State Wetland Protection: Status, Trends & Model Approaches The Environmental Law Institute has released a final report of a 50-state study that described and analyzed seven "core" components of state wetland programs: state laws, regulations, and programs; monitoring and assessment; restoration programs and activities; water quality standards; public-private partnerships; coordination among state and federal agencies; and education and outreach activities. This report focuses on status and trends, model programs, and summary data for all 50 states. http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=11279

Environmental Law Institute’s Multi-Year Study on the "Core" Components of State Wetland Programs State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase I State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase II State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase III State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase IV ELI Study of State Wetland Programs http://www.eli.org/Program_ Areas/state_wetlands.cfm

Putting A Price On Riparian Corridors As Water Treatment Facilities By Ann L. Riley, Ph.D., Watershed and River Restoration Advisor, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Oakland, CA, Jan. 2008 -- The monetary value of natural riparian environments that provide water quality treatment functions by processing nutrients, storing sediment, moderating temperatures, and other services can be estimated by calculating the costs associated with the construction of brick and mortar water treatment plants built to achieve similar functions. For a direct link to this discussion paper, go to: http://www.aswm.org/putting_price_riparian_ corridors_riley_21108.pdf

Smart Watershed Benchmarking Tool The Center for Watershed Protectin has released a new tool on CD available in PDF and workbook (CD) versions. Using lessons learned from around the country, this self-assessment tool helps local program managers make better decisions on watershed restoration priorities to maximize the performance of staff and financial resources. For more information, visit: http://www.cwp.org/

Gulf of Maine Council/NOAA Habitat Restoration Partnership Final Report: Saltmarsh Restoration Monitoring Near Pemaquid Beach , New Harbor, Maine December 5, 2007 -- The Pemaquid Salt Marsh is a 6-acre back-barrier marsh located behind Pemaquid Beach in Bristol , Maine . Prior to 2005, the marsh had limited saltwater input due to roadway culverts that restricted tidal flow, which was resulting in the marsh transforming into a brackish wetland. The Pemaquid Salt Marsh Restoration Project was a culvert replacement designed to diminish undesirable brackish plant species and increase native salt marsh vegetation by restoring natural tidal flow. Post-restoration monitoring results from 2005-2007 indicate that there have been substantial favorable changes in the marsh. For a direct link to this report, go to: http://www.pemaquidwatershed.org/images/ Synopsis_PostRestoration.pdf  For a link to the project description and Pemaquid Watershed Association's website, visit: http://www.pemaquidwatershed.org/waterquality.html

Vegetation Classification and Mapping of New River Gorge National River , West Virginia Authors: Vanderhorst, J. P., J. Jeuck, and S. C. Gawler. 2007 -- Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR-2007/092.  National Park Service.  Philadelphia , PA. A vegetation classification and map were developed by the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program for New River Gorge National River following the standards of the U.S. Geological Survey / National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program. For a direct link to this report, go to: http://www.nps.gov/nero/science/FINAL/ NERI_veg_map/NERI_veg_map.htm  For questions and comments, contact Jim Vanderhorst at the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program at jimvanderhorst@wvdnr.gov

Classification and Conservation Assessment of High Elevation Wetland Communities in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia Authors: E.A. Byers, J. P. Vanderhorst, and B. P. Streets. 2007. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Section, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Elkins, WV. Wetland communities above 730 meters (2400 feet) elevation in the Allegheny Mountain region of West Virginia are characterized by exceptionally high biodiversity and conservation value. A new ecological system for the High Allegheny Wetlands and 41 wetland associations were classified, ranked for conservation purposes, and published in the National Vegetation Classification. For a direct link to this publication, go to: http://www.wvdnr.gov/publications/PDFFiles/High%20Allegheny%20Wetlands-web.pdf

ELI Publishes Report on Exploring Opportunities to Integrate State Wildlife Action Plans with State Wetland Mitigation and Restoration Programs ELI has published a report from a workshop: Explore Opportunities to Integrate the State Wildlife Action Plans into Improved Wetland Conservation and Restoration, including audio recordings, PowerPoint presentations, and related documents, are available on ELI’s website at http://www.eli.org/pdf/joint_meeting/ELI%20Workshop%20Final%20Report.pdf

2007 UHN Stormwater Center Report Now Online The University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center 2007 Annual Report is now available online: http://ciceet.unh.edu/unh_stormwater_report_2007/index.php Produced in partnership with the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), this publication contains performance data on the ability of stormwater treatment systems to treat water quality and manage water quantity. To manage stormwater in a way that prevents flooding, protects infrastructure, and safeguards human and environmental health, coastal communities require science-based, independent information on the performance of stormwater treatment systems. The CICEET-sponsored UNH Stormwater Center is unique in its ability to conduct such evaluations in a side-by-side setting. Its field site is designed ot test a range of stormwater treatment systems, from lowimpact development approaches to manufactured devices. This report is one of several tools the enter uses to communicate the results of its research to coastal communities interested in designing stormwater projects that protect water resources and improve resilience in a time of rapid development and more frequent and intense storms. In response to stakeholder feedback, the 2007 report includes information on the land use settings in which the evaluated systems are typically deployed, the type of application to which they are best suited, installation costs, and maintenance. If you have a suggestion for improving next year's report, please take a few minutes to fill out this online survey: http://survey.unh.edu/surveycat/surveys/survey406_unhsc2007.htm

Salt Marsh Booklet Released by Gulf of Maine Council Salt marshes remove pollution from the water, provide food and shelter for fish and birds, protect the shoreline from erosion, and perform other valuable roles in the ecosystem. However, 75 percent of salt marshes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and 37 percent in New England states have been destroyed. A new booklet, Salt Marshes in the Gulf of Maine: Human Impacts, Habitat Restoration, and Long-term Change Analysis offers a reader-friendly look at the ecology of these vital coastal wetlands and ways to bring them back to health. The booklet can be downloaded in PDF format, and hard copies are available upon request. For more information and to obtain the booklet go to, http://www.gulfofmaine.org/saltmarsh/

Dam Removal and the Wetlands Regulations in MA This document, available on Mass DEP's website, provides guidance for conservation commissions and the Department of Environmental Protection, as the permitting authorities, in the application of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and its regulations. For more information, obtain a copy of this document at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/policies.htm#dam

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NEWS

FEBRUARY

MI: Humbug Marsh Will Become Michigan's First Wetland of International Importance Under the Ramsar Convention Contact: Tracy Collin – Michigan Department of Natural Resources Press Release – February 2, 2010 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. National Ramsar Committee are pleased to announce that Humbug Marsh will become Michigan's first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. For more information, go to: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/news/release.cfm?rid=170  and for full press release, go to: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-7251_7253-231028--RSS,00.html

JANUARY

Comments Sought on Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement GreatLakesNews – January 2010 Comments are now being accepted by the Canadian and United States Governments on Governance issues as input to the binational negotiations to amend the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). In addition to the comments already provided through the 2006-7 Review of the GLWQA, we invite you to provide new ideas or suggestions concerning the issue of Governance within the context of binational cooperation in the Great Lakes basin. If you would would like to provide additional input, please submit your comments in writing using the comment feature at   http://binational.net/glwqa_2010_e.html  If you are unfamiliar with the findings and recommendations of the 2006-7 Review process, we encourage you to consult the key reference reports online at http://binational.net/glwqa_2007_e.html. Additional comments on Governance are due no later than February 14, 2010

TX: Scope of oil spill's damage, cause still a mystery By Jennifer Latson, et.al. – Houston Chronicle – January 25, 2010 As cleanup efforts of Texas' worst oil spill in more than a decade continued today, Coast Guard officials were examining radio transmissions to find out what went wrong in the moments before an 800-foot tanker collided with a barge carrying chemicals off Port Arthur. Saturday morning's collision ripped a 15-by-8-foot hole in the hull of the Eagle Otome, which was loaded with Mexican crude oil intended for a Beaumont Exxon refinery. The crash dumped 462,000 gallons of oil into the intracoastal waterway in what Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said was the biggest Texas oil spill since 1994. For full story, go to: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6833095.html

New Hampshire Aquatic Resource Mitigation Program Extends Grant Application Deadline for the Winnipesaukee River Watershed The New Hampshire Aquatic Resource Mitigation Program at the Department of Environmental Services has extended the grant application deadline for funding projects within the Winnipesaukee River Watershed. The DES Aquatic Resource Mitigation (ARM) Fund provides an in-lieu fee payment alternative for permit applicants to consider when striving to meet state and federal wetland mitigation requirements. NHDES is pleased to announce that up to $153,000 is available through the ARM Fund for eligible projects within the Winnipesaukee River Watershed. Extended Application Submission Deadline – One hard copy and one copy in PDF format of the completed application and all associated documentation are due at the DES Wetlands Bureau office ( address below ) no later than 4 p.m. on April 30, 2010. Please note DES cannot accept documents larger than 10 MB in size. The application form with instructions is available at www.des.nh.gov; just click on the “A to Z LIST,” select “Wetlands Bureau,” and look for “Mitigation” under “Related Programs” (or see http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wetlands/wmp/index.htm).

FL: EPA Proposes Standards to Protect Florida’s Waters This action would decrease the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen pollution in Florida waters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing water quality standards to protect people’s health, aquatic life and the long term recreational uses of Florida’s waters, which are a critical part of the state’s economy. In 2009, EPA entered into a consent decree with the Florida Wildlife Federation to propose limits to this pollution. The proposed action, released for public comment and developed in collaboration with the state, would set a series of numeric limits on the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen, also known as “nutrients,” that would be allowed in Florida’s lakes, rivers, streams, springs and canals. EPA will accept public comments on the proposed standards for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. EPA will also hold three public hearings on the proposed rule in Florida to obtain input and comments on the direction of EPA’s rulemaking. These hearings are scheduled for February 16, 17 and 18, 2010 in Tallahassee, Orlando, and West Palm Beach, respectively. For more on the proposed rule and public hearings, visit: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida/

NY: Editorial: Wetlands need some protection Editorial staff - Poughkeepsie Journal – January 22, 2010 Hyde Park's plan to scrap a wetlands protection law is a dangerous move without a firm back-up proposal in place. The newly seated Town Board should give the matter far more consideration. At bare minimum, if it does repeal the law as expected next week, the new supervisor must make good on his promise to "start from scatch" and put in place some legal protections for these critically important water bodies. For full story, go to: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100122/OPINION01/1220314/Editorial-Wetlands-need-some-protection

MN: Committee formed to explore white cedar wetland mitigation By Laurel Beager – International Falls Daily Journal – January 21, 2010 A new committee to be formed by Koochiching County will explore whether white cedar stands may be managed to serve as wetland credits. The committee, made up of resource managers, commissioners from Koochiching and Lake of the Woods counties, a state forester, and land surveyors, will develop a plan that would outline management techniques that would allow some or all of the county’s 13,000 acres of white cedar to be used as credits when governments need to mitigate disturbances to wetlands through development. For full story, go to: http://www.ifallsdailyjournal.com/news/county-news/committee-formed-explore-white-cedar-wetland-mitigation-laurel-beager-editor-101

MT: Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) 2010 Application Deadline Approaching Liberty County Times – January 21, 2010 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces the 2010 offer values for Wetland Reserve Program easements. WRP is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to landowners and Tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from agriculture. For full story, go to: http://highline.townnews.com/articles/2010/01/21/news/news7.txt

DE: Delaware Needs Working Wetlands By Molly Murray – News Journal – January 21, 2010 The Nanticoke River watershed, one of the most pristine in the state, has lost thousands of acres of wetlands since Colonial times and about 80 percent of its natural streams have been channelized. Some 28 percent of the wetlands that remain are highly fragmented and most are moderately or severely stressed, said Amy Jacobs, an environmental scientist with the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. For full story, go to: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100121/NEWS02/1210349

LA: Coastal restoration effort moves into higher gear By Mark Schleifstein - The Times-Picayune – January 21, 2010 Embarking on its 20th year of building small to moderate-sized coastal restoration projects, the Breaux Act Task Force on Wednesday added four new projects to its list of 144 active projects and moved five more from design into construction. The decisions will result in more than $115 million being spent on the nine projects, some of which could see construction begin within a few months. For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/01/coastal_restoration_effort_mov.html

OR: Airplane Crash Claims Lives of Two Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Biologists FWS News Release – January 19, 2010 Two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists died in the crash of their small aircraft on January 17th in western Oregon. Pilot-biologist Vernon Ray (Ray) Bentley, 52, from Blodgett, Oregon, and David Sherwood (Dave) Pitkin, 49, from Bandon, Oregon, died when their plane went down west of Philomath, Oregon. The two were returning from Newport, Oregon, after a day spent flying over estuaries along the Oregon coast, counting ducks, geese and swans for the Service’s annual mid-winter waterfowl survey. For full press release, go to: http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=47C3737C-B35D-099F-611B5E1E5B517371

CA: 'Outside the box' By Virginie Boone – Press Democrat – January 16, 2010 Ever since he was a boy, Tim Thornhill has looked for ways to do what others have told him can't be done. Case in point: A partner in Mendocino Wine Co. in Ukiah, Thornhill recently built his own wetlands to recycle the winery's wastewater, pulling from his years of experience as an arborist and horticulturist who gained fame for his ability to move gigantic heritage trees that would otherwise have been gone forever. For full story, go to: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100116/LIFESTYLE/100119695?Title=-Outside-the-box-&tc=ar

MS: EPA fines man for wetlands violation: Waveland resident accused of illegally filling property By Donna Melton - The Sun Herald – January 16, 2010 A Waveland man has been fined $100,000 for illegally filling wetlands on his property near Edwards Bayou. The Environmental Protection Agency issued the fine against Rodney O. Corr for a violation against the federal Clean Water Act. The EPA charges that in 2004, Corr, or those acting on his behalf, illegally discharged fill material into about 14 acres of wetlands while clearing a site for commercial development at Mississippi 603 and Favre Lane. The area is adjacent to Edwards Bayou, a tributary to the Jourdan River in Hancock County. For full article, go to: http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/news_display/140082856.html

LA: Students to catalog area's vanishing culture By Nikki Buskey – Houma Today – January 16, 2010 Remembrances of life when the landscapes of Terrebonne and Lafourche were radically different will soon be collected and stored alongside some of New Orleans' most-important historical artifacts. Teachers from Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes attended a workshop Thursday at The Historic New Orleans Collection in the French Quarter to begin a project aimed at gathering stories of the area's vanishing bayou communities from the people who lived them. For full story, go to: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100116/ARTICLES/100119504/1026

FL: Everglades still in decline, group says UPI.com – January 14, 2010 The subtropical Florida Everglades wetlands are still deteriorating a decade after Washington began a multibillion-dollar plan to restore them, advocates say. The Everglades, a victim of a half-century of environmental damage, remains unhealthy, with few species of wildlife other than birds still there and a growing number of invasive species like iguanas, Brazilian pepper plants and Australian pine trees, retired biologist Allen Trefrey told The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post. For full article, go to: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/01/14/Everglades-still-in-decline-group-says/UPI-80471263497235/

WA: Man concerned with bushes becoming refuge for criminal activity By Candice Boutilier – Columbia Basin Herald – January 14, 2010 Attorney Harold Moberg informed Moses Lake City Council of an area near his law office he says has become a refuge for the homeless and sex offenders. The area is next to his law office on East Riviera Avenue. It’s comprised of thick Russian olive trees and other shrubs. Vagrants have made a home out of the brush complete with an entrance door and pathways. The area is covered in garbage and a broken chair. The area is designated as a protected wetland. For full article, go to: http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2010/01/14/news/doc4b4f99a874642283733486.txt

NY: Architects Plan 'Amphibious Landscape' for New York City By Nathaniel Gronewold – New York Times – January 11, 2010 What would New York's waterfront look like after a sea level rise of 2 feet or more? Most officials paint a nightmare scenario -- huge swaths of expensive real estate permanently flooded, with frequent storms and the resultant storm surge routinely forcing mass evacuations every few years. But several architects are now painting a more positive picture, and their visions for a post-climate-change new New York have city planners interested. For full story, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/01/11/11climatewire-architects-plan- amphibious-landscape-for-new-45297.html

AK: Rational plan in place to retain, develop wetlands By Chris Stephens – Anchorage Daily News – January 9, 2010 I recently met with an expert on development and preservation of wetlands. Wetlands are protected under federal laws because they are important for flood control, water quality, recreation and animal habitat. For full story, go to: http://www.adn.com/money/story/1086803.html

MN: Dennis Anderson: Past reborn for duck hunting? By Dennis Anderson (Opinion) – Minneapolis Star Tribune – January 9, 2010 The DNR announced Saturday a new tack in its attempt to return ducks to the state. Chief Seattle and George Bird Grinnell, keystones in the foundation of the American conservation movement, would have smiled had they been in Brooklyn Center on Saturday afternoon. Theodore Roosevelt, too. For full opinion article, go to: http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/81076177.html?elr=KArks7 PYDiaK7DUHPYDiaK7DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

ID: Boise's innovative plan to build wetlands is being watched across the country By Bethann Stewart – Idaho Statesman – January 9, 2010 Tucked along the Dixie Drain - about four miles from Notus, Wilder and Parma - sits a piece of land that is perfect for so many things. Dean Goodner bought the 49 acres about 14 years ago for duck hunting. His Texas longhorns cluster around hay bales near a trout pond on one side of the drain, which runs to the Boise River. On the other, a pasture waits for spring. But the city of Boise now owns the property - purchased for a totally different reason. For full story, go to: http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/1035267.html

SD: Farmers Fear Expansion of Wetlands Protection By Thom Gabukiewicz – Argus Leader – January 9, 2010 Conservation groups are asking Congress to restore Clean Water Act protection to small wetlands, especially those in the Prairie Pothole region of the Upper Plains. Yet other groups, including property rights and farm and ranching interests, fear the legislation will result only in a federal land grab. The bill, SB 787 or the Clean Water Restoration Act, is at the heart of the debate. The legislation, which would remove the word "navigable" from the Clean Water Act, is awaiting debate on the Senate floor this year. For full story, go to: http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100109/NEWS/1090331/1003/business

MI: Plant, not humans, threatening Detroit River wetlands By David Paulk – The Eastern Echo – January 6, 2010 The wetlands along the Detroit River are in danger, and the enemy is a crafty one. Hiding among its prey like a chameleon on the prowl, this invader is relentless. Usually, the greatest enemies of wetlands are humans, famous for draining or filling them in. But this time, that is not the case. For full story, go to: http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/article/2010/01/plant_not_humans_ threatening_detroit_river_wetlands

MI: Editorial: Yes to Greenseams Journal Sentinel - January 1, 2010 Want less flooding, fewer sewer overflows, fewer bypasses into Lake Michigan? Let nature do its job. That's the idea behind a program of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District that preserves green space upstream to prevent flooding downstream in area waterways. It's an idea that deserves support - and copying by municipalities and other sewerage districts. Development can often mean additional flooding for area waterways as water-soaking ground is replaced with concrete. And additional water pouring into sewers can overwhelm a sewage system, resulting in flooded basements and overflows. For full editorial, go to: http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/80418527.html

Archived News Return to Top of Page

DECEMBER

MA: Unclogging the bog By Robert Knox – Boston Globe – December 27, 2009 In a signature effort for the state’s environmental restoration campaign, workers have begun restoring the headwaters of the Eel River, a 5-mile coastal waterway that flows past tourist mecca Plimoth Plantation and into Plymouth Harbor through some of the town’s choicest countryside. Public and private environmental agencies say the ambitious project to return the Eel to its natural state will be good for fish, native plants, and other creatures that depend on a coastal river environment, as well as for people who fish, watch birds, and take nature walks. For full story, go to: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/12/27/massive_effort_to_restore_ eel_river_in_plymouth_begins/

NH: Wetlands need better protection Concord Monitor – December 27, 2009 In a 2006 decision involving a wetlands permit for a subdivision in Greenland, the New Hampshire Supreme Court drew a firm line that may have been on the right side of the law but was on the wrong side of the welfare of the environment. It is a ruling that lawmakers should remedy in the coming legislative session. For full story, go to: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091227/OPINION/912270341/1037/NEWS04

TX: Wetlands Reserve Program benefits Navarro County Corsicana Daily Sun – December 26, 2009 During a time of possible operational transition for landowners throughout north-central Texas, many have selected conservation programs from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to help sustain their land use and the rural landscape so vital to the success of their ranches. For full story, go to: http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/local/local_story_360181356.html

FL: Wildlife drama plays out on pristine Panhandle island By Kevin Spear – Orlando Sentinel – December 25, 2009 The bloodstained dirt, the tracks of perhaps a half-dozen attackers and the lethal wounds to an enormous beast spoke of a methodical killing that Thomas Lewis has never forgotten. The federal biologist came across the scene a few years ago in the Florida Panhandle, on an island where antlered creatures five times bigger than native deer spend their days munching lily pads — until they are devoured by a top predator once declared extinct. For full story, go to: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-incredible-florida-island-20091224,0,5475233.story

LA: YouTube video brings attention to state's coastal conservation By Daniel McBride – Daily Comet – December 24, 2009 In three minutes, Spring Gaines is hoping to save Louisiana's coast. The 24-year-old Nicholls State University graduate recently posted a video on YouTube, a Web site that showcases millions of videos, many of them user-submitted, to viewers around the world. In the video, Gaines calls upon her audience to take an active role to protect Louisiana's rapidly disappearing wetland. For full story, go to: http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20091224/ARTICLES/912239895/1026

OH: With dam breach deal, Brentwood’s losing its lake By Brad Dicken – the Chronicle-Telegram – December 23, 2009 A dam at Brentwood Lake in Carlisle Township that state officials have warned was “in danger of catastrophic failure” will be breached by Feb. 1, according to the terms of a settlement reached Tuesday. Spitzer Hardware & Supply Co., which owns the lake, will share the cost of the $60,000 to $70,000 project with the township and the county. Spitzer, a division of Spitzer Management, will pay for engineering and other costs, while the county and township will provide much of the manpower and equipment needed for the project. For full story, go to: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2009/12/23/with-dam-breach-deal-brentwoods-losing-its-lake/

AZ: S.787 – The Clean Water Restoration Act and its potential impact in Arizona Editorial By Gregory McKim – Phoenix Environmental News Examiner – December 21, 2010 A new bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify the jurisdiction of the United States over waters of the United States has been proposed by Senator Russell Feingold of Wisconsin and currently has 24 co-sponsors in the senate. The bill was introduced and referred to the Environment and Public Works Committee on April 2nd, of 2009. The Open Congress web site dedicated to providing citizens information about the laws being made in Washington D.C. gives the following official summary of the bill. For full article, go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-33690-Phoenix-Environmental-News-Examiner~y2009m12d21-S787--The-Clean-Water-Restoration-Act-and-its-potential-impact-in-Arizona

FL: Editorial: Destroying the Everglades at 25 Cents Per Ton By Alan Farago – Counter Punch – December 21, 2009 In early December, on an unseasonably hot and humid Florida day, I sat under a large tent in a crowd of hundreds at the edge of a man-made canal draining the Everglades. On stage, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, deputy assistant secretary of the Army ‘Rock’ Salt who oversees the Corps of Engineers, Gary Guzy, deputy director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and assorted dignitaries to celebrate the decision by the Obama White House and Congress to invest in the elevation of the roadway—one mile of Tamiami Trail—allowing fresh water to flow and hopefully nourish parts of the Everglades that remain as a pale reminder of spectacular biodiversity. For full editorial, go to: http://www.counterpunch.org/farago12212009.html

VT: Ruling may clear way for upgrade of Route 2 By Peter Hirschfeld  - Times Argus/Vermont Press Bureau – December 21, 2009 Transportation officials say a recent ruling by environmental regulators could clear the way for the first phase of a long-planned upgrade of Route 2, Vermont's major east-west traffic corridor. But opponents of the project say they'll continue to challenge a plan that they believe threatens wetlands and recreational areas in central Vermont. A decade-old proposal to widen and improve three sections of Route 2 between Cabot and Danville was delayed earlier this year when the District 5 Environmental Commission – responsible for ensuring Act 250 compliance – said the Agency of Transportation's plan for wetlands mitigation didn't meet regulatory muster. For full story, visit: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20091221/NEWS01/912210339/1002/NEWS01

NJ: West Milford considers wetlands land swap for doomed lake By Barbara Williams – North Jersey – December 20, 2009 Its days are numbered for sure, given the state’s plan to drain it down to a dank swamp. But West Milford Lake may still have a chance to be an asset to the community. Anthony Patire, who owns the 14-acre site including the lake and its shoreline off Marshall Hill Road, wants to turn the property into a mitigation area — where an individual or group pays money to maintain it as an environmentally sensitive area in exchange for disturbing wetlands on their own property. The project must be approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. For full story, go to: http://www.northjersey.com/news/WEST_MILFORD_CONSIDERS_WETLANDS_LAND_SWAP.html

CA: Lagoons replenish nature’s splendor By Janet Lavelle – San Diego Union-Tribune – December 20, 2009 Look closely at the string of lagoons along coastal North County and you’ll see it: crisp, bright days of winter promising renewal. It’s at this time of year that bird populations explode in the six lagoons, as migratory fowl wing south along the Pacific Flyway in an inexorable call of breeding and survival. For full story, go to: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/20/lagoons-replenish-natures-splendor/

New Oregon Wetlands Geodatabase Website Launched! A statewide wetlands geodatabase containing wetland mapping and hydric soils mapping based on NWI and SSURGO, but enhanced with extensive additional mapping from state, federal, and local governments, NGOs, nonprofits, and academia. Other datasets include FEMA flood zones, sites in the NRCS Wetland Reserve Program, existing wetland mitigation banks, boundaries of local wetland inventories, and recommended priority sites for use in wetland conservation, enhancement, and mitigation. The Oregon Explorer website is at: http://oregonexplorer.info/wetlands/

IN: Upping the ante on waterway relief By Erika Smith – Indiana Star – December 18, 2009 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been asked to play referee in an escalating fight over the way Indiana protects its waterways from pollution. On Thursday, the Hoosier Environmental Council, Environmental Law & Policy Center and Sierra Club filed a joint petition pushing the EPA to step in and force the state's Department of Environmental Management to change the way it enforces the federal Clean Water Act. For full story, go to: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200912180245/NEWS/912180339

MD: Opinion: Allan Lichtman: Global warming: a state problem? By Allan Lichtman – Maryland Gazette – December 18, 2009 Maryland is one of the most vulnerable of the American states to the devastating effects of global warming. According to Chesapeake Climate Action Network, "The effects of global warming will cause massive changes. Maryland, with over 3,100 miles of coastline, is the third most vulnerable state to sea level rise — after Louisiana and Florida. With just a small rise in sea level rise, Maryland's Chesapeake Bay culture and much of the Eastern Shore will be dramatically impacted." http://www.gazette.net/stories/12182009/policol162612_32555.php

CA: Help restore salt ponds to wetlands

By Meenu Gupta – Tri-City Voice – December 16, 2009 Driving over the Dumbarton Bridge and the South Bay shoreline, the salt ponds of the area are clearly visible. These manmade salt ponds were created to harvest salt occurring naturally in the Bay. Material from the Bay floor is dredged up to build the levees and create the salt ponds. For full story, go to: http://www.tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2009-12-16&file=story2.txt

CT: Brighton committee recommends wetland access for birders

By Bill Tremblay – Northumberland News – December 15, 2009 Birders may soon be able to access Brighton's constructed wetlands. Brighton's committee of the whole agreed to recommend to council the creation of a permit for birders to access the wetlands, at its Dec. 14 meeting. The permits will cost $5. The committee of the whole agreed to recommend the permit-generated funds be used to increase environmental education of the wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.northumberlandnews.com/news/brighton/article/142634

VT: Circumferential Highway Gets New Design

By John Dillon – Vermont Public Radio – December 16, 2009 The state Transportation Agency is changing the design of the Circumferential Highway in an effort to win approval from federal agencies. Officials have re-designed the roadway to avoid destroying some wetlands. The change came after the Environmental Protection Agency opposed the original plan for a limited access highway. For full story, go to: http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/86683/

CT: Late Material on Application Causes Problem for Wetlands

By Ann Compton – Voices – December 16, 2009 In spite of careful revisions made last year to its regulations, the Inland Wetlands Commission has been handed another hot potato regarding the Wykeham Rise property, the 27-acre site of a former private school at 101 Wykeham Road. The commission closed the public hearing on an application submitted by Wykeham developer Matthew Klauer on November 24 due to statutory time constraints. For full story, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20395725&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157525&rfi=6

FL: Kissimmee River making comeback

By Kevin Lollar – News-Press – December 14, 2009 Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series looking at the Everglades Restoration project and its effect on Lee County. An almost day-and-night biological change met passengers last week as the pontoon boat entered the restored section of the Kissimmee River from the C-38 canal. While the 300-foot-wide, laser-straight C-38 was dull and lifeless, the 25- to 50-foot-wide, serpentine, restored river channel exploded with wildlife, especially birds. Among the busy, often-noisy cast were great blue, little blue and tri-color herons, ospreys, wood storks and lots of alligators. http://www.news-press.com/article/20091214/GREEN/91213049/1075/Kissimmee-River-making-comeback

NH: N.H. sees increase in shoreland violations

By Eric Parry – The Eagle Tribune – December 13, 2009 Maggie Osborn has had state inspectors at her Valcat Lane home three times since she started construction last year. The Department of Environmental Services has come to make sure she didn't violate shoreland protection laws by cutting down too many trees and letting silt wash into Big Island Pond during construction. "We've been targeted for everything," she said. For full story, go to: http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_346183926.html?keyword=secondarystory

KS: Duck season set to go green

By Marc Murrell – Topeka-Capital Journal – December 12, 2009 Christmas is just around the corner. But if you're a duck hunter you might think Christmas has come early if you know where to look for some outstanding duck hunting opportunities this month. December in Kansas can provide some of the best waterfowling of the season. Waterfowlers armed with a bit of knowledge set up in the right location come sunrise might find they have a limit of ducks hanging on their duck strap in short order. For full story, go to: http://cjonline.com/sports/outdoors/2009-12-12/duck_season_set_to_go_green

OK: Weekly Wildlife Report/Outdoor Calendar

Bixby Bulletin – December 11, 2009 The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recently recognized Tillman County Commissioner Joe Don Dickey for his role in the construction of an access road and parking lot at the Hackberry Flat Center. Following Dickey's recognition, the Commission heard a presentation from Melynda Hickman, wildlife diversity biologist for the Wildlife Department, and Alan Stacey, wetland development biologist for the Wildlife Department, on the significance of Hackberry Flat and the on-site Hackberry Flat Center, as well as the success and significance of wetland restoration projects statewide. For full report, go to: http://www.bixbybulletin.com/articles/2009/12/11/news/doc4b217b6b1849c723641149.txt

OR: Viewing opportunities elevated at wetlands

By Dick Mason – The Observer – December 11, 2009 Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area bird watchers are in for a treat. A new wooden viewing platform and walkway is giving visitors a bird’s-eye view of the Tule Lake Public Access Area of Ladd Marsh, 1.25 miles north of Highway 203 on Peach Road. The platform and walkway, mounted on concrete pillars, stand over a over a portion of Ladd Marsh, which is now an expansive sheet of ice. The area under the platform and walkway is almost impossible to walk through without ice skates or cleats. It is equally difficult to get through in the spring and summer when people have to slosh through thick mud and vegetation. For full story, go to: http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/Features/Outdoor/Recreation/Viewing-opportunities-elevated-at-wetlands

CT: Bristol company fined for violating Clean Water Act

By Diane Church – Bristol Press – December 11, 2009 A Bristol construction company was fined $21,600 for violating the Clean Water Act when it allowed unpermitted fill and sediment to enter wetlands in town. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District issued a Class 1 Administrative Penalty against Carpenter Realty Co. of Bristol. The company was issued a permit in May of 2005 authorizing it to place fill material in 999 square feet of wetlands as it built a road for access to an industrial subdivision off Queen Street. For full story, go to: http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2009/12/11/news/doc4b23041513930336796909.txt

MO: What's with the ducks

By Staff – Constitution Tribune – December 10, 2009 As we enter the last two weeks of the Missouri 2009 North Zone duck season, area waterfowlers are wondering, "What's with the ducks?" Despite reports of a near-record fall flight, based on last May's U.S. Fish & Wildlife nesting ground census, duck hunting in north central Missouri's wetlands could best be termed "spotty." Perhaps we duck hunters had too great an expectation, what with the reported huge numbers of waterfowl poised to come down, and coming off a darn good season last year, even though duck numbers weren't as high. For full story, go to: http://www.chillicothenews.com/sports/x250081266/Whats-with-the-ducks

CA: How California Is Taking Climate Change Seriously

By Gina-Marie Cheeseman – Triplepundit – December 10, 2009 California, the most populous state in the Union, takes climate change seriously. Last week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a map of what climate change might do to California. The California Energy Commission and Google.org paid the Stockholm Environment Institute to develop maps with Google Earth so Californians can see what the possible impacts of climate change might be, and how the state will need to adapt. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also released a video last week in which he argued that reducing California’s carbon dioxide levels is not enough. “We must also be prepared for some continued climate change, which is now inevitable,” he said. For full story, go to: http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/ 12/how-california-is-taking-climate-change-seriously/comment-page-1/

KS: Dec. 15 Approval Date Set for Wetland Applications

Kansas Farmer – December 10, 2009 An approval date of Dec. 15 has been set for applications to the Wetlands Reserve Program. Eric Banks, state conservationist for the National Resources Conservation Service, said those applicants that have been determined eligible and have already had site visits will be considered for FY 2010 funding on Dec. 15. There will be a second approval ldate on Feb. 19, 2010 for additional applications. Fields subject to frequent flooding, had drainage systems installed prior to 1985, or ponded water for a period of time may be eligible for WRP.  WRP also has a requirement of land ownership for a period of seven years prior to making application.  For full story, go to: http://kansasfarmer.com/story.aspx?s=33800&c=9

NJ: EPA clears sensitive wetlands deemed off-limits to owner

By Steve Prisament – Shore News – December 9, 2009 James Del Cane is not allowed to cut down a single tree on his two acres of wetlands off Pomona Road. Yet, about a month ago, the federal Environmental Protection Agency plowed out about a three-quarter-mile path and installed two wells, according to Del Cane, clearing portions of land where he has spent thousands of dollars on studies about the tree frog, barred owl, copper hawk and pine snake. Del Cane said he received a notice in the mail in early October stating the EPA’s intentions. “I called the guy right away, but he was on vacation,” he said. “I left a message, but he never returned my call.” For full story, go to: http://www.shorenewstoday.com/news.php?id=6301

NC: State digs into wetlands program

By Dan Kane – News Observer – December 9, 2009 State leaders said Tuesday that they have ordered reviews of an environmental program that critics say allows double dipping from funds to replace wetlands and streams damaged by development. Gov. Bev Perdue has told her panel assigned to reform the state budget to dig into the state Ecosystem Enhancement Program, while Senate leader Marc Basnight sent the work to the legislature's Program Evaluation Division. Both Democrats said through spokespeople that they are concerned about how the program is operating. For full article, go to: http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/232261.html

NY: Wingdale development's environmental review process is in final stages

By Michael Woyton – Poughkeepsie Journal – December 9, 2009 Six years after the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center was purchased from the state, the Dover Town Board will begin final steps in the environmental review process Wednesday. Supervisor Ryan Courtien said the board would review the final environmental impact study created for the Knolls of Dover project, a proposal to build a transit-oriented development with homes, stores, offices and recreational facilities on the 931-acre site in Wingdale. For full story, go to: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20091209/NEWS01/912090328

NH: Concord NRC to hold hearing on wetlands regulations

Concord Journal – December 9, 2009 The Concord Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10, to present a draft of the wetlands regulations for approval at Town Meeting 2010. The meeting will be held in the Hearing Room at the Town House, 22 Monument Square, at 7:30 p.m. At Town Meeting 2009, the NRC presented and voters passed a Non-Zoning Wetlands Bylaw to improve the town’s ability to protect Concord’s wetlands and riverfront areas. The bylaw focused on three main areas: protection of certified vernal pools and the 25-foot no disturb zone, and compliance. For full story, go to: http://www.wickedlocal.com/concord/news/x987136586/Concord-NRC-to-hold-hearing-on-wetlands-regulations

NY: Editorial: What ‘Talking Gardens’ say

Editorial Staff – Democrat Herald – December 10, 2009 U.S. Senators John McCain and Tom Coburn were having fun with the federal stimulus program in their latest report, and you can see why Albany’s wastewater wetlands project got on their list of questionable spending of taxpayer dollars. […] It is questionable because it is the result of questionable regulations under the federal Clean Water Act. Regulations based on the act demand that the city do something about the “heat” of its wastewater. This wetlands project is expensive, but city officials say other solutions — cooling towers, for example — would cost even more. For full editorial, go to: http://www.democratherald.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_c7bba72a-e5f3-11de-841a-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

CA: Panel OKs permit for soil cap on wetlands site

By Joe Segura – Long Beach Press Telegram – December 3, 2009 The city's Planning Commission approved a special permit for the capping of a Los Cerritos Wetlands habitat area Thursday night. The commission, however, added the requirement that the area be restored with plants and trees. The unanimous vote, following three hours of testimony, includes instructions to the city staff to outline options on the level of restoration. Commissioner Donita Van Horik made the motion to require the restoration. "At this point, we need to say, `Enough is enough,"' she said. For full story, go to: http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_13923114

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NOVEMBER

CO: Protection Sought for Colorado River Cutthroat Trout under the Endangered Species Act By Noah Greenwald – ENN – November 24, 2009 "The Colorado River cutthroat trout has been lost from most of its range and needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act," said Noah Greenwald, endangered species program director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "The only reason the trout was denied protection was because of a Bush policy that called for ignoring a species' lost historic range when determining whether a species is endangered."  For full story, go to: http://www.enn.com/press_releases/3174

OH: New Wetlands a Legacy to Late Waterfowler By Steve Pollick – Toledo Blade – November 24, 2009 Sometimes wetlands conservationists, faced with the daunting task of restoring and rebuilding the nation's vanishing marshes and wet prairies and woodlands, must feel like the mythical Little Dutch Boy - thumb in the dike, holding back the angry North Sea. Then comes a golden late-autumn afternoon in the sleepy countryside hard by Sandusky Bay, and suddenly prospects for the low-lying world where land and water merge looks a mite brighter. For full story, go to: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091124/COLUMNIST22/911240376/-1/SPORTS06

RI: Mistake in Mapping Results in Wetlands Violation by Provincetown By Kevin Mullaney – Wicked Local Provincetown – November 23, 2009 An alleged mapping error by the town is being blamed for the clearing of vegetation within the 100-foot buffer zone of a wetland along Route 6 without permission from the town’s conservation commission, an error that has infuriated some residents, the board of selectmen and the conservation commission. The issue was brought before selectmen last Monday by Miriam Collinson, owner of the Dunes Edge Campground, on the south side of Route 6. For full story, go to: http://www.wickedlocal.com/provincetown/town_info/government/x1792903421/Mistake-in-mapping-results-in-wetlands-violation-by-Provincetown

LA: State Asks Feds to Use Dredged Sediment for Wetland Repairs By Scott Satchfield – WWLTV News – November 23, 2009 Louisiana officials believe the key to saving the state's coastal wetlands sits along the bottom of the Mississippi River. Problem is, instead of using river sediment for our benefit, officials point out that the Army Corps of Engineers discards it. "The corps dredges millions of cubic yards each year -- sediment that should be going to restore our coast, instead is being washed out into the gulf," said Scott Angelle, who heads up the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. For full story, go to: http://www.wwltv.com/news/State-asks-Feds-to-use-dredged-sediment-for-wetland-repairs-71932802.html

WA: Salmon Center Embraces New Belfair Farm Home By Christopher Dunagan – Kitsap Sun – November 22, 2009 Growing crops and rearing alpacas have been added to the list of programs being conducted by Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, which recently moved into its new home near the Belfair wetlands. For the first time in years, staffers from the salmon center and Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group are located together in offices and laboratories at a single location — specifically the old Jack Johnson farm, which was acquired with state grants and local contributions. An open house has been scheduled for Dec. 9 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the center, which is located at the end of Roessel Road in Belfair. “It’s been a long path,” said salmon center President Fred Barrett, “but we’re finally here.” Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/22/salmon-center-embraces-new-farm-home/#ixzz0XodvNwSu

NY: Town's Lax Tree Laws Fuel Anger By Sandra Tan – Buffalo Times – November 22, 2009 William Huntress has spent much of the last three years cutting down thousands of trees, filling in wetlands and digging drainage ditches on property he owns near Wehrle Drive in Amherst — all in violation of town and federal law. Yet flouting the community and the law has come fairly cheaply: a $1,000 fine. "This is really a joke, and Huntress knows it's a joke," said Ann Suchyna, one of Huntress' most outspoken critics. "It's such an insult to the taxpayers, the Amherst residents. He basically has wiped out the forest." For full story, go to: http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/869741.html

NJ: Kinnelon Acquires Wetlands By Scott Fallon – North Jersey Record – November 21, 2009 The Borough Council approved the purchase and preservation of a 169-acre tract of wetlands and forest Thursday night for $2.8 million, ending a long debate over its future. Known as the Weber Tract, the land was the last large developable parcel in the borough. The property, adjacent to Silas Condict Park, near Maple Lake and Kinnelon roads, was slated for a 150-unit town house development for seniors. However, the 2004 Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act effectively smothered the proposal with new regulations aimed at protecting key water-generating lands. For full story, go to: http://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/70684937.html

KS: Fall Family Field Trip to Wakarusa Wetlands Opinion by Alison Reber – Kansas City Environmental News Examiner – November 20, 2009 Take a fall break family field trip to Baker Wetlands (Lawrence), one of the regions most celebrated habitat restoration and outdoor education sites.   Baker University Wetlands, south of Lawrence, along with adjacent wetlands on the Haskell Indian Nations University campus are but small remenants of what was once a vast wetland complex along the Wakarusa River.   Over the last 100 years, wetlands in the Wakarusa River watershed have been largely drained and altered for agricultural and development purposes. However, intensive farming was abandoned in the Haskell Bottoms area nearly 35 years ago and habitat restoration efforts began in the mid-'80s. For full story, go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-28239-Kansas-City-Environmental-News-Examiner~y2009m11d20-Fall-Family-Field-Trip-to-Wakarusa-Wetlands

NC: When is Credit Stacking a Souble Dip? By Alice Kenny – Ecosystem Marketplace – November 16, 2009 In North Carolina's Neuse River Basin, where stunning vistas of overhanging birch branches and sandstone bluffs compete with a river tainted by polluted runoff, two titans of the mitigation banking industry wage a battle for the conscience, credibility –and cash – of the emerging mitigation banking business. Call it the Battle of the Georges – George Kelly, that is, founder of Environmental Banc and Exchange, or EBX, and current president of the National Mitigation Banking Association; and George Howard, former director of the association and co-founder and president of Restoration Systems. For full story, go to: http://ecosystemmarketplace.com/pages/article.news.php? component_id=7229&component_version_id=11034&language_id=12e

LA: Coastal restoration projects demand unified effort, Louisiana leaders say by Bruce Alpert – Louisiana Politics – November 4, 2009 The Obama administration should quickly establish a system to coordinate hundreds of millions of dollars in anticipated federal financing for coastal restoration, Louisiana political and business leaders said Wednesday in Washington, D.C. http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/11/coastal_restoration_projects_d.html

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OCTOBER

DE: Green light for dredging of Delaware By Thomas Fitzgerald – Philidelphia Inquierer – October 26, 2009 The Army Corps of Engineers has decided to allow dredging to deepen the shipping channel of the Delaware River despite objections from Delaware state officials, clearing the way for a project long sought to benefit ports in the Philadelphia region. Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant Army secretary for civil works, decided Friday to continue to rely on her predecessor's determination that a permit from Delaware was not needed to proceed, according to officials familiar with the issue. "It's a giant matter of jobs," said Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.), who took the lead in pushing for the decision with Gov. Rendell and Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.). "I think the merits are pretty plain, and there are no environmental downsides." For full story, go to: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20091026_Green_light_for_ dredging_of_Delaware.html

FL: Wetland Mitigation Bank Acknowledged by Ramsar The Wetlandsbank Group is proud to be acknowledged for another milestone reached by the Mitigation Banking Industry.  The associated Panther Island Mitigation Bank pantherisland.blogspot.com project has become the first wetland mitigation bank to be certified as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in its association with Audubon of Florida's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary corkscrew.audubon.org, home of the largest stand of Bald Cypress trees in the world. For more information, visit: wetlandsbank.com

MD: Beaver dam removal prompts concern over wetland By Andrea Noble – Business Gazette – October 22, 2009 Bill Greene used to enjoy the tranquility of the pond that once backed up to his and about 20 other houses in the Olde Stage Knolls neighborhood in Bowie. The pond, which was there before the housing development was built more than 18 years ago, was made by a beaver dam, said Greene and his neighbor, Jeanette Rodkey. But the beavers and the dam were removed and the pond consequently drained in March at the request the Olde Stage Homeowners Association, HOA president David Perroto said. For full story, go to: http://www.gazette.net/stories/10222009/bowinew111217_32524.shtml

MD: Nutria Control Legislation Presented By Greg Latshaw – Delmarva Daily Times – October 22, 2009 Nutria are pudgy, semi-aquatic rodents who aren't native to Maryland but have made their presence known because of their appetite for wetland plants. On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Frank M. Kratovil, D-1st-Md., and Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., took aim at them by introducing the Nutria radication and Control Act of 2009. The bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to fund programs that coastal states are using to control nutria populations. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20091022/NEWS01/910220345/-1/newsfront2/Nutria-control-legislation-presented

MD: Senator discusses conflict between farming and watershed By Jack Brubaker – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal – October 21, 2009 Can Lancaster County's farmers help clean up the Chesapeake Bay's watershed without damaging the agricultural economy? State Sen. Mike Brubaker asked nearly 100 people attending the county's first agricultural summit how many think that dual goal is impossible. No hands went up in the air. Brubaker was "preaching to the choir," as someone later characterized the county commissioners, township supervisors, planners, farmers, agri-business representatives and others attending the summit. For full story, go to: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/243735#

CT: Railroad environmentalist acknowledges wetlands By Melissa Bruen – Danbury News-Times – October 21, 2009 An environmentalist hired by Housatonic Railroad identified three areas of wetland and a Pond Brook tributary on the railroad's Hawleyville property -- where the railroad wants to expand its waste transfer facility -- in addition to a primary wetland on a neighboring site. "What is important to this process is the fact that regardless of the outcome of the permit process now before the (Department of Environmental Protection), our railroad, like the trucks we compete with, must serve its customers and must meet its common carrier obligations," F. Colin Pease, vice president of the railroad, said at the Oct. 14 Inland Wetlands Commission hearing. […] Stevens noted the possibility this area may support obligate vernal pool species -- meaning wood frogs, spotted salamanders and fairy shrimp -- but that cannot be determined at this time of year. "The dominant wetland functions provided by this small, isolated wetland area…” For full article, go to: http://www.newstimes.com/latestnews/ci_13602736

CA: Menlo Park to consider a stand on Cargill project By Shaun Bishop – San Jose Mercury News – October 21, 2009 Menlo Park should consider taking a stand on the controversial proposal to build a massive development on the Cargill salt lands, even though the project is located in Redwood City, city council members said Tuesday. The council voted 4-1 to place on a future council agenda a resolution opposing the Cargill project, which includes up to 12,000 homes on 1,436 acres of land just north of Menlo Park's Bayfront Park. Council members Andy Cohen and Kelly Fergusson proposed the resolution, which says in part that the proposal "seeks to reverse long-standing regional and local policies to protect the Bay and its wetlands." For full story, go to: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13607568

LA: Study: The Big Muddy can save coastal Louisiana By Cain Burdeau – Houston Chronicle – October 20, 2009 A study released Tuesday estimates that there is enough sediment in the Mississippi River to save large areas of coastal Louisiana from sinking into the Gulf of Mexico if half of the river's muddy waters were diverted into the disappearing wetlands on either side of the river. The study, in a publication by the American Geophysical Union, predicted that between 271 square miles and 470 square miles of land could be built in a century by diverting 45 percent of the Mississippi's flow into two badly degraded basins south of New Orleans. For full story, go to: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6677540.html

FL: Wetlands buffer relaxed; environmentalists peeved By Will Hobson – News Herald – October 21, 2009 The Bay County Commission approved an amended comprehensive plan Tuesday which relaxed the buffer requirements set around wetlands. Local environmental activists said this could further erode land preservation laws, which they say are already inadequate. Representatives of the St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association protested a change to the comprehensive plan’s 30-foot buffer zone, which requires 30 feet of untouched land between a development and wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.newsherald.com/news/relaxed-78445-buffer-wetlands.html

MA: Study Points to Potentially Harmful Increase in Golf Course Stream Temperatures Contact: Evan Lubofsky – Onset Computer Corporation Press Release – October 20, 2009 The green movement impacts many aspects of the golfing industry, and has led to a heightened focus on the role courses have on local environments. While researchers have traditionally looked at the impact of course runoff and potential non-point source pollution on stream chemistry, significantly less work has been done on studying their effects on physical characteristics like stream water temperature. Kevin Ashman, a researcher with Georgia Southern University, and his team recently studied a comparative analysis of stream water temperatures at six different golf courses in Greenville, South Carolina. For full press release, go to:  http://www.onsetcomp.com/corporate/press_releases/study-points-to-potentially-harmful-increase-in-golf-course-stream-temperatures#   For a photo of the researchers doing the study, go to: http://www.onsetcomp.com/sites/all/themes/foliage/images/pressReleases/golf-stream-temp-300dpi.jpg

MN: Families learn during Wildlife Refuge Week By Tom Hintgen – Fergus Falls Daily Journal – October 19, 2009 Grandparents hosting children and grandchildren over the weekend knew that a visit to the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, as part of National Wildlife Refuge Week, was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. “This was well worth the half hour drive,” said Nelsene McGinn who lives at East Lost Lake. Her daughter, Adrienne Hawkinson, and grandsons Gavin and Jack, enjoyed taking part in several activities Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the wetlands learning center on the south side of Fergus Falls. For full story, go to: http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/2009/oct/19/families-learn-during-wildlife-refuge-week/# For more information on events that occurred around the nation for Wildlife Refuge Week, go to:  http://aswm.org/wordpress/?p=504

Obama Told Only "Robust and Effective Federal Effort" Can Ensure "Coastal Louisiana's Survival" ENN – October 14, 2009 On the eve of President Obama's visit to New Orleans on Thursday, Louisiana elected officials, local, state and national group leaders today sent the president a letter advising him that "a robust and effective federal effort...is necessary" to ensure "coastal Louisiana's survival." The letter signers include Governor Bobby Jindal, U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, U.S. Reps. Steve Scalise, Joseph Cao, Charlie Melancon, and Charles Boustany, Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp, National Audubon Society President John Flicker and National Wildlife Federation President Larry Schweiger, among others. For full story, go to: http://world-wire.com/news/0910140002.html

VA: Biologists, company work together to save wetlands, mole salamander By Liz Barry – Lynchburg News & Advance – October 12, 2009 There’s an eerie silence at the edge of the quarry, where barren rock meets the forest’s end. About 20 feet back, under a canopy of willow oaks and red maples, lies the breeding ground of one of Virginia’s rarest amphibians: the mole salamander. In 15 to 20 years, as the Boxley Materials Company mines rock for sidewalks and roads, the quarry edges in Nelson County will extend into the forest, swallowing the wetlands where the salamanders reproduce. For full story, go to: http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/biologists_company_work_ together_to_save_wetlands_mole_salamander/20301/

NY: DEC Proposes Tidal Wetlands Guidance Documents Contact: Bill Fonda – New York DEC  News Release – October 9, 2009 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the availability of a new set of guidance documents to assist the public and DEC in the preparation and review of tidal wetlands permits. "The guidance documents are intended to help give the public a better understanding of the requirements and terminology used in the tidal wetlands permitting process," Commissioner Grannis said. "If applicants and other landowners know up-front what will be considered during a DEC permit review, they will be better able to design their projects to meet the standards contained in state regulations and ultimately help in maintaining our wetlands as productive, cleansing, and protective ecosystems." Public Comment Period on the Proposed Changes Runs Until Nov. 6, 2009. For full news release, go to: http://readme.readmedia.com/news/show/DEC-Proposes-Tidal-Wetlands-Guidance-Documents/966271

NY: Invasives a growing threat to Adirondacks By Martha Foley – North Country Public Radio – October 9, 2009 Adirondack Park Agency commissioners were given a status report yesterday on what’s considered to be the biggest threat to the ecology of the Adirondacks. Invasive species like milfoil and phragmities are spreading fast throughout the Park, clogging waterways and taking over wetlands. Hillary Smith is director of the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program. “This threat of invasive species is worsening,” she said. “I saw a real window of opportunity in the Adirondacks and even in my short time here that window is closing. There still are lots of opportunities for us. But the reality is the situation is very much an urgent one and it’s a growing problem.” For full story, go to: http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14504/invasives-a-growing-threat-to-adirondacks%20

Queen of the marsh By Jennifer Anderson – Sustainable Life – October 8, 2009 As executive director of The Wetlands Conservancy, a statewide nonprofit based in Tualatin, Lev is one of the region’s prominent conservationists, known for her standout people skills. Over the past 18 years, Lev has worked to restore and preserve ’s wetlands – marshy areas that provide vital wildlife habitat and the potential to forestall climate change. “A lot of being effective in any area is the ability to have big ideas, get other people inspired by big ideas,” says Jeanne Christie, executive director of the New York-based Association of State Wetland Managers. “I think Esther’s demonstrated that many times over the years.” For full article, go to: http://www.sherwoodgazette.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=125477770743001900

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