UMRBA Update

May 8, 2002

Washington News

CRP Review---The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is seeking public comments on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).  FSA will consider those comments as it prepares a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for the two programs.  According to FSA, the PEIS will identify the environmental benefits and impacts of the programs and will also be used to improve current policies.  Within the CRP, the PEIS will consider general sign-up, continuous enrollment, and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.  FSA is planning six public meetings to obtain input, including meetings in Lawrence, Kansas on May 21 and Moorhead, Minnesota on May 23.  Written and oral comments may also be submitted to FSA by May 30.  Details are available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/printstory.asp?StoryID=679.

Corps Project Review---On April 30, the Corps of Engineers directed its divisions and districts to pause some projects pending review.  The directive applies only to certain projects authorized, but not yet under construction.  More specifically, among projects at this stage, those with an economic assessment completed prior to 1999 will receive a new assessment prior to proceeding.  In addition, projects “where there are credible indications of changes in economic conditions, or engineering, scientific or environmental information since authorization that may have resulted in significant changes in project justification or support” will also be examined.  According to General Robert Griffin, Director of Civil Works, “this action is part of a more comprehensive initiative to ensure that Corps projects are a sound investment for our nation and are proposed in an environmentally sustainable way.”  The Corps estimates that approximately 150 projects will be subject to this pause and review.  The length of the pause will depend upon the circumstances of each particular project.  Details are available at http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/hot_topics/. 

Green Scissors Coalition Calls for Cuts---Led by Friends of the Earth, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and U.S. Public Interest Research Group, the Green Scissors Coalition has released its annual list of recommended cuts in federal programs and projects.  The group has identified $54 billion in what it terms “wasteful and environmentally harmful spending.”  Green Scissors’ list of targets includes operation and maintenance of the inland waterway system ($1.48 billion); expansion of the UMRS locks ($1.2 billion); construction of a new bridge over the St. Croix River at Stillwater, Minnesota ($120 million); navigation on the Missouri River ($45.4 million); the National Flood Insurance Program; and repair of non-federal levees.  The 2002 Green Scissors report is available at http://www.greenscissors.org/publications/gs2002411.pdf. 

Drinking Water Standards---EPA has completed a review of existing drinking water standards and is requesting public comment on its conclusions.  Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA must review all National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) at least every six years and, if necessary, must revise those standards to maintain or enhance protection of public health.  In the April 17 Federal Register, EPA announced its preliminary conclusion that 68 chemical NPDWRs “remain appropriate at this time” and that the Total Coliform Rule should be revised.  According to EPA, there are several pending studies that may suggest the need to revise additional NPDWRs.  EPA is accepting public comment on its preliminary revise/not revise decisions through June 17.  Information is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/review.html. 

New Bills

S. 2428 “National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments”---Extends the appropriations authorization for the Sea Grant program and makes various administrative changes.  Authorized appropriations levels for the baseline program would increase from $75 million in FY 04 to $85 million in FY 08.  Additional amounts would be authorized for specific activities, including $5 million annually for competitive grants to research the biology and control of zebra mussels and other non-native species and $5 million annually for competitive grants to research the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms.  Introduced April 30, 2002 by Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and 7 others.

Committee Action

Water Resources Development Act---The House Transportation and Infrastructure Water Resources Subcommittee held hearings on April 10 and 17 in preparation for a 2002 Water Resources Development Act, authorizing Corps of Engineers projects and programs.  On the first day, the subcommittee heard from trade associations, port officials, academics, and environmentalists, while the second day was devoted exclusively to members of Congress.

MARC 2000, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Wildlife Federation, and Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) were among the witnesses that specifically addressed the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Navigation Study.  Chris Brescia, on behalf of MARC 2000, expressed confidence that the July 2002 Interim Report will contain sufficient information “for Congress to initiate a balanced modernization program in the Upper Mississippi Basin that includes lock modernization and enhanced environmental restoration programs.”  In particular, he advocated “authorization and construction of an initial group of seven new 1200-foot locks, five on the Upper Mississippi (locks 20-25) and two on the Illinois River (LaGrange and Peoria), five guidewall extensions (locks 14-18) and appropriate mooring cells.”  As evidence of widespread support for navigation improvements, Brescia cited resolutions recently passed by the Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin legislatures, urging Congress to authorize and fund the construction of 1200-foot locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.  Last year, the Minnesota legislature also passed a resolution expressing support for lock modernization and environmental restoration.  Brescia said his members also “strongly support an enhanced environmental restoration effort for our basin, beyond those identified as mitigation for navigation impacts, with a reliable and consistent funding mechanism...” and “timely completion of the WRDA’99-authorized Comprehensive Plan, designed to develop an integrated flood-control system for the Upper Basin.”  David Conrad warned the National Wildlife Federation “would strongly oppose any attempts to prematurely authorize construction of the expansion project before the Corps submits a completed report to Congress.  A comprehensive approach must not focus solely on the transportation issues without addressing the very serious environmental impacts associated with the project.  An authorization request at this time is nothing more than an attempt to once again short-circuit the planning process.”  On the second day of hearings, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) said that “2004 is too long to wait” for authorization of navigation improvements on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and expressed support for “initial authorization” in WRDA 2002.

Among the more controversial topics at the April 10 hearing were the proposals for “Corps reform” offered by representatives of the environmental community.  Both the National Wildlife Federation and American Rivers called for independent peer review of projects whose total costs exceed $25 million or that are deemed to be controversial, stronger requirements for wetlands mitigation and monitoring, and prohibiting the Corps from claiming benefits for increased property values derived from draining wetlands.  American Rivers claimed that shortcomings in these three areas “have created a climate where abuse has flourished.…”and urged Congress “not to pass another Water Resources Development Act unless these reforms are included.”

Background and testimony from the April 10 hearing are available at http://www.house.gov/transportation/water/04-10-02/04-10-02memo.html.

Drinking Water Infrastructure---On April 11, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing on drinking water infrastructure needs.  Witnesses included representatives from EPA, the Congressional Budget Office, the General Accounting Office, as well as state drinking water administrators, environmental advocates, and public and private utilities.  Joseph Moore, speaking on behalf of the National League of Cities and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), called for a new $57 billion program of loans, grants, loan subsidies and credit assistance to meet basic drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs.  Half the funds would be targeted to wastewater and half to drinking water needs.  In contrast to the current State Revolving Funds (SRFs), which provide loans for drinking water and wastewater facilities, WIN recommends that states be required to provide 25 to 50 percent of each year’s allocation as grants that would fund up to 55 percent of project costs.  In contrast, Terry Gloriod, President of the Illinois-American Water Company, urged members of Congress to reject the calls for new financing authorities and grants, claiming that the existing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) has been “a successful government program…. Though there are some improvements that Congress can make to the DWSRF, such as including incentives to move utilities toward self-sustainability, the DWSRF has proven its ability to help meet our infrastructure financing challenges in an efficient and sustainable manner.”   Testimony from the hearing is available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/hearings/04112002Hearing533/hearing.htm.

Wastewater Infrastructure---On April 17, the House Ways and Means Committee took up H.R. 3930, the $25 billion bill reauthorizing the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), reported out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on March 20.  Of concern to Ways and Means was Title III of the bill, which would make two changes in the Internal Revenue Code. The first would allow greater use of state-issued bonds to fund water and sewer projects and the second would allow states to earn higher rates of return on their investments in the CWSRF.  The Ways and Means Committee struck Title III and promised to hold hearings on the subject later this year.  A description of current law related to tax-exempt bonds and the changes that Title III would have made are available at http://www.house.gov/jct/x-26-02.pdf.

Invasive Species---On April 17, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries approved H.R. 3558, the Species Protection and Conservation of the Environment Act.  The bill establishes several new grant programs to control non-native species and a demonstration program on federal refuges to promote ecologically based strategies to control exotics.  However, the bill has also been referred to two other Resources subcommittees, which have yet to act.  When the full Resources Committee met on April 24, it approved H.R. 1462, the Harmful Nonnative Weed Control Act.  As its title suggests, H.R. 1462 is a narrower approach to invasive species control than H.R. 3558.  H.R. 1462 provides financial assistance to weed management companies to eradicate non-native weeds on public and private lands.

NOAA Budget---On May 1, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s FY 03 budget request.  At the hearing, NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher defended the budget request on several fronts.  Among the more controversial elements is the Administration’s proposal to transfer the National Sea Grant College Program from NOAA to the National Science Foundation (NSF).  According to Lautenbacher, the transfer would strengthen Sea Grant by increasing peer review and opening the program “to all public and private institutions of higher education through a fully competitive process.”  However, several key members of Congress have stated their opposition to the transfer.  Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), who is ranking member of the Appropriations Committee and also sits on the Commerce Committee, has said the proposed transfer “amounts to a reorganization of government by budget request.”  Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC), who chairs the Commerce Committee and also sits on the Appropriations Committee, has expressed similar sentiment, calling on the Administration to administer the laws as written by Congress.

Sea Grant Reauthorization---On April 15, the House Science Committee filed its report on H.R.3389 (H.Rpt. 107-369, Part 2), a bill to increase funding for the Sea Grant Program from $75 million in FY 04 to $85 million in FY 08.  The bill also authorizes additional amounts for specific activities, including $5 million annually for competitive grants to research the biology and control of zebra mussels and other non-native species and $5 million annually for competitive grants to research the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms.  Among the changes made by the Science Committee were the addition of new language directing the Sea Grant Program to coordinate its activities with the National Science Foundation and a requirement that any funding above the FY 02 level be distributed to state Sea Grant Programs on a merit-review competitive basis.

National Heritage Areas---On April 18, the House Resources Subcommittee on Parks approved a substitute version of H.R. 2388, the National Heritage Areas Policy Act.  The revised bill, offered by original sponsor Joel Hefley (R-CO), creates a standardized process for designating national heritage areas.  Currently Congress creates these areas on a case-by-case basis.  H.R. 2388 establishes criteria for designating heritage areas; clarifies what a local management entity must have completed before designation is possible; and establishes a two tier matching grant program to support the development of management plans prior to designation, as well as educational programs and historic preservation activities following designation.

EPA Science and Technology---The House Science Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing on April 23 to examine EPA’s FY 03 budget request for science, technology, and research programs.  Paul Gilman, head of EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD), claimed that “no other federal agency has a comprehensive program in environmental public health and ecological impacts…. We are doing that research in a first rate manner.”  He cited the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) as an example of recent ORD scientific accomplishments, explaining that, “after a period of learning, EMAP is now providing scientifically defensible determinations of the condition of all of the nation’s stream and estuarine waters.”  In particular, Gilman noted that the FY 03 budget includes $5 million to extend the EMAP approach to the Central Basin, which includes the Lower Missouri and Upper Mississippi Rivers.  He also described EPA’s research related to suspended solids and sediments, the risks associated with nutrient loadings, and the risk of infectious disease resulting from exposure to microbes in recreational waters.  Background and testimony from the hearing are available at http://www.house.gov/science/hearings/ets02/index.htm.

Marine Sanitation Devices---On May 1, the House Water Resources Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 3673, the Recreational Waters Protection Act.  The legislation adds fecal coliform standards for new Type IA marine sanitation devices (MSDs), reflecting improved technologies that can treat vessel wastes to standards 100 times more stringent than current standards for Type I MSDs.  To encourage use of this new technology, H.R. 3673 exempts vessels with such improved MSDs from compliance with no-discharge zones established by states.  Although the boating industry testified in support of H.R. 3673 at the May 1 hearing, the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA) voiced concerns.  In particular, ASIWPCA questioned the process used to set the new standards, the feasibility of administering different standards for different vessels, and the precedent of having federal standards override state protective efforts in no-discharge zones. Background and testimony from the hearing are available at http://www.house.gov/transportation/water/05-01-02/05-01-02memo.html.

Floor Action

UMRB Protection Act---On April 9, the House passed the Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act (H.R. 3480) by a voice vote under suspension of the rules.  Sponsored by Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) and 16 others, H.R. 3480 directs the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a sediment and nutrient monitoring network for the Upper Mississippi River Basin and a modeling program to identify significant sources of sediment and nutrients in the basin.  The modeling effort is to relate nutrient loss and sediment loss to landscape, land use, and land management practices and address river channel nutrient transformation processes.  In addition, the bill directs the National Research Council (NRC) to conduct "a comprehensive water resources assessment of the Upper Mississippi River Basin."  Appropriations of $6.25 million per year are authorized for the USGS and $650,000 is authorized for the NRC assessment.

On the floor before the House vote, Representative Kind described the UMR’s multiple uses and emphasized the economic, environmental, and recreational benefits of addressing the basin’s sediment and nutrient problems.  Others speaking on behalf of the bill included Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI), Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), Jim Nussle (R-IA), and Jerry Costello (D-IL).

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved H.R. 3480 by a voice vote on April 25.  The Senate Environment Committee has not yet filed its report on the bill.  Reportedly, the full Senate may act on the legislation prior to adjourning for Memorial Day.

Farm Bill---House and Senate Farm Bill conferees concluded their protracted negotiations on May 1, filing a conference report (H.Rpt. 107-424) that reconciles the House- and Senate-passed bills (H.R. 2646, S. 1731).  The House then acted quickly on the compromise measure, voting by a margin of 280 to 141 to approve the conference report on May 2.  The House vote came after members rejected a motion from Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) that would have recommitted the bill to conference, with instructions to cap farm payments and direct a portion of the savings toward increased conservation spending. 

The 10-year cost of the conservation title is estimated at $17.1 billion.  However, the compromise bill, known as the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, only extends funding authorizations through 2007; thus, not all of the estimated costs would be incurred prior to the measure’s expiration.  Conferees capped enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) at 39.2 million acres, an increase of 2.8 million acres over the current cap.  The 10-year CRP cost is estimated at $1.52 billion.  The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) cap is increased to 2.275 million acres, and the bill includes language encouraging USDA to enroll 250,000 acres per year.  Ten-year WRP costs are at estimated at $1.5 billion.  The largest portion of conservation spending went to a significantly expanded Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  EQIP funding is to be increased incrementally, reaching $1.3 billion per year, with 60 percent of the funding targeted to livestock producers.  Senator Tom Harkin’s Conservation Security Program (CSP) received $2 billion over 10 years.  CSP is a new program that will pay farmers and ranchers to maintain and enhance their stewardship practices.  Other 10-year amounts under the conference agreement include $700 million for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP); $600 million to encourage water conservation; and $275 million for the Small Watershed Rehabilitation Program, a program that the Administration has recommended eliminating.

Reaction to the conference report has been mixed, with leading criticisms including the bill’s size ($45 billion for the entire bill over six years), failure to more effectively limit payments to large farmers, and incentives to produce commodities that are already oversupplied.  However, President Bush has praised the revised bill, citing its “better balanced commodity loan rates, spending that is no longer front-loaded, and the strongest conservation provisions of any farm bill ever passed by Congress.”  Senate critics of the conference agreement include Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN), ranking minority member of the Agriculture Committee, who has expressed concern with the bill’s potential impacts on farm prices, exports, and small farmers.  The Senate is expected to vote on the conference report this afternoon.

Wetlands Conservation---On May 7, the House passed the North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3908) by a voice vote under suspension of the rules.  As originally introduced by Representative Jim Hansen (R-UT), H.R. 3908 would have simply reauthorized this wetlands grant program at its current annual funding level of $50 million.  However, the House Resources Committee report (H.Rpt. 107-421) filed on April 29 modified the measure in several ways.  The amended version approved by the House would increase the funding authority to $55 million in FY 03, with $5 million annual increases thereafter through FY 07.  In addition, the current geographic allocation of funds would be modified.  Currently, the Act directs 50 to 70 percent of funding to Canada and Mexico, in recognition of the international nature of migratory waterfowl needs.  The bill would modify that set-aside to between 25 and 50 percent, a change promoted by Ducks Unlimited, which testified at an April 11 subcommittee hearing that “the highest demand for projects and the highest number of unfunded projects has always been in the U.S.”  Testimony from that hearing is available at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/107cong/fisheries/2002apr11/agenda.htm .

EPA Science Positions---By voice vote on April 30, the House approved H.R. 64, making two changes in EPA leadership positions to strengthen the role of science in the agency’s decision-making process.  The legislation establishes a new EPA position of Deputy Administrator (DA) for Science and Technology and converts the position of the Assistant Administrator (AA) of the Office of Research and Development to a set term.  Both changes come in response to National Academy of Sciences recommendations for restructuring EPA science programs.  Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), the bill’s lead sponsor, explained that the new DA position “is intended to increase the political impact that science has at the agency,” while changing the AA position “seeks to decrease political pressures on this office.”  H.R. 64 has now been referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Hydropower Licensing---After more than six weeks of debate, the Senate passed its comprehensive energy bill (S. 517) on April 25 by a vote of 88-11.  Included is a controversial amendment to the Federal Power Act provisions governing the hydropower licensing process.  The amendment, sponsored by Ben Nelson (D-NE), requires resource agencies, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, to approve any plan submitted by the dam owner as long as it meets the conditions the resource agency has set forth.  Under current law, any stakeholder, including landowners, state agencies, or environmental groups, can submit alternative conditions or operation plans, which the resource agency would have to consider equally with the dam owner’s plan.  While the amendment would still allow such alternative plans to be submitted, the agency must accept the licensee’s plan if it satisfies the conditions.  Similar language is included regarding fish passage at dams.  In addition, the bill extends the relicensing process by requiring applicants to file for new licenses three years, rather than two years, before the current license expires.  The Senate energy bill now goes to conference committee to be reconciled with the House bill (H.R. 4) passed last August.

Committee Schedules

Pipeline Safety---On May 9, the House Transportation Highways and Transit Subcommittee will mark up the Pipeline Infrastructure Protection to Enhance Security and Safety Act (H.R. 3609).

Water Policy Commission---The House Resources Water and Power Subcommittee will hold a May 22 hearing on H.R. 3561, the Twenty-First Century Water Policy Commission Establishment Act.

NOAA---On May 16, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans will take testimony on several bills (as-yet-unspecified) related to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

River Basin News

Minnesota Drinking Water---The Minnesota Department of Health (MHD) recently released the annual profile of its drinking water protection activities, including results of monitoring tests.  Minnesota has approximately 8,300 public water supply systems, more than all but six other states.  Of those systems 955 are community systems, including 713 municipal systems.  During 2001, no systems exceeded the standards for pesticides and industrial contaminants or inorganic chemicals.  However, 30 communities tested positive for bacterial contamination, 2 municipal systems exceeded the nitrate standard, and 5 community systems exceeded the action levels for lead or copper.  According to MHD, “the quality of Minnesota’s drinking water is very high.  Even as our monitoring activities have expanded, we have rarely found any detectable contamination.  Contaminant levels that exceed applicable health standards have been rarer still.  Although we need to remain vigilant, Minnesotans can continue to have confidence in their drinking water.”  The report also includes a section describing “emerging issues,” which discusses water system security following September 11, the recent USGS study of pharmaceuticals in water, and changes in standards for arsenic and radionuclides.  The report is available at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/cinfo/dwar/report01.html.

Endangered Mussels in the Upper Mississippi River---On April 15, the Corps of Engineers released the draft plan for relocating the endangered Higgins’ eye pearly mussel on the Upper Mississippi and tributaries.  The plan was developed in coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service; US Geological Survey; National Park Service; Coast Guard; the natural resources agencies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois; and the Science Museum of Minnesota.  It comes as the result of the April 2000 Biological Opinion of the Fish and Wildlife Service that said continued operation of the 9-foot channel project on the Upper Mississippi River would likely jeopardize the continued existence of the Higgins’ eye pearly mussel.  The plan’s objective is to establish a minimum of 5 new and viable populations, each with a minimum of 500 individual mussels.  To ensure this target is met, attempts will be made to establish populations at 10 sites.  Adult Higgins’ eye mussels will be collected from areas where their survival is threatened by zebra mussels, then cleaned and moved to areas with no zebra mussels.  Relocation efforts will also involve raising juvenile mussels on host fish species and at hatcheries, with subsequent stocking at relocation sites.  Comments on the plan are due by May 10, 2002.  The draft relocation plan is available at http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/enviro_protection/relocatehig/.

Upper Mississippi Refuge---On April 30, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it will be preparing a comprehensive conservation plan and associated environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Complex.  The Refuge Complex includes the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which extends 261 miles along the river from the Chippewa River in Wisconsin to Rock Island, Illinois and attracts over 3 million visitors annually.  The Complex also includes the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin and the Driftless National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa.  Public outreach for the plan will begin this fall with public meetings, workshops, focus groups, and requests for written comments.

Minnesota Water Quality Rules---On April 29, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced proposed revisions to state rules related to narrative water quality standards.  In particular, the new rule sets forth factors describing the types of data MPCA uses to determine whether waterbodies meet narrative water quality standards related to excess nutrients, impairment of the biological community and aquatic habitat, and impairment related to fish for human consumption.  Comments are due by May 31, 2002.  Additional information on the April 29 notice is available at http://statsbox.pca.state.mn.us/pca/news/index.cfm?PN=1.

Minnesota Biennial Water Priorities---On April 15, the Minnesota Planning Agency released draft biennial water priorities for public review and comment.  When finalized, the priorities will serve to guide development of the Ventura Administration’s 2004-05 biennial budget for state water programs.  There are five areas of priorities: surface water quality, ground water, lake management, human modification of natural flow patterns, and water planning.  Surface water quality priorities include educational programs regarding agricultural nutrients, best management practices to minimize nutrient losses from agricultural systems, soil conservation on working lands, feedlot programs, improved sewage treatment, targeting approaches like TMDLs, a statewide multi-agency monitoring network, and policies for decreasing transport of agricultural sediment and nutrients.  Priorities related to human modification of flow patterns include support for local governments in their planning and management to balance multiple uses, rule revisions for regulation of public waters and wetlands, the next phase of the storm water program, Administrative Penalty Order authority for DNR, dam modification and removal, improved topographic information, and restudy and mapping of floodprone areas.  The draft report and public input questionnaire are available at http://www.mnplan.state.mn.us/Report.html?Id=2227.

Minnesota’s Urban Rivers---In response to a legislative directive to prepare sustainable development guidelines for urban rivers of the state, the Minnesota Planning agency has released Connecting with Minnesota’s Urban Rivers: Helping Cities Make Sustainable Choices for the Future.  Released April 30, the report offers principles and guidelines for river communities interested in riverfront development and includes a discussion of related issues, such as enforcement and coordination of river management.  The Mississippi River corridor in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which was first designated as a state critical area in 1975 by gubernatorial Executive Order and was established by Congress in 1988 as a National River and Recreation Area, features prominently in the report.  According to Dean Barkley, Minnesota Planning Director, “many agencies, citizens groups and just about every level of government have a stake in Minnesota’s rivers, particularly the Mississippi River.  Care has to be taken to protect the environment, but cities can make better connections to their rivers.”  The report is available at http://www.mnplan.state.mn.us/MediaRelease.html?Id=2225.

For more information regarding Congressional action and links to related sites, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/.

The UMRBA Update is produced by the staff of the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association, an organization formed by the Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin to represent the states' common water resource interests. Please direct questions and comments to bnaramore@umrba.org. The Update is also available on the UMRBA’s web site at http://www.umrba.org/newsletter.htm.