|
|
|
|
2 Basin
Road
Windham, ME 04062
207-892-3399
FAX: 207-892-3089
aswm@aswm.org
|
|
| |
If you are unable to find the information you are looking
for, please search the ASWM website using Google below. |
|
| |
|
| |
Wetland 2008: Wetlands and Global Climate Change
Abstracts are now posted. [See Agenda to Access Abstracts ]
Agenda [Click Here] Agenda at a Glance [Click Here]
List of speakers and accepted papers is now posted. [Click Here]
Field trip and workshop information is now posted.
Go to: http://www.aswm.org/calendar/wetlands2008 field_trips_workshops.htm
or see information below. |
|
| Corps Action on Santa Cruz Riles Congressmen
|
| |
By Dick Kamp - Nogales International - August 12, 2008
The chairmen of two influential congressional committees are challenging the basis being used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency to determine "navigability" of the Santa Cruz and the Los Angeles rivers. 2006 decision - Such a determination has been necessary since the 2006 U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Rapanos which greatly reduced the authority of the Clean Water Act. Failure to get a navigability determination may mean that the Act does not protect all or parts of a stream or any of its tributaries from potential polluters. Two sections of the Santa Cruz River in Pima County were declared navigable in May but the designation was suspended by the Corps in early July "for review." Just a relatively small section of the Los Angeles River was declared navigable in June, largely an area affected by Pacific Ocean tides. For full article, go to: http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2008/08/12/news/news6.txt
|
| |
 |
| |
Bush Declared 422 Major Disasters
|
| |
By AUSTIN BOGUES - New York Times - August 9, 2008
During his seven and a half years in office, President Bush has declared 422 major disasters — severe storms, tornadoes, wildfires and floods — or more than one a week. That is 11 percent more than President Bill Clinton’s disaster declarations and 130 percent more than President Ronald Reagan during their full two terms in office. All those natural disasters translate into more federal government spending. Under Mr. Bush, the government has committed to spend $87 billion in disaster relief money to help states and localities clean up after floods, fires and storms, compared with Mr. Clinton’s nearly $29 billion. Even after adjusting for inflation, the Bush administration has spent 2.5 times more than the Clinton administration on disaster relief. Governors can petition the president to declare a state or region a disaster. If granted, that results in the release of emergency relief money, which can be used to repair roads, assist with other repairs and defray emergency costs. When a state applies for aid, the Federal Emergency Management Agency dispatches a team to conduct a damage estimate. Washington usually covers at least 75 percent of the total cost and the state provides the rest. Individual assistance may be made available to homeowners as well, with a cap of $28,800 per household. For full article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/washington/10disasters.html?_r=3&ref=us&oref=
slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
|
| |
|
| |
 ASWM has a New Webpage on Floodplains
Wetlands are often subject to severe natural hazards, flooding being the most pervasive. Coastal and estuarine wetlands are often subject to 9-15 feet of inundation and high energy waves during a severe hurricane or coastal storm. Similarly, wetlands adjacent to major rivers are often subject to 8-10 or more feet of flooding during a 100-year flood event. Lake fringe wetlands like those adjacent to the Great Lakes and depressional wetlands are often subject to long term fluctuations of 6 or more feet due to fluctuations in precipitation in the watershed. For news coverage on recent flooding throughout the U.S. and floodplain management issues with related publications and links, visit http://www.aswm.org/science/floodplains/index.htm
|
|
FUTURE
ASWM WORKSHOPS AND SYMPOSIA
|
| |
Monday and Thursday: Field Trips
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: Conference
Friday: Workshops sponsored by Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists
Plans are underway for Wetlands 2008. Global climate change will be the primary topic at ASWM's annual conference. Carbon sequestration and wetlands, sea level change, and strategies for managing wetlands in response to long term changes in temperature and precipitation will be important topics. Other related topics will include wetland research priorities, monitoring trends in wetlands and related resources, management strategies, invasive species, biodiversity and policy responses to a changing environment. The purpose of this symposium is to describe challenges, identify opportunities, and share cooperative strategies for protecting, restoring and conserving wetlands in response to climate change. |
|
|
|
| |
ASWM
Rapanos/Carabell
Website
The ASWM Rapanos/Carabell
website contains extensive information on the Rapanos/Carabell
Supreme Court case and associated federal guidance as
well as related information on Clean Water Act jurisdiction
issues. |
| |
|
| |
11th
Circuit Court Decides a Perennial Stream is not subject
to Clean Water Act for a Section 402 Discharge
By Jon Kusler, Esq., Ph.D., Association of State Wetland
Managers, Inc.
On October 24, 2007 the 11th Circuit Court of appeals
(Alabama, Georgia, and Florida) overturned the lower,
district court Clean Water Act convictions of several
individuals for dumping waste water into a stream because
the U.S. government had not sufficiently demonstrated
that the stream had a "significant nexus" to navigable
waters and was, therefore, a "navigable water" of the
U.S. and subject to CWA jurisdiction. Rapanos had not
been decided when the case was considered by the lower
district court so there was no need to explicitly show
"significant nexus" in the trial at this level. Just how
much evidence government will need to introduce to establish
a "significant nexus" in a retrial remains to be seen.
It is possible that government will have little difficulty
in establishing a "significant nexus" once the actual
words "significant nexus" are used in the retrial jury
instructions and jury deliberations. Nevertheless, the
language of the court in rejecting EPA's expert testimony
presented at the district court level as insufficient
suggests that this court and perhaps other courts will
demand more evidence of hydrologic, biological, or other
sorts of connections than government agencies are ordinarily
able to supply given limited budgets and staffing. [read
more] |
| |
|
| |
| Federal
Register Notice: EPA
and Army Corps of Engineers Guidance Regarding Clean Water
Act Jurisdiction after Rapanos |
| |
| w |
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Act Definition
of "Waters of the United States" |
| w |
U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program CwW Guidance |
|
| |
|
| |
| "Significant
Nexus" Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Decision Paper |
| |
| The
summary and recommendation section:
Recommended
Actions to Clarify Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Following Issuance
of the Consolidated Decision, Rapanos v. U.S. 126 S. Ct. 2208
(S.Ct. 2006) |
Corps Issues New Regulatory Guidance Letter on Jurisdictional Determinations (JDs) |
| |
| The Corps issued a Regulatory Guidance Letter on June 26, 2008 on Clean Water Act jurisdictional determinations. This Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) explains the differences between these two types of JDs and provides guidance on when an approved JD is required and when a landowner, permit applicant, or other “affected party” can decline to request and obtain an approved JD and elect to use a preliminary JD instead. For a direct link to this regulatory guidance letter, go to: http://www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/rgls/rgl08-02.pdf |
| |
|
FGDC Draft Wetlands Mapping Standard |
| |
Federal Geographic Data Committee - July 2008
The FGDC Wetland Subcommittee and Wetland Mapping Standard Workgroup has posted the draft wetlands mapping standard. The objective of the standard is to support the accurate mapping and classification of wetlands while ensuring mechanisms for their revision and update as directed under OMB Circular A-16 (revised). The Wetlands Mapping Standard is designed to direct the current and future digital mapping of wetlands. For a direct link to this draft, go to:
http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/wetlands-mapping/FINAL%20-%20FGDC%20Draft%20Wetland%20Mapping%20Standard%20July%202008.pdf |
| |
| EPA Enforcement Is Faulted |
| |
By Juliet Eilperin – Washington Post – July 8, 2008
An official administration guidance document on wetlands policy is undermining enforcement of the Clean Water Act, said a March 4 memo written by the Environmental Protection Agency's chief enforcement officer. The memo by Granta Y. Nakayama, EPA's assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance, was obtained by the advocacy group Greenpeace and released yesterday by two House Democratic committee chairmen. It highlights the confusion that has afflicted federal wetlands protections since a 2006 Supreme Court decision. For the full article, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/07/AR2008070702418.html?hpid=moreheadlines For another story on the same topic, go to: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/congress/24045069.html?location_refer=Local%20+%20Metro |
| |
| Understanding the Clean Water Act: An Online Course |
|
| River Network is proud to announce the resurrection of the online course, Understanding the Clean Water Act. Users can now explore the course at: www.cleanwateract.org. The course is a companion to the book, The Clean Water Act Owner's Manual. Course content will help users isolate specific water quality problems, identify possible solutions, develop and leverage existing programs and build effective outreach tools. The course is appropriate for staff, interns, volunteers and board members interested in learning more about the force of the Clean Water Act and related tools. Even Clean Water Act old-timers will likely find something to ponder in the local stories, digging deeper and resources sections. If you train staff or volunteers on the Act, you’ll also find some special training tools to help you get your points across. For questions or to share your thoughts on this course, contact Merritt Frey at mfrey@rivernetwork.org. |
| |
| Ducks Unlimited addresses Illinois Flooding |
| |
Randolph County Herald Tribune – July 10, 2008
In the weeks that follow a flooding event, authorities are providing immediate assistance to those suffering from the disaster, but they are also looking for answers to help provide residents with better protection in the future. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita revealed how essential wetlands in coastal areas can be to reducing the impact of flooding. The recent flooding throughout the Midwest has made it evident that more wetlands throughout America’s Heartland could be beneficial as well. For full story, go to: http://www.randolphcountyheraldtribune.com/full.php?sid=10602 |
| |
| Additional stories on flooding and wetlands |
| |
Additional articles on flooding & floodplains are available below, as well as at: http://www.aswm.org/science/floodplains/index.htm
Mississippi River Reopens as Flooding Wanes http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/49213/story.htm
West Union culverts should alleviate seasonal flooding
http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=121504831314870200
Costs and risks are escalating
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/news/editorialcommentary/story
/b03f2fbb295ea9cb862574760000c2bf?OpenDocument
Heavy Rains Again Soak Parts of Flooded US Midwest
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/49045/story.htm
The Floods: A Man-Made Disaster?
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1818040,00.html
County purchases wetlands to stem floods
http://collinsvilleherald.stltoday.com/articles/2008/06/26/news/sj2tn20080625-0625gcj-wetlands.ii1.txt
A human link to Midwest floods? http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/06/23/a-human-link-to-midwest-floods/
Altered terrain almost beckons disaster http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/20584544.html?location_refer=
Motorsports
Iowa Flooding Could Be An Act of Man, Experts Say http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/ 2008/06/18/AR2008061803371html?wpisrc=newsletter |
Please click here
to view full Wetland Breaking News.
Migratory
Bird & Wetland NewsLink - August 2008 Issue
Bimonthly International News Service |
|
News
|
| |
 |
|
| House Approves Great Lakes Compact
[Info]
|
|
| EPA is Asked to Curb Mississippi River Runoff [Full Story] |
|
| Boaters Make Successful Descent of L.A. River in 52-mile Los Angeles River Expedition [Article] |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
Photos by
Jeanne Christie, ASWM |
|
This website last updated August 18, 2008.
Comments or suggestions may be directed to webmaster@aswm.org.
This
page has received 
visitors since May 20, 2002
2 Basin
Road
Windham, ME 04062
207-892-3399; FAX: 207-892-3089; aswm@aswm.org
|
|
