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

---EDITOR'S CHOICE---
Restoration and Lodging Information Available for Mid-Atlantic Conference
Legislation Introduced to Recapture Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
Legal Loophole Leaves “Isolated” Wetlands in Peril, Says New Report
New Jersey Wetlands Get Wider Buffers

---NATIONAL UPDATES---
Drought Parches One Third of the Nation
Japanese Shore Crabs Invade Penobscot Bay
West Nile Virus Spreads Westward into 26 States
63 Dams in 16 States to be Removed in 2002
2002 Year of Clean Water
Asian Carp Threaten Great Lakes Warns IJC
Army Corps, Green Group to Work Together on Dams 
EPA, ACOE Commit to Restoring Degraded Urban Rivers
Endangered Birds Will Not Be Moved for Barges
Individuals, Groups Honored for Protecting Wetlands
Extremely Dry Conditions Greet Ducks Returning to Prairie Breeding Grounds
Mexico Agrees to Release Rio Grande Water

---LEGISLATIVE UPDATES---
Notes from Natural Resource Defense Council’s “Legislative Watch”
House Resources Committee Approves Major Fisheries Bill
U.S. Congress Takes Action to Fund State Wildlife Conservation for 2003
Invasive Aquatic Species Subcommittee Hearing

---STATES NEWS---
NY Aquarium Launches "Project POWER" to Prevent Wetland Law Violations
DEIS Planned for Lake Okeechobee Aquifer Storage/Recovery Pilot Project
Delaware Offers Cost Share Funds for Phragmites Control to Landowners
Lake Umbagog NWR [ME/NH] to get Comprehensive Conservation Plan
National Legislation Introduced to End Dredging in Florida’s Apalachicola River and Bay
California Tiger Salamander Receives Emergency Protection
Maryland Says Northern Snakeheads were Pets 
Groups Applaud Manatee Ruling
Louisiana Company Fined for Wetlands Destruction
Trumpeter Swans Rebound in Wisconsin
Rancher Leaves $21.5 M Legacy in Unbroken Landscape
Red-Legged Frog Habitat Rule Overturned
Southern California Population of Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Determined to be Endangered    
Ohio Announces Strategic Action Plan for Ohio’s Water Resources
WI: Ashley May Drop Plan to Expand in Wetland; Company Wants to Get Out of Spotlight

---PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES---
DEP Offers A New and Useful Fisheries Publication
National Park Service Report Reviews Natural Resource Preservation Issues
New Book: Preserving the Pascagoula
Now Online - The Missouri River Ecosystem: Exploring the Prospects for Recovery
GAO Says Environmental Laws Aren't Getting in the Way of Military Training

---POTPOURRI---
Several Eastern States Release Poppy-Seed-Sized Beetles to Save Hemlock Trees
Golf Course Water Hazards Filter Runoff
Pesticides, Parasites Spell Double Trouble for Frogs
Ballast Water Rules Need Enforcement, Penalties
In the West, Battle Rages Against the Invasive Salt Cedar
North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Request for Small Grants Proposals for Year 2003
Parasite Populations Reflect Ecosystem Health

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

EDITOR'S NOTE

Dear friends and colleagues,

It was hot in our little city – hazy, hot and humid.  Those were the evenings when my husband could ALMOST convince me that air conditioner is a necessity as much as food and clothing are necessities.  But is soon passed.  We are grateful for the rain that comes just frequently enough to quench our small garden, and for the many friends with whom we’ve been passing the summer, and for our child who even at the age of three has us continually reaching for our parenting manual.  Her favorite past time has become the capture, caressing, and release of toads.  Long after most toddlers are asleep, we search the grass and the garden for the creatures of the night before turning in for a cool drink and some rest.  And we are grateful.

Our dear friend Ellen Hartig writes to share with us additional information on the prior report of tidal marsh loss in Jamaica Bay off of Long Island.  Ellen was one of the first to document marsh loss in Jamaica Bay. For interested parties, here is the Columbia University press release and one of the many news reports that accompanied the publication of her article in the March 2002 issue of the "Wetlands" journal. The Columbia University news release: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/02/04/wetlands_airport.html. The New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/2002-04-03/News_and_Views/City_Beat/a-146369.asp Thanks Ellen!

Earle Cummings, newly retired Chief of Environmental Planning, Analysis and Compliance Branch of California’s Division of Flood Management, shares some articles on stream restoration in southern California.  He writes, “When I managed the Urban Stream Restoration Program, the Guadalupe River project design was a nightmare of concrete. We gave a bunch of small grants to little creek projects all around San Jose, and developed a cadre of informed, involved creek advocates whose cheap, effective restoration projects created a climate of support for more benign designs.  It helped that Jennifer Nielsen, goddess of salmon genetics, discovered a remnant population of Chinook salmon, unique to the South Bay, that were clinging to existence in this small river. Threatened with jeopardizing a species, the designers sharpened their pencils and came up with a greener design. There were some rough patches along the way, but some diligent, caring people like Libby Lucas, the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, Evergreen Resource Conservation District, and many more deserve a lot of thanks from the City and the Corps for demanding a better project.”  Thanks, Earle, for the clippings you sent us over the years, and best wishes for a happy and lengthy retirement!  The editorial articles he forwards to us is located at http://www.aswm.org/wbn/archives/02/020717a.htm.

Thanks to all of our contributors this month, and for all of your patience as we resume our normal (?) schedule for the remainder of the year.

May you enjoy these summer days,
Jennifer Brady-Connor
Editor, Wetland Breaking News

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Restoration and Lodging Information Available for Mid-Atlantic Conference

Information about ASWM’s Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Stream, Floodplain and Wetland Restoration Workshop has been updated on our website and registration and lodging information is available.  The three-day workshop at Bear Mountain Inn, Bear Mountain, New York  Resort is directed to promoting and building the capabilities of local governments, states, federal agencies, not for profits and others in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to utilize stream stability and natural channel design concepts in stream, riverine wetland, floodplain and watershed management and restoration.  Visit http://www.aswm.org/calendar/midatlantic02/index.htm for more information.

Legislation Introduced to Recapture Clean Water Act Jurisdiction

On July 25, 2002, Senator Feingold and Congressmen Dingle and Oberstar introduced legislation into the Senate and House respectively to protect isolated wetlands now in jeopardy as a result of a 2001 Supreme Court decision—Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC). The bills, which will be called The Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2002, were introduced to restore the protection that existed for all waters and wetlands prior to the SWANCC decision by:
1) Adopting a statutory definition of "waters of the United States" based on a longstanding definition of waters in the Corps of Engineers' regulations (at 33 CFR 328.3).
2) Deleting the term "navigable" from the Act to clarify that Congress' primary concern in 1972 was to protect the nation's waters from pollution, rather than just sustain the navigability of waterways.
3) Including a set of findings that explain the factual basis for Congressional assertion of constitutional authority over waters and wetlands, including those that are called "isolated."
The bills will be posted to http://thomas.loc.gov   In the House the bill will be H.R. 5194.  The following press releases were also issued. National Wildlife Federation http://www.aswm.org/wbn/archive/02/0207nwf.htm; EarthJustice http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=411; Izaak Walton League of America http://www.aswm.org/wbn/archive/02/0207iwla.htm; National Audubon Society http://www.aswm.org/wbn/archive/02/0207aud.htm.

Legal Loophole Leaves “Isolated” Wetlands in Peril, Says New Report

NWF/ NRDC press release, 7/23/02. Washington, DC – A new report from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) warns of serious threats to people and wildlife stemming from a 2001 Supreme Court decision narrowing the scope of federal environmental protection for the nation's wetlands The report, Wetlands at Risk: Imperiled Treasures, details the vital role played by isolated wetlands across all regions of the country, highlighting the important functions at risk. The report also calls for federal legislation that would clarify Congress' view that the protection of isolated wetlands is critical to water quality, public safety, wildlife and other public interests, including hunting and fishing and that the Clean Water Act protects isolated wetlands and other waters. The clarification is essential because tens of thousands acres of wetlands of all types continue to be lost each year in spite of Clean Water Act protections.

In addition to supporting new legislation, NWF and NRDC are urging the Bush administration to act quickly and definitively to ensure that federal agencies fully understand the limits of the court’s ruling and their inherent responsibility to safeguard the nation’s water resources.  "America can't afford to squander all the benefits these wetlands provide," said Julie Sibbing, NWF's wetlands legislative representative. "The court may have opened the door to misguided wetlands destruction, but Congress can shut it again." Wetlands at Risk: Imperiled Treasures can be found online at http://www.nwf.org/wetlands/wetlandsatrisk.html

New Jersey Wetlands Get Wider Buffers

Trenton, NJ 7/22/02. (ENS) – “The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has issued a new regulation that will increase the buffer zones around thousands of acres of protected wetlands in New Jersey. The rule amends the state's Fresh Water Protection Act (FWPA). Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell signed the final rule earlier this month . . . Under the new rule, more wetlands statewide will now warrant a 150 foot buffer, rather than a 50 foot buffer as was the norm under existing regulations. The improved buffer zone regulation will not only increase the wetland acres protected but will also provide multiple environmental and economic benefits to the taxpayers of New Jersey . . . Environmental Defense used a Geographic Information System to analyze the most critical wetland habitat areas in the state. The data concluded that many valuable areas were not being adequately protected under the FWPA. The new rule is the result of the work of Environmental Defense and the NJDEP to ensure that New Jersey's wetlands habitat is preserved.” http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-22-09.asp#anchor2

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NATIONAL UPDATE

Drought Parches One Third of the Nation

WASHINGTON, DC, July 19, 2002 (ENS) – “By the end of June, 36 percent of the contiguous United States was in severe to extreme drought, according to the National Climatic Data Center. Above normal temperatures and drier than normal conditions led to a worsening drought situation across more than one third of the United States last month, based on a common measure of drought severity, the Palmer Drought Index . . . “ http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-19-09.asp#anchor1

Japanese Shore Crabs Invade Penobscot Bay

Cornell University press release, 7/18/02. Japanese shore crabs, square-shaped crustaceans that pose a direct threat to soft-shell (steamer) clams, mussels, and possibly lobsters, were discovered July 13, 2002, by Cornell University marine biologists in Owl's Head, Maine, in Penobscot Bay. http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/July02/ShoreCrabs.bpf.html

West Nile Virus Spreads Westward into 26 States

Ithaca, NY 7/18/02 (ENS) - This year, the West Nile virus has been discovered over a much wider area and than in previous years, and it has spread farther west, according to a risk analysis issued today by Cornell University. The virus, which made its first U.S. appearance on Long Island in 1999, is now found in 26 states and three Canadian provinces. Last year the virus was confined to eight states. For full text and graphics visit: http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-18-05.asp

63 Dams in 16 States to be Removed in 2002

American Rivers press release 7/18/02. Sixty-three dams in 15 states and the District of Columbia are scheduled for removal in the 2002 calendar year-- the most since American Rivers began conducting its annual survey in 1999. Warm weather and low water are conducive to these projects and many removal efforts will be getting underway in coming weeks. The nation's aging dam infrastructure, combined with a growing appreciation of the ecological impacts of dams is the impetus behind this burgeoning dam removal movement. http://www.amrivers.org/pressrelease/damremoval071802.htm

2002 Year of Clean Water

MI DEQ Office of the Great Lakes Activity Report, 7/02. October 18, 2002 is the 30th Anniversary of the enactment of the Clean Water Act. This date marks a milestone in the efforts to protect our nation's water resources. This anniversary also presents an excellent opportunity to continue forward strides in watershed protection, awareness, and understanding.  In support of these goals, 2002 has been proclaimed the “Year of Clean Water.” The America's Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) is coordinating and facilitating a series of events throughout October 2002 to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act. For further information, access the Year of Clean Water at  www.yearofcleanwater.org.

Asian Carp Threaten Great Lakes Warns IJC

International Joint Commission press release, 7/11/02. Immediate action must be taken by the governments of the United States and Canada to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes in the near future, stated the International Joint Commission (IJC) in a letter to the governments of the United States and Canada. Scientists caution that failure to prevent the invasion of Asian carp may result in damage to the Great Lakes ecosystem far exceeding those brought about by the previous invasions of the sea lamprey and the zebra mussel, according to the IJC. http://www.ijc.org/ijcweb-e.html

Army Corps, Green Group to Work Together on Dams 

Planet Ark World Environment News, 7/11/02. WASHINGTON – “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The Nature Conservancy, two traditional rivals, said this week they would work together to lessen the environmental impact of dams on nine U.S. rivers - a move the Corps hopes will also enhance its relationship with environmental groups. The agreement between the agency and the environmental group would improve river flow and restore wildlife habitats at 13 dams in the United States without compromising flood control and power generation for local residents . . . “ http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/16786/story.htm

EPA, ACOE Commit to Restoring Degraded Urban Rivers

EPA press release, 7/11/02. “EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing them to a partnership for restoration of degraded urban rivers. As part of this agreement, EPA and the Corps will jointly select eight demonstration pilot projects over the next 12 months. In partnership with state and local governments, tribal authorities and private organizations, the projects will focus on water quality improvement, cleanup of contaminated sediments and human and animal habitat restoration. The projects will demonstrate how coordinated government and private sector efforts can not only restore contaminated rivers but also revitalize urban environments. http://www.epa.gov/epahome/newsroom.htm

Endangered Birds Will Not Be Moved for Barges

Washington, DC, 7/8/02 (ENS) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has ordered the Army Corps of Engineers not to move the nests of endangered birds to allow water to be released into the Missouri River. The decision, aimed at protecting the nests of the rare least tern and piping plover, could potentially block barge traffic from a 250-mile stretch of the river. For full text and graphics visit:  http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-08-07.asp

Individuals, Groups Honored for Protecting Wetlands

Washington, DC, 7/8/02 (ENS) – “A Minnesota farmer, an Illinois conservation organization and a Wisconsin Native American tribe are among those selected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to receive National Wetlands Conservation Awards (NWCA). The national NWCA individual award went to Peter Stent, recognizing his involvement with the restoration of 1,379 acres of wetlands and three miles of riparian habitat on private land in Menlo Park, California. The national group winner was the Conservation Fund, represented by Brad Meiklejohn, for restoring about 37,000 acres of coastal wetlands, uplands and tundra in Eagle River, Alaska . . . “ http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-08-09.asp#anchor4

Extremely Dry Conditions Greet Ducks Returning to Prairie Breeding Grounds

USFWS press release, 7/8/02. Migrating ducks returning to important nesting areas in the north-central U.S. and southern Canadian prairies this spring were greeted by extremely dry conditions, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's annual survey.  Although water levels on the prairies declined dramatically this spring, the effects on duck populations have not yet been felt and the total population of breeding ducks remained near their long-term average. http://news.fws.gov

Mexico Agrees to Release Rio Grande Water

Washington, DC 7/1/02 (ENS) - Texas farmers are breathing a sigh of relief as the scarce waters of the Rio Grande will soon begin flowing to their side of the border. Under an agreement reached Friday between the United States and Mexican governments, Mexico has agreed to assign to the United States, on a contingency basis, 90,000 acre-feet of water from international storage. For full text and graphics visit: http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-01-01.asp

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:

Notes from Natural Resource Defense Council’s “Legislative Watch”

1.  “After many terrorism-related hearings, the House Select Committee on Homeland Security will take up H.R. 5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, on 7/19. The Senate plans to take up its version of the bill the week of 7/22. The bill includes provisions that would suppress public disclosure of information and provide companies with immunity from the civil consequences of violating laws when information relating to national security is voluntarily submitted. Environmentalists argue that the provisions are not necessary and that the language would hinder enforcement of environmental and public safety laws. Environmentalists are also concerned that the proposed legislation lacks provisions to reduce the vulnerability of chemical plants. Missing from these current bills are proposals such as Sen. Corzine's (D-NJ) Chemical Security Act (S. 1602), a bill that would require the EPA to conduct vulnerability assessments of chemical plants, which would then be required to take steps to reduce hazards and improve security.” 

2. On 7/10, along a nearly party line vote, the House Resources Committee approved H.R. 4840, a bill introduced by Rep. Hansen (R-UT) that would require additional scrutiny of data when extending extra protection to an endangered species, but not when withholding extra protection. Environmentalists oppose the bill, along with two others (Rep. Pombo's (R-CA) H.R. 3705 and Rep. Walden's (R-OR) H.R. 2829) that would modify the Endangered Species Act, making it harder for the government to protect endangered and threatened species. These bills would impose a higher burden on federal agencies to obtain additional scientific information on species and mandate additional review of that data, resulting in delay and additional hurdles before protections could be put in place. Legislative Watch, 7/18/02 [Related report: Endangered Species Program:  Information on How Funds Are Allocated
and What Activities Are Emphasized. GAO-02-581, June 25. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-02-581]

House Resources Committee Approves Major Fisheries Bill

7/11/02 Washington — “The commerce secretary would be required to identify the 20 U.S. fisheries with the biggest capacity problems under legislation the House Resources Committee approved Wednesday. The committee voted 23-17 to send the bill reauthorizing the nation's major fishing law, known as the Magnuson Act, to the full House for consideration. The committee's Senate counterpart has not yet acted . . . “ http://production.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/07/07112002/ap_47814.asp

U.S. Congress Takes Action to Fund State Wildlife Conservation for 2003

International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies press release, 7/9/02. Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations voted to increase federal funding for state wildlife conservation to $100 million in Fiscal Year 2003. The Committee honored the third year of a six-year commitment to conservationists by voting to pass the FY 2003 Interior Appropriations Bill with $100 million for State Wildlife Grants (SWG) within the $1.44 billion Conservation Spending Category often referred to as CARA-lite.  This $15 million increase in funding will provide all 50 states with greater resources critically needed for wildlife conservation efforts. The House and Senate Interior Appropriations Bills will face votes by the Senate and House, followed by a Conference to work out any differences.  http://www.iafwa.org/Press%20Releases/July%209,%202002.htm

Invasive Aquatic Species Subcommittee Hearing

NRCS Legislative Summary for 6/24/02 – On June 20, the Environment, Technology and Standards Subcommittee (Chairman Ehlers, MI) of the House Science Committee held a hearing on research priorities to support the National Invasive Species Act (NISA). Members of Congress and others testified regarding the importance of tracking the proliferation of invasive species, distinguishing between various species, how to improve barriers to stop the spread of invasive species as well as the need for better coordination among federal agencies.

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STATES NEWS

NY Aquarium Launches "Project POWER" to Prevent Wetland Law Violations

Wildlife Conservation Society news, 7/25/02. The New York Aquarium recently received a $15,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct "Project POWER" (Protect Our Wetlands with Educators & Regulators), a community-based education course on wetland law and ecology, which will take place in all five boroughs. This pro-active project seeks to increase the number of citizens who, as a result of gaining an understanding of the nature of wetlands, will care for wetlands and prevent wetland violations before they can occur. Classes are free to the general public. For information and reservations please call 718-265-3448 to guarantee your attendance. http://wcs.org/7411/?art=60762

DEIS Planned for Lake Okeechobee Aquifer Storage/Recovery Pilot Project

Federal Register, 7/19/02. The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), intends to prepare an integrated Pilot Project Design Report and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Lake Okeechobee Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Pilot Project. The study is a cooperative effort between the Corps and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), which is also a cooperating agency for this DEIS. One of the recommendations of the final report of the Central & South Florida (C&SF) Comprehensive Review Study (Restudy) was the Lake Okeechobee ASR Pilot Project. This project will determine the feasibility of using ASR technology for water storage and the treatment regimes needed for an operational ASR well system. It will also collect scientific data to address the uncertainties associated with the ASR technology and for future optimization and design studies. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-18272-filed

Delaware Offers Cost Share Funds for Phragmites Control to Landowners

DE DNREC press release, 7/18/02. Delaware is again accepting applications for a 50/50 cost share program to improve wildlife habitat in wetlands that have been degraded by the pest plant, phragmites. Eligible landowners must have at least five acres of phragmites to treat and a maximum of 200 acres to be sprayed per property. In addition, landowners must agree to have their property treated for two consecutive years. The Division extends the cost sharing approach as an incentive for landowners to be a partner in marsh restoration programs. Last year, 49 landowners took advantage of the cost share program and 2,480 acres were treated. http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/Admin/Press/Story1.asp?PRID=569

Lake Umbagog NWR [ME/NH] to get Comprehensive Conservation Plan

Federal Register, 7/16/02 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Lake Umbagog NWR is located in Coos County, New Hampshire and Oxford County, Maine. The planning process will also include a Wilderness Review of existing refuge lands. The refuge protects over 16,300 acres of wetland and forested upland habitat along Umbagog Lake and provides opportunities for recreational uses such as wildlife observation and photography, hunting, and fishing. The lake itself is one of the largest along the New Hampshire/Maine border, covering more than 8,500 acres and stretching more than 10 miles in length. It has an average depth of only 15 feet. http://northeast.fws.gov/planning/umbagog.htm

National Legislation Introduced to End Dredging in Florida’s Apalachicola River and Bay

FLDEP press release, 7/16/02. Tallahassee, FL - Governor Jeb Bush announced his support for legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Bob Graham that ends dredging in the Apalachicola River and provides $4 million in federal funding to begin restoration. If enacted by Congress, the proposed legislation would require the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a comprehensive plan to restore the Apalachicola River basin. The 109-mile Apalachicola River stretches from the Georgia border through the Panhandle to the Gulf of Mexico. One of the highest densities of amphibians and reptiles on the continent north of Mexico is found along the upper reaches of the Apalachicola River basin, and several plants are native to the region. http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/comm/2002/02-END%20DREDGING716.htm

California Tiger Salamander Receives Emergency Protection

USFWS news release, 7/16/02. The USFWS will extend emergency protection to the Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander under the Endangered Species Act.  Listing the salamander as endangered will immediately protect the salamander and its habitat for 240 days while the Service makes a final decision on a proposal to list the Sonoma County population of California tiger salamander as an endangered distinct population segment under the normal listing process. This emergency listing rule and the concurrently published proposed rule comply with the court-approved settlement agreement of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity on February 27, 2002. http://news.fws.gov/newsreleases/

Maryland Says Northern Snakeheads were Pets 

Planet Ark World Environment News, 7/15/02. Baltimore – “A colony of alien killer fish that have turned up in a Maryland pond between Baltimore and Washington are the offspring of two discarded specimen that were raised as pets, state officials said. The state [DNR] said a Maryland resident bought two northern snakeheads in New York and dumped them into a small pond in Anne Arundel County more than two years ago . . . Northern snakeheads [grow] to lengths of three feet (90 cm), can live out of the water for three days and are described being able to "walk" short distances on their fins. Officials fear a significant threat to native species including crabs and clams, if the fish managed to enter the Little Patuxent River 75 feet (23 metres) away from the pond . . . “ http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/16851/story.htm [Related story: US DOI Secretary Gale Norton proposes listing Snakehead Fish as “Injurious Species”  http://www.doi.gov/news/index.html ]

Groups Applaud Manatee Ruling

Defenders of Wildlife press release, 7/12/02. Washington -- Advocates for Florida's endangered manatees today hailed a U.S. District Court ruling that found the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was not providing adequate refuges and sanctuaries for the species, as required under the terms of a 2001 legal settlement. According to the advocates,  the state was making no efforts to protect manatees in some of the areas where mortality is the highest, including Lee, Collier, and Duval counties. Lee County set an all-time record for manatee deaths from boat strikes last year, and is on a similar pace in 2002. http://www.defenders.org/releases/pr2002/pr071202.html

Louisiana Company Fined for Wetlands Destruction

EPA press release, 7/11/02. Tammany Holding, Corp., Slidell, La., pleaded guilty and was sentenced on July 3 to pay a $300,000 fine for violating the Clean Water Act in 1997 and 1998 by illegally filling a wetland without a permit. The company also violated the Rivers and Harbors Act in 1997 when it dredged and discharged material into Lake Ponchatrain without a permit while in the process of building the Lakeshore Estates development near Lake Ponchatrain. Tammany also will pay $76,000 in restitution to four environmental groups. http://www.epa.gov/epahome/newsroom.htm

Trumpeter Swans Rebound in Wisconsin

Madison, WI, 7/11/02. (ENS) - Fifty-one pairs of endangered trumpeter swans nested in Wisconsin this year, more than double the state's initial recovery goal of having 20 pairs nesting in the state by the year 2000. . . With so many pairs now nesting in the state, biologists are asking for help from the public in reporting any observations of the large white birds nesting in wetland areas around the state, particularly in central Wisconsin where the number of reported nesting pairs has declined in recent years. People who think they may have seen a swan nest should contact DNR swan program. http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-11-09.asp

Rancher Leaves $21.5 M Legacy in Unbroken Landscape

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation press release, 7/10/02. Missoula, MT - When Bob Torstenson looked west, he saw the sun going down on sweeping horizons and untamed lands. Torstenson believed that everyone has responsibilities to family heirs, but landowners have additional obligations to people that they’ll never even meet. After all, every American, forevermore, deserves plenty of wild and unbroken landscapes. He died in May at age 51. Through his trust, he made sure his wife and sons were well taken care of, but he selected the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to carry his Western vision – and ranch – into perpetuity. The Montana-based conservation group accepted Torstenson’s 135,129-acre (211 square miles) gift – the Double H Ranch in west-central New Mexico. A preliminary appraisal values the ranch at $17.5 million. But the gift doesn’t stop there. Torstenson also left a $4 million cash endowment to help ensure the best possible stewardship of the ranch and its wildlife. With an estimated total value of $21.5 million, this is among the largest and most generous conservation gifts ever given. http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=7281

Red-Legged Frog Habitat Rule Overturned

Oakland, CA, 7/10/02 (ENS) - A federal judge has approved an agreement that could nullify most of the 4.1 million acres designated last year in California as critical habitat for the threatened California red-legged frog. Judge Richard Leon - a recent Bush administration appointee - of the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, approved the agreement between the Home Builders Association of Northern California and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) last week. The developers had argued that the USFWS had not considered the economic impacts of protecting habitat for the frog. http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-10-09.asp

Southern California Population of Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Determined to be Endangered    

7/2/02. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the southern California distinct population segment of mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Seven small, isolated populations totaling fewer than 100 adult individuals are believed to still exist within portions of the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains. Mountain yellow-legged frogs inhabit stream reaches in southern California north to high mountain lakes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Research indicates that mountain yellow-legged frogs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are distinct from those in southern California based upon geographical separation and genetic differences. http://news.fws.gov/newsreleases/

Ohio Announces Strategic Action Plan for Ohio’s Water Resources

OH Governor press release 7/1/02. Colombus, OH  - Governor Bob Taft announced a four-year strategic plan outlining key issues and action items to maintain and protect Ohio's water resources. The 39-page plan's 29 objectives for action are designed to strengthen collaboration between state, local and federal partners and to advance their efforts addressing improvements in areas such as water quality and quantity, watershed protection, regulatory programs, public and private water systems, water-based recreation and citizen involvement. http://www.state.oh.us/gov/releases/070102odnr.htm

WI: Ashley May Drop Plan to Expand in Wetland; Company Wants to Get Out of Spotlight

Eau Claire Leader Telegram, Front Page, 6/28/2002. by Joe Knight, Leader-Telegram Staff. - ”A spokesman for Ashley Furniture said the Arcadia company probably will not apply for a special permit to expand into a wetlands area – even though state legislators are including such a measure in the budget repair bill. Bill Koslo, the company's attorney, said Ashley is tired of being in the center of a controversy . . . Two years ago the Legislature included a measure in the state budget that would have granted Ashley an exemption to expand into 14 acres of wetlands bordering the Trempealeau River. Five environmental groups sued, and a Buffalo County judge ruled the measure was too localized to be in a state budget. This time around the language does not apply just to Arcadia, said state Sen. Rod Moen, D-Whitehall. Moen said he went over the measure with a state attorney to make sure the language was broad enough to be constitutional. ‘What we did this time was say that any community in the state may apply’ for an exemption, he said . . . “ http://www.aswm.org/wbn/archives/02/020717a.htm#2.

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NEW PUBLICATIONS and RESOURCES

DEP Offers A New and Useful Fisheries Publication

CT DEP press release, 6/26/02. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released their new publication, A Fisheries Guide to Lakes and Ponds of Connecticut Including the Connecticut River and Its Coves. Topics covered include: aquatic vegetation, bathymetry (depth contour) maps, fish populations and their habitats, lake and pond ecology, lake and pond fisheries management practices, lake productivity, life histories and identification of common lake and pond fishes, maximum and minimum water depths, thermal stratification and water clarity. http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/book.htm

National Park Service Report Reviews Natural Resource Preservation Issues

NPS press release, 7/5/02.The National Park Service (NPS) announced the release today of Natural Resource Year in Review - 2001. The full-color report features nearly 80 informative and analytical articles, providing insights into natural resource preservation issues and stewardship strategies in the National Park System. The 84-page report has approximately 125 illustrations and is available on-line at http://www.nature.nps.gov/pubs/yir/yir2001

New Book: Preserving the Pascagoula

By Donald G. Schueler. PRESERVING THE PASCAGOULA recreates one of the more exciting sagas in the history of wilderness preservation-the ultimately successful fight to protect the vast, magnificent, little-known Pascagoula Swamp in southeastern Mississippi. The Pascagoula, in terms of discharge volume, remains the largest undammed, unaltered river system in the continental United States. The story of how it was saved, with several heroes, no great villains, and a happy ending, will remind the environmental community that now and then the "good guys" do win. More than the suspenseful retelling of this achievement, PRESERVING THE PASCAGOULA details the unusual strategy whereby the fight was won. It serves as a blueprint of how a state government created from scratch one of the finest natural area programs in America today.
http://www.upress.state.ms.us/catalog/spring2002/preserving_the_pascagoula.html

Now Online - The Missouri River Ecosystem: Exploring the Prospects for Recovery

Now online from the National Academy Press: The Missouri River Ecosystem: Exploring the Prospects for Recovery http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10277.html?onpi_listserv071902 Degradation of the Missouri River ecosystem will continue unless the river's natural water flow is significantly restored, says a  January 2002 report from the National Academies' National Research Council. Congress should enact legislation to ensure that federal officials manage the river in a way that improves ecological conditions, said the committee that wrote the report.

GAO Says Environmental Laws Aren't Getting in the Way of Military Training

ENN Worldwire News, 7/10/02. Congressional auditors found little evidence to support Bush administration claims that military training is hampered by laws that protect endangered species and migratory birds. http://production.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/07/07102002/ap_47793.asp

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POTPOURRI

Several Eastern States Release Poppy-Seed-Sized Beetles to Save Hemlock Trees

7/12/02. Philadelphia — “A growing army of ladybugs is at war in East Coast forests, charged with devouring a nasty foe of the Eastern hemlock. The predatory black ladybird beetle, a cousin to the cute, red-and-black-dotted variety, is the size of a poppy seed. Scientists hope the beetles will someday prove the cure for the hemlock woolly adelgid, a ravenous insect that is threatening the survival of the prized shade trees. Hemlocks can often be found near streams, where they help to moderate air and water temperatures. They keep streams cool enough for trout to survive, while providing shelter to deer and other wildlife . . . “ http://production.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/07/07122002/s_47779.asp

Golf Course Water Hazards Filter Runoff

West Lafayette, IN 7/10/02. (ENS) – “Constructed wetlands on golf courses may help prevent potential pollutants from damaging the environment, a new study suggests. Researchers at Purdue University say the wetlands built on the university's Kampen Course help to screen pollutants from runoff water. The study shows that the constructed wetlands' usefulness in protecting water quality is improving as the system ages. The cleanup occurs when microscopic organisms - primarily bacteria - wetland plants, sediments and golf course grass trap and clean runoff water polluted with nutrients and chemicals such as pesticides, the researchers said. The artificial ponds keep pollution out of West Lafayette's Celery Bog, which borders the Kampen Course . . . “ http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-10-09.asp 

Pesticides, Parasites Spell Double Trouble for Frogs

State College, PA 7/9/02 (ENS) – “Scientists at Penn State  may have resolved the conflicting evidence regarding why so many frogs and  other amphibians are developing deformities. Their research shows that a combination of infection by parasites and exposure to pesticides, rather than either problem alone, leads to the most deformities. http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-09-06.asp

Ballast Water Rules Need Enforcement, Penalties

Washington, DC 7/9/02 (ENS) - Penalizing ships that do not report their ballast water discharges could help stem the tide of invasive species entering the U.S. in these discharges, a new report suggests. Of the estimated 100,000 ships from foreign waters that dock in the U.S. each year, just 30 percent provided information on their ballast water as required by the U.S. Coast Guard under the National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (NISA), finds the report by the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse. . . More information is available at: http://invasions.si.edu/ballast.htm

In the West, Battle Rages Against the Invasive Salt Cedar

7/9/02 By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press. San Acacia, NM — “An army of water-sucking soldiers is marching along the banks of nearly every waterway in the West. The soldiers — with their skinny leaves and nonnutritious seeds — have invaded more than 1 million acres of river and stream banks in New Mexico, Texas, and more than a dozen other arid states. They have pushed out native plants, birds, and other wildlife and sucked dry already dwindling water supplies. ‘This is public enemy No. 1 as far as I'm concerned,’ said Corky Herkenhoff, who farms about 600 acres along the Rio Grande. ‘It's unbelievable the amount of water it consumes, and it renders the land pretty much useless.’ One of the most important steps in destroying salt cedar is reintroducing native plants. But scientists are finding that easier said than done . . . “ http://production.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/07/07092002/ap_47778.asp

North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Request for Small Grants Proposals for Year 2003

Federal Register, 7/8/02. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) are currently entertaining proposals that request match funding for wetland and wetland-associated upland conservation projects under the Small Grants program. Projects must meet the purposes of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, as amended. We will give funding priority to projects from new grant applicants with new partners, where the project ensures long-term conservation benefits. However, previous Act grantees are eligible to receive funding and can compete successfully on the basis of strong project resource values. Proposals must be postmarked no later than Friday, November 29, 2002. http://birdhabitat.fws.gov

Parasite Populations Reflect Ecosystem Health

Santa Barbara, CA 7/3/02. (ENS) - Parasites are barometers of the well being of a salt marsh, say researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). When USGS scientist Dr. Kevin Lafferty visits a salt marsh at low tide, he sees much more than algae green tinted mudflats, tidal sloughs and brine adapted pickleweed. Like other visitors, he sees the bustle of life around the mudflats from clams, snails, and crabs, to shorebirds and long legged waders, and gobies and killifish in the shallows of the estuary. Unlike most visitors, however, Lafferty's thoughts are focused on the parasites that are an integral part of a healthy salt marsh. http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2002/2002-07-03-09.asp

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