INDEX:
---EDITOR'S NOTE---

---EDITOR'S CHOICE---
Corps and EPA Clarify Fill Rule
Ruling on Dumping of Mine Waste Stuns Coal Industry
"Volunteer Wetland Monitoring: An Introduction and Resource Guide"
Farm Bill Gains Senate Approval - 10-Year Price Tag Is $190 Billion
Approval of More Wetland Conversion Activities on Cropland Considered
Draft Estuary Habitat Restoration Strategy Published
IAFWA: Multistate Conservation Grant Program - Proposal Solicitation Announcement
VA Appeals Wetlands Case
U.S. Judge Approves Chesapeake Development
Court Rulings Affirm Minnesota’s Wetland Law
Justices Weaken Movement Backing Property Rights

---NATIONAL UPDATES---
American Wetlands Month Sees New Protection Efforts
EPA Holds Listening Sessions on the Watershed Initiative
Corps To Conduct Limited Review Of Projects
Bush Urged to Follow Science, Economics and Restore Natural Flows to Missouri River
Conservation and Management Plan Approved for Mobile Bay
Western Governors Association Craft Recommendations on Water, Land Conservation
Army Corps Suspends Delaware Deepening Project Following GAO Report
Bush Management Plan May Put New Monuments at Risk
Whooping Cranes Return on Their Own to Wisconsin
Ducks Unlimited Conserves 10 Million Acres

---LEGISLATIVE UPDATES---
House Approves Environmental Exemptions for Military
NAWCA Up for Reauthorization
Arctic Drilling May Get Second Chance in Congress
House Bill Would Increase Emphasis on Science in EPA Decision-Making

---STATES NEWS---
Article "Isolated Wetlands: Wisconsin Fills the Regulatory Void"
2001 Progress Report of Wetlands Restoration in Massachusetts
CCP/EIS Planned for Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, VA
Draft CCP/EA Available for Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District
Arkansas and Oklahoma Feuding Over Water Standards in Illinois River
Wetlands Frustrate New California Research Campus
Polluted Stormwater Could be Pumped into Everglades
Wildlife Refuge Created on Ohio Key
Lawsuit Seeks Cleanup at Alaska Military Base
EIS Planned on Restoring Mississippi River Water Into Louisiana Swamp
Lawsuit Seeks Water for Klamath Basin Salmon
Salton Sea Efforts Languish as State's Water Interests Collide
Arizona: Lawsuit Challenges Development in Pygmy Owl Habitat

---PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES---
March-April 2002 National Wetlands Newsletter Available
New Publication: "The Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas"
IAGLR Unveils 24 Years of Great Lakes Research Online
Online: Atlas of the Reptiles and Amphibians of Vermont
Beta Ramsar Wetland Data Gateway Available Online
Worms May Cause Frog Deformities
2001 State of the Great Lakes Report Available
New Device for Collection of Interstitial Water from Wetland Sediments
BLM Launches Land Survey Information Web Site
Survey Giant Salvinia with Remote Sensing?
Online Slideshow Presentation: “Why Watersheds?”
States of the Union: Ranking America’s Biodiversity

---POTPOURRI---
"Green-Based" Urban Growth: Next Wave of Environmentalism

---MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES---
For a rolling calendar of meeting, conferences, and other events visit the ASWM calendar

EDITOR'S NOTE

Knock knock. Who’s there? Maize. Maize who? Maize American Wetlands Month!

For more information about American Wetlands Month and other ways to get involved in wetland conservation, visit the Izaak Walton League of America’s website at www.iwla.org/sos/awm Also, the first American Biodiversity Month is planned for May 2002 and is being coordinated by the International Biodiversity Observation Year (IBOY). Tens of thousands of people are taking part in more than 50 registered events across America. For details visit http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/iboy/biomonth And lastly, the Environmental Law Institute is awarding the “National Wetlands Awards” at a ceremony May 16 from 6-8 PM at the US Botanic Garden. RSVP to the Environmental Law Institute by calling or e-mailing your name, organizational affiliation, and phone number to wetlandsawards@eli.org or (202) 939-3858. For more information visit http://www.eli.org/nwa/nwaprogram.htm Something for everyone to celebrate!

Mary, our ASWM office administrator, is publicizing the availability of two books: The River Book by James Grant MacBroom for 35.00 plus 4.00 shipping; and the Handbook for Restoring Tidal Wetlands by Joy B. Zedler for 89.95 plus 4.00 shipping and handling (ASWM members can get this one for 81.00 plus 4.00 shipping) To learn more about these terrific books or to order visit our secure web site at http://www.aswm.org/bk-serve.htm or call 518-872-1804

Special thanks to the people who contributed to this issue, including: John Jaschke, MN Board of Water and Soil Resources; Ellen Gilinsky, VA Dept. of Environmental Quality; Pat Riexinger, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation; Scott Hausmann, WI Dept. of Natural Resources; Christy-Foote Smith, MA Wetland Restoration Program; Jim Bergan, The Nature Conservancy; Jeanne Christie, ASWM; Bonnie Potocki, Society of Wetland Scientists; and Earle Cummings, CA Department of Water Resources.

Until next time,

Jennifer Brady-Connor
Editor, Wetland Breaking News

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Corps and EPA Clarify Fill Rule

[EPA/Corps joint press release] 5/3/02. EPA and the ACOE announced that they are taking action to better coordinate federal programs affecting protection of wetlands and streams. Completing a regulation proposed by the Clinton Administration in 2000, the Army Corps of Engineers is adopting EPA's approach to the Clean Water Act's definition of "fill material," which has been in place since 1977. The regulation will not only remove ambiguity from Clean Water Act's regulations, but also enhance environmental protection of our wetlands and streams by prohibiting the dumping of trash or garbage in them. In addition, the agencies will apply new conditions to permits issued to regulate the placement of dirt and rock from mountaintop mining in streams. EPA, the Corps, Office of Surface Mining, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of West Virginia are currently preparing a joint Environmental Impact Statement that evaluates the environmental impacts of mountaintop coal mining and provides recommendations for improving Federal regulatory programs responsible for the review of proposed mining operations. The draft Statement will be released later this summer for public review and comment. For the joint EPA/Corps press release visit http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/hot_topics/corpsfill.htm The 5/9/02 Federal Register notice is available online at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-11547-filed The Corps has developed a “Question & Answer” document along with a Fact Sheet developed jointly with EPA. These are available online at http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwo/reg/citizen.htm

Ruling on Dumping of Mine Waste Stuns Coal Industry

By Eric Pianin, Washington Post Staff Writer. Friday, May 10, 2002; Page A04. “The coal industry was reeling yesterday from a federal court ruling that would end a long-standing practice of filling rivers and streams with waste rock and dirt from mountaintop mining operations. The ruling, issued Wednesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Charles H. Haden II in West Virginia, immediately blocked the Army Corps of Engineers from issuing new permits to mining companies that dump waste in Appalachian waterways and valleys. Mining officials warned that if the ruling stands, it will seriously harm the region's economy, forcing utility costs up and possibly eliminating 15,000 mining jobs in the next five years . . . The 47-page ruling also rebuked the Bush administration, which last week issued rules removing a legal impediment to mining companies dumping dirt and rock waste into waterways. Officials of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers, who jointly regulate the dumping of dredge spoil and other materials into waterways, had characterized the rule changes as largely a technical matter that would not significantly alter current practices . . . A Justice Department spokesman said yesterday the government would petition the court for a stay of the injunction pending an appeal of Haden's ruling.” For the complete article visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62730-2002May9.html The link to Judge Hayden’s decision is available at: http://www.wvsd.uscourts.gov/opinions/kftcvace.pdf The complete Earthjustice press release is available at http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=367 The complete National Mining Association press release is located at http://www.nma.org/releases/release_050902.html

"Volunteer Wetland Monitoring: An Introduction and Resource Guide"

[excerpted from American Rivers’ “RiverCurrents: May 9, 2002”] The Wetlands Division of EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds has released the publication, "Volunteer Wetland Monitoring: An Introduction and Resource Guide" (EPA 843-B-00-001). This booklet provides an introduction to why and how people monitor wetlands and includes a multi-page resource guide to handbooks and manuals that offer detailed information on wetland monitoring for the layperson. While it is not a methods manual, the guide also offers advice on approaching wetland monitoring, most of which is a synthesis of comments received from organizers of wetland monitoring programs across the United States. For more information regarding the publication, contact Kathleen Kutschenreuter (202-566-1383). Copies may be obtained from the Wetlands Helpline at 800-832-7828. The publication is also posted at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/monitor/volmonitor.html

Farm Bill Gains Senate Approval - 10-Year Price Tag Is $190 Billion

By Dan Morgan, Washington Post Staff Writer. Thursday, May 9, 2002; Page A09. “The Senate approved a farm bill yesterday that is expected to cost $190 billion over the next decade, despite objections from several Midwestern Republicans. The bill, already passed by the House, will sharply expand income guarantees to growers of major crops, provide new incentives for rural energy conservation, and authorize food stamps for legal immigrants. Increased funding for environmental programs could help protect Maryland and Virginia farmland from urban sprawl and reduce the volume of agricultural pollutants flowing into Chesapeake Bay. The 64 to 35 vote sends the measure to President Bush, who has said he will sign it . . . “ For the complete article visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55002-2002May8.html [Editor’s note: the President signed the Farm Bill on May 13. For his remarks on signing the bill visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/20020513-2.html ]

Approval of More Wetland Conversion Activities on Cropland Considered

[Federal Register notice] 4/23/02. The USDA is issuing a proposed rule setting out certain categorical minimal effect exemptions (CMWs) under the wetland conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985. This proposed rule identifies five (5) wetland conversion activities, which due to the type of wetlands or other criteria, would only have a minimal effect upon wetland functions and values, and thus would not render a producer ineligible for certain USDA program benefits. USDA is seeking comments from the public that will be considered in developing a final rule. Comments must be received by June 24, 2002. Activities categorized for exemption include removal of woody vegetation (including stumps) from natural herbaceous wetlands; installation of grassed waterways for erosion control on non-highly erodible croplands; and control or removal of exotic invasive woody species (including stumps.) For complete details visit http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-9700-filed

Draft Estuary Habitat Restoration Strategy Published

The draft Estuary Habitat Restoration Strategy prepared by the Estuary Habitat Restoration Council in accordance with Title I of Public Law 106-457, the Estuary Restoration Act of 2000, was published in the Federal Register on Friday, May 3, 2002. There will be a comment period of 45 days. Please provide comments in accordance with the instructions in the Federal Register notice. Links to Restoration Strategy in Federal Register located at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-11074-filed [text] or http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-11074-filed.pdf [PDF] Learn more about the Estuaries and Clean Waters Act at http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/2000bill/s835.pdf

IAFWA: Multistate Conservation Grant Program - Proposal Solicitation Announcement

The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is soliciting grant proposals for the FY 2003 Multistate Conservation Grant Program. Interested individuals can download a copy of the solicitation announcement by visiting IAFWA's homepage at www.iafwa.org and clicking on the "FY 2003 Final Grant Solicitation Announcement" under News of Interest. Proposals for this program are due by June 15, 2002.

VA Appeals Wetlands Case

May 08, 2002. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. “State officials have filed an appeal in the case of a Norfolk development company that filled in nearly 40 acres of wetlands at a site in Newport News. The state is appealing a ruling by U.S. District Judge Henry C. Morgan Jr., issued in March, that said the federal Clean Water Act does not allow the state environmental department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop Newdunn Associates from developing its property. The Virginia Water Control Board had ruled in October that Newdunn's action of filling in 38 acres of wetlands on the 43-acre site violated a state law protecting wetlands. The U.S. Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit against Newdunn last July after the company refused to get permits from the Army corps and the state to fill the property. The state Department of Environmental Quality later filed a state lawsuit against Newdunn as well, but Morgan moved that case to federal court. The appeal of Morgan's decision, filed yesterday with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, drew immediate praise from environmental groups. ‘Unless reversed, this mistaken ruling puts at risk more than 400,000 acres of isolated nontidal wetlands in Virginia, threatening the health of the Chesapeake Bay and rivers and streams across Virginia,’ Roy A. Hoagland, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation of Virginia, said in a prepared statement. Ellen Qualls, Gov. Mark R. Warner's spokeswoman, said the governor and Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore had consulted with each other and decided to file the appeal. Newdunn's attorney, Douglas E. Kahle, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.” This story can be found online at: http://timesdispatch.com/news/more/MGB9VLTIY0D.html

U.S. Judge Approves Chesapeake Development

By SCOTT HARPER, The Virginian-Pilot. May 8, 2002. NORFOLK – “A federal judge Tuesday sided with R.G. Moore, one of the region's largest developers, in a closely watched environmental case involving wetlands and a golf-course community being built in Chesapeake. U.S. District Judge Henry Coker Morgan Jr. ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers has no authority to regulate the types of nontidal wetlands found on the Edinburgh site, where Moore plans to build homes, shops, roads and an 18-hole golf course at the gateway to the southern, rural reaches of the city. The features in question are called isolated or non-adjacent wetlands that are physically detached from open waterways. Edinburgh lies about five miles from the Intracoastal Waterway to the north and the Northwest River to the south. They are seasonally wet fields and forests, lacking the signature cattails and muddy ooze of tidal marshes and bogs . . . [Morgan ruled] that the national Clean Water Act did not intend for wetlands connected to waterways only by miles of man-made, often dry ditches to be so closely regulated. To believe otherwise, he said, would set a dangerous precedent that almost any ditch in America could be construed as a public waterway under federal jurisdiction. ‘The judge said what we've been saying for more than a year in this case -- that there are limits, and even the federal government must abide by them,’ said Douglas E. Kahle, a Virginia Beach attorney for Moore's development company, RGM Corp. Kahle said the ruling means that RGM Corp. and several partners can continue working on Edinburgh without federal environmental permits, which require that lost wetlands be replaced. About 100 acres of isolated wetlands have been drained or filled so far. RGM Corp. settled a similar dispute with the state Department of Environmental Quality three months ago, agreeing to pay a $500,000 penalty, obtain state permits for about 208 acres of wetlands work and replace those wetlands elsewhere in Chesapeake. A Justice Department attorney said Tuesday that his legal team would wait to see the judge's formal, written ruling before deciding whether to appeal . . . “ The complete article is available online at http://www.pilotonline.com/news/nw0508now.html

Court Rulings Affirm Minnesota’s Wetland Law

[MN BWSR press release] 4/23/02 ST. PAUL, MN - Recent decisions by the Minnesota Appeals Court will have significant bearing on project decisions, administrative appeals, and future court decisions for the state’s wetland protection programs involving work on public drainage systems that would drain long-established wetlands, according to John Jaschke, land and water section administrator at the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. The cases were appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, but that court denied review of them. Decisions by the court affirmed the state’s wetland protection law. “In all of these cases, the court affirmed that the state’s rules are valid, that the state’s wetland rules are consistent with the law,” Jaschke said. The Court of Appeals in January upheld a decision by a lower court that ruled Big Stone County must obtain necessary wetland permits for major repair work on an agricultural drainage ditch. Since the ditch would have eliminated a 66-acre wetland, the court ordered the county to perform a full Environmental Impact Statement. [Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, the Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River, and New Ulm Area Sportfishermen, v. the Big Stone County Board of Commissioners and the County of Big Stone, Minnesota].

In another January ruling [Loren Hentges, et al., v. Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Rice Creek Watershed District, St. Paul Audubon Society, et al., and the Minnesota Department of Transportation] the Court of Appeals upheld the WCA Rule language that limits the use of federal approvals exemption, meaning that it cannot be used for “a project with the purpose of converting a wetland to a nonwetland, either immediately or gradually, or converting the wetland to another use, or when the fill will result in significant discernible change to the flow or circulation of water in the wetland, or partly draining it, or reducing the wetland area.” This case involved a drainage ditch in Anoka County, near I-35W. Landowners adjacent to the ditch claimed that placement and obstruction of culverts in the ditch system caused water to overflow and flood their lands. The alternative proposed to alleviate the problem would have caused drainage of adjacent wetlands that have existed for more than 25 years. The most recent Court of Appeals case affirmed a lower court’s ruling involving a dispute over Judicial Ditch No. 2 in Washington County. In Alex Zaluckyj, et al., v. Rice Creek Watershed District, Department of Natural Resources, et al., and Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, the Court of Appeals ruled that a party does not have the right to a jury trial on the issue of exhaustion of administrative remedies, and mandamus is available only to compel performance of a duty clearly required by law. The court also stated that unless administrative remedies are unavailable or exhaustion of those remedies would be futile, a party seeking ditch repair must proceed by petition pursuant to drainage law requirements (Minnesota Statute 103E). In that case, the city of Hugo sought a determination from the Rice Creek Watershed District that two culverts were obstructing the flow of Judicial Ditch No. 2 and should be lowered. The watershed district denied the city’s petition for a hearing. Instead of petitioning the watershed district to repair the ditch, the city and landowners filed suit and a petition for a writ of mandamus in district court, seeking an order for a complete repair of the ditch—which would have drained hundreds of acres of wetlands—or for inverse condemnation proceedings and a determination that they were exempt from certain rules and regulations. For complete details visit www.bwsr.state.mn.us/news/index.html.

Justices Weaken Movement Backing Property Rights

By LINDA GREENHOUSE. WASHINGTON, April 23 — “The Supreme Court ruled today that a government-imposed moratorium on property development, even one that lasts for years, does not automatically amount to a "taking" of private property for which taxpayers must compensate the landowners. The 6-to-3 decision was a sharp setback for the property rights movement, which has scored many recent successes in the Supreme Court. The ruling came in a case that sought millions of dollars in compensation for a prolonged restriction on development along the shores of Lake Tahoe . . . “ For the complete article visit http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/24/national/24PROP.html?ex=1020661938&ei=1&en=d3907bf2a5188be5 For the court decision and arguments visit http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=000&invol=00-1167

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NATIONAL UPDATE

American Wetlands Month Sees New Protection Efforts

WASHINGTON, DC, May 7, 2002 (ENS) – “Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas has been named a "wetland of international importance," the 18th such site in the U.S. and one of the 1,000 so honored worldwide. Interior Secretary Gale Norton dedicated the 22,000 acre Quivira Refuge under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar convention. The designation was one of a variety of events that will honor American Wetlands Month in May, a part of the international Year of Clean Water . . . Quivira includes a rare salt marsh habitat that is unique in the region. Its lands support millions of birds representing more than 300 species, including endangered species such as the whooping crane and the interior least tern . . .” For full text and graphics visit http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-07-09.html

EPA Holds Listening Sessions on the Watershed Initiative

[EPA’s “WaterNews” for May 3, 2002] EPA is holding four listening sessions to discuss the Watershed Initiative. On January 25, 2002, EPA announced a new initiative to help protect, preserve, and restore waterways across the country. State governors, tribes, and other interested parties are invited to these listening sessions to help EPA design this initiative. All sessions will be held in Washington, DC at EPA East, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW, Room 1117A. Dates are: May 14 (8:30 - 11:30), May 15 (8:30 - 11:30), May 22 (1:00 - 4:00), and May 29 (8:30 - 11:30). To attend one of the listening sessions, RSVP to Jim Cole at cole.james@epa.gov by May 10, 2002. For more information on this initiative, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/initiativefs.html on the Internet.

Corps To Conduct Limited Review Of Projects

[Corps press release] Washington, DC, 4/30/02 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today directed a pause nationwide on certain projects authorized but not yet under construction until they can be reviewed. The announcement came as a result of recent questions about the Corps processes. The Corps will take another look at active projects falling into two categories. Those with an economic assessment older than 1999 will have a new economic analysis before they can proceed. The second group of projects includes those where there are credible indications of changes in economic conditions, or engineering, scientific or environmental information since authorization that may have resulted in significant changes in project justification or support since authorization. Documentation for these projects will be reviewed and updated, if necessary. This does not affect studies currently underway that would undergo a more thorough review prior to recommendations. "This action is part of a more comprehensive initiative to ensure that Corps projects are a sound investment for our nation and are proposed in an environmentally sustainable way," stated Army Corps of Engineers Director of Civil Works Maj. Gen. Robert H. Griffin. A preliminary assessment indicates that approximately 150 of the hundreds of Corps projects nationwide will be checked. "Corps projects across the nation protect lives and property, improve our quality of life and ensure and enhance the nation's environment, economic prosperity and national defense," Griffin stated. Some projects will have a quick check to see when the last economic analysis was done and, if current, will proceed. Others may require more extensive work on the environmental, engineering or economics analyses. Projects will be allowed to proceed once any necessary updates have been made.

Bush Urged to Follow Science, Economics and Restore Natural Flows to Missouri River

[Izaak Walton League of America press release] 4/26/02. A dozen of the nation’s leading conservation organizations are asking the Bush Administration to restore more natural flows to the Missouri River and protect the $85 million that anglers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts spend in local economies annually throughout the eight-state Missouri River Basin. By early June, the Army Corps of Engineers is expected to make public the final Environmental Impact Statement for recovery efforts on the Missouri River. The Administration must decide this summer whether to accept and implement changes now being considered for the operation of dams along the river. The changes being considered would restore more natural flows in the spring and summer. The Missouri River supports wildlife-dependent recreation that generates $85 million in economic activity annually, while barge traffic on the Missouri River generates only $3 million to $7 million annually. For the complete press release visit http://www.iwla.org/pressrel/release.asp?p_releaseid=48

Conservation and Management Plan Approved for Mobile Bay

4/26/02. EPA joined other agencies and interest groups for a ceremony in Mobile, Alabama marking the approval of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). Mobile's program now moves forward into implementation of this blueprint. The final CCMP is the environmental blueprint that sets forth specific financial, institutional, and policy actions to protect and preserve Mobile Bay. Representatives from the private and public sectors, including government, industry, business, and environmental interest groups and municipal officials, developed the CCMP over a six-year period. The CCMP summarizes the challenges facing the estuary, and provides 29 actions to address them. Each action contains specific and attainable goals and activities. They cover a range of strategies that ensure economic stability through environmental recovery and protection. It includes action plans designed to manage nutrient, pathogen and toxic contamination of Mobile Bay waterways; control the introduction and spread of non-native plant and animal species in the watershed; improve management of fisheries; protect and restore coastal habitats essential to sustaining fish and wildlife; restore hydrologic flows needed to protect human health and safety; and increase public access to water resources. The Mobile Bay watershed covers two thirds of the state of Alabama and portions of Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee, and serves as the drainage area for the sixth largest river system in area in the United States. Mobile Bay was included in the National Estuary Program in 1995 in response to growing public concern for the health of the Bay. To date, 28 estuaries have been designated as “Nationally Significant”. For the complete press release visit http://www.epa.gov/region4/oeapages/02press/042602.htm

Western Governors Association Craft Recommendations on Water, Land Conservation

[WGA press release] 4/26/02 Salt Lake City – After hearing from Western governors, top Bush administration officials and environmental leaders, nearly 500 participants in the Environmental Summit on the West II rolled up their sleeves to develop recommendations for policy-makers on a diverse set of issues. Among the topics they reported on today are conserving open lands, reducing wildfire risks and restoring forest ecosystem health, improving air quality, conserving species while assisting landowners, and expanding the use of renewable energy. For the complete press release visit http://www.westgov.org/wga/press/pr_4-25-02_roundup.htm

Army Corps Suspends Delaware Deepening Project Following GAO Report

[American Rivers’ RiverCurrents: April 26, 2002] The Army Corps of Engineers suspended a $311 million project to deepen the Delaware River in the wake of a report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) challenging the project's economic justification. The Washington Post (4-23-02) reports that its sources say GAO investigators "believe the Corps dramatically overstated the project's potential economic benefits to the ports of Philadelphia and Camden ." . . There are numerous environmental concerns with the project. And many New Jersey and Delaware politicians have criticized the project because about 33 million cubic yards of dredge spoil would be dumped in their communities. The groups Taxpayers for Common Sense and the National Wildlife Federation recently released a report, rating it the second-worst Corps project in the nation. It is not clear whether the project will ever be re-started. Steve Ellis with Taxpayers for Common Sense told the Post that the suspension of the Delaware project is like putting sour milk back in a refrigerator; when it comes out again, he said, it's still going to be sour. American Rivers cited the Army Corps of Engineers as a leading threat to our nation's rivers in their 2002 report on the Nation's Most Endangered Rivers: http://www.amrivers.org/mostendangered/armycorps.htm

Bush Management Plan May Put New Monuments at Risk

WASHINGTON, DC, April 24, 2002 (ENS) - "The Bush administration today announced plans to develop formal management plans for 15 of the 19 national monuments created by President Bill Clinton . . . To see the monuments affected log on to: http://www.blm.gov/nlcs/monuments/" For full text and graphics visit: http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2002/2002L-04-24-01.html For the announcement by Interior Secretary Gale Norton visit http://www.doi.gov/news/020424a.html

Whooping Cranes Return on Their Own to Wisconsin

[World Environment News - April 24th, 2002 from Planet Ark] NECEDAH WILDLIFE REFUGE – “Four whooping cranes taught to migrate by human trainers have completed the return trip to Wisconsin from Florida on their own, scientists said. One of the original eight was believed to be en route to the swampy Necedah Wildlife Refuge, following a fast 11-day flight from their wintering grounds at the Chassahowitzka Refuge in Florida, said scientists from the project, Operation Migration. The goal of the project is to establish a second wild flock of the highly endangered birds in the eastern half of the United States. Another flock of 140 whooping cranes migrates between the Gulf Coast of Texas and Canada, but scientists want to expand the population and create a buffer against threats from a disaster, pollution or disease . . . “ For the complete article visit http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/15641/story.htm

Ducks Unlimited Conserves 10 Million Acres

Ducks Unlimited recently conserved its 10 millionth acre of waterfowl habitat in North America. The conservation group was started just 65 years ago by a small group of sportsmen, and has since become the largest wetland and waterfowl conservation organization in the world, conserving habitat throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, and in key areas of the Caribbean. To learn more about DU and its programs visit www.ducks.org

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:

House Approves Environmental Exemptions for Military

By Cat Lazaroff. WASHINGTON, DC, May 2, 2002 (ENS) - The House Armed Services Committee voted Wednesday to exempt many U.S. military activities and lands from two of the nation's most important environmental laws. For full text and graphics visit http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-02-07.html [Meanwhile] A federal judge has issued an injunction halting all military activities at Farallon de Medinilla that would harm or kill migratory birds. For full text and graphics visit http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-01-07.html

NAWCA Up for Reauthorization

[excerpted from Natural Resources Defense Council’s “Legislative Watch” May 2, 2002 edition] On 4/24, the House Resources Committee approved H.R. 3908, Rep. Hansen's (R-UT) bill to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which has served to restore and preserve wetlands throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada since 1989. The bill includes two amendments from Rep. Gilchrest (R-MD) -- one would increase funding for the act's programs from $250 million to $325 million over five years, while the other would shift about 20 percent of funding from projects outside the United States to those within the country.

Arctic Drilling May Get Second Chance in Congress

[Environmental News Network] 5/12/02. A seeming parliamentary error by Democrats may result in enough votes to produce a final energy bill that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling, Senate Republicans said on Thursday. For the complete article visit http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/05/05032002/reu_47111.asp

House Bill Would Increase Emphasis on Science in EPA Decision-Making

[Environmental News Network] 5/12/02. The House moved Tuesday to give scientists a bigger say at the Environmental Protection Agency, which has been assailed by industry and environmental groups for not giving enough weight to science in its rulings. For the complete article visit http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/05/05012002/ap_47079.asp

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STATES NEWS

Article "Isolated Wetlands: Wisconsin Fills the Regulatory Void"

The lead story for the May/June issue of NOAA's "Coastal Services" magazine is "Isolated Wetlands: Wisconsin Fills the Regulatory Void". The article reviews the SWANCC ruling and its potential impacts to isolated wetlands within the state. It also reviews the process the WI DNR staff followed to develop the wording of and support for wetland legislation to mitigate the impacts of SWANCC. The complete article can found at www.csc.noaa.gov/magazine/2002/03/wetlands.html

2001 Progress Report of Wetlands Restoration in Massachusetts

The 2001 Progress Report of wetlands restoration in Massachusetts is now available. The Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Program produced the publication in two parts. Part A - http://www.state.ma.us/envir/mwrp/MWRP2001ProgressReportPartA.pdf - is a summary of wetlands restoration activities including new projects accepted, grants awarded, corporate donations made, and special activities such as the purple loosestrife biocontrol pilot project. Part B - http://www.state.ma.us/envir/mwrp/MWRP2001ProgressReportPartB.pdf - details the wetland restoration projects completed in 2001. These and other documents and information are available on the MWRP website at www.mass.gov/envir/mwrp.

CCP/EIS Planned for Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, VA

[Federal Register notice] 5/8/02. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to gather information necessary to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations. A CCP will be prepared for Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) located within the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia. A Wilderness Review of Back Bay NWR will also be completed concurrently in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964, as amended and Refuge Planning Policy 602 FW Chapters 1, 2, and 3. The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.): (1) To advise other agencies and the public of our intentions; and (2) to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental documents. For complete details visit http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-11326-filed

Draft CCP/EA Available for Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District

[Federal Register notice] 5/8/02. Pursuant to the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Minnesota Valley national Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), which includes the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District (District). This combined Plan describes how the Service intends to manage the Refuge and District for the next 15 years. DATES: Submit written comments by July 1, 2002. All comments should be addressed to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Attn: CCP Comment, 3815 East 80th Street, Bloomington, Minnesota 55425-1600, or direct e-mail to r3planning@fws.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Service's regional Web site at http://midwest.fws.gov/planning. For complete details visit http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-11332-filed

Arkansas and Oklahoma Feuding Over Water Standards in Illinois River

[ENN Worldwire News] Tuesday, May 07, 2002. By Clayton Bellamy, Associated Press. WEST SILOAM SPRINGS, Okla. — The Illinois River is drab green when it rushes into Oklahoma just south of here, but it's not Arkansas mud that dirties the water. Oklahoma blames phosphorus from Arkansas sewage, animal waste, and fertilizer. The phosphorus promotes the growth of algae that produce the green tint, which generally worsens as the weather warms and the river slows. The color, the foul odor, and the danger to aquatic life have led Oklahoma to propose tighter water quality standards for the Illinois and the state's five other scenic rivers — standards Arkansas would be forced to follow . . . Arkansas must adhere to the standards under a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said upstream states are subject to downriver water quality regulations. That ruling stemmed from an earlier fight between the two states . . . “ For the complete article visit http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/05/05072002/ap_47139.asp

Wetlands Frustrate New California Research Campus

By John Doxey. MERCED, California, May 3, 2002 (ENS) - Construction of a new University of California campus near Merced has been delayed by at least two months, partly because of opposition from environmental groups. Environmentalists and officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have objected to the planned site of the 910 acre campus because it will destroy sensitive wetlands, including vernal pools that provide habitat for the endangered fairy shrimp. For full text and graphics visit http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-03-03.html

Polluted Stormwater Could be Pumped into Everglades

MIAMI, Florida, May 3, 2002 (ENS) – “A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan . . . to build large new storage facilities for hundreds of millions of gallons of polluted stormwater on the borders of Everglades National Park is running into opposition from three national environmental groups. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the National Parks Conservation Association and the Sierra Club warn that the storage facilities could flood and pollute the Park. Environmentalists fear that, during the upcoming wet season, millions of gallons of polluted stormwater will be pumped into Everglades National Park from the so-called S-332B reservoir. This was largely prohibited under an agreement reached last summer between the Corps, the water district, the park, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But under the new plan, the regional water district hopes to use this overflow at its discretion, and the Corps asserts only that it will allow such water pollution into the Park under ‘emergency’ circumstances. The groups object that the Corps has not given a specific definition of what emergency circumstances are . . . “ For full text and graphics visit: http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-03-09.html

Wildlife Refuge Created on Ohio Key

OHIO KEY, Florida, May 2, 2002 (ENS) – “A 25 acre island of critical bird habitat in Florida has been transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for permanent protection. Once known for its giant billboard and as a place for illegal camping and garbage dumping, and under constant threat of development, the island is now part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, joining 27 other such refuges in Florida and 570 nationwide . . . “ For full text and graphics visit: http://ens-news.com/ens/may2002/2002L-05-02-09.html

Lawsuit Seeks Cleanup at Alaska Military Base

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 29, 2002 (ENS) – “Conservation groups and a Native American tribe have filed suit to force the U.S. military to clean up its act at the Eagle River Flats training site in Alaska. The citizens' lawsuit, filed under the Clean Water Act, seeks to compel the Department of the Army and Department of Defense to address ongoing pollution and safety hazards associated with past and present bombing of Eagle River Flats. The Eagle Flats delta is part of Fort Richardson. The Army uses Eagle River Flats, an extensive wetlands area on Cook Inlet near Anchorage, for bombing and training exercises . . . “ For full text and graphics visit http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2002/2002L-04-29-09.html

EIS Planned on Restoring Mississippi River Water Into Louisiana Swamp

[Federal Register notice] 4/26/02. EPA Region 6 is proposing a project that will reintroduce Mississippi River water into the swamp south of Lake Maurepas in Louisiana to restore the ecological health and productivity of the swamp. The swamp is now stressed and dying due to saltwater intrusion and excessive flooding due to subsidence and insufficient accumulation of sediment from the Mississippi River. The project will reintroduce approximately 1,500 cubic feet per second of Mississippi River water through a box-culvert structure constructed through the flood protection levee of the Mississippi River, then through an outflow channel for a distance of approximately five miles, and into the swamp south of Lake Maurepas. The outflow channel would connect to the existing Hope Canal, which would be enlarged in order to accommodate the estimated project flow. The project is estimated to benefit more than 36,000 acres of cypress-tupelo swamp by increasing input of freshwater, sediments, and nutrients. The EIS will consider impacts of this project with existing and/or proposed flood control measures of the foreseeable future. For complete details visit http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-10344-filed

Lawsuit Seeks Water for Klamath Basin Salmon

OAKLAND, California, April 24, 2002 (ENS) - Coastal commercial salmon fishers filed a lawsuit today in U.S. Federal District Court to force the release of enough water into the Klamath River to protect this year's juvenile salmon runs . . . The fishers charge that the diversion of the river comes at a critical time for newly hatched salmon, or fry, as well as one year old salmon, called smolts, that are ready to migrate to the sea. The lawsuit charges that the National Marine Fisheries Service ignored the best available science when it put its stamp of approval on the Bureau's short term water diversion plan. For full text and graphics visit: http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2002/2002L-04-24-09.html

Salton Sea Efforts Languish as State's Water Interests Collide

[ENN Worldwire News for Tuesday, April 23, 2002] Efforts to save the Salton Sea, one of the most important but endangered habitats in North America, are in jeopardy as California races a federal deadline to reduce its use of Colorado River water and lawmakers worry the cost may be too high. http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/04/04232002/ap_salton_46998.asp

Arizona: Lawsuit Challenges Development in Pygmy Owl Habitat

TUCSON, Arizona, April 22, 2002 (ENS) - "Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the agencies' failure to consider and reduce the effects of urban development permitting in cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl habitat. The lawsuit against the Corps and EPA challenges the agencies' approval of dozens of Clean Water Act permits for new urban developments in pygmy-owl habitat . . . " For full text and graphics visit: http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2002/2002L-04-22-09.html

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NEW PUBLICATIONS and RESOURCES

March-April 2002 National Wetlands Newsletter Available

The March-April edition of the National Wetlands Newsletter is now available. Feature articles include: “HGM: Hidden, Gone, Missing? by Charles Andrew Cole and James G. Kooser; “Corps' New Regulatory Guidance Letter on Mitigation: Trick or Treat?,” by Royal C. Gardner; “When Aquariums Think Outside the Tank,” by Glenn G. Page; “A Glass of Everglades Water-Half Full and Half Empty,” by Shannon Estenoz; “Visions of the Copper River Delta,” by David Lynn Grimes. Additional features and updates include “News,” “Congress,” “Federal Agencies,” and “Courts.” Subscriptions to the newsletter are $40 per year and include access to subscriber-only portions of the web site. If you would like more information about the newsletter, contact Bonnie Nevel at <nevel@eli.org>. To subscribe, visit the website at http://www.eli.org/publications/nwn.htm, contact <orders@eli.org>, or call 800-433-5120.

New Publication: "The Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas"

Extending along 277 miles of shoreline in South Texas and northeastern Mexico, the Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas is the largest hypersaline, or high salinity, system in the world. Renowned for its vast seagrass meadows, huge bird population, and bounty of fish and shrimp, this habitat is increasingly threatened by humans, pollutants, insecticide run-off from surrounding agricultural areas, and algal bloom. Along with The Nature Conservancy, scientists teamed up to research and compile all known information about the Laguna Madre—more than seventy years worth of literature—into one volume. The Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas by John W. Tunnell, Jr., and Frank W. Judd is the first book to take a broad and comprehensive look at both the Texan and Tamaulipan Laguna Madre. The Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas is available at stores or direct from Texas A&M University Press (800-826-8911 M-F 8-5 CT; secure online ordering at www.tamu.edu/upress

IAGLR Unveils 24 Years of Great Lakes Research Online

4/29/02 ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The International Association for Great Lakes Research announces the online release of 24 years of Great Lakes research in an effort to better inform public policy with sound science. IAGLR has converted its hard copy archive of the Journal of Great Lakes Research to electronic format (PDF) and made it easily accessible via a searchable database on its web site. The Joyce Foundation, which awarded a grant to IAGLR for the project titled Great Lakes Science & Policy, supported development of the online archive: Strengthening the Connection. This project aims to improve communication between Great Lakes scientists and policymakers. The archive is the only resource of its kind: a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed collection of papers from various scientific, management, and policy perspectives on the Great Lakes. The searchable JGLR Archive is located at http://www.iaglr.org/jglr/db/search.php

Online: Atlas of the Reptiles and Amphibians of Vermont

The new Atlas of the Reptiles and Amphibians of Vermont is now available. Seven years ago the Vermont Nongame and Natural Heritage Program and The Vermont Field Office of the Nature Conservancy helped launch the first ever atlas of Vermont reptiles and amphibians. Since then over 1,400 volunteers have gathered over 12,000 new records and our knowledge of the distribution and abundance of these species in Vermont is vastly improved. This new Atlas is not a field guide but a set of maps showing our knowledge of the distribution of Vermont's 40 frog, salamander, lizard, snake, and turtle species. It contains additional information on relative abundance, state status and ranks, subspecies and hybrids, hypothetical species, search tips, documentation tips, useful resources, and more. All contributors are listed by name. Records will continue to be gathered and all proceeds from the sale of the new atlas will go toward perpetuating the Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Project. For complete details visit www.middlebury.edu/herpatlas.

Beta Ramsar Wetland Data Gateway Available Online

[SEDAC News April 2002 (Vol. 3, No. 4)] The Ramsar Wetland Data Gateway is now in beta testing. This site provides access to data on wetlands around the world identified under the auspices of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. An interactive map interface permits users to display wetlands by continent in conjunction with spatial data on land cover, watersheds, population density, and cities, tabular data on wetlands from the Ramsar Bureau and Wetlands International, and remote sensing imagery from Landsat. See: http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/ramsardg/. Please send beta test comments to ramsarbeta@ciesin.columbia.edu.

Worms May Cause Frog Deformities

May 5, 2002. By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) – “After slogging through 101 ponds and wetlands in five western states, scientists on the trail of a mysterious outbreak of deformities in frogs have settled on a microscopic parasitic flatworm as the prime suspect. Linked with existing laboratory studies showing that the trematode known as Ribeiroia ondatrae can cause the frogs to sprout extra legs, the new field work closes the loop by showing a direct correlation between the prevalence of the parasite and the number of deformed frogs, scientists said . . . “ For the complete NY Times article visit http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/science/AP-EXP-Deformed-Frogs.html

2001 State of the Great Lakes Report Available

[MI DEQ press release] 5/6/02. The 2001 report on the state of the Great Lakes is available to the public both in hard copy and electronic formats. It is published by the Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of the Great Lakes. The report discusses many aspects of Great Lakes water quality focusing on aquatic nuisance species control, ballast water management and the environmental and economic impacts of Annex 2001. Also included are articles covering Michigan beach monitoring, drinking water safety and the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund. Copies of the State of the Great Lakes 2001 Annual Report are available free of charge from the Office of the Great Lakes by calling (517) 335-4056, sending requests by fax at (517) 335-4053, or by downloading at www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-ogl-sogl01.pdf.

New Device for Collection of Interstitial Water from Wetland Sediments

Biological Resource -- A New Device for Collection of Interstitial Water from Wetland Sediments describes a sampling device for collection of interstitial water from wetland sediments that facilitates "in situ" measurement of a wide range of abiotic parameters. Abstract: A sampler for collection of interstitial water from wetland sediments is described. It differs from other sampling devices because it does not have to be filled with solution to facilitate diffusion, it does not have to be removed from the wetland to collect samples, and it can be used to draw repeated samples over time from identical locations. The device facilitates "in situ" measurement of a wide range of abiotic parameters such as electrical conductivity, redox potential, and pH in wetland sediments. The device has application in ecological investigations of sediment-borne wildlife diseases, studies of benthic invertebrates, measurement of nutrient exchange, and other aspects of wetland ecology. For details visit http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2002/newdevic/newdevic.htm

BLM Launches Land Survey Information Web Site

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced the deployment of the Land Survey Information (LSI) Web site. As part of the National Integrated Land System (NILS) solution, the Land Survey Information (LSI) Web site at http://www.geocommunicator.gov/lsi will provide users with geographic information from the BLM's Geographic Coordinate Data Base (GCDB) representing the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) of the United States. The LSI Web site will replace the current BLM GCDB Download Site (http://lm0500.blm.gov/). LSI will use ESRI's ArcIMS (Internet Map Server) software and ArcSDE (Spatial Database Engine) to efficiently manage and serve GCDB to the public over the Internet. The LSI Web site will serve GIS (Geographic Information System) shapefiles instead of GIS coverage files. Geospatial selection tools will make it easy to select an area of interest and download a single shapefile containing one or more townships. Entire counties, U.S. Forests, BLM administrative areas, and BLM 100K map areas are prepackaged for easy selection and quick download. The GIS layers contain FGDC compliant metadata containing information about data contacts, data sources, accuracy, process steps, and data descriptions. Original GCDB flat files used to develop the GIS layers are also available from LSI. These files are provided as zipped township directories for easy download. http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/releases/pages/2002/pr020430_lsi.htm

Survey Giant Salvinia with Remote Sensing?

[Agricultural Research Service] By Marcia Wood May 6, 2002. “Infestations of giant salvinia, one of the world's worst water weeds, might be more easily detected using airborne color-infrared photography. This fern, known to scientists as Salvinia molesta, forms dense mats in ponds, lakes and reservoirs. The mats use up oxygen that fish, insects and other aquatic dwellers require. They also clog irrigation and electrical-generating systems and snarl swimming, boating and waterskiing. Color-infrared photography, taken from aircraft-mounted cameras, is a fast and affordable way to find and monitor the notorious weed. That is according to Agricultural Research Service rangeland scientist James H. Everitt. He is based at the ARS Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco, Texas. With colleagues from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Everitt tests remote sensing techniques to spot salvinia outbreaks. In these experiments, Everitt has analyzed color-infrared photographs of salvinia in several lakes and ponds near Liberty and Bridge City in southeast Texas. Color- infrared photography has been used for decades to differentiate among types of vegetation, based on the amount of light that each reflects. But, Everitt and co- researchers are likely the first in the world to use color-infrared photos successfully to observe salvinia outbreaks. Everitt is currently exploring the possibility of combining color-infrared video--instead of photography--with global positioning and geographic information system technologies. He says the updated package could enable researchers and waterway managers to find giant salvinia outbreaks faster than if they used ground surveys. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2002/020506.htm

Online Slideshow Presentation: “Why Watersheds?”

The Center for Watershed Protection is pleased to announce the latest addition to their family of popular slideshow presentations: "Why Watersheds?" Designed to bridge the gap for people who may not understand the whys and hows of watershed protection, this introductory presentation explains what a watershed is, how development impacts watershed health, and why protecting watersheds is critical. Included are steps that planners, watershed groups, and regular citizens alike can take to protect our own water resources. You can view "Why Watersheds?" on our website at http://www.cwp.org. Watch for it to be available on CD-ROM later this month.

States of the Union: Ranking America’s Biodiversity

The Nature Conservancy and NatureServe in April issued a report on U.S. biodiversity offering a striking picture of where wild plants and animals are found and how they are faring. States of the Union: Ranking America’s Biodiversity ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia by their number of different species, quantity of species unique to each state, percentage of rare and at-risk species, and amount of species thought to be extinct. This report updates information in the book Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States (Oxford University Press), published in 2000 by The Nature Conservancy and NatureServe, a non-profit organization that is the leading source of scientific information about rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems. According to the report, southeastern states have the most species, but the highest percentage of rare or at risk fishes and amphibians are found in western states. Though Alaska has relatively low levels of overall diversity, it ranks second only to Hawaii in rare birds. View the complete report (.pdf, 208 KB) online at http://nature.org/earthday/work/

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POTPOURRI

"Green-Based" Urban Growth: Next Wave of Environmentalism

D.L. Parsell, National Geographic News, April 22, 2002. "After it was introduced 30 years ago, the phrase ‘think globally, act locally’ became an environmental rallying cry for an entire generation. Yet the grand vision it inspired—of communities mobilizing to take responsibility for the health of the planet starting in their own backyards—remained more a slogan than reality. Now, local environmental activism is getting a new lease on life, sparked by a public backlash against runaway and poorly planned development of cities and towns, widely known as "sprawl." . . . Apart from frustration with traffic congestion and aesthetic blight, there's mounting concern about increased pollution, strains on local water supplies, and the rapid loss of trees, wetlands, farmland, wildlife habitats, and open spaces. . . " For the complete National Geographic article visit http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/04/0422_020422_landplan.html