago, or in the late 1990s-early 2000s. BP said that the Gulf of Mexico is rebounding from the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill; others say that BP "cherry-picked" its results.  The Gulf Stream system may be weakening sooner than anticipated.  The active ingredient in the popular Roundup herbicide was declared a "probable carcinogen" by the World Health Organization.  Monsanto - who makes Roundup - objected.  The earth has just experienced its warmest winter ever recorded.  Louisiana proposed an environmental policy change it says would focus resources on the most-polluted water bodies. After a quarter century, Ohio state officials reported that people can now eat all of the fish taken from the Mahoning River, within limits. And last but not least, the redeveloped Memphis Pyramid along the Mississippi River will one day be a "Disneyworld for outdoorsmen" (there was no mention of the other half of the outdoor-loving population, however).

Senate Budget Resolution Amendment Votes Provide Opportunities for Issue-Testing

A wide ranging and lengthy series of votes on non-binding amendments to the Budget Resolution being debated on the Senate floor this week is providing issue-backers and opponents opportunities to see where Senators stand on a variety of matters. Several of the issues in amendments being offered are relevant to water and agricultural resources in the Mississippi River Basin and elsewhere. For example, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) offered an amendment limiting EPA's ability to adopt "an expanded and broad regulatory definition of ‘Waters of the United States,’" which was approved on a 59-40 vote (Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), already on record opposing the rule, did not vote).  In the Mississippi River Basin, Democratic Senators McCaskill (MO), Manchin (WV), Heitkamp (ND) and Klobuchar (MN) joined Republicans in voting for the Barrasso amendment. Klobuchar voted against a similar Barrasso amendment in 2013.

Ninety-nine senators voted to approve an amendment from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) establishing what amounts to a budgetary placeholder for "keeping the Federal Water Pollution Control Act focused on protection of water quality." And Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) has sponsored several amendments critical of USDA's crop insurance program (not voted on yet).

The Senate's amendment roulette is set to proceed into the early hours of Friday morning, after which the chamber is expected to pass its budget resolution, before recessing for two weeks (here is the current list of pending amendments).

In the meantime House Republicans yesterday narrowly passed their Budget Resolution; one that would arguably balance the budget in nine years while increasing overseas' war spending, cutting domestic programs and beginning the process of privatizing Medicare.

Assuming the Senate passes its budget, GOP negotiators will attempt to reconcile the two similar plans with the goal of presenting a unified Republican budget to both chambers for approval sometime in mid-April.  The final Budget Resolution, if passed, is not signed by the President, but provides top-line funding limits within which the House and Senate appropriation committees are to work as they draft their fiscal year 2016 spending bills.

Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

The U.S. Senate and House are each planning to consider their respective budget resolutions this week. Under the textbook legislative scenario, each chamber will vote on its own budget before resolving differences, merging them and then voting on a unified budget plan.  That compromise resolution (if passed) would set overall spending levels to guide Senate and House appropriators as they draft spending bills for the upcoming (2016) fiscal year. Congressional leaders are aiming to approve the House and Senate resolutions this week before Congress recesses for a two-week spring break. Leaders then hope to have the differences resolved by mid-April to give the appropriations committees their fiscal year 2016 spending maximums.

In addition to that action on the Senate and House floors, below are the House and Senate activities currently scheduled for the week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources.  Links are provided to the 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

• Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on "Waters of the United States: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Impacts of EPA’s Proposed Rule;" 10:00 AM, room 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on management reforms to improve forest health and socioeconomic opportunities on the nation’s forest system; 10:00 AM, room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands oversight hearing on "Examining the Spending Priorities and Missions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in the President's FY 2016 Budget Proposals;" 10:00 AM; room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Judiciary Committee markup of several "regulatory reform bills" that aim to cut back government rules, simplify the rulemaking process and speed up environmental reviews: H.R. 348 the “Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015,” H.R. 712, the “Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015:” H.R. 1155, the “Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act of 2015:” and H.R. 690,the “Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act of 2015;” 10:00 AM, room 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies budget hearing - Department of Agriculture Research Agencies;10:00 AM, room 2362-A Rayburn House Office Building.
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security budget hearing - Coast Guard; 10:00 AM , room H-309 Capitol Building.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans oversight hearing on "Examining the Spending Priorities and Missions of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Power Marketing Administrations and USGS Water Division in the President’s FY 2016 Budget Proposal;” 10:30 AM, room 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources oversight hearing on "Examining the Spending Priorities and Mission of the U.S. Geological Survey in the President’s FY 2016 Budget Proposal;” 1:00 PM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy hearing on (and subsequent 5:00 PM markup of) H.R. ___, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015;  2:00 PM, room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.

Wednesday

• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy continued markup of  H.R. ___, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015;  9:30 AM, room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.

Thursday

• House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management hearing on Implementing the Agricultural Act of 2014: Commodity Policy and Crop Insurance; 9:00 AM, room 1300 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing on how BLM and Forest Service policies affect domestic mineral production, job growth and the federal deficit; 9:00 AM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.

What We Learned This Week - "We'll Always Have Paris"

EPA Administrator McCarthy told farmers and ranchers that her agency could have done better rolling out its clean water proposed rule.  County government and state agriculture representatives agreed with her.   Meanwhile, the EPA's water chief told lawmakers that "it's time for us to go final with the rule." The Ohio River once again tops the nation for industrial releases into that water body. It's dry and it's getting drier in the northern Corn Belt.  That could mean increased and more intense wild fires.   Minnesota Governor Dayton asked farmers to support his state stream buffer plan, but some farmers view the proposal as a land taking.  In a blow to the companies, federal judges returned seven environmental damage lawsuits filed against oil and gas companies by Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes to Louisiana state courts. Eighteen Mississippi River mayors visited Washington, DC to talk about River issues of mayoral importance.  Some of those Mississippi River mayors are going to Paris.  House and Senate Budget Committee Republicans released and then approved their respective budget plans for next year. Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock will leave Congress at end of March.  The House passed the EPA "Science Advisory Board Reform Act" and the "Secret Science Reform Act;" both mostly along party lines. And last but not least, Americans are more upbeat than people in other wealthy nations about how their day is going, and are more likely to believe that hard work pays off.