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September

Ecology adopts wetland mitigation banking rule Othello Outlook – September 24, 2009 The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has adopted a new rule that establishes criteria and a certification process for wetland mitigation banks across the state. Lauren Driscoll, who oversees Ecology’s wetland mitigation banking program, said the final rule contains provisions to ensure mitigation bank sites comply with and support local shoreline regulations, as well as support local salmon recovery, surface water recovery and watershed management plans. For full article, go to: http://othellooutlook.com/?p=4893

IN: New Geology Course Takes Learning to Next Level with Wetlands Research

By Bailee Souder – Indiana State University – September 18, 2009 Two charter buses filled with Indiana State University students headed into West Terre Haute Saturday (Sept. 12) to get down and dirty with wetlands research. Upon arrival, the students of the newly added geology course, Introduction to Environmental Science, headed out into the woods to take on a day of hands-on learning and a few mosquito bites. Walking down small, underdeveloped trails and stomping through mud in Vigo County's wetlands to collect water and soil samples was part of the day-long learning experience for the students. Jim Speer and Jennifer Latimer, assistant professors in the department of geography, geology and anthropology, received funding for the trip from the Center for Public Service and Community Engagement. For full story, go to: http://www.indstate.edu/news/news.php?newsid=1929

CO: Garfield County continues to debate resolution on DeGette's FRAC Act

By David Williams – Real Vale – September 18, 2009 “[The Colorado rule] is going to allow those leases to be developed and eviscerate the Thompson Creek roadless area, which is Carbondale’s backyard and a Colorado watershed,” Shoemaker told RealVail.com last year.   http://www.realvail.com/RealBiz/821/Garfield-County-continues-to-debate-resolution-on- DeGettes-FRAC-Act.html  For information on the state’s proposal, visit: http://dontsellcoshort.org/?page_id=5

CA: Wetlands numbers already for birds

By Peter Ottesen – Stockton Record – September 16, 2009 With elegant silhouettes that blacken the sky, and calls and whistles that break the early-morning silence, the fall migration of millions of waterfowl into California's Central Valley brings solace to outdoors enthusiasts that all is well with the natural world. At least the world of ducks and geese. At a time when there is so much wrong with our environment, these amazing birds, some of which fly 2,000 miles and more without stopping to rest, are proof that hunter-conservationists and habitat managers do make a difference. A huge difference. For full story, go to: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090916/A_SPORTS03/909 160327/-1/NEWSMAP#STS=fzr5u074.1l4n

VA: 'Learning Barge' ready to teach about wetlands on the river

By Scott Harper – Virginian Pilot – September 15, 2009 It looks like a giant floating garden - big, wide and gray - with marsh plants growing on its deck amid walkways and oyster shells. Among its features: solar panels, compost toilets, sun-powered lights shaped like little fish, recycled water spouts, and two wind turbines whirling on top. This quirky behemoth is called the Learning Barge, a $1.2 million vessel dedicated to environmental education and designed for a zero ecological footprint. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/learning-barge-ready-educate

MS: Delta wetlands project approved

Sun Herald – September 15, 2009 More than $921,000 in grants will be provided for a public-private project to protect 2,800 acres of wetlands in Mississippi's Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex. U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran says the funds were approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Cochran, a commission member, says the funds will be matched with almost $2.5 million in private money from Ducks Unlimited, Wetlands American Trust, Walker Foundation, and three private landowners. The private sector participants are contributing 1,952 acres. Another 840 acres is part of Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge.  For full story, go to: http://www.sunherald.com/218/story/1605790.html

OK: A Return to Dry Land

Wide Angles – National Wildlife Refuge System – September 10, 2009 More than sixty-five years ago the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Washita River in southern Oklahoma, submerging much of the 13,000-acre Washita Farm beneath Lake Texoma. Today, rooftops of the former agricultural showplace poke through the lake — evocative features of Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, one of very few refuges to boast an underwater ghost town. But the land is fighting back. The lake is silting so heavily that it could disappear in 25 to 50 years. And that worries some local residents, who’ve come to depend on it for fishing (they use the rooftops to cast for crappie, white bass and catfish). It also poses a conservation challenge for the refuge, created to protect migratory birds. For full story, go to: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/MediaTipSheet/September_2009/01.html

MA: New wetlands bylaw proposed in Norton

By Merideth Holford – Norton Mirror – September 9, 2009 Pamphlets explaining a proposed wetlands bylaw, which will strengthen the restrictions that safeguard the town’s water supply, are available at the conservation office. Town conservation agent Jennifer Carlino told selectmen, however, the bylaw, an expansion of regulations already mandated by the state, will not halt development. More than half of Massachusetts communities have wetlands protection bylaws specific to that town, but Norton so far has gotten by with setback and buffer zone protections that, although rarely appealed, offer the town little real legal protection. For full story, go to: http://www.wickedlocal.com/norton/news/x939037679/New-wetlands-bylaw- proposed-in-Norton

LA: Corps issues permit for I-12 interchange near Mandeville

By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch - The Times-Picayune – September 8, 2009 The Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday granted a permit that clears the way for construction of a long-awaited interchange at Interstate 12 and Louisiana 1088 near Mandeville. The $20 million project has been in the works for nearly two decades, initially spurred by traffic concerns in rapidly growing St. Tammany Parish. Finally, its need was exacerbated by the Aug. 7 opening of the new Lakeshore High School along Louisiana 1088 north of I-12. St. Tammany Parish schools Superintendent Gayle Sloan had hoped the interchange would be in place for the school's opening. Instead, students and employees have had to take a circuitous route to get to the $47 million school. For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/09/corps_issues_permit_for_i12_in.html

CA: Wetlands backers race against time

By Joe Segura – Long Beach Press-Telegram – September 8, 2009 Environmentalists hope to beat a Thursday deadline to keep the door open for future reviews on the potential impacts of projects at the Los Cerritos Wetlands. City Hall officials have repeatedly expressed support for efforts to restore the sensitive habitat, but during the heated debate over a proposed land swap deal they filed for a categorical exemption to environmental impact reviews - drastically blocking future examinations, unless a challenge is filed by Thursday. Deputy City Attorney Mike Mais said the exemption is allowed if there is simply a preservation of a space or natural area. "The purpose is to preserve the wetlands," he said Tuesday. For full story, go to: http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_13293979

Are Bonaire’s Mangroves Slipping Away? Can they be Restored?

By Pauline Kayes – Bonaire Reporter – September 4, 2009 Roy “Robin” Lewis, wetland ecologist, offered a frank assessment of the condition of the mangrove forest at Lac Bay recently “It is in big trouble. Many mangroves have died because of the impact of animals (mostly goats) and humans. Left alone it will die. It needs recovery yesterday!” This grim verdict follows marine biologist Brian La Pointe’s statement two years ago that Bonaire’s reefs were at the “point of no return.” For full story, go to: http://aswm.org/wbn/sept09/lewis_bonaire_article_reporter0821.pdf

WA: Washington Department of Ecology Adopts New Wetland Banking Rule

By Ashley DeForest – Washington Dept. of Ecology – September 4, 2009 The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) adopted a new rule establishing criteria and a certification process for wetland mitigation banks across the state according to a press release issued yesterday. Lauren Driscoll, who oversees Ecology’s wetland mitigation banking program, said the final rule contains provisions to ensure mitigation bank sites comply with and support local shoreline regulations, as well as support local salmon recovery, surface water recovery and watershed management plans. For full press release, go to: http://www.northwesthub.org/ecology-wetland-mitigation-bank-rule-132

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August

OH: Filling of wetlands continues as developers protest proposed rules More than 477 acres have been covered since plan stalled in 2006

By Spencer Hunt – Columbus Dispatch – August 30, 2009 A state plan to better protect streams and wetlands from development stalled three years ago after business groups complained that it would cost too much to comply. In the meantime, from 2006 to 2008, more than 477 acres of wetlands and 106 miles of streams were filled in, according to Ohio Environmental Protection Agency records. "It's become more and more frustrating," said Trent Dougherty, staff attorney for the Ohio Environmental Council. "We're still living under rules that ultimately aren't as protective as these new rules would be. http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/30/ stalled.html?sid=101

LA: Opinion: Four years after Katrina, a mix of progress and inertia

USA Today – August 28, 2009 Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast four years ago, was an eye-opener for all Americans. The inability of New Orleans to cope was shocking. The levees built to protect the city were failures. The follies of the Federal Emergency Management Agency were maddening. Surely a tragedy of this scale (more than 1,600 deaths in Louisiana and Mississippi), a humiliation of this magnitude, would prompt officials to prepare better for the next major hurricane. With Tropical Storm Danny threatening the Northeast this weekend, and other storms potentially to come this hurricane season, it would be nice to believe that Katrina's lessons have been learned. For full editorial, go to: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/08/our-opinion-four-years-after-katrina.html#more

FL: Discharge: Where IP stands

Pensacola News Journal – August 17, 2009 The main question about Perdido Bay-area residents’ challenge to a proposed wastewater discharge permit for the International Paper Co. mill in Cantonment? Whether it really matters. Critics — who have carried challenges through two administrative hearings — say the ultimate problem is that Perdido Bay is too small to handle the approximately 20 million gallons a day of wastewater expected. Today, they say, the mill — opened in 1941 — couldn’t get a permit to dump wastewater into the bay. For full story, go to: http://www.pnj.com/article/99999999/NEWS10/90814016

UT: Snowbird Owner Threatens Own Resort, All Skiing, With Alaska Coal Mine Proposal

Contact: Bruce Baizel – Earthworks – August 17, 2009 A huge coal strip-mining operation proposed on Alaska's Chuitna River by the owner of the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Utah has drawn the ire of groups concerned about the mine's contribution to global warming. Richard Bass, who owns the prominent Utah resort, has partnered with William H. Hunt to form PacRim Coal LLC, which has submitted permit applications to build a coal mine directly on top of 11 miles of prime salmon fisheries feeding the Cook Inlet. Nearly all the coal excavated from the mine, located about 45 miles from Anchorage, would be exported to coal markets in China and other Pacific Rim countries. The Chuitna mine would produce more than 12 million tons of coal annually, which when burned, would emit more than 27 million tons of carbon dioxide. For full article, go to: http://www.earthworksaction.org/PR_Snowbird-Chuitna.cfm

NY: Plan to protect wetlands presses on in Hyde Park

By John Davis – Poughkeepsie Journal – August 17, 2009 Some in town applaud revisions to a proposed wetlands protection law as making it less burdensome to landowners. Others say the ordinance would still be too restrictive or unfair. Supporters and critics of the latest draft of the water resources protection law sounded off last week at a town hall hearing. "We've come up with a law maybe not everyone is crazy about, but one which everyone can live with," Michael Rubbo, a member of the Hyde Park Conservation Advisory Council, said at the town hall hearing last week. For full story, go to: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090817/NEWS01/908170319/1006

NV: Union Pacific Agrees to Restore Nevada Streams, Wetlands

ENS – August 17, 2009 Union Pacific Railroad Company has agreed to settle alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act in Nevada by restoring 122 acres of mountain desert streams and wetlands at an estimated cost of $31 million. As part of the settlement, the railroad will also implement stormwater controls at its construction sites and pay an $800,000 civil penalty. The settlement resolves a complaint filed August 6 by the United States against Union Pacific alleging multiple violations of the Clean Water Act stemming from the railroad's activities in Clover Creek and Meadow Valley Wash in 2005. For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2009/2009-08-17-091.asp

CA: Friends of Ballona Wetlands receives SCE grant

Daily Breeze – August 17, 2009 Friends of Ballona Wetlands received a $40,000 grant Monday from Southern California Edison to help fund community outreach and education programs, the nonprofit group announced. "People need to understand how important these remaining wetlands are to the entire region," said Lisa Fimiani, co-executive director of Friends of Ballona Wetlands, which was created in 1978 to protect the roughly 600 acres of wetlands that are home to hundreds of species of birds and other wildlife. For full article, go to: http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_13145816

VA: Opinion: Ann Jennings and William Street: Stormwater Regs Will Help Save the Bay

By Ann Jennings and William Street - Richmond Times-Dispatch – August 16, 2009 Cleanup of Virginia's rivers and the Chesapeake Bay is being overwhelmed by stormwater pollution -- the water that runs off rooftops, lawns, parking lots, and streets into state waterways whenever it rains. Stormwater runoff often contains dirt, bacteria, fertilizers, and chemicals and is a major reason why more than 9,000 miles of state rivers and streams and the Bay are so polluted they are deemed not "fishable and swimmable" by Virginia and the federal EPA. For full story, go to: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/opinion/op_ed/article/ED-STORM16_20090814-201802/286071/

MI: Opinion: Senator's idea could save wetlands act

South Bend Tribune – August 16, 2009 Few goals are as important to Michigan as ensuring the health of its unique and fragile eco-system. Any other time, a compromise on wetlands protection would be unthinkable. This year, state Sen. Patricia Birkholz's proposal to save Michigan's program is worth exploring. Facing a $1.6 billion budget deficit, Gov. Jennifer Granholm has proposed repeal of Michigan's Wetlands Protection Act and returning regulatory duties to the federal government. For full story, go to: http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20090816/Opinion/908169962/1062/Opinion

TN: Effect on wetlands from Tenn. 385 expands costs

By Tom Charlier – Memphis Commercial Appeal – August 16, 2009 To build the last 7.7-mile stretch of the Tenn. 385 highway loop around Memphis, the state will pay for more than just asphalt, concrete and steel. Because the project will cause the most environmental damage of any area road in recent memory, the Tennessee Department of Transportation also must invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in efforts to restore wetlands and streams. For full story, go to: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/ aug/16/effect-on-wetlands-from-tenn-385-expands-03/

VA: King William Reservoir: How did Newport News spend $51.2M?

By Sabine Hirschauer – Daily Press – August 16, 2009 As of June 2, the city has purchased 38 pieces of land totaling 821.86 acres and has eight pieces of land under contract, according to city records. This accounts for about 20 percent of all the land needed for the reservoir, said Dave Morris, the project manager. The land includes property needed to build the reservoir, as well as land to mitigate the loss of more than 400 acres of wetlands. In many instances, the city paid much more than appraised value to avoid court battles, Morris said. For full story, go to: http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_kwreservoirbar_0816aug16,0,6367601.story

MD: Our Bay: Dredging dilemma

By Pamela Wood – The Capital – August 15, 2009 Any attempt to bring back the Chesapeake Bay's flagging oyster population requires a key ingredient: oyster shells. The shells are a key part of the recipe for growing and planting oysters: baby oysters created in a lab attach to old shells; the shells are used to build up the base of sanctuary oyster reefs; and they're the centerpiece of a controversial shell-moving program called repletion that benefits watermen. For full story, go to: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/env/2009/08/15-17/Our-Bay-Dredging- dilemma.html

VA: VIMS Wants to use Federal Grant to Buy Marshy Island

By Matt Sabo – Newport News – August 15, 2009 The Virginia Institute of Marine Science is poised to buy 455 acres of marshy York River islands from a developer in order to safeguard years of ongoing research in what could be a $1.45 million deal for land that's already protected by a conservation easement. For full story, go to: http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_catlettislands_0815aug15,0,5735219.story

IA: Saving wetlands may fall to waterfowlers

By Tim Ackarman – Globe Gazette – August 15, 2009 The Waterfowl Association of Iowa (WAI) held its fifth annual Iowa Waterfowl Summit in North Iowa last Saturday. Wildlife biologist Greg Hanson with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) led a tour of Union Hills Waterfowl Production Area south of Clear Lake. The area features more than 2,000 acres including prairie potholes, uplands, food plots and limited production agriculture. For full story, go to: http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/08/15/news/latest/doc4a86486edb 81f907756685.txt

NJ: Beetles feasting on pretty weeds threatening N.J. wetlands

By Brian Murray – The Star-Ledger – August 14, 2009 Purple loosestrife has raised its pretty head again this summer. But agricultural officials say the invasive and troublesome swamp plant that once threatened to choke off Garden State wetlands does not stand a chance of getting past a tiny army of weed killers New Jersey agricultural agents are releasing. While the hue of the loosestrife's magenta blooms may occasionally taint roadside ditchess and wetlands, it has faded on the landscape because of thousands of tiny beetles munching away at the weeds. For full story, go to: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/beetles_feasting_on_pretty_wee.html

MS:  Mississippi River Gulf Outlet wetlands restoration topic of discussion in Chalmette

By Times-Picayune – August 11, 2009 The "MRGO Must GO" coalition held a community forum in Chalmette on August 11th to discuss wetlands restoration. The Army Corps of Engineers recently shut down the controversial Mississippi River Gulf Outlet with a rock barrier at Bayou La Loutre. Part of the corps' closure plan includes restoration of some of the wetlands destroyed by the MRGO.  For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/mississippi_river_gulf_outlet_2.html

FL: Florida Cabinet OK's first new nuclear plant in 33 years

By Shannon Colavecchio – Miami Herald – August 11, 2009 Critics have complained about the site the company picked. In many places, the water table on the site is above ground for half the year or longer, according to documents the company filed with the NRC. Most of the site lies in the 100-year floodplain, meaning after heavy rain, it is likely to remain inundated for some time. ``Any hurricane event would inundate the vicinity of the plant with storm surge,'' the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council noted in a report. ``On-site, the plant and associated facilities may be especially vulnerable to flood hazard.''  For full story, go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/1181125-p2.html

WY: Caution: Elk Playing Jackstraw

Wild Angles (National Wildlife Refuge System) – August 10, 2009 Can a variation on a kids’ game keep rapacious elk from devouring bird and fish habitat? Conservationists at National Elk Refuge, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, have embarked on a three-year experiment to find out. On a recent June weekend, representatives from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife, Wyoming Wetlands Society and Trout Unlimited converged on the banks of Flat Creek to launch an experiment, while restoring willow on the refuge. For details, go to: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/mediatipsheet/August_2009/02.html

LA: Taking Down Levees

By Samara Freemark – The Environment Report – August 10, 2009 Man made levees line the banks of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. They protect towns and they allow farmers to plow the bottomlands. But levees come at a price: habitat destruction and worse flooding downstream. Now, more people are calling for taking down levees and returning floodplain areas to their natural state. Samara Freemark reports from Louisiana - the end of the line for the water that drains from the middle of the nation: The Mollicy Farms site in Northern LA provides a striking example of just how dramatically a levee can remake a landscape. For full story, go to: http://environmentreport.org/story.php?story_id=4612  For a related story, Destroying Levees in a State Usually Clamoring for Them, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/science/earth/20levee.html?_r=1

VA: Woman finally protects her land

By Frank Delano – Fredericksburg Freelance Star – August 10, 2009 Like many people in the Northern Neck, Sharon Faina loves her land. Now she has helped create a new way to protect it forever. She calls her 23 acres on Lancaster Creek in Richmond County "a true environmentalist dream property: a bluff overlooking the waterfront, a tidal pond, marsh, swamp, upland wooded area and former cropland now planted in pine trees." But when she started exploring ways to protect the property with a conservation easement, she found little interest from state agencies or conservation groups. For full story, go to: http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/082009/08102009/484960

MI: Slither This Way

Wild Angles – (National Wildlife Refuge System) – August 10, 2009 It may not be your idea of a dream assignment, but it suits Kile R. Kucher. The graduate student at Central Michigan University is deep into his second year of field work at nearby Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge following a species that the state lists as threatened and that the refuge hopes to better integrate into its habitat management program. In other words, says Kucher, “I’m tromping around in marsh water that’s sometimes up to my waist or higher tracking Eastern fox snakes.” For full story, go to: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/mediatipsheet/August_2009/04.html

LA Updated maps help document wetland loss in Louisiana

Daily Comet – August 8, 2009 Scientists in Lafayette are creating updated, super-detailed maps to help show how land loss has changed wetlands all along the Louisiana coast. The U.S. Geological Survey National Wetlands Research Center is developing the maps with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetland Inventory, a program that maps wetland and aquatic habitats. The information is provided to governments, universities and private companies for coastal restoration research and planning. The National Wetland Inventory mapped wetlands across the country, including Louisiana, in 1978 and again in 1988. The data hasn’t been updated for 21 years until now. For full story, go to: http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20090808/HURBLOG/ 908089950?Title=Updated-maps-help-document-wetland-loss-in-Louisiana

OH: MetroParks plow toward wetlands-restoration goal

By Jon Moffett -  Youngston Vindicator – August 7, 2009 Dirt is being moved around along Western Reserve Road, but the construction workers are “undeveloping” land to bring it back to its original condition as a thriving ecosystem. The Mill Creek MetroParks system is restoring 48 acres of farmland, formerly Orvets Sod Farm, to its original wetland environment. The project began early last month and should be completed by mid-October. “There are two goals with this project,” said Justin Rogers, project manager and landscape architect for the park system. “The restorations itself will provide additional habitat for native plant and animal species and will also improve the water quality in the surrounding environment.” For full story, go to: http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/aug/07/metroparks-plow-toward-wetlands- restoration-goal/

NJ: Protecting New Jersey’s Rahway River Wetlands with Diamondback Terrapins

by Rhishja Larson – EcoWorthy – August 7, 2009 One of the residents of this marsh habitat is the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), listed as a species of special concern. Nonprofit group National Biodiversity Parks (NBP) hopes to protect and conserve this highly threatened area by studying its diamondback terrapin population. For full article, go to: http://ecoworldly.com/2009/08/07/protecting-new-jerseys- rahway-river-wetlands-with-diamondback-terrapins/

NE: Nebraska tests grazing option in new wetland applications

By North Platte Bulletin Staff – August 7, 2009 The Natural Resources Conservation Service is testing landowner interest in a new Wetlands Reserve Program option to reserve grazing rights on contracted wetland acres. Applications are being accepted statewide from Aug. 10-21 at local NRCS offices. NRCS State Conservationist Steve Chick said this is a new option that applies only to Wetlands Reserve Program applications received during this signup period, but it will apply to permanent or 30-year easement contracts. Landowners would retain the rights to graze land entered into a Wetlands Reserve Program contract. Compensation normally paid through WRP for permanent or 30-year easements would be reduced by the value of the grazing. For full article, go to: http://www.northplattebulletin.com/index.asp?show=news&action=read Story&storyID=17046&pageID=29

MO: EPA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Changes to List of Impaired Waters for Missouri

Contact: Kris Lancaster – EPA News Release – August 6, 2009 EPA has released its proposed decision on Missouri’s 2008 list of impaired waters. EPA is approving Missouri’s listing of 273 waters as impaired, and the delisting of 10 water bodies. The Agency is requesting public comment on its proposed decision to add or restore a total of 17 water bodies and corresponding pollutants to Missouri’s 2008 impaired waters list. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources submitted its 2008 impaired waters list to EPA for review and approval. The Clean Water Act and federal regulations require EPA to review the state’s list to determine if the state reasonably considered existing and readily available water quality-related data and information, and reasonably identified waters to be listed. For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/3881d73f4d4aaa0b 85257359003f5348/fcb24e68b5b34b618525760a0077ff56!OpenDocument

CO: Merrick Collects LiDAR Data for 17,677-Square-Mile Rainwater Basin Project

Merrick & Co. – American Surveryor – August 5, 2009 Merrick & Company, working for Optimal Geomatics under a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is collecting light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data over a 17,677-square-mile area in order to create a digital elevation model.  The digital elevation model will be used in natural resources,  agricultural planning and management, and to update the flood maps in the area.  More specifically, it will serve as part of the wetland restoration index, a tool that is being used to prioritize habitat protection and restoration activities to achieve the greatest wetland biological return for the habitat investment dollar and for stream restoration on the Platte River as part of the Platte…for full story, go to: http://www.amerisurv.com/content/view/6438/2/

LA: Mississippi River Gulf Outlet wetlands restoration topic of discussion in Chalmette this week

The Times-Picayune -- August 4, 2009 The "MRGO Must GO" coalition will hold a community forum in Chalmette next week to discuss wetlands restoration. The event will be Aug. 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Bernard Council on Aging, 8201-A W. Judge Perez Drive. The Army Corps of Engineers recently shut down the controversial Mississippi River Gulf Outlet with a rock barrier at Bayou La Loutre. Part of the corps' closure plan includes restoration of some of the wetlands destroyed by the MRGO. For details, go to: http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/mississippi_river_gulf_outlet_2.html

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July

LA: Louisiana Tribes' lands swallowed by Gulf of Mexico

By Kari Lydersen – San Francisco Chronicle – July 26, 2009 "Every morning is like Christmas morning" during shrimping season, says Whitney Dardar, 73, a Houma Indian who loves fishing in the bayous of southwestern Louisiana as his forebears have done for two centuries. For full article, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/25/MNQT18S49U.DTL#ixzz0OYf82IOO

WI: Outdoors: No outcry to close trout fishing

By Jim Lee – Daily Tribune – July 26, 2009 Streams, lakes and wetlands in north central Wisconsin are showing the effects of an unshakeable summer drought that has gripped the region for the past several years. However, unlike 20 years ago when the region's rivers faced a similar situation, there has been no call to suspend or curtail trout fishing. "The Prairie River is running the lowest water levels in more than 80 years of records," Dave Seibel, Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist at Antigo, said prior to this past week's scattered precipitation. For full story, go to: http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20090726/WRT0204/907260606/ 1835/WRT02/Outdoors--No-outcry-to-close-trout-fishing

TX: Alligator numbers fall in aftermath of Ike

By Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle – July 25, 2009 As experts predicted, recently completed research shows the number of alligators in the coastal marshes and other wetlands along the upper Texas coast this year is down considerably as the reptiles and their habitat struggle with Hurricane Ike's lingering impact. Researchers conducting aerial surveys of alligator nesting activity in Jefferson, Chambers and Orange counties, the most alligator-rich in Texas, counted barely 10 percent the number of alligator nests they saw a year ago. For full story, go to: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/outdoors/tompkins/6547556.html

ID: Idaho Landowner Ordered to Restore Wetlands and Streams on Lamb Creek

Contact: Carla Fromm – EPA News Release – July 23, 2009 Jack Barron of Bonner County, Idaho must remove fill material and restore wetlands and stream channels on his property near Nordman, Idaho, according to an order issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. The order alleges that Barron placed rock and other fill material into four acres of wetlands and stream channels near Lamb Creek without necessary permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Barron filled the wetlands in preparation to build a house on his property. Lamb Creek is a tributary of Priest Lake, which supports many recreational activities including boating, fishing and camping. For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/121b2c19940f3883852575fc007b 76c2?OpenDocument

AK: Supreme Court declines Fairbanks wetlands permafrost case

Associated Press – June 23, 2009 The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to consider a Fairbanks case focused on whether land with permafrost is subject to federal wetlands review. The Fairbanks North Star Borough in 2006 wanted to build a park on two acres west of Fairbanks. The Army Corps of Engineers said the borough needed a wetlands permit. Borough officials, with help from a private lands right group, challenged the Corps' jurisdiction. Attorney Daniel Schiff of the Pacific Legal Foundation says the decision Monday is a disappointment for property owners who will be precluded from getting a day in court. Corps' officials praised the decision. Spokeswoman Pat Richardson says the agency position is that jurisdictional determinations are not subject to judicial review. http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10583107   For a related news story, visit: http://www.newsminer.com/news/2009/jun/23/ us-supreme-court-refuses-listen-fairbanks-borough-/

MA: Massachusetts Releases Draft Ocean Management Plan

CSO Weekly Report – July 2009 This month, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs released a draft ocean management plan of the state for public comment.  The plan is intended to balance natural resource preservation with new and traditional uses, including renewable energy.  The draft plan establishes three management categories for Massachusetts coastal waters: prohibited areas, multiuse areas, and renewable energy areas.  The draft plan also identifies two proposed wind energy areas adjacent to federal waters.  The plan was required by the Massachusetts Oceans Act, which was signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in May 2008.  The state plans to hold a series of public hearings on the proposal in the first two weeks of September, and will subsequently accept public comments for a period of 60 days.  To read the plan: http://commpres.env.state.ma.us/mop/draft_plan/v1/draft-v1-complete.pdf

UT: IBA news: Great Salt Lake, selenium, and birds

Audubon IBA News – July 2009 Great Salt Lake in Utah is sufficiently significant as a focus for Important Bird Area status that no less than five major bays on the lake (i.e., Farmington, Ogden, Bear River, Gilbert [or South Arm] and Gunnison [or North Arm]) are considered IBAs unto themselves.  Consequently, ongoing developments pertaining to selenium limits at the lake deserve notice. Selenium is a naturally occurring mineral which also turns up in sewage discharge and industrial operations; at high enough levels it can cause deformities among birds. When the State of Utah formed an advisory panel to develop a limit to the amount of selenium in Great Salt Lake, they settled on a regulation for a selenium level that kills about 10 percent of Mallard embryos.   The Fish and Wildlife Service has now sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency asking that EPA reject the new selenium regulatory level, because the destruction of these Mallard eggs is in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act - a taking or killing prohibited by the MBTA. This unusual situation may actually represent the first time that the Fish and Wildlife Service has invoked the MBTA to fight water discharge regulations. For more on Utah IBAs, see: http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba/utah/      For additional information about worldwide IBA programs, and those across the U.S., check the National Audubon Society's Important Bird Area program website at: http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba/

MN: Minnesota Breeding Ducks Decline

Sebeka Review Messenger – July 2009 Minnesota’s breeding duck population has dropped to an estimated 507,000 birds, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This number is 31 percent lower than last year and 19 percent below the long-term average of 626,000. The population estimate is based on the DNR’s May aerial waterfowl survey. “Though population swings are normal, it’s always disappointing when numbers decline,” said Dennis Simon, DNR wildlife chief. “Our goal is to build a breeding population of 1 million birds.” Steve Cordts, the DNR waterfowl specialist who conducted the survey, said the mallard breeding population was estimated at 236,000. This is 6 percent above the long-term average of 224,000 breeding mallards, but 21 percent below last year and 19 percent below the recent 10-year average. For full story, go to: http://www.reviewmessenger.com/index.php?option=com_content&view= article&id=1965:minnesota-breeding-ducks-decline&catid=22:hunting&Itemid=41

IA: Northey: 11 more water quality wetlands to be built this summer

KMEG TV News – July 2009 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently announced that eleven more water quality wetlands will be built throughout North Central Iowa this summer through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).  One of wetlands will be built during 2009 Midwest Construction Expo & Field Day in Melbourne on July 15-16. Northey will attend a construction kickoff ceremony at the expo, ½ mile east of Melbourne on 290th St., at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16.“The water quality wetlands are strategically built to have the greatest improvement in water quality while also impacting the smallest area,” Northey said. For full article, go to: http://www.kmeg.com/Global/story.asp?S=10663209

FL: Rock for the Wetlands II (Event: July 19, 2009)

By Jamie Laughlin – Broward Palm Beach New Times – July 2009 In the United States’ master timeline, South Florida hasn’t been settled for long. Any long-term resident will tell you about how it used to be: back before massive highways baked in the sun and the reflective sides of high rises blocked out all views of the ocean. Back then, Florida was wild and nature was what surrounded you. A group of Coconut Creek residents get it, so they’re fighting to retain a plot of green space. Inhabited by both endangered and native wildlife, the 43 acre piece of property sits at the northwest corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Lyons Road, but that might all change soon. Plans to develop the space into (surprise!) a strip mall of big box stores have brought community activists together. These green go-getters are raising funds for their preservation efforts today at Rock for the Wetlands II, a fundraiser filled with live music by Assassin, Billy Sansone, and rock-country group the Rodeo Clowns. A $5 cover gets you into this full day of activist action at Korrigan’s (2301 W. Sample Rd., Pompano Beach). http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/events/rock-for-the- wetlands-ii-875598/

ME: Novel pavement means cleaner runoff near mall

By Edward Murphy – Portland Press Herald – July 15, 2009 Motorists fuming at tie-ups caused by work on the Maine Mall Road this summer can take solace in the fact that the street will be greener come fall. The state is tearing up nearly half a mile of the road in front of the mall to put down a layer of sand, gravel and porous pavement that should result in cleaner runoff heading into nearby Long Creek. "It's the first step in terms of trying to address the issues raised on water quality in the watershed," said Erik Carson, South Portland's assistant city manager. Peter Newkirk, project manager for the Maine Department of Transportation, said work will begin Monday. The contract calls for paving to be done by Oct. 1 and all work to be completed by Nov. 7. At least two lanes should stay open throughout. For full story, go to: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=268212&ac=PHnws

CO: EPA announces more than $27 million in Recovery Act funds for Water Infrastructure projects in Colorado to boost economy, create jobs and protect public health

Contact: Karin Tatum – EPA Press Release – July 14, 2009 “EPA is pleased to provide more than $27 million in Recovery Act funds for much needed improvements to Colorado’s water infrastructure that will benefit the state for decades to come,” said Carol Rushin, EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator in Denver. “This funding will protect public health and improve water quality while creating hundreds of jobs in Colorado.” For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/b 7a7a7c1cc731551852575f30069a4e0!OpenDocument

OK: EPA Announces $31 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in Oklahoma to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health

Contact Dave Bary – EPA Press Release – July 14, 2009 EPA has awarded over $31 million to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state. “Investing in the economy and the environment is a win-win,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. “These funds will not only help our economic recovery, but they will help provide safe, clean drinking water for communities throughout Oklahoma.” For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/425 b3058eb6f5e69852575f30052195d!OpenDocument

VA: Students build a floating classroom

Staunton News Leader – July 14, 2009 About 10 University of Virginia students, along with a handful of alumni, two faculty members and consultants, put in another 16-hour workday Thursday at a Norfolk shipyard. Their mission: to prepare a floating classroom, dubbed the "Learning Barge," for its September launch date. Thanks in part to a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the students are spending six weeks living in two Virginia Beach townhouses while constructing the classroom, bathrooms, demonstration wetland habitat and breezeway on the solar-powered barge. For full article, go to: http://www.newsleader.com/article/20090714/NEWS01/90714002

UT: EPA announces more than $20 million in Recovery Act funds for Water Infrastructure projects in Utah to boost economy, create jobs and protect public health

Contact: Diane Sanelli – EPA News Release – July 14, 2009 “EPA is pleased to provide more than $20 million in Recovery Act funds for much needed improvements to Utah’s water infrastructure that will benefit the state for decades to come,” said Carol Rushin, EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator in Denver. “This funding will protect public health and improve water quality while creating hundreds of jobs in Utah.” For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/ 7ca6c72eb5810778852575f300698282!OpenDocument

CA: Wetlands Restoration Project Adds Visitor Service

Business Wire – July 14, 2009 As the San Dieguito Wetlands Restoration Project enters its final stages, project team members Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) have agreed to fund a new ranger service to be managed by the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority. Uniformed rangers are being added to patrol the almost 500 acre site, providing education for the public, maintaining the new trail system and directing people to approved areas in order to protect sensitive habitats. The additional project feature is an outgrowth of the growing number of visitors to the site. An unexpectedly large number of people are using the new trails and viewing the flourishing wildlife even though the project will not be complete until later this year. For full story, go to: http://www.stockhouse.com/News/USReleasesDetail.aspx?n=7380911

NM: EPA Announces $19.5 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in New Mexico to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health

Contact Dave Bary – EPA News Release – July 14, 2009 EPA has awarded $19.5 million to the New Mexico Finance Authority. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state. “Investing in the economy and the environment is a win-win,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. “These funds will not only help our economic recovery, but they will help provide safe, clean drinking water for communities throughout New Mexico.” For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003 fb69d/659c476ce274fe66852575f30051e227!OpenDocument

LA: EPA Announces $27 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in Louisiana to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health

Contact Dave Bary – EPA News Release – July 14, 2009 “Investing in the economy and the environment is a win-win,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. “These funds will not only help our economic recovery, but they will help provide safe, clean drinking water for communities throughout Louisiana.” For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb 69d/e394cf7630bbcfeb852575f30051300d!OpenDocument

WA: Piping project will save water, support fish and wetlands

By Sandra Hughes - Ecology News Release – July 14, 2009 A groundbreaking ceremony held at Barker Ranch near West Richland today launched a major conservation project funded by the Washington Department of Ecology Office of Columbia River that will keep more than 6,400 acre-feet of water in the Yakima River. Last year, Barker Ranch was awarded a $5.6 million grant to replace three miles of an open-earth irrigation canal with a closed pipe system, reducing water losses due to leaks and evaporation. For full press release, go to:  http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0907B&L=ECOLOGY-NEWS&T=0&F=&S=&P=822 for more information, see http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cwp/images/pdf/grants/map/barker.pdf

IN: EPA announces more than $121 million in Recovery Act Funds for water infrastructure projects in Indiana to boost economy, create jobs and protect public health

Contact: Phillippa Cannon – EPA Press Release – July 14, 2009 - In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for people in the State of Indiana, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $121 million to the Indiana Finance Authority.  This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state. “EPA is pleased to provide more than $121 million in Recovery Act funds for much needed improvements to Indiana's aging drinking water and waste water infrastructure, including sewer systems," said Bharat Mathur, Acting Regional Administrator.  "This money will protect human health and improve water quality while helping to create good jobs in the state." The Recovery Act funds will go to the state's Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds programs. For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb8525735 9003fb69d/86811493ba99057f852575f30068f5ff!OpenDocument

FL: Property insurance illusions could turn into harsh reality

By Jackie Bueno Sousa – Miami Herald – July 13, 2009 Magicians will tell you that one of the keys to a successful illusion is the willingness of the audience to believe that what it is seeing is real. The building really is levitating. The elephant really is walking on water. But, of course, it's not real, which is why the show always must end. You can sustain trickery for only so long. And so it is with Florida's property insurance market. We want to believe that rates can be controlled, that government can permanently suppress free-market forces, that most of us can afford to live in coastal areas. But sooner or later reality takes hold.  That's exactly what's happening as Citizens Property Insurance announces rate hikes that could lead to a doubling of premiums in the next five years. In 2008, the Legislature prevented Citizens from raising rates until 2010, and now the state-run insurer must make up for lost time and lost premiums. For full story, go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/5min/story/1138946.html

AK: Alaska Landowner Ordered To Restore Wetland Habitat

Contact Rebecca Chu  - EPA News Release – July 13, 2009 Clifford Walker, former owner of Whitestone Logging, Inc., has been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency to remove unauthorized fill material in wetlands and intertidal areas at his property in Southeast Alaska and to restore the site to its original pre-disturbance conditions. The site is adjacent to Game Creek, an important salmon bearing creek that flows into Port Frederick. According to the EPA compliance order, Walker violated the federal Clean Water Act by failing to obtain required permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the construction of access roads and foundation pads between 2003 and 2005. Walker allegedly used heavy equipment to place 3,000 cubic yards of fill material, including shot rock and gravel, into one acre of wetlands and intertidal areas of Port Frederick. For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/ 00bd7caf1cc753e4852575f200723b26!OpenDocument

NJ: New Jersey Receives $1.6 Million in Economic Recovery Funds to Improve Water Quality, Create Jobs

Contact John Senn - EPA News Release – July 13, 2009 In an effort to improve water quality and create jobs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $1,617,600 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A total of $39 million will be awarded nationally to states for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) grants, which will keep and create jobs to help prevent water pollution and protect human health and the environment.

VA: James River Runoff Rundown raises $26,000 for conservation

By Sarah Watson – The News & Advance – July 12, 2009 The James River just upstream from the dam in Big Island slows to a crawl. The only hazards come from a few low-hanging Sycamore trees lining the banks and the occasional branch near the stream’s edge. Paddling upstream, it takes at least two miles before the river starts to move swiftly and the rocky bottom becomes visible. But, David Sligh said, just as the James becomes a river again, another dam — one in Snowden producing electricity — impounds the water, turning the river back into a moving reservoir. For full article, go to: http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/environment/local_environment/article /james_river_runoff_rundown_raises_26000_for_conservation/17628/

NY: Wetlands law is the right step

Poughkeepsie Journal – July 11, 2009 Hyde Park officials should not waver on passing a wetlands ordinance that will provide important environmental protections, especially when the law will prove to be less onerous than some landowners apparently believe. For full article, go to: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090711/OPINION01/907110302/ Wetlands-law-is-the-right-step

NJ: NJ using $10.6M stimulus funds to restore wetlands

Associated Press – July 10, 2009 New Jersey will use a $10.6 million federal stimulus grant to help restore wetlands along the Hackensack River in Jersey City. Gov. Jon Corzine announced the grant Friday, saying it would create a wildlife habitat in a highly urbanized area and provide recreational opportunities. The project is expected to provide about 100 construction-related jobs. The state Department of Environmental Protection is completing the final design and will provide $3.5 million for the project. It will be carried out by private-sector contractors. Construction is expected to begin in the fall. The project involves removing bulky debris and other wastes from a 35-acre section of an old landfill and restoring daily tidal flows. For full story, http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20090710_ap_njusin g106mstimulusfundstorestorewetlands.html

Michigan urged to keep wetland power

By Jim Lynch – Detroit News - July 8, 2009 Michigan would be better served by keeping wetlands protection in state hands, rather than turning that responsibility over to the federal government, according to a report released Tuesday by regional environmental groups. For full article, go to: http://www.detnews.com/article/20090708/POLITICS02/907080352/1024/POLITICS03/ Michigan-urged-to-keep-wetland-power

ME: Turtles Tangle with Traffic Along Maine’s Coast

Associated Press – July 8, 2009 Turtles are on the move in Maine, just when tourist traffic puts them at greatest risk of becoming roadkill. This is the time of year when turtles migrate back and forth between wetlands and dry areas where they nest and lay eggs. As the Portland Press Herald reports, many of them are trying to cross roads, ending up in a slow-motion game of chicken with passing cars and trucks. For full article, go to: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/20090706turtles_ tangle_with_traffic_along_maine_coast/srvc=home&position=recent  For ASWM’s blog entry on this topic, go to: http://aswm.org/wordpress/?p=374

FL: Circuit Judge finds flaws in Wakulla wetlands ordinance in ruling against county

By Will Brown – Tallahassee Democrat – July 8, 2009 Circuit Court judge N. Sanders Sauls ruled a temporary injunction against Wakulla County and the county’s code enforcement board Wednesday in reference to applying a 2006 wetlands ordinance against the Crum and Tucker families. Ronald and Eloise Crum and Larry and Patricia Tucker filed suit against the county and the code enforcement board June 19 after they were cited for allegedly dredging and filling wetlands without proper permitting by code enforcement. For full story, go to: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090708/NEWS03/90708010/Circuit+Judge+fi nds+flaws+in+Wakulla+wetlands+ordinance+in+ruling+against+county

Great Lakes Wetlands at Risk Due to Gaps in State, Federal Policy

National Wildlife Federation (press release) July 7, 2009 http://online.nwf.org/site/DocServer/2009-07-07WetlandsReportPRESSRELEASE_V3.pdf?docID=10721

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June

ND: Judge upholds ND anti-corporate farming law

By Dale Wetzel – Bemidji Pioneer – June 16, 2009 North Dakota's anti-corporate farming law does not violate the U.S. Constitution, even though similar laws have been invalidated by federal courts in Nebraska and South Dakota, a state district judge says. Southeast District Judge James Bekken's ruling also gave a partial victory to Crosslands Inc., a nonprofit organization that owns land in three North Dakota counties, saying the state law cannot be used to force the sale of about 1,700 acres managed as a wildlife preserve. For full story, go to: http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/apArticle/id/D98R5NQ02/

CA: California Receives $2.8 Million in Economic Recovery Funds to Improve Water Quality, Create Jobs

Contact: Francisco Arcaute – EPA News Release – June 15, 2009 In an effort to improve water quality and create jobs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $2.8 Million to the California State Water Resources Control Board under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A total of $39 million will be awarded nationally to states for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) grants, which will keep and create jobs to help prevent water pollution and protect human health and the environment. For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d985312f6895893b 852574ac005f1e40/aa4cb87b9de5b9d2852575d6004f3e6a!OpenDocument

WV: EPA Announces $15.6 Million Recovery Act Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in West Virginia to Boost the Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health

Contact Bonnie Smith – EPA News Release – June 15, 2009 In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for the people in the State of West Virginia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $15.6 million to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state. For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d985312f6895893b852574 ac005f1e40/9c1623bb7a6a6e8b852575d60052b6c1!OpenDocument

OH: Ohio receives more than $2 million in economic recovery funds to improve water quality

Contact: Phillippa Cannon – EPA News Release – June 15, 2009 In an effort to improve water quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $2,228,800 to Ohio EPA under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A total of $39 million will be awarded nationally to states for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) grants that will keep and create jobs to help prevent water pollution and protect human health and the environment. For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d985312f6895893b852574ac005f1e40/ab2343a692 a02669852575d6006f4a7c!OpenDocument

MA: EPA Announces More Than $185 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Massachusetts Water Infrastructure Projects

Contact: David Deegan – EPA News Release – June 15, 2009 EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today held a joint press conference with Massachusetts Public Officials to announce more than $185 million in Recovery Act funding to improve drinking water quality and waste water infrastructure across the state. For full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d985312f6895893b852574 ac005f1e40/0ff43c22cce30178852575d600602a4c!OpenDocument

CA: New plan for housing on S.F. Bay is reckless

By David Lewis – San Francisco Chronicle – June 14, 2009 Rampant development had shrunk San Francisco Bay by one-third before a citizen revolution halted the destruction 50 years ago, and now the whole region cherishes the natural treasure we've protected and restored. But every few years another misguided developer proposes to fill in the bay, and the latest arrogant plan is a whopper. For full story, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/13/INSV183RFN.DTL

FL: CF promises ‘stewardship’ in new mine

By Greg Martin – Charlotte Sun Herald – June 14, 2009 CF Industries, on its next phosphate mine, will be required to preserve as much of the natural streams and wetlands as feasible and replace those resources destroyed acre-for-acre, according to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection official. And CF Industries, which is planning to strip out 1,475 acres of wetlands on its 7,500-acre proposed South Pasture Extension mine, understands the importance of following those guidelines, according to Richard Ghent, CF director of community affairs. For full story, go to: http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/pnnews.aspx?NewsID =438996&a=newsarchive2/061409/ch1.htm&pnpg=0

CA: 'Saltworks' plan - that's smart growth

By Peter Calthorpe – San Francisco Chronicle – June 14, 2009 After too many decades of sprawl, many people are embracing a much different approach to urban planning: smart growth. This simple, environmentally sound approach to growth would put new homes close to the Bay Area's job centers in mixed-use, walkable communities served by transit. I believe one of the most compelling smart growth proposals is the "Saltworks 50-50 Balanced Plan" in Redwood City. Today, this privately owned site is a 1,400-acre moonscape, a century-old industrial salt "factory without a roof" that could continue to make salt indefinitely. For full story, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/13/IN82181TJH.DTL

TX: Outdoors: No ducking the hard truth

By Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle – June 14, 2009 A mama mottled duck trailed by eight black/yellow fuzzballs bobbled and chugged on the choppy water near the mouth of the Trinity River last Tuesday morning. Despite a running current and stiff wind, the furiously paddling little ducklings kept up just fine with mom, who almost certainly was leading the recently hatched bundles of feathers to a nearby freshwater flat, where the kids could gorge and grow on a high-protein diet of minnows, scuds, insects and maybe a stray crawfish or two while the senna bean, bullrush and other aquatic vegetation provided cover and escape from predators. For full story, go to: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6477735.html

NY: Hearing on tap on wetlands proposal

By John Davis – Poughkeepsie Journal – June 14, 2009 Residents can comment on a proposed local wetlands protection law at 7 p.m. Monday in town hall. The law is intended to ensure wetlands and other bodies of water in town are adequately protected. The benefits of added wetlands protection are flood prevention, ground water recharge, erosion and sediment control and preservation of plant and animal habitats. For full story, go to: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090614/ NEWS01/906140343/1006/news01

WI: Mother Nature's mess

By Helen Clark – Herald Times Reporter– June 14, 2009 The same rainstorm that a year ago washed away houses on the shores of Lake Delton also left homeless many of the ducks, cranes and fish that frequent the Little Manitowoc River wetland. The storm hit Manitowoc on June 12, 2008, dumping about 4 inches of rain on the city and raising the river 4½ feet in less than 24 hours, forcing heavy rocks off the riverbed and onto its banks. Homes and streets also were reported flooded. For full story, go to: http://www.htrnews.com/article/20090614/MAN0101/906140440

LA: Dredged mud can save Louisiana coast, state says

By Mark Schleifstein – Times Picayune – June 13, 2009 Each year, the Army Corps of Engineers and private companies dredge about 63 million tons of dirt from Louisiana's coastal areas, primarily to service the needs of shipping and petroleum interests. The corps constantly dredges the river to ensure ships can pass, and oil and gas companies cut and maintain canals to service their facilities and lay pipelines through Louisiana's fragile wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/dredged_mud_can_save_louisiana.html

OH: $50K needed to open rare wetland site to public

By Steve Bennish – Dayton Daily News – June 12, 2009 Wanted: A $50,000 donation to enable a unique parkland to be opened to the general public. That’s what it will cost for Five Rivers MetroParks to install a trail and boardwalk system as part of the final stages to complete Woodman Fen, a green carpet of sedges, wildflowers and other native wetland plants sprouting from a groundwater-fed wetland. The fen, which dates to the last Ice Age, is the only one of its kind in Montgomery County. It is wedged between Woodman Drive and a residential neighborhood by Belmont Park. For full story, visit: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/50k-needed-to-open-rare-wetland-site-to-public-159832.html?showComments=true

MD: Around the Park: SP girl's essay on bay grasses wins student Naturalist Award

By Leslie Hunt – The Capital – June 11, 2009 Alexandra Day, 16, of Severna Park, was one of 12 recipients of the American Museum of Natural History's Young Naturalist Award. The program challenges youngsters to embark on their own scientific investigations and to document their research, observations, and analyses of the natural world. Alexandra submitted a 2,500-word essay titled "Chesapeake Bay Grasses as a Solution to Nutrient Pollution." The essay included her research findings and analysis on the grasses, their impact on the Chesapeake Bay and generic historical facts about the country's largest estuary. For full story, go to: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/csp/2009/06/11-31/Around-the-Park-SP-girls-essay-on-bay-grasses-wins-student-Naturalist-Award.html For a list of the 2009 winners, go to: http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2009/finalists.html

IA: County looks at wetland mitigation

Independence Bulletin Journal – June 10, 2009 Buchanan County may soon acquire property east of Fairbank to convert into wetlands. The move comes as the county looks to comply with legal mandates for wetland mitigation as the D22 road project between Independence and Jesup moves ahead. According to Buchanan County Engineer Brian Keierleber, crossroad culverts that are being updated as part of the project have been classified by the state as “wetlands.” For full story, go to: http://communitynewspapergroup.com/articles/2009/06/10/bulletin-journal/news/doc4a2fbfd07f914029577039.txt

VA: New conservation area to explore

By Mark Battista – Chesterfield Observer – June 10, 2009 Chesterfield County residents now have a new site to hike and explore. Named the John J. Radcliffe Appomattox River Conservation Area, the site bears the name of its former owner. Though only 80 acres, the land contains interesting habitats, geology, history and wildlife. This purchase marks the third conservation area to be acquired and managed by the Chesterfield Parks and Recreation Department. The Dutch Gap and Brown and Williamson sites are the other two. For full story, go to: http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2009/0610/home/004.html

OH: Granger residents hear wetlands plans

By Ariel Marks – Akron Ohio Community News – June 10, 2009 Plans to develop a Wetlands Mitigation Bank on a 150-acre parcel of land in central Granger Township resulted in a packed house at the Administration Building June 8. In response to a request from the Granger Township Board of Trustees, Vince Messerly, the landowner and president of the Ohio Wetlands Foundation (OWF), attended the meeting to answer residents’ questions and concerns about the project. Messerly said he purchased the land in December 2006 with the intention of restoring approximately 90 acres of wetlands, and he recently applied to the Army Corps of Engineers for a permit to go forward on the project. For full story, go to: http://www.akron.com/akron-ohio-community-news.asp?aID=5652

WA: Council delays critical areas ordinance

By Tara Nelson – The Northern Light – June 10, 2009 Following heated testimony from landowners, developers and environmental groups on Monday, Blaine City Council voted down a critical areas ordinance (CAO) 4-3 that would increase buffer zones around wetlands, and scheduled a work session to amend the ordinance in what some councilors called an attempt to balance environmental protections with property rights. The work session is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 15 at council chambers. The hearing is open to the public but public comment will not be allowed at that time. Council members Jason Overstreet, Scott Dodd, John Liebert and Bonnie Onyon voted no on the ordinance, citing that the new regulations were overly cumbersome for current landowners who might wish to subdivide their property compared to the rules in place when they purchased it. For full story, go to: http://www.thenorthernlight.com/news/article.exm/2009-06-10_council_delays_critical_areas_ordinance

FL: Power shift might affect Florida water wars

By Kevin Spear – Orlando Sentinel – June 10, 2009 The board that watches over water and wetlands policy for Central Florida is preparing to give up a big share of its authority and a measure of public comment on some of the most controversial issues under its jurisdiction. It's part of a new law passed by the state Legislature that strips state water-management boards of their role in granting permits to those who want to tap water supplies or to destroy wetlands. The board of the St. Johns River Water Management District now rules over water policy in an area that extends from Vero Beach, across most of Central Florida and to the Georgia state line. Members routinely have public hearings before voting on the often-contentious issues before them. For full story, go to: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-florida-water-law-dispute-061009,0,1193636.story

MI: Michigan Promotes Clean Boats, Clean Waters through Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Week

Contact:  Robert McCann – Michigan DEQ – June 10, 2009 Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has proclaimed June 13-21, 2009, as Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Awareness Week to raise awareness about the need for citizens to take action to stop new introductions and control the spread of AIS.  Michigan is defined by t he Great Lakes and its vast inland waters, which draw millions of tourists and recreational users every year, making it critical that they are protected from the growing threat of AIS. For AIS Awareness Week information, the Governor's proclamation, event listings, activities and more, visit the OGL's AIS Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqaquaticinvasives ; or contact the OGL at 517‑335‑4056.

GA: Corps of Engineers to ease permit rules

WBTV Savannah Morning News – June 10, 2009 The Savannah district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking the initiative to be the first to streamline permits for publicly funded projects by increasing the threshold for impact to wetlands. The Environmental Protection Agency and at least 16 environmental groups fear the Corps might jeopardize ecologically important streams and wetlands to speed up projects such as bridges, roads and schools for the sake of economic recovery. For full story, go to: http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10507381 For a related story, go to: http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_519938.shtml

CA: Wetlands mosquito spraying starts

By City News Service – June 9, 2009 Vector Control officials on Tuesday began using a helicopter to drop larvicide on about 1,000 acres of heavily vegetated areas in the San Diego area to reduce mosquito breeding. The areas include Carmel Creek, the San Diego Polo Grounds, Derby Downs, the eastern part of San Elijo Lagoon and fresh water portion of Penasquitos Lagoon. For full story, go to: http://www.delmartimes.net/news/257781-wetlands-mosquito-spraying-starts

FL: Swamp-seeing down south

By REVATHI MURUGAPPAN – The Star – June 6, 2009 Florida’s Everglades National Park is one of the largest sub-tropical wetlands in the world where alligators abound. America’s southern state of Florida probably draws millions of tourists yearly, thanks largely to Orlando’s Walt Disney World and Miami’s white coral South Beach (SoBe) area where the thumping nightlife continues till dawn. Not only is sunny Florida a haven for retirees and beach bums, it is one huge outdoor playground for all ages except during hurricane season when the mighty winds can cause major destruction. For full story, go to: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/6/6/lifetravel/3984010&sec=lifetravel

WI: Wisconsin Wetlands Association Announces 100 Wetland Gems

By Katie Beilfuss – Wisconsin Wetlands Association – June 1, 2009 Today, with a backdrop of Cherokee Marsh and the Yahara River and amidst calls of Sandhill cranes, Wisconsin Wetlands Association announced its statewide list of 100 Wetland Gems.   “Wisconsin is lucky to be home to thousands of acres of wetlands, and we hope these Wetland Gems will help the people of Wisconsin get to know the wonderful diversity and extraordinary beauty of these natural communities,” said Becky Abel, Wisconsin Wetlands Association Executive Director. Wetland Gems are high quality habitats that represent the wetland riches—marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, and more—that historically made up a quarter of Wisconsin’s landscape.  Located throughout the state of Wisconsin, the Wetland Gems are high-quality representatives of each type of wetland found in each part of the state.  For more information and full press release, go to: http://www.wisconsinwetlands.org/gems.htm

MS: U.S. Designates Upper Mississippi River Floodplains a Wetland of International Importance

Contact: Vanessa Kauffman – US Fish & Wildlife Service – June 1, 2009 Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced approval of portions of the Upper Mississippi River, including the Midwest's largest national wildlife refuge, as a Wetland of International Importance. In making the announcement, Secretary Salazar said, "The ecological, social, and economic values of the Upper Mississippi River make it one of the crown jewels of this nation's wetlands. This marks the 27th U.S. wetland designated under the Convention on Wetlands. For full press release, go to: http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/ showNews.cfm?newsId=9D11D784-E603-DD46-9250C5D6FC03A161

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May

OR: The Oregon Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol

The Oregon Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol (ORWAP) is ready to use for assessing wetlands in Oregon.  ORWAP will be used primarily for assessing wetlands and developing compensatory mitigation plans for state Removal-Fill Law and federal Section 404 permit applications, but was designed to be suitable for other purposes, as well.  ORWAP is suitable for assessing all types of wetlands statewide; thus, it will fill the gap in areas where an HGM Guidebook is not available (HGM guidebooks have been developed for tidal wetlands and for two wetland subclasses in the Willamette Valley).  The Oregon Department of State Lands initiated ORWAP development with funding assistance from EPA Region 10.  This has been an interagency effort—wetland specialists with EPA, the Portland District Corps of Engineers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service and other agencies participated throughout the development process to ensure that ORWAP will meet their program needs.  Dr. Paul Adamus (Adamus Resource Assessment, Inc.) developed ORWAP with help from more than 100 individuals—private sector and public—who participated on technical advisory committees, assisted with field testing in over 220 wetlands statewide, provided expert knowledge about regional wetlands, developed supporting information, or provided peer review.  ORWAP is available from the Dept. of State Lands at:  http://oregonstatelands.us/DSL/WETLAND/or_wet_prot.shtml

GA: Southern Company, Environmental Partners Award Eight Wetland Restoration Grants Through Five Star Program

PRNewswire – May 28, 2009 Southern Company (NYSE: SO), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Association of Counties and Wildlife Habitat Council today announced that eight new wetland, riparian and coastal conservation grants have been awarded in the Southeast through the Five Star Restoration Program. For full press release, go to: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/ www/story/05-28-2009/0005033856&EDATE=

KS: In an effort to protect your tap, a natural solution

By Scott Rothschild – Lawrence Journal - May 26, 2009 Near a tributary in western Douglas County, an effort is under way to replicate nature to protect Clinton Lake and the water coming out of Lawrence faucets. During rains, water runs downhill across farmland, delivering sediment and pollutants into the tributary of Deer Creek, which eventually flows into Clinton Lake. For full story, go to:

NY: Citizen Action wants to end 'Pay to Play'

By Lauren Johnson – Legislative Gazette – May 26, 2009 A report entitled New Yorkers Pay When Big Money Plays: The Case for Public Financing of Elections was released today by Citizen Action of New York. The report analyzes how campaign contributions affect bills relating to policy areas such as dealing with ticket scalping, rent regulations, health care and wetlands: The group said campaign contributions made by wealthy corporations are preventing the passage of legislation that concerns the most important needs of the public. For full story, go to: http://www.legislativegazette.com/day_item.php?item=913

WV: Wetlands project to enhance learning

By Jillian E. Kesner – The Journal – May 25, 2009 A groundbreaking is planned this summer for a wetlands project two years in the making, with plans to have the habitat available for students in the fall, Sara Wuertenberg of the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District said. "We're hoping to break ground in July," she said. Officials with the project hope to conduct classes in the wetland by October. For full story, go to: http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/520026.html?nav=5006

WI: Volunteers documenting ephemeral ponds in eastern Wisconsin

By Don Behm – Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel – May 25, 2009 Jody Barbeau wades into a shallow pond in woods less than a mile from shoppers at Mayfair Mall and commuters on congested U.S. Highway 45 - to glimpse a bustling community of other creatures. Two mallard ducks cautiously paddle away from Barbeau, but there is no indication of aquatic life until he lifts a net out of the water. Reddish dots on the fabric are water mites, he said.A nearly transparent crustacean with a bulbous head is a male fairy shrimp, a relative of the lobster, said Barbeau, a biologist and volunteer pond monitor. They float belly up. For full story, go to: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/46024042.html

FL: How gulf coast's wetlands mitigate the force of a hurricane

By Craig Pittman – St. Petersburg Times – May 24, 2009 Seven years ago, a coalition of Louisiana groups launched a save-our-coast campaign called "America's Wetland" with sponsors that ranged from the NFL's New Orleans Saints to the company that makes Tabasco sauce. The campaign began because they wanted to alert the public that Louisiana's coastal wetlands are disappearing at a rate of 25 square miles per year. The campaign picked up steam after Hurricane Katrina showed the vital role that those coastal wetlands play in blunting the force of such storms. For full story, go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wetlands/article1003445.ece

OR: Ashland Council Considers Stream, Wetlands Ordinance

By Vickie Aldous – Mail Tribune – May 23, 2009 City residents who want to use riding lawn mowers to cut down blackberry bushes on creek-side property would have to buy a $907 permit under a proposed city ordinance. The City Council is considering new rules for protecting streams and wetlands within city limits. A proposed ordinance that would create protected buffer zones of up to 50 feet next to streams and wetlands could affect 1,800 tax lots because Ashland is laced with more than 20 streams and as many as 44 wetlands. Many activities still could go on within the buffer zones without the need for special permits. Maintaining an existing lawn with a push mower or a riding mower, landscaping with native plants and removing invasive vegetation with a push mower or weed-eater would be allowed. For full story, go to: http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090523/NEWS/905230316

New Law Protects Vermont Wetlands

By Kristin Carlson – WCAX News – May 22, 2009 “This is the Berlin pond and it’s famous for bird watching,” said Kim Greenwood of the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Walk around Berlin pond and there’s plenty of wildlife to spot, but this area is also well known because it’s a wetland. “You can see those shrubby plants; that’s indicative of a wetland and wetland species,” Greenwood explained. Wetlands help stabilize the shore, filter drinking water and provide wildlife and fish habitat. But they can also spark controversy. The VNRC sued to reclassify wetlands for stricter control. The group lost its case but the court also ruled the state needed a new way of classifying wetlands, forcing everyone back to the drawing board. For full story, go to: http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10404936

MN: More teeth in penalties for ATVers who trash wetlands

By David Shaffer – Star Tribune – May 22, 2009 All-terrain-vehicle riders who destroy wetlands in Minnesota face tougher criminal penalties, a year-long ban on riding and, if caught a second time, seizure and forfeiture of their vehicles under a measure signed into law Friday by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Jim Konrad, the state Department of Natural Resources enforcement director, said conservation officers probably will seize only a few ATVs each year but hopes the enhanced penalties will deter the worst offenders. For full story, go to: http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/45881082.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqy P4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciatkEP7DhUsl

NY: Setting the stage for conservation

By Willow Belden – Queens Chronicle – May 21, 2009 New York City used to have over 300,000 acres of wetlands; today, less than one-tenth remain, due to development projects that have taken place over the past 150 years. Various federal and state laws regulate development in wetland areas, but there are gaps in the rules, which means many of the city’s marshy areas fall through the cracks. To try to close the regulatory loopholes, the City Council recently passed a bill requiring that the city identify and document all remaining wetlands and develop a comprehensive conservation strategy for them. The goal is to prevent further net loss of wetlands in the city. For full story, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20318947&BRD=2731&PAG=461& dept_id=574907&rfi=6

FL: Civic activist tries hand at filmmaking

By Kenneth Knight – Northeast News & Tribune – May 20, 2009 Terry Neal, a well-known guardian of River Hills Drive and the other canopied streets that crisscross this neighborhood, has taken on a new role as a documentary filmmaker. The debut of Neal's documentary, "Orange Lake - Nature's Beauty," begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Temple Terrace Community Church, 210 Inverness Ave. in Temple Terrace. Neal is making a presentation to the Temple Terrace Preservation Society. "This is what I had hoped for," said Neal, who serves as president of the Temple Crest Civic Association. "I didn't expect there would be a screening at Cannes," he said in jest, referring to the annual film festival held in southern France. For full story, go to: http://northeast2.tbo.com/content/2009 /may/20/ne-civic-activist-tries-hand-at-filmmaking/

VA: New coalition's goal: Speed up the cleanup for the Bay

By Scott Harper – Virginian-Pilot – May 20, 2009 More than 50 environmental groups from Virginia to Pennsylvania are banding together to push for tougher, speedier actions in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Coalition will officially launch itself and its inaugural campaign, Choose Clean Water, at a news conference today on Capitol Hill. Its members have been organizing and talking for nearly a year and already are lobbying government officials. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/05/new-coalition-push-quicker-cleanup- chesapeake-bay

IA: Trumpeter swans settle in at Cardinal Marsh

By Sara Daehn – Cresco Times Plain Dealer – May 19, 2009 A small crowd watched last week as two trumpeter swans were introduced to their new home. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources released the 11-month old female and male swans at Cardinal Marsh May 13. The swans were donated by the City of Cannon Falls, Minn. More than 800 free flying trumpeter swans have been released into the wild throughout the state since 1995, including several at Cardinal Marsh over the years. The DNR’s goal is to have 30 free flying nesting pairs of trumpeter swans in Iowa by 2009. For full story, go to: http://www.crescotimes.com/news/x1549046227/Trumpeter-swans-settle-in-at- Cardinal-Marsh

WI: A push to protect Wisconsin's wetlands

By Carl Agnelly – WKOW TV – May 18, 2009 Monday may not have been the sunniest day on a canoe, but everyday is gorgeous for Dave Clutter along Cherokee Marsh. "It's good to be out here in all different kinds of conditions," said Clutter as he paddled with a group of a half dozen others on a blustery, cloudy, and drizzly afternoon. "It's a fun, diverse place, and for those that are in town that don't know the marsh, I'd certtainly encourage them to get out here," added Clutter, who recently joined the Friends of Cherokee Marsh group.  For full story, go to: http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10382370

ME: Tiny creatures find some big friends

By John Richardson – Portland Press Herald – May 16, 2009 State regulators have been protecting Maine's vernal pools for more than a year. Now, more communities and citizens are taking up the cause. As of this spring, 13 Maine communities have mobilized volunteers to help defend vernal pools by finding and mapping their locations. Residents of Topsham, Freeport, Windham, Scarborough and other towns tromped through woods and wetlands in recent weeks, around the same time wood frogs and salamanders were converging on the seasonal wetlands to breed and lay eggs. "It was such a great experience," said Angela Twitchell of Topsham, who surveyed pools with her 8-year-old son, Hayden Libby. For full story, go to: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=256728&ac

MI: Proposal would test new wetlands programs

By Karen Bouffard – The Detroit News – May 11, 2009 Before the state ends its wetlands protection program, two lawmakers want to test the responsiveness of federal and county watchdogs under two pilot programs. Under the first one, protection of wetlands would be ceded to the federal government for two years in the Traverse City and Saginaw Bay areas. Under a second, responsibility of monitoring wetlands would be turned over to the government in an unnamed county. For full story, visit: http://www.detnews.com/article/20090511/METRO/905110377/

WA: “Green” Projects Survive

By Callie White – The Daily World – May 9, 2009 Funding for five environmental and recreational projects in the Twin Harbors survived the state budget process, but the state Legislature torpedoed four in what the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program was calling a best-case scenario before the budget was drawn up. The Senate version of the budget would have cut funding from $100 million to $50 million, which would have affected an additional five projects. For full story, go to: http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/05/09/local_news/doc4a0526e0b6b6f05 8519173.txt

Regulators Eye General Permits to Address Growing CWA 'Universe'

Inside EPA – May 1, 2009 EPA and state regulators are increasingly relying on broad, sometimes controversial Clean Water Act (CWA) general permits to address an ever-expanding universe of discharges requiring permits, most often in response to court mandates but also as a way to address pollution on a more comprehensive regional basis. “Honestly, when I look at the challenging issues” of expanded CWA jurisdiction, vessel discharges and stormwater, general permits make the most sense,” former Bush EPA water chief Benjamin Grumbles said April 23 at an American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA) conference on clean water law and regulation in Washington, DC. Reprinted with permission from Inside EPA. For full story, go to: http://www.aswm.org/news/regulators_050109_inside_epa.pdf

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April

CT: Sewage contaminates Newtown wetlands By Melissa Bruen – The News Times – April 17, 2009 Town officials Thursday blamed a burst or clogged pipe as the cause of a raw sewage discharge from the Meadowbrook Terrace complex on Route 302. Sewage from a pipe attached to one of the mobile homes in the Sugar Street complex overflowed onto grass, a private road and wetlands that abut the property, according to Rob Sibley, deputy director of the town's land use agency. About 20 acres of wetlands sit behind the complex, he said. For full story, go to: http://www.newstimes.com/latestnews/ci_12156353

MA: Department of Environmental Protection Checks Out Newton South Fields By Ben Terris – Boston Globe – April 16, 2009 The Department of Environmental Protection visited the athletic fields at Newton South Thursday to determine whether plans for synthetic turf playing fields would violate the Wetlands Protection Act. After holding two public hearings the Newton Conservation Commission voted to permit the construction of these fields in February, and issued a list of conditions in early March to keep the nearby wetlands safe. But, a group of 12 Newton residents, represented by attorney Guive Mirfendereski, feel like the conditions do not go nearly far enough. For full story, go to: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2009/04/department_of_environmental_pr.html

WI: Manure Spills Into Wetlands and Kewaunee River By Jenn Karlman – WBAY News – April 16, 2009 Thousands of gallons of manure spilled at a local farm, and some of it seeped into the Kewaunee River. Last Friday, a farmer in Kewaunee County notified the DNR that manure leaked out of his pit. The spill happened on the Stahl Farm on Tonet Road, near Thiry Daems Road and County Highway H. A majority of the manure is in a wetland. Already the DNR and the landowner have used hay bales to try and dam up the pipe, trying to prevent more waste from going downstream and causing more damage. "We immediately got a contractor to dig it out and pack it because we are stewards of the environment and were very concerned," landowner Lary Stahl said. For full story, go to: http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=10198268

CA: Wetlands flourish: How to best enjoy the budding habitat By Laura Petersen – Del Mar Times – April 16, 2009 The San Dieguito Wetlands restoration project, in its final year of construction, is flourishing with life, including more than 150 species of birds. "We thought birds and fish would come in rather quickly," said Steve Schroeter, a marine scientist from University of California, Santa Barbara. "There's a remarkable increase in the number of bird species." Experienced and novice bird watchers alike can take advantage of the restored wetland and lagoon habitats that are attracting such birds as sparrows, sandpipers, coots, hawks, hummingbirds and pelicans. For full story, visit: http://www.delmartimes.net/news/256037-wetlands-flourish-how-to-best-enjoy-the-budding-habitat

VT: Vermont House passes protective wetlands bill Burlington Free Press – April 16, 2009 The Vermont House on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation that will increase the number of wetlands that will be protected under Vermont law, state officials said. The bill, H.447, will require inaccurate state wetlands maps to be updated and will mandate better protections for wetlands. Vermont's Water Resources Panel began addressing wetlands classification after a 2006 state Supreme Court ruling on the reclassification of the Lake Bomoseen wetland. The court decision was used as a catalyst to change state wetland protection laws that left some wetlands unprotected because they were not included on state wetland maps, state officials said. For full story, go to: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090416/NEWS03/90416012

MO: Kansas Wetlands Education Center Grand Opening Kansas City Info Zine – April 16, 2009 The Kansas Wetlands Education Center has something to show you. The eagerly-anticipated interpretive center at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area will officially open for visitors during its grand opening at 3 p.m. Friday, April 24. The new facility’s opening culminates several years of collaboration among a variety of partners. It also marks an important milestone in the rich history of Cheyenne Bottoms, providing the means to illuminate that history and enlighten visitors about the unique value of Cheyenne Bottoms, nearby Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, and all Kansas wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/35372/

VA: Chesapeake Bay again gets a D on report card By Scott Harper - The Virginian-Pilot – April 16, 2009 The scant progress made in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay has become "a national disgrace," the head of a leading environmental group said Wednesday. William C. Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, offered his blunt assessment in releasing the annual "State of the Bay" report card, which grades the overall health of the Bay based on various factors. For 2008, the foundation gave the Bay a combined score of 28 on a scale of 1 to 100. In classroom terms, that equates to a D, the same grade as in 2007 and just one point higher than what the foundation first reported, in 1998. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/04/chesapeakce-bay-again-gets-d-report-card

CA: Wetland Parks Bring Nature Back to South Los Angeles By Chico Norwood – April 16, 2009 South Los Angeles is home to one wetland and is poised for another. In May, which is American Wetlands Month, the city will break ground on the second wetland for the area — the South Los Angeles Wetland Park at 5413 S. Avalon Blvd. In addition to the groundbreaking, the event will include a community open house where residents will have the opportunity to view renderings of the proposed project. For full story, go to: http://www.lawattstimes.com/component/content/article/52-featured/633-wetland-parks-bring-nature-back-to-south-los-angeles.html

MN: Ramsey buffer ordinance on the road to repeal By Tammy Sakry – ABC Newspapers – April 15, 2009 Although it has yet to be tested, Ramsey’s wetland buffer ordinance appears to be on the way out. The Ramsey City Council April 14 voted 4-3 to introduce the repeal of the 2005 ordinance. Councilmembers David Elvig, David Jeffrey and Jeff Wise voted against the repeal. The 2005 ordinance requires new development to have wetland buffers, ranging from five to 50 feet depending on the quality of the wetland, and limits activities, such as building structures and mowing, in the buffer area. For full story, go to: http://abcnewspapers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6905&Itemid=26

MO: Facing floods, group sees buffer in wetland By Aaron Sudholt – St. Louis Post-Dispatch – April 15, 2009 A deal to keep a portion of swampland along Horseshoe Lake Road near Collinsville and Pontoon Beach could help protect the area from flooding, officials said this week. Mascoutah-based Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation and Development on Tuesday purchased about 86 acres of land near the northwestern corner of Horseshoe Lake and Arlington roads in Pontoon Beach. For full story, go to: http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/04/16/madison/news/0415cvj-wetlands.txt

CT: $1.5M in stimulus goes to restoring wetlands z By Judy Benson – The Day – April 14, 2009 About $1.5 million in federal stimulus money will be used to restore 900 acres of degraded wetlands in the lower Connecticut River, Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced Monday. The project, which would help restore tidal wetlands and two acres of barrier beach in Chester, East Haddam, Essex, Haddam, Old Lyme, Lyme and Old Saybrook, would benefit fish and shorebirds, control invasive plants such as phragmites and purple loosestrife, remove debris, enhance beaches and create pools, the governor's office said in a news release. The state will contribute $400,000 in matching funds for the project. For full story, go to: http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=9b8a4a76-0803-42c6-9926-ebc5701ee94e

FL: Editorial: Digging below the surface Editorial staff – TC Palm – April 14, 2009 Call it the dumbing down of "environmental protection." A bill filed under this heading is winding its way through the 2009 Florida Legislature. There's just one problem: House Bill 1349 would severely undermine the protection of Florida's wetlands. In their frenetic rush to jump-start the state's ailing economy, lawmakers have proposed several bills that would relax environmental regulations and make it easier for developers to move forward with projects. http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/apr/14/digging-below-the-03/?feedback=1#comments

LA: Louisiana Begins Wetland Repair with Mississippi River Sediment ENS – April 14, 2009 The first project in state history designed to mine sediments from the Mississippi River and transport them by pipeline to rebuild eroding coastal wetlands was announced today by Governor Bobby Jindal. The $28.3 million project, known as The Mississippi River Sediment Delivery System at Bayou Dupont, will build and restore nearly 500 acres of marsh in Lower Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes using sediment from the Mississippi River. Governor Jindal said, "The Bayou Dupont Project breaks new ground for coastal restoration in our state because it is the first time we have carried out a project to transport sediments from the Mississippi River through a pipeline to build wetlands outside the river's levees." For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2009/2009-04-14-093.asp

MI: GIBRALTAR: Ceremony to commemorate 358 acres of coastal wetlands By Francesca Chilargi – Southgate News Herald – April 14, 2009 One of the last coastal wetlands in Wayne County surrounds Carlson High School. A ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the high school, 30550 W. Jefferson Ave., will commemorate that 358 acres of coastal wetlands as it is donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Waste Management will hand over the deed to the property at the ceremony. The wetlands are adjacent to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and now will become part of it. “We’re going to protect it for wildlife and make improvements for wildlife,” said John Hartig, manager of the wildlife refuge. “We’ll use it as a living laboratory for Gibraltar students.” For full story, visit: http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2009/04/14/news/doc49e4deaf9bd6d504551957.txt

CA: An unpretty wetlands project Long Beach Press-Telegram – April 14, 2009 Long Beach taxpayers and environmentalists (usually, but not always the same people) are being treated to an up-close look at how to put wetlands into public ownership. It's a lot like making sausage. The land in question is a miserably unsightly little oil patch that ought to be cleaned up whether or not it had wetlands potential, which it does. The city's intent is to trade some surplus land, a 12.1-acre public service yard, for the 33.77-acre parcel, and later, when (or if) the state is in better financial shape, sell it for its approximate value, or about $8 million. For full story, go to: http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_12136445

MT: Montana to Washington: 'Hands off our water' World Net Daily – April 13, 2009 It's called the Clean Water Restoration Act. Sounds innocuous enough. After all, who could oppose clean water? But the bill introduced earlier this month by Sen. Russ Feingold and 23 co-sponsors, ostensibly to protect Americas wetlands, lakes and streams, was running into opposition even before hearings begin. The Montana Senate overwhelmingly voted to oppose the legislation because it removes control of all of the state's waterways, including temporary ones like seasonal ponds and swamps, from local officials to those in Washington. For full story, go to: http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=94890

ECOS Succeeds in Overturning NPDES Voluntary Permit Fee Rule By Lee Garrigan – (Reprinted with permission) – ECOSWire – April 10, 2009 ECOS won a major victory this week when the U.S. EPA on April 9, signed the withdrawal of the NPDES Voluntary Permit Fee Incentive for Clean Water Act Section 106 (S106) Grants; Allotment Formula rule. The ECOS Water Committee ranked the withdrawal of the rule as its top priority in communications with the Obama transition team in 2008. ECOS actively opposed the rule since the concept first surfaced in legislative language in 2006. ECOS passed Resolution Number 07-3: ECOS Opposition to Set-Asides of Water Quality Program Funding, provided comments to the EPA docket (Proposed NPDES Permit Fee Rule, March 2, 2007 Letter to USEPA), and sent letters to the EPA leadership (Letter Asking for Withdrawal of Proposed Permit Fees Rule; ECOS Letter to Assistant Administrator Grumbles Re: NPDES Permit Fee Incentive Rule). The Agency issued the rule on September 10, 2008 and began to write guidance. EPA subsequently reconsidered its approach based on concerns raised by the affected states. The rule would have provided a “monetary incentive” for States to implement “adequate” NPDES fee programs. Any funds that would have been used for incentive purposes will instead be allocated to states under an existing grant formula. Read the Federal Register Notice - Withdrawal of NPDES Voluntary Permit Fee Incentive Rule (PDF)

LA: PPG plans to restore the wetlands By Charlie Bartlett – KPLC News – April 9, 2009 PPG is looking to start another project promoting restoration and it's the final phase of their various projects. From the canal re-route project to the wetlands project, PPG is looking to create twenty acres of wetlands right by the Interstate 210 Bridge. "It offers an opportunity to the public to see coastal restoration happening right under the 210 bridge," said Mike Huber. "All dredge material in Louisiana should be used beneficially. This is a highly visible project that will enable us to show as a model project," said David Richard. For full story, go to: http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10160818&nav=menu66_2

RI: Consultant: Dowling Village may endanger wetlands By Joseph Fitzgerald – Woonsocket Call – April 9, 2009 The environmental engineering firm hired by the town to conduct a peer review of the proposed Dowling Village, said while the mixed commercial, office and residential development as proposed by project developer, Bucci Development, complies in general with the state's stormwater regulations, it does not appear to be protective of nearby wetland resources, potential additional impairment of the Blackstone River Watershed and the diversity of dragonflies and other species of Odonata at Booth Pond. For full story, go to: http://www.woonsocketcall.com/content/view/80525/112/

OH: Judge rules for developer in wetland case By Steve Bennish – Dayton Daily News – April 9, 2009 A Dayton municipal judge has ruled against the Ohio attorney general in the high profile case of a developer accused criminally of bulldozing an exceptionally high-quality wetland surrounded by woods along Harshman Road for a commercial strip in 2006. Under Ohio law, developers need special permits to do work that affects natural water resources, including wetlands. The Ohio EPA had issued no such permit. For full story, go to: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/judge-rules-for-developer-in-wetland-case-76785.html

NM: Wetlands face threats, but have backers By Sue Major Holmes – Examiner – April 4, 2009 It's one of those unintended consequences: People who came to the arid Southwest didn't mean to destroy wetlands, but that's what happened as they drained swamps for farmland and dammed rivers for flood control, water storage and recreation. "Water is such a scarce resource in New Mexico that whatever use one makes of it affects the other uses," said Steve Cary, natural resource planner for New Mexico State Parks. For full story, go to: http://www.examiner.com/a-1943722~Wetlands_face_threats__but_have_backers.html

IA: Environment greatly influences decisions in siting wind turbines By Michael Tidemann – Estherville Daily News – April 4, 2009 There's a certain irony in it. While wind turbines are one of our country's best answers to energy independence and preserving the environment, siting wind turbines often presents environmental challenges. Joe Rubino, senior environmental scientist with Stanley Consultants Inc., discussed environmental issues during turbine siting with members of the Iowa Wind Energy Association Thursday at Iowa Lakes Community College. Rubino said developers need to look at tens of thousands of acres to determine where turbines can be sited. That could amount to areas as large as 25-50 square miles. Rubino said factors to consider include wetlands, cultural assessments, threatened and endangered species, impacts on birds and bats and Federal Aviation Administration determinations. For full story, go to: http://www.esthervilledailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/503098.html?nav=5003

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March

FL: Local Wetlands Protections Essential

By Jadell Kerr, et. al. – Tampa Tribune – March 31, 2009 In the article "Wetlands Division A Redundancy," Tampa Tribune, March 21, Keith Bricklemyer lays out a case against the Environmental Protection Commission's wetlands protection program, stating there is no documentation of facts showing the program's success. The "absence" of these facts causes Bricklemyer to infer that the longevity of EPC's program is fueled by long-term emotional rhetoric. Our guess is, since the "facts" contained in Bricklemyer's article are, at best, misleading and mostly incorrect, that he himself has been overcome by emotion. Bricklemyer is a local land use attorney with ties to the Tampa Bay Builders Association, an organization that has battled bitterly against the EPC in attempts to reduce governmental oversight of development in Hillsborough County. Bricklemyer is not speaking from the perspective of a tax watch group interested in protecting tax revenues. If so, he would understand that the state and water management districts have significant budgets compared to the nominal costs of the EPC's local wetlands program. For full story, go to: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/31/na-local-wetlands-protections-essential/

OH: 2009 Coastweeks Will Honor Ohio’s Valuable Coastal Resources

Ohio Lake Erie Commission – March 27, 2009 Ohio is preparing for its annual celebration of Lake Erie’s diverse coastal region and the cultural and economic resources that contribute to the quality of life and vitality of the region. The 2009 Coastweeks observance will focus on the preservation and protection of Lake Erie and its watershed through a variety of cleanup events along the shoreline and throughout its watershed. Ohio's program focuses on the theme, "I Can Help Lake Erie.” It encourages people to recognize and advocate resource protection while balancing economic, cultural and environmental interests. “Lake Erie has influenced the growth of Ohio through productive agricultural lands, industries, international harbors and as a recreational destination,” said Ed Hammett. “Taking part in a Coastweeks cleanup is a great way for those who benefit from the lake to give back.” This year, Ohioans will demonstrate their commitment to clean, safe beaches and waterways on September 19, International Coastal Cleanup Day. The Ohio Lake Erie Commission coordinates the state’s observance, which allows thousands of Ohioans to find solutions for litter that pollutes beaches, streams and tributaries. Environmental organizations, schools, scout groups, clubs, community groups and individuals throughout Ohio’s Lake Erie watershed are encouraged to get involved in this year’s Coastweeks by organizing an event. For more information, visit: http://www.lakeerie.ohio.gov/Coastweeks.aspx

FL: Bill to ease wetlands development advances in Florida House

By Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite – Miami Herald – March 22, 2009 A bill that would drastically limit the state's ability to protect wetlands from destruction has passed a legislative committee. The bill says that anyone who wants to destroy a wetland simply needs to turn in an application that has been ``prepared and signed by . . . scientists, engineers, geologists, architects or other licensed professionals.'' As long as the application is filled out properly and signed by a licensed professional, who certifies the wetland destruction won't lead to water pollution problems, it ''shall be presumed to comply'' with the law and must be approved. The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee approved the bill Thursday. HB 1349 is not yet available online. For complete article, go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/962019.html For a related (and opposite opinion) go to: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/21/co-wetlands-division-a-redundancy/ (check comments as well) For related story, go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wetlands/article985783.ece

NC: Scoopers, coveting the swamps

By Steve Ford – The News & Observer – March 22, 2009 When The N&O's editor at the time, Claude Sitton, interviewed me on July 4, 1981, for a newsroom editing job, there were three topics of discussion that still stick in my mind. One had to do with my understanding of a newspaper's responsibilities. A second involved the paper's coverage of a certain conservative U.S. senator, mild-mannered and tolerant fellow that he was. And the third focused on a huge strip-mining operation down along the Pamlico River. I had spent the previous couple of years working for an environmental agency closely focused on water quality, so I was on Claude's wave length as he expounded on the ecological hazards of digging through the Beaufort County forests and swamps hard by a sensitive, vitally important waterway. The TexasGulf phosphate mine, as it then was known, had been up and running since the mid-1960s, but was looking to expand so fresh ore could be recovered as old areas were mined out. For full story, go to: http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/columns/story/1452288.html

MS: Public Meetings to be Held Regarding 15-year Management Plan for Bogue Chitto

Contact: Daniel Breaux – Picayune Item / US FWS News Release – March 21, 2009 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is starting work on a long-term management plan for Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. A Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) will be developed, which is a practical guide for managing the Refuge over the next 15 years. Established in 1981, Bogue Chitto NWR is one of eight refuges managed as part of the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex. The 37,600 acre refuge is bisected by the Pearl River with portions of the refuge located in Saint Tammany and Washington Parishes in Louisiana and Pear River County in Mississippi. The refuge is bounded, on the Mississippi side of the river, by Old River WMA to the north and to the south, on the Louisiana side, by Pearl River WMA thereby forming an 88,000 acre block of protected forested wetlands and adjacent uplands within the Pearl River basin. For full press release, go to: http://www.picayuneitem.com/local/local_story_080164609.html

LA: Coastal restoration advocate King Milling wins T-P Loving Cup

By John Pope - The Times-Picayune – March 21, 2009 About a decade ago, R. King Milling had a meeting that changed his life. As the president of Whitney National Bank and the member of countless commissions and boards, he already had plenty on his plate. But three environmentalists, including a prep school classmate, wanted Milling's advice on getting support from the business community for saving Louisiana's coast, a topic that had first grabbed Milling's attention during his years of hunting in Louisiana's marshland. Midway through their pitch, Milling cut them off. For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/coastal_restoration_advocate_k.html

IL: Committee would oversee Prairie Green preserve

By Steve Lord – St. Charles Sun – March 21, 2009 In the next several months, the city of Geneva will create a citizen's advisory committee to oversee the Prairie Green preserve and wetlands west of the city. The 400-acre preserve, created by referendum several years ago, runs along the western edge of Peck Road, beginning near the intersection with Bricher Road. It was created to be open space on the western edge of the city, with a number of public uses, as well as money-making opportunities for the city. The city has a comprehensive plan for the preserve listing uses such as trails, ponds, community gardens, park and picnic sites, as well as other uses. For full story, go to: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/stcharlessun/news/ 1488474,2_1_AU21_PRAIRIE_S1.article

CA: Sensing `disaster'

By Joe Segura – Contra Costa Times – March 20, 2009 City Manager Pat West halted heavy earth movers Friday from spreading a mound of asphalt apparently meant to pave a section of just cleared habitat near Los Cerritos Wetlands. Environmentalists were up in arms over the work at the site - recently sold to a new owner - near the southwest corner of Studebaker Road and Loynes Drive. "Why is the city letting this illegal stuff happen?" asked Elizabeth Lambe, executive director of Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust. The property reportedly was sold to Signal Hill-based 2H Construction, but company president Sean Hitchcock could not be reached for comment Friday. West said he met briefly with Hitchcock at the site Friday, advising him that permits - both from the city and the state Coastal Commission - were required. For full story, go to: http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_11964187?nclick_check=1

VA: Three Miles of Blackwater River Frontage Protected

The Nature Conservancy Press Release – March 19, 2009 The Nature Conservancy in Virginia and Conservation Forestry, LLC announced today the protection of 416 forested acres along the Blackwater River in Southampton County. The property is home to a wide diversity of plants and wildlife, including bald eagles, and has been identified by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation as an area of “outstanding ecological significance.” The project was aided by the North American Wetlands Act. For full story, visit: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/virginia/press/ press3945.html

MI: Michigan DEQ and Saginaw County drain commissioner at odds over drains

By Barrie Barber – Saginaw News – March 19, 2009 The state Department of Environmental Quality is investigating Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner James A. Koski's decision two years ago to move a county drain on Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. land without a permit, a DEQ spokesman says. Koski said he the state's drain code and Michigan Inland Lakes and Streams Act gave him authority to relocate or fill in portions of two open ditches, the more-than-century-old Fisher and McClelland Run drains. For full story, go to: http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2009/03/ michigan_deq_and_saginaw_count.html

CA: Editorial: Water, Water Everywhere

By Dave Quick – Santa Monica Mirror – March 14, 2009 A visitor to Santa Monica from Mars might be a bit miffed to learn of Governor Schwarzenegger's February 27 declaration of a statewide drought emergency. “Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best,” stated California water resources director Lester Snow (it really is Lester's surname!) in support of the declaration. Our E.T. from the Red Planet scratches his/her/its head(s). After all, our burg-by-the-bay hugs the largest known body of water in the universe - the Pacific Ocean. Looking west from Santa Monica there is water, water everywhere as far as the eye can see. Water all the way to Tokyo. Or for that matter, a visitor from Algeria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Tampa Bay or even Carlsbad CA might wonder about the governor's drought. There are over 13,000 desalination (“desal”) plants up and running worldwide. It has become mainstream technology. For full editorial, visit: http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=9760

CT: Wetlands Tables Action on Town's Application

By Jaimie Cura – Voices – March 14, 2009 Inland Wetlands Agency Chairman Mary Tyrrell recommended tabling discussion on the town and Park and Recreation Department application for Strong Meadow Preserve because an executive session requested by agency member Marty Newell had yet to take place. No action was taken on the application for a recreation area at Strong Meadow Preserve on Middle Road Turnpike, at the agency's Monday, March 9, meeting. For full story, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20280013&BRD= 1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6

MO: Secretary Salazar Announces Nearly $1 Million for Wetlands Grant in Missouri

Kansas City Infozine – March 13, 2009 The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, recently approved a $999,570 grant under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) for wetland restoration and enhancement in the Confluence Region of Missouri. For full story, go to: http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/34654/

NH: Conservation housing project OK'd by board

By Tamara Le – Portsmouth Herald News – March 13 th, 2009 The Planning Board voted unanimously approved the Rocky Ledge Conservation subdivision Thursday with 10 conditions including taking jurisdiction. Among the 10 conditions was the pending approval of the Conservation District implementation by North Hampton voters. Additionally, the construction of an eight-foot asphalt apron at the entrance near 142 Mill Road and receipt of a private road waiver from the town's Select Board are also needed. For full story, go to: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090313-NEWS-903130374

LA: Wetlands Reserve Program sign up deadline March 25

Town Talk – March 13, 2009 Through the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) Louisiana landowners interested in restoring or enhancing wetlands can receive funding for doing so. Landowners interested in signing-up for WRP should have their applications into their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Office by close of business on March 25, according to a news release. USDA’s NRCS administers WRP and has field offices throughout the state to help landowners with the application process. WRP is a national program authorized under the Farm Bill to assist eligible applicants in the restoration, creation, protection and enhancement of wetlands on their property through a voluntary, environmentally safe and cost-effective manner. For full story, go to: http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090313/BUSINESS/90312015

TX: Court upholds effort to create wetlands refuge in Texas

Houston Chronicle – March 13, 2009 A federal appeals court has upheld the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts to create a national refuge on 25,000 acres of forested wetlasnds along the Neches River that Dallas had targeted for a major reservoir. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling Thursday, in essence, blocked plans that called for taming one of the state’s wildest rivers to meet the city’s burgeoning thirst. A lower court previously rejected most of the lawsuit from Dallas and the Texas Water Development Board against the federal agency. For full story, go to: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6310272.html

MT:NW Montana wetlands project to get $6.6 million

Associated Press – March 13, 2009 Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar says a northwestern Montana wetlands and wildlife habitat conservation project will receive $6.6 million. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by Salazar, approved funding for the Glaciated Valleys of Northwest Montana Project. Salazar said Thursday the project will receive a $1 million grant, $2.8 million in matching funds, and $2.8 million in non-matching funds. For full story, go to: http://www.kpax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10004499

NY: The Nature Conservancy on Long Island Addresses Global Warming

The Nature Conservancy Press Release – March 12, 2009 The Nature Conservancy is taking a two-pronged approach to addressing global warming and sea-level rise on Long Island. Through its work to measure the anticipated sea level rise and assess whether our environment will adapt to the rising seas, the Conservancy is leading the charge in preparing for these threats. “Scientists tell us that sea levels will rise by as much as four feet by the end of this century,” said Sarah Newkirk, coastal team leader for The Nature Conservancy on Long Island. “Long Island’s shores have some of the most highly developed lands in the coastal zone. Rising seas will impact both people and nature, causing flooding in coastal communities, heightened storm surges, and drowning of wetlands and other natural habitats.” For full story, go to: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newyork/press/ press3937.html

RI: D’Ambra Construction wants federal permission to fill a wetlands in Johnston

By Mark Reynolds – Providence Journal – March 12, 2009 A developer has proposed filling a wetlands area to make way for an asphalt and concrete production facility, a federal regulator said yesterday. Michael V. D’Ambra’s site plan calls for filling an acre of wetlands and developing a marsh in the new industrial park near the state’s Central Landfill. The wetlands plan is part of an effort to relocate an asphalt and concrete operation from Warwick, where D’Ambra has proposed a 320-room hotel and office buildings. For full story, go to: http://www.projo.com/news/content/JOHNSTON_ASPHALT_PROJECT_03-12-09_SIDL0SC_v52.37869f1.html

NC: Environmental Protections Must be Upheld as Mining Expands

Southern Environmental Law Center – March 12, 2009 A permit issued by the N.C. Division of Water Quality illegally approves the largest destruction of wetlands in the state’s history by PCS Phosphate, according to papers filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center today in state administrative court. The permit presumes the state will write new rules that accommodate the company’s ambitions. For full press release, go to: http://www.pitchengine.com/southernenvironmentallawcenter/ environmental-protections-must-be-upheld-as-mining-expands/6288/

TX: Judge’s redo order could halt Isle development

By Harvey Rice – Houston Chronicle – March 11, 2009 A federal judge Wednesday ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to redo an environmental assessment of a housing development on Galveston Island, a ruling an attorney says could potentially halt all development on the island’s west end. The order from U.S. District Judge Sim Lake of Houston said the Corps failed to explain why it concluded that the proposed Anchor Bay Ltd. development was environmentally acceptable. Lake said in his order that the Corps predicted damage to wetlands and animal habitat, then inexplicably said that the development would have little environmental effect. For full story, go to: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6306399.html

FL: Federal money to come for Everglades restoration

MSNBC – Associated Press – March 11, 2009 Everglades restoration will get a boost with the $410 billion spending package signed by President Barack Obama. The president signed the bill on Wednesday, clearing the way for nearly $200 million to be spent largely on projects aimed at helping heal the dying ecosystem. The vast wetlands and marshes have long suffered from encroaching development and agriculture that contributes fertilizers and pollutants to the ecosystem. Efforts to restore more natural water flow in the Everglades have been ongoing for decades. For a link to this story, go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29642618/

CA: San Francisco Bay vulnerable to rising waters

By Mike Taugher – Mercury News – March 11, 2009 Rising seas threaten $100 billion worth of property in California, two-thirds of which is in the San Francisco Bay Area, researchers have found. No part of the Bay Area's lowlands are safe from sea level rise: San Francisco's Embarcadero and parts of Oakland, Alameda, Sausalito and Alviso could all be under water in the event of a major flood unless levees or other protective structures are built. San Mateo County, including Foster City and Redwood City, could be especially hard hit, while San Francisco and Oakland's airports might both be inundated. For full story, go to: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11890762?source=most_emailed

LA: Clay Center film takes close look at wetlands of Louisiana

By Monica Orosz – Charleston Daily Mail – March 5, 2009 Greg MacGillivray began shooting the story of Louisiana's declining wetlands to sound alarm bells. The director and producer wanted to show that because of wetland destruction, a hypothetical hurricane could lead to a disastrous flood for the Gulf Coast city of New Orleans. As it turns out, the project he began shooting in early 2005 didn't need any hypotheticals. In August of that year, Hurricane Katrina unleashed its wrath on the city. And MacGillivray's filming team went from shooting what could happen to documenting what did happen. For full story, visit: http://www.dailymail.com/entertainment/200903040238

NY: Hearing on wetlands law scheduled

By Janine Stankus – Poughkeepsie Journal – March 5, 2009 Town residents will get a chance to voice their opinion again on a local ordinance to protect wetlands and watercourses within the Town of Washington at a public hearing next week. “Water and ecology are very important to human existence," said Michael Murphy, chairman of the committee in charge of drafting the legislation. He pointed out that several wetlands in Washington contribute to the village water source, and their quality must therefore be maintained. For full story, visit: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090305/NEWS01/903050309/ 1006/news01

VA: Locality Considers Becoming Wetland

ABC TV – March 5, 2009 South Boston is looking 20 years into the future, but what they see is causing some controversy. The town is updating its comprehensive plan, and one of their visions is to possibly transform Riverdale into a Green Wetlands park.  Business owners in Riverdale are worried they'll have to move. What is unique about Riverdale is that it’s in a flood prone area, so relocation has been on the table for years now. Still owners say it's not right for the town to tell them what to do with their businesses. Bunny Propst has owned property in Riverdale for decades. So, when she found out the town's future plans might not include her business staying where it is, she was furious. For full story, go to: http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0309/600933.html

MI: Analysis says Mich. wetlands could be vulnerable

Associated Press – March 4, 2009 An analysis by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality says dismantling the state's wetland protection program could leave nearly 1 million acres of wetlands without legal protection. The analysis was made public Wednesday by an environmental watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has suggested dropping the state program and transferring regulation of Michigan's wetlands to the federal government to save $2.1 million a year. For full story, go to: http://www.fox28.com/Global/story.asp?S=9947267

VA: Flood-prone tracts returning to nature?

By Cory Nealon – Newport News Daily Press – March 1, 2009 Since 2005, Gloucester County has acquired 60.4 acres of flood-prone properties around Guinea. It's now deciding what to do with the land, which was devastated in 2003 by Hurricane Isabel and a series of tropical storms that followed. Last month, the county Planning Commission recommended leaving the lion's share in its natural state. "A lot of it is small parcels that used to be homes," said Anne Ducey-Ortiz, director of the Planning Department. "We'll let most of them go back to being a swamp because that's what they were before." It's a cost-effective and environmentally sound decision, Duecy-Ortiz said, because the land would require little maintenance that could be performed by the sheriff's office work-release crew and county employees. For full story, go to: http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/middlepeninsula/dp-local_glofema_0301mar01,0,1925012.story

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FEBRUARY 2009

WA: Petition attempts to stop 244th

Sammamish Review – February 23, 2009 Water squished under Ron Cornwall’s shoes as he navigated his spongy backyard with his 10-year-old golden retriever Clyde. He cast his hand over Allen Lake and described a summer afternoon when he saw the bushes across the lake shimmying. He was fishing at the time with a friend. “This bear came cruising across, going after some geese. My buddy and I, our jaws dropped,” Cornwall said. His backyard is privy to other fauna as well: bald eagles, deer, bobcats, trout, bass and catfish, according to Cornwall. For him and his neighbors, the majesty of Allen Lake is worth fighting for, even if it means taking on a city and a road project planned for decades. For full story, go to: http://sammamishreview.com/2009/02/23/petition-attempts-to-stop-244th

Legislators envision less regulation as salve for Florida's economy

By Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite – St. Petersburg Times – February 17, 2009 Florida legislative leaders want to make it easier to get permits to destroy wetlands, tap the water supply and wipe out endangered species habitat, all in the interest of building houses, stores and offices. They say streamlining the permitting process will get the economy moving again. "We've got to get permits going and flowing," said Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers. "We need to make some incentives for people to revitalize our economy." But opponents, ranging from Audubon of Florida to the Florida League of Cities, say making permits easier to get ultimately would hurt the economy and the environment. For full article, go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/article976378.ece

NJ: The Green Govs

By Fran Wood – The Star-Ledger – February 17, 2009 It isn't often people say nice things about New Jersey's governors. But when it comes to protecting the environment, they deserve some praise. Jersey's concern for the environment and the protection of its natural resources dates to 1755, when the state's then British-run government enacted a law prohibiting the disposal of trash in state waterways. Beginning in 1961, residents of the nation's most crowded state have voted consistently to make land preservation a top public priority. Toward that end, most of the state's governors since that time have left their own green footprints. For full story, go to: http://www.nj.com/insidejersey/index.ssf/2009/02/the_green_govs.html

NY: Ex-employee wants to discuss wetlands controversy with Rye council

By Theresa Juva – Lower Hudson Journal News – February 17, 2009 A former city naturalist who said last week that the city manager knew officials had made a mistake in not protecting a resident's wetland says she is willing to meet with the City Council. "I would think they would want to hear all sides," said Chantal Detlefs, whose responsibilities included reviewing wetlands applications. "If they don't, then it's very sad." For full story, visit: http://lohud.com/article/20090217/NEWS02/902170361/-1/newsfront

HI: State Takes Over Kawainui Marsh Management

KITV-TV – February 17, 2009 Monday was World Wetlands Day. This year's theme is "Mauka to Makai; The wetlands connect us all." In Hawaii, the wetlands play an important role. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources division of Forestry and Wildlife officially took over management of the Kawainui Hamakua Marsh on Monday. Most wetlands are in coastal areas and nearly all can be vulnerable to development and runoff. The wetlands also face [sic] not to mention invasive weeds and predators. For full story, go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29227392/

Obama Signs $787 Billion Economic Stimulus Bill

By William Branigin – Washington Post – February 17, 2009 President Obama today signed into law a $787 billion economic stimulus plan that he said begins "the essential work of keeping the American dream alive in our time." In a speech and signing ceremony in Denver, Obama said the new law is aimed at creating millions of jobs and halting the U.S. economy's downward spiral. Obama signed the massive, nearly 1,100-page American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, a setting intended to underscore the new law's role in creating clean-energy jobs. Before the signing, the president toured a solar panel installation on the museum's roof. For full story, go to:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/17/ AR2009021700221.html?hpid=topnews For a direct link to the bill, HR1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app09.html#h1 If that link does not work, visit: www.thomas.gov and it should be highlighted at the top of the webpage. For a summary of the Stimulus bill, go to: http://www.wildlifemanagementinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=335:stimulus-bill&catid=34:ONB%20Articles&Itemid=54 For related stories, go to: http://www.wef.org/GovernmentAffairs/StimulusFunding/https:// www.landtrustalliance.org/policy/advocates/adv-021309

TX: San Benito turns sewer ponds into wetlands

By Fernando del Valle – The Monitor – February 16, 2009 The city is ready to turn some of its old sewer ponds into a wetland area and wildlife sanctuary, officials said Monday. The city has turned over plans for the 20-acre project to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, city engineer Orlando Cruz said. State officials are expected to approve plans next month before the city solicits bids for the $700,000 constrction project, said Martha McClain, the city's director of community affairs. The TCEQ is picking up the tab. For full story, go to: http://www.themonitor.com/articles/city_23302___article.html/sewer_plant.html

SC: SRS taking care with environmental impact

Aiken Standard – February 16, 2009 Fragile ecosystems and wetlands provide the Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) a unique opportunity to incorporate a simple yet effective means of groundwater monitoring, soil sampling and educational training to college interns. A method called hand auguring is being used in 16 shallow wells along the waterways in R Area, one of five areas at SRS that for decades were home to operating production reactors. Hand auguring is a minimally invasive means of groundwater sampling that is designed to protect the wetlands and wildlife that frequent the area. It consists of manually inserting drill rods into the subsurface in small increments, to allow the testing of subsurface soils, until the maximum depth is achieved. Once auguring is complete, engineers are able to install a well and sample the groundwater for contaminants and monitor the progress of natural attenuation. For full story, go to: http://www.aikenstandard.com/Local/0213SRSMonitoring

CA: Birders head to Siskiyou wetlands to see eagles

By Carolyn Jones – San Francisco Chronicle – February 16, 2009 It was twilight at Laird's Landing, a barren, lonely ranch 20 miles from the nearest town, when bald eagles began swooping over the tundra to perch in a leafless clump of cottonwoods. Before the full moon inched over a treeless ridge in the distance, more than 40 of the regal raptors had arrived for their nightly roost. Sometimes, the trees hold 130 or more. For full story, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/15/MNED15S4VJ.DTL

CA: A wetlands rescue

Long Beach Press Telegram – February 14, 2009 A lot of hope has been built into this transaction. It was a roundabout way toward restoring wetlands, and taxpayers will never be sure if they got them at the right price. But at least they got them. The prize consists of some sorry-looking, oily lowlands that have little commercial value because part of the 33.77-acre parcel is legally undevelopable. We don't even know exactly which part, which means we don't know exactly what it's worth. The city of Long Beach soon will acquire the parcel in a no-cash trade for some of its own property, a 12.1-acre Public Service Yard alongside the L.A. River. We're not sure how much that land is worth, either, partly because of deflating property values. For full story, go to: http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_11708254

VA: Deal near to regulate pools by Chesapeake Bay

By Deirdre Fernandes - The Virginian-Pilot - February 12, 2009 City and state officials are close to a compromise on how to regulate swimming pools along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Under the proposal, Virginia Beach would concede that swimming pools are impervious surfaces that prevent stormwater from filtering into the ground. The city would also create more consistent guidelines for what property owners must do to reduce runoff if they want to build pools, driveways and sheds. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/02/deal-near-regulate-pools-chesapeake-bay-waters

IL: Canoeing one of Illinois' greatest wetlands

Midwest AgNet – February 11, 2009 Eric Schenck was rooted in the present once again, his Alumacraft canoe firmly strapped to the roof of his Ford Explorer after 3½ hours of paddling through one of the last great expanses of wetland wilderness in central Illinois. Physically, Sanganois State Conservation Area is 10,000 acres of slough, marsh, lake and wetland - terrain much like the geography up and down the Illinois River 100 years ago. Emotionally and intellectually, Schenck has concluded, the swamp represents much more and touches upon something deep in our genetic makeup. For full story, go to: http://www.midwestagnet.com/Global/story.asp?S=9829372&nav=menu1585_7

OH: Ohio's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 14 th Annual National Awards Program

Contact: Harold Banks – Business Wire – February 10, 2009 Benjamin McMullen, 14, of Chesterland and Beatrice Thaman, 12, of Toledo today were named Ohio's top two youth volunteers for 2009 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. […] Benjamin, a freshman at West Geauga High School, has raised money and recruited volunteers in an ambitious effort to preserve wetlands in Ohio and protect their animal inhabitants. “Ever since I was a little kid, I have been watching bubbles made by insects on the surface of ponds, and turning over rocks to explore the hidden world underneath,” said Benjamin. One day, he joined a bird walk at a local preserve and learned about wetlands. “Ohio has lost 90 percent of its wetlands to development and farming, so I knew something had to be done soon to stop their further destruction,” he said. For full story, go to: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId= 20090210005119&newsLang=en

MN: Proposals pour in for spending on prairies, wetlands

By Doug Smith – Minneapolis Star Tribune – February 9, 2009 The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council received proposals for $95 million in projects to restore, enhance or protect wetland and prairie habitat on Monday -- far exceeding the amount of expected revenue over the next year from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment approved by voters last fall. For full story, go to: http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/39345417.html?elr= KArksi8cyaiUeyD8_o8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

IA: State seeks more wetlands to fight pollution runoff

By Phillip Brasher – Des Moines Register – February 8, 2009 State agriculture officials think they have the solution to the pollution problems caused by water that drains off the state's farms: Drain the water faster. Shallow ponds like the one created with federal money on a Dallas County farm can destroy much of the pollution that runs off neighboring corn fields and eventually into Des Moines-area water supplies and on to the Gulf of Mexico. For full story, go to: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090208/NEWS/902080334/-1/LIFE04

IN: Surveyor charged in lake-draining

By Becky Manley – Fort Wayne Journal Gazette – February 5, 2009 Two misdemeanor charges were filed Tuesday against the Steuben County surveyor who officials say partly drained a DeKalb County lake last year. The charges filed in DeKalb County Superior Court against Larry K. Gilbert, 50, each relate to excavation work he ordered at Terry Lake last summer, according to the DeKalb County Prosecutor's Office. He is charged with altering a dam, spillway or outlet to a lake, according to the prosecutor's office. He is also charged with digging a ditch that cut into a freshwater lake without a dam to protect the water level. A hearing has been set for Feb. 20. For full story, go to: http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090205/ LOCAL/302059928/1002

Granholm wants feds to regulate Mich. Wetlands

By John Flesher – Chicago Tribune – February 3, 2009 Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Tuesday recommended scrapping Michigan 's wetland protection law and transferring wetland regulation in the state to the federal government. The Democratic governor announced the plan in her State of the State address, drawing mixed reviews from business and environmental interests. Michigan has operated a separate wetland program since 1984, the only state to do so except New Jersey . If Granholm's proposal wins legislative approval, businesses and property owners wanting to fill or otherwise degrade wetlands for development will seek permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office in Detroit instead of from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. For full story, go to: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-stateofthestate-w,0,5677748.story For an editorial on this subject, go to: http://www.freep.com/article/20090209/OPINION01/902090309

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JANUARY 2009

Mayor Bloomberg Releases PlaNYC Report on Protecting New York City Wetlands

The Report - New York City Wetlands: Regulatory Gaps and Other Threats - Fulfills a Commitment made in PlaNYC - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today released a report that studies gaps in wetlands protections in New York City and explores options for filling those gaps. The report finds that while existing Federal and State laws do a good job protecting the City's tidal wetlands and its large freshwater wetlands, smaller freshwater wetlands (less than 12.4 acres) are not as well protected and thus more vulnerable to threats from land use and development. To gather more information on the smaller freshwater wetlands, the report recommends developing new high-resolution aerial and satellite wetland maps to precisely determine the size and location of unprotected wetlands before pursuing other options outlined in the report.  The issuance of the report is one of the 127 initiatives of PlaNYC. "Many New Yorkers don't realize there are thousands of acres of wetlands in the five boroughs," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Wetlands are robust ecosystems that perform crucial environmental functions like trapping pollutants, capturing stormwater runoff, sequestering carbon dioxide, and moderating storm surges. To read the full report, visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2009/pr050-09.pdf

MT: Senate says no to fed's control of wetlands

Associated Press - January 31, 2009 The Senate endorsed a resolution Saturday to "adamantly" oppose federal legislation that would assert the Environmental Protection Agency can regulate all waterways in the United States. The resolution opposes a proposed federal law known as the Clean Water Restoration Act. For full story, go to: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=9765609

NH: Wetland ordinance sunk

By Wendy Depuy – Bedford Journal - January 30, 2009 After a lively discussion Monday night, the planning board took two proposed zoning amendments off the ballot voters will see in March. One amendment had proposed a fee for encroaching on the setback around wetlands, and the other would have prohibited residents from parking large commercial trucks at home, if it had passed. For full story, go to: http://www.cabinet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/NS/20090130/ BEDFORD01/301309986/-1/bedford01

ASIWPCA’s Call for Change - Water Quality Improvement in the 21st Century

Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA) – January 2009 Since the Clean Water Act (CWA) passed in 1972, ASIWPCA has been the primary liaison between States and the Federal government, fostering a strong partnership between the States and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Until recently, this partnership has been a successful collaborative effort as States and EPA worked together to address critical environmental issues. EPA has provided assistance to States to achieve significant improvements in water quality through a combination of sound policy, regulation, and funding. However, a disturbing trend has developed during the last several years jeopardizing this effective partnership and the realization of on-the-ground environmental improvements. Increased and unwarranted administrative program requirements, coupled with decreased federal funding, are crippling States’ abilities to implement core CWA programs. ASIWPCA issues this Call for Change to reverse this troubling trend. For the Call for Change documents, go to: http://www.asiwpca.org/home/cfc.htm

IL: Chicago-area wetland mitigation banks are bogged down

By Gerry Smith – Chicago Tribune – January 28, 2009 John Ryan is a banker hoping for some help from the federal government, which is not surprising in the current financial crisis, except that he doesn't make loans. He makes wetlands. Ryan, 52, is a wetland banker, a pioneer in an obscure industry of entrepreneurs who create or restore wetlands, then sell "credits" to agencies and developers that are required to offset what they destroy. For full story, go to: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-wetland-banking-w-zone- 28jan28,0,4298022.story

MN: Farmers turn farmland back into wetland

By Ken Ronnan – MinnPost – January 21, 2009 A program called Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) was established in 1986 by the Department of Natural Resources to help bring back native plants, fish and other wildlife. This video features Dale Aden of Okabena, Minn., who returned some of his marginal farmland to wetlands with help from RIM. To view the video, go to: http://www.minnpost.com/minnclips/2009/01/21/5591/farmers_turn_ farmland_back_into_wetland

NY: Town purchases 16 acres of wetlands

By Brian Bossetta – South Hampton Press – January 21, 2009 Southampton Town has acquired 16 acres of wetlands in Speonk and Remsenburg, between Dock Road and Laila Lane, a property that was at one time a working duck farm and is now considered important habitat for shorebirds. The town used $6 million from the Community Preservation Fund to purchase the property from Martin Melzer. The Town Board authorized the purchase, despite the economic downturn that has required cutbacks and belt-tightening in town government. The board in May unanimously voted to allocate the $6 million from the CPF for the purchase. The CPF is generated by a 2-percent transfer tax on real estate purchases. For full story, go to: http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=191566

OR: State seeks public views on wetlands removal plan

By Whitney Malkin – The Register-Guard – January 21, 2009 The state Department of Corrections wants to bulldoze more than 90 acres of wetlands near Junction City to make way for a new prison and mental hospital. Site work is expected to begin this spring on the minimum- and medium-security prison, with construction on the 240-acre parcel starting in 2010. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking for public comment on the permit application, which will affect acreage south of Milliron Road and north of Skinner Lane near Junction City. The project will include the removal of 85,000 cubic yards of wetland, which will be replaced by more than 1.13 million yards of fill. For full story, go to: http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/5812392-55/story.csp

Maryland's coastal protection laws addressing rising sea level

By Sara Michael – Baltimore Examiner – January 18, 2009 Maryland's push to protect Chesapeake Bay aquatic life and improve water quality also serves to prepare the state for the effects of rising sea levels, according to a federal report released Friday. "Maryland is ahead of most other states" in planning for rising sea levels, said Jim Titus, convening lead author of a report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency called “Coastal Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region.” For full article, go to: http://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/local/011809sea.html

OR/CA: ALFRED ALOISI, et al., v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 95-650L (Fed. Cl. 12/19/2008) (Margolis, J.)

Excerpt of case: Plaintiffs allege that the United States, acting through the Forest Service and the FWS, temporarily deprived them of a property interest and seek $22.5 million in just compensation. Specifically, plaintiffs claim that the Forest Service and the FWS failed to inform plaintiffs of a July 23, 1990 “no jeopardy” biological opinion until March 1992, in violation of federal regulations. Plaintiffs also claim that the Forest Service wrongfully initiated a biological consultation proceeding with the FWS regarding the potential effects of plaintiffs mining operations on the northern spotted owl in April 1992 and delayed in completing that consultation until February 1994, thereby depriving plaintiffs of their rights of use and enjoyment of their property during that period. For a link to the case, go to: http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/MARGOLIS.ALOISI121908.pdf

MD: EPA: Climate change will have big effect on Md. coastal erosion

By Timothy B. Wheeler - Baltimore Sun – January 17, 2009 Climate change will produce a sharp increase in storm-related flooding and coastal erosion over the next century in Maryland and the rest of the mid-Atlantic coastal states, affecting both natural and human communities, the federal government said in a report released yesterday. The 786-page report by the Environmental Protection Agency says that rising sea levels as a result of global warming could worsen current losses of tidal marshes, which are vital spawning and nursery areas for fish and birds. Coastal barrier islands such as Assateague Island near Ocean City, already washed over by the Atlantic during intense storms, are likely to be permanently broken through by pounding waves. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.climate17jan17,0,6912378.story For additional story, Maryland's coastal protection laws addressing rising sea level, go to: http://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/local/011809sea.html

NC: NC regulators increase wetlands phosphate mining

The Daily Advance – January 16, 2009 North Carolina regulators have allowed a phosphate mining company to expand the area where it can dig for ore for the next 35 years. The state Division of Water Quality announced the permit expansion Thursday for PCS Phosphate in Aurora in eastern North Carolina. The division said the permit is one step in the process of getting final permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For full story, go to: http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/state/nc-regulators-increase-wetlands- phosphate-mining-378340.html

NM: Wetlands, forest along Rio Grande to be protected

KVIA News – January 16, 2009 A 783-acre area containing wetlands and riparian forest along the Rio Grande in Selden Canyon north of Las Cruces will be leased and managed for wildlife habitat and recreation by New Mexico State Parks. The land, part of Broad Canyon Ranch, is adjacent to N.M. 185. It includes a 30-acre wetland known as Swan Pond and about a mile of riparian forest along the river. For full story, go to: http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=9685288&nav=AbC0

OR: Planning close to hotel decision

By Kara Hansen - The West Linn Tidings – January 15, 2009 The West Linn Planning Commission is scheduled to deliver the final decision on a planned Holiday Inn Express on Wednesday. If approved, the four-story Holiday Inn would be West Linn’s first hotel. The 71-unit building would sit on about 10,800 square feet of land beside a 20,420-square-foot parking lot at 2400 Willamette Falls Drive. Developers need a permit to build near a wetland area. They also need a variance so they can build more than that permit would allow – about 21,000 square feet of the development would affect the wetland. For full story, go to: http://www.westlinntidings.com/news/story.php?story_id=123196330255955800

CT: Echo Lake hearings continue: Applicants answers many concerns from the public and commission

By: James Perucci – Town Times – January 15, 2009 The Conservation Commission Inland Wetlands Authority continued the public hearing on 0 Echo Lake Road on Thursday, January 8, during which the applicant, Echo Lake Brownfield, LLC, (ELB) furthered the case for approval for piping a watercourse on Echo Lake Road. According to ELB, the application is associated with the closure of Echo Lake Landfill to create a buildable parcel of industrial land. ELB is currently under a cease and desist order from the Watertown Planning & Zoning Office. The order states that ELB must stop grading on the property, as well the clearing of trees on the site and beyond property lines into land owned by James and Judith Brideau. The current hearings are one of the requirements of said cease and desist order. For full story, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20240938&BRD=1379&PAG =461&dept_id=162906&rfi=6

NM: Bottomless Lakes wetlands being restored

MSNBC – January 15, 2009 The first phase of a project to restore wetlands at Bottomless Lakes State Park has begun. The head of New Mexico State Parks, Dave Simon, says the project will dramatically improve the park and the lower Pecos River. The parks division and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week began work on the first phase of the $2 million project to restore 40 acres of degraded wetland at the park near Roswell. For full story, go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28660256/

LA: National Audubon Society says restoring Louisiana wetlands critical

KATC News – January 15, 2009 The National Audubon Society says restoring the Louisiana coast should be a top priority. The organization on Wednesday urged Congress and the White House to make restoring ecosystems part of the nation's economic recovery plan. The group said there are three restoration projects that have been "vetted" and "ignored" worth funding: The Louisiana coast, the Everglades in Florida and the Long Island Sound watershed in New York. Investing $3.5 billion in restoration projects would create up to 75,000 jobs, the group said. For full story, go to: http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9677618

IL: Wetlands restoration work starts in frigid weather

By Jim Hook – Southtown Star – January 15, 2009 Snowplow drivers aren't the only heavy equipment operators maneuvering in this frigid weather. Crews in Bobcats and backhoes this week are unearthing buckthorn, maple and other nonnative trees from the frozen ground at a south suburban Cook County Forest Preserve District site. The 250-acre site is bound by Flossmoor Road on the south, Central Avenue on the east, 183rd Street on the north and Ridgeland Avenue on the west. The unearthed trees are stacked in piles and burned to make room for the heavy equipment to maneuver. For full story, go to: http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1379015,011509grasslands.article

IL: Local turtles disappear as urbanization destroys Illinois wetlands

By Maya Linson – Medill Reports – January 15, 2009 Most Chicagoans are eagerly awaiting spring as temperatures dip to their lowest in years. If it's possible, local researchers may be even more fervent as they wait for the Blanding’s turtles they have been tracking in preserved Chicago wetlands to come out from hibernation. Native to the Great Lakes region, Blanding’s turtles are listed as threatened in the state, meaning they are declining so quickly that they are at risk for becoming endangered. For full story, visit: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=111615

VA: Virginia Zoo to dedicate wetlands project Jan. 22

By Debbie Messina - The Virginian-Pilot – January 14, 2009 The Virginia Zoo will dedicate a wetland conservation project and new Lafayette River classroom at 10 a.m. Jan. 22. Community volunteers, zoo staff and other partners invested more than 170 hours of restoration work. They planted about 9,000 trees, grasses, shrubs and plants, and placed oyster shells from local restaurants off the shoreline to create the base for an oyster reef and to protect the new plants. Workers installed a small handicapped-accessible walkway and viewing area made of concrete, as well as a platform to attract ospreys to nest. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/01/virginia-zoo-dedicate- wetland-project-jan-22

IN: Interactive map to focus on Indiana Wetlands

Carroll County Comet – January 14, 2009 One of Indiana's most overlooked natural resources are wetland ecosystems, and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has created a new Web site to offer a glimpse into the state's varied wetland ecosystems. The newest Internet offering, a Wetlands virtual tour, can be found at www.wetlands.IN.gov. Wetlands, which store rainwater and slow the movement of floodwater, can be affected by construction projects. IDEM administers several permits regarding construction, excavation, and dredging projects that propose to impact Indiana's wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes. "This Web-based educational component highlights just a few of the vibrant wetlands across the state of Indiana," said Thomas Easterly, IDEM commissioner. "Our goal is to help children and adults learn about the significance and beauty of these important natural resources." For full story, go to: http://www.carrollcountycomet.com/news/2009/0114/Community/040.html

MD: MARYLAND: Federal vote expected on natural gas pipeline

Associated Press – January 13, 2009 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says it is scheduled Thursday to consider the proposal to build a natural gas terminal near Baltimore and an 88-mile pipeline to Pennsylvania. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking that a vote be delayed to address the potential threats to the habitats used by the Indiana bat and the bog turtle. The bat is on the federal endangered-species list and the turtle is on the threatened-species list. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090113/NEWS01/90113009/1002

NY: Scientists watching sea level effects on East End marshes

By Michael Wright – East Hampton Press – January 13, 2009 As ice caps melt and sea levels rise around the planet, some local scientists are worried that the East End’s wetlands may start to disappear, especially in places where pollution and development are already causing problems. Scientists from The Nature Conservancy, working with state and county officials, embarked this fall on a study to test whether local wetlands are adapting to rising sea levels and determine where they can be expected to persist and where they may vanish forever. For full story, go to: http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=189970

IN: INDOT environmental study to start

Washington-Times Herald – January 12, 2009 The Indiana Department of Transportation is planning to undertake an environmental mitigation project (DES number 0710900) as part of the I-69, Evansville to Indianapolis project, funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration. The project will mitigate for environmental impacts associated with Section 2 of the I-69 project. The mitigation project is located northeast of the intersection of CR 125 E and CR 250 S, approximately 0.75 mile west of SR 257. The location is Section 12, T2N, R7W in Daviess County, Washington Township, on the USGS Sandy Hook Quad-rangle Map. For full story, visit: http://www.washtimesherald.com/legalnotices/local_story_012122218.html

FL: Tampa Bay Rays employees pitch in on wetlands restoration

By Georgia Brown – Bradenton Herald – January 11, 2009 Employees of the Tampa Bay Rays walked down a lane shaded by old oaks and palmetto palms, crossed a muddy tract pockmarked with footprints and spread out across the salt marsh Saturday to work on a community project in far northwest Manatee County. The volunteers from the Rays’ Employee Community Outreach Team, called ECOT, brought friends and family members to help restore the 200-acre Terra Ceia Preserve. Obviously not afraid to get their feet wet, they worked all morning planting plugs of salt marsh plants in the wetlands. Their yellow T-shirts made them easy to spot as they worked along the edges of the water. “We have over 70 people who volunteered to work on the project today,” said Matt Silverman, team president, who oversees business operations for the American League-champion Rays. For full story, go to: http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/story/1144778.html

KS: Stimulus talk spurs SLT hope

By Mark Fagan – Lawrence Journal World – January 11, 2009 Barack Obama’s imminent presidential inauguration — and, in particular, his plans for billions of dollars in infrastructure investment — is stimulating hope for completing the South Lawrence Trafficway in Lawrence. No matter which way the limited-access highway would go. Opponents of the project’s current path say Obama’s economic-stimulus plan easily could bankroll finishing the highway, provided it would run south of the Wakarusa River. They say work could be started within two years. “I can find a whole lot of people who would stand in line to help,” said Bob Eye, an attorney for a coalition of environmental and other groups suing stop the trafficway from being extended through the Baker Wetlands. “Certainly, there are some opportunities here for some creative thinking.” For full story, go to: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/jan/11/stimulus-talk-spurs-slt-hope/?city_local

WI: Purchase ensures wetlands preservation

By Pamela Powers – Leader-Telegram – January 10, 2009 West Wisconsin Land Trust on Friday bought 720 acres known as the Cedar Creek Wetlands, preserving it for future generations. The wetlands, also known as Hawk Metals, are in the Chippewa Moraine Lakes Conservation Opportunity Area, designated by the Department of Natural Resources. The wetlands are east of New Auburn between Chain Lake and Long Lake. "It is the filtering mechanism for Long Lake and Chain Lake," said Rick Gauger, West Wisconsin Land Trust executive director. "It is what helps keep Long Lake clean. It is almost two miles long between the two lakes." For full story, go to: http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BIS1MAT3GMP

MD: State OKs 4,800-acre purchase to preserve Shore land

By Timothy B. Wheeler – Baltimore Sun – January 8, 2009 State officials agreed yesterday to buy one of the largest privately owned forests left on the Eastern Shore for $14.4 million, though not without questions about whether taxpayers are paying too much to preserve land in the depressed real estate market. The Board of Public Works unanimously approved purchase of the 4,800-acre tract in Worcester County, pointing to its ecological value as a habitat for rare plants, birds and other animals. It is one of two major land preservation deals announced last month by Gov. Martin O'Malley. Together, they will cost $71 million for 9,200 acres of woods, fields and undeveloped waterfront. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-md.land08 jan08,0,2010080.story

WA: Improving mitigation 'win-win' for environment and economy

Contact: Curt Hart – Washington Dept. of Ecology – January 8, 2009 Bolstered by a set of recommendations from a diverse and independent advisory group, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is expanding efforts to improve environmental mitigation in Washington.  Until recently, practices designed to offset or "mitigate" the damaging environmental effects that development can have on wetlands and other aquatic resources have been fraught with problems.  Poor site selection, bad design and lack of compliance has meant most mitigation projects have fallen short of replacing the function and value of wetlands, estuaries, streams, shorelines and other aquatic habitat damaged by road building and commercial and residential expansion. For full press release, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2009news/2009-005.html

WI: Pipeline builder to pay state $1.1 million for violations

By Lee Bergquist – Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel – January 2, 2009 Enbridge Energy Partners, owners of a 321-mile oil pipeline in Wisconsin, million to settle state officials' allegations that the company will pay $1.1 broke numerous environmental laws during construction in 2007 and 2008. The settlement between the company and the state Justice Department was announced Friday by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. The forfeiture is the largest involving an environmental matter since Van Hollen took office in January 2007. It also dwarfs a $200,000 settlement by the agency with other companies in 2003 related to construction of a natural gas pipeline project in Jefferson County. For full story, go to: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/37009324.html The full version of the January 2009 Issue of Wetland Breaking News is available at http://www.aswm.org/wbn/current.htm A printable PDF version is available at: http://www.aswm.org/wbn/011909.pdf

DE: Open space discussion now a closed topic

By Ron MacArthur – Cape Gazette – January 2, 2009 Noah Webster, the master lexicographer, would have been tested. Few other measures in county circles have been dissected, debated and deliberated on as much as the definition of open space. But, county council delivered on a promise to define what qualifies as open space in residential projects before the end of the year. Even though the final ordinance, which has yet to be posted for public review, is an abridged version of the one recommended for passage by the planning and zoning commission, the Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) hails it as a victory for the environment. Carol Bason, vice chairwoman of the CIB Citizens Advisory Committee, said although center members are disappointed the superior-design ordinance – also passed during the same meeting – is now voluntary, members are elated the county has a specific open-space definition. For full story, go to: http://www.capegazette.com/storiescurrent/200901/openspace02.html

SD: Adds acres to USDA'S Wetlands reserve program

Green Sheet Farm Forum – January 2, 2009 Huron Ð South Dakota (SD) has enrolled 8,218 new acres in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) during the last four years. To date, more than two million acres have been enrolled in WRP, nationally, helping exceed the Federal government's 3-year goal of increasing the number and size of America's wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.farmforum.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090102/FARM FORUM08/901020302/-1/FARMFORUM

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DECEMBER 2008

TX: Numbers game: Some liberal hunting regulations in Texas are supposed to help control snow goose population, but that issue seems to be taking care of itself

By Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle – December 31, 2008 The arch of Texas coastal marsh and prairie from the Louisiana border to near Victoria hosts the largest wintering populations of snow geese in the nation, providing some of the best goose hunting opportunities around. No state sees hunters take near the quarter-million or so “light” (snow, blue, Ross) geese annually bagged like Texas does. But there’s a nagging undercurrent of uneasiness concerning the future of goose hunting on these areas. For full story, go to: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6189758.html

MD: EPA Called a 'Negative Factor' in Bay Cleanup

By Ashley Halsey III – Washington Post – December 30, 2008 Chesapeake Bay's iconic and profitable blue crabs face suffocation, hunger and cannibalism as dead zones continue to expand across the estuary, draining oxygen from the water and killing off enough clams and worms to feed 60 million crabs. That bleak assessment came yesterday in a new report from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the nonprofit environmental group that monitors the bay and the multimillion-dollar industries it supports. For full story, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/29/AR2008122901134.html?wpisrc=newsletter

MA: ExxonMobil Charged in Boston Harbor Oil Spill

PR Newswire – December 23, 2008 A criminal information was filed today in federal court charging a wholly owned subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation with violating the criminal provisions of the Clean Water Act in connection with a spill of approximately 15,000 gallons of diesel oil into the Mystic River from ExxonMobil's oil terminal in Everett, Mass. United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Stacey Mitchell, Chief, Environmental Crimes Section, Michael Hubbard, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division in New England, and Rear Admiral Dale Gabel, Commander First Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard, announced today that ExxonMobil Pipeline Company has been charged with a criminal violation of the Clean Water Act in connection with the January 2006 spill and has signed a plea agreement in which it will pay a total monetary payment of more than $6.1 million and agree to have the Everett terminal monitored by a court-appointed observer. The plea agreement is subject to court approval. For full story, go to: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT= 104&STORY=/www/story/12-23-2008/0004946477&EDATE

CA: State Budget Crisis Halts Wetlands Work

By Ed Joyce – KPBS – December 23, 2008 California's budget crisis has caused a shutdown of wetlands recovery projects in five Southern California counties. San Diego County is especially hard hit because it has more wetlands than the others. When a state investment board voted to freeze some payments, the decision rippled throughout California.  San Diego County is no exception. The state Department of Finance has asked the Coastal Conservancy to suspend work on all contracts and grants funded by state bonds. For full story, visit: http://www.kpbs.org/news/local;id=13539

WA: New state climate change report provides blueprint for new jobs, green economy, energy independence

Contact: Seth Preston – Washington Dept. of Ecology News Release – December 22, 2008 A new report continues Washington’s bold leadership against climate change and shows how creating new “green” jobs will keep the state at the forefront of building a clean, green economy. Gov. Chris Gregoire required the report, “Growing Washington’s Economy in a Carbon-Constrained World,” in her requested climate change legislation, HB 2815. The 2008 Washington Legislature approved the bill, and she signed it into law. For full press release, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2008news/2008-332.html

MD: Gene Mueller: Highway poses threat to vital creek

Editorial by Gene Mueller – The Washington Times – December 21, 2008 A controversial plan to build a four-lane highway known as the Cross County Connector in Southern Maryland's Charles County not only upsets community-action groups that believe local leaders continue to live in the past, it is also being seriously questioned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For full editorial, go to: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/21/highway-poses-threat-to-vital-creek/

MD: State approves Fox Creek dredging

By Susan Gvozdas – Baltimore Sun – December 18, 2008 Residents who fought for six years to deepen the mouth of a Crownsville-area inlet for greater boating access finally will get to dredge 2 1/2 -foot channels into and out of Fox Creek. The state Board of Public Works unanimously approved a wetlands license Monday after investigating why the Maryland Department of the Environment changed course in 2007 and decided not to allow the dredging of Fox Creek. Because it was the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the wetlands program that MDE had reversed itself, Board of Public Works staff decided to review the decision, said Doldon W. Moore Jr., BPW's wetlands administrator. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.dredge18dec18,0,5944559.story

VA: Crow's Nest effort gets funds from Fish & Wildlife Service

By Rusty Dennen – Free Lance Star – December 18, 2008 Efforts to preserve Crow's Nest have received a boost from Stafford County's congressman. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, announced yesterday that backers will receive $855,465 toward the Phase 2 purchase of 1,200 acres on the Stafford peninsula. The money comes from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. The funds are intended to acquire, restore or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands. Crow's Nest is considered an environmental jewel, a rare undeveloped tract with significant natural and cultural resources. It's one of the newest Virginia natural preserves. For full story, go to: http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/122008/12182008/432974

MN: County threatens to rescind WCA

By Lisa Kaczke – International Falls Daily Journal – December 17, 2008 Koochiching County commissioners Tuesday threatened to declare the county “wetland free” if the state adopts proposed changes to its wetland law. Commissioner Wade Pavleck was expected to testify Tuesday evening before the state’s Board of Water and Soil Resources about the impact the proposed changes to the Wetland Conservation Act would have on development in Koochiching County. Now, residents are encouraged — but not required — to report to their local government unit, which implements WCA, disturbances made allowed by exemptions in the law. The exemptions allow residents to fill a wetland up to 10,000 square feet without reporting it. BWSR is proposing to require residents to report all disturbances to wetlands, regardless of the exemptions. For full story, go to: http://www.ifallsdailyjournal.com/news/county-news/county-threatens-rescind- wca-lisa-kaczke-staff-writer-12250

OH: ODNR: Wetlands in Summit County to be preserved

WYKC News – December 17, 2008 One hundred and fifteen acres of wetlands, home to dozens of threatend species will now be protected by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. According to The Trust for Public Land, Confluence Park near the Tuscarawas River has the highest water quality in any of the lakes in ODNR's Portage Lakes system. For full story, go to: http://www.wkyc.com/news/regional/akron_article.aspx?storyid=103233&catid=6

MD: Lawsuit concerning watershed is near settlement

By Douglas Tallman – Maryland Gazette – December 17, 2008 An environmental activist group and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are close to settling a lawsuit filed over the lead cleanup of Great Seneca Creek, the largest watershed in Montgomery County. Both sides are "comfortable" with the settlement, which could be announced after the first of the year, said Ed Merrifield, an activist with the Potomac Riverkeeper, who filed the lawsuit in federal court in Baltimore in 2005.He offered few details of the settlement. For full story, go to: http://www.gazette.net/stories/12172008/poolnew191941_32476.shtml

FL: Manatee votes to reconsider mine expansion

By Dale White – Sarasota Herald Tribune – December 17, 2008 Fearing the county could lose a $617.8 million lawsuit, the County Commission voted Tuesday to reconsider an expansion of Mosaic Fertilizer's phosphate mine in Duette. The decision sets the stage for the commission to approve the mining, which environmentalists strongly oppose, early next month. In September, a majority of commissioners rejected Mosaic's proposal to expand its Four Corners Mine onto the 2,000-acre Altman Tract. Most commissioners expressed concerns about the potential effect on 400 acres of high-quality wetlands, and whether those wetlands could be adequately restored when mining is complete. The wetlands are within a basin feeding the Peace River, which provides drinking water for Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties. For full story, go to: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081217/ARTICLE/812170357/2055/ NEWS?Title=Manatee_votes_to_reconsider_mine_expansion

MA: Brandywine to pay $300K wetlands fine

Boston Business Journal – December 16, 2008 A Billerica, Mass.-based company is being ordered to pay $300,000 in fines by the state for a wetlands violation. According to a news release from state Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office, Brandywine Corp. cleared, filled in and paved five acres of wetlands on property it owned on Rear High Street in Billerica, sometime between 1995 and 1998. The lot is now used by a car auction company. The violation was discovered by investigators of the MassDEP Strike Force, which filed a complaint with Coakley’s office. For full story, go to: http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/12/15/daily21.html

AK: Alaska Sea Otters Gain Habitat Protection 5,879 Square Miles Proposed as Critical Habitat

Contact: Brendan Cummings – Center for Biological Diversity / ENN – December 15, 2008 “Critical habitat has a proven record of aiding the recovery of endangered species," said Rebecca Noblin, staff attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity in Anchorage. “We are pleased that habitat for threatened Alaska sea otters will finally be protected. With the habitat protections of the Endangered Species Act now extended to sea otters in Alaska, this iconic species has a fighting chance of recovery." For full story, go to: http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2764

MD: SHA completes project to restore wetlands

Baltimore Sun – December 14, 2008 The State Highway Administration recently completed a $764,000 environmental project to restore more than six acres of forested wetlands at the Magness Farm in northern Harford County to help improve water quality from highway runoff as well as provide a vital habitat for native wildlife. The project was part of Gov. Martin O'Malley's "Maryland: Smart, Green & Growing" environmental initiative. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-ha. harforddigest140dec14,0,3326524.story

MA: State DEP to sit, listen

By Tony Dobrowolski – The Berkshire Eagle – December 14, 2008 The state Department of Environmental Protection on Monday will hold a public hearing on the Airport Commission's request to obtain a variance from the Wetlands Protection Act to make improvements to Pittsfield Municipal Airport. The public hearing will take place at 10 a.m. in City Hall. It is part of a procedural process that will allow the state DEP to obtain information that it can use in determining whether to grant the variance. In September, the state DEP held an open meeting at the airport to assess the environmental impacts the $22 million airport expansion project will have on three large wetland areas that are located within its borders. For full story, visit: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_11229602

MI: Couple to donate land to trust

By Tracy Davis – Ann Arbor News – December 14, 2008 A Webster Township couple has donated a conservation easement on 25 acres of wetlands, woods and an old tree farm. Gerald Nordblom and Barbara Michniewicz pieced together the land with six acres they already owned and with neighboring property they bought from a developer. "It was an incredibly generous thing for them to do," said Washtenaw Land Trust Director Susan Lackey. For full story, go to: http://www.mlive.com/annarbornews/news/index.ssf/2008/12/couple_to_donate_ land_to_trust.html  For land trust information, visit: http://www.washtenawlandtrust.org/

CA: EIR outlines alternatives to Marina Center

By Thadeus Greenson – Times-Standard – December 14, 2008 This is the seventh in a multi-part series looking at the Marina Center development. The next installment, running Tuesday, wraps up the series and looks at what's next in the process. According to the Marina Center draft environmental impact report, Security National's proposed mixed-use development is not a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Security National, however, might feel differently. As a part of the draft environmental impact report, or EIR, the city was required under the California Environmental Quality Act to determine and evaluate a “reasonable” range of alternatives to the proposed project. ”The 'range of alternatives' is governed by the 'rule of reason' which requires the EIR to set forth only those alternatives necessary to permit informed public participation and an informed and reasoned choice by the decision making body,” the draft EIR states, adding that the primary intent is to disclose other ways the project's objectives could be attained while minimizing the magnitude of, or avoiding entirely, its environmental impacts. For full story, go to: http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_11230660

IN: Wetland study stalls road project in Jeffersonville

By David Mann – Evening News & Tribune – December 13, 2008 A road project, championed by Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan, which would build a new north-south route through Jeffersonville is on hold pending the results of an environmental study. In an interview Friday, Galligan said that work may resume in spring, but it all depends on the study’s findings. For full story, visit:  http://www.newsandtribune.com/local/local_story_348190809.html

FL: Opponents Mount Last Stand on Everglades Plan

By Paulo Prada – Wall Street Journal – December 13, 2008 Critics are trying to derail the proposed sale of former Everglades wetlands owned by U.S. Sugar Corp. to the state of Florida just days before an agency votes whether to approve the $1.34 billion deal. State legislators, company employees, area officials and businesses fear the sale will obliterate the local economy, long anchored by the sugar-cane industry. Though the plan has managed to unite environmentalists and U.S. Sugar executives, opponents believe their complaints are being ignored. "If the middle lets these two extremes push this deal through, they're making a mistake that is bad for this town, bad for the Everglades, and bad for the taxpayers," said Christopher Shupe, president of Olde Cypress Community Bank in Clewiston. For full story, go to: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122913327616403589.html?mod= googlenews_wsj#articleTabs%3Darticle  For a related background story, go to: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpussugar1126pnnov26,0,4638476.story

ND: High court botches DL ruling

By Richard Betting – Grand Forks Herald – December 13, 2008 Most people probably agree with the adage, “Floods are acts of God; flood losses are largely acts of man.” But on Nov. 19, the North Dakota Supreme Court made God responsible for both the flooding and the damage in and around Devils Lake. “An act of God was the sole proximate cause of the landowners’ damages,” the court said in upholding a Northeast District Court opinion, one that gave almost no blame to drainage in the upper basin of Devils Lake. For full story, go to: http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=97067

AK: Statement From Environmental Groups on Bush Administration's Further Weakening of Protection for Polar Bear

Contact: Kassie Siegel – Center for Biological Diversity / ENN – December 12, 2008 The new regulation is designed to replace the interim final rule the agency issued on May 15th, when the polar bear was first listed as a threatened species. The regulation contains similar exemptions as the earlier 4(d) rule, but is written with broader language to exempt even more actions that threaten the polar bear from the protections of the Endangered Species Act. The original 4(d) rule is subject to an ongoing legal challenge brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. For full story, go to: http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2760

VA: Scientists gauge impact of drilling off Va. Coast

By Steve Szkotak – Daily Press – December 3, 2008 Scientists are beginning to assess what they know--and what they don't--about the environmental consequences of drilling for gas and oil in a triangular section of the Atlantic Ocean off Virginia's coast. What they learn could open more Southern coastal waters to drilling. The government began a two-day workshop Wednesday for researchers and scientists to discuss drilling's impact on sea life and commercial and recreational fishing, along with other environmental and economic issues. The proposed drilling would occur 50 miles from shore in an area believed to contain 130 million barrels of oil and 1.14 trillion cubic feet of gas. For full story, go to: http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--offshoredrilling1203dec03,0,5528300.story

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NOVEMBER 2008

NV: Wetlands report says endangered areas surround Carson City

By Geoff Dornan - Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau – November 18, 2008 Nevada’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has released a state Inventory ranking wetlands in order of risk. Three of the most endangered areas are within a few miles of the capital. The Lahontan Reservoir-Carson River area is ranked 11th on the list. The Carson River from the California border to the Carson Valley is No. 14, and Truckee River tributaries north of Carson City are listed at 19. Those include the Franktown, Galena, Whites, Thomas and Hunter creeks. For full story, go to: http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20081118/NEWS/811179951/ 1001/NONE&parentprofile=1058&title=Wetlands%20report%20says%20endangered %20areas%20surround%20Carson%20City

MD: Maryland ag’s effect on Bay analyzed at law school

By Sean Clougherty – Americanfarm.com – November 18, 2008 Maryland agriculture — specifically, its poultry industry —found itself under the microscope last week at the University of Baltimore School of Law’s second annual “The Bay in Crisis: Saving the Chesapeake.” Analyses from speakers throughout the day ranged from showing agriculture’s existing contributions to the Bay cleanup effort to calls for increased regulation on poultry farms and allowing more legal oversight by environmental groups. Disagreement also emerged about the availability of poultry manure on the Eastern Shore. For full article, go to: http://www.americanfarm.com/TopStory11.18.2008a.html

NJ: Sierra Club Recognizes EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg For Outstanding Environmental Leadership

Contact: Elias Rodriguez – EPA News Release – November 18, 2008 The New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club honored Alan J. Steinberg, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator, on Sunday, November 16 for his efforts to protect the people and environment of New Jersey. Steinberg, who has served as the highest EPA regional official since his appointment in 2005, was recognized for his outstanding leadership in advancing the cleanup of the Passaic River, and his crucial role in the positive modifications made to the state Permit Extension Act of 2008. The Sierra Club is a national, member-supported environmental organization, which seeks to influence public policy through public education and grass-roots political action. With nearly 20,000 members, the Trenton-based New Jersey Chapter is one of the largest chapters in the USA. For full news release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/478BEDD1A80228018 52575050055CC83

MN: Ranier adopts Wetland Conservation Act (WCA)

By Tom Laventure – the International Falls Daily Journal – November 19, 2008 The Ranier City Council Monday adopted a resolution which delegates to Koochiching County the responsibilities of implementing the Minnesota Wetlands Conservation Act. Mayor Ed Oerichbauer, who could not attend the meeting, forwarded a recommendation from the Buildings, Streets, and Grounds Committee that the full council adopt the MWCA. Trustee Dan Klocek officiated the council meeting, and agreed with fellow Trustees Brenda Bauer and John Walls to approve motion. They said the only other option would have been to pass the MWCA, but retain local control by training an individual to administer wetlands regulations to residents for the city. For full story, visit: http://www.ifallsdailyjournal.com/news/city-news-ranier/ranier-adopts- wca-tom-laventure-staff-writer-11799

OK: Wetlands Reserve Program apps open

Pryor Daily Times – November 18, 2008 USDA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are currently accepting applications for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) according to Kenneth Hitch, District Conservationist with NRCS. Landowners interested in restoring and protecting wetlands that have been impacted or converted are encouraged to make application at their local NRCS office. The Wetlands Reserve Program's primary objective is to restore former wetlands, re-establish native wetland wildlife habitat, and retire marginal land from agricultural production. According to a report by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Oklahoma lost approximately 1.8 million of its 2.8 million acres of wetlands between 1780 and 1980, reported as a 67 percent loss. For full story, go to: http://www.pryordailytimes.com/agriculture/local_story_323092011.html ?keyword=topstory

WV: Cranberries on high: Wetlands of West Virginia at height of popularity

By Rob Downing – Bradenton Herald – November 17, 2008 A high-altitude wetland is one of the big attractions in the Allegheny Mountains of south-central West Virginia. The 750-acre Cranberry Glades Botanical Area with its wooden boardwalk lies 21 miles east of Richwood in the sprawling 919,000-acre Monongahela National Forest. The U.S. Forest Services operates Cranberry Mountain Nature Center at the edge of the famed wetland. For full story, visit: http://www.bradenton.com/living/travel/story/1037341.html

IN: Ball Brothers Foundation invests $443,500 in wetland

By Seth Slabaugh – Muncie Star Press – November 17, 2008 The Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded a $443,500 grant to open up the 23-acre Craddock Wetland Nature Preserve. Seven years after the site was given to the city by GK Technologies, which owns the abandoned, nearby Indiana Steel and Wire factory, the property remains underutilized. The preserve is walled in by non-native bush honeysuckle -- an invasive shrub that can take over and dominate a habitat -- that blocks the view of the wetland. In addition, there are no trails, and the parking is inadequate. For full story, go to: http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20081117/NEWS01/811170325/1002

CA: California Ordered To Prepare For Sea-Level Rise

By Peter Henderson – Reuters News Service – November 17, 2008 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday ordered preparations for rising sea levels from global warming, a startling prospect for the most populous US state with a Pacific Ocean coastline stretching more than 800 miles (1,290 km). Recorded sea levels rose 7 inches (18 cm) during the 20th century in San Francisco, Schwarzenegger said in the executive order for study of how much more the sea could rise, what other consequences of global warming were coming and how the state should react. For full story, go to: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/51074/story.htm For a related story, go to: http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/37637

NJ: Wetlands Association announces funding

Edison Wetlands Association press release – November 15, 2008 Edison Wetlands Association (EWA) announced that $145,000 in funding will be provided for 14 different environmental projects as a result of a legal settlement with Edgeboro Disposal, Inc. (EDI). The project funding, which funds Lower Raritan Watershed Supplemental Environmental Projects (LRWSEPs), is a result of settlement agreement resolving pending federal litigation with Edgeboro Disposal, Inc. For full story, go to: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20081115/NEWS01/81113054/ 1003/newsfront

ND: Farmer convicted of illegally draining wetlands

The Jamestown Sun – November 14, 2008 A Lawton farmer has been convicted for the second time in four years of illegally draining wetlands. Alvin Peterson was found guilty on Tuesday of two counts of improper drainage of wetlands. A bench trial was in July in U.S. District Court in Grand Forks. A sentencing date has not been set. He faces up to a year in prison and a $10,000 fine. For the full article, go to: http://www.jamestownsun.com/articles/index.cfm?id=75397&section=news

CA: Long Beach, developer agree to wetlands preservation deal

By Louis Sahagun – Los Angeles Times – November 12, 2008 Long Beach officials on Tuesday announced a land swap with a developer that would preserve 175 acres of hotly contested urban salt marsh, some of the last remnants of a once vibrant wetland at the mouth of the San Gabriel River. Under terms of the deal, 52 acres of city-owned land would be traded for acreage lying in the heart of the Los Cerritos Wetlands. The city would then sell the marsh to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority for about $25 million. For full story, go to: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-wetlands12-2008 nov12,0,6884934.story

NC: Shifts in soil bacterial populations linked to wetland restoration success

Contact: Tim Lucas – Duke University – November 12, 2008 A new study led by Duke University researchers finds that restoring degraded wetlands -- especially those that had been converted into farm fields -- actually decreases their soil bacterial diversity. But that's a good thing, say the study's authors, because it marks a return to the wetland soils' natural conditions. "It sounds counter-intuitive, but our study shows that in restored wetlands, decreased soil bacterial diversity represents a return to biological health," said Wyatt H. Hartman, a Ph.D. candidate in wetlands and environmental microbiology at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment. For full story, go to: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/du-sis111208.php

CT: Wetlands Panel Opens Public Hearing on Subdivision Plan

By: Tammy McVey-Camilleri – Voices – November 12, 2008 The Inland Wetlands Commission, meeting Tuesday, October 28, opened a public hearing for a proposed six-lot Ranney Meadow subdivision, at 36 Ranney Hill Road. The proposed subdivision consists of lot 1 at 3.7 acres, lot 2 at 6.3 acres, lot 3 at 3.06 acres. Lot 4 at 5 acres, lot 5 at 6.4 acres and lot 6 at 7.3 acres with 6.7 acres of open space. The proposal, which commissioners reviewed at their September 23 meeting, included three wetlands crossings; those wetlands crossings have been excluded. For full story, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20194691&BRD= 1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6

FL: St. Petersburg College auction offers watercolors for wetlands

By Anne Lindberg – St. Petersburg Times – November 12, 2008 St. Petersburg College has taken a cue from eBay. The college plans to auction donated artwork using the Internet as a way to raise money for a natural wildlife habitat and environmental center. Potential buyers will be able to see pictures of the artwork and place bids during the month long event. Bidders can monitor the site and increase their offer if necessary to make sure they get the piece they want. The entire auction will be at www.spcollege.edu/se/artauction. For full story, go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/article899315.ece

CA: Key link in Watsonville's wetland system slated for protection

By Kurtis Alexander - San Jose Mercury News – November 11, 2008 Nearly 500 acres of South County sloughs are expected to come under the ownership of a local land trust, guaranteeing that the wetlands west of Highway 1, once eyed for housing by developers, will be spared. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County was awarded a $6.5 million state grant this month, allowing the conservation group to move ahead with a $15 million purchase of six rural parcels just south of Pajaro Valley High School. "This project has it all," said Terry Corwin, executive director of the land trust. "Wetlands are being lost and farmlands are being lost, and this protects both." For full story, go to: http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_10954279?nclick_check=1

NC: Titan Wants to Move Mining Across the Roadg

By Marina Giovannelli – WHQR (radio) News – November 10, 2008 Carolinas Cement Company, a subsidiary of Titan America, says it will not mine roughly 300 acres of what's considered nationally important wetlands. Instead, the company is planning to move its mining operation just across the road to wetlands of "lesser quality". Titan's environmental manager Jay Willis says the new site is on wetlands not protected by the state's Coastal Area Management Act. For full story, go to: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/whqr/news.newsmain?action= article&ARTICLE_ID=1411451&sectionID=1

CA: Naval base serves as a steward of wetlands

By Scott Hadly – Ventura County Star – November 9, 2008 Martin Ruane pulls a rope hand over hand from the clear water at the Point Mugu lagoon. At the end of the line is a mesh trap with a lone stingray flopping around inside. Ruane, a resource manager at Naval Base Ventura County, carefully handles the small ray, avoiding the spike on its tail before releasing it back into the blue water as four harbor seals splash into the lagoon a few yards away. In early October, Ruane pulled in about 31 fish, crabs and stingrays in one haul, part of his regular assessment of aquatic life moving in and out of what is now the largest functioning saltwater marsh on the Southern California coast. For full story, go to: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/nov/09/naval- base-serves-as-a-steward-of-wetlands/

NC: Program preserves 3,500 acres of wetlands this year

News & Observer – November 7, 2008 North Carolina this year enrolled more than 3,500 acres in a federal wetlands reserve program, the U.S. Agriculture said today. The program, run by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides eligible landowners with technical and financial assistance to address wetland, wildlife habitat, soil, water and related natural resource concerns on private agricultural land. Participants agree to limit the use of their land while retaining ownership. For full story, go to: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1286144.html

OR: Wetland Mitigation Bank Created For Developers

By Yvette C. Hammett – Tampa Tribune – November 7, 2008 It's environment for the sake of development. Entrepreneur Bill Casey is creating a 161-acre wetland mitigation bank in which developers can buy credits in repentance for destroying swampland elsewhere. After eight years of wrangling and permitting, the first phase of the project is expected to be for sale within weeks. The Tampa Bay Mitigation Bank is the only mitigation bank in the county and one of only two in the Southwest Florida Water Management District's 16-county area. It is permitted by the state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For full story, go to: http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2778551.html

NH: NH adding wetlands to protection

Associated Press / Fox News – November 4, 2008 New Hampshire has enrolled more than 327 acres of wetlands in a national wetlands protection program since last year. Since the national Wetlands Reserve Program started in 1996, more than 2 million privately owned acres nationally, and more than 1,100 in New Hampshire have been included. The national figure exceeded U.S. Agriculture Department goals. For full story, go to: http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=929029