Friday, June 12, 2015

What We Learned This Week - "How sweet it is"

Nitrates from upstream Scioto River farmland prompted a Columbus, Ohio drinking water advisory.  Wetland restoration and protection are cost-effective nutrient runoff "secret weapons." Scientists have found artificial sweeteners in bodies of water around the world. A Senate Committee advanced a bill to kill the Obama Administration's Clean Water Act rule. Sen.   Amy Klobuchar (D) of Minnesota will be one Senator not supporting that legislation.  The U.S. Senate is gearing up to spend weeks working on spending bills that have little chance of becoming law.  "Dreadful" policy riders were included in a House Interior and Environment spending bill. It's the one-year anniversary of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, and uncertainty around key Army Corps projects remains.  The Upper St. Anthony Falls lock on the Mississippi River at Minneapolis was closed in an effort to block Asian carp.  The Nashville, Tennessee Metro Council rejected a contentious $100 million flood-protection proposal.  Residential properties and farmland flooded in rural northwest Louisiana.  The average age of U.S. farmers continues to creep upwards, while cropland values in Minnesota and the Northern Plains continue to creep downwards.   The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking public input on a proposed hog feedlot that would generate 1.7 million gallons of manure each year.  Discharges from an Iowa swine manure impoundment resulted in a fish kill in tributary to the Ocheyedan River.  One of the five largest coal companies operating on the Powder River Basin does not have the funds or insurance to clean up its own mining operations. Pennsylvania tops all U.S. states in turning old rail lines into hiking and biking trails.  And last, but not least, data may show that there really has been no recent slowdown in global warming, but we're still all climate change deniers at heart.
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Monday, June 8, 2015

Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Below are the U.S. House and Senate activities currently scheduled for the week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources. Wednesday's markup of the House Interior and Environmental spending bill for the upcoming fiscal year should prove to be interesting. First, the subcommittee is working within a $30.17 billion spending cap for Interior Department, Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency funding; an amount $246 million below current funding levels. Second, this bill historically has become a home for controversial Republican amendments or "riders," such as a one blocking EPA implementation of expanded Clean Water Act jurisdiction guidance or regulation. Past riders would have also blocked the Interior Department from spending money to add high-profile animals (such as the lesser prairie chicken or sage grouse) to its threatened or endangered species lists. Look for more of this same to be introduced on Wednesday.

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 Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on several pieces of energy legislation, including S. 1218, the Nexus of Energy and Water for Sustainability (NEWS) Act of 2015;" 9:30 AM, room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Wednesday
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee business meeting to consider S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act," to "require the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to propose a regulation revising the definition of the term “waters of the United States;” 9:30 AM, room 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing on the "One Year Anniversary after Enactment: Implementation of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014;" 10:00 AM, room 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.
  • Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine "the Federal Regulatory System to Improve Accountability, Transparency and Integrity” (regarding a bill introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) that would seek to limit "sue-and-settle" lawsuits by allowing for public comment prior to legal action, and to make it more difficult for third parties to sue to federal government; 10:00 AM, room 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
  • House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies meeting to mark up the fiscal year 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill (funding the Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency); 10:15 AM, room B-308 Rayburn House Office Building.
  • Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies meeting to mark up the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, for fiscal year 2016 (funding, among other agencies, NOAA and the National Science Foundation); 10:30 AM, room 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks hearing on several pieces of legislation, including S. 403, the "North Country National Scenic Trail Route Adjustment Act," to revise the authorized route of the North Country National Scenic Trail in northeastern Minnesota, and for other purposes; 2:30 PM, room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
  • House Natural Resources Committee meeting to mark up legislation (bills to be considered not yet identified); 4:00 PM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building (will carry over on Thursday at 10:00 AM).
Thursday
  • House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry hearing on "Implementing the Agricultural Act of 2014: Conservation Programs;" 10:00 AM, room 1300 Longworth House Office Building.
  • House Natural Resources Committee meeting to mark up legislation (bills to be considered not yet identified); 4:00 PM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building (carried over from Wednesday meeting).
  • Senate Appropriations Committee meeting to mark up the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2016; 10:30 AM, room 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
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Friday, June 5, 2015

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~
This Week - Waters Glut
The Obama Administration's release of its final Clean Water Act (WOTUS) rule sets up a new but strangely familiar phase of efforts to thwart the rule, using two tactics. First, legislative efforts to block the rule will continue, in the form of riders or stand-alone bills to de-fund the rule's implementation or to require its withdrawal. Ultimately, however, since this is a paramount regulation of the Administration, the President would very likely veto any such efforts, and there is little chance that Congress could override a veto. Second, given the high visibility of the rulemaking effort, and the number of parties and interest groups that commented on the rule, litigation is likely. In addition to possible suits from industry sectors, look forward to state efforts to block the rule. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is preparing to seek an injunction against the rule, and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has indicated her intent to challenge the rule. Challenges to the rule will likely argue that the federal government exceeded the authority allowed under the
Clean Water Act in regulating "navigable waters."

It should be noted that environmental groups are pouring through the lengthy rule, and not all have come out decidedly on its behalf yet.  In fact, at least one group has come out against the rule, saying that it didn't go far enough in protecting U.S. waters.

Non-navigable water in the form rainfall continued to dampen much of the U.S. Plains and Midwest this week, resulting in some River Basin flooding, and in dramatic drought relief, which is projected to continue through the remainder of June.

You can find all of the details on this week's items, below, and summarized in one handy, digested paragraph in "What We Learned This Week - "Blosom, we hardly knew ye'."

Up Next - Irregular Disorder
Early year hopes are fading fast for a normalized passage of fiscal year 2016 spending bills first by the House, then the Senate, followed by the President's signature (so-called "regular order"). The House has passed four of its 13 spending bills so far, including an Energy and Water bill (funding the Army Corps of Engineers), and a Commerce, Justice and Science measure (funding NOAA) but the White House has threatened to veto both for various reasons. The Senate has yet to pass any of its individual spending measures, although an Energy and Water bill has been sent by appropriators to the full chamber. The White House has threatened to veto that bill, as well. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, vow to use Senate rules to block the entire appropriations process in an attempt to raise strict spending caps adopted in 2011 under "sequestration" legislation, while expanding funding for Democratic priorities. In other words, don't look for passage of all 13 appropriation bills before the fiscal year expires on September 30.  

Several River Basin states find themselves equally stalled in budgetary gridlock, notably Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, who are embroiled to various degrees in fiscal legislative delays and stalemates.

The work of Congressional committees continues on a variety of fronts of possible interest to Mississippi River followers, and for a glimpse ahead to committee activities already scheduled for next week relating to River water resources, see "Capitol Hill Next Week - What to Watch For."

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -
  • Urban and rural interests in Iowa and elsewhere continue to argue over how to clean up
    polluted surface waters http://ow.ly/NHU4c
  • Senate bill introduced stripping USEPA of authority to issue Clean Water Act permits for pesticide spraying over waterways http://ow.ly/NRPWO (link to companion House bill here: http://ow.ly/NRPNl)
  • Dept. of Interior's proposed rewrite of the stream buffer zone protection rule is now slated for a June release http://ow.ly/NiseY
  • Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) introduces legislation taking aim at Interior Department OSMRE stream protection rule http://ow.ly/Nj9QL
  • US EPA developing app to help water-quality managers and public determine level of toxic algae in water sources http://ow.ly/NI369
  • US EPA extending the comment period on new regulations for oil and gas extraction wastewater under the Clean Water Act http://ow.ly/NLbqw
  • Company accused of dumping oil field waste into Mahoning River tributary expected to change its innocent plea http://ow.ly/NIIqJ
  • Cleanup of a 2013 North Dakota oil pipeline spill will take at least two more years http://ow.ly/NIKvP
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency monitoring crews begin 8th year of ten-year effort to assess river, stream and lake conditions http://ow.ly/NiGtc
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: Agencies, cities get creative to protect lakes and streams http://ow.ly/NJmgp
  • Medications, cosmetic ingredients, and endocrine disruptors found in Minnesota lakes and streams http://ow.ly/NL7Jg (from MN Pollution Control Agency) and http://ow.ly/NOQHu  (news article)
  • Minnesota Department of Health 2014 drinking water annual report: 10 percent of state noncommunity drinking water systems have groundwater sources affected by surface nitrate discharges http://ow.ly/NLtt8 (Related story: Minnesota Drinking Water Report Exposes Problems in Some City Systems http://ow.ly/NLvfF)
  • May 2015 Mississippi River-Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force Meeting materials have been posted online http://ow.ly/NQ4On
  • Kentucky Court of Appeals tells state Division of Water to reanalyze a coal plant's 2010 wastewater discharge permit, curb mercury, other toxins http://ow.ly/NSIyg
Reaction to Waters of the United States Rule
  • Fight over Clean Water Act rule enters new phase http://ow.ly/NI9BZ
  • Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) introduces legislation to cut EPA funding until the agency withdraws Waters of the U.S. rule http://ow.ly/NMpHT
  • Agriculture, oil and home-building industries line up to attack rule aimed at protecting wetlands and waterways http://ow.ly/NI0y7
  • Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is preparing to seek an injunction against Waters of the U.S. rule http://ow.ly/NITKv
  • Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge indicates intent to challenge Waters of the U.S. rule http://ow.ly/NIVJ8
  • North Dakota Farmers Union: Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority in final Waters of the U.S. rule http://ow.ly/NOG0j
  • League of Conservation Voters launches $300,000 national ad campaign to boost support for Waters of the United States rule http://ow.ly/NLMHx
  • Environment America launches $1.8 million effort in Maine, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Minnesota and Colorado, in support of "Waters of the U.S." rule http://ow.ly/NRNG5
  • Moderate swing vote senators, including Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), remain uncommitted on the Obama administration's controversial water rule http://ow.ly/NOwcQ
  • Senate Small Business Committee approves (by a vote of 11-8) "resolution expressing the Sense of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship that the Waters of the United States rule will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities" Committee meeting web archive: http://ow.ly/NP518 (see this related article: http://ow.ly/NPLk3)
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
  • Op-ed: Agriculture’s water resource irrationalities arise from lax regulation and mistaken pricing http://ow.ly/NI1pe
  • Letter to the Peoria Journal Star editor: EPA should do better job of protecting wetlands; "block the destructive New Madrid Project" http://ow.ly/NL9sp (also see: Letter to the Editor (Quad-City Times) http://ow.ly/NSWyo
  • Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduce Urban Flooding Awareness Act to direct FEMA, NAS to study urban flooding http://ow.ly/NRCAZ (link to Senate bill: http://ow.ly/NRCO5)
  • As Oklahoma and Texas rain stops, downriver Arkansas and Louisiana brace for Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers' flooding http://ow.ly/NRRNW
  • Arkansas River boat traffic-already slowed by recent flooding-halted after natural gas pipeline rupture http://ow.ly/NSJpr
Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Agriculture -
  • Farmers and ranchers can get conservation planning help online from USDA on new Conservation Client Gateway http://ow.ly/NIRNP
  • Neil Young looking to release an entire album dedicated to slamming agrochemical corporation Monsanto - working title "The Monsanto Years" http://ow.ly/NIXor
  • House Agriculture General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee reviews the financial health of farm country http://ow.ly/NMmaY (see related article, below)
  • Lawmakers: 'Precarious' farm financial situation proves case for farm bill http://ow.ly/NOAVU
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Organic agriculture is far more profitable than conventional farming http://ow.ly/NMs23
  • Sen. Charles Grassley calls on USDA to finalize its actively-engaged rule for the 2016 crop year http://ow.ly/NMNjZ
  • There's a nitrogen pollution link between a dairy farm on Colorado's Eastern Plains and biological weirding in Rocky Mountain National Park http://ow.ly/NOtii
Climate and Weather -
Click to enlarge
  • Drought relief continues in water-logged Midwest, and southern, northern and central Plains, including most of Kansas and Oklahoma http://ow.ly/wmTdv
  • NOAA Climate Prediction Center monthly drought outlook for June: Across the Nation's midsection, forecasts favor continued pattern of near to above average precipitation, leading to further drought reductions http://ow.ly/q3yAx
  • NOAA 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook predicts below average number of storms http://ow.ly/NI4xN
  • Decades of quiet hurricane seasons for many Gulf and East Coast cities have some worried that residents are unprepared http://ow.ly/NJrzN
  • Amendment approved to House Commerce spending bill "Prohibits funds from being used to implement, administer, or carry out  the National Climate Assessment, the IPCC report, the UN's Agenda 21, and the Social Cost of Carbon, etc." http://ow.ly/NOqCQ
  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee "going to try to build a broader Western water package" http://ow.ly/NOvwC
  • Eight maps that reveal Americans' incoherent opinions on climate change http://ow.ly/NOOBe
  • Brookings Institution: U.S. population surging in drought-stricken areas http://ow.ly/NRzgu
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
Source: United States Geological Survey
In the Cities -
  • Nashville, Tennessee debates how to prevent another devastating flood http://ow.ly/NIFeD
  • Nashville hopes to make "The Nations" neighborhood more resilient to weather-related events by creating green alleys http://ow.ly/NJgNe
  • Hannibal: the Mississippi River town where Mark Twain = $$$ http://ow.ly/NUAqd
  • Greening the Pittsburgh Wet Weather Plan Charrette Project addressed overflow of sewage into area rivers http://ow.ly/NJhL8
In the States-
  • Minnesota Gov. Dayton vetoes two major budget bills, including agriculture-and-environment
    States in the news this week
    bill containing stream buffer provision http://ow.ly/NIJRX
  • Minnesota state Joint House-Senate Committee meeting today (Friday) to consider vetoed/unfinished state spending bills http://ow.ly/NUCbf
  • Bike advocates are fuming at a possible Wisconsin budget measure to impose a $25 tax on new bikes http://ow.ly/NhZk0
  • Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee restores some of Governor’s proposed  Stewardship Fund cuts; limits shoreline zoning protections http://ow.ly/NJauS (link to spending bill: http://ow.ly/NJbun)
  • Wisconsin Finance Committee reduces level of cuts proposed by Governor for University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension program http://ow.ly/NOH7y
  • Wisconsin proposes "quicker, less expensive" general permit covering maintenance dredging of navigable waterways http://ow.ly/NJlx5
  • Wisconsin creating Office of Open Government to help public obtain government records more quickly and consistently http://ow.ly/NOJBC
  • Iowa Legislature appears headed toward an extended session as House-Senate state budget deadlock continues http://ow.ly/NLzEU
  • Illinois legislative session ends with an unresolved, $3 billion state budget deficit http://ow.ly/NL8dW
  • Divided state legislatures produce gridlock, not compromise - except in Kentucky http://ow.ly/NLAkf
  • New Missouri agricultural law brings into question the degree of lobbying influence on state legislators http://ow.ly/NIj17
  • Missouri Coalition for the Environment's Missouri Legislative Wrap-up http://ow.ly/NPHx9
  • Kansas Governor proposes income tax cut and raises sales tax in a bid to overcome fierce legislative divisions and delays over state budget http://ow.ly/NLB3V
  • Monthly revenue from oil taxes has fallen by from 45-75 percent in top 10 oil-producing states since last July (including Oklahoma, North Dakota, Louisiana and Kansas) http://ow.ly/Nirvj
  • The Myth of State Policy Innovation: often, policies are replicated among states with little attention to their efficacy http://ow.ly/NIfpm
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • NASA’s series of stark satellite images, its “World of Change” project, reveals years of Louisiana coastal change http://ow.ly/NHZV7
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers $9 million in competitive grants to help coastal communities deal with weather, climate hazards (proposal deadline July 24) http://ow.ly/NIadh
  • House approves bill to reauthorize but cut $8 million in funding for U.S. EPA National Estuary Program, a place-based program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of 28 estuaries of national significance, including the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary in southeastern Louisiana (bounded on the east by the Mississippi River)  http://ow.ly/NLfUf
  • Louisiana coastal authority awards three grants for research on river diversions and soil strength http://ow.ly/NPNFX
Forestry -
  • Forest Service proposes to improve habitat, species makeup in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin, Townsend Project http://ow.ly/NJv4r
Map source: USGS
Resource Development -
  • Department of Interior releases Wyoming Powder River Basin Regional Management Plan including 28 new coal leases http://ow.ly/NHYSm
  • North Dakota will begin holding public hearings on a proposed 1,134-mile, $3.78 billion Dakota Access Pipeline http://ow.ly/NhYqb
  • EPA releases 2014, 2015 and 2016 fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS); background article: http://ow.ly/NIaR1 (also see article below)
  • House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson: RFS Announcement a Setback for Rural America http://ow.ly/NIc8I
  • After fighting off plan to sell, Minnesota farmers increase their investment in a cooperatively owned ethanol plant http://ow.ly/NIFGC
  • Report finds that Wisconsin supplied nearly half of U.S. demand for frac sand in 2014 http://ow.ly/NIH3o
  • Illinois lawmakers approve bill requiring study of frac sand mining impacts; citizen group says bill doesn't go far enough http://ow.ly/NLDGf
  • EPA releases Draft Assessment on the Potential Impacts to Drinking Water Resources from Hydraulic Fracturing Activities; but has not caused "widespread" impacts http://ow.ly/NSyf8 (Related news article below)
  • Environmental Protection Agency concludes that hydraulic fracturing has not caused major harm to drinking water supplies http://ow.ly/NUAVT
  • USDA announces restart of Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by 2014 Farm Bill http://ow.ly/NJmzk
  • Minnesota tribes press concerns over Sandpiper pipeline plan, wild rice http://ow.ly/NLCmA (related article below)
  • Minnesota Public Utilities Commission expected to vote this Friday (June 5) on a proposed crude oil pipeline; Friends of the Headwaters opposes the project http://ow.ly/NONyQ
  • State says coal operator is making progress in addressing a record number of environmental violations at Kentucky strip mines http://ow.ly/NOSqb
Federal Budget -  (You can follow the status of all of the fiscal year 2016 appropriation bills on this Congress.gov web page)
  • Senate Energy and Water fiscal year 2016 appropriations report (with Army Corps of
    Photo: Shutterstock
    Engineers spending details) as approved by Senate Appropriation Committee http://ow.ly/NiL1O
  • White House Office of Management and Budget outlines "serious concerns" with Senate energy and water development spending bill http://ow.ly/NOvlx
  • House passes FY 2016 spending bill for Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies http://ow.ly/NRBnT (link to bill: http://ow.ly/NRBaG)  Bill includes $5.2 billion for NOAA, which is $274 million below this fiscal year's enacted level, and $7.4 billion for the National Science Foundation; an increase of $50 million above fiscal year 2015 and $329.3 million below the President's request.
  • White House objects to, threatens to veto House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act http://ow.ly/NS6wF
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 ecologist will speak on River issues at Piasa Palisades Group of the Sierra Club event, June 8, 7:30 PM CT,  Alton, Illinois http://ow.ly/NQ6q5
  • Association of State Wetland Managers Improving Wetland Restoration Success webinar: Riverine/Riparian Wetland Restoration; June 9, 3 PM ET http://ow.ly/NOs5T
  • Ohio State U Climate Change Webinar: Assessing Green Infrastructure Costs and Benefits in Toledo, OH and Duluth, MN; June 16, noon ET http://ow.ly/NOIPb
  • Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board meeting, June 17, 9:30 AM CDT, State Capitol, House Committee Room 1, 900 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 http://ow.ly/NRDu4
  • USDA Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board meeting,  June 17, 1 PM, CDT, U.S. Forest Service, 8221 S. Highway 16, Rapid City, SD http://ow.ly/NLpO7
  • USEPA will hold a hearing on the  2014, 2015, and 2016 Renewable Fuel Standards,  Kansas City, Kansas, June 25, 9 AM CDT http://ow.ly/NRLNw
  • USEPA webinar: Building Public Support for the Value of Water Infrastructure, June 25, 1 PM EDT http://ow.ly/NRGQF
  • Great Mississippi River Photo Shoot, July 4, all day along the Mississippi River from the source to the Gulf http://ow.ly/NOMpb
  • Water Environment Federation webinar: Advances in Water Quality Trading as a Flexible Compliance Tool. July 8, 1-3 pm EDT http://ow.ly/NSOXQ
  • Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD; August 9-14 http://ow.ly/NUBni
  • USEPA Science Advisory Board Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel public teleconferences: Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 19; Washington, DC public meeting: Oct. 29-30 http://ow.ly/NUDzt
  • Emerging Contaminants Summit, March 1–2, 2016, Westminster, Colorado http://ow.ly/NRQVF
  •  National Water Quality Monitoring Council 10th National Monitoring Conference: Working Together for Clean Water, May 2-6, 2016, Tampa, Florida http://ow.ly/NMHwN
e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -
Other news-
  • House Majority Leader McCarthy announces his June House agenda http://ow.ly/NJ0fn (includes Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act) 
  • White House lays out regulatory plan for coming year in its Unified Agenda; story: http://ow.ly/NjaMn (link to agenda: http://ow.ly/NjaHu)  
  • Interior Secretary Sally Jewell continues campaign to prompt Congress to reauthorize, fully fund Land and Water Conservation Fund http://ow.ly/NjacD
  • Washington Post: Which federal agencies actually will respond to your requests for information and which won’t http://ow.ly/NJnXL
  • House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman criticizes Administration for its handling of FOIA requests http://ow.ly/NRDVK
Politics and People-
Source: Missouri History Museum
  • Leo Drey-who donated 146,000 forested Missouri acres to foundation to protect the lands for the public-dies at 98 http://ow.ly/NJq5x
  • Remembering Leo Drey, Missouri Coalition for the Environment's first President http://ow.ly/NMInU
  • Trent Kelly (R) wins Mississippi first district special congressional election; will finish the term of the late Alan Nunnelee http://ow.ly/NOphU
  • Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer concedes state's Republican gubernatorial race to Matt Bevin http://ow.ly/NISRT
  • Environmental Defense Fund names Diane Regas as its new executive director, http://ow.ly/NJpzL
  • Pennsylvania senate confirms Governor’s nominee, John Quigley, to head  Department of Environmental Protection http://ow.ly/NSK85
  • Pew Research poll: Millennials rely on Facebook for their news far more than any other source and are less interested in politics than older generations http://ow.ly/NOC4B
Your Moment of Zen -
Photograph: Zuma/Rex Shutterstock
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What We Learned This Week - "Blosom, we hardly knew ye'"

A cleanup of the aftereffects of a 2013 North Dakota oil pipeline spill will take at least two more years.  Medications, cosmetic ingredients, and endocrine disruptors have been found in Minnesota lakes and streams, while ten percent of the state's non-community drinking water systems have groundwater sources affected by surface nitrate discharges.  Minnesota Governor Dayton vetoed an agriculture-and-environment budget bill that contained parts of his stream buffer zone initiative.  The Clean Water Act rule fight has entered a new phase, which looks eerily similar to the earlier phases.  Dairy farms on Colorado's Eastern Plains are prompting nitrogen enrichment and "biological weirding" in the Rocky Mountain National Park.  The White House objected to a House Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill  and expressed "serious concerns" with a Senate energy and water development spending bill.  Five invasive bighead carp were found in the St. Croix River, seven miles upstream from where they had been previously detected.  "Blosom," the world's tallest cow, passed on to the big pasture in the sky after holding the title for less than a year. Wisconsin plans to create an Office of Open Government to help the public obtain government records more quickly and consistently, while the Obama Administration was severely criticized for not being too quick or consistent in answering records' requests.  State legislatures in Kansas, Iowa and Illinois are mired in budget gridlocks, but that's not the case in Kentucky.  Drought relief continued in the water-logged mid-section of the U.S. and the relief is predicted to continue through the month of June. Oklahoma and Texas rain eased, and Arkansas and Louisiana braced for downriver flooding. Organic agriculture is far more profitable than conventional farming.  And last but not least, Neil Young is looking to release an entire album dedicated to the agrochemical corporation, Monsanto.
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Tuesday, June 2, 2015

UPDATED: Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Both the U.S. House and Senate return this week from their Memorial Day recesses, and below are their activities currently scheduled for the week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources.

In addition to the committee activities listed, the House on Monday passed H.R. 944, a bill to reauthorize the National Estuary Program - a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency place-based program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of 28 estuaries of national significance, including the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary in southeastern Louisiana (bounded on the east by the Mississippi River).  H.R. 944 would cut $8 million from the National Estuary Program's current level of funding.

Staring on Tuesday, the House is also planning to debate and vote this week on a fiscal year 2016 appropriations bill relating to Mississippi River water resources: H.R.2578 - the "Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act." That bill would provide funding for, among other agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Foundation.  The White House has threatened to veto the bill if passed by Congress in its present form.  The White House objections to H.R. 2578 are based, in part, on the bill's funding level for NOAA's Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction program, "which precludes needed long-term infrastructure investments to collect critical environmental data," and on the "funding levels provided for the National Ocean Service and climate research programs, which are 15 percent and 32 percent below the FY 2016 Budget request, respectively."

Links are provided to the relevant committee web pages, and, where applicable, 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. 

Monday
  • House Rules Committee meeting to set the rules for House debate of H.R. 2578, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016; 5:00 PM, room H-313 The Capitol.
Tuesday
  • House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management hearing on the "Financial Health of Farm Country;" 10:00 AM, room 1300 Longworth House Office Building.
  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing "to receive testimony on the status of drought conditions throughout the western United States and actions states and others are taking to address them;" 10:00 AM, room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
  • House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on "Ensuring Transparency through the Freedom of Information Act;" 2:00 PM, room 2154 Rayburn House Office Building (continues on Wednesday).
Wednesday
  • House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on "Ensuring Transparency through the Freedom of Information Act;" 9:00 AM, room 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.
  • Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee business meeting to consider (among other items) a "resolution expressing the Sense of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship that the Waters of the United States rule will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities;" 10:00 AM, room 428A Russell Senate Office Building.
  • House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands hearing on a Discussion Draft: "Returning Resilience to our Overgrown, Fire-prone National Forests Act of 2015;" 2:00 PM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
Thursday
  • House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on "EPA Regulatory Overreach: Impacts on American Competitiveness" (including consideration of the impacts of the Clean Water Act jurisdiction ("Waters of the United States") rule); 9:00 AM, room 2318 Rayburn House Office Building.
  • Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management hearing "Examining Practical Solutions to Improve the Federal Regulatory Process;" 1:15 PM, room 342, Dirksen Senate Office Building.
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Friday, May 22, 2015

Mississippi River Water Resources Blog Memorial Day Recess

Congress is not in session during the Memorial Day week, and your FNB* is taking that opportunity to rest and relax in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - a proverbial "stone's throw" from Capitol Hill, and renowned as "The Nation's Summer Capital."

The blogger and blog will return bright and early on the first of June, with Federal lawmakers due to return shortly thereafter.



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*"Friendly Neighborhood Blogger"





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Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~
This Week and Next
The week saw some substantive work in the U.S. Congress to move bills along that could eventually set fiscal year 2016 spending levels for the Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA.  House appropriators passed a Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill that would fund NOAA at a level $274 million less than in 2015, and their Senate counterparts passed an Energy and Water spending measure funding the Army Corps at a level $45 million above the current year's level.  The Senate Appropriation Committee also set discretionary spending caps for its 12 subcommittees; allocating $30.01 billion of its $1.017 trillion budget to the Subcommittee on Interior and Environment to distribute among the Interior Department, Forest Service and EPA in its fiscal 2016 spending bill, and $20.5 billion for the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration subcommittee.  You can link to details under "Federal Budget," below.

The activity on and off Capitol Hill regarding the pending Waters of the United States (WOTUS or Clean Water) rule was of a less substantive and more frenetic nature.  Unlike recent weeks when legislation was introduced and considered, no new bills (or even approved amendments to bills) surfaced this past week.  The topic did come up - sometimes loudly - in several Congressional committee hearings and meetings, as well as in a sizable number of White House meetings, as stakeholders rushed to have their voices heard before the final rule is published. Below, under "Water Quality," you can find a lengthy listing of the week's WOTUS news.

Next week will be noticeably quieter and slower in Washington, DC, with the halls of Congress darkened for the Memorial Day recess.  Don't be surprised, however, if the Obama administration uses the Congressional down time to publish its final Clean Water Act (WOTUS) rule.  Controversial announcements are sometimes made during such recesses, and indications from the White House Office of Management and Budget are that the White House review of the final rule is nearing its end.

If you plan on getting out and about this holiday weekend, one recommended destination up and down the Mississippi River is the Great River Road National Scenic Byway, which was recently highlighted as one of America's best waterside drives.

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -
Waters of the United States
  • Obama administration expected to soon announce major clean water rule that clarifying federal authority to limit pollution http://ow.ly/Nhzef
  • Opponents of Waters of the U.S. rule go on offensive during Senate "Federal Water Quality Protection Act" hearing http://ow.ly/N9tSD
  • Minneapolis Star Tribune Editorial Board: "Don't let special interests dilute federal 'Clean Water Rule'" http://ow.ly/N5lJl
  • Poll: most voters think Congress should allow Waters of the U.S. rule to move forward; 18% think it should be blocked http://ow.ly/N8qHR
  • New York Times: "Critics Hear E.P.A.’s Voice in ‘Public Comments’" regarding Obama administration's proposed water rule http://ow.ly/N8Dcj (see related EPA blog post below)
  • US EPA spokeswoman Liz Purchia defends the agency's proposed water rule education and outreach activities in a blog post http://ow.ly/NbAN3
  • Since April 15, the White House Office of Management and Budget has had 17 stakeholder meetings on the proposed water rule http://ow.ly/NcmO2
  • Over 100 advocates representing dozens of groups flocking to White House in last-ditch effort to influence WOTUS rule http://ow.ly/NbuYI
  • Administration's decision not to run proposed water rule through small business review process troubles key Senate Democrat http://ow.ly/NbBnh
  • Senate Environment and Public Works panel Republicans say administration's clean water rule proposal is an example of federal overreach http://ow.ly/NbXZs
  • Sen. Hoeven (R-ND) offers amendment to Energy and Water spending bill to defund implementation of Waters of the US rule; then withdraws amendment after debate; link to meeting archive: http://ow.ly/NfrRf
Other Water Quality News
  • Mississippi River - Gulf Hypoxia Task Force discusses Midwest’s role in Gulf of Mexico dead zone at Columbus, Ohio meeting http://ow.ly/Nfmdc
  • Des Moines Register editorial: "Give us results, not spin, on water quality" - "pay attention to measurable progress" http://ow.ly/Nfkir
  • Study (Pennsylvania and West Virginia): discharge and accidental spills of oil and gas wastewater to waterways pose risks to both human health and the environment http://ow.ly/Nf7DS (related article: http://ow.ly/Nf7K0)
  • Interior Department mining stream protection rule comes under scrutiny at House hearing http://ow.ly/NeygT
  • Quad-Cities authorities monitoring apparent Mississippi River oil spill http://ow.ly/N0nIc
  • Research: Bisphenol-A may enter into Missouri streams via atmospheric deposition http://ow.ly/NbWO3
  • Also see "In the States," below
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
  • Ameren and Franklin County join to block legal challenges to coal ash landfill in Missouri River floodplain http://ow.ly/NhGDW
  • Army Corps commander urges waterway infrastructure work; Rock Island District backlog discussed http://ow.ly/Nc5PS
  • Construction of new Chickamauga lock in Chattanooga, Tennessee may be revived under Army Corps spending bill approved by Senate Appropriation subcommittee http://ow.ly/Nc7mQ
  • Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District will ask for $10 million in Federal money to help with levee repairs http://ow.ly/N69DN
  • Supreme Court asks Army Corps to respond to company's second attempt to convince Court to review wetland jurisdiction case http://ow.ly/N6kTd; also see this related news article: http://ow.ly/N6loE
  • USGS: New digital flood inundation maps and an updated flood warning system for parts of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers can help with flood preparation http://ow.ly/Nc9kq
  • Walter Mondale leads conversation about the future of the St. Croix River  http://ow.ly/N6aEh
  • USGS publishes report entitled, "The Water-Energy Nexus:  An Earth Science Perspective"  http://ow.ly/NhBHT
  • Obama administration urges Supreme Court against reviewing Mississippi claims that Tennessee is stealing groundwater http://ow.ly/NhE3w
Flooding
  • Flooding South Platte River diverted into Nebraska irrigation canals to help minimize flooding and recharge aquifers http://ow.ly/N0oUl
  • National Weather Service in Wichita issues flood warning for the Arkansas River at Arkansas City http://ow.ly/N68HD
  • Arkansas River Valley experiences highest water levels in years http://ow.ly/N691Y
Agriculture -
  • Wisconsin outpaced its neighboring states in the growth of farmland property values last year http://ow.ly/MZz1b
  • New iPhone and Android app allows Nebraska farmers to map treatment strip research; coordinate with University researchers http://ow.ly/N65lH
  • USDA reminds farmers to certify conservation compliance by June 1 deadline http://ow.ly/NhweV
Climate and Weather -
  • National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center looks for widespread drought improvement across the Plains through the summer http://ow.ly/NhD9W
  • Dartmouth-led study finds that climate change's future impact on Midwest water cycle is
    Click to enlarge
    uncertain http://ow.ly/Nch6U
  • USDA-NRCS to provide $21 million in farm bill conservation assistance to areas experiencing exceptional or extreme drought, including Kansas and Oklahoma in the Mississippi River Basin http://ow.ly/N6lRV
  • Large El Niño becoming more likely in 2015; news article http://ow.ly/N8gU9 and NOAA analysis http://ow.ly/N8gZa
  • US drought update: storminess reduced drought’s footprint across U.S. mid-section http://ow.ly/wmTdv
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology releases draft Community Resilience Guide for public feedback; comments due June 26 http://ow.ly/NhBSm
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • New genetic analysis of freshwater mussels suggests that they aren't as bad off as previously
    Photo: Gerald Herbert—AP
    thought; study: http://ow.ly/N9vB5; news article: http://ow.ly/N9vMH
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA propose major changes in Endangered Species Act listing process http://ow.ly/N6k36
  • White-nose syndrome spreading in Wisconsin bats http://ow.ly/MZzpY
  • House approves Defense bill amendment #38 to prohibit Lesser Prairie Chicken's endangered species act listing until 2021, and delist the American Burying Beetle as threatened or endangered (229-190 vote) http://ow.ly/MZPUC (see related articles below)
  • House acts to de-list prairie chicken, bar grouse listing http://ow.ly/N61LB
  • Attempt to circumvent sage grouse and lesser prairie chicken protections is part of House GOP push to roll back environmental regulations http://ow.ly/NewrJ
  • Obama administration announces the first National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators http://ow.ly/N8A0u
  • Fish and Wildlife Service study looks at paddlefish in Lake Sharpe (Missouri River) http://ow.ly/NhHct
  • Minnesota Department of Natural Resources working to keep invasive species out of state's most popular state parks, including Itasca State Park http://ow.ly/N9hiW
  • South Dakota Department of Agriculture is using biocontrol agents to treat infestations of Purple Loosestrife along state water bodies http://ow.ly/N9jtP
  • Journal of Endangered Species Research: Endangered river fish: threats and conservation options http://ow.ly/Nbxg8
  • Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service propose new rules changing the petition process by which the public can request they list species as threatened or endangered http://ow.ly/NeDj7
  • Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to remove protections for the Louisiana black bear, because the species has recovered http://ow.ly/NeDvv (related article: http://ow.ly/NeKv3)
  • Center for Biological Diversity urges West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and Army Corps to scrutinize impacts of proposed strip mine on Big Sandy crayfish and northern long-eared bat http://ow.ly/NhCM6
In the Cities -
  • Kansas City Council will vote on May 21 on ordinance requiring large buildings to assess,
    Source: WWLTV, New Orleans
    report energy and water use http://ow.ly/MZBIV
  • Cedar Rapids, Iowa residents eligible for up to $2000 reimbursement to implement Stormwater Best Management Practices http://ow.ly/N94ja
  • Cedar Rapids kicks off Middle Cedar Partnership Project to improve water quality, with help from USDA matching grant http://ow.ly/N9jcI
  • New  "Trade District" neighborhood along the New Orleans Mississippi River front a possibility http://ow.ly/Nc6Gt
  • Minneapolis and St. Paul tied for the top spot in a national Trust for Public Land ranking of large U.S. cities' parks http://ow.ly/NcwQq
In the States-
  • Clock runs out on Minnesota's 2015 Legislature with some funding bills left in limbo, including $540 million omnibus legacy bill; however, funding was approved for environment,
    States in the News This Week
    natural resource and agriculture http://ow.ly/N8kjV (see related articles below)
  • New Minnesota law beefs up waterway buffers somewhat, but final funding is not yet a done deal http://ow.ly/NbSp7
  • Minnesota House re-passes $540 million omnibus legacy bill; Senate does not (funds clean water, outdoor heritage, parks, more) http://ow.ly/N8l9J
  • Minnesota Governor Dayton indicates that legacy bill that cleared the House could be taken up in a special session http://ow.ly/Nby2X
  • Environmental groups want Gov. Mark Dayton to reject a Minnesota spending bill for agriculture and the environment http://ow.ly/N8F9j
  • Proposed revisions to Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act open for public comment (governs how DNR seeks and considers public input and evaluates and discloses the environmental impacts of pending projects) http://ow.ly/N9DTE
  • Priorities for Wisconsin water quality protection set through 2017 http://ow.ly/MZCGF
  • Iowa DNR has released the most recent draft of the state’s impaired waters list http://ow.ly/N9fm1
  • Farmers and ranchers who open their property to tourists could be shielded from certain lawsuits under new Nebraska bill http://ow.ly/NhzH3; link to bill: http://ow.ly/NhAaV
  • Wyoming doesn’t want people to know how much cow poop is in its water, under a  controversial and confusing new law http://ow.ly/NhyNp
  • Missouri state legislature logjam killed scores of bills, made session one of the least productive in recent memory http://ow.ly/N5jsz
  • Missouri House passes Senate-amended bill changing the definition of “waters of the state” http://ow.ly/N6dX8
  • Kentucky Division of Water unveils new water health portal http://ow.ly/Nfin1 (link to portal: http://watermaps.ky.gov/)
Photo: NASA Aqua satellite
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Decade-old oil leak off of Louisiana Gulf Coast shows little signs of abating http://ow.ly/N5bHs
  • Louisiana Chenier Ronquille Island barrier island restoration project builds on pre-BP spill work http://ow.ly/N9nDI
  • NOAA issues call for proposals under federal funding opportunity for new Regional Coastal Resilience Grants Program http://ow.ly/N9wrr
  • Environmental Assessments and Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan available for comment; June public meetings set http://ow.ly/NbOD2
Forestry -
  • House Ag Committee Approves National Forest Foundation Reauthorization Act (the National Forest Foundation Act established a National Forest Foundation to benefit the activities of the U.S. Forest Service by encouraging, accepting, and administering private gifts of money and property) http://ow.ly/NbYpB
Resource Development -
  • Iowa landowners rally at the state capitol to support tougher restrictions on eminent domain, oppose oil pipeline through state http://ow.ly/NeJJl
Federal Budget - (You can follow the status of all of the fiscal year 2016 appropriation bills on this Congress.gov web page)
  • Senate Appropriations Committee votes along party lines to approve spending caps for its 12 subcommittees; allocating $30.01 billion of its $1.017 trillion budget to the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment to distribute among Interior Department, Forest Service and EPA programs in its fiscal 2016 spending bill, and $20.5 billion for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration subcommittee http://ow.ly/Nhyov
  • House Appropriations Committee passes FY 2016 spending bill cutting $274 million from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's budget http://ow.ly/NeAZg (article: http://ow.ly/NeB4h)
  • Senate Appropriation Committee approves fiscal year 2016 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill funding Army Corps http://ow.ly/Nhv5k (link to bill web page: http://ow.ly/Nfh6j)
  • Senate Appropriations subcommittee markup of annual interior and environment spending bill is planned for June 16 http://ow.ly/NhxzI
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)
  • American Wetlands Month National Webinar: The Ramsar Treaty/Convention on Wetlands May 27, 2-4 PM EDT http://ow.ly/NbyQo
  • Webcast: "Community Based Public-Private Partnerships and Alternative Market-Based Tools for Integrated Green Stormwater Infrastructure: A Guide for Local Governments"  May 28, 1-2:30pm (EDT) http://ow.ly/NcaW0
  • Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Dakotas Resource Advisory Council meeting, June 9, Deadwood, South Dakota http://ow.ly/NhBjA
  • The Wetlands Initiative's Dixon Waterfowl Refuge BioBlitz, Hennepin and Hopper Lakes, near Hennepin, Illinois, June 13-14 http://ow.ly/N0cSP
  • 2015 Gulf of Mexico Alliance All Hands Meeting, June 16-18, IP Hotel & Casino, Biloxi, MS http://ow.ly/NcNlf
  • Meeting: Army Corps' Chief of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board, 9 AM-noon, June 23,  Alexandria, VA (open to public) http://ow.ly/NbHoE
  • Ohio Environmental Council's new home Open House, 1145 Chesapeake Ave. Suite I, Columbus, Ohio, June 25, 4-6 pm http://ow.ly/Nhup2
  • Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, January 24 - 27, 2016, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan (call for workshops open) http://ow.ly/NcQ0S
e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -
Other news-
  • Obama administration unveils semiannual regulatory agenda detailing rules that agencies will make top priorities in next year http://ow.ly/NhAqk
  • Bipartisan alliance of 38 mayors call on Congress to reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund http://ow.ly/NhEH2
  • Nijmegen, Netherlands makes room for the River Waal and takes on a new identity
    Photo: experiencemississippiriver.org
    http://ow.ly/NcuPV
  • 2015 Chi-Cal Rivers Fund Request for Proposals will be available June 15 at www.nfwf.org/chi-cal (Chicago/Calumet watershed, part of Illinois River basin) - informational webinar June 22; register: http://ow.ly/N5mHC
  • Wichita Eagle lists some of the best of an estimated 2,000 miles of Kansas' land and water trails http://ow.ly/N6bon
  • Lewis and Clark Museum at Great Falls attracts almost 50,000 visitors annually http://ow.ly/N6bIz
  • Rain Garden smartphone app is now multi-state; includes plant, sizing and soils information for 13 states, including Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania in the Mississippi River Basin http://ow.ly/N6osi
  • From July 10 through July 14, the Coast Guard is proposing to cut down on Ohio River boat traffic in Cincinnati where the MLB All-Star Game will be held; public has until June 1 to comment http://ow.ly/N8wSL
  • Job opening: Minnesota DNR seeks to fill a Long Term Resource Monitoring, Mississippi River Coordinator position http://ow.ly/N9J8A
  • Fish and Wildlife Service plans to survey nearly 9,000 people to help define the role of nature and the outdoors in U.S. society http://ow.ly/N8y5E
  • Leaders from 34 countries meet in Memphis for 10th Annual Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Rural Development Conference http://ow.ly/Nc1Y4
  • USDA releases new Regional Development Priority policy http://ow.ly/NeFSI
  • Minnesota River stakeholders continue to move closer to forming an entity that will serve as basin organizing hub http://ow.ly/Nc5fs
  • Several witnesses tell Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee that  bill designed to improve transparency and accountability of EPA's scientific advisory process needs more work http://ow.ly/NeGnR
  • Great River Road National Scenic Byway from Minnesota through Louisiana is lauded as one of America's best waterside drives http://ow.ly/NhFIZ
Politics and People-
  • Former Rep. Baron Hill (D) announces that he will run for Indiana's open U.S. Senate seat in 2016 http://ow.ly/N0mTo
  • In both the U.S. House and Senate, men outnumber women in senior staffer positions http://ow.ly/NewYA
  • A vicious Republican gubernatorial primary in Kentucky ends in a virtual tie; outcome won't be decided for days http://ow.ly/NexBN
  • State Attorney General Jack Conway secures the Kentucky Democratic Party's gubernatorial nomination http://ow.ly/NeHf5
Your Moment of Zen -
Photograph: Tony Margiocchi / Barcroft Media
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