State
Group: Pearl River endangered by proposed dam, lake
Clarion Ledger
A new dam and lake proposed by local government inspired
environmental activists to name the Pearl River as one of the most
endangered in the country on Tuesday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/07/group-pearl-river-endangered-proposed-dam-lake/25433687/
Pearl River makes advocacy group's endangered rivers list
Bob Warren
The Times-Picayune
April 07, 2015 at 4:07 PM
An advocacy group that annually ranks the 10 most "endangered'' rivers in
the U.S. has put the Pearl River at No. 10 in its most recent list.
American Rivers said a proposed new dam near Jackson, Miss., could cause
more habitat fragmentation and dramatically change the timing and amount of
freshwater discharges that could harm fisheries.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/pearl_river_makes_endangered_l.html#incart_river
Mayors 'disappointed' by Tidelands Fund allocations
Sea Coast Echo
By Geoff Belcher
Apr 7, 2015, 20:55
Bay St. Louis and Waveland weren't the only Coast municipalities that got
less money from 2015 Tidelands Fund appropriations than expected – the city
of Pass Christian got about $75,000 of a requested $295,000.
http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_8706.shtml#.VSUmF_mjNcZ
Olive Branch to study sewer expansion
Commercial Appeal
Olive Branch elected officials voted Tuesday night for a cooperative
agreement to study sewer expansion options in light of anticipated growth.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/olive-branch-to-study-sewer-expansion_34250010
Grant would let Lumberton address infrastructure woes
Hattiesburg American
LUMBERTON – For years, Lumberton has had to bandage a decrepit
water/sewer system that has slowly decayed beneath the cash-strapped
city's streets.
But that is on track to change, possibly before the end of the year.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/lumberton/2015/04/07/lumberton-sewer-grant/25431713/
Solar power coming to Entergy Mississippi
Clarion Ledger
By the end of August, solar power should be part of Entergy
Mississippi's electricity-generation repertoire.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2015/04/07/solar-power-coming-entergy-mississippi/25431825/
Regulators seek comment on rule to aid solar development
AP
JACKSON — Though Mississippi has lagged in its use of solar energy, it may
be starting to catch up.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2015/04/08/regulators-seek-comment-on-rule-to-aid-solar-development/
S.H. Anthony contract with Hancock County is 300 days overdue
Engineering firm wants $27,000 for nearly an extra year of work
Sun Herald
BY WESLEY MULLER
BAY ST. LOUIS -- Some Hancock County supervisors are displeased with a
waterlines-expansion project contracted by S.H. Anthony that is more than
300 days behind schedule and resulting in additional engineering costs.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/07/6164247/sh-anthony-contract-with-hancock.html
Oil Spill
Dispersants used in Gulf oil spill could damage human, animal tissue, UAB
study finds
Press-Register
Dennis Pillion
April 07, 2015 at 5:10 PM
One of the primary dispersants used in the response to the 2010 Deepwater
Horizon oil spill can cause damage to the respiratory epithelial cells of
humans and animals in a laboratory setting, according to a recent study
conducted at UAB, but the researchers also found a possible way to lessen
that damage.
http://www.al.com/news/beaches/index.ssf/2015/04/dispersants_used_in_gulf_oil_s.html
Oil industry says offshore response better, faster 5 years after BP spill
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
April 07, 2015 at 4:23 PM
Five years after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil and gas
industry can respond and contain well blowouts offshore faster than ever
before, said Don Armijo, CEO of the Marine Well Containment Co. But he said
work remains to make sure containment equipment keeps pace with industry's
push to drill in deeper waters.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/don_armijo_oil_spill_response.html#incart_river
BP could give Texas $1Billion for 2010 oil spill cleanup
KHOU
In Texas, $54 million is currently available for improving wildlife
habitat and improving water quality due to the RESTORE Act, money
paid in penalties by those responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill; however, Texas could receive up to $1 billion.
http://www.khou.com/story/news/2015/04/07/bp-could-give-texas-1billion-for-2010-oil-spill-cleanup/25439323/
Regional
EPA likely won't have to adopt more stringent restrictions on nutrients in
Mississippi River, appeals court rules
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 08, 2015 at 7:34 AM
A federal appeals court Tuesday (April 7) ordered a New Orleans federal
judge to reconsider his ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency
must decide whether more stringent rules are needed to curb the flow of
fertilizer and other nutrient pollutants into the Mississippi River to stem
the size of a low-oxygen "dead zone" that forms along Louisiana's coast
each spring.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/epa_likely_wont_have_to_adopt.html#incart_river
UA partners with AU, MSU on water resources
Crimson White
Sports may divide schools in the Southeastern Conference, but one of
Earth's most basic resources has brought together three Southern
institutions.
On March 12, Mississippi State University officially signed into a
partnership with The University of Alabama and Auburn University to
collaborate on water resource issues. Bennett Bearden, director of The
University of Alabama's Water Policy and Law Institute, said the initiative
will bring together the strengths of each of the schools' long-term
research programs.
http://www.cw.ua.edu/article/2015/04/ua-partners-with-au-msu-on-water-resources
National
Obama: Daughter's asthma attack made climate change personal
The Hill
President Obama said in an interview broadcast Wednesday that his push to
address climate change has been partly influenced by a frightening moment
when his daughter Malia had an asthma attack as a four-year-old.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/238171-obama-daughters-asthma-attack-made-climate-change-personal
Report: Big shift from electricity to solar power
Report shows shift from electricity to solar power
BY CHRIS MOONEY
Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- In recent years, the growth of the rooftop solar market has
been astounding. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the
growth rate for at-home solar has been above 50 percent for three years
running (2012, 2013, and 2014).
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/07/6163992/report-big-shift-from-electricity.html
Press Releases
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| USDA Funding to Help Clean Waterways in Mississippi River Basin |
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| 13 States to Receive Support |
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|WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015 – Targeted conservation work in the Mississippi River basin |
|will unite the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), farmers and local |
|organizations to help clean waterways that flow into the nation's largest river. USDA's|
|Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing $10 million this year in 27 |
|new high-priority watersheds and 13 existing projects that will help improve water |
|quality and strengthen agricultural operations. This investment is part of a commitment|
|of $100 million over four years to address critical water quality concerns in priority |
|watersheds while boosting rural economies. |
| |
| |
|"We know that when we target our efforts to the places most in need, we see stronger |
|results," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "These projects focus on watersheds |
|in need, where we have opportunities to work with partners and farmers to get |
|conservation work on the ground. " |
| |
| |
|NRCS worked with state agencies, farmers and other partners to identify high-priority |
|watersheds that align with established state priorities and have strong partnerships in|
|place — and where targeted conservation on agricultural land can make the most gains in|
|improving local and regional water quality. Conservation systems implemented in these |
|areas will reduce the amount of nutrients flowing from agricultural land into |
|waterways, curb erosion and improve the resiliency of working lands in the face of |
|droughts and floods. This investment builds on $18.5 million already allocated to |
|projects in the basin in fiscal 2015. |
| |
| |
|These projects are funded through the agency's Mississippi River Basin Healthy |
|Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), which uses funding from several Farm Bill conservation |
|programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), to help |
|farmers adopt conservation systems to improve water quality and habitat and restore |
|wetlands. Since MRBI's start in 2009, NRCS has worked with more than 600 partners and |
|5,000 private landowners to improve more than 1 million acres in the region. Through |
|these partnerships, the initiative more than quadrupled the number of contracts |
|addressing water quality concerns in targeted project areas. |
| |
| |
|New projects include: |
| |
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| · Lower South Fork Root River Watershed, Minnesota: NRCS will work with the Root |
| River and Fillmore soil and water conservation districts, Minnesota Department of|
| Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource |
| Center, Monsanto and others to achieve a 40 percent reduction in sediment and |
| associated phosphorus by 2020. NRCS plans to invest $39,000 in fiscal 2015 as |
| part of a $1.2 million commitment in the watershed over four years. |
| |
| |
| · Headwaters–Big Pine Creek, Indiana: NRCS will work with the Benton and White |
| county soil and water conservation districts, Big Pine Creek Watershed Group, The|
| Nature Conservancy, Conservation Technology Information Center, Ceres Solutions |
| LLC, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Pheasants |
| Forever and Indiana Department of Environmental Management to reduce nitrogen, |
| phosphorus, and sediment in this critical watershed to improve the conditions of |
| waterways for recreational use and wildlife. NRCS plans to invest $50,000 in |
| fiscal 2015 as part of a nearly $500,000 commitment over four years. |
| |
| |
| · Long Lake, Mississippi: NRCS will work with Delta F.A.R.M., Mississippi Soil and |
| Water Conservation Commission and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality|
| to address water quality concerns in priority watersheds identified in the Delta |
| Nutrient Reduction Strategy. NRCS plans to invest $710,000 in fiscal 2015 as a |
| part of a total commitment of $4.3 million over four years. |
| |
| |
|See full list of watershed projects. |
| |
| |
|Projects will be funded in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, |
|Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. |
| |
| |
|"These projects put to work some of our core conservation practices, which we know are |
|having tremendous impacts downstream," NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. "Putting to work |
|NRCS-recommended conservation practices helps clean and conserve water, makes |
|agricultural operations more resilient, and stimulates rural economies as this work |
|often relies on help from biologists, foresters, pipe makers, dirt movers, welders, |
|engineers and many more different professions to implement." |
| |
| |
|Conservation systems include practices that promote soil health, reduce erosion and |
|lessen nutrient runoff, such as cover crops, reduced tillage and nutrient management; |
|waste management systems that treat agricultural waste and livestock manure; irrigation|
|systems that capture and recycle nutrients back to the field; and wetland restoration |
|that increases wildlife habitat, mitigates flooding, and improves water quality. |
| |
| |
|Findings from a 2014 report by the USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Project |
|(CEAP) show that conservation work on cropland in the Mississippi River basin has |
|reduced the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus flowing to the Gulf of Mexico by 18 and |
|20 percent, respectively. CEAP models have also shown that the targeted approach of |
|MRBI has enhanced the per-acre conservation benefit by 70 percent for sediment losses, |
|30 percent by nitrogen losses, and 40 percent for phosphorus losses, when compared to |
|general program activities. |
| |
| |
|Meanwhile, watersheds prioritized by MRBI have shown clear successes in helping to |
|improve water quality. For example, two stream segments in the St. Francis River |
|watershed in Arkansas have been removed from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's|
|list of impaired streams. |
| |
| |
|MRBI is one of many landscape-level efforts to address water quality; similar efforts |
|are ongoing in the Great Lakes region, Gulf of Mexico region, Chesapeake Bay watershed |
|and California Bay Delta region. |
| |
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| USDA Awards Grants to Address Water Quality, Availability in Agriculture Communities |
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| More than $10 million for critical water problems |
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|WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National |
|Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 21 grants totaling more than |
|$10 million have been awarded to universities to support critical water problems in |
|rural and agricultural watersheds across the United States. The awards were made |
|through NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Water for Agriculture |
|challenge area and the National Integrated Water Quality Program. |
| |
| |
|"Water is our most precious resource, one that is essential for both human survival and|
|well-being and for our ability to grow our crops and livestock," said Sonny Ramaswamy, |
|NIFA director. "By funding research, extension, and education for citizens and the |
|agriculture community, we are able to proactively create solutions to water-related |
|issues like drought and its impact on food security." |
| |
| |
|The AFRI Water for Agriculture challenge area was first introduced in fiscal year (FY) |
|2014, and these grants represent the first year of funding for the program. Funded |
|projects link social, economic, and behavioral sciences with traditional biophysical |
|sciences and engineering to address regional scale issues with shared hydrological |
|processes, and meteorological and basin characteristics. Fiscal year 2014 Water for |
|Agriculture grants recipients are: |
| |
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| · University of California, Riverside, Calif., $149,990 |
| |
| |
| · Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, Ga., $56,943 |
| |
| |
| · Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $999,438 |
| |
| |
| · Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $900,000 |
| |
| |
| · University of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo., $148,995 |
| |
| |
| · University of Nevada, Reno, Nev., $500,000 |
| |
| |
| · State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry, |
| Syracuse, N.Y., $128,511 |
| |
| |
| · Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $49,968 |
| |
| |
| · Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., $150,000 |
| |
| |
| · University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $900,000 |
| |
| |
| · West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, $149,777 |
| |
| |
| · University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, $900,000 |
| |
| |
| · Utah State University, Logan, Utah, $49,534 |
| |
| |
| · University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $900,000 |
| |
| |
|This year's projects include the University of Nevada's Coordinated Agricultural |
|Program designed to increase research and participatory engagement with American |
|Indians and assess the impacts of climate change on future water supplies and enhance |
|the climate resiliency of tribal agriculture. Another project from Clemson University |
|will integrate remote sensing products and weather forecast information for farmers and|
|growers to address the best products, increase agricultural drought indices, and |
|develop an agricultural drought forecasting model to provide near real-time feedback. |
| |
| |
|NIFA is expected to make $30 million available over the next five years for the AFRI |
|Water for Agriculture challenge area, with the expectation that the new projects |
|awarded this fiscal year would receive additional funds (based on available funding) if|
|they achievement project objectives and milestones. |
| |
| |
|The FY 2015 request for applications for the AFRI Water for Agriculture challenge was |
|released on February 18, 2015. Applications are due July 16, 2015. |
| |
| |
|NIFA also funded projects through the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP)|
|for science-based decision making and management practices that improve the quality and|
|quantity of the Nation's water resources in agricultural, rural, and urbanizing |
|watersheds. Applicants were asked to develop the science behind the most appropriate |
|drought triggers and provide an understanding of the connection between trigger levels |
|and drought management responses or decisions; or provide estimates of the economic |
|value of water across different uses. The approaches to estimating water values will |
|reflect uncertainties associated with future weather and climate conditions. |
|Quantifying the value of water will provide valuable signals to agricultural producers,|
|rural communities, and policy makers to aid decision-making for allocating agricultural|
|water use across consumptive or non-consumptive uses. |
| |
| |
|Fiscal Year 2014 NIWQP grant recipients are: |
| |
| |
| · Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo., $659,954 |
| |
| |
| · University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn., $750,000 |
| |
| |
| · University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $659,676 |
| |
| |
| · Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., $659,839 |
| |
| |
| · Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $660,000 |
| |
| |
| · South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D., $227,135 |
| |
| |
| · University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $659,926 |
| |
| |
|This year's projects include South Dakota State University's research to identify |
|drought triggers, develop mitigation plans, investigate socio-economic factors |
|associated with new technology adoption, and educate different age groups of students |
|about drought issues. The University of Tennessee will execute a long-term plan to |
|assist agricultural producers, policymakers, and communities throughout the |
|Southeastern United States as they adapt to water scarcity by efficiently allocating |
|water and adopting water-conserving practices and technologies. |
| |
| |
|Find a complete list of this year's project descriptions on the NIFA Website. |
| |
| |
|Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, |
|NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's |
|daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. |
| |
| |
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| U.S. Forest Service Partnership Effort Improves Health of America's Forests |
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| Program has supported 4,300 jobs per year, improved 1.45 million acres of America's |
| forests since 2010 |
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|WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015 — The U.S. Forest Service announced today that 1.45 million ||acres of America's forests and watersheds – an area larger than Delaware – are |
|healthier as a result of collaborative partnerships to reduce the risk of catastrophic |
|wildfires. |
| |
| |
|Authorized for 10 years through the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act, the |
|Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) was created to emphasize |
|partnerships between government and local forest workers, sawmill owners, |
|conservationists, businesses, sportsmen, outdoor recreationists and others to improve |
|forest health and promote the well-being of local communities. |
| |
| |
|"Collaboration is working. CFLRP demonstrates that we can bring together forest |
|industry, environmentalists, local communities and others to produce healthier forests |
|while producing a sustainable timber supply for local mills," said Agriculture Under |
|Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie. "This long-term |
|investment gives our partners the confidence to fully engage in restoration activities.|
|The collaboratives expand Forest Service resources – generating over $76.1 million in |
|matching funding from partners in the past five years, and with continued support we |
|expect this number to grow over the next five years." |
| |
| |
|"The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program is a groundbreaking approach to|
|improving our nation's forests, making communities safer and bolstering local |
|economies," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "The Forest Service is anchoring |
|projects across the country with more than 200 local partners to restore our forests |
|and support our local economies." |
| |
| |
|Since 2010, the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program has brought local |
|communities and timber companies together to improve forests conditions across 23 |
|high-priority project sites, from Florida, to Missouri, to Washington State and places |
|in-between. The coordination with local partner organizations is essential to getting |
|substantial work done. |
| |
| |
|The program's restoration activities have resulted in part: |
| |
| |
| · More than 1.45 million acres of forest more resilient to the effects of |
| catastrophic wildfire, |
| |
| |
| · More than 1.33 million acres of wildlife habitat improved, |
| |
| |
| · More than 84,570 acres of forest lands treated through timber sales, |
| |
| |
| · More than 73,600 acres treated for noxious weeds and invasive plants, |
| |
| |
| · Supporting 4,360 jobs in local communities each year. |
| |
| |
|Under Secretary Bonnie said the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program is |
|improving the health of forests and rural communities by exceeding five-year targets |
|for production of forest products. The Forest Service set a five-year goal for CFLRP |
|projects of 1 billion board feet of timber sold and has exceeded that by nearly 25 |
|percent. |
| |
| |
|"The restoration challenge is significant. We are making a difference in the forests |
|and in surrounding communities," said Chief Tidwell. |
| |
| |
|"This program demonstrates the value the Forest Service places on collaboration and |
|on-the-ground achievements," said Steering Committee member Dylan Kruse of Sustainable |
|Northwest. "The last five years have proven that listening to diverse interests and |
|providing smart investments pays off for measurable improvements across the landscape."|
| |
| |
|More information on the five-year report and links to project factsheets can be found |
|at http://www.fs.fed.us/restoration/CFLRP/index.shtml. |
| |
| |
|The mission of the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to |
|sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands |
|to meet the needs of present and future generations. |
| |
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|# |
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