State
Water quality improves at Lake Tom Bailey in Lauderdale County; solar farm work continues
Meridian Star
State officials said they have seen improvement in water quality at Lake Tom Bailey in Toomsuba, but work continues to stabilize a solar farm project site upstream from the lake.
NEW BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW THIS WEEK
Enterprise-Toscin
…HB 117 ends the requirement that a water well contractor must present three affidavits to the licensing committee at the state Department of Environmental Quality.
A driller seeking a license to drill wells must be age 21 or older, be of good moral character, demonstrate to the DEQ commission a reasonable knowledge of applicable rules and regulations governing well drilling, possess the necessary drilling equipment and have at least three years of experience as a well driller.
Volunteers spruce up downtown Biloxi for Clean Up-Day
WLOX
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - Biloxi Main Street wants to bring new life to the city.
The vitality committee invited volunteers to come together for Clean-Up Day on Saturday, June 27.
WILDLIFE SERVICE PLANS PRESCRIBED BURN IN GAUTIER
WXXV
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is planning to conduct prescribed burn today at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge.
'His head is huge': Massive 124-pound alligator snapping turtle rescued in Mississippi
Clarion Ledger
A rescue effort in central Mississippi produced something of a size most people will never encounter, a 124-pound alligator snapping turtle.
Wolf Lake reopens boating in Yazoo County
WJTV
YAZOO CITY, Miss. (WJTV)- After months of high water levels, Wolf Lake in Yazoo County reopened for boating activity.
Boaters are advised to be mindful of possible debris and other hazards that may commonly be found in bodies of water after prolonged flooding.
For more information about boating or outdoors in Mississippi, visit the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks’ website or call at 601-432-2400.
State Government
Gov. Reeves extends Safe Return order
WTOK
JACKSON, Miss. (WTOK) - Consulting with State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs and other health experts, Gov. Tate Reeves signed a new executive order to extend the social distancing guidelines and restrictions under the Safe Return order until 8 a.m. on Monday, July 6.
National
Senate’s Scuttling of EPA’s No. 2 Pick Unlikely to Slow Agency
Bloomberg
Senate Republicans’ move on Friday to scuttle the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick to be the EPA’s second-highest ranking official, Doug Benevento, isn’t likely to have a significant impact on the agency’s day-to-day operations, legal scholars say.
Pandemic’s Cleaner Air Could Reshape What We Know About the Atmosphere
NYT
WASHINGTON — In the crystalline air of the pandemic economy, climate change researchers have been flying a small plane over Route I-95, from Boston to Washington, measuring carbon dioxide levels. Scientists have mounted air quality monitors on Salt Lake City’s light rail system to create intersection-by-intersection atmospheric profiles.
New Data Reveals Hidden Flood Risk Across America
NYT
Across much of the United States, the flood risk is far greater than government estimates show, new calculations suggest, exposing millions of people to a hidden threat — and one that will only grow as climate change worsens.
BP Exits Petrochemical Business in $5 Billion Deal
WSJ
Energy giant BP PLC has agreed to sell its petrochemicals business to British chemicals company Ineos Ltd. in a $5 billion deal that will help reshape its business for the global transition to lower-carbon energy, the company said on Monday.
Fracking trailblazer Chesapeake Energy becomes the biggest oil and gas bankruptcy of the pandemic
CNN
Fracking pioneer Chesapeake Energy Corporation on Sunday became the largest oil-and-gas company to file for bankruptcy protection during the coronavirus pandemic.
Press Releases
Wolf Lake in Yazoo County, open to boating
6/26/2020
MDWFP
YAZOO CITY- After months of high water levels, Wolf Lake in Yazoo County is back open to boating activity. Boaters should be mindful of possible debris and other hazards that may commonly be found in bodies of water after prolonged flooding.
Interior Grant Program Provides Over $164,000 to Benefit Recreational Boaters, Local Waterways and Communities in Mississippi
Boaters, anglers, communities and aquatic life in Mississippi will reap benefits from more than $164,000 in grant funds, thanks to a U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program focusing on ensuring clean water and recreational access. Funding to states under the Service’s Clean Vessel Act (CVA) and Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) programs total over $32 million nationwide in 2020.
Mississippi will receive $164,946 in CVA federal funding and $54,982 in non-federal funding to keep local waterways healthy. CVA program funds will be used by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to construct four coastal pump-out stations and three inland pump-out stations, update their coastal plan and continue to administer the state CVA program. They will also continue to develop and implement their Education Program, providing pertinent information to the boating public.
“The boating community plays a crucial role in local economies, and keeping waterways safe, clean and accessible benefits anglers, other recreationists and wildlife,” said Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “These programs facilitate responsible boater behavior, make substantial contributions to local economies, and are great examples of the Department’s commitment to working with state and local partners to improve infrastructure and support conservation efforts.
“Summer is almost here, and Americans are looking forward to enjoying boating and fishing,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “Everyone -- local economies, people who love the outdoors, and wildlife and natural resources – wins when these outdoor opportunities are easy to access and help protect the health of our waterways.”
Clean Vessel Act grants provide much-needed funding to communities to build and maintain facilities that help boaters keep our rivers and streams clean. Pump-out systems built or purchased with these funds ensure recreational boaters have a safe, convenient and effective method to dispose of on-board sewage. The funds also support associated boater education programs. Since the program’s inception in 1993, the Service has allocated more than $296 million in CVA grants to states and territories.
“The Clean Vessel Act program has been a terrific success within the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources for over 25 years,” said Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Executive Director Joe Spraggins. “Having infrastructure that assists in clean water on the coast ensures our coastal economy will thrive and have access to our wonderful shrimp, oyster and crab populations. Pump out stations funded by this program play a vital role in helping keep our waters clean and the MDMR is dedicated in the effort to achieve clean water standards along coastal Mississippi.”
Past examples of CVA-funded projects in Mississippi include a project at Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor where a permanently mounted pump-out system was installed at the fuel dock, replacing a small portable system. Another project at Aqua Yacht Harbor in Iuka included the installation of a permanently mounted pump-out system at the fuel dock.
The CVA program’s support through the user-pay-public-benefit cycle has contributed to the success of the Sport Fish Restoration program. States can apply for CVA funding, and they or their partners provide matching funds to complete projects. Sub-grantees often include local municipalities and private marinas. These partnership efforts are a win-win for clean water and the many families who enjoy recreational boating and the great outdoors.
Grantees use BIG funds to construct, renovate and maintain marinas and other facilities with features for transient boats (those staying 15 days or less), that are 26 feet or more in length, and are used for recreation. Grantees may also use funds to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program and recreational boating. Since its inception in 2000, the BIG program has awarded $228 million to projects, including funding the construction of more than 6,000 berths and other amenities benefitting boaters across most states and U.S. territories.
Funding for the BIG and CVA programs comes from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Boaters and manufacturers contribute to the trust fund through excise taxes and duties on certain fishing and boating equipment and boating fuels.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Debuts 2020-2021 Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp
June 26, 2020
Hunters, birders and stamp collectors across the United States join in celebrating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as the 2020-2021 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp – commonly known as the Duck Stamp – is now on sale. Beginning today, the new Federal Duck Stamp and its younger sibling, the Junior Duck Stamp are available for purchase at official locations and online. A pair of black-bellied whistling-ducks painted by artist Eddie LeRoy of Eufaula, Alabama, is the new Federal Duck Stamp, sales of which will raise millions of dollars for habitat conservation to benefit wildlife and the American people.
“Purchasing Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps is a great way to support conserving America’s waterfowl and wetlands,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt. “Each purchase directly funds restoration of migratory bird habitats and has supported millions of acres across the country since inception.”
The 2020-2021 Junior Duck Stamp, which also went on sale today, raises funds to support youth conservation education and this year features a wood duck painted by Madison Grimm, 13, of South Dakota.
The Federal Duck Stamp plays a critically important role in wildlife conservation. Since 1934, sales of this stamp have raised more than $1 billion to protect 6 million acres of wetlands habitat on national wildlife refuges around the nation.
“People sometimes ask me what they can do personally to help wildlife and my first answer is ‘Buy a Duck Stamp!’ It’s easy, fun and tremendously effective,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “The art is truly outstanding and collectible, but most importantly the money raised by stamp sales goes directly to benefit wildlife and national wildlife refuges that support them, which we in turn can all enjoy.”
President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt have made access to public lands for hunting and fishing and other outdoor recreation a priority beginning day one. The Service has proposed the largest ever expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities on national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries, kept refuge and fish hatchery lands open to the public during the coronavirus pandemic, and recently amended the regulations for the Federal Duck Stamp art contest. From 2021 on, every Federal Duck Stamp must feature an element reflecting the contribution hunters have made to conservation.
“Since Ding Darling quickly sketched the first duck stamp in 1934, art and conservation have been connected and the world is better for it. Whether you’re an avid waterfowl hunter, birder, conservation enthusiast, or collector, every American has a good reason to buy a duck stamp, perhaps even two or three,” said Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam. “Of every dollar spent on a duck stamp, 98 cents of the purchase goes directly to acquiring and protecting waterfowl habitat, and that’s a testament to the great administration of this long-running program by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The First Day of Sale is our opportunity to celebrate another great season and say thank you to the adult and youth artists who lend their talents to this important cause – and all those supporting and delivering wildlife conservation through their purchase of a duck stamp each year.”
“Duck stamps are a great way for outdoor enthusiasts to invest in conservation,” said Kelly Hepler, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. “Whether you hunt or just enjoy wildlife watching, duck stamps raise millions of dollars that directly benefit wetlands, waterfowl and hundreds of other wildlife species.”
“Funds from the Federal Duck Stamp have been critical to creation and expansion of many national wildlife refuges in California,” stated Mark Hennelly, Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the California Waterfowl Association. “This has not only provided important waterfowl and wetland conservation benefits but increased recreational opportunities for the public, including hunting. We urge waterfowl hunters to consider purchasing additional stamps to further support the Duck Stamp program.”
Funds raised from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps go toward the acquisition or lease of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Duck Stamps – while required for waterfowl hunters as an annual license – are also voluntarily purchased by birders, outdoor enthusiasts and fans of national wildlife refuges who understand the value of preserving some of the most diverse and important wildlife habitats in our nation. A current Federal Duck Stamp is also good for free admission to any national wildlife refuge. Of the more than 560 refuges, many offer unparalleled outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing, bird watching and photography.
The Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest is the culmination of a year-long educational program that helps students learn about wetlands and waterfowl conservation, explore their natural world and create a painting or drawing of a duck, goose or swan as their “visual term paper” to demonstrate what they learned.
The winning art, chosen through a national contest, is made into a stamp the Service sells for $5 to conservationists, educators, students and the public. Proceeds support conservation education. Since the first Junior Duck Stamps went on sale in 1993, well over $1 million has been raised, which has been re-invested in this unique conservation arts and science education program.
The contest to select the 2021-2022 Federal Duck Stamp is scheduled to be held on September 25 and 26 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
