AUGUST

VT: State restores lost wetlands to protect Lake Champlain By Candace Page – Burlington Free Press – August 27, 2010 Farmer Bob Forrest used heavy equipment in the 1970s to gouge a network of 5-foot-deep drainage ditches through swampy, low-lying land on the banks of Otter Creek. Muscling Mother Nature did not work very well. “That land floods three, four times a year. I used to plant corn down there and lose it every year. The water would be right over top of the corn,” Forrest groused last week. For full story, go to: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100827/NEWS02/100826026/State-restores-lost-wetlands-to-protect-Lake-Champlain

ME: Engineer: Plugging a hole, culvert to fix wetlands By Mechele Cooper – Kennebec Journal – August 26, 2010 Plugging a hole in a berm and replacing a culvert under a driveway will restore damaged wetlands on Windsor Road, an engineer says. Jim Coffin of E.S. Coffin Engineering & Surveying Inc. in Chelsea has designed a restoration plan to repair wetlands drained during a project meant to prevent the road from flooding. For full story, go to: http://www.kjonline.com/news/engineer-plugging-a-hole-culvert-to-fix-wetlands_2010-08-25.html

NC: Wading through the wetlands By Barbara Hootman – Black Mountain News – August 26, 2010 “Wading through Wetlands” was a recent program presented at the Swannanoa Library and the Black Mountain Library for young children. The program is the traveling North Carolina Museum of Natural Science, with the mission of bringing the museum to the people. For full story, go to: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100825/BlackMountainNews 0103/308250011/1007/COLUMNISTS

MD: Navy vow to aid Chesapeake Bay cleanup By Alex Dominguez – Associated Press – August 26, 2010 Military leaders pledged Wednesday to do their part in using more hybrid vehicles and reduce polluting runoff from big bases near the Chesapeake Bay, vowing to lead by example on a federally mandated cleanup of the waterway. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and Gov. Martin O'Malley joined commanders of Bay area bases at the Naval Academy on Wednesday to brainstorm on a call for federal government entities to play a prominent role in the cleanup. For full story, go to: http://www.wishtv.com/dpps/military/Navy-chiefs-vow-to-go-green-to-aid-Bay-cleanup_3563164 For a story about bacteria in Chesapeake Bay, see: Bacteria in bay cause skin and blood infections, intestinal illness http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/24/AR2010082405905.html

MT: MATL wants OK to work near wetlands By Karl Puckett – Great Falls Tribune – August 26, 2010 The developer of a high-voltage power line that was awarded a state permit almost two years ago is seeking an amendment allowing construction activity within 50 feet of wetlands, which the state says would increase its environmental impact. For full story, go to: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100826/NEWS01/8260308/MATL-wants-OK-to-work-near-wetlands

NC: Ducks Unlimited & Partners Complete North Carolina Coastal Wetlands Project AmmoLand.com – August 26, 2010 Ducks Unlimited and partners recently completed wetlands restoration work in east-central North Carolina funded in part by a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant. “This project focuses on enhancing emergent estuarine habitat, a decreasing wetland type,” said Craig LeSchack, Ducks Unlimited director of conservation programs. “These wetlands provide feeding habitat for many wetland-dependent species including migrating and wintering waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway, neotropical migrants and other migratory and non-migratory waterbirds.” For full article, go to: http://www.ammoland.com/2010/08/26/ducks-unlimited- north-carolina-coastal-wetlands-project/

NY: EPA Issues Order to Tonawanda Coke for Clean Water Act Violations Contact: Elias Rodriguez – EPA News Release – August 26, 2010 In its ongoing efforts to require Tonawanda Coke Corporation (TCC) to comply with environmental regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered the coke manufacturing facility to comply with its Clean Water Act permit.  Among other violations, TCC is discharging industrial wastewater containing cyanide in excess of its permit limits into the town of Tonawanda’s sanitary sewer system, which ultimately discharges into the Niagara River from the town’s wastewater treatment facility. Cyanide is a toxic chemical compound, and excessive amounts may adversely impact human health, fish and wildlife. EPA is also ordering TCC to properly monitor and treat the wastewater that results from the coke-making process. For more information, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region02/capp/tonawanda.html

OH: Guest Column: Visiting Beaver Marsh through scientists' eyes By Jennie Vasarhelyi - Cuyahoga Valley National Park – August 25, 2010 This summer, when you visit the Beaver Marsh in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, you may see staff or volunteer citizen scientists collecting data as part of major initiative to measure "vital signs" at national parks around the country. Measuring vital signs involves taking inventory and monitoring. While the inventory provides a snapshot of the natural resources, monitoring tracks the health of the natural resources across time. For full story, go to: http://www.the-news-leader.com/news/article/4882878

NJ: Opinion: Loss Of Nature Threatens Area Neighborhoods By Jun Zhong – NJ Today – August 25, 2010 I am writing to express my outrage that one of the few nature areas we have left is being paved over. The woods and wetlands comprising much of the D’Annunzio property in the Dismal Swamp are being bulldozed for more overdevelopment. The surrounding neighborhood along Park Avenue in South Plainfield and Edison has already seen flooding drastically increase over the past decade every time a new development is built. The State of New Jersey recognizes this importance of the Dismal Swamp and designated the entire area as New Jersey’s newest Preservation Area. Yet the Borough of South Plainfield is going against this new law and allowing its zoning board to hear this proposal.  For full opinion, go to: http://njtoday.net/2010/08/25/loss-of-nature-threatens-area-neighborhoods/

MN: Op: Should Congress strengthen the Clean Water Act? Yes: Clean water is a priority By Darrell Gerber – Opinion – Deluth News Tribune – August 25, 2010 Watching the tall ships float through the Duluth-Superior Harbor this summer reminded me of how much we depend on our natural environs. The wind that filled the ship’s sails and the water on which they rode are critical but fickle partners in their journey. The large sailing ships may be no more than a novelty today, but the health of Lake Superior is still critical for our communities. For full opinion, go to: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/177128/group/Opinion/

VA: State opposed to wetlands scheme By Cortney Langley – The Virginia Gazette – August 25, 2010 Virginia’s environmental agency has joined more than 200 citizens opposed to banking the wetlands at Lake Powell. The Army Corps of Engineers recently solicited public comment on the wetlands bank. Around 200 citizens filed more than 400 pages of opposition, compared to only one letter of support. The opposition was bolstered by the official stance of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The agency is concerned that the lake owners no longer own all of the land that they want to bank, since the lake is drained. Homeowners have seized on a 1996 court ruling that the boundaries of the lake are based on where “the water ordinarily and usually” meets the surrounding lot. Since the lake has receded, some homeowners are claiming extensions of their lots. For full story, go to: http://www.vagazette.com/articles/2010/08/25/news/doc4c743fbdacf4e421667934.txt

MN: 7,504 Acres of Wetlands and Grasslands to be Restored The Farmer – August 24, 2010 Private landowners working with their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and NRCS offices will be busy restoring 7,504 acres of wetlands and grasslands in Minnesota through the RIM-WRP program. A total of $8.37 million in state funds was available, including $6.895 million from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, based on a recommendation by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. Those state dollars made it possible to leverage $13.75 million in federal dollars through the NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program. http://mobile.the-farmer.com/main.aspx?ascxid=cmsNewsStory&rmid=0 &rascxid=&args=&rargs=9&dt=634184228864181250&cmsSid=41381&cmsScid=9

WA: PACIFIC TOPSOILS, INC. v. FORMAN Court of Appeals of Washington, Division Two – August 24, 2010 PTI, a soil processing company, owns property on Smith Island in Snohomish County. Smith Island has large areas of historically documented wetlands. A wetland study previously performed on Smith Island described it as a "mosaic of wetlands." Pacific Topsoils, Inc. (PTI) appeals from a Pollution Control Hearings Board (Board) order upholding fines assessed against PTI by the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) for filling wetlands without proper permits. For full case, go to: http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=inwaco20100824b34

IA: Weather-related disasters: The new normal? By Richard Doak – Des Moines Register – August 22, 2010 People have noticed that "100-year floods" seem to be soaking Iowa every couple of years lately. If there was any doubt that we are living through an extraordinary era in the Earth's history, this extraordinary year should dispel it. When what is supposed to happen on average once a century begins to happen every other year, something has changed. Welcome to post-climate-change Iowa. In Iowa after climate change, torrential summer downpours are the usual, not the exception. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100822/OPINION01/8220306/1/sitemap/ Weather-related-disasters-The-new-normal?-

LA DNR Coastal Zone Boundary Study Released CSO Weekly Report – August 2010 On August 18, 2010, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Office of Coastal Management released the results of a science-based study on the inland boundary of the state’s coastal zone with recommendations on changes to the boundary to ensure it meets the coastal zone management needs of the state and its people. The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, at the direction of the state Legislature, authorized the comprehensive study and evaluation of the coastal zone boundary by DNR’s Office of Coastal Management in 2009. According to Louis Buatt, Assistant Secretary with DNR’s Office of Coastal Management, the recommended coastal zone boundary changes more accurately reflect the most up-to-date scientific understanding of the complex systems that shape Louisiana’s coast. For more information about the study and recommendations, including the full report, executive summary, and presentation, visit: http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/pubinfo/newsr/2010/0818ocm-coastal-zone-bound-study.asp

LA: Vanishing marshes dwarf Gulf oil spill By Ken Wells – Washington Post – August 20, 2010 Claude Luke throttles down his 21-foot aluminum work boat. Off to the left, the snout of an alligator disappears near the mouth of a watery gash in the Louisiana marshland. The 51-year-old Cajun crab fishermen is touring the epicenter of an unfolding environmental disaster that dwarfs the BP spill and predates it by decades, according to state scientists and environmentalists. If unchecked, the destruction threatens to undermine the world’s seventh largest estuary and one of the nation’s most important energy corridors. For full story, go to: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/08/20/1341673/vanishing-marshes-dwarf-gulf-oil.html#ixzz0xdBECzr

FWS Proposes Reintroduction of Nonmigratory Whooping Cranes into Southwest Louisiana FWS News Release – August 19, 2010 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today in the Federal Register it is seeking public comment on a proposed rule to reintroduce the endangered whooping crane into habitat in its historic range on the state-owned White Lake Wetland Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. The Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will attempt to establish a non-migratory flock that lives and breeds in the wetlands, marshes and prairies of southwestern Louisiana. If this proposal is approved, the reintroduction effort could begin during early 2011. For more information, go to: http://www.fws.gov/southeast

WA: Ecology helps communities plan for rising sea level By Curt Hart – Washington Dept. of Ecology – August 19, 2010 For the next two years, coastal and Puget Sound communities in Washington will have help available to plan for the long-term effects of rising sea level. Through a partnership of state and federal agencies, Kate Skaggs, a recipient of the prestigious National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Management Fellowship, is working for The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) shorelands and environmental assistance program as a resource for local governments wanting and needing help with coastal planning. For full press release, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2010news/2010-207.html

AK: Line drawn: Decision limits federal reach into urban wetlands Fairbanks Daily News Miner – Editorial – August 15, 2010 A Fairbanks company won an important victory earlier this summer that helps set a reasonable high water mark on the federal government’s power to limit development in certain wetlands in Alaska’s communities. Several years ago, Great Northwest Inc. started a tussle with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about whether the company needed a permit to continue pulling gravel from its land in south Fairbanks. In June, the company won — hands down. No “dredge and fill” permit is necessary, the court said. U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline issued a summary judgment, meaning the facts of the matter were so clear that he didn’t need a long exchange of arguments to explore the conflict. The corps and the U.S. Department of Justice should dismiss any thought of appeal. Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Line drawn Decision limits federal reach into urban wetlands

LA: Many problems linked by one theme - degradation of coastal wetlands By Bob Marshall – Times-Picayune – August 15, 2010 At first glance, three issues percolating in the local outdoor community last week had little in common. An algae bloom that looked like dispersed oil was racing across Breton and Chandeleur sounds. A plan to flood rice fields for ducks in southwest Louisiana made some hunters wonder "Why?" A stiff west wind was pushing water over some roads in Plaquemines Parish. But like almost every story causing concern in coastal Louisiana, when you scratched below the surface, they were linked by a common thread: The destruction and degradation of our coastal wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2010/08/many_problems_linked_by_one_th.htm

KS: A new decision impacting migratory birds Birding Community E-bulletin – August 8, 2010 A federal court decision over dead birds in Kansas oil fields has redefined the coverage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. As a result of this decision violators no longer need to intentionally kill the birds to be convicted. The MBTA makes it illegal to hunt, capture, or kill protected migratory birds. Violators can currently be subject to a maximum penalty of $15,000 and six months in prison for a misdemeanor conviction. Apollo Energies, Inc., and Dale Walker were accused of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act after bird remains were found in both companies' heater-treaters. These devices are used to distill oil pumped from wells. Both companies had appealed convictions for the deaths of a few birds, including Northern Flicker and Common Grackle. Apollo Energies was fined $1,500 and Walker $500. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in late July affirmed these two convictions, one against Apollo and another against Walker. The court ruled that the potential violators could be held responsible even if they didn't intentionally kill any birds. In upholding the conviction against Apollo Energies, the appeals court emphasized that the company acknowledged that it failed to cover some potentially dangerous exhaust pipes as wildlife regulators had suggested following a 2005 inspection. For full Birding Community E-bulletin, go to: http://www.refugenet.org/birding/AugSBC10.html

MI: MI Oil Spill: Media Availability: First Rehabilitated Wildlife to be Released FWS News Release – August 2, 2010 Two rehabilitated soft-shell turtles will be released today into their new home at Binder Park Zoo. The turtles were recovered by wildlife crews as part of the Kalamazoo River/Enbridge oil spill response and stabilized at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Marshall, Mich. For full press release, go to: http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm ?newsId=32EBD28C-D957-4B60-B0018853B1EF8C82

La. marshes damaged by oil, but surprisingly resilient By Rick Jervis – USA Today – August 2, 2010 Eddie Adams has meandered through the dark-green marshes of eastern Barataria Bay, 40 miles south of New Orleans, for most of his life, fishing for speckled trout or guiding other anglers through the shallow waterways and bayous. These days, the salt marshes appear as if in intensive care. Rings of white absorbent boom circle islets stained by oil. Each day, teams of workers replace oiled boom, darkened by waves of crude from the troubled well in the Gulf of Mexico. Miles of smooth cordgrass and other marsh plants lie flat and blackened by the steady pummeling of oil. Full story, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-08-02-1Amarshes02_CV_N.htm

Archived News Return to Top of Page

July

MI: Michigan oil leak polluting Kalamazoo River; Governor declares disaster area By Tim Martin – Christian Science Monitor – July 28, 2010 Southern Michigan residents are learning that devastating oil spills aren't limited to the Gulf Coast. Crews were working Wednesday to contain and clean up an estimated 877,000 gallons of oil that coated birds and fish as it poured into a creek and flowed into the Kalamazoo River, one of the state's major waterways. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm toured the area by helicopter Tuesday night and said she wasn't satisfied with the response to the spill. The leak in the 30-inch pipeline, which was built in 1969 and carries about 8 million gallons of oil daily from Griffith, Ind., to Sarnia, Ontario, was detected early Monday. For full story, go to: http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0728/Michigan-oil-leak-polluting-Kalamazoo-River-Governor-declares-disaster-area

VA: Va. officials better prepared because of gulf spill By Michael Martz, et.al. – Richmond Times-Dispatch – July 28, 2010 A month after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig erupted in flames and began spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, Steve Parker sat down with federal officials to talk about how to protect fragile marshes along Virginia's Eastern Shore. The five-hour meeting, convened in Nassawaddox in late May, gave Parker an opportunity to consider what could happen if crude oil spilled into the Atlantic Ocean and washed into the barrier islands that include the Virginia Coast Reserve. For full story, go to: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/jul/28/rigg28-ar-352515/

OR: A reprieve for the land-use system By Oregonian Editorial Board – July 27, 2010 When lawyers describe a judicial ruling as a novel interpretation of the law, they aren't paying the judge a compliment. Novelty is not what judges are going for. But until a ruling is appealed, and the appeal is resolved, it's hard to know how novel is novel. This month, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, in effect, that federal Judge Owen Panner's interpretation of property-rights Measure 37 is too novel to stand. In eight sentences, the judges knocked it flat. For full editorial, go to: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/07/a_reprieve_for_the_land-use_sy.html For the case, go to: A Ninth Circuit U.S. Ct. of Appeals panel unanimously reversed a ruling that Oregon Measure 37 waivers were contracts CITIZENS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL FAIRNESS v. JACKSON COUNTY, No. 09-35653 (9 TH Cir. July 20, 2010) At http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2010/07/20/09-35653.pdf Or http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=infco20100720189

Michigan Oil Spill Among Largest In Midwest History: Kalamazoo Spill SOAKS Wildlife (VIDEO) The Huffington Post – July 27, 2010 As the Gulf Coast deals with the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, the Midwest is now facing an oil spill of its own. A state of emergency has been declared in southwest Michigan's Kalamazoo County as more than 800,000 gallons of oil released into a creek began making its way downstream in the Kalamazoo River, the Kalamazoo Gazette reports. For full story, go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/27/michigan-oil-spill-among_n_661196.html  For related story, go to: Oil From Michigan Spill Could Threaten Important Wetlands http://www.ducks.org/news/2241/OilFromMichiganSpill.html

WI: Moses Creek redirection begins in Schmeeckle Reserve By B.C. Kowalski – Wausau Daily Herald – July 27, 2010 Construction began Monday on a project that would restore a portion of Moses Creek, which runs through Schmeeckle Reserve, to its original form. Or at least as close as crews can get it. For full story, go to: http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20100727/WDH0101/7270446/Moses-Creek-redirection-begins-in-Schmeeckle-Reserve

LA: Wetland conservation groups ask for navy secretary's help Shreveport Times – July 27, 2010 The America's Wetland Foundation and its environmental and conservation group partners are supporting U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus' position on what to do to protect the Mississippi River Delta region after the BP oil spill is cleaned. http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20100727/NEWS01/7270335/1060

CT: Blumenthal: Logger damaging wetlands By Keith Loria – Legal Newsline – July 26, 2010 Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is seeking an injunction against a logger over alleged illegal tree harvesting, his office announced on Monday. Blumenthal, in coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection, is seeking a court order against Scott Lee, who has contracts to harvest trees at properties in Bethel, Pomfret and Putnam, but allegedly doesn't have the proper permits to do the work. "We are seeking an immediate court order to stop logging that has already destroyed trees, soil and stream channels on nearly 100 acres of land," Blumenthal said. For full story, go to: http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/228103-blumenthal-logger-damaging-wetlands

AL/GA/MS: Five Star Program Awards Nine Wetland Restoration Grants PR Newswire – July 26, 2010 Southern Company (NYSE: SO), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Association of Counties and the Wildlife Habitat Council today announced that nine new wetland, riparian and coastal conservation grants have been awarded in the Southeast through the Five Star Restoration Program. This year, Southern Company provided $238,303 in grants and, combined with partner matching funds, a total of more than $1,458,000 to restore more than 21 wetland acres and 4,019 feet of riparian buffer across nine projects in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Cumulatively, since 2006, Southern Company has contributed $1,058,513 through 50 grants across its service area, which will result in an on-the-ground conservation impact of $3.58 million to restore more than 10,000 acres of wetlands and nearly 50,000 feet of riparian buffer in the Southeast. For full article, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-star-program-awards-nine-wetland-restoration-grants-99248179.html

MD: Releasing Exotic Species to Fight Invasive Species: Gambling With Mother Nature? By Tom Pelton – Chesapeake Bay Foundation – July 26, 2010 Up and down the street in Prince George’s County, Maryland, ash trees are dead or dying.  The stately hardwoods are being killed by a shiny green beetle from Asia called the emerald ash borer. It’s an invasive species that has wiped out more than 30 million trees since it hitchhiked from China on a shipping crate more than a decade ago. For full story, go to: http://cbf.typepad.com/bay_daily/2010/07/up-and-down-the-street-in-prince-georges-county-maryland-ash-trees-are-dead-or-dying-the-stately-hardwoods-are-being-ki.html

OH: Cullen Park group opposed to Corps of Engineers plans By Aliyya Swaby – Toledo Blade – July 26, 2010 Behind the small lighthouse replica marking the entrance to Cullen Park in Point Place are weeds several feet high, blocking the view of a scenic bay. A community group, Visions for Cullen Park, is trying to persuade the city to get rid of the weeds and extend the adjacent pedestrian pathway to boost the park's tourism appeal, group founder Vee Stader said. For full story, go to: http://toledoblade.com/article/20100726/NEWS16/7250353/0/OPINION

LA: Environmentalists link oil spill response, coastal restoration By Mark Schleifstein - The Times-Picayune – July 26, 2010 Speed the reconstruction of Louisiana's coastal wetlands by tapping offshore oil revenue and dedicating a significant share of any penalties levied against BP, a group of influential national and local environmental groups urged Navy Secretary and Gulf Coast oil spill recovery leader Ray Mabus in a letter published in The Times-Picayune, the Advocate of Baton Rouge, Washington-based Roll Call magazine, and the online publication Politico. For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/environmentalists_link_oil_spi.html

WA: Ecology approves city of Spokane’s updated Shoreline Master Program Spokesman-Review/Washington Dept. of Ecology – July 26, 2010 Washington Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) Director Ted Sturdevant has approved the city of Spokane’s newly updated Shoreline Master Program (SMP) that will protect valuable shorelines for the public and future generations to enjoy. So far, Spokane is the largest city in Washington to have an updated SMP. This approval puts the final stamp on a landmark effort that will significantly increase protection and restoration of water quality in the Spokane River and Hangman Creek. For full press release, go to: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jul/27/shoreline-program-update-approved/

MD: Agricultural and environmental groups launch new farm stewardship certification program By Ike Wilson – Frederick News Post – July 26, 2010 A new farm stewardship program offers farmers one more avenue to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Members of the agricultural and environmental communities launched the Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program recently and recognized two farmers who are certified in the program. The program recognizes farmers who are good stewards of their natural resources and are using appropriate best management practices to protect the Chesapeake Bay. For full story, go to: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/art_life/display.htm?StoryID=107784

HI: Sen. Inouye: Climate change requires change July 20, 2010 - From the office of Sen. Daniel Inouye: Climate change affects the well-being of our people, the strength of our economy, and the health of our ecosystems. Where we build, what food we grow, and how we maintain our national security are all affected by gradual changes in our climate spurred by natural and man-made causes. Two years ago, I chaired a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in Honolulu on “Climate Change Impacts and Responses in Island Communities.” The increasing pressures of climate change are evident in Hawaii – from rising sea levels to changes in fish populations and coral reefs. We are both vulnerable and susceptible. For full statement, go to: http://www.hawaii247.com/2010/07/20/inouye-climate-change-requires-change/

LA: Louisiana constructing islands in the gulf to aid in oil cleanup By David A. Fahrenthold – Washington Post – July 19, 2010 ON SAND BERM E-4 IN THE GULF OF MEXICO -- In theory, Louisiana's plan to hold back the BP oil spill sounds awe-inspiring, like an ancient myth made possible with oil-company money: To keep out an offshore invader, the state wants to make new land rise from the sea. To read full article, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/18/AR2010071802838.html?wpisrc=nl_headline

AK: Anchorage developer fined for destroying wetlands Fairbanks Daily News-Miner – July 17, 2010 An Anchorage developer has been fined for destroying wetlands and streams on his property, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said. David D'Amato has been fined $177,500. The EPA says beginning in 2005, he used heavy equipment at the Hunter Heights subdivision to illegally excavate 1,300 feet of streams. He then filled nearly an acre of wetlands on the 29-acre property in the Bear Valley area with the stream material. For full story, go to: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Anchorage developer fined for destroying wetlands

VA: Wetlands cleanup becomes controversial By Oren Liebermann – WAVY – TV News – July 16, 2010 On the banks of the Lafayette River, the spot for a wetlands clean-up will be the scene of a neighborhood dispute. The city approved the area for the Promenade Pointe complex, and developers are bringing in volunteers to clean the environment. "Unfortunately it's out of sight, out of mind," said Dwight Dunton, President of Bonaventure Realty, the developer building the complex. "It's a very beautiful area back there, but it's been neglected." For full story, go to: http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/wetlands-cleanup-becomes-controversial

TX: TX Lace Waco Wetlands Go Dry for Improvements By Bonnie Gonzalez – Channel 8 Austin News – July 16, 2010 Even with no water in sight, there is still sounds of life at the Lake Waco Wetlands. Not only are the crickets chirping, but plants are green despite the lack of water in the area. The wetlands' dry environment was created intentionally. For full story, go to: http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/272652/lake-waco-wetlands-goes-dry-for-improvements

MO: Landowners strengthen Missouri wetlands to help birds affected by Gulf spill By Alison Reber – Kansas City Environmental News Examiner – July 16, 2010 Missouri landowners have until Aug. 1 to join a federal initiative to help migratory birds whose winter habitat has been damaged by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently unveiled the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative (MBHI). For full story, go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-28239-Kansas-City-Environmental-News-Examiner~y2010m7d16-Landowners-strengthen-Missouri-wetlands-to-help-birds-affected-by-Gulf-spill

NJ & DE Series: Program worth Watching By Susan Kennedy – NJ.com – July 2nd  – 18, 2010 To better understand the level of protection being afforded the Delaware Bayshorearea, the Coastal Ocean Coalition recently sponsored a detailed analysis of the Delaware Bay and Estuary. Released two weeks ago and available for download at http://www.shore11.org/delawarebayreport the analysis recognizes the ecological significance of the  Delaware Bay and Estuary, provides an overview of the state and federal statutes that mandate the protection of this resource, and engages in a comprehensive review of the programs put in place by the states of New Jersey and Delaware to carry out these mandates. http://blog.nj.com/njv_susan_kennedy/2010/07/programs_worth_watching.html#incart_rh Programs that Need Fixing: Part I http://blog.nj.com/njv_susan_kennedy/2010/07/programs_worth_fixing.html#incart_rh Programs that Need Fixing: Part II http://blog.nj.com/njv_susan_kennedy/2010/07/programs_that_need_fixing_part_ii.html#incart_rh

MN: Moist soils project provides beneficial wetland habitat for ducks, shorebirds By Brad Dokken – Grand Forks Herald – July 10, 2010 Trying to practice conventional farming on low ground is a challenge during wet years, so managers of the Roseau River Wildlife Management Area in northwestern Minnesota are working to turn the negative into a positive by making the land more attractive for ducks and shorebirds. The 75,000-acre WMA has established a half-dozen “moist soils” habitat sites on 110 acres near refuge headquarters that in recent years has been too wet to grow crops. For full article, go to: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/168260/

HI:  New Pamphlet & Poster on Hawaii’s Wetlands July 1, 2010 - The Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resource’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife has recently released the first wetland information pamphlet and poster for Hawaii.  Designed to inform the public and schoolchildren about Hawaii’s unique but threatened wetlands, the pamphlet is engaging and informative.  It includes a definition of wetlands, wetland types found in Hawaii, native wetland species, threats to wetlands, and action steps for protection.  The wetland posters contain some of the brochure information in a visual format that’s ideal for school classrooms and public places.  These new informational materials were funded by the Pacific Coast Joint Venture (PCJV) and developed with assistance from the Hawaii Wetland Joint Venture, the state arm of the PCJV.  Access to the materials can be viewed, and downloaded, on the PCJV website at:  http://pcjv.org/hawaii/wetlands/  To learn more about the conservation role of the PCJV go directly to www.pcjv.org

June

NY: Suit Challenging Wetlands Law Ends By Matt Dalen – Lewisboro Ledger – June 11, 2010 One of the most prominent lawsuits in the history of the town of Lewisboro has ended, not with a bang, but with a whimper, as the so-called “wetlands lawsuit,” which had challenged the constitutionality of the town’s wetlands law, missed the opportunity for a final appeal last month. Plaintiffs missed their deadline to apply for Supreme Court review, ending a five-year-long ordeal that had played a prominent role in Lewisboro politics. For full story, go to: http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/lewisboroledger/news/localnews/61359-suit-challenging-wetlands-law-ends.html

IN: Daniels adds to wetlands preservation plan By Mary Beth Schneider – Indiana Star – June 11, 2010 For the second day in a row, Gov. Mitch Daniels has announced a major effort to preserve more Indiana wetlands. This morning, Daniels said the state would target more than 25,600 acres along the Muscatatuck River in Scott, Jackson and Washington counties. For full story, go to: http://www.indystar.com/article/20100611/NEWS05/6110402/Daniels-adds-to-wetlands-preservation-plan

CT: Norton rejects wetlands law again By Michael Gelbwasser – Sun Chronicle – June 11, 2010 Voters have sunk a local wetlands protection bylaw for the second time. Wednesday night's annual town meeting vote followed a heated debate in which conservation officials insisted that critics were misleading the public about the bylaw's implications. Commissioners contend the bylaw would better protect Norton's drinking water, groundwater and wildlife habitats. For full story, go to: http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2010/06/11/news/7522287.txt

MD: Raising Awareness of the Bay Through Open Water Swimming On June 13, 2010, approximately 600 swimmers of all ages will once again attempt to swim across the Chesapeake Bay. The annual event is one of the premier open water events in the United States covering a 4.4 mile course swum mostly between the two spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. In addition to providing a venue for a top open water event, the Bay Swim also provides a platform to raise awareness of the Chesapeake Bay and to promote efforts to aide in its restoration. For full story, go to: http://www.buildingagreenmaryland.com/2010/06/articles/chesapeake-bay/raising-awareness-of-the-bay-through-open-water-swimming/

SD: Greater threat to wetlands is development By Jeannette Eichacker-McVay – Argus Leader – June 9, 2010 It was interesting to note in John Pollmann's column in the June 2 Argus Leader regarding installing drain tile in farm ground that there was no mention of non-agricultural development usurping wetlands. Just look in any direction around Sioux Falls and note building expansion going on - in swamps. The same is true of Tea and its surrounding developments. For full opinion, go to: http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100609/VOICES05/6090320/1052/OPINION01

CA: Trade for Degraded Wetlands Complete By Harry Saltzgaver - Grunion Gazette – June 9, 2010 Long Beach now is the proud owner of 34 acres of degraded wetlands property in east Long Beach. Friday saw the close of escrow in a land trade that gave the city the property south of Second Street and east of the Pacific Coast Highway in exchange for 11 acres in industrial west Long Beach that was part of the city's public service yard on San Francisco Avenue. For full story, go to: http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4196888

IA: UNI wetlands slow to take root By Jon Ericson – WCF Courier – June 8, 2010 A year after native species were planted at the new flood retention/nature area north of the UNI-Dome, the same questions get asked. The most general query runs along the lines of "what the heck is it?" But others stem from a misperception that the flood control/wetlands project would be shaped into a traditional park. "There's still the notion out there where people wonder where's the swingset and playground equipment?" said Paul Meyermann, head of facilities planning at the University of Northern Iowa. For full story, go to: http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/article_a3f97229-e8e8-5c92-99b9-5d6888966a26.html

WA: Dept of Ecology seeks public input about state’s aquatic plant and algae permit Washington Dept. of Ecology – June 8, 2010 The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is holding an open house in Tacoma to gather input about what works and doesn’t work with the state’s current aquatic plants and algae permit. The open house marks the beginning of a public process to update the permit. The Aquatic Plant and Algae Management General Permit covers the discharge of products used to control aquatic plants and algae in Washington lakes. The permit also allows treatment of nuisance emergent plants along roadsides and ditch banks. For full article, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2010news/2010-133.html

FL: BP oil spill clean up: Fearful Florida authorities take matters into their own hands to save beaches By Maryann Tobin – Hernando County Examiner – June 8, 2010 In the Panhandle city of Destin, Florida, community leaders fearing an invasion of oily tar balls on their white sand beaches, have taken matters into their own hands. City tourism director Dawn Molentaro had asked BP for help in protecting Destin's white sand beaches 3 weeks ago, but her requests fell on deaf ears. So community leaders took matters into their own hands and set up their own booms. For full story, go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-17299-Hernando-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m6d8-BP-Oil-spill-clean-up-Angry-Florida-authorities-take-matters-into-their-own-hands-to-save-Florida

May

LA: Despite Leak, Louisiana Is Still Devoted to Oil By Campbell Robertson – New York Times – May 22, 2010 In a state that is particularly sensitive to the health of its coastal wetlands, which serve as a barrier against hurricanes, such an attitude might seem odd — even self-defeating. To read full article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/us/23drill.html

WI: Two Wetland Bills Pass Legislation May 19, 2010 – Wisconsin Wetlands Association On May 18, 2010, Governor Doyle signed two important wetland bills into law. One will help reduce unauthorized wetland fill, while the other will help Wisconsin leverage more federal funding for wetland restoration projects. Both address long-standing wetland problems. For full story, go to: http://www.wisconsinwetlands.org/legislation.htm

CT: Lack of training a continuing problem for some town wetland boards By Matthew Brown – Connecticut Mirror – May 17, 2010 Having an application pending before a municipal inland wetlands commission can be an exercise in pure frustration. At times, simple requests to build a deck, a shed or a garage on one's own property can turn into protracted, off topic discussions or arguments over the development of what a property owner may consider a wet piece of property of little value, but a commission considers a vernal pool. And by 2006, according to the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality, the headaches and misunderstandings were becoming too frequent and painful to ignore. For full story, go to: http://www.ctmirror.org/story/5952/lack-training-problem-some-town-wetland-agencies

CA: Dwindling visitor population doesn't stop wetlands docents By Louis Sahagun – Los Angeles Times – May 16, 2010 At this month's open house, only a handful show up to see the Ballona Wetlands' rare wildlife and scenic vistas. "Most people don't know this place even exists. But they should," a volunteer says. A dozen conservationists gathered at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve on Saturday to introduce visitors to the natural rhythms of life in some 600 acres of restored marshlands that are laced with brackish rivers and hiking trails. For full story, go to: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-ballona-20100516-20,0,3525129.story

NY: Refuge a great place to observe, enjoy nature By Leo Roth – Democrat & Chronicle – May 16, 2010 The Montezuma Wetlands Complex, historically known as the Montezuma Marsh, has lost 70 percent of its original habitat due to development and agriculture. Still, it provides a major staging, resting and feeding area for thousands of migratory waterfowl, shore and songbirds along the Atlantic Flyway. For full story, go to: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100516/SPORTS0103/5 160370/1007/SPORTS/Refuge-a-great-place-to-observe--enjoy-nature

DE: Native Delaware: Benefits of designed wetland are many By Margo McDonough – Native Delaware – May 16, 2010 Several times a week, Chad Nelson begins his workday with a trek through a wetland near his Townsend Hall office on UD's Newark campus. With spring in full swing, he enjoys the sight of the butterflies, migratory songbirds, mallard ducks and their ducklings, frogs and tadpoles that make the wetland their warm-weather home. For full story, go to: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100516/LIFE/5160309/Benefits+of+designed+ wetland+are+many

SC: Wetlands species presents ID challenge to botanists By John Nelson – Aiken Standard – May 15, 2010 Wetlands are natural habitats featuring, obviously, some water. Sometimes a lot of water. They come in many varieties, and they provide home for a huge array of plant and animal species. Across North America, unfortunately, many kinds of wetlands are becoming increasingly rare, as they have commonly fallen victim to urbanization and landscape manipulation. Of course, when wetlands are sufficiently disturbed or destroyed, their resident plants and animals also suffer, commonly disappearing. In the last two decades, more research has focused on the plight of wetlands and to efforts protecting them. We would do well to make sure that legislation and public awareness remain to safeguard these precious habitats, in all their diversity. For full article, go to: http://www.aikenstandard.com/FeatureColumns/0516-mystery-plant-column

IN: Notebook: View nature up-close at Camp Scott wetlands Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (blog) – May 14, 2010 Fort Wayne’s Camp Scott wetlands will be open to the public on Thursday, May 20, from 2:00 – 7:00 PM with activities for all ages. Visitors can wander the wetlands or go on a wildflower identification walk, see a demonstration of water quality testing, learn to make compost or participate in other activities. Camp Scott is located at 3615 Oxford Street. The Camp Scott constructed wetlands stores stormwater during rainy periods then releases it to the Maumee River after the storm sewer system has emptied. In addition to providing stormwater storage, the wetlands provide habitat for fish and wildlife. Wildlife seen at Camp Scott includes owls and other birds of prey such as hawks and falcons. For full blog, go to: http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100514/BLOGS21/100519729

WA: State asks, what are the most popular saltwater beaches? Dept. of Ecology News Release – May 14, 2010 What are Washington's most popular saltwater beaches? The state wants to know so it can test the water for pollution-caused bacteria that can make people sick. The state BEACH (Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health) Program notifies the public when bacteria results are high, and educates people about what they can do to avoid getting sick from playing in saltwater. The program is jointly coordinated by the Departments of Ecology and Health. It is implemented by local health agencies, tribal nations and volunteers. This summer, the federally funded program proposes to monitor 52 of the state's most popular saltwater beaches. The number is down from 70 beaches it monitored last year and 53 the year before. For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2010news/2010-115.html

LA: Work continues aimed at keeping slick out of wetlands By John DeSantis – Daily Comet – May 13, 2010 A 200-yard streak of oil was confirmed on a Terrebonne Parish barrier island Wednesday, and authorities are trying to confirm whether information about oil on two other Louisiana islands is correct. The confirmation of oil on Whiskey Island brings to three the areas where oil has been confirmed by assessment teams in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. The others are South Pass, off Plaquemines Parish, and the Chandeleur Islands, near the state's eastern border. For full article, go to: http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20100513/ARTICLES/100519633/1292?p=1&tc=pg

DE: Wetland program reaches milestone By Nick Roth – Delmarva Daily Times – May 13, 2010 Twenty years after its start, the Adopt-A-Wetland program has inspired more than 3,000 people to get involved and improve water quality throughout the state. Marlene Mervine of the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said the program recently recorded its 100th adoption. "It's just a wonderful opportunity for people to feel as though they're making a difference for Delaware," she said. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20100513/NEWS01/5130373

NY: Toxic threat to nature's nursery? By Allie Wilkinson – LI Herald – May 13, 2010 Part one of a two-part series. Imagine building an incinerator next to a hospital nursery. That, critics say, is about what the Village of Freeport would be doing if it were to build a $550 million waste-to-energy incinerator alongside a wetland in south Freeport, near the Merrick border. Plans for the facility appear in doubt (see related story, "What's up with Freeport's incinerator plans?"). But if eventually approved, the project could have serious consequences for the local environment and human health. Full story, http://www.liherald.com/detail/24945.html?content_source=&category_id=5&search_filter=& event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_ type=&town_id=

TN: Cumberland River Crest Highest in 73 Years Contact: Rodney Knight – USGS News – May 13, 2010 Rivers throughout middle Tennessee crested at record high levels last week.  They exceeded previous highs at many streamgages by as much as 14 feet, according to preliminary estimates released today by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).   The highest flood levels were recorded on May 2 and 3, from Nashville west toward Jackson, extending about 40-miles north and south of Interstate 40, and affecting major tributaries to the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. For full article, go to: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2461 For a related article, go to: In-depth report: Army Corps of Engineers struggled with dams, forecasts http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100509/NEWS01/5090355/-1/nsitemapXML/In-depth- report--Army-Corps-of-Engineers-struggled-with-dams--forecasts

LA: River water pours into wetlands to avert oil Associated Press – May 13, 2010 There's now enough Mississippi River water pouring into Louisiana's wetlands to fill the Superdome once an hour, in hopes of avoiding oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill. Authorities opened all eight gates at the Bayou Lamoque freshwater diversion in Plaqemines Parish on Thursday. Seven diversion projects, created to rebuild wetlands with silt, now funnel fresh water into wetlands in hope of pushing away oil that might enter them. Bayou Lamoque spreads into wetlands next to Black Bay and Breton Sound at the rate of 12,500 cubic feet - or 93,500 gallons - every second. That alone could fill the Superdome in less than three hours. About 34,550 cubic feet of water per second are flowing through the seven projects in St. Charles, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. For a link to this story, go to: http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12479823

IN: Wetland mitigation improves Jordan River By Hannah Spencer – Indiana Daily Student – May 12, 2010 The expansion of the Eigenmann Hall parking lot is not only diminishing the time students will spend circling parking lots, but also part of the Jordan River, which runs through where the new pavement is set to be poured. To help compensate for this loss of the natural wetlands, IU has hired local sub-contractor Eco Logic to design a stream mitigation project along the Jordan River near the Wright Education Building and the Jordan Avenue Garage. According to IU Environmental Health and Safety Specialist Michael J. Dorsett, it is a requirement for the University to mitigate the stream disturbance. The mitigation site is already blooming, and Eco Logic is confident the local ecosystem will continue to thrive. For full article, go to: http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=75700

TN: Calvin Donaldson Dedicates 'Wetlands' Living Classroom By Jose Ocando – Chattarati – May 12, 2010 Community members gathered Tuesday at Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy (CDESA) to dedicate the newly completed Wetlands living classroom. Becky Coleman, CDESA principal, thanked members of the community who were instrumental in the building of the project, including the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Partners in Education, the Hamilton County School Board — particularly board members Linda Mosley and George Ricks — the Hamilton County Water Quality Program, Chattanooga State, Earthscapes, and Engineered Verdant Solutions (EVS). For full story, go to: http://chattarati.com/neighborhoods/st-elmo/2010/5/12/calvin-donaldson-dedicates-wetlands- living-classro/

CA: Wetlands defender honored after death By Britney Barnes – Daily Pilot – May 11, 2010 Jan Vandersloot, a founding member of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, will be honored posthumously for his dedication to preserving the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. The late Newport Beach resident on Sunday will be recognized as an outstanding wetlands community leader by the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C. The award is part of the National Wetlands Awards Program that honors six individuals who have contributed to the preservation of the country’s wetlands through education, restoration or activism. For full story, go to: http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2010/05/11/features/dpt-vandersloot051210.txt

April

CA: Bill to fund efforts to restore bay's wetlands By Carolyn Jones – San Francisco Chronicle – April 23, 2010 A 20-year wish list of San Francisco Bay wetlands restoration projects would finally receive funding under a $1 billion federal bill introduced by a Bay Area congresswoman. The San Francisco Bay Improvement Act of 2010 by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, would fund the restoration of thousands of acres of bay marshes that were filled in or destroyed by levees and other projects in the last century. For full story, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/22/MN4O1D2VOC.DTL#ixzz0lxKFuKM\

FL: County considers wetland guidelines By Jim Waymer – Florida Today – April 20, 2010 Brevard County commissioners today plan to discuss lifting density restrictions on commercial and industrial development along the St. Johns River, freshwater lakes and freshwater tributaries to the Indian River Lagoon. For full story, go to: http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100420/NEWS01/4200327/1006/County +considers+wetland+guidelines

LA: New Baton Rouge Area Mitigation Bank Now Online – Over 185 Acres of Wetlands Conserved and Protected Contact Kate Wilson – Resource Environmental Solutions/Business Wire – April 20, 2010 First Louisiana Resource, L.L.C. (FLR) a subsidiary of Resource Environmental Solutions L.L.C. (RES), has received approval of the Comite Properties mitigation project located in the Baton Rouge area. The Comite Properties Wetlands Mitigation Bank covers two tracts of land and permanently conserves 185.3 acres in East Baton Rouge Parish, east of Zachary, Louisiana adjacent to the intersection of Milldale Road and Peairs Road. The mitigation bank primarily services the USGS Cataloging Unit 08070202 which covers more than 1,281 square miles and includes portions of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, and St. Helena parishes. For full press release, go to: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/ ?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100420006784&newsLang=en

UT: Opinion: McEntee: Let's not lose the wetlands By Peg McEntee – Salt Lake Tribune – April 20, 2010 Stop on the side of I-80 west of the airport and take a look northward at what seems like a whole lot of nothing dotted with cattle and the occasional broadcast tower. What you won't see from that vantage are birds -- from avocets to harrier hawks, ducks and geese and swans and stately herons -- and the bugs that keep them coming. Right now, this sliver of the Central Flyway is a vast maternity ward, where young are hatched and educated before the great migration south is completed. And Salt Lake City wants to build a mini-SLC out here? At least 70,000 people (just eight miles from downtown!) atop alkaline mud, nasty old landfills and the dust from Kennecott mine tailings. And all too close to the Great Salt Lake, which during the floods of the early 1980s broached the freeway. For full opinion, go to: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14915910

OR: Projects to help offset impacts to wetlands from development Contact: Dana Hicks – Oregon Department of State Lands – April 20, 2010 Oregon’s work to gain federal recognition of a new wetland mitigation option has paid off with the approval of two new projects recently started on the Salmon River near Lincoln City and on a working farm near Forest Grove.  Oregon was the first state in the nation to receive federal approval for the In-Lieu Fee Program (ILF) under 2008 federal mitigation rules.  Impacts to wetlands and other waters in Oregon are often co-regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL).  The ILF program is administered by DSL. The state has a policy of “no net loss” of wetlands.  When projects such as housing, bridges and retail developments will impact more than 50 cubic yards of material in wetlands, project proponents must apply for a removal-fill permit from DSL.  Permit conditions include replacing – or mitigating – lost wetland functions.  For full press release, go to: http://oregonstatelands.us/DSL/DO/news/pr1011_ilf_program.shtml

WV: Volunteers help beautify Williamstown’s wetlands By Jolene Craig – Parkersburg News & Sentinel – April 19, 2010 The Williamstown Wetlands project is coming along with a walking trail and observation deck built as members of Boy Scout Troop and Pack 47 helped plant trees Saturday. The troop has been helping with the wetlands project next to DaVinci's Restaurant on Highland Avenue for several months to learn some of the aspects of Boy Scouts. In November they picked up trash and debris from the wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/528881.html?nav=5061

WI: Volunteers rise early to count cranes By Karen Madden – Central Wisconsin Daily Tribune – April 18, 2010 Bird-watchers fanned out across central Wisconsin's wetlands to participate in a statewide count of sandhill cranes. When the annual count, sponsored by the International Crane Foundation, began about 25 years ago, there were 25 pairs of nesting cranes in Wisconsin, said Gloria Zager, Wood County count coordinator. Last year, about 550 sandhill cranes were spotted in Wood County alone during the annual count. Currently, authorities believe the county has 90 pairs of the birds. For full story, go to: http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20100418/CWS0101/4180680/ 1982/WRT04/Volunteers-rise-early-to-count-cranes

AK: Meet the Migration By Abby Lowell – Juneau Empire – April 16, 2010 The Mendenhall Wetlands are like a truck stop for migrating birds. They exit off their airborne interstate to take advantage of the snacks, of both the vertebrate and invertebrate variety, the lodgings and the opportunity to just refuel. They arrive in waves by the thousands, beginning in early April and lasting into May. Some stay for only a day, others nest and raise young. For all, this nationally recognized important bird habitat is vital to their ability to thrive.  For full story, go to: http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/041610/out_610556848.shtml

MD: Chesapeake Bay’s crab population up 60 percent By Timothy Wheeler – Baltimore Sun – April 14, 2010 The Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population has bounced back from dangerously low levels, Maryland officials announced Wednesday, reporting that a newly completed survey of the crustaceans counted more than have been seen in more than a decade. A jubilant Gov. Martin O'Malley heralded the news from the waterfront deck of a seafood restaurant here, saying the winter crab survey justified the steps he and his counterpart in Virginia took two years ago to clamp down on the commercial catch. Both states shortened the season, slashing watermen's income, and Virginia banned its traditional practice of dredging slumbering female crabs from the bottom during winter. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bs-gr-blue-crab-fishery-20100414,0,5207295.story

AK: Landowners Ordered to Restore Salmon Stream and Wetlands near Haines, Alaska Contact: Mark Jen – EPA News Release – April 14, 2010 Robert and Nancy Loomis of Kilgore, Texas, have been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency to repair damaged wetlands, restore a salmon stream and better manage stormwater runoff on their property located near Haines, Alaska. The Loomis’ received the Order after EPA alleged they discharged fill material, consisting of mud, dirt, gravel and rock, to this valuable fish and wildlife habitat. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d96f984dfb3ff7718525735900400c 29/895978ac579056fd85257704007688b1!OpenDocument

TX: There's plenty of water available for North Texas Editorial by Staff – Texas Star Telegram – April 12, 2010 Don't worry about ever reaching for the faucet on your kitchen sink and finding no water there. It's never going to happen to your kids or your grandkids or their grandkids, either. Never. They will make sure you always have a reliable source of clean water. Take it for granted. Who's they? You know, the people who do that sort of thing. […] They detailed where they plan to get the water that 16 North Central Texas counties will need between now and 2060. That's a whole lot of water, but thank goodness plenty of it is available. The list starts with rivers and reservoirs and wells and wetlands like those the region uses now, and it goes all the way to taking the salt out of the virtually limitless water of the Gulf of Mexico and piping it all the way up here for you. For full editorial, go to: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/11/2106030/theres-plenty-of-water-available.html#ixzz0kuSgfJ5f

ME: Sierra Club fights CMP project By Tux Turkel - Portland Press Herald – March 25, 2010 Central Maine Power Co.'s proposal to upgrade the reliability of its transmission system faces a new threat: wetlands. The Maine Chapter of the Sierra Club says the $1.6 billion project would destroy 385 acres of wetlands and 1,200 linear feet of streams. In a letter dated March 15, it told the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the agency can't approve construction if there are alternatives that reduce the impact on the environment.A strict standard under the Clean Water Act says the corps cannot issue wetlands permits for any project if a "less environmentally damaging, practicable alternative" exists. In the Sierra Club's view, CMP could meet the objectives of its new line with non-transmission alternatives. The group says it will take legal action, if needed, to enforce the law. For full article, go to: http://www.pressherald.com/news/sierra-club-fights-cmp-project_2010-03-24.html

DE: New public participation guidebook provides actions to protect Delaware's wetlands Delmarva – March 20, 2010 A new guidebook is now available that will help Delawareans protect and conserve our state’s vital wetlands. Just released, the Wetlands Public Participation Guidebook is a comprehensive resource developed to educate and inspire citizens to take actions to protect the health and productivity of the more than 350,000 acres of wetlands that cover our state. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20100319/DW01/100319025/-1/DW/DELAWARE--New-public-participation-guidebook-provides-actions-to-protect-Delaware-s-wetlands

VA: Wetlands group fights challenge with challenge By Scott Harper – Virginian-Pilot – March 20, 2010 First, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli filed a legal challenge to a key federal finding that greenhouse gases are public health threats, contribute to climate change and should be regulated. Now, a Norfolk-based environmental group, Wetlands Watch, has filed a challenge to Cuccinelli's challenge, calling his actions "dangerous" and "a stall tactic" against government attempts to tackle global warming. For full article, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2010/03/wetlands-group-fights-challenge-challenge-0

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

March

ME: Sierra Club fights CMP project By Tux Turkel - Portland Press Herald – March 25, 2010 Central Maine Power Co.'s proposal to upgrade the reliability of its transmission system faces a new threat: wetlands. The Maine Chapter of the Sierra Club says the $1.6 billion project would destroy 385 acres of wetlands and 1,200 linear feet of streams. In a letter dated March 15, it told the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the agency can't approve construction if there are alternatives that reduce the impact on the environment.A strict standard under the Clean Water Act says the corps cannot issue wetlands permits for any project if a "less environmentally damaging, practicable alternative" exists. In the Sierra Club's view, CMP could meet the objectives of its new line with non-transmission alternatives. The group says it will take legal action, if needed, to enforce the law. For full article, go to: http://www.pressherald.com/news/sierra-club-fights-cmp- project_2010-03-24.html

DELAWARE: New public participation guidebook provides actions to protect Delaware's wetlands Delmarva – March 20, 2010 A new guidebook is now available that will help Delawareans protect and conserve our state’s vital wetlands. Just released, the Wetlands Public Participation Guidebook is a comprehensive resource developed to educate and inspire citizens to take actions to protect the health and productivity of the more than 350,000 acres of wetlands that cover our state. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20100319/DW01/100319025/-1/DW/ DELAWARE--New-public-participation-guidebook-provides-actions-to-protect- Delaware-s-wetlands

VA: Wetlands group fights challenge with challenge By Scott Harper – Virginian-Pilot – March 20, 2010 First, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli filed a legal challenge to a key federal finding that greenhouse gases are public health threats, contribute to climate change and should be regulated. Now, a Norfolk-based environmental group, Wetlands Watch, has filed a challenge to Cuccinelli's challenge, calling his actions "dangerous" and "a stall tactic" against government attempts to tackle global warming. For full article, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2010/03/wetlands-group-fights-challenge-challenge-0

NY: NT set to fight DEC over wetlands By Neal Gulley - Tonawanda News – March 18, 2010 The Department of Environmental Conservation has declared its intent to designate roughly 120 acres of newly protected wetlands in and around the City of North Tonawanda. Elected officials past and present have fought for years to keep this day from coming. But their inherent interest has always been in keeping the newly proposed wetlands — located in five separate irregular-shaped areas between Ruie Road south to the canal — open for development. Millions of dollars in tax-funded infrastructure like roads and sewers has been installed in the area and will be wasted, they say. For full story, go to: http://tonawanda-news.com/local/x1112098302/NT-set-to-fight-DEC- over-wetlands

NM: NM panel to hear outstanding waters petition By Susan Montoya Bryan – Business Week – March 18, 2010 New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's administration is pushing ahead with a plan to give special protection to hundreds of miles of rivers and streams and thousands of acres of wetlands despite concern from some farmers and ranchers. Richardson has been seeking a sweeping Outstanding National Resource Waters designation under the federal Clean Water Act since 2008. With the end of his second four-year term looming, he's now one step closer. For full story, go to: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9EH3B400.htm

LA: Federal flood insurance program extension endorsed by House By Bruce Alpert – Times-Picayune – March 18, 2010 The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday for another one-month extension of the federal flood insurance program, along with the temporary continuation of expiring unemployment insurance and federal health insurance subsidies for jobless Americans. The measure, adopted by a voice vote, is the latest in a series of temporary extensions in programs as the House and Senate have been unable to resolve differences about longer term authorizations. The Senate is likely to take up the temporary extension before it recesses next week. For full story, go to: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/federal_flood_insurance_ progra.html

IA: A wetlands benefit for taxpayers, too Opinion by Michael Burkart – Des Moines Register – March 17, 2010 I was pleased to read good news in the Feb. 26 Iowa View, "Farm Drainage Proposal Based on Sound Science." The best news for taxpayers is that, "Once the pilot project is over, they [drainage and wetlands] would be installed with money from the landowners, not the government." This will start to reverse the historical destruction of wetlands using government funds and benefiting only landowners. The other good news for taxpayers and scientists is that the plan will include wetland monitoring by institutions engaged in objective science. For full story, go to: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100317/OPINION04/317 0337/1038/Opinion/A-wetlands-benefit-for-taxpayers-too

NH: Panel wants to take closer look at wetlands By Harrison Haas – The Citizen of Laconia – March 17, 2010 The Conservation Commission will be researching the idea of forming a subcommittee to address the modification of the town's wetlands conservation district ordinance. A petitioned article was recently voted down by residents that would have rewritten the current wetlands ordinance. The proposed ordinance called for a 50-foot protective buffer setback on all properties in town. Although the article did not originate with the commission, board members did support it because it was attempting to put regulations in place to help protect the natural resources in town, such as wildlife and the lakes. For full story, go to: http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100317/ GJNEWS02/703179879/-1/CITNEWS

NY: North Tonawanda mayor’s e-mails assailed By Aaron Besecker – Buffalo News – March 16, 2010 Mayor Robert G. Ortt has drawn criticism for what some consider an attempt to get the city’s Environmental Committee to “rubber stamp” a proposed street extension. Ortt wrote an e-mail earlier this month to Brian P. Murphy, committee chairman, seeking the backing of the seven-member advisory board for extending Meadow Drive.  For full story, go to: http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/03/16/ 989007/n-tonawanda-mayors-e-mails-assailed.html

MN: DNR, watersheds discuss ways to clean up lakes By: Julie Buntjer – Daily Globe – March 16, 2010 Representatives of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and local watershed districts gathered in Worthington Monday afternoon to discuss the state of the state’s waters and the work needed to improve or reduce the growing number of impaired lakes, rivers and streams.Skip Wright, DNR regional hydrologist, said roughly 40 percent of the state’s waters are impaired. In southwest Minnesota, it’s closer to 90 percent. For full story, go to: http://www.dglobe.com/event/article/id/33951/

LA: Disappearing birds a troubling omen Editorial – Houma Today – March 16, 2010 Often lost in our thoughts and discussion of wetlands loss is the impact it has on the animals that share this land with us. But just as important is the significant losses those wildlife effects can signal for us. Prime examples are Louisiana's coastal birds, among some of the nation's at-risk because of climate changes and the loss of habitat. That is the disturbing word that came from “The State of the Birds: 2010 Report on Climate Change,” released last week by the U.S. Department of the Interior. For full story, go to: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100316/OPINION/100319579/0/ recipes?p=1&tc=pg

WI: Wetlands bill targets construction conflicts By Paul Snyder – Daily Reporter – March 11, 2010 Disputes between the state and builders over construction projects near wetlands have prompted a lawmaker’s attempt to force better communication between the sides. State Rep. Garey Bies, R-Sister Bay, has introduced a bill requiring the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provide information about wetlands to landowners, builders and local governments that issue building permits. The bill would establish a $50 fee a landowner can pay for a DNR wetlands map of the property and a $300 fee for a DNR employee to visit a property and mark off wetlands. http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/03/11/ bill-aims-to-boost-wetland-information-for-developers-landowners/

NH: Proposed 50-foot wetland buffer prompts debate By Lauren Tiner – Winnisquam Echo – March 3, 2010 The Conservation Commission has put forth petitioned warrant Article 10, asking that the existing Article 15, that establishes the wetlands district ordinance, be replaced with regulations that include a 50-feet wetland buffer – standards not everyone can agree on. This protective buffer setback would be adjacent to wetlands under certain conditions, and would allow for certain uses and activities by special exception applications. This proposed ordinance would also create standards for mitigation, erosion and sedimentation plans. For full story, go to: http://www.winnisquamecho.net/Articles-c-2010- 03-02-150681.113119_Proposed_50foot_wetland_buffer_prompts_ debate.html

KY: Applications now being accepted for Wetlands Reserve Program By Dave Baker – Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources – March 2, 2010 The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Kentucky is now accepting applications for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). The Wetlands Reserve Program offers landowners the opportunity to protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their property. Through this voluntary program, NRCS has provided Kentucky landowners with over $29 million to restore more than 17,000 acres of cropland, pastureland and other altered lands to their original wetland conditions. For full story, go to: http://www.bgdailynews.com/articles/2010/03/02/the_amplifier/recreation/ doc4b797f6816857403185242.txt

UT: State plans burn for invasive reed on lake shore Salt Lake Tribune – March 2, 2010 State crews in Utah hope to burn about 300 acres infested by an invasive reed near the shore of the Great Salt Lake. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands plans the prescribed burn near Farmington Bay for Tuesday morning, if weather conditions cooperate. The fire is aimed at destroying phragmites, a tall, nonnative reed that crowds out native vegetation and alters the natural state of the wetlands around the lake. Thousands of acres around the lake are infested with phragmites. The burn is part of a larger state plan to eliminate the invasive reed so the wetlands can be restored. The reeds in the area of the burn were treated with an herbicide last year. For full story, go to: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14497304

WA: Vancouver wetland bank first to be certified under new Ecology rules Contact: Curt Hart – WA Dept. of Ecology – March 1, 2010 The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has used its new rule establishing an approval process for wetland mitigation banks to certify the proposed Columbia River Wetland Mitigation Bank at the Port of Vancouver. State and federal laws prohibit the loss of wetlands due to development. In September 2009, Ecology adopted a rule establishing criteria and a certification process for wetland mitigation banks across the state. The Vancouver wetland is the first to be certified under the new rule. It is also the second to be certified under a new federal rule established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency. For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2010news/ 2010-037.html

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

February

MN: Farm tax jump jeopardizes woods, wetlands, bluffsides By Sarah Elmquist – Winona Post - February 28, 2010 Winona County Board members sounded off Tuesday on state legislation that will multiply property taxes on thousands of acres of rural land under the newest changes to the Green Acres tax program. The board is expected to approve a resolution stating its opposition to the changes at its meeting Tuesday, when it will hear an update from Winona County Assessor Steve Hacken. Hacken has reportedly been working with the Legislature to try to reduce the higher, state-imposed values on vacant land that he will soon be forced to apply to landowner tax statements.  For full story, go to: http://www.winonapost.com/stock/functions/VDG_Pub/detail.php?choice=35196& home_page=1&archives

ME: Popham Beach Disappearing as Erosion Takes Toll By Tom Porter – MPBN – February 25, 2010 Popham Beach, near Bath, is one of Maine's most popular state parks, visited by an estimated 175,000 people every year. In recent years though, there's been increasingly less beach to visit, especially where the Morse River flows into the ocean. Since 2007, the sea has advanced more than 200 feet in parts, and many local residents are worried. For full story, go to: http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNewsArchive/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/ mid/3475/ ItemId/11204/Default.aspx A week later, after another storm, this news story stated that the beach is growing because the Morse River split: River Shift Is Great News For Popham Beach http://www.wmtw.com/news/22817521/detail.html The State of Maine passed legislation in April 2009 to address climate change impacts, including sea level rise. For details, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dep/oc/adapt/

IA: Wetland Easements Will Help Reduce Flooding in Iowa This Spring Wallace’s Farmer – February 25, 2010 Flooding will be reduced this spring thanks to the Iowa farmers who are voluntarily restoring nearly 3,000 acres of frequently-flooded cropland to wetlands through the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service. The cost-sharing funds are provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or ARRA. The easements are valued at nearly $9 million, said Rich Sims, State Conservationist with NRCS in Iowa. "As spring approaches, these acres will protect communities and farm ground by helping to reduce the potential of downstream flooding near the easement areas," says Sims. For full article, go to: http://mobile.wallacesfarmer.com/index.aspx?ascxid=cmsNewsStory&rmid=0& rascxid=&args=&rargs=9&dt=634026566730192500&lid=a8yebu2d9qxnz7lo& adms=634026566728786250Xcab226cbc4&cmsSid=35759&cmsScid=9

VA: Wonder Wetlands Cleans, Protects, Educates and Looks Good By Jennifer McManamay – Sweet Briar College - February 18, 2010 About 60 area engineers and government workers attended a Stormwater Wetlands Design Workshop at Sweet Briar College on Thursday, Feb. 18. The course was coordinated by the Robert E. Lee Soil and Water Conservation District in partnership with the College, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The group spent part of the morning indoors focusing on pending state stormwater management regulations aimed at reducing runoff pollution from development. They also learned about innovative techniques for meeting the new rules, including wetlands construction as an alternative to traditional methods. For full story, go to: http://www2.sbc.edu/newsletter/index.php/site/stories/wonder_wetlands_cleans_ protects_educates_and_looks_good

MI: Permits Drag on U.S. Mining Projects By Robert Guy Matthews – Wall Street Journal – February 8, 2010 Obtaining the permits and approvals needed to build a mine in the U.S. takes an average of seven years, among the longest wait time in the world. So despite having vast underground stores of raw materials, the U.S. is one of the last places miners go to start a project. At the proposed Kennecott Eagle nickel mine in Michigan's sparsely populated Upper Peninsula, the wait is at seven years and growing. Global miner Rio Tinto says the project would fill a raw-material gap in the U.S. economy, but the company has yet to produce an ounce of nickel there. For full story, go to: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870382240457 5019123766644644.html?mod=WSJ_article_Moreln

MA: Protecting wetlands in wind turbine siting bill Gate House News Service – February 7, 2010 Legislation adopted last week by the state Senate that streamlines the permitting process for large-scale wind turbine projects includes language proposed by Sen. Robert L. Hedlund that preserves local control over wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas. For full story, go to: http://www.wickedlocal.com/weymouth/news/x1522834599/ Protecting-wetlands-in-wind-turbine-siting-bill

VT: Government, nonprofits move to restore wetlands By Candace Page – Burlington Free Press – February 7, 2010 An unusual public-private coalition is on a search for landowners willing to turn their marginal, boggy farm fields back into wetlands. Time is running out, at least for this year. By March 1, the Vermont office of the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service must commit up to $2.5 million to wetlands restoration, or lose access to the money. In 2009, the local office was able to use only $1.5 million of the $6 million available to it. http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100207/NEWS03/2070305

WA: Tides rechanneling Nisqually River By Mike Archbold – News Tribune – February 6, 2010 The tides are back and change is afoot at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. No one knows that better than Jean Takekawa, who manages the 3,000-acre refuge southwest of Tacoma. She is in charge of returning 762 acres of the refuge to a saltwater marsh or estuary after more than 100 years as farmland and freshwater wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.thenewstribune.com/292/story/105 8924.html?storylink=omni_popular

TN: Legislators must reverse trend, preserve land, water Opinion – The Tennessean – February 5, 2010 As feared, the Tennessee General Assembly has veered from the serious governance of the special session to the antic policymaking of the 2009 regular session. Legislators slid from raising educational standards to pushing an unnecessary constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to hunt and fish. But they could stop the fall into provincialism by focusing on two areas: the budget and the environment. For full story, go to: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100205/OPINION01/ 2050327/1008

FL: Christmas Bird Count Documents 99 Species at Everglades Treatment Wetlands By South Florida Water Management District – Treasure Coast Palm – February 4, 2010 An Everglades restoration project maintained its status as a national bird watching destination as volunteers with the Hendry-Glades Audubon Society partnered with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to document 99 species and nearly 106,000 individual birds during the 110th Christmas Bird Count this January. Known as "citizen science," bird counts are vital to studies of the long-term health and status of bird populations. For full story, go to: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/feb/04/christmas-bird-count- documents-99-species-at-everg/

VA: Forest, tidal wetlands to be protected forever By Rusty Dennen – Fredericksburg News – February 4, 2010 Virginia has been fertile ground for conservation easements, but none can compare to one announced yesterday by The Nature Conservancy. The conservation group purchased 13,350 acres of forest within the Dragon Run and Mattaponi watersheds west of U.S. 17 and the Rappahannock River. Though the parcels are not all contiguous, together they encompass about 20 square miles in Essex, King and Queen, and Middlesex counties. The seller was the Hancock Timber Resource Group. Immediately after the purchase, The Nature Conservancy sold the property to the The Forestland Group, which acquires and manages timberland investments for institutions, families and individuals. http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/022010/020 42010/525574

CA: Wetlands map, guide highlights local areas The Times-Standard – February 4, 2010 Friends of the Dunes has announced the release of the “2010 Humboldt Bay Beaches, Dunes and Wetlands Map and Guide.” The free map and guide highlights natural areas where people can enjoy a variety of coastal habitats while providing in-depth information about local natural history and the importance of conserving the beauty and diversity of the coast. For full story, go to: http://www.times-standard.com/lifestyle/ci_14331642

MN/ND: Environment, wildlife among top concerns By Helmut Schmidt – Inforum – February 4, 2010 Environmental and wildlife concerns tied to building a Red River flood diversion channel in Minnesota or North Dakota were among the top concerns discussed in a meeting Wednesday in Fargo. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said they heard no serious objections from experts representing both states and several federal agencies on plans to mitigate any problems caused by the diversions. For full story, go to: http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/268001/

LA: In Obama's Budget, a Trickle of Money for Louisiana's Disappearing Coast By Harry Shearer – Huffington Post – February 3, 2010 I've been rather consistently critical of the Obama administration's largely MIA stance toward New Orleans, with the singular exception of the appointment of a new FEMA administrator who, by all reports, has cut the red tape and started the long-appropriated funds finally flowing to fix the damage caused by the failure of the federal levees. So it's only fair to acknowledge a small, halting step towards progress in Washington. For full story, go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harry-shearer/in-obamas- budget-a-trickl_b_447328.html

ELI has developed a report titled, In-Lieu Fee Mitigation: Model Instrument Language and Resources The report offers model language that could be incorporated into in-lieu fee program instruments being developed by state agencies and non-profit organizations and was designed to comply with the 2008 Compensatory Mitigation Rule.  It was developed using the best available information and uses examples from the approved and draft in-lieu fee instruments that were available as of December 2009. The model language should not, however, be seen as a prescriptive approach to the development of in-lieu fee program instruments. The model language offered does not represent official guidance from federal agencies, nor does it eliminate the necessity of working closely with the appropriate Corps district and Interagency Review Team to seek approval for an in-lieu fee program. The report can be downloaded for free here: http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=11390

USA Today Examines Shortages in State Budgets USA Today on February 3 featured a front-page article on state environmental agency budget issues. (See http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/ 2010-02-02-environment-states-epa_N.htm).

SC: Catawba makes endangered list By John Marks – Lake Wylie Pilot – February 2, 2010 Different year, different group, same conclusion – the Catawba River is in danger. According the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Catawba ranks among the Top 10 Endangered Places 2010 along with rivers, wetlands, ocean stretches and natural areas from six states. The Cape Fear wetlands in North Carolina and South Carolina’s freshwater wetlands also make the list. According to southernenvironment.org, the group chose the Catawba because threats from “a low-flow scheme for hydroelectric dams that would restrict the flow of water essential to a healthy river system, and the lack of an overarching and coherent plan to protect the ecological integrity of the river and prevent over-allocation of its waters.” For full story, go to: http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/462/story/616593.html

FL: Proposed Water Quality Standards for the State of Florida's Lakes and Flowing Waters EPA has proposed numeric nutrient water quality standards for lakes and flowing waters, including canals, within the State of Florida and has proposed regulations to establish a framework for Florida to develop “restoration standards” for impaired waters. EPA issued this proposed rule pursuant to a determination that EPA made on January 14, 2009, under section 303(c)(4)(B) of the Clean Water Act. For full press release, proposed standards and other information, go to: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida/

WA: Ecology partnership, federal award save coastal wetland habitat Washington Department of Ecology – February 2, 2010 The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has secured five federal grants worth a total of nearly $4 million to help return 1,100 acres of coastal wetlands and connected freshwater and upland habitat areas in Jefferson, Pacific, Thurston and Whatcom counties back to natural conditions. Ecology is working in close partnership with the Lummi Nation, Columbia Land Trust, Capitol Land Trust, Jefferson County Land Trust, Cascade Land Conservancy, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to ensure the acquisitions will be restored and protected. Details about the five wetland restoration and preservation projects on Washington’s outer coast and in Puget Sound are available at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wetlands/ stewardship/nwcgp.html

SC: Court's ruling protects S.C. wetlands By Sammy Fretwell – The State – February 2, 2010 The S.C. Supreme Court dealt a smashing blow Monday to developers who have tried for years to overturn state rules that safeguard coastal freshwater wetlands from unchecked development. The decision, much anticipated by environmentalists and developers, overturns a 2008 lower-court verdict that declared invalid state rules protecting freshwater wetlands along the coast. For full story, go to: http://www.thestate.com/local/story/1138269.html

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

CT: Army Corps: Railroad did not fill Hawleyville wetlands By Melissa Bruen – Stamford Advocate – February 2, 2010 The results are in. After a January site survey of the Housatonic Railroad Co.'s Hawleyville facility, the Army Corps of Engineers ruled no violation of federal law took place on the property. "We have made reasonable inquiry into allegations from other parties that wetlands on the subject property were illegally filled; however, no substantive evidence has been offered," wrote Robert Desista, the chief of the Permits and Enforcement of the Regulatory Division of the Army Corps of Engineers in a Jan. 26 letter to the railroad. For full story, go to: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/?controllerName= search&action=search&channel=news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22 Robert+Desista%22

WA: Environmentalists worry about proposed light rail through wetlands By Marlee Ginter – Komo News – February 1, 2010 Light rail could slice right through a cherished wildlife sanctuary in Bellevue. The city council wants Sound Transit to look at a plan that critics say will drive away wildlife. Right in Bellevue's city limits are more than 320 acres of wildlife habitat along with 7 miles of trails and several bird species. For full story, go to: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/83303462.html

MI: Experts: Preserve Great Lakes wetlands By Chenqi Guo – Traverse City Record-Eagle – February 1, 2010 The Great Lakes face another serious environmental threat besides Asian carp, experts warn: coastal wetlands disturbance. "The development of coastal wetlands is the biggest problem," said James Clift, policy director for the Michigan Environmental Council. "People are coming in and they need places for water fun development. As a result, we are losing wetlands." http://www.record-eagle.com/statenews/local_story_032074029.html

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

January

NY: Hyde Park board ready to repeal wetlands law By John Davis – Poughkeepsie Journal – January 25, 2010 Residents can sound off today on the town's plan to repeal the wetlands protection law enacted in August. The newly seated Republican Town Board says the previous Democratic administration did not fully comply with state municipal law in enacting the water resource protection law. For full story, go to: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100125/NEWS 01/1250320/Hyde-Park-board-ready-to-repeal-wetlands-law

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

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

TX: Breathing life into wetlands: Linking healthy marshes to flood control may help Galveston proposal pass By Harvey Rice – Houston Chronicle – January 24, 2010 The destruction of environmentally sensitive wetlands during one of the most recent and largest residential construction projects on Galveston Island galvanized Alice Anne O'Donell. O'Donell watched in dismay as workers surrounded each bit of wetlands with orange plastic fencing. For full article, go to: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6833389.html

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MN: Dennis Anderson: Past reborn for duck hunting? By Dennis Anderson (Opinion) – Minneapolis Star Tribune – January 9, 2010 The DNR announced Saturday a new tack in its attempt to return ducks to the state. Chief Seattle and George Bird Grinnell, keystones in the foundation of the American conservation movement, would have smiled had they been in Brooklyn Center on Saturday afternoon. Theodore Roosevelt, too. For full opinion article, go to: http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/81076177.html?elr= KArks7PYDiaK7DUHPYDiaK7DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

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

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

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

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

December

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OK: Weekly Wildlife Report/Outdoor Calendar Bixby Bulletin – December 11, 2009 The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recently recognized Tillman County Commissioner Joe Don Dickey for his role in the construction of an access road and parking lot at the Hackberry Flat Center. Following Dickey's recognition, the Commission heard a presentation from Melynda Hickman, wildlife diversity biologist for the Wildlife Department, and Alan Stacey, wetland development biologist for the Wildlife Department, on the significance of Hackberry Flat and the on-site Hackberry Flat Center, as well as the success and significance of wetland restoration projects statewide. For full report, go to: http://www.bixbybulletin.com/articles/2009/12/11/news/doc4b 217b6b1849c723641149.txt

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

CT: Bristol company fined for violating Clean Water Act By Diane Church – Bristol Press – December 11, 2009 A Bristol construction company was fined $21,600 for violating the Clean Water Act when it allowed unpermitted fill and sediment to enter wetlands in town. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District issued a Class 1 Administrative Penalty against Carpenter Realty Co. of Bristol. The company was issued a permit in May of 2005 authorizing it to place fill material in 999 square feet of wetlands as it built a road for access to an industrial subdivision off Queen Street. For full story, go to: http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2009/12/11/news/doc4b 23041513930336796909.txt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

November

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

October

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

September

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

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

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

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

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

CA: Wetlands numbers already for birds

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

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

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

MS: Delta wetlands project approved

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

OK: A Return to Dry Land

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

MA: New wetlands bylaw proposed in Norton

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

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

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

CA: Wetlands backers race against time

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

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

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

WA: Washington Department of Ecology Adopts New Wetland Banking Rule

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

August

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

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

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

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

FL: Discharge: Where IP stands

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

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

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

NY: Plan to protect wetlands presses on in Hyde Park

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

NV: Union Pacific Agrees to Restore Nevada Streams, Wetlands

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

CA: Friends of Ballona Wetlands receives SCE grant

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

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

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

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

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

TN: Effect on wetlands from Tenn. 385 expands costs

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

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

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

MD: Our Bay: Dredging dilemma

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

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

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

IA: Saving wetlands may fall to waterfowlers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WY: Caution: Elk Playing Jackstraw

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

LA: Taking Down Levees

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

VA: Woman finally protects her land

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

MI: Slither This Way

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

LA Updated maps help document wetland loss in Louisiana

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

OH: MetroParks plow toward wetlands-restoration goal

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

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

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

NE: Nebraska tests grazing option in new wetland applications

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

July

MI: Draft plan would keep Mich. wetlands program alive 9&10 News – July 29, 2009 http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=160874

LA: Louisiana Tribes' lands swallowed by Gulf of Mexico

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

WI: Outdoors: No outcry to close trout fishing

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

TX: Alligator numbers fall in aftermath of Ike

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

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

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

AK: Supreme Court declines Fairbanks wetlands permafrost case

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

MA: Massachusetts Releases Draft Ocean Management Plan

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

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

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

MN: Minnesota Breeding Ducks Decline

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

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

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

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

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

ME: Novel pavement means cleaner runoff near mall

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

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

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

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

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

VA: Students build a floating classroom

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

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

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

CA: Wetlands Restoration Project Adds Visitor Service

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FL: Property insurance illusions could turn into harsh reality

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

AK: Alaska Landowner Ordered To Restore Wetland Habitat

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

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

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

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

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

NY: Wetlands law is the right step

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

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

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

Michigan urged to keep wetland power

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

ME: Turtles Tangle with Traffic Along Maine’s Coast

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

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

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

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

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

June

ND: Judge upholds ND anti-corporate farming law

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FL: CF promises ‘stewardship’ in new mine

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

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

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

TX: Outdoors: No ducking the hard truth

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

NY: Hearing on tap on wetlands proposal

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

WI: Mother Nature's mess

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

LA: Dredged mud can save Louisiana coast, state says

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

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

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

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

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

IA: County looks at wetland mitigation

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

VA: New conservation area to explore

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

OH: Granger residents hear wetlands plans

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

WA: Council delays critical areas ordinance

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

FL: Power shift might affect Florida water wars

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

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

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

GA: Corps of Engineers to ease permit rules

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

CA: Wetlands mosquito spraying starts

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

FL: Swamp-seeing down south

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

WI: Wisconsin Wetlands Association Announces 100 Wetland Gems

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

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

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

May

OR: The Oregon Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WV: Wetlands project to enhance learning

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

WI: Volunteers documenting ephemeral ponds in eastern Wisconsin

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

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

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

OR: Ashland Council Considers Stream, Wetlands Ordinance

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

New Law Protects Vermont Wetlands

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

MN: More teeth in penalties for ATVers who trash wetlands

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

NY: Setting the stage for conservation

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

FL: Civic activist tries hand at filmmaking

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

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

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

IA: Trumpeter swans settle in at Cardinal Marsh

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

WI: A push to protect Wisconsin's wetlands

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

ME: Tiny creatures find some big friends

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

MI: Proposal would test new wetlands programs

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

WA: “Green” Projects Survive

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

Regulators Eye General Permits to Address Growing CWA 'Universe'

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

April

Granholm's wetlands proposal doesn't hold water By Dave Dempsey – City Pulse – April 29, 2009 http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-2923-granholmrss-wetlands-proposal-doesnrst-hold-water.html

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michigan Poised to Surrender Wetlands Control to Feds ENN – April 6, 2009 http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2009/2009-04-06-091.asp

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

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

Michigan Give Feds Notice of Surrendering Wetlands Program Contact Luke Eshleman – Common Dreams/PEER Press Release – April 3, 2009 http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/04/03-1

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

March

Northern Republicans question proposal to end state regulation of wetlands By Eartha Jane Melzer – The Michigan Messenger – March 31, 2009 http://michiganmessenger.com/15722/northern-republicans-question-proposal-to-end-state- regulation-of-wetlands

FL: Local Wetlands Protections Essential

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

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

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

Who should regulate wetlands? The Saginaw News, March 23, 2009 Go to: http://www.mlive.com/news/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/news28/12378180091117 40.xml&coll=9

Critics say feds unable to protect Michigan wetlands Associated Press, March 22, 2009 http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/article/20090322/UPDATES01/90321009

FL: Bill to ease wetlands development advances in Florida House

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

NC: Scoopers, coveting the swamps

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

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

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

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

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

IL: Committee would oversee Prairie Green preserve

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

CA: Sensing `disaster'

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

VA: Three Miles of Blackwater River Frontage Protected

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

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

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

CA: Editorial: Water, Water Everywhere

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

CT: Wetlands Tables Action on Town's Application

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

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

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

NH: Conservation housing project OK'd by board

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

LA: Wetlands Reserve Program sign up deadline March 25

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

TX: Court upholds effort to create wetlands refuge in Texas

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

MT:NW Montana wetlands project to get $6.6 million

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

NY: The Nature Conservancy on Long Island Addresses Global Warming

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

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

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

NC: Environmental Protections Must be Upheld as Mining Expands

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

TX: Judge’s redo order could halt Isle development

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

FL: Federal money to come for Everglades restoration

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

CA: San Francisco Bay vulnerable to rising waters

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

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

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

NY: Hearing on wetlands law scheduled

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

VA: Locality Considers Becoming Wetland

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

Cash-strapped Mich. might hand wetlands permitting back to U.S. By Katherine Boyle – Greenwire – March 4, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/03/04/04greenwire-cashstrapped-mich-might-hand- permitting-back-to-9978.html

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

MI: Letter: Wetlands deserve strongest protections By Tom S. Piotrowski – Mlive Ann Arbor Opinion – March 3, 2009 http://www.mlive.com/opinion/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/03/letter_wetlands_deserve_ strong.html

VA: Flood-prone tracts returning to nature?

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

FEBRUARY 2009

WA: Petition attempts to stop 244th

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

Legislators envision less regulation as salve for Florida's economy

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

NJ: The Green Govs

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

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

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

HI: State Takes Over Kawainui Marsh Management

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

Obama Signs $787 Billion Economic Stimulus Bill

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

TX: San Benito turns sewer ponds into wetlands

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

SC: SRS taking care with environmental impact

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

CA: Birders head to Siskiyou wetlands to see eagles

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

CA: A wetlands rescue

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

Critics say feds unable to protect Mich. Wetlands By John Flesher – Chicago Tribune – February 13, 2009 http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/feb/13/local/chi-ap-mi-michiganwetlands

VA: Deal near to regulate pools by Chesapeake Bay

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

IL: Canoeing one of Illinois' greatest wetlands

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

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

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

Granholm’s wetlands proposal worries environmentalists By Eartha Jane Melzer – The Michigan Messenger – February 9, 2009 http://michiganmessenger.com/12864/granholms-wetlands-proposal-worries- environmentalists

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

What business needs to know about Granholm’s plans By Amy Lane – Crain’s Detroit Business – February 8, 2009 http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090208/SUB01/302089970/1069

IA: State seeks more wetlands to fight pollution runoff

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

IN: Surveyor charged in lake-draining

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

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

Media Coverage on Michigan Governor’s Plan to Return Wetland Permitting Responsibilities to Federal Government On February 3, 2009, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) announced her proposal to hand wetland permitting responsibilities back to the federal government. Currently, Michigan is one of two states—the other being New Jersey—that assumed responsibility of Section 404 (dredge & fill) of the Clean Water Act. For more information on Michigan’s 404 program, visit: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0, 1607,7-135- 3313_3687-10801 --,00.html  Below is a selection of the press coverage of the governor’s recent proposal. MI: Michigan lawmakers vote to keep wetlands program program Examiner– October 1, 2009 html?cid=rss-Michigan_Headlines Michigan DEQ says wetlands program could end Oct. 1 By Jeff Kart – Bay City News – September 21, 2009 http://www.mlive.com/news/baycity/index.ssf/2009/09/michigan_deq_says_ wetlands_pro.html MI: Editorial: State needs to continue wetlands protection By The Muskegon Chronicle Editorial Board – Muskegon Chronicle – September 9, 2009 http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/09/editorial_state_needs_to_ conti.html Michigan Chamber of Commerce Expresses Strong Opposition to Passage of Legislation visit: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS163200+17- Sep-2009+PRN20090917

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

JANUARY 2009

Mayor Bloomberg Releases PlaNYC Report on Protecting New York City Wetlands

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

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

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

NH: Wetland ordinance sunk

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

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

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

IL: Chicago-area wetland mitigation banks are bogged down

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

MN: Farmers turn farmland back into wetland

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

NY: Town purchases 16 acres of wetlands

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

OR: State seeks public views on wetlands removal plan

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

Maryland's coastal protection laws addressing rising sea level

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

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

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

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

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

NC: NC regulators increase wetlands phosphate mining

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

NM: Wetlands, forest along Rio Grande to be protected

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

OR: Planning close to hotel decision

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

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

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

NM: Bottomless Lakes wetlands being restored

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

LA: National Audubon Society says restoring Louisiana wetlands critical

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

IL: Wetlands restoration work starts in frigid weather

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

IL: Local turtles disappear as urbanization destroys Illinois wetlands

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

VA: Virginia Zoo to dedicate wetlands project Jan. 22

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

IN: Interactive map to focus on Indiana Wetlands

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

MD: MARYLAND: Federal vote expected on natural gas pipeline

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

NY: Scientists watching sea level effects on East End marshes

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

IN: INDOT environmental study to start

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

FL: Tampa Bay Rays employees pitch in on wetlands restoration

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

KS: Stimulus talk spurs SLT hope

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

WI: Purchase ensures wetlands preservation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DE: Open space discussion now a closed topic

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

SD: Adds acres to USDA'S Wetlands reserve program

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

DECEMBER 2008

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

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

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

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

MA: ExxonMobil Charged in Boston Harbor Oil Spill

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

CA: State Budget Crisis Halts Wetlands Work

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

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

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

MD: Gene Mueller: Highway poses threat to vital creek

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

MD: State approves Fox Creek dredging

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

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

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

MN: County threatens to rescind WCA

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

OH: ODNR: Wetlands in Summit County to be preserved

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

MD: Lawsuit concerning watershed is near settlement

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

FL: Manatee votes to reconsider mine expansion

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

MA: Brandywine to pay $300K wetlands fine

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

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

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

MD: SHA completes project to restore wetlands

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

MA: State DEP to sit, listen

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

MI: Couple to donate land to trust

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

CA: EIR outlines alternatives to Marina Center

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

IN: Wetland study stalls road project in Jeffersonville

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

FL: Opponents Mount Last Stand on Everglades Plan

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

ND: High court botches DL ruling

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

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

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

VA: Scientists gauge impact of drilling off Va. Coast

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

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

NOVEMBER 2008

NV: Wetlands report says endangered areas surround Carson City

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

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

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

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

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

MN: Ranier adopts Wetland Conservation Act (WCA)

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

OK: Wetlands Reserve Program apps open

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

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

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

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

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

CA: California Ordered To Prepare For Sea-Level Rise

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

NJ: Wetlands Association announces funding

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

ND: Farmer convicted of illegally draining wetlands

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

CA: Long Beach, developer agree to wetlands preservation deal

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

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

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

CT: Wetlands Panel Opens Public Hearing on Subdivision Plan

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

FL: St. Petersburg College auction offers watercolors for wetlands

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

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

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

NC: Titan Wants to Move Mining Across the Roadg

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

CA: Naval base serves as a steward of wetlands

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

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

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

OR: Wetland Mitigation Bank Created For Developers

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

NH: NH adding wetlands to protection

Associated Press / Fox News – November 4, 2008 New Hampshire has enrolled more than 327 acres of wetlands in a national wetlands protection program since last year. Since the national Wetlands Reserve Program started in 1996, more than 2 million privately owned acres nationally, and more than 1,100 in New Hampshire have been included. The national figure exceeded U.S. Agriculture Department goals. For full story, go to: http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=9290299

DE: School's wetlands serve as classroom

By Edward Kenney – the News Journal – November 4, 2008 When teachers at the Independence School in Pike Creek want to take their children on a nature field trip, all they have to do is march them just outside their door. Almost four acres of newly renovated wetlands sit on the school's 90-acre property on Paper Mill Road. The state's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control cleared some trees, planted other trees and shrubs, worked on stream remediation and created other enhancements earlier this year, school spokesperson Claire Brechter said. For full story, go to: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081104/NEWS03/811040356

IN: Public Comment Sought on Indiana's Draft Pollution Rules

Contact: Susan Campbell – Alliance for Great Lakes – October 29, 2008 Indiana regulators are accepting public comment through Nov. 14 on proposed rules that would, among other things, allow industry to increase the amount of pollution they discharge to Lake Michigan and other state waters. “Indiana’s new regulations must protect outstanding state waters like Lake Michigan from new and increased pollution,” said Lyman Welch, manager of the Alliance’s Water Quality Program. The draft rules are being debated against the backdrop of last year’s public outcry over the state’s issuance of a wastewater permit that would have allowed British Petroleum’s Whiting, Ind. refinery to increase its discharge of pollutants into Lake Michigan. For full story, go to: [insert link here] For more information on IDEM’s proposed rule, see the public notice at: http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/20081015-IR-327080764FNA.xml.pdf

WI: DNR, Wisconsin REALTORS® Association: Informational tools aim to protect wetlands, help landowners ID wetlands on a property before they buy or build

Contact: Cherie Hagen – Wisconsin Business News – October 28, 2008 New informational tools to protect Wisconsin’s remaining wetlands, as well as current and prospective property owners, were unveiled today by the Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association and the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. “Wetlands are an important part of Wisconsin’s landscape, providing scenic beauty, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreational opportunities and natural flood control,” says DNR Secretary Matt Frank. “I want to thank the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Wisconsin Wetlands Association for working with DNR to get more information to property buyers at the time of purchase.” State and federal laws prevent building or making other improvements in wetlands unless the property owner can show it’s unavoidable and receives the necessary permits. So it’s important that people know if there are wetlands and understand the constraints as well as the benefits wetlands can bring, like reduced flooding, cleaner runoff to lakes and rivers, fish and wildlife habitat and recreation. For full story, go to: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=140153

KY: Kentucky has just passed a 401 fee processing regulation

Beginning Oct. 8, 2008, fees will be required for processing Individual Water Quality. For more information, go to: http://www.water.ky.gov/permitting/wqcert/ For the regulation, go to: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/401/009/020reg.htm

FL: The Future of Mangrove Forests and Associated Wetlands on Tampa Bay

By Robin Lewis - We used to think that all we had to do was purchase and place in public ownership and management all the mangrove forests on Tampa Bay, and we were home free. All those ecological services like fish and crab production, food for wading birds, and water cleansing powers preserved forever! Unfortunately, it is not so easy. Over the last four decades, I have spent countless hours in our Florida mangrove wetlands, and in similar areas in 15 foreign countries. I have read the scientific papers as they were generated, and purchased and read the ever more numerous and expensive books on coastal wetlands ecology and management. Based on my experience and reading, and in spite of the rosy predictions of a 166% increase in mangrove forests on Tampa Bay over the next 100 years¹, I have great concern for the future of our coastal wetlands, and those of other estuaries of Florida and the world. For full commentary, visit: http://www.baysoundings.com/commentary.asp

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

OCTOBER 2008

SD: Breaking land or altering wetlands? Be careful; you can lose USDA program benefits

High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal – October 13, 2008 South Dakota farmers are urged to talk with conservation officials before draining any wet areas or bringing new land into production. State Resource Conservationist Shaun Vickers with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Huron, says farmers are under tremendous economic pressure to produce crops. Not only are grain prices at historic highs, but land, rent, fuel and fertilizer costs are also skyrocketing. As they prepare for and complete harvest this fall, farmers should be cautious with managing wetlands in their fields, says Vickers, since their eligibility for USDA farm program benefits could be at stake. If you have a wet area which you're considering putting into a crop, come in and talk to the NRCS staff. "We can do a wetland determination to know if that area is a wetland or not and keep you out of trouble," says Vickers. For full article, go to: http://www.hpj.com/archives/2008/oct08/oct13/Breakinglandoralteringwetla. cfm?title=Breaking%20land%20or%20altering%20wetlands?%20Be%20 careful;%20you%20can%20lose%20USDA%20program%20benefits

CO: Forests, fish and skiers have place in drought plans

By Chris Woodka – The Pueblo Chieftain – October 12, 2008 Colorado’s forests, already under siege from pine beetles, fire and mismanagement, could fare worse with climate change. Federal stewards don’t want to see that happen. "Forests serve as a natural sponge that absorbs, stores and slowly releases water to the rivers," said Tony Dixon, regional deputy forester with the U.S. Forest Service. "If you have no forests, you have no rivers. They are like water towers and they are under siege." While most think of the Forest Service as a preservation effort, it began after a time when forests were in even worse shape, Dixon said. Mining, logging, grazing and fires had all but destroyed many of the lands initially put under federal protection. For full article, go to: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/10/12/news/denver_bureau/doc 48f187cc381ab122676862.txt

CT: A Shot At 'The Preserve'

By Suellen Kozey McCuin – Hartford Courant – October 12, 2008 Even the darkest of clouds can have a silver lining. As painful as the economic disruption has been, it presents a unique opportunity to save a jewel-like piece of land — a 1,000-acre forest near Connecticut's coastline. […] Lehman Brothers has, for 10 years, been trying to build 221 homes on it (down from an original proposal of 308 single-family homes), along with a Jack Nicklaus golf course and more. This area simply should not be developed. Located in southern Middlesex County, in parts of Old Saybrook, Essex and Westbrook, The Preserve is the last and largest coastal forest and wetlands complex of its size between New York City and Boston. It is an important part of a 2,500-acre block of intact coastal forest that extends west to Branford and north along the Connecticut River to the Maromas section of Middletown. For full story, go to: http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-plcpreserve.artoct 12,0,7468160.story

NY: Paddling Through Pollution

By Samara Freemark – The Environment Report – October 13, 2008 A group of New Yorkers is trying to convince people to get out on one of the most polluted bodies of water in the country - literally out there, in canoes. Samara Freemark reports that they hope once people see the water up close, they'll realize just how dirty it is. And maybe then they'll help clean it up: (sound of water, paddling) You wouldn’t believe the stuff people have pulled out of the Gowanus Canal. Refrigerators. Bathtubs, rusted cars. A 5000 pound dead whale. A suitcase full of human body parts. Sewage floods into the canal all the time. So you see everything people flush down their toilets. The water itself is a sickly, opaque green. For full story, go to: http://www.environmentreport.org/transcript.php3?story_id=4194

LA: Shell Oil partners with BTEP to restore coast

By Kyle Carrier – Tri-Parish Times – October 13, 2008 It's always important for neighbors to help each other, but no two neighbors need each other more than the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program and the petroleum industry. Since 1991, the two have been working together to bring awareness to coastal restoration. The partnerships are in large part because the wetlands are needed for the petroleum industries to do their job. "I think they see that restoration will protect their own infrastructure such as the pipelines, production facilities, roads, ports and everything else," Kerry St Pe', Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program director said. "We need the wetlands to protect that infrastructure from a storm surge. With hurricanes entering the Gulf every year, it's a necessity." For full article, visit: http://www.tri-parishtimes.com/articles/2008/10/10/business_news/ 82_50_shell.txt

FL: Court weighs environmental price of mining

St. Petersburg Times – October 12, 2008 For nearly three hours, the lawyers argued. Every time they opened their mouths, all the dusty conflicts of the past eight years came crashing through. But this fight was for the future. One one side: the world's largest phosphate company, Mosaic, and the state agency in charge of permitting new mines. Their attorneys were defending new mines that will keep one of Florida's oldest industries in business for another generation. On the other: three counties and a utility that lie downstream from newly proposed mines. They fear that Mosaic's destruction of wetlands may cut their water supply for growth. For full story, go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/article848584.ece For a previous story on the same issue, go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wetlands/article842499.ece

IA: DU raises thousands for Iowa's wetlands

By Pamela Credille – KTVO (TV News) – October 11, 2008 Saturday was the annual Ducks Unlimited banquet. Thousands of dollars worth of merchandise was raffled and auctioned off during the dinner fundraiser. Organizers of the event said this banquet was the best attended they have had, and also added it was much warmer than in years past as well. Ducks unlimited prides itself in being the world leader in Wetlands & Waterfowl Conservation. For full story, go to: http://www.ktvo.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=205574

CT: Status of State’s Wetlands Unclear

WCIT/News Talk – October 11, 2008 A new report says dozens of Connecticut municipal boards are leaving state officials in the dark about their decisions affecting environmentally sensitive land.  A state watchdog agency says that leaves the state Department of Environmental Protection without a clear picture of the status of Connecticut's wetlands. The report, issued by the Council on Environmental Quality, says more than 20 municipalities don't submit updates each year. It also says 55 have failed to report data for at least one of the last seven years. For full story, visit: http://www.wtic.com/Status-of-State-s-Wetlands-Unclear/3119856

ME: All invited to 'the amazing back yard' Friends of Unity Wetlands welcome children

By Larry Grard – Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel – October 10, 2008 Show and teach children about the treasure that surrounds them, and they might just become good stewards of that land. Friends of Unity Wetlands, a land trust established in 2004, adheres to that philosophy with its "Center Saturdays." Student volunteers from Unity College run the program, in and out of the Friends of Unity Wetlands Education Center at 93 Main Street.  On Saturday, October 11, the Unity College Wildlife Care & Education Club showed children signs of animals preparing for the winter. Kathy Kahler, programs assistant for Friends, explained the relationship. "We are a land trust," Kahler said. "We're trying to preserve the local farm land and forest, and it's a lot easier when we make people aware of their surroundings. "We have the largest block of undeveloped land in central Maine, home to several endangered species. We're really trying to overcome the hurdle of unawareness." For full article, go to: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5491642.html

WI: Two Rivers receives state funding for storm water management

By Cindy Hodgson – Herald Times Reporter – October 8, 2008 The city has received a $76,500 Storm Water Planning Grant and likely will receive five Storm Water Capital Grants totaling $642,156, according to City Manager Greg Buckley. Both types are matching grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help pay for activities related to reducing suspended solids in storm water. "Yes, there is a substantial match required if we decide to go with those grants," Buckley told City Council members at their meeting Monday evening. He was referring to the city's match for the capital grants, which he said is nearly $1.2 million. The local match for the planning grant is $47,900. For full story, go to: http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081008/MAN0101/ 810080600/1984/MAN04

CA: The toxic mercury menace in San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Chronicle – October 7, 2008 It's been long known that mercury from old mines leaks into the San Francisco Bay from the hills above San Jose where the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine operated for more than 120 years before it was shut down in the 1970s. Gold mining also washed mercury, a potent neurotoxin, into tributaries to the bay where it ultimately contaminated the estuary's aquatic life. By now, the mercury threat to bay life is a grim fact of life. The bigger fish eat the smaller fish, and the mercury accumulates up the food chain at higher concentrations. People who eat a lot of fish from the bay unfortunately face unnecessary risk, particularly pregnant women and children. Health officials have posted warning signs in fishing spots. Research shows that the toxic metal can cause such health effects as fatigue, headaches and memory loss. At higher levels, especially in fetuses, mercury can cause permanent neurological damage. For full story, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/chrongreen/detail?&entry_id=31179

NJ: New wetlands might ease Woodbridge River flooding

The Scarlet Scuttlebutt – October 7, 2008 Municipal officials in Woodbridge might want to listen more closely to Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, when he suggests that wetlands restoration is the best way to relieve flooding problems along the Woodbridge River, principally east of Rahway Avenue, where heavy storm surges have been soaking basements and overrunning streets for many a year, causing repeated damage to property. For full story, go to: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20081007/OPINION01/ 810070306/-1/newsfront

MN: Wetlands plan moves forward

By Laura Beager – International Falls Daily Journal – October 7, 2008 A plan that will determine where growth in International Falls is likely to occur and develop a strategy for wetland protection and mitigation is moving forward. David Serrano of Arro of the North reported to the International Falls City Council Monday that development of a comprehensive wetland protection and management plan for the city is on schedule. Serrano told the council that he’s pleased with discussions about various aspects of the plan he’s had with representatives of the state and federal agencies that will be involved in enforcing wetland rules. For full story, go to: http://www.ifallsdailyjournal.com/news/city-news-i-falls/wetlands-plan-moves- forward-laurel-beager-editor-11137

CA: Skaggs Island wetlands closer, but not a deal

By Bill Lynch – Sonoma Index Tribune – October 6, 2008 Lifelong Sonoma Valley rancher Jim Haire and the United States Navy have shared Skaggs Island and a common boundary for decades in the tidelands at the southern entrance to the Valley. If a bill authored by Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, and passed by Congress, is signed into law by President Bush, they both may be forced to do business with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which seeks to make the island the crown jewel of its efforts to return North Bay wetlands to their natural state. Although the Navy decommissioned its communications base on Skaggs Island in 1993 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been willing to take it over and restore its 3,200 acres to wetlands, the actual transfer has been held up for many years over which agency would be responsible for any contamination found during the restoration process. Woolsey's bill would force the Navy and the wildlife agency to move the process forward and reach an agreement. For full story, go to: http://www.sonomanews.com/articles/2008/10/09/news/doc48e56 e760d1f1069309684.txt

WI: Wisconsin groups rally to protect threatened birds

By Ron Seely – Wisconsin State Journal – October 6, 2008 Imagine your backyard or the park where you walk without the color and music of birds — the red and handsome flash of the cardinal, the conversational chatter of goldfinches at a feeder, the soft call of the mourning dove signaling the onset of evening. Birds connect us more intimately and immediately to the natural world than any other wild creature, partly because they are so ever-present in our lives. For full story, go to: http://www.today.com/external.php?url=http://www.madison.com/wsj/ mad/top/index.php?ntid=308186&source=rss&reffurl=http://www.today.com/ view/wisconsin-groups-rally-to-protect-threatened-birds/id-3025368/

MI: DEQ investigating Tamarack Lodge

By Lindsay Vanhulle – Traverse City Record Eagle – October 6, 2008 State environmental officials continue to investigate alleged unlawful beach clearing at an East Bay hotel, and the county prosecutor could consider criminal charges. State and federal regulators cited the Tamarack Lodge in East Bay Township a year ago for illegal grooming of its beachfront property. The state Department of Environmental Quality is considering what the next action should be, said Eric Hudy, an enforcement specialist with the department's Land and Water Management Division in Cadillac. For full story, go to: http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_279093902.html

CT: Middletown Residents: Take Site Off List For Center

By Peter Marteka – Hartford Courant – October 1, 2008 Although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is not expected to rank four potential sites where it hopes to build a new Armed Forces Reserve Center until later this month, many residents, including the mayor, told officials where a 125-acre, wetland-filled swath of land should go: off the list. The Corps held its final public hearing Tuesday night and will spend most of October determining its top-ranked site. The Corps is reviewing four locations: the 35-acre Bysiewicz Industrial Park on Middle Street; Louis F. Cucia Park — a 4-acre pocket park with a small pond and 36 surrounding acres at Smith and industrial road; 125 acres along Kenneth Dooley Drive/Boardman Lane; and the 25-acre federally owned site of the former Middletown Reserve Center on mile Lane. For full story, go to: http://www.courant.com/community/news/mr/hc-army1001. artoct01,0,4322150.story

WI: Cranberry farms go high-tech to meet high demand

By M.L. Johnson – Associated Press – October 1, 2008 Until this fall, workers at Nodji Van Wychen's cranberry farm sorted fruit with the same wooden technology used by her grandfather. Firm berries bounced through the mills' seven wooden slats before 15 workers scrutinized them for color and imperfections. Today, that system have been replaced by $500,000 worth of computerized scanners that need only one or two people to do a final visual check before the berries are bagged. For full story, go to: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iirSzafyMmhxGE bJIduB5tzt9ZTgD93HIA2O0

ND: North Dakota developer fined for discharges of pollutants to Lake Elsie wetlands

By Diane Sipe – EPA News Release – September 30, 2008 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with David J. Paulson and the Northeast Ridge Development Company (Northeast Ridge) in which the company will pay a $15,000 fine for unauthorized discharges of dredged and fill material to wetlands adjacent to Lake Elsie, near Hankinson, ND. In addition to the fine, Northeast Ridge is responsible for all costs necessary to restore the impacted wetlands. EPA issued a complaint to Northeast Ridge for discharges of dredged and fill material to Lake Elsie and its adjacent wetlands without a permit, a violation of the Clean Water Act. The unauthorized discharges occurred on a 17-acre property where the company intended to develop a marina and residential subdivision on Lake Elsie's north shore, two miles southwest of Hankinson, ND. Northeast Ridge's unauthorized activities impaired or destroyed approximately 1.5 acres of wetlands. For full news release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/441b84408d60ca17852574d4007 498c8?OpenDocument

NY: Land Trust Aims to Preserve Wetlands Areas

By Deborah Medenbach – Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record – September 28, 2008 Chris Duncan remembers his childhood in Brooklyn, where a woodpecker in the yard fed his curiosity about nature's role in the most unusual settings. Today, as director of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust, he turns that attention to the preservation of irreplaceable ecosystems threatened by development. In the Town of Lloyd, the Plutarch/Black Creek Wetlands Complex stretches for miles on either side of busy Route 299. The swamp is not only an important storm-water drainage system, but also home to migrating birds, rare plants, otter, beaver and even bear. You heard that right. http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/ 20080926/COMM/809260313

WI: EPA OK's self-audit agreement with Wisconsin colleges

Contact: Mick Hans – EPA News Release – September 25, 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 announced today that it has signed an agreement with 16 independent Wisconsin colleges and universities that allow the schools to perform their own compliance audits for seven major environmental laws, including Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Federal Insecticide, and others. The audit agreement calls for 16 members of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to work with a consultant in screening classroom buildings, laboratories and dining, athletic and maintenance facilities for compliance.  As long as the schools correct violations and meet the conditions of the agreement, all or most penalties will be eliminated. The audit agreement is available at: http://www.epa.gov/region5/enforcement/pdfs/epa-waicu-agreement200809.pdf  For the full press release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a5792a626c8dac098525735900400c 2d/a523a8bd8f511986852574cf005a7404!OpenDocument

KS: Wetlands expansion begins as part of South Lawrence Trafficway plan

By Mark Fagan – Lawrence Journal – September 24, 2008 Mark Wellendorf plans to drive his skid loader through hydric soil just south of 31st Street this fall, plowing under corn and soybean fields to make room for arrowleaf, spikerush and some two dozen other species of plants that thrive in wetlands. Whether the South Lawrence Trafficway ever follows his lead remains to be seen. “This is a great opportunity,” Wellendorf said Wednesday, gathering seeds in the 573-acre Baker Wetlands, near the Wakarusa River. “We’re going to be creating new wetlands. We won’t be doing any destroying of wetlands.” For full story, go to: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep/24/wetlands_expansion_begins_ part_south_lawrence_traf/

IN: One Man, A Marsh And Birds

By Sam Hendren – The Environment Report – September 15, 2008 Biologists say we've lost about half of the number of songbirds we had just 50 years ago. Part of the reason is the loss of habitat. Many birds need wetlands. Sam Hendren has the story of one man's love of those birds and his work to save their home: When Ken Brunswick was a kid, he wanted to study birds. Brunswick grew up near the western Ohio town of St. Henry in the 1950s. He says it didn't take long to read all the books about birds in the local library. "I knew exactly where all the bird books were because at that time that's what I had my heart set on, being an ornithologist," Brunswick says. For full story, go to: http://www.environmentreport.org/transcript.php3? story_id=4163

KY: Creating and restoring wetlands

By Mike James – Daily Independent – September 13, 2008 There’s a swampy area behind East Carter Middle School, down the slope next to the softball field. A pool of ankle-deep water, clouded with algae, is surrounded by plantains, sedge and cattails. A couple of weathered tree trunks are wedged into the murky bottom. Although it may sound unsavory, not only is there no plan to do anything about it, a crew of scientists, naturalists and students spent Thursday at the school creating a similar marsh right next to it. For full article and slideshow from Wetlands Institute, go to: http://www.dailyindependent.com/homepage/local_story_257133454.html

MA: CZM-WRP Announces Call for Priority Coastal Wetlands Restoration Projects

September 11, 2008 The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s Wetlands Restoration Program (CZM-WRP) has issued a call for nominations of Priority Coastal Wetlands Restoration Projects.  The Request for Responses is posted on the Comm-PASS state procurement website (see http://www.comm-pass.com and then search for solicitation document number "ENV 09 CZM 02” or document title “Priority Coastal Wetlands Restoration Projects”). In most fiscal years, depending on available program funds, existing project load, and staff resources, CZM-WRP designates a limited number of new Priority Projects.  Sites that are accepted as Priority Projects are eligible to receive technical services funded by the Commonwealth, such as wetland delineation, elevation survey, mapping and site planning, hydraulic analyses, impact assessments, title and deed exams, permitting, and monitoring.  Designated Priority Projects are also eligible to apply for funding under CZM-WRP's annual grants program to support monitoring and construction-related needs. Priority Project nominations will be accepted at any time during the Response period, which will remain open until November 21, 2008.  Note that projects previously designated as Priority Projects do not need to re-apply.  For the current list of CZM-WRP priority projects go to http://www.mass.gov/czm/wrp/projects_pages/priority_projects.htm.

NJ: Court: Exxon Created Nuisance by Polluting Refinery Sites - Judge Upholds State Natural Resource Damages Claim

Contact: Lee Moore – Office of Attorney General, State of New Jersey – September 10, 2008 A Superior Court judge has ruled that ExxonMobil Corporation is liable for causing a public nuisance by polluting the waterways, wetlands and marshes on and near its former refinery sites in Bayonne and Linden, Attorney General Anne Milgram announced on Sept. 10th. In ruling on part of a natural resource damage lawsuit filed on behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection, Superior Court Judge Ross R. Anzaldi found that ExxonMobil contaminated both sites through active disposal and accidental spilling of hazardous substances causing great damage. The specific amount of damages owed by ExxonMobil will be determined at trial. For full press release, go to: http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases08/pr20080910b.html

Return to top. Return to State Wetland Programs

September 2008

FL: Saving the wetlands County; smartly rejects mining permit

BradentonHerlold.com– September 21, 2008 Our congratulations to the Manatee County Commission for voting to protect our invaluable wetlands and avoid a threat to the region's water supplies. By the narrowest of margins - a 4-3 vote Tuesday - commissioners turned aside the Mosaic Co.'s request to mine for phosphate on the 2,048-acre Altman Tract in the northeast corner of Manatee County. That's a strong divide on the commission, one that reflects this very tough decision. For the full story, go to: http://www.bradenton.com:80/opinion/story/897840.html

MA: State goes after developer for wetlands, timber clearing

By Anna L. Griffin – Worcester Telegram – September 11, 2008 A Leominster-based developer said he is caught in the middle of violations of wetlands and timber harvesting regulations at a 251-lot subdivision on the city’s south side known as Crown Point, off Legate Hill Road. “As Summit is the developer, this is coming back to us,” said James L. Xarras, who operates Summit Construction. “But I am happy to see that they’ve found the people who are responsible for this — and asked them to pay a fine.” For full article, visit: http://www.telegram.com/article/20080911/NEWS/809110409/1003/NEWS03

VA: State panel still revising findings on warming

By Rex Springston – Richmond Times-Dispatch – September 11, 2008 Global warming threatens Virginia' low-lying areas, coastal military bases and natural ecosystems, according to a state panel's tentative findings. Virginia's Commission on Climate Change discussed a list of possible findings yesterday during a meeting at the General Assembly Building. Panel members offered so many changes to the list that staff members will revise the findings and present them again at the panel's next meeting. For full story, go to: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/living.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-11-0155.html

NC: Agency balks at plant's location

By Chris Mazzolini – Stars News Online – September 10, 2008 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants Titan America to look elsewhere for its cement plant and stone quarry because the site in Castle Hayne is so ecologically unique it may be irreplaceable. The federal conservation service isn't the only concerned agency. Four state environmental agencies are worried the proposed plant could harm water quality, wetlands, and fish and wildlife habitats. In written comments to the Army Corps of Engineers, the wildlife service said the forested wetlands along the Northeast Cape Fear River and Island Creek are home to a diverse roster of animal and plant species, an important nursery area for fish and a refuge for migratory birds. For full story, go to: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080910/ARTICLES/809100304&title= Agency_balks_at_plant_s_location

OH: Wetlands building hearing planned

Youngstown Vindicator – September 10, 2008 Citizens are invited to ask questions and offer comments on the proposed development of some industrial park land on state Route 45 by Henn Development Inc. The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Lordstown Village Administration Building, 1455 Salt Springs Road. The development would impact up to 2.84 acres of wetlands, so Henn has submitted an application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the work. For full story, go to: http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/sep/10/wetlands-building-hearing-planned/

SB: EPA Approves Shoeshone Bannack Tribe’s Application for “Treatment as a State” to administer water quality standards under Clean Water Act

Contact: Rich McAllister – EPA News Release – September 9, 2008 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 has approved the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ application for treatment in a similar manner as a State (“TAS”) under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The approval gives the Shoshone Bannock Tribes greater authority and responsibility for protecting water quality on the Fort Hall Reservation. Today’s TAS approval covers all of the water bodies within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. According to Elin Miller, EPA regional administrator in Seattle, today’s TAS decision reflects real progress in fulfilling one of the Agency’s top priorities. For full news release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/3881d73f4d4aaa0b85257359003f5348/ adee5ec45fd665b7852574bf0060b8eb!OpenDocument

AL: Alabama Voices: Preserve our park

By Cynthia Mosteller - Montgomery Advertiser – September 9, 2008 A powerful contingency of government officials, politicians, private business owners and developers have outlined a plan to build a highway through the protected wetlands of Gulf State Park. First of all, "Southern Evacuation Parkway," the name given to the proposed highway through Gulf State Park suggests that the main purpose of the route is for hurricane evacuation. Anyone interested in learning more about this issue can avail themselves of public records on file with the city of Orange Beach, where they will find a document titled "Alternative Analysis Southern Evacuation Route Extension." For full editorial, go to: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/ OPINION0101/809080319

MS: Protest challenges MDOT connector plan

By Ryan Lafontaine – Biloxi Sun Herald – September 9, 2008 Community activists, residents and environmental watchdogs met on a street corner Monday in Gulfport Heights, girding for a long battle with a formidable opponent: the state Department of Transportation. "I think most people in South Mississippi have been watching for quite some time and noticing that MDOT is a runaway train, an undemocratic machine that does what it wants without any repercussions," said Derrick Evans, executive director of the Turkey Creek Community Initiative. The group is hoping to thwart the destruction of what it says is 162 acres of wetlands by MDOT's plan to build a connector road from Interstate 10 to 28th Street. For full story, go to: http://www.sunherald.com/news/transportation/story/801079.html

KS: Anonymous Donor Gives Wetlands to Emporia State

WIBW News – September 9, 2008 An anonymous gift increases Emporia State's natural areas system by 180 acres. The gift includes the 52-acre Neva Marsh West of Cottonwood Falls and the 128-acre Dunlap Bottoms Tract in southeastern Morris County. The land will be used by the school's Biology department. The family of the donor owned the land for many years according to the school. The land is protected under the Federal Wetlands Reserve Program and will remain perpetually preserved in its natural wetland state. The donor says the potential for the land has gone up ten-fold by the educational use of it. For link to article, go to: http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/28104779.html

VA: Landowner protects 1.25 miles of stream, beaver habitat with wetlands easement

Our Valley – September 9, 2008 The Western Virginia Land Trust (WVLT), the Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District (MCSWCD) and local landowner Sky Preece recently signed an agreement to protect 1.25 miles of stream banks and a 21-acre wetland on Preece’s Lithia Road property south of Buchanan. By signing a conservation easement, Preece, the WVLT and the MCSWCD agreed to forever protect the banks of Mill Creek, Back Creek and Looney Creek from development, erosion and pollution. The easement also protects a large wetland—the size of 16 football fields—on the property. The wetland is formed by a family of beavers that build large dams each winter on Back Creek. For full story, go to: http://ourvalley.org/news.php?viewStory=3255

ND: Waterfowl Hunting Numbers Drop

By Retha Colclasure – KFYR TV News – September 9, 2008 Hunting has long been a favorite past time in North Dakota, but in some cases, fewer and fewer people are taking advantage of the great outdoors. That`s especially true when it comes to waterfowl hunting, where the numbers have been steadily dropping for the past few years. Some say it`s because fewer people are interested in hunting, while others say there`s just not as many places for them to go. Whatever the reason, fewer hunters are bad news for conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited. Hunters are closely tied to the lands they hunt. They`re the people who provide most of the funding for conservation programs in North Dakota, and they`re often the people who care the most about preserving wildlife habitat. "Hunters are a big key," says Scott Stephens of Ducks Unlimited. "They have a vested interest in the populations and making sure they`re healthy." For full story, go to: http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=22141

CA: Planning to start for local wetlands

By Michael Doyle – Fresno Bee – September 8, 2008 San Joaquin Valley residents will now shape the future of federal wildlife refuges that protect some of California's largest remaining freshwater wetlands. Be patient. It's going to take time. Starting this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will initiate planning for three prominent wetlands areas in Merced County: the Merced and San Luis national wildlife refuges and the Grasslands Wildlife Management Area. Currently, they span some 129,000 acres. For full story, go to: http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/852725.html

ME: Wetlands Law Revisions Could Aid Pier Project

By ELBERT AULL – Portland Press Herald – September 8, 2008 City councilors have spent months working on a project they hope will bring a hotel and some new life to Portland's aging Maine State Pier. The project doesn't stand a chance of receiving a key state permit; however, the Department of Environmental Protection wants that to change. State officials have proposed amending coastal wetlands rules to expand the types of buildings that could be built on hundreds of piers across the state. Such a change could lift a roadblock for the Olympia Cos., the company chosen by Portland to redevelop the 86-year-old pier. The central part of the $100 million project is a six-story hotel, which would be supported, in part, by building a bulkhead and filling in a section underneath the pier. State regulations, however, restrict what may be built on piers, wharves and docks on the Atlantic Ocean. For full story, go to: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=209016&ac=PHnws

NC: LTWA project restores Tessentee wetlands

By Colin McCandless – The Franklin Press – September 5, 2008 Macon County's Little Tennessee Watershed Association has completed a wetlands restoration project at Tessentee Farm near Otto. This project should restore an estimated half-acre of wetland to the condition present prior to the creation of the manmade pond there, according to Jenny Sanders, executive director of the Watershed Association. The endeavor is a collaboration between the Watershed Association and the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee. For full article, go to: http://www.thefranklinpress.com/articles/2008/09/04/news/02news.txt

VT: Richmond, VT Dairy Farmers Pay Consequences for Filling 41 Acres of Wetlands

Contact: David Deegan – EPA News Release – September 4, 2008 The owners of the Richford, Vt. Pleasant Valley Farm, Mark and Amanda St. Pierre, will pay a significant penalty, restore damaged wetlands, and perform additional environmental projects under the terms of a settlement with EPA and the U.S. Dept. of Justice for converting 41 acres of wetlands to corn and hay production areas on their dairy farm. An EPA investigation concluded that the dairy farmers filled slightly more than 40 acres of wetlands between 1998 and 2002, during the course of expanding forage acres to support their dairy herd. The St. Pierres did not seek or obtain environmental review of or permits for these actions, violating the federal Clean Water Act by illegally discharging dredged and fill material into approximately 41 acres of wetlands and a stream. For full news release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/3881d73f4d4aaa 0b85257359003f5348/777eaf2a85c8bd09852574ba006510c7!OpenDocument

SD: Brownlee Construction to pay $27,500 for damages to Big Sioux River wetlands

By Diane Sipe – EPA News Release – September 4, 2008 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with Randy L. Brownlee, Rita Brownlee, and Brownlee Construction, Inc., requiring payment of a civil penalty of $27,500 for violations of the Clean Water Act. The penalty is for discharges of dredged and/or fill material to wetlands adjacent to the Big Sioux River in Watertown, Codington County, S.D. “EPA is taking this action to deter future violations of laws that protect South Dakota's water resources,” Michael Gaydosh, EPA's Assistant Regional Administrator in Denver. "In addition to providing habitat for birds and wildlife, wetlands along the Big Sioux River play important roles in water quality enhancement, water storage and retention, and flood attenuation." For full story, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/18bafd3479b15eef852574ba00634bf8? OpenDocument

AK: IBA News: Teshekpuk Lake Gets A Break

Birding Community E-Bulletin – September 1, 2008 Following over 200,000 letters and messages supporting the conservation of the resources of the Teshekpuk Lake area in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska's North Slope, the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has modified its oil and gas leasing plans for the Teshekpuk Lake area. In mid-July, the Secretary of Interior announced the BLM's Record of Decision for the Northeast Area of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Since Teshekpuk Lake is an Important Bird Area (IBA), the E-Bulletin has covered the site multiple times. Visit: http://www.refugenet.org/birding/octSBC06.html#TOC08   In the most recent environmental statement and land use plan, NPR-A, a critical molting area for geese (up to 30% of the Brant in the Pacific Flyway use this area), is deferred from leasing for 10 years. Additionally, lands surrounding the Lake including breeding areas for threatened species such as Spectacled and Steller's Eider, and other species in apparent decline such as Yellow-billed Loon, have received special protections from development and disturbances. This recent decision lifts the immediate threat to the area, but does not afford permanent protection for these critical tundra and wetland areas. Bird conservationists and allies in Congress will continue to seek permanent protection of the Teshekpuk Lake area. For more details on the IBAs of Alaska, see a poster-sized map recently produced by Audubon Alaska, that highlights the 145 identified IBA sites in the state, plus a handful of potential sites that are likely to meet listing criteria in the near future: http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2008/07/alaska_iba_poster.html For additional information about worldwide IBA programs, and those across the U.S., check the National Audubon Society's Important Bird Area program website at: http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba/

VA: Wetlands destroyed, wetlands restored: Both mean big profits

By Mike Saewitz – Hampton Roads Virginian Pilot – August 31, 2008 Investors have spent and made millions converting thousands of acres of forests and farm fields to wetlands near the Great Dismal Swamp, the Northwest River and other parts of Chesapeake, Suffolk and northeastern North Carolina. Their clients are a "who's who" list of developers and government agencies that need to offset natural wetlands paved or filled to accommodate houses, shopping centers, roads and office buildings. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/wetlands-destroyed-wetlands-restored- both-mean-big-profits

MD/VA: Md., Va. Set Action Plans for Changes in Climate

By David A. Fahrenthold and Sandhya Somashekhar – Washington Post – August 28, 2008 Climate change could profoundly alter the weather, animal life and even the very shape of Maryland over the next century, making heat waves deadlier and leaving one corner of the Eastern Shore under water, a state-appointed commission said yesterday. To head this off, the state must eliminate most of the greenhouse gases coming from tailpipes and smokestacks, the Maryland Commission on Climate Change said in a report. That will be a tall order because Maryland's emissions are on the rise. For full story, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/27/AR2008082701801.html

DE: Gala to raise money for Cedar Island Marsh project

Bethany Beach Wave – August 27, 2008 The Crisfield Heritage Foundation will host an "Evening Under the Stars" on Saturday, Sept. 13, to raise seed money for the matching grants necessary to develop Cedar Island Marsh Sanctuary into a destination for ecotourism. The black tie optional gala will be held at the home of Skip and Neda Cox near Princess Anne. The event, with music by Everett Spells and catered by David Easton, is will take place off Stewarts Neck Road at Rose Hill at 6 p.m. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/SH01/808270326

PA: P&G study shows healthy river

By Josh Mrozinski – Tunkhannock New Age Examiner – August 27, 2008 Funk and a group of scientists from The Stroud Water Research Center of Avondale had just begun to study the river near the Procter & Gamble plant west of Tunkhannock and already found many mayflies. "When water quality deteriorates, that's one of the first things to go," Funk, an entomologist, said. "This site looks pretty good." For more than 40 years, independent contractors have completed a "bio-survey" of the river to determine its health. For full story, go to: http://www.newage-examiner.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20091937&BRD=2310&PAG= 461&dept_id=480505&rfi=6

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

August 2008

House Approves Great Lakes Compact

CSO Weekly Report – August 1, 2008 On July 30, The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (H.R. 6577)  passed a House Judiciary Committee by a voice vote.  The bill would ratify an interstate compact to conserve and protect water resources among the eight states bordering the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin.  The resolution approves a governing body called the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council composed of the state's governors which would: protect water quality; require states to use a consistent standard to review water uses from the basin; set regional goals and objectives for water conservation; require each state to develop and implement a water conservation and efficiency program; and balance economic development with sustainable water use.  For more information, go to: http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.6577.IH: [and if the link is no longer valid, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and search for H.R. 6577.]

WA: Workshop to delve into critical-areas rule update

By Andy Porter– Walla Walla Union Bulletin – August 25, 2008 New regulations to protect critical areas, such as wetlands and wildlife habitats, will be the focus of a workshop Tuesday at Walla Walla Community College. Sponsored by Walla Walla County and the cities of College Place and Walla Walla, the event aims to let people know what might be expected when the three entities update their critical areas ordinances later this year. Under the state's Growth Management Act, critical areas are defined as geologically hazardous areas, frequently flooded areas, critical aquifer recharge areas, wetlands and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. For full article, go to: http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/08/25/local_news/080825local02criticalareas.txt

MA: Conservation Commission sets regulations to protect wetlands

By Jeffrey Wagner – Fall River Herald News – August 24, 2008 For the first time in town history, the Conservation Commission will have rules and regulations to accompany the group’s wetlands protection bylaw and its enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Act. The commission recently finalized a 14-page document that looks to “protect the wetlands, water resources, and adjoining areas … by controlling activities deemed by the Conservation Commission likely to have a significant or cumulative effect upon resource area values,” the documents says. For full story, go to: http://www.heraldnews.com/news/local_news/x144225959/Conservation- Commission-sets-regulations-to-protect-wetlands

MD: Md. to Protect 275 More Acres Of Wetlands, Forest in Charles

By Megan Greenwell – Washington Post – August 24, 2008 Charles County, home to thousands of acres of state-protected land, will have 275 more acres in its southwestern part preserved under Maryland's Program Open Space. The latest acquisition, including wetlands and uplands forest, will be added to the Nanjemoy Natural Resources Management Area, bounded by more than a mile of relatively undisturbed shoreline. The acquisition, approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works, was announced Wednesday by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D). It will be funded under Program Open Space, founded in 1969 to help create parks and otherwise preserve the environment. For full article, visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/22/AR2008082203377.html

NJ: Global warming survey begins in Secaucus

By: E. Assata Wright – Hudson Reporter – August 24, 2008 Each year Secaucus, a town that's a mere 12 feet above sea level, spends millions in taxpayer dollars on flood control projects. And local residents would probably find no solace in knowing that sea levels in this area rise about 1.7 to 1.8 millimeters annually, according to local researchers. These same researchers, however, are now prepared to collect valuable data that may ultimately strengthen the area's natural flood protector: the wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.hudsonreporter.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20086993&BRD= 1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523587&rfi=6

GA: Praise flows freely for Clayton County’s water system

By Maria Saporta – Atlanta Journal Constitution – August 24, 2008 People from all over the country and the world have been coming to Clayton County —- to see how it’s leading the nation. Yes, you read that right. Contrary to all the troubling news that’s been coming out of Clayton these past many months, the county is receiving accolades for having one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly water systems in the country. For full article, go to: http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/businessinsider/entries/2008/08/24/ praise_flows_freely_for_clayto.html

WA: Dry wetlands draw flood of anger

By Robert McClure – Seattle Post Intelligencer – August 23, 2008 Emerging from her home to walk her dogs one morning in 2001, Laura Nichols was shocked to see city crews sucking water out of a pond and wetland across the street. Men in rubber boots and hard hats watched as a bulldozer tore through a low part of the marshy area. All this was happening on city-owned land beside the Police Department's North Precinct -- one built in wetlands. Neighbors had enjoyed the little spot of green where frogs raised a racket. "It went from a wetland and a pond that all of us liked and where ducks lived to a mudhole with a little stream flowing through it," Nichols said. For full story, go to: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/376188_wetlands23.html

VA: Fueled by heat and pollution, algae splotches waterways

By Scott Harper – Virginian-Pilot – August 23, 2008 From 2,000 feet in the air, the Elizabeth River on Friday looked like a really bad piece of modern art, its drab-green canvas streaked wildly with black lines and unruly brown swirls. "It looks like aliens are attacking," said Andrea Moran, a spokeswoman for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, as she gazed down upon the ugly stew through the window of a chartered airplane. "It's kind of scary." What Moran actually was viewing is this summer's onslaught of algae blooms in local rivers and creeks. The excessive growth of algae, also known as a red tide or mahogany tide, is a modern phenomenon linked to warm water temperatures and nutrient pollution. For full article, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/fueled-heat-and-pollution-algae-splotches-waterways

NV: Valley's Wetlands Park undergoing improvements

By Scott Wyland – Las Vegas Review Journal – August 23, 2008 It's known as an oasis in the desert, where streams burble beneath lush, 7-foot-tall vegetation and birds trill and the air feels surprisingly humid. A large swath in the Wetlands Park looks as though a Florida savannah was plopped down in the southeast valley. Now the 2,900-acre park, which owes its lushness to the reclaimed water piped in each day, is undergoing $40 million in upgrades, mostly within a 210-acre nature preserve that sits inside the park. For full story, go to: http://www.lvrj.com/news/27308374.html

NC: Private wells in Lake County to harm wetlands, lakes

By Bill Orben – Orlando Business Journal – August 22, 2008 Lake County may decide to forbid anyone from digging new private water wells -- and that would mean no urban development allowed in the county unless it's in a city that provides water and sewer service. At issue: Water use from private wells in unincorporated areas of the county is expected to double between 2013-2030 -- potentially having an "unacceptable" effect on 10,000 acres of wetlands and eight lakes. As a result, private wells will cause water levels in lakes to fall to a point that would harm plants and animals, said the St. Johns River Water Management District, which looked at population projections based on development already approved for the area. For full story, go to: http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2008/08/25/story3.html

LA: Poll: Louisiana Worried About Energy, Wetlands, Coast

Bayou Buzz – August 22, 2008 According to a new poll conducted for for three national conservation groups: Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation and National Audubon Society say besides gas price, the big issue is coastal erosion.  A new poll released a week before the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina (August 29, 2005) shows that voters in south Louisiana are more concerned about coastal erosion than they are about crime or the economy. The poll also shows South Louisianans are almost as concerned about coastal erosion as they are about their highest-ranking worry -- gas prices. For full article, go to: http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Government/Poll_Louisiana_ Worried_About_Energy_Wetlands_Coast__7339.asp  For executive summary of this poll, go to: http://www.edf.org/documents/8285_Release_Louisiana_Memo.pdf

CT: Army Corps of Engineers Gets Involved In Norwich Wetlands-filling Violation

The Day – August 20, 2008 City officials have turned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help resolve a long-standing wetland-violation case at 81 Corning Road.While inspecting a nearby property on Corning Road in June 2007, City Planner Michael Schaefer discovered a large amount of fill material - dirt, boulders and wood debris - had been placed either within an inland wetland or at least within the state-mandated regulated area within 100 feet of the wetland. For full story, go to: http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=a76d4ae6-4223-4d34-a16e-694a3d73edf3

FL: Need a dock? DEP has made process easier

Temple Terrace University Beacon – August 20, 2008 As part of an ongoing commitment to improve services to the public and reduce burdensome paperwork and wait time, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has expanded the existing online self-certification process for certain small, private single-family docks. Now in addition to the state authorization, the public can receive authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the form of a Self-Certification State Programmatic General Permit (SPGP) or receive immediate confirmation that a qualifying proposed single-family structure is exempt from permit requirements. For full article, go to: http://cnewspubs.com/onthewater/modules/news/article.php?storyid=708

CA: Carbon Farming Tested in California Delta

ENS – August 18, 2008 Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of California, Davis, are exploring a new style of farming in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that produces not crops but soils that store carbon dioxide. The research team has won a three-year, $12.3 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources to test the concept on 400 acres in the Delta beginning next spring. Called carbon farming, the project involves building wetlands, which is what nature originally grew in the Delta. Following the Gold Rush, developers "reclaimed" the land for agriculture by constructing levees to drain swamplands and contain the rivers that form the estuary. For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2008/2008-08-18-094.asp

CA: OP: Let go of the past and allow offshore oil drilling

By George Skelton – Los Angeles Times – August 18, 2008 Admittedly I'm biased on offshore drilling. I was born in Santa Barbara, grew up in Ojai and spent many a weekend on the beach. But that didn't make me an anti-drilling fanatic. Hardly. I was around lots of oil rigs -- onshore, offshore and some near the beach. On some beaches around Santa Barbara, you could feel the oozing tar between your toes -- and that was long before a Union Oil platform five miles offshore spilled crud all over 20 miles of coast in 1969. For centuries, the tar naturally had seeped up through the sand, providing the native Chumash with caulking for their canoes. For full opinion, go to: http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-cap18-2008 aug18,0,5780970.column

MD: Living shorelines workshop offered

By Ben Penserga – Salisbury Daily Times – August 17, 2008 Someone once suggested to Tim Garner that he should fill the marshland part of his Crisfield home. "Why would I want to do that?" he said. Instead, Garner opted to create a living shoreline in the creek near his house, preserving the marshland and preventing land erosion. Saturday he served as a real-life example at the Living Shorelines Workshop what people can do for their own homes. The event, sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, was designed to show Somerset County residents and property owners that living shorelines can be an environmentally friendly soil erosion protection solution. The day-long workshop inside the Crisfield Heritage Foundation Historical Museum allowed participants to learn about permits, site designs, contractor hiring and native plant success. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080817/NEWS01/ 808170309/1002

FL: In Florida, Turning a Blind Eye to Hurricanes

By Damien Cave – New York Times – August 15, 2008 The hurricanes are coming. Carlos Alvarez, mayor of Miami-Dade County, cannot say when or how severe they will be, but every public speech he gives now includes a warning. “Hurricanes are part of our lives,” he tells people, adding: “Every time you get groceries, add a few extra cans. Have some jugs to fill up with water.” For many, though, the message has yet to register. Florida’s faltering economy and a recent scarcity of major storms have led to what emergency management officials now describe as a dangerous level of complacency. More than two months into hurricane season, and even as Tropical Storm Fay formed on Friday over the Dominican Republic and headed west, Floridians on both coasts are less prepared to withstand a major storm than at any other time in years, according to officials, business owners and residents. For full story, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/us/16hurricane.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

DE: EPA funds Delaware estuary climate change projects

EPA News Release – August 8, 2008 EPA Region 3's climate change division is working with region 2 on a $75,000 project to develop and implement a methodology to describe the ecological and economic impacts of sea level rise on selected ecosystem services in the New Jersey portion of the Delaware estuary to help coastal communities more effectively plan and adapt to climate change. The project will provide information for partnership for the Delaware estuary's regional restoration initiative and to the "climate ready estuaries" $50,000 pilot project which will be awarded to the PDE through a region 3 fiscal year 2009 national estuary program grant. For information on the climate ready estuaries pilot program, go to http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/cre.html

MD: Bay mapping will aid restoration efforts

By Colleen Kelleher – WTOP Radio News – August 8, 2008 Imagine heading out on a road trip without a map. For a nearby journey that may not sound like a big deal. You could drive around until you find your destination. You could ask directions. You could stop and buy a map. All are viable options. Now imagine trying to coordinate an entire state's Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts without a map. "Some agencies didn't even have a paper map to document and lay out where all of their bay restoration efforts were," says Donald Boesch, a bay scientist who heads up the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. For full article, go to: http://www.wtop.com/?sid=1455847&nid=768

MI: EPA Reviews Michigan 404 Program

Michigan Wetland Action Coalition News – August 8, 2008 The US EPA announced findings from their review of Michigan's Section 404 (wetland protection) Program. EPA finds both strengths and deficiencies in Michigan’s legal authorities establishing the approved CWA Section 404 program and in the program’s administration by MDEQ.  In the end, EPA concluded that the Michigan’s program should not be withdrawn but identified several deficiencies in Michigan’s approved CWA Section 404 program along with corrective actions which Michigan proposed to take and a schedule for implementing the corrective actions.  For the results of the review, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region5/water/wshednps/pdf/mi_404_ program_review.pdf

NH: State reviews Exeter church’s wetlands impact

By Jennifer Feals – Exeter News-Letter – August 6, 2008 The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will hold a public hearing on the wetlands impact associated with the St. Michael Parish project on Newfields Road on Wednesday, Aug. 13. The parish will present details of its dredge-and-fill application, for a total of 23,525 square feet of wetlands characterized as ‘wet meadow,’ as part of its plan to construct a church and parish center on Newfields Road. NHDES will also review the plan’s added parking, storm water treatment facilities and 725 square feet of temporary wetlands impact to restore a marsh in association with a culvert replacement. For full story, go to: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806 /NEWS/80806032/-1/NEWS11

PR: EPA, Puerto Rico Land Authority Announce Settlement to Improve Wetlands

Contact: John Senn – EPA News Release – August 5, 2008 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Puerto Rico Land Authority (PRLA) have reached a settlement that requires the creation of a task force to identify, monitor and protect wetlands in Puerto Rico in order to resolve a 2007 EPA complaint regarding Clean Water Act violations. According to the settlement, PRLA will also pay a $25,000 penalty and set up a $100,000 interest-bearing account, which will be used to establish a wetlands management program. “The protection of wetlands continues to be a priority for EPA,” said EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg. “This far-reaching settlement will provide the necessary financial resources and political authority to create a Commonwealth-wide approach aimed at protecting thousands of acres of government owned wetlands and other environmentally-sensitive lands.” For full release, visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/b7d91bc26cc154ae85257 49d0066a12b?OpenDocument

MD: City talks about shoreline project

By Laura D'Alessandro – Salisbury Daily Times – August 4, 2008 The City Council plans to review a presentation today during a work session from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation regarding the $1 million living shoreline project installed in City Park. Installation of the improvements, including biologs and rip-rap, began in 2006. The project was designed to create a vegetated shoreline that would stabilize the ground soil and prevent erosion, as well as raise the aesthetic appeal. The project also included the designation of six small fishing areas with stone slabs and improvements to channels around Picnic Island. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/ NEWS01/808040309/1002

VA: Stand of dead trees produces a biological bounty on Shore

By Lon Wagner – Virginian-Pilot – August 1, 2008 They look like something the environmental artist Christo might have done. Elegant in their sheer starkness. Tall and narrow and white, and dead. Hundreds of pine trees, their bark now gone, stand like nature's tombstones, demanding attention just before cars pass the toll booth on the north side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. What happened to the trees - are they diseased, or did pests kill them? - has become the top question for workers at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, said Sue Rice, refuge manager. The answer is simple and the least interesting thing about the trees. They got swamped with saltwater five years ago, during Hurricane Isabel. "They died because their feet were underwater for a long period of time," Rice said. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2008/07/stand-dead- trees-produces-biological-bounty-sho

HI: Wetlands Restoration Plan Clogged

By Zalina Alvi – Molokai Dispatch – July 30, 2008 Members of the Molokai Planning Commission (MPC) have until Aug. 22 to decide whether to allow Desmond and Christy Manaba of D&J Ocean Farms, an aquaculture facility, to begin restoration work on their former property at Kalaeloa, Mana`e. The Manabas are trying to be granted an exemption for a Special Management Area (SMA) major permit for the wetlands area where they once bred ogo, shrimp and tilapia. They have been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on several occasions over the last few years to restore the wetlands by removing soil and other fill on the property that resulted from the creation a new channel for the Keawuni stream while they were leasing land for their farms. For full story, go to: http://www.themolokaidispatch.com/node/2335

FL: Mining decision time

Bradenton Herald – July 30, 2008 Crunch time arrives Thursday morning on Mosaic Fertilizer's request before the Manatee County commissioners for a permit to mine phosphate on the Altman tract. Yet again. This has dragged on through dozens of meetings and postponements over eight years.  Will we finally get a decision this week, less than a month before four commission races face voters in the primary? That's the $64,000 question. Or will the politicians with an eye on the electorate postpone this issue again? Then there's the $400 million question, one raised by Commissioner Amy Stein, whose district encompasses the Altman tract. She surmised the county could be on the hook for that amount in a property takings claim should the commission reject the mining application and Mosaic sue. That's the value the company estimates the phosphate reserves are worth. For full story, go to: http://www.bradenton.com/opinion/story/771148.html  For related story, go to: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080729/ARTICLE/807290343/2107&title= Three_counties_told_to_challenge_mine

OR: Wetlands pose challenge for future development

By Justin Much – Statesman Journal – July 30, 2008 New development plans appeared to be moving along smoothly about a month ago — but for three-tenths of an acre. That slice of land, which was determined in late June to be wetlands, changed the course and speed of Monmouth's light-industrial Rosemead development on the south side of town, west of Highway 99W. Also affected are Gary Epping's Gwinn Street Village, adjacent to Rosemead on its west border, and Albin, just to the west of Gwinn. Both areas are zoned for residential development. In addition, wetland restrictions served to impede Monmouth's building of an electrical substation. For full article, visit: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/ COMMUNITIES/807300389/1117

CT: Wetlands Commissioners Discuss Letter About Spraying Chemicals Near Wetlands

By Tammy McVey-Camilleri – Voices – July 30, 2008 The Inland Wetlands Commission, meeting Tuesday, July 22, discussed the letter the commission sends to residents who have received state Department of Environmental Protection approval to spray pesticide or herbicide chemicals near wetlands. Local and state laws pertaining to the spraying of pesticide or herbicide chemicals on, in or in close proximity to wetlands underwent some changes in 2007. For full article, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19876942&BRD= 1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6

CA: Money to Preserve Santa Barbara County’s Creeks and Wetlands

By Catherine Meagher – Santa Barbara Independent – July 29, 2008 The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project (SCWRP) is awarding nearly $290,000 to wetland and watershed restoration projects, and about a quarter of this is heading to Santa Barbara County. The funding comes from San Francisco’s Earth Island Institute, an international environmental organization that, according to their website, “supports people who are creating solutions to protect our shared planet.” “I am excited to announce 12 new projects entering our program this year, empowering nonprofits and local government to engage a wide array of communities in wetland restoration and education, and working to improve diverse habitats,” said Shawn Kelly, SCWRP’s community wetland restoration grants manager. Of these 12 projects, three are in Santa Barbara County. For full article, go to: http://www.independent.com/news/2008/jul/29/money-preserve-santa- barbara-countys-creeks-and-we/

KY: EPA Awards Grant to Kentucky Community for Wetlands Restoration

Media Newswire (Press Release) – July 29, 2008 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) has awarded the University of Kentucky Research Foundation with a new wetland conservation grant through the Five Star Wetlands Restoration Program. The $20,000 grant will be used to fund the Millcreek Stream and Wetland Restoration Project and Outdoor Classroom. The project goal is to develop a school-wide, interdisciplinary, water-focused education program at Millcreek Elementary School by restoring stream and wetlands habitats around the free-flowing, meandering creek on the school grounds. The outdoor classroom will help the environment by improving water quality and increasing aquatic and terrestrial habitats in and along the stream. Through the educational program, the creation of student Water Ambassadors, and the professional development of teachers and PTA volunteers, the entire community will benefit from the program. For full story, go to: http://media-newswire.com/release_1069374.html

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

July 2008

FL: EPA Says Fort Meade Mine Would Hurt Peace River

By Greg Martin – Polk County Democrat – July 12, 2008 The 10,885-acre South Fort Meade phosphate mine in Hardee County should not be approved because it would strip out wetlands and cause “significant adverse impacts” to the Peace River - an “aquatic resource of national importance,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In letters sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in July 2007 and August 2007, two EPA wetland permitting officials based in Atlanta leveled some heavy criticism of Mosaic Fertlizer's proposal to excavate the mine over the next 21 years. For full story, go to: http://www.polkcountydemocrat.com/articles/2008/07/12/news/ 01fmmine.txt

FL: Duda fights wetlands decision

By Jim Waymer – Florida Today – July 12, 2008 A. Duda & Sons Inc. appealed a judge's ruling that the company restore wetlands it destroyed years ago west of Viera. Duda, the family-owned agricultural company behind the development of Viera, filed its appeal this week with the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach. In June, an administrative law judge ruled that Duda must either restore a combined 2 square miles of wetlands it destroyed, apply for an "after-the-fact" permit for draining the ecologically essential lands, or some combination of the two. For full story, go to: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080712/NEWS01 /807120318/1006

OR: Farm groups appeal wetlands bank proposal

By Cookson Beecher – Capital Press – July 11, 2008 A controversial wetlands mitigation project on nearly 400 acres of a former dairy farm in Skagit County, Wash., is being heard before the county's hearing examiner. The hearing, which began on July 9, was to run until July 11, and continue on July 18. The project would allow developers who destroy wetlands in the Skagit River watershed to buy credits in the wetland mitigation bank as compensation. Farm groups oppose the project, saying it threatens the county's critical base of farmland. For full story, go to: http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67&SubSectionID= 618&ArticleID=42912&TM=81792.48

CA: Wetlands possible pollution solution

By Ruth Roberts - Bethel Island Press – July 11, 2008 Testing on an experimental wetlands project – located at sewer plant number one in the southwest corner of Discovery Bay – is set to begin later this year. If successful, the project has the potential to create not only an eco-friendly alternative to removing pollutants from the town’s wastewater, but could serve as environmental model for future generations looking for surrogate solutions. For full story, go to: http://bethelislandpress.com/article.cfm?articleID=19982

RI: RI official admits wetlands violation

Providence Eye Witness News – July 11, 2008 Rhode Island's top environmental official says he broke the law when his agency cleared land at a Narragansett campground. Coastal authorities say the decision earlier this year caused damage that will take thousands of dollars to fix. W. Michael Sullivan, director of the Department of Environmental Management, said he didn't believe his agency needed a permit to clear eight acres of land at Fisherman's Memorial Campground. For full story, go to: http://www.wpri.com/Global/story.asp?S=8660114&nav=F2DO

VA: Hearing on Indigo Dunes development postponed

By Deirdre Fernandes – Virginian-Pilot – July 11, 2008 A state agency has deferred a hearing on Indigo Dunes, a proposed 1,063-home subdivision near the Chesapeake Bay. The state Water Control Board was scheduled to vote on the project at its meeting later this month. But officials from the Department of Environmental Quality want more time to review the project and public comments on it, said Sheri Kattan, a project manager for the state's water protection permit program. For full article, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2008/07/hearing-indigo-dunes-development-postponed

FL: Canal weir to help return Alligator Alley acreage to wetlands

Naples Daily News – July 10, 2008 Thousands of acres of wetlands will be returned to a more natural state through a project requested by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and supported by the South Florida Water Management District. Construction of a water-control weir in the L-28 canal near Interstate 75 in Broward County will improve rainfall retention in the wetlands, re-hydrating about 8,000 acres within a triangular area bordered by I-75 and two canal levees, according to the water district. For full story, go to: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/jul/10/canal-weir-help-return- alligator-alley-acreage-wet/

WA: Foresight helps county's wetlands rules hold up

By Jeff Switzer – HeraldNet – July 10, 2008 When Snohomish County adopted stricter rules to protect streams and wetlands last year, officials went out of their way to be different than King County. That move allowed Snoho­mish County to avoid a setback in court. This week, the state Court of Appeals struck down part of King County's controversial environmental protections. For full story, go to: http://heraldnet.com/article/20080710/NEWS01/146004038/1069/BLOG15

ME: Maine Seeks Pre-Approval for Wetlands Destruction – Mitigation

Contact: Kyla Bennett, PEER – Common Dreams.org – July 10, 2008 One of the first state agencies to submit a plan under a new federal rule is seeking a sweeping grant of authority to pave over wetlands in return for use of mitigation banking, according to regulatory comments filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed “Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus” would permit destruction of wetlands in exchange for preservation of other land or creation of new wetlands elsewhere in the state to replace what has been destroyed. One overarching concern is that wetland mitigation fails more often than not. A 2003 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study found that only 17% of the wetland mitigation sites throughout New England were considered to be adequate functional replacements for the filled wetlands. For full press release, go to: http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0710-06.htm

VA: Amphibian populations dropping in Edmonton's wetlands

By University of Alberta staff – Physorg.com – July 10, 2008 Man-made wetlands in Edmonton's new neighborhoods may look good, but do they adequately sustain life? In the International Year of the Frog, that's the question Brett Scheffers wants to answer as part of his master's project in biological sciences. He's monitoring frogs, salamanders and snakes living in urban wetlands to see how well they're surviving. The plight of amphibians worldwide has been a huge concern of late. The World Conservation Union recently reported that at least one third of known amphibian species are threatened with extinction, largely because of the rapid spread of an infectious fungal disease. For full story, go to: http://www.physorg.com/news134918201.html

FL: Home Built on Wetlands

By Ken Amaro – First Coast News – July 8, 2008 In the Nassau County community of Spring Lakes Estates, the streets are lined with big houses. The Connors purchased a six bedroom house as their dream home. Danny Connor says, "I have a large family, four children, one on the way, my wife and I have been married 20 years, I thought it was perfect for us, it is not." Earlier this year the Connors decided to build a swimming pool and dug up a homeowner's worst nightmare. "It is what it is a wetland, our house is sitting on wetlands," says Connor. They found out when the pool contractor applied for a permit and it was denied. County officials said the Connor's property is located in a Conservation Easement. For full article, go to: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=113273&catid=3

NV: Restoring the Wetlands One Block at a Time

By Sonya Padgett – Las Vegas Review Journal – July 6, 2008 Though the Stardust was demolished last year, it still does its part to support the Las Vegas community. Literally. Along a seven-plus mile stretch of the Las Vegas Wash, chunks of the former Strip icon line the banks, holding the soil in place and serving as a buffer against erosion. There's a bit of Westward Ho in there, as well, and some Caesars Palace parking garage. For full story, go to: http://www.lvrj.com/living/23786139.html

IL: Back in the flow: Hundreds of acres of bottomland near Sparland revert to wetlands

By Clare Howard – Peoria Journal Star – July 5, 2008 Four years running, Eric Schenck sat in his Canton office and sent letters to world headquarters of Bunge North America, a billion-dollar global agriculture business with 24,000 employees. Schenck wrote his letters based on hope and environmental objectives. He wanted to open a discussion about buying Bunge land along the Illinois River in Sparland. There was no interest until his final letter. For full story, go to: http://www.pjstar.com/features/x1816438858/Back-in-the-flow

MN: Taking a closer look at bluebills

By Mitch Weegman - Minneapolis Star Tribune – July 5, 2008 As early morning dawns, snow flakes and a strong north wind pound relentlessly against bobbing decoys and duck hunters hunkered down in a makeshift blind along the Mississippi River. Flocks of lesser scaup -- bluebills -- whiz by seemingly at speeds faster than an Indy race car. A few shots echo as the bills fly on unscathed. Indeed, many duck hunters can associate with my memories and those of my twin brother, Matt, of this treasured hunting experience. For full story, go to: http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/22881249.html?location_refer=Outdoors: highlightModules:3

MD: Wetlands Permits Pave Way For Shore Broadband Project

By Shawn Soper – The Dispatch – July 4, 2008 The effort to connect every corner of Worcester County and the Eastern Shore to broadband high-speed Internet access moved closer to becoming a reality this week when the state Board of Public Works approved a wetlands license for the private/public sector group leading the way. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on Wednesday announced the state’s Board of Public Works, consisting of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot, approved a wetlands license for the Maryland Broadband Cooperative, a partnership working to promote economic development through open access to broadband Internet services through a vast fiber optic network from one of the Eastern Shore to the other. For full story, go to: http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/article.php?cid=30&id=3763

PA: Great Lakes Compact Passes PA, Prepares to Head to Congress

Contact: Sharon Cook – Alliance for the Great Lakes – July 3, 2008 Historic protections for the Great Lakes have now cleared the legislatures of all eight Great Lakes states, after the Pennsylvania Senate adopted the measure unanimously this evening. Work on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact now enters its final phase as it prepares to move to the U.S. Congress for ratification. Pennsylvania joins Michigan as one of the last two states to endorse the compact, with Michigan's vote occurring last week. The governors of both states are anticipated to sign it. For full story, go to: http://www.greatlakes.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=778&srcid=243 For more information on the Great Lakes Compact, visit: http://www.greatlakes.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=526&srcid=243

MN: Landowners: Sign up for wetland restoration program by July 18

Crookston Daily Times – July 2, 2008 Landowners interested in restoring a previously drained wetland and owned the property for at least 12 months should contact the SWCD/NRCS and ask about the RIM-WRP partnership. The deadline to apply is July 18, and the payment rates are very competitive because of the state and federal funds available until the end of the current federal fiscal year. Landowners may be eligible for about 140 percent of the estimated market value - amounts vary by township. Polk county easement payments vary from $800 an acre to $2,700 an acre. Contact the SWCD/NRCS for the payment rates for your land. For full story, go to: http://www.crookstontimes.com/articles/2008/07/04/news/19news5.txt

MD: New laws focus on domestic partners, protecting wetlands

By Sean Sedam – Maryland Business Gazette – July 2, 2008 Domestic partner rights and bans on shoreline development and electronic bingo machines are among a number of new state laws that took effect Tuesday. A strengthened critical-areas law bans new development within 200 feet of the tidal waters and wetlands. A fund established by the General Assembly during last fall’s special session set aside $50 million for Chesapeake Bay cleanup. For full article, go to: http://www.gazette.net/stories/070208/montnew193038_32378.shtml

PA: Bald eagles thriving throughout Pennsylvania

Pocono News – July 2, 2008 The bald eagle continues to supplant its recent - and remarkable - nesting successes with new records, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. And from all indications, this raptor isn't done making headlines. This spring, bald eagles are known to be nesting in at least 47 of the state's 67 counties, including Monroe, Pike and Wayne. Their tally of nests is expected to exceed 140 nests. In June 2007, biologists estimated Pennsylvania had 120 known nests in 42 counties. The final count of those nests turned out to be 132, and they produced more than 150 eaglets. For full story, go to: http://www.pocononews.net/news/July08/02/02Jul08-4.html

FL: Crist announces huge Everglades land deal

Florida Today – June 24, 2008 In one of the biggest conservation deals in U.S. history, the nation’s largest producer of cane sugar reached a tentative agreement Tuesday to get out of the business and sell its nearly 300 square miles in the Everglades to the state of Florida for $1.75 billion. The deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. results from a convergence of interests: The state is trying to restore the Everglades and clean up pollution caused by Big Sugar and other growers, while the American sugar industry is being squeezed by low-price imports. For full story, go to: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/BREAKINGNEWS/ 306240010/1086

MD: Follow the Silt

By Cornelia Dean – New York Times – June 24, 2008 Dorothy J. Merritts, a geology professor at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., was not looking to turn hydrology on its ear when she started scouting possible research sites for her students a few years ago. But when she examined photographs of the steep, silty banks of the West Branch of Little Conestoga Creek, something did not look right. The silt was laminated, deposited in layers. She asked a colleague, Robert C. Walter, an expert on sediment, for his opinion. “Those are not stream sediments,” he told her. “Those are pond sediments.” In short, the streamscape was not what she thought. For the full article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/science/24stream.html?_r=1&ex= 1215057600&en=a26d215ec15df0e7&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

WI: Margaret Krome: Protect wetlands to cut flooding

By Margaret Krome (Opinion) – The Capital Times – June 23, 2008 One of the first sounds I learned to imitate as a child was the UNKachunka-UNKachunka of a pile driver, pounding steel pilings into unstable ground before anyone built a new warehouse, medical building, apartment complex or any other major structure near the waterfront in my hometown of Norfolk, Va. It didn't even have to be at the waterfront, since much of the original town was built on wetlands that had been filled in decades and sometimes even centuries before I was born. Midwestern children might notice wetland loss differently. They might admire the rich black soil of lowland farms, often wetlands drained by piping water into drainage ditches to create highly productive, now-tillable soils. And like communities on glacial terrain throughout the Midwest, a portion of my Midwestern neighborhood is built on filled-in wetlands. For full opinion, go to: http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/292909  For more articles on wetlands, flooding and floodplain issues, visit: http://www.aswm.org/science/floodplains/index.htm

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

June 2008

ME: Owners of Maine Vacation Parcel Face EPA Fine for Filling a Wetland

Contact: Paula Ballentine – EPA News Release – June 17, 2008 Robert and Gayle Greenhill, owners of more than 3,200 acres of land on the western shore of Moosehead Lake, face a possible EPA fine of up to $157,500 for filling 1.5 acres of freshwater wetlands on their property. The filling of wetlands, occurred during the expansion of an existing private airstrip and the development of a rock quarry, is a violation of the federal Clean Water Act and other federal requirements designed to protect wetlands. This is the second violation of wetlands protections in the federal Clean Water Act by the Greenhills. In 1997, the Greenhills constructed a trout pond on the property, altering approximately 0.4 of an acre without first seeking a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, as required by the federal Clean Water Act. The Greenhills also did not apply for the necessary permit for the current violation.  For full news release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/3b0bd059c9d551e3852 5746b0054cc8f?OpenDocument

TN: TVA Expert: Nolichucky River Has Some Of Best Wetlands

By Tom Yancey – The Greenville Sun – June 16, 2008 The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) held a public "open house" meeting regarding the Nolichucky and Douglas reservoirs on Thursday, seeking comments about uses of land in this region the giant utility owns. Several TVA officials at the meeting commented on the beauty and uniqueness of the river in Greene County, based on field observations. Kim Pilarski-Brand, a wetlands biologist in TVA's Heritage Resources, canoed much of the river to prepare for the meeting. She said a section of the Nolichucky between Kinser Park and Jones Bridge Road has "some of the nicest wetlands I've seen in our seven-state region." A handful of Greene Countians traveled to Walters State Community College for the meeting, which was conducted by Chris Cooper, a TVA watershed specialist. For full story, go to: http://www.greenevillesun.com/story/295754

KS: Wetlands supporters prepare for next battle

By Sophia Maines – Lawrence Journal – June 16, 2008 In the midst of preparing their latest legal challenge, opponents of the proposed South Lawrence Trafficway wetlands route laid out their case once again Sunday. “I detect in our community a little lessening of our interest in saving our wetlands,” said Joe Collins, a Kansas University herpetologist and speaker at the event. “People don’t understand that this is not something you’re going to recover.” Collins and others involved in the long struggle to divert the proposed highway project from the Baker Wetlands were among about 40 people who gathered at the Lawrence Public Library on Sunday for a public forum on the issue. For full story, go to: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jun/16/wetlands_supporters_prepare_next_ battle/?city_local

ND: N.D. duck survey paints mixed picture

By Brad Dokken – Grand Forks Herald – June 15, 2008 North Dakota’s spring survey of breeding ducks and wetland conditions turned up a surprisingly high waterfowl count, but Game and Fish Department biologists caution against reading too much into that finding. According to Mike Johnson, supervisor of migratory game bird management for Game and Fish in Bismarck, wetland counts were the 10th lowest since the department launched the spring survey in 1948. That’s an important number, Johnson said, because lack of wetlands likely will mean poor duck production. For full story, go to: http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=79301&section= Outdoors&CFID=37811622&CFTOKEN=31971801&jsessionid=88301772 c0f82d305d4c

LA: Local students to be honored for wetlands art

By Nikki Buskey - Houma Courier – June 14, 2008 Four local students will be recognized for award-winning essays, photos and artwork July 22-26 during the 2008 National Conference of State Legislatures, to be held in New Orleans. The weeklong convention will be attended by more than 2,000 state legislators from around the country. Kaitlin Rodrigue, a student at H.L. Bourgeois, won second place in the high-school competition for "Good Earth Sunset." Leah Champagne of St. Bernadette Catholic School took third place in the same category for her painting of two egrets, "Our Treasure." For full story, go to: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20080614/ARTICLES/806140305/ 1211/news01&title=Local_students_to_be_honored_for_wetlands_art

WA: County wetland rules appealed

The Whidbey Examiner – June 14, 2008 Two local environmental groups have filed appeals with the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board over Island County's recently adopted wetlands ordinance. Whidbey Environmental Action Network filed an appeal May 20, and Camano Action for a Rural Environment, or CARE, filed an appeal the following day. The Island County Board of Commissioners adopted the wetland rules March 17 as part of a larger effort to update all of the county's critical-areas ordinances. For  full story, go to: http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID= 1&ArticleID=1469&TM=43789.79

NV: Wetlands add class space

By Rebecca Babicz – Reno Gazette-Journal – June 14th, 2008 The sweet smell of plants permeates the air at Swan Lake Nature Study area, which could be Reno's best-kept nature secret. Its wetlands are home to more than 150 species of birds. And a new improvement to the center opened Thursday: an outdoor classroom. This starting point for visitors includes a shaded structure with seating for about 50 students. Interpretive signs explain why Swan Lake is important by providing information about the area's wildlife and ecology. The center is focused on children and encourages them to embrace open space. For full story, go to: http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080614/ NEIGHBORHOODS02/806140334/1247/NEIGHBORHOODS

TX: Wetlands Reserve Program Tour set June 24 in New Boston

By East Texas Timberland Owner's Association – June 14, 2008 Wetlands Reserve Program Tour:  The East Texas Timberland Owner's Association will conduct a tour of "Last Frontier" Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) 1,950 acre site on Tuesday June 24, 2008.  The tour group will meet in the South parking lot of the Bowie County Courthouse, 710 James Bowie Drive, in New Boston at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday June 24, 2008 and carpool to the reserve site.  Texas Forest Service will have a van for those that want to leave their vehicle at the courthouse.  The tour will be looking at hardwood trees planted over the last four years, and wildlife habitat at a WRP site on the South side of the Red River and just NW of New Boston in Bowie County. For full story, go to: http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_46655.shtml

MI: Wetlands a shrinking resource

By Janet Martineau – The Saginaw News – June 14, 2008 Wetlands. What are they, and who or what lives in them? Those questions are the topic of a live animal show starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Green Point Environmental Learning Center, 3010 Maple in Saginaw. ''Valuable Wetlands'' is presented by the Michigan United Conservation Club and addresses the issue that Michigan has lost more than 70 percent of its wetlands that are of value and importance to both wildlife and humans. Among the live animals often playing a role in the hourlong presentation are the Eastern fox snake, wood duck, mink, snapper turtle and red-shouldered hawk. The program is a part of the ''Nurturing Nature'' series sponsored by the Friends of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and the Saginaw Celebrates Summer event created by the Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission and Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. Admission costs $2 at the door, $5 for families. For full story, go to: http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-1/121342081750360.xml&coll=9

VA: City couple nurturing ‘wild,’ ‘unpredictable’ wetlands

By Eric Beidel - The Winchester Star – June 14, 2008 Only a nature lover could give a playful name to the stealthy copperhead snake that sunk its fangs into his leg. David Worthington keeps an eye out for "Coppy" now whenever he goes into the wetlands outside his Cedarmeade Avenue home. In an otherwise normal-looking neighborhood, the ground sinks next to the house Worthington shares with his wife, Dr. Julie Staggers. The Black-Eyed Susans and daisies grow tall, and rainwater collects at the bottom. A fence surrounds the less than one-acre plot that Worthington has made into a tiny wildlife refuge.Across the street from Frederick Douglas Elementary School and sandwiched between houses and a railroad track, the wetlands looks out of place. Then again, maybe the houses do. For full story, go to: http://www.winchesterstar.com/article_details.php?ArticleID=7382

CT: Glastonbury Landowners Address Panel Over Proposed Wetland Rules

By Peter Marteka – Hartford Courant – June 13, 2008 Landowners concerned about what the town's proposed wetland regulations would do to their property values spoke informally before the conservation commission Thursday. The commission was originally scheduled to hold a public hearing on its new regulations. But when it was determined that the process had gone beyond its 35-day time limit to hold the hearings, the commission voted unanimously to close the public hearing process. Chairwoman Judy Harper said the commission would review potential changes to the regulations during the next few meetings and return with a revised set of regulations and begin another public hearing process later this summer or early fall. For full story, go to: http://www.courant.com/news/local/ec/hc-glahearing0613.artjun 13,0,4532570.story

UT: North Park waits on wetlands status

By Janice Peterson – Daily Herald – June 13, 2008 The North Park development in Spanish Fork has had its share of challenges, and they're not over yet. The development will bring big box retailers to the city, but residents initially opposed the project because they did not want to lose park space and a trailer park. Many of the issues have been resolved, but any development of the property is still waiting to begin due to the site's wetlands. Developer Richard Mendenhall, president of Westfield Properties, said the company submitted paperwork to the Army Corps of Engineers more than a year ago in order to follow federal guidelines for the Clean Water Act. Because there are wetlands on the site, the company needed to establish whether or not they are jurisdictional. If they are jurisdictional, developers would need to mitigate the wetlands or change the scope of the project. Non-jurisdictional wetlands are isolated and do not feed into permanent navigable waters. "We believe that those wetlands are not jurisdictional," he said. The main stall in the project is determining whether or not the wetlands are jurisdictional, which would put the developers through a permit process with the Army Corps of Engineers. For full story, go to: http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/270088/17/

AZ: Mosquito-Eating Fish Thrive in Foreclosed US Pools

By Tim Gaynor – Reuters News – June 13, 2008 Public health workers in Maricopa County, which includes the cities of the Phoenix valley, are breeding thousands of so-called mosquitofish to gobble up larvae that thrive in the green pools of abandoned homes across the county. The tiny, silvery fish are being offered to residents and municipal authorities across the parched desert county, which has tens of thousands of swimming pools, and one of the highest foreclosure rates in the United States. For full story, go to: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/48760/story.htm

CA: SEADIP Survey: Wetlands

By Harry Saltzgaver, Editor – Grunion Gazette – June 12, 2008 A citywide survey of opinions about how to deal with development in southeast Long Beach has confirmed public priorities that activists long have claimed — restoration of Los Cerritos Wetlands, improvement of traffic flow and only modest commercial development. A relatively large response of 682 responses were received by the Department of Development Services during the two-month survey period. The survey was prompted by a directive in August 2007 from the City Council to solicit opinions and report back before going further to revamp the Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan (SEADIP), a zoning master plan approved in 1977. For full story, go to: http://www.gazettes.com/seadip06122008.html

CA: Wetlands funding effort is approved

By Joe Segura – Long-Beach Press Telegram – June 12, 2008 Three funding packages were approved this week by the Long Beach City Council, injecting new life into efforts to upgrade two of the city's natural resources - the Colorado Lagoon and the DeForest Wetlands. The council gave the nod to the application for a $1 million grant for the Colorado Lagoon restoration effort; a second vote sealed a $1,050,985 contract for an engineering design study for that upgrade effort; and the third gave the green light to the receipt of a grant for $217,593 to assist in the design for proposed upgrades of the DeForest Wetlands Project east of the Los Angeles River in the city's northwest area. The first vote authorized the city manager to execute all documents required for the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, through the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, to help fund the shortfall for the Lagoon Wetlands Restoration Project, according to a report by Parks, Recreation and Marine Director Phil Hester. For full story, go to: http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_9571200

AL: Saving wetlands motivating factor in passage of city moratorium

By Mike Odum – Baldwin County News (Daphne Newspapers) – June 11, 2008 The City Council established a moratorium Monday on “land disturbance permits” that have a negative impact on wetlands within city limits and the city’s building permitting jurisdiction. For full story, go to: http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2008/06/11/local_news/doc484 edfe6ac152724099482.txt

PA: Conservancy receives grant to improve wetlands habitat

Susquehanna Independent – June 11, 2008 E.L. Rose Conservancy of Susquehanna County, Inc., Brackney, has been awarded a $2,000 grant as part of the 2008 Rockwell Collins Green Communities Program. The conservancy earned the grant money to be used for erosion and sedimentation control and habitat improvement for wetlands. A record number of grants have been awarded as part of the 2008 Rockwell Collins Green Communities Program. Started in 2004, Green Communities has helped fund numerous projects that have benefited the environment in locations where Rockwell Collins operates. For full story, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19763842&BRD=2279& PAG=461&dept_id=467076&rfi=6

NY: Mosquito-control permit sparks Suffolk-state battle

By Jennifer Smith – Newsday – June 11, 2008 Soaring temperatures, steamy rains, bug bites -- and litigation? With the advent of mosquito-breeding season on Long Island comes another battle over Suffolk County's mosquito control program and its use of methoprene, a pesticide that targets mosquito larvae. Last week Suffolk sued the state Department of Environmental Conservation over a permit it said hampered the county's ability to protect the public from West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by imposing "improper" restrictions on the use of methoprene on DEC-owned wetlands. For full article, go to: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-limosq0612,0,3915890.story

AL: City honored for wetlands bridge project

By Danny Harrison – Enterprise Ledger – June 11, 2008 Enterprise residents love their public parks, and many say the bridge over the lake at the Enterprise Recreational Complex on Hwy. 167 North is one of the city’s most attractive park additions. Locals aren’t the only ones who have noticed. The city will be honored with an award for the bridge project Thursday in Washington, D.C. According to Tara Emnet, special projects coordinator for the City of Enterprise, more than $78,000 in federal funding was awarded to the city in 2005 for the bridge, and it was constructed in 2006 for a total cost of about $152,000. The city was nominated for the “Accessibility Enhancement” award by the national Coalition for Recreational Trails organization in 2007. For full story, go to: http://www.eprisenow.com/ent/news/local/article/city_honored_for_wetlands_ bridge_project/20162/

FL: Florida's Environment Agency Makes Do With Smaller Budget

ENS – June 11, 2008 Governor Charlie Crist Wednesday signed into law a stripped down $66 billion budget that provides just $2 billion to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, DEP, to preserve and enhance the state's land and water resources. Florida's environmental programs have lost roughly one billion dollars per year over the past three budget years. The 2007-2008 budget appropriated about $3 billion for environmental programs, about $1 billion less than the environmental appropriations in the 2006-2007 budget. For full article, visit: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2008/2008-06-11-092.asp

LA: Audubon’s Wetland Express coming soon to a historic site near you

By: Laura McKnight – Houma Courier – June 11, 2008 The exterior of the Wetland Express suffers no lack of bright décor, but the van’s occupants can be even more colorful, especially to curious youngsters. The Audubon Nature Institute’s mobile Wetland Wildlife Education program will soon visit the Thibodaux area to offer local children up-close encounters with the scaly, creepy and crawly critters who call the south Louisiana wetlands home. For full story, go to: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20080613/BIGFUN/431994512/-1/living&title=Audubon_s_Wetland_Express_coming_soon_to_a_ historic_site_near_you

CA: Video details Peyton Slough Wetlands restoration

By Jonathan Lockett – Mercury News – June 11, 2008 The restoration of the Peyton Slough Wetlands, once listed as one of the Bay Area's top 10 toxic spots, is the subject of a new video by the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District. The video, titled "Peyton Slough Wetlands: The Crown Jewel of Contra Costa County," describes the environmental hazards that jeopardized wildlife in the slough and highlights measures taken by the Peyton Slough Wetlands Advisory Committee and other agencies to fix those hazards. "The video is a tribute to this very important marsh, how it started out as a toxic area and is now home to dozens of species of wildlife right here in our community," said Karl Malamud-Roam, environmental projects manager for the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District. The video was produced in collaboration between the advisory committee and the district. It will be broadcast on Contra Costa Television, channel 27 for Comcast subscribers and channel 32 for Astound subscribers in Concord and Walnut Creek, on Thursday at 5 p.m. and June 24 at 7 p.m. It also will be shown at other times throughout the year. For full article, go to: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9546264?nclick_check=1

OH/MI: Historic Vote in Ohio Brings Region Closer to Protecting Great Lakes from Water Diversions

Great Lakes Info Network – June 10, 2008 The National Wildlife Federation today praised state leaders in Ohio for passing the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact. “The historic votes by the Ohio House and Senate bring the region a quantum leap closer to protecting the Great Lakes from water diversions outside the region and to promoting water conservation within the region,” said Andy Buchsbaum, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes office. Once Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland signs the compact—which he has signaled he intends to do—Ohio will become the sixth state to pass the water management agreement, joining Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York and Wisconsin. For more about the Great Lakes Basin Compact, visit: http://www.glc.org/about/glbc.html and http://online.nwf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=gl_waterresources

WI: Wisconsin Wetlands Association Announces New Wetlands Awards Program

The Wisconsin Wetlands Association (WWA) is excited to announce the new Wetlands Awards, recognizing individuals and groups whose work advances the threefold mission of the WWA - the protection, restoration and enjoyment of Wisconsin's wetlands and related ecosystems. Please help to launch the new Wetlands Awards program by telling WWA about a deserving wetland enthusiast and protector. WWA seeks nominations in each of the following categories: protection, restoration and enjoyment. To nominate an individual or an organization for a Wisconsin Wetland Award, please complete a nomination form at http://wisconsinwetlands.org/wetland-award-form.pdf . Return the form along with letters of support, newspaper articles, or other supporting materials to our offices by no later than August 1, 2008. For more information, visit: http://www.wisconsinwetlands.org/

KS: Kansas City Area Wildlife Refuge Receives “Tree-mendous” Gift to Restore Habitat

Contact: Jena Thompson (Conservation Fund) – USFWS News – June 10, 2008 Representatives from Allstate, Cambridge Systematics, Delta Air Lines and U-Haul International joined The Conservation Fund (the Fund) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) today to announce the restoration of 775 acres of forestland at Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) near Kansas City. The new oak, hickory and pecan trees will restore sensitive wildlife habitat, enhance public recreation areas and address climate change by trapping more than 230,000 tons of carbon dioxide as the trees grow. For full press release, go to: http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId= 7414FA2A-B2C3-FC57-6F8767716C5FF437

WA: Ecology submits final water-quality permit for Avista dams

Contact: Jani Gilbert – Washington Dept. of Ecology – June 10, 2008 The river actually will “run through it” under a new regimen that requires  more water to flow down the Spokane River into Washington and through the falls downtown. After a 30-day public review period, including a formal public hearing, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has submitted a “401 Water Quality Certification” to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for Avista’s four Washington dams. For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2008news/2008-158.html

CA: Wetlands give developer, city legal headache

By Julia Scott – San Mateo County Times – June 9, 2008 City leaders have been hit with allegations that they failed to remove wetlands accumulating at the Pacifica quarry 10 years ago, and they face a lawsuit if they fail to do so now, according to a claim filed against the city by Pacifica quarry owner Peebles Development Corp. The circumstances of the claim, filed in late May, bear an uncanny resemblance to Half Moon Bay's controversial Beachwood lawsuit, which was settled in April after eight years of legal wrangling. Like Half Moon Bay, Pacifica could face a lawsuit from a property owner who is concerned about losing his ability to develop the land because of the presence of wetlands.  For full story, go to: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_9534520?source%253Dmost_emailed. 26978592730A3B8C7F471EACE0DA4EF2.html

VA: Harvesting the seeds in hopes of a sea grass revival

By Scott Harper – The Virginian-Pilot – June 7, 2008 They came to collect seeds - 20 million or more - to expand what organizers call "the largest sea grass restoration in the world." The work is tedious and long and can be interrupted by strong wind, a heavy tide or a sting ray lounging in the shallows. It requires a wet suit, a snorkel and mask, a laundry bag and the ability to know the difference between a blade of underwater grass and a flowering stalk of grass. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2008/06/harvesting-seeds-hopes-sea-grass-revival

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Confirms Non-navigable Status for Most of L.A. River

By Deborah Schoch -  Los Angeles Times – June 5, 2008 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials announced today that they are standing by their decision that most of the Los Angeles River is not navigable. The ruling sparked sharp criticism from some other regulators and conservationists who warned that it will weaken federal Clean Water Act rules protecting the river's sprawling 834-acre watershed. (For the record: This article and the headline state that the river's watershed covers 834 acres. The watershed covers 834 square miles.) They believe the ripple effect of the decision will make is easier to develop large areas of the Santa Susana, Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains because landowners will not be required to obtain certain federal permits. Some federal and state officials fear that the decision also may undermine rules against discharging wastewater and storm water into the river's tributaries. For the full article, go to: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/valley/la-me-river5-2008jun05,0,2812420.story

Audubon Sanctuary Named Wetland of International Importance

ENS – June 3, 2008 The world's largest remaining virgin forest of bald cypress and tupelo gum trees, including 1,500 year-old trees long vanished from the rest of North America, has been designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. South Carolina's Francis Beidler Forest was officially designated on Friday at the annual meeting of the U.S. National Ramsar Committee, hosted by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in the Hall of States, Washington DC, in conjunction with a briefing for the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus. For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2008/2008-06-02-093.asp

May 2008

WI: State says pipeline builder damaged streams, wetlands

By LEE BERGQUIST – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – May 24, 2008 The state Department of Natural Resources is alleging that a Canadian company is responsible for more than 100 environmental violations related to the construction of a 321-mile pipeline spanning much of Wisconsin. The DNR has asked the state Justice Department to prosecute Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, for damaging waterways and wetlands while building the pipeline. For full story, go to: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=754740

MT: Wetlands lawsuit in court

By Larry Kline – Helena Independent Record – May 21, 2008 A district judge will decide whether Lewis and Clark County officials followed public-participation laws and one of their own planning documents when they approved the placement of water and sewer lines through wetlands adjacent to the county fairgrounds. In a court hearing this week before Judge Thomas Honzel, a husband-and-wife team argued that the county had violated its fairgrounds pond plan when officials agreed to run utility lines through the wetlands. They also said officials hadn’t provided proper public notice and claimed the county’s public-participation policy doesn’t meet the requirements of state law. For the full article, go to: http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/05/21/local/70lo_080521_wetlands.txt

CA: Wetlands prove murky for council

By Julia Scott – San Jose Mercury News – May 20, 2008 A City Council discussion about the nagging inconsistencies in what the city defines as wetlands Tuesday night ended without consensus on a way to resolve the issue, which has dogged city planners for years. Protected as they are under all circumstances, wetlands are the frontline in the ongoing battle between conservation and development on the coast. A review of the city's four "conflicting" definitions at Tuesday's City Council meeting prompted some pointed disagreement from council members over whether the city's planning documents deserved to be rewritten. For full story, go to: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9328569?nclick_check=1 For related article, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/20/EDHC10PNGP.DTL

SC: Conservationists: Wetlands preservation in danger

By Liz Mitchell – Hilton Head Island Packet – May 20, 2008 Conservationists are worried that thousands of acres of freshwater wetlands could be endangered under a proposed resolution to be discussed today by a state House committee. The changes are favored by developers who want fewer rules governing building in coastal South Carolina. In April, Reps. William Witherspoon, R-Conway, and Dwight Loftis, R-Greenville, proposed a resolution that would require the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and its Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management to review coastal management policies that have been in place for more than 30 years. For full article, go to: http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/502863.html

NY: Flushing River wetlands project may be soaked

By John Lauinger – New York Daily News – May 20, 2008 Tidal marshland along the heavily polluted Flushing River is being reborn, but the painstaking project is not the work of eager environmentalists. Credit for the riverbank's plant-by-plant regeneration goes to a frequent enemy of the environment - a highway project. The state Transportation Department is restoring 2-1/2 acres of marshland along the river's west bank, which borders the grossly contaminated Willets Point industrial zone. For full story, go to: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/05/20/2008-05-20_flushing_river_wetlands_project_may_be_s.html

OH: Grant to help restore creek, wetlands

By Aaron K. Harris – Xenia Gazette – May 20, 2008 The North Fork Massies Creek watershed restoration and protection project will move forward thanks to a grant from the Ohio EPA announced earlier this month. The grant of $382,700 will help the Greene County Sanitary Engineering Department “re-naturalize the stream,” which runs through Cedarville and Xenia townships, said Russ Gibson of the Ohio EPA. Along with about $410,000 awarded for the project in 2007, about 4,000 linear feet of stream and 2.1 acres of wetlands will eventually be restored, Gibson said. For full story, go to: http://xeniagazette.1upmonitor.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID =159486&TM=30639.58

VA: James Taylor's Va. Beach concert will aid migratory songbirds

By Scott Harper – The Virginian Pilot – May 20, 2008 Singer and songwriter James Taylor will have more than Carolina on his mind Thursday night when he plays an outdoor concert here. He also will be thinking about Virginia's Eastern Shore and its neotropical songbirds. The famed rock 'n' roller and folk star said Tuesday that he will donate most of the proceeds from his Virginia Beach show to the Southern Tip Partnership, a coalition of government agencies and environmental groups dedicated to preserving songbird habitat on the lower Eastern Shore. The area is a haven for thousands of migratory birds that stop at the southern tip, on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, to rest and feed during their annual trek between Canada and South America. For full story, go to: http://hamptonroads.com/2008/05/video-james-taylors-va-beach-concert- will-aid-migratory-songbirds

WA: Public gets another look at Spokane River water quality plan

Contact: Jani Gilbert – Washington Dept. of Ecology News – May 20, 2008 Public comments received last fall have resulted in the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) making substantial changes to the water-quality improvement plan to restore dissolved oxygen in the Spokane River, warranting a second public review. The new comment period is opening today and continuing through June 24, 2008, so no one is surprised by revisions in the document that will guide work toward a cleaner, healthier and more beautiful Spokane River. For the full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2008news/2008-112.html

MS: Why a Gulf Wetlands May Become a City

By Patrik Jonsson - The Christian Science Monitor – May 19, 2008 If America learned one thing from hurricane Katrina, hydrologists argue, it should be this: Don't fill in tideland marshes and build on them. Such human activity, they insist, diminishes the marshes' ability to absorb some of the wallop of storms as they strike coastal communities. Here on the westernmost reaches of Mississippi's marshes - the very place where Katrina rushed ashore on its path to becoming one of the worst natural disasters in US history - that lesson is being tested, with broad implications for US taxpayers who pay most of the bills for storm repairs. For full article, go to: http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0521/p01s02-usgn.html

ND: Conrad: 'Best farm bill ever' for ND provides needed Devils Lake basin aid

By Kevin Bonham – Grand Forks Herald – May 19, 2008 Flooded farm and ranch land in the Devils Lake Basin could be enrolled in federal Wetlands Reserve or Conservation Reserve programs, under a provision of the $290 billion 2008 farm bill. As many as 200,000 acres in North Dakota — most of them in the Devils Lake and Stump Lake basin — would be eligible for enrollment, according to Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., who briefed Devils Lake community leaders on May 19th. For full article, go to: http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=76949&section= news&freebie_check&CFID=37811622&CFTOKEN=31971801&jsessionid= 8830eff1beb96a5254d7

OH: Wetlands help ensure our water quality and environmental integrity

By Todd Helberg – Defiance Crescent News – May 18, 2008 When Black Swamp drainage began some 150 years ago for agricultural purposes, much wetlands acreage went with it. For example, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), only about 5 percent of the Black Swamp remains while the state's wetlands have declined from five million acres in the late 1700s to about 500,000 acres today. Other states have also lost considerable wetlands over the years. Recognizing their loss and promoting preservation of what's left, U.S. EPA established May as American Wetlands Month in 1991, teaming with its "federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit and private sector partners." For full story, go to: http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/3812092

IN: Collier Lodge, wetlands restorations top wish list

By Jeff Manes – Gary Post Tribune – May 18, 2008 "Never in all my world travels, have I found a more perfect spot, not a more tantalizing river." -- Lew Wallace. After traveling east on County Road 900 South, I turned south on Baum's Bridge Road, eventually entering Pleasant Township and the home of John Hodson. Pleasant Township is, well, pleasant. Hodson, 57, and his wife, Mary, live in a cream-colored house nestled in a patch of woods. There also is a cream-colored barn. For full story, go to: http://www.post-trib.com/news/manes/954453,salt.article

TN: Conservation fund in jeopardy

By ERIK SCHELZIG – Knox News – May 16, 2008 Most of a $30 million fund for land and soil conservation programs in Tennessee appears likely to fall victim to the state's budget crunch. Lawmakers confirmed Thursday that they plan to use about $12 million from the fund to help make up for a rejected plan to end a tax exemption for family-owned businesses. Gov. Phil Bredesen has proposed using another $12 million from the pool to help bridge other budget gaps. For full story, go to: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/may/16/conservation-fund-in-jeopardy/

AK: Interior Department Defers Controversial Leasing at Teshekpuk Lake

National Audubon Society – PRNewswire - May 16, 2008 The Secretary of Interior announced today that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM: 10.00, +0.00, +0.00%) would defer additional oil and gas leasing around Teshekpuk Lake in the Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) for at least 10 years. The decision came with the release of a final revised environmental statement and activity plan for Northeast NPRA, after a lawsuit blocked a controversial September 2006 lease sale in that area. According to Stan Senner, executive director of Audubon Alaska, "This decision recognizes the international importance of the Teshekpuk wetlands, which have been protected by every federal administration since Jimmy Carter was President. Even though this action falls short of permanent protection, we are pleased that BLM has now taken this area off the table for oil and gas leasing." For full story, go to: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/interior-department-defers-controversial-leasing-teshekpuk-lake/

MA: New bylaw gives Conservation Commission power to regulate wetlands

By Steve Annear – Wicked Local Plympton – May 16, 2008 Town Meeting unanimously accepted the Wetlands Protection Bylaw, giving the Conservation Commission new power to regulate those environmentally sensitive areas. The article was approved after an amendment was passed to change some of the descriptive terminology in the bylaw. “There are a few things we need to change about this,” said Timothy Dempsey, member of the Conservation Commission before reading a list of intricate changes that the lengthy article needed. Dempsey stated that before voting to pass the article they needed to make minor “clerical adjustments” to the fine print. “We don’t want any money. In fact, we don’t have any money either,” said Dempsey as he prepared to sell his argument in favor of the article. “We hope to be self supportive, so we don’t expect any town money.” For full story, go to: http://www.wickedlocal.com/plympton/news/x934425076/Wetlands-bylaw-passed

FL: Hillsborough Wetlands Division Presents 'One-Stop' Permit Process

By Nicola White – Tampa Tribune – May 16, 2008 Less than a year ago, the county's wetlands division was in jeopardy. Developers complained the group's rules were too strict. Some Hillsborough County commissioners thought the group performed services already in place elsewhere. Environmentalists and local activists balked. The Environmental Protection Commission's wetlands division, they said, provided important protections for vital wildlife nurseries and water filters. So in a packed meeting in August, the county voted to save the wetlands division, but on the condition it revamp itself and come up with a better operating model. For full article, go to: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/16/me-wetlands-division-presents-new-rules/

WA: A pitch to fix Duwamish

By Robert McClure – Seattle Post Intelligencer – May 16, 2008 Let's restore the banks of the Duwamish River to make them more natural, help shelter young salmon -- and make money in the process. That's the basic pitch from a new company set Wednesday to announce Mayor Greg Nickels' endorsement of its plans to restore city-owned sections of the Duwamish waterfront. The seven parcels now go unused -- and could provide a lot of benefits for young salmon, with the right touch, say Nickels and the company, Bluefield Holdings Inc.  Bluefield is a startup seeking to make money by doing environmental restoration for companies that are responsible for environmental damage at sites like the Duwamish, which as a Superfund site is among the nation's most polluted real estate. For full article, go to: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/363006_duwamish14.html

CA: Court Orders City of Long Beach to Rescind Approval of Home Depot Next to Los Cerritos Wetlands

Contact: Douglas P. Carstens - Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Press Release – May 14, 2008 Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John A. Torribio has ordered the City of Long Beach to set aside its approval of a proposed Home Depot project because it violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust; University Park Estates Neighborhood Association v. City of Long Beach, Case: Case Number BS105960, Los Angeles Superior Court). In October 2006, Long Beach approved a Home Depot "design center" and associated retail development across from the Los Cerritos Wetlands in southeast Long Beach. The judge found the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) required by CEQA for the project inadequate in several respects. For full press release, go to: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/5/prweb938484.htm

MN: New mining industry leaves Arrowhead wetlands vulnerable

By Elanne Palcich – MinnPost.com – May 13, 2008 In the late 1800s, the U.S. government claimed the land of Minnesota, and pushed the indigenous people onto reservations. The huge pine forests of northern Minnesota were cut, red earth was discovered, and immigrants from a variety of struggling northern and southern European nations moved in to become workers for the mining companies. While the Iron Range continues to be mined, following bands of taconite rock, the Arrowhead region of Minnesota escaped the mining process. Some of the northern counties were in large part wetlands, while others remained forestland. The Arrowhead region became known for its lakes and for the quality of outdoor recreational opportunities — the vacation land of the north, where campers "hear the lapping waters, hear the whispering of the pine trees." For full story, visit: http://www.minnpost.com/community_voices/2008/05/13/1829/new_ mining_industry_leaves_arrowhead_wetlands_vulnerable

VA: Opinion: Virginia should plan for the coming sea-level rise

By Skip Stiles – Hampton Roads Daily Press – May 10, 2008 M uch ink has been spilled in this paper trying to fix the blame for the proposed development at White Marsh . More debate is needed on how to fix the problem. The problem is that existing laws, and the way federal, state and local governments implement them, are not up to the task of preventing irresponsible land-use decisions along the marshes and waterfronts in Hampton , or anywhere in Virginia. This is a big problem today and one that grows larger over time as the whole low-lying coastal system along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline is going under water. For full opinion, go to: http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-op_stileswhitemarsh_04may10,0,3974026.story

IL/IN: Black Beauty Coal Co. to create new wetlands in Indiana as part of settlement with EPA

Contact: Phillippa Cannon – Water News Region 5 EPA News Release – May 8, 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Black Beauty Coal Co., Evansville, Ind., and with its subsidiary Arclar Co., Equality, Ill., for filling in streams and wetlands without a permit while mining in Indiana and Illinois.  Black Beauty Coal is a subsidiary of Peabody Energy.   Black Beauty Coal and Arclar will pay a total fine of $75,000, and Black Beauty Coal has agreed to spend $292,344 to create a forested wetland near its Farmersburg mine in Indiana. For full news release, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a5792a626c8dac098525735900400c2d/ 5048a29926cca3f285257443006f81cf!OpenDocument

Izembek NWR “Road to Nowhere” Passes House Committee Birding Community E-Bulletin – May 6, 2008 On 23 April, members of the House Natural Resources Committee approved H.R. 2801, legislation that would allow the construction of a $30 million, U.S. taxpayer-funded road through Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and its Congressionally-designated Wilderness Area. This road would connect the small communities of King Cove and Cold Bay. Izembek National Wildlife Range was established in 1960 and was designated a NWR in 1980 to protect the region’s extraordinary ecological values and to potentially safeguard waterfowl, shorebirds, and wetlands of national and international significance. In 1987 the Reagan Administration recognized Izembek as a RAMSAR site, the first site so-named by the United States under the Convention on Wetlands of International Significance. Numerous migratory birds depend on the refuge, including Steller’s Eider, “Black” Brant, and Emperor Goose, all of which are declining in Alaska. H.R. 2801 has yet to reach the House floor for a vote. For background on the proposed road, see this report from the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges: http://www.refugenet.org/new-publications/Izembek.html For full e-bulletin, go to: http://www.refugenet.org/birding/maySBC08.html

FL: Reservoir Larger Than Manhattan Planned to Help Everglades

By Brian Skoloff – Associated Press – May 6, 2008 Around South Florida's vast sugar cane fields, where turtles grow to the size of basketballs and alligators own the marsh, the silence of the swamp is broken by the sound of rumbling trucks and explosions. The earth-moving equipment and high explosives are laying the foundation for a mammoth construction project: a reservoir bigger than Manhattan designed to revive the ecosystem of the once-famed River of Grass. More than a century after the first homes and farms took shape in the Everglades, decades of flood-control projects have left the region parched and near ecological collapse. Now crews are building what will be the world's largest aboveground manmade reservoir to restore some natural water flow to the wetlands. For full article, go to: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iclYhPWmpgjApURM7A_1spt7mNdwD90G477G0

NJ: New Jersey Horseshoe Crab Moratorium: Good for Red Knots

Birding Community E-Bulletin – May 6, 2008 On a number of previous occasions in this e-bulletin, attention has been drawn to the research, monitoring, and conservation actions on behalf of the Red Knot and its connection to one of the species’ essential food sources, the eggs of Horseshoe Crabs. Recent concern has been on the moratorium on the harvest of Horseshoe Crabs in New Jersey. The harvest moratorium was dropped in February when the NJ Marine Fisheries Council rejected a recommended moratorium extension on Horseshoe Crab harvesting that was proposed by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Ten days later, New Jersey legislators introduced a bill that would ban Horseshoe Crab harvesting in New Jersey. That bill passed in the full Assembly on 13 March and then passed in the Senate on 18 March. This represents a landmark piece of legislation for bird conservation. For Governor Corzine’s press release, see: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/2008/approved/20080325.html For full e-bulletin, go to: http://www.refugenet.org/birding/maySBC08.html

PA: EPA reformulates contentious rules for restoring destroyed wetlands

Associated Press – Chesapeake Bay Journal - May 6, 2008 The EPA in late March announced requirements that would encourage developers to compensate for the destruction of wetlands or streams by paying for the restoration or creation of new ones elsewhere, sometimes many miles away. The approach, which emphasizes linking wetlands destruction and replacement efforts across expansive watersheds, has been a contentious issue since its proposal two years ago. The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in announcing the regulation's final approval, said that it will help to replace wetlands and streams that are unavoidably destroyed or severely impacted by construction or other activities. For full story, go to: http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3330

MD: Marshes produce mercury hazard

By Tom Pelton – Baltimore Sun – May 4, 2008 Kirkpatrick Marsh looks a picture of environmental health, its waters fringed by waving grass and swarming with fat minnows. But seeping out of these Anne Arundel wetlands into the Chesapeake Bay is a pollutant - methylmercury - that causes brain damage in people. "It's quite crazy," says Carl Mitchell, a scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater. "These areas are so beautiful and pristine looking, but they also produce a lot of methylmercury." Mitchell is among a growing number of researchers documenting the little-known role that wetlands play in transforming air pollution from coal-burning power plants into a form of mercury that contaminates fish. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.mercury04may04,0,7571300.story

CO: More than half of all CRP Acres in PLJV Region to Expire by 2012

Playa Lakes Joint Venture – May 1, 2008 The PLJV region will face significant losses in CRP acres over the next five years, as more than 8 million out of the 11 million acres currently enrolled in the program will expire by 2012. The loss brings both bad and hopeful news for birds. While loss of CRP could negatively impact bird populations, some acres will be re-enrolled or extended, and if targeted correctly, could end up doing more for some birds than they do today. For full story, visit: http://www.pljv.org/cms/latest-news#Story3

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

April 2008

Don't Undermine Wetlands Regulations – Isolated Wetlands Beaufort Gazette - April 27, 2008 A resolution to streamline state environmental laws regulating wetlands lost some of its steam last week and has been sent to committee, where conservationists hope that it will receive a proper vetting. Lawmakers representing Greenville and Horry counties recently put a resolution on the fast track by taking it to the House for debate. The process bypassed discussion in committee, where the public generally is allowed to testify about its concerns about thelegislation. The resolution was introduced after an administrative law judge ruled in a wetlands filling plan in Horry County. The judge said the coastal management rules were not developed legally. Unless the ruling is overturned, conservationists say it opens the door to more development in freshwater wetlands. Lawmakers who introduced the resolution have been critical of wetlands regulations, but after considerable browbeating last week, Reps. Bill Witherspoon and Dwight Loftis agreed to send it to committee, where it might remain until next year. For full story, go to: http://www.beaufortgazette.com/opinions/story/419381.html

Study Examines Wetlands Programs in Each of the 50 States Contact: Brett Kitchen – Environmental Law Institute / E-Wire Press Release – April 9, 2008 The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) announces the publication of State Wetland Protection: Status, Trends and Model Approaches. This report examines state-level efforts to protect wetland resources. Research for the report is based on a 50-state study conducted by the Environmental Law Institute with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The report examines seven core elements of all 50 states’ wetland programs (regulatory programs, water quality standards, monitoring and assessment, restoration, public-private partnerships, coordination, and education and outreach) and outlines model approaches. For full press release, go to: http://www.ewire.com/display.cfm/Wire_ID/4634  For direct link to the study, go to: http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=11279

WA: Ecology fines Puget Sound Energy $366,000 for 2006 fuel spill

Contact: Curt Hart – Washington Department of Ecology News Release – April 15, 2008 The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has levied a $366,000 fine against Puget Sound Energy (PSE) after an estimated 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at a company backup electrical generating station near the Crystal Mountain ski area in Pierce County on Nov. 3, 2006. The November 2006 spill happened in mountainous terrain with rocky soil at the same time as record-setting rainfall and flooding. The geography and weather forced the spilled fuel down into the rocks further and faster than normal. Red-dyed diesel fuel entered nearby Silver Creek and adjacent wetlands that were below the generating station. The creek is an important salmon-bearing stream – and a tributary of the White River that flows into Puget Sound. The spill happened in an area of cultural significance to the Muckleshoot Tribe. For full news release, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2008news/2008-089.html

FL: Environmental groups challenge Mirasol permit

By Andrea Stetson – News-Press – April 13, 2008 Five environmental organizations filed a federal lawsuit this past week challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' issuance of a permit for the Mirasol development permit in North Naples. The environmental groups say the planned residential and golf course community on 1,713 acres will destroy 645 acres of wetlands which are a foraging habitat for endangered woodstorks and part of an historic natural flowway of water. For full story, go to:  http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/NEWS0102/804130376/1075

TX: Local laws would buoy federal wetlands rules

By Leigh Jones – Galveston County Daily News – April 13, 2008 The laughing call of sea gulls echoed off the unusually placid surface of West Bay as five white pelicans jumped off their grassy resting place, startled by the sound of a boat motor. The shore’s wetland fringe looked almost deserted at first, but as the area’s feathered residents settled back down after their momentary disturbance, the grassy marsh began to teem with feeding, preening, prancing birds. In the distance, the human habitat of wood and concrete sprouted. Island birders have watched development advance quickly in recent years. Few wetlands remain untouched, and birders fear a future when wetlands are referred to only in the past tense. For full story, go to: http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=183ba9e1891a6d20&-session= TheDailyNews:42F942510a15c000F5yyW32920A3

FL: Hatchet Creek proposal to be reviewed again

By Nathan Crabbe – Gainsville Sun – April 13, 2008 In October, the Gainesville City Commission put restrictions on the proposed Hatchet Creek development around Ironwood Golf Course that would have prevented construction in wetlands and places where passing aircraft are noisiest. Six months later, developer Rob Simensky is hoping commissioners have second thoughts. In a special commission meeting Wednesday, Simensky will ask for the restrictions to be rewritten to clear the way for up to 1,500 residences, a 400-bed assisted-living home and 2,000 square feet of retail and office space. For full story, go to: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080413/NEWS/804130327/1018/news

IN: Fort Wayne wetlands project adds 22 acres of forest

WTHI News – April 12, 2008 A northeastern Indiana land trust has acquired another 22 acres of mature forested wetland to its expanding nature preserve. Officials with the Little River Wetlands Project said Friday that they had purchased a forested tract near Eagle Marsh on Fort Wayne's southwest side. The acquisition boosts the size of the preserve to 705 acres of wildlife habitat. The new tract will be added to seven acres acquired last year and will be called Eagle Marsh Woods. It contains ponds, marshy areas, prairie, and newly planted trees and shrubs. For full story, go to: http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8157383&nav=menu593_2

NY: Stressing education to reduce violations

By Matt Dalen – Lewisboro Ledger – April 10, 2008 Is a permit required to do gardening work within 150 feet of a wetland? How about to cut down trees? Or to lay sand down on a beach? The answer to all of these is maybe. The Lewisboro Planning Board regularly reviews violations of the town wetlands law, often by people who have been misinformed or who just didn’t realize their actions required a permit. Now, with a new initiative, the board is attempting to reduce the number of people charged with violations by educating residents about when a wetlands permit is required. “Everybody is aware that when you do some work on your house, you’ll probably need a building permit,” town wetlands inspector Bruce Barber told The Ledger. “We want to encourage people, if they’re working on their site, to think, Do they need a wetlands permit?” For full story, go to: http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/lewisboro/31745.shtml

NY: Woodstock reviews proposed new rules to protect streams, wetlands

By William Kemble – Kingston Daily Freeman – April 10, 2008 The Town Board has agreed to lead the environmental review of proposed town wetlands and water course protection standards in the town zoning law. At a Town Board meeting Tuesday, officials said five sections of law under the proposal would replace a one-line clause governing work done near streams. Councilman Chris Collins said after the session that the town has spent nearly eight months on legal reviews, hoping to avoid a repeat of a 2004 court challenge that overturned similar amendments. "There were 10 points that were made during litigation," he said. "One of them was procedural, that it never went before the county Planning Board." For full article, go to: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19470267&BRD=1769&PAG= 461&dept_id=74958&rfi=6

HI: ‘Wetlands’ Talks In Samoa This Week

Pacific Magazine – April 10, 2008 The Oceania region will soon come together to develop a stronger Pacific voice at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention in October.  The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is coordinating a two-day preparatory meeting to be held at SPREP headquarters in Apia, Samoa from 10-11 April. Five Pacific Island countries are a party to the convention that promotes the conservation and wise, sustainable use of wetlands around the world: Fiji, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa who will be attending the upcoming preparatory meeting, along with non-party Kiribati who are currently in the process of joining the convention. For full story, go to: http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/04/10/wetlands-talks-in-samoa-this-week

CO: Beaver in Land Conservation Creates Habitat, Wetlands

By Sara Coulter - Telluride Watch – April 8, 2008 The San Juan Corridors Coalition continues its monthly wildlife series with a presentation by Sherri Tippie entitled “Beaver: Partners in Conservation.” This presentation will take place at the Ridgway Town Hall Community Center on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tippie, an expert on beaver relocation, will come from Denver to share her enthusiasm for this important species, highlighting her presentation with a slideshow and with her stories of trapping and relocating more than 1,000 beavers around Colorado. For full story, go to: http://www.telluridewatch.com/pages/full_story?article-Beaver-in-Land-Conservation- Creates-Habitat-Wetlands%20=&page_label=home&id=56653&widget=push&instance= home_news_bullets&open=&

NJ: Planning for a Dismal future

By Pamela Spoka-Holzmann – New Brunswick Home News Tribune – April 7, 2008 The Edison Wetlands Association aims to gather officials from three municipalities bordering the 660-acre Dismal Swamp to talk them into preserving the environmentally sensitive site. The swamp covers portions of South Plainfield, Edison and Metuchen. While Edison and Metuchen officials have shown interest in preserving the wetlands as open space, Robert Spiegel, executive director of the Edison Wetlands Association, said the environmental group has been at odds with South Plainfield officials. For full story, go to: http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080407/NEWS01/804070407/1001

WA: Ecology seeks public comment on water quality requirements for Avista dams

Washington Dept. of Ecology News Release – April 7, 2008 Water quality in the Spokane River would be protected, and the public would see more water over Spokane Falls, under a draft “401 Water Quality Certification” being released today for public review.  The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is taking public comment on the water-quality certification that is designed to ensure that four Avista Corp. dams do not harm water quality. The dams include the Upper Falls Dam, the Monroe Street Dam, the Nine Mile Dam and Long Lake Dam on Lake Spokane. For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov

OH: OEPA invites public to information session and public hearing

By Jeremy Lydic – The Review – April 6, 2008 In a two part public meeting hosted by the Ohio EPA, residents will be briefed on surface water impact from the proposed Baard coal-to-liquids gasification plant, and will have an opportunity to have their questions answered and concerns addressed. According to a news release issued by the OEPA recently, the meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 17 at the Wellsville High School, and will focus on the coal-to-liquids fuel plant proposed for Columbiana and Jefferson counties and its potential impact on Rocky Run and the Ohio River. The meeting will be comprised of two parts: an information session and a public hearing. OEPA Media Relations Mike Settles said the information session will be a presentation about the project and potential impacts on surface water. Dan Osterfeld will conduct this portion of the evening and will allow time for residents to ask questions. For full article, go to: http://www.reviewonline.com/page/content.detail/id/500895.html?nav=5008

NY: State judge strikes Milan land-use plan, laws

By Rasheed Oluwa - Poughkeepsie Journal – April 2, 2008 Remember the controversial comprehensive plan that passed in the Town of Milan two years ago? Well, town residents can forget about the plan and a few of the laws it spawned for the time being. State Supreme Court Justice James Brands has issued a ruling that voided the comprehensive plan along with the town's wetlands law and the town's decision to end its floating light industrial zone. Several parties contested aspects of the comprehensive plan, including Red Wing Sand and Gravel and the Durst Organization, which disputed only the town's wetlands law. For full story, go to: http://www.pojonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080402/NEWS01/ 804020311/1006/NEWS

CA: California Waterfowl Granted $1M for Wetlands in San Jacinto and San Diego

Contact: Chadd Santerre – California Waterfowl Association – March 14, 2008 California Waterfowl received a $1 million grant for wetland habitat restoration and improvements in two important areas for wildlife in southern California. Money spent at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge’s Sweetwater Marsh in south San Diego Bay, will improve tidal marsh conditions and improve breeding habitat for the federally listed California least tern (endangered), light-footed clapper rail (endangered) and the western snowy plover (threatened). Additional restoration will occur in the San Jacinto Valley on the state owned San Jacinto Wildlife Area and on 3 nearby private properties dedicated to wildlife. For full article, go to: http://calwaterfowl.org/

DE: Ceremony Highlights “Thank You Delaware Bay” Campaign

Kimberly Cole – Delaware Department of Natural Resources – February 12, 2008 In a special ceremony today, “Thank You Delaware Bay,” a campaign designed to showcase the beauty and amenities of the bay and encourage actions to help protect its health and resources, was unveiled by program partners, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) Delaware Coastal Programs, The Nature Conservancy, and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. The ceremony was held at DNREC’s Field Site Building on Pilottown Road in Lewes overlooking scenic views of the Delaware Bay’s Roosevelt Inlet and Beach Plum Island Nature Preserve. For more information, go to:  http://www.tydb.org/

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

March 2008

MD: Mining could spoil wetlands

The Daily Times – March 18, 2008 Environmentalists are afraid that a company's plans to mine sand and gravel on a parcel of farmland and forest along Marshyhope Creek in Dorchester County will spoil a very rare wetlands area. Delaware-based Horsey Family LLC is asking the county zoning appeals board on Thursday for a zoning exception for the proposed excavation east of Cambridge on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The environmental concerns are unfounded, said the company's attorney, William McAllister. For full story, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/NEWS01/ 803180344/1002

MO: Under Pressure: Proposition 1 would OK city’s upgrade of sewers

By Kat Hughes – Columbia Tribune – March 16, 2008 The proposal before voters April 8 regarding improvements to the city of Columbia’s sewers is not a question of whether the city should make  $77 million in improvements, but how it should pay for them. The city is asking voters in Proposition 1 to approve paying for sewer improvements using bonds. That means city sewer users would pay back the amount over a long-term period rather than paying upfront through higher rates during the next few years. […]“Right now, the city is relying on the wetlands to meet our permit limit, and that’s how come we can say we have 20 million gallons of capacity when we only have 13 million gallons of capacity mechanically; the wetlands make up the other 7” million gallons, Hunt said. “But once we have the ammonia requirement, we’ll have to provide all the ammonia removal through a mechanical process because the wetlands do not consistently remove ammonia on a monthly basis.”  For full article, visit: http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Mar/20080316Feat004.asp

LA: Wetlands Research Center showcases women's art

By Patricia Gannon – The Daily Advertiser – March 16, 2008 The U.S. Geological Survey's National Wetlands Research Center is in touch with its feminine side. The NWRC welcomed guests and artists to an opening reception for "Women's Art: Women's Visions of the Natural World," a weeklong exhibition in honor of National Women's History Month. Organized by center director Greg Smith, branch secretary Debbie Norling, graphic designer Christina Boudreaux and Susan Horton, pieces were required to reflect nature in either subject matter or materials. http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080316/LIFESTYLE/ 803160302/1024

IN/IL: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Awards New Research Funding

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, a program supporting research, education and outreach that contribute to a sustainable environment in the two states, announces funding awards for four research projects for 2008-2010. “These projects address some long-term concerns facing the Great Lakes, including human health, wetland management and restoration, and sustainable coastal development,” said Brian Miller, IISG director.  “Outcomes from these studies will inform in policy and management decisions related to economic and environmental sustainability in the region.” The first project addresses concerns about the rising number of beach closings along southern Lake Michigan due to contaminated waters.  With Sea Grant funding, Kizhanipuram Vinodgopal and Julie Peller from Indiana University Northwest will develop a fast, innovative way of detecting sewage in swimming waters.  They will establish a system to rapidly alert managers when a problem is detected, which can result in more timely decisions on beach closures.  For full press release, go to: http://www.iisgcp.org/news/031708.htm

FL: Development in wetlands moves ahead near Collier-Lee line

By I.M. Stackel – Naples Daily News – March 15, 2008 Despite explanations by Collier County staffers, Commissioner Fred Coyle couldn’t buy into a project that will be built within wetlands, and may — or may not — provide Naples residents with more affordable housing. Others questioned staff on the once-contentious Brandon subdivision, but Coyle cast the only dissenting vote this past week when commissioners approved the project that was once opposed by neighbors because of access, an issue developers say has been resolved. For full story, go to: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/mar/15/development-wetlands- moves-ahead-near-collier-lee-/

FL: Why rush? Consider effects on wetlands carefully

By Dan DeWitt – St. Petersburg Times – March 15, 2008 The office of Mike McHugh, Hernando County's business development director, does vital work: promoting economic diversity, attracting wealth that spreads to other businesses and decent jobs that cut the need for wasteful commutes. Wetlands also do great things: capturing floodwater, recharging the aquifer, filtering out pollution and providing wildlife habitat. For full story, go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wetlands/article418561.ece

MD: Md. lawmakers seek to speed rural Web access

By Kristen Wyatt – The News Journal – March 15, 2008 Frustrated by a permit dispute that has put the brakes on parts of a state program to bring broadband Internet access to rural parts of Maryland, some lawmakers are seeking a bill to require the Department of the Environment to waive the fees. But the department wants lawmakers to hold off, saying the bill would only make it harder to enforce wetlands protections in the future. For full story, go to: http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080315/ NEWS/80315004

NE: A birdwatcher's paradise

By Robert Pore – The Grand Island Independent – March 15, 2008 It was like a cloud rising off the water, more than 500,000 snow geese taking flight from the wetland sanctuaries of the Hultine Wildlife Production Area, west of Harvard in Clay County. In perspective, the 70-acre wetland provides a temporary home for as many snow geese as there are sandhill cranes annually migrating through Nebraska during the late winter and early spring. For full story, go to: http://www.theindependent.com/stories/03152008/new_mainnews15.shtml

MN: DNR to buy rare wetland near Chanhassen

By Carissa Wyant – Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal – March 14, 2008 Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources is close to buying an extremely rare piece of wetland in Carver County, the Star Tribune reported Friday. The Carver County Board gave the state agency permission to buy over 100 acres of wetland area near Chanhassen, called the Seminary Fen. For full story, go to: http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/03/10/daily41.html

SD: Opposing efforts in Congress to expand jurisdiction of Clean Water Act

State of South Dakota: 83rd Session – Legislative Assembly, March 2008    651P0467    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION   NO.   8   Introduced by:     Senators McNenny, Albers, Gant, Hanson (Gary), et. al. A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION,  Opposing efforts in Congress to expand the jurisdiction of the federal Clean Water Act by revising the terms "navigable waters" and "waters of the United States.” For a direct link to a copy of the resolution, visit: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2008/Bills/SCR8P.htm

WA: Ecology, FEMA currently revising state flood hazard maps

Contact: Dan Sokol – Dept. of Ecology News Release – March 12, 2008 A project currently under way will help Washington landowners and local officials make informed decisions about where it is safe to build in and around areas prone to flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Ecology (Ecology) are updating existing flood hazard maps in several Washington counties that have high risk, flood-prone areas. In many Washington communities, it has been about 20-30 years since flood hazard maps have been updated. The new maps will depict flood hazards more accurately, including changes in flooding patterns. The mapping project is part of a nationwide effort by FEMA. Ecology is helping FEMA put the new maps into a digital, electronic format. The more detailed maps will eventually be available on the Internet. For full story, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2008news/2008-027A%20-%20(Update).html

ME: Ellsworth construction firm settles with EPA in wetlands case

Foster’s Daily Democrat – March 12, 2008 An Ellsworth construction company and its owner have agreed to pay a $16,017 civil fine and donate a conservation easement as part of a settlement of a case brought by federal regulators for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Protection Agency said Robert Ray and Ray Builders Inc. will also fund a 3-year program of invasive species control at the 115-acre Great Meadow, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in Acadia National Park. For full article, go to: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080312/NEWS0104/493326642

TX: Rare Shrub's Spread May Revive Wetlands

By Martin Ricard – Oakland Tribune – March 11, 2008 The sun was shining high in the sky late Friday morning, and the scientists had just finished planting deep in the sand the last of what used to be a rare species here. Peter Baye and Valary Bloom, plant biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Michael Perlmutter, a conservationist with the Audubon Society, had dug a row of mounds, six in all, near a beach at Roberts Landing farbeyond public view. They each took some material washed up on the sand and, like potting soil, massaged it into each mound. Then they placed the little prickly-looking shrubs in the ground and surrounded them with sand and brush, adding a little water at the end. They placed a bundle of branches around the last shrub that it could blend in with the rest of the ecosystem. For full article, go to: http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1290501/rare_shrubs_ spread_may_revive_wetlands/

MD: Legal protection argued for wetlands

By Laura D'Alessandro – Ocean Pines Independent – March 11, 2008 Little has been done to enforce Maryland's Critical Area law since the state passed the landmark shoreline development legislation almost 25 years ago, said representatives of three environmental organizations Wednesday during a press conference on Turville Creek. "The Critical Areas law has not kept pace with development," said Erik Fisher, land use planner for the Maryland Chesapeake Bay Foundation. After research by the Environment Maryland Research and Policy Center, changes to the law have been put in front of Maryland legislators to be voted on during the current session. For full article, go to: http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080311/ OPI01/803120307/-1/OPI

LA/NJ: Chemical Found to Lure Nutria Out of Louisiana Wetlands

ENS – March 10, 2008 A team of chemists from three universities has identified compounds to lure nutria, introduced rodents from South America that are damaging thousands of acres of Louisiana wetlands. The environmentally friendly bait is intended to entice the 10 pound, semi-aquatic nutria into traps for transport away from sensitive coastal zones and marshlands. Introduced by Tabasco sauce magnate E.A. McIlhenny in the 1930s, the nutria have been especially damaging to the marshland ecology in the Mississippi Delta following Hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005. For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2008/2008-03-10-095.asp

WA: Wetland bank plan awash in concerns

By Cookson Beecher - Capital Press Agriculture News – March 7, 2008 Reprinted with the author’s and managing editor’s permission. An action alert directed against a proposed wetland mitigation bank on farmland in Skagit County, Wash., is picking up steam in the ag community. Retired dairy farmer Ken Johnson, who sent letters opposing the project earlier on, said he'll be sending another letter in response to the recent action alert. "I think it's a tremendously backward step for farmland in general," he said, referring to the project, which will adjoin his farmland near Clear Lake. "When they allow developers to destroy wetlands and then take farmland out of production to compensate for it, that's wrong. It's a bad move." For full story, go to: http://www.aswm.org/news/wetland_bank_plan_0308.pdf

MI: Bill calls for state to give up wetland enforcement role

By Stephanie Schneider – Spinal Column – March 5, 2008 The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) would relinquish control of its wetland permitting process to the federal government if a state Senate bill introduced last month is enacted into law. Under Senate Bill (SB) 112, introduced by Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) and referred to the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee, the DEQ would relinquish the authority to issue wetland building permits to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Currently, the DEQ holds the authority to issue permits granting a landowner permission to undertake improvements on his or her land if it has been designated a wetland. For full article, go to: http://www.spinalcolumnonline.com/Articles-i-2008-03-05-54862.113117_Bill_calls_for_state_to_give_up_wetland_enforcement_role.html  For access to a copy of the bill, visit: http://www.legislature.mi.gov

TX: Mitigation Project Along Plum Creek

Construction of State Highway 130 in Central Texas resulted in unavoidable losses of perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral streams; on-channel ponds, wetlands, and riparian habitat. The Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requires Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to compensate, or mitigate, for these losses.  To achieve these mitigation goals, TxDOT is acquiring 265 acres along Plum Creek, just north of Lockhart, Texas to create, enhance, and preserve 175 acres of wetland and woodland environments. The Plum Creek Mitigation Site will serve the following functions: preservation of wildlife habitat, stream bank stabilization, biodiversity maintenance, water quality improvement, stormwater retention, and flood control. Through agreements with Caldwell County and the City of Lockhart, the Plum Creek Mitigation Site will also provide public use. A series of approximately 2.75 miles of trails will be constructed leading through the various habitats. For more information see http://www.centraltexasturnpike.org/pdf/Dec_2007_AR_Final.pdf or contact: Jon Geiselbrecht Texas Department of Transportation, 1421 Wells Branch #107, Pflugerville, Texas 78660 512-225-1346  jgeiselb@dot.state.tx.us

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

February 2008   DE: Once Reviled, Wetlands Awaken to Preservation's Touch By Molly Murray – The News Journal – February 17, 2008 Nick Dilks saw the potential even as he first laid eyes on 1,200 acres of forest west of Georgetown. It had been ditched, drained and cut over. In short, the 1,200 acres purchased late last year by Ecosystem Investment Partners told the story of the toll that land clearing, farming, forestry and development take on Delaware's wetlands. With millions in private investment dollars, the for-profit company plans to restore the land and re-create the significant wetland habitat that was once here. It was working land -- land valued for the trees that grew here. Roads and ditches were carved and dug to get to the trees. For full story, go to: http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS/ 802170392/1006/NEWS   Study Shows Southwest Waters at High Risk of Pollution, Destruction Contact: Jim Murphy, National Wildlife Federation and Scott Yaich, Ducks Unlimited – National Wildlife Federation News – February 14, 2008 A new report shows an alarmingly high percentage of southwest waters are at risk from pollution and destruction because they may no longer be protected by the Clean Water Act. Recent government guidance based on two major Supreme Court cases has severely weakened Clean Water Act safeguards New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Nevada and southern California. “For people living in the arid southwest, water is our most precious natural resource,” said Jeremy Vesbach, executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.” The government failure to protect these waters is akin to allowing poisoning of the roots while attempting to protect the tree. It just doesn’t make sense.” For the full news release, go to: http://www.aswm.org/news/02-14-08_imperiled_treasures_national_release.pdf For a link to the study, go to: http://www.nwf.org/nwfwebadmin/binaryVault/SW_WATER_REPORT.pdf For related stories, visit the following links: http://www.koat.com/news/15312240/detail.html?rss=alb&psp=news http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_8259825?source=most_emailed http://sfe.live.mediaspanonline.com/Local%20News/Report-Lakes-streams-are-in-danger http://news.rgj.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/NEWS05/802150509/132 http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SantaFeNorthernNM/Report- Lakes-streams-are-in-danger http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/environment/stories/MYSA021508.03B. wetlands.371c59e.html http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19298855&BRD= 2287&PAG=461& dept_id=512588&rfi=6 http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/water_84409___article.html/wetlands_texas.html http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-wetlands15tex.ART.State.Edition1.462141e.html http://www.star-telegram.com/448/story/475058.html http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8UQCP683.html http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_8270533 http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/feb/15/report-3m-acres-of-wetlands-in-danger/ http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/feb/14/policy-changes-imperil-texas- wetlands-report/ http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=7875204 http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=7875204 http://www.kristv.com/global/story.asp?s=7875204   NH House Puts Onus on DES in Wetlands Permit Process By Bob Sanders – New Hampshire Business Review – February 13, 2008 The state Department of Environmental Services will be forced to give a development company half of its money back if it fails to meet a self-imposed deadlines to respond to a wetlands permit application, under a bill the House passed Wednesday. The state has 75 days from the time it determines that an application is complete to decide on a permit (105 days if the project would have an impact on more than an acre of wetlands.) Under House Bill 1471, if DES doesn’t meet the deadline, the developer will get a quarter of its permitting fees back. If the department still doesn’t make it within two weeks of the deadline, the developer will get half of the fees back. For full article, go to: http://nhbr.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080214/NEWS06/850675541   U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Blocks Plan to Dam Susquehanna Associated Press – February 15, 2008 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday that it is denying a permit for an inflatable dam to be built across the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre. The Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority had proposed building a structure that would have reached 9 1/2 feet high and impounded 4 1/2 miles of the free flowing river. The corps said in a statement that the dam was not the least environmentally damaging way to control floods in the area. The proposed $14 million dam would fill an acre of wetlands and disrupt the natural current in violation of the Clean Water Act, which requires the corps to maintain the biological integrity of U.S. waterways, the statement said. For full story, visit: http://www.whptv.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=f28a9303-194f-40fd- bc19-71b6cf0666f8   Washington State Sea Levels Could Rise Considerably By End of Century   By Vince Stricherz -- University of Washington News Release --January 17, 2008 Melting glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica, combined with other effects of global climate change, are likely to raise sea levels in parts of Western Washington by the end of this century, though geological forces will offset the rising water in some areas. A new report suggests a moderate scenario is for sea levels on the Washington Coast and in the Puget Sound Basin to rise an average of 6 inches by 2050 and 14 inches by 2100. The analysis, conducted by the Pacific Northwest Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Ecology, suggests that a worst-case scenario could raise sea levels in some places as much as 22 inches by 2050 and 50 inches -- more than 4 feet -- by 2100. For full press release, go to: http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articleID=39136 For a direct link to the report, go to: http://www.cses.washington.edu/db/pdf/moteetalslr579.pdf

OR: Look up in the trees, not at a book

By Lee Williams – Oregon City News – February 13, 2008 On a recent Saturday morning, with these chilly elements working against him, the animated guide for Metro’s winter bird-watching tour is anything but disheartened as he leads a group of five raincoated explorers along the trails of Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area. “Twenty-five years ago, newspapers would come out to report when one bald eagle was spotted,” Davis says, pointing across Bybee Lake to a bald eagles’ nest wedged into the tops of leafless tree branches. For full article, visit: http://www.oregoncitynewsonline.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id= 120249657518401300

MI: Saginaw Bay doesn't have an algae problem, DEQ says

By Jeff Kart – Bay City Times – February 13, 2008 Does Saginaw Bay have an algae problem? "Yes" may seem like the obvious answer, with the mounds of dead algae, or muck, that's been washing up on shorelines with increasing intensity in recent years. Some of the muck has tested positive for traces of human sewage and cattle manure. State regulators formed a regional effort called the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative in 2006 to find ways to deal with muck and other stressors plaguing the bay. For full story, go to: http://blog.mlive.com/bctimes/2008/02/saginaw_bay_doesnt_have_an_algae_problem_ deq_says.html  For draft state integrated report, visit: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313-184170--,00.html which is accepting public comment through February 25, 2008.

PA: Innovative Water Operation Solves Problem

By Drew L. Wilson – Water Online – February 12, 2008 The city of Beaumont Texas was recently faced with the problem of preventing contamination of their raw water source while at the same time protecting the delicate environment of the wetlands that surround their water canal. City officials put on their creative, problem-solving hats and embraced offshore techniques to accomplish both objectives. The innovative operation is drawing attention from other parts of the country that have similar problems. Beaumont draws its raw water from the Neches River and transports it in a canal system to their treatment facility. For full article, go to: http://www.wateronline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID={7360D21F- 4F6B-4B79-A704-DF88F9A33828}&Bucket=Supplier+News&VNETCOOKIE=NO

NY: Saltwater Marsh Islands of Jamaica Bay Could Disappear Within Five Years Threatening Shorebirds

Bird Conservation News – February 12, 2008 Last summer, the Jamaica Bay Watershed Advisory Committee, a New York City body, and the National Park Service’s Gateway National Recreation Area released a study showing that the rate of marsh island loss in Jamaica Bay was accelerating, and, if it continued at the rate recently measured at several of the islands, would result in almost all of the marsh islands disappearing within five years. Records show Jamaica Bay averaged a loss of 26 acres per year from the mid-1970s until the mid-1990s, but the loss increased to more than 40 acres each year by 1999. For a link to American Bird Conservancy’s website, visit: http://www.abcbirds.org/ Visit Natural Resources Defense Council at http://www.nrdc.org, or Jamaica Bay Watershed Advisory Committee at http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/jamaicabay for more information on this story.

IL: N. Aurora pays ComEd to bury lines near wetlands

By Eric Schelkopf – Kane County Chronicle – February 12, 2008 Village officials will pay ComEd to bury its utility poles to avoid detracting from nearby wetlands. ComEd had planned to put up 19 poles along Orchard Gateway Boulevard, next to the North Aurora Towne Center on the village’s west side. The poles would serve the development and meet future growth needs. Orchard Gateway is a business corridor. But the poles would have been next to a 100-acre-plus wetlands area. The wetlands are a tributary to Blackberry Creek. “It is the second largest wetland mitigation plan in the state,” North Aurora Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin said. “We don’t want to end up with another Route 31.” Village trustees Monday voted to pay ComEd $103,000 to bury the lines. The amount is the difference between what it would cost to put up 19 poles and burying them. For full article, go to: http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/02/12/news/local/doc47b14 ba715e81447066699.txt

NH: Environment New Hampshire Urges Protective Wetlands Laws

ENS – February 11, 2008 Environment New Hampshire, a nonprofit environmental organization, is calling for passage and implementation of two laws during the current legislative session that will provide strong protections for New Hampshire 's waterways. The two bills seek to protect New Hampshire 's wetlands from overdevelopment. SB 435 calls for an update to the permitting process for development in New Hampshire 's wetlands and HB 1579-FN proposes a 75 foot setback requirement from wetlands for structures and septic systems. "Irresponsible development is threatening the health of many of our great waterways in New Hampshire ," said Kathryn Fox, preservation associate for Environment New Hampshire. For full article, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2008/2008-02-11-093.asp

CT: Env. report confirms pond is safe; SW Inland Wetlands panel gives OK for buy

By Matthew Engelhardt - Journal Inquirer – February 11, 2008 Following a favorable environmental report, the Inland Wetlands Commission has given its blessing for the town to acquire over 50 acres of open space at the Dzen Tree Farm, including a pond used for an annual fishing derby. For full article, go to: http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19283322&BRD=985&PAG=461& dept_id=569431&rfi=6

IN: Editorial: 'Dead zone' should enliven discussion of farm runoff

Editorial Staff – Indianapolis Star – February 11, 2008 Hoosiers were soberly reminded last week that increased farm production has steep environmental costs, and those costs do not respect state lines. A report from the U.S. Geological Survey gave Midwest farm runoff the bulk of blame for a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico , where excess nutrients have caused a massive loss of shellfish and other sea creatures. The bad news was not essentially new. Devastation from lack of oxygen in the vital body of water has been noted since the mid-1980s, and agricultural waste has long been identified as a culprit. How big a culprit was not realized, however, until now. Indiana and eight other states contribute more than 75 percent of the nitrogen and phosphorus carried into the Gulf by the Mississippi River and its tributaries, the study says. For full editorial, go to: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802110302

SD: Farmers' federal money at risk in wetlands fight

By Peter Harriman – Argus Leader – February 11, 2008 One of the largest recipients of federal farm payments in South Dakota is at risk of losing them. The so-called Swampbuster case is being watched closely by both friends and foes of Swampbuster, a controversial environmental law. It has some farmers and conservation advocates at odds over what really constitutes wetlands that should be off-limits to agricultural production. The outcome could signal whether small, seasonal wetlands get an aggressive new level of protection. Or will they fall prey to increased pressure by farmers to make a crop on every possible inch of ground as sky-high corn, soybean and wheat prices pull rent, fuel and fertilizer prices up with them? For full story, visit: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/ NEWS/802110323/1001

FL: Ambitious team is restoring Virginia Key

By Andres Viglucci – Miami Herald – February 10, 2008 Much of the thick jungle of invasive vegetation that long ago overtook Virginia Key's stunning oceanfront is suddenly gone, just like that, cleared away by the brute power of heavy earth-moving equipment. The demolition has revealed blue water and some unexpected natural treasures: clumps of leather ferns and soaring red mangroves rising from the raw sandy soil, improbable remnants of an ecosystem all but destroyed by years of human abuse and neglect.Now a gentler intervention aims to put back what had vanished from the spot. For full article, visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/414279.html

DE: Horseshoe crabs, red knots in peril

By Jim Wright – NorthJersey.com – February 8, 2008 New Jersey plays a major supporting role in a provocative Nature documentary that airs Sunday night on Channel 13. "Crash: A Tale of Two Species" is the alarming story about the fragile link between the horseshoe crabs of the Delaware Bay and robin-size migratory shorebirds called red knots. The hour-long documentary chronicles how over-harvesting the crabs has short-circuited that connection -- and how scientists are trying to restore it before the red knots die out. Each spring, red knots have made their annual 10,000-mile-long migration from southern Chile to the Arctic . On that journey, they make but one stop, Delaware Bay , which has the largest concentration of horseshoe crabs in the world. For full story, go to: http://www.northjersey.com/environment/environmentnews/Horseshoe_crabs_red_ knots_in_peril.html

IA: Iowa Lawmakers Introduce Surface Water Protection Act

ENS – February 8, 2008 A new initiative to improve Iowa 's water quality was outlined at the statehouse Monday by a bipartisan group of state lawmakers. The result of a two year watershed planning task force, the Surface Water Protection Act is aimed at identifying problems and preventing pollution in Iowa 's largest lakes, rivers and creeks. " Iowa needs a coordinated effort to clean up our surface water and improve water quality," said Deb Ryun of the Conservation Districts of Iowa , who co-chaired the Watershed Quality Planning Task Force. "We aren't going to make progress until we assess each watershed and get all of the stakeholders in each watershed to work together," she said. For full article, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2008/2008-02-06-092.asp

ME: Cash key to defending wetlands

By John Richardson – Kennebec Journal – February 5, 2008 Developers who want permission to fill or destroy wetlands in Maine routinely have to preserve or restore similar wildlife habitat nearby. But it can be a daunting process, especially for small development projects. And the restoration efforts are sometimes haphazard and not part of any long-term or coordinated plan. Now, state and federal agencies are teaming up with The Nature Conservancy on a program that could help benefit both developers and wildlife habitat, officials said. The program allows developers who can't avoid damaging wetlands, vernal pools or other protected wildlife habitat to pay fees instead of undertaking their own compensation projects. The fees will go into a statewide fund that will focus on protecting or restoring the most valuable habitat in the same region. For full story, go to: http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4731486.html

DC: CBF wants state to toughen shoreline protection law

By Pamela Wood – The Capital (hometownannapolis.com) – February 5, 2008 Standing in a boat floating in the calm waters of the South River yesterday, Drew Koslow considered the environmental sins committed against the waterway's fragile shoreline. Mr. Koslow, who is the riverkeeper for the South River , started describing a particularly egregious case, then reconsidered. He turned around, took a good look at the shoreline and realized just how many examples he could cite if he wanted to. "From where we're standing, I could name off half a dozen violations," he said. For full article, go to: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/02_05-24/TOP

FL: Opinion - No: Impacts to wildlife, wetlands too damaging

By Glenn Compton, ManaSota-88 – February 4, 2008 Mosaic Fertilizer LLC is offering to build a new fire station and a 70- acre park in Duette as part of the deal to phosphate mine approximately 2,028 acres of Parcel 4 of the Altman Tract. The Manatee County Commission has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday on the plan. Parcel 4 contains a significant percentage of wetlands and listed plant and animal species. Many of the wetlands are high quality in condition. Of the 2,028 acres, 732 acres are wetlands. Overall, Mosaic is proposing to impact 397 acres (54 percent) of the 732 acres of wetlands. For full opinion, visit: http://www.bradenton.com/opinion/story/374165.html

IL: Herons in Chicago Wetlands Survive Exposure to Banned Toxics

ENS – February 2, 2008 Black-crowned night-herons nesting in the wetlands of southeast Chicago are still being exposed to chemicals banned in the United States in the 1970s, but the chemicals do not appear to be affecting the birds' reproductive success. University of Illinois veterinary biosciences scientist Jeff Levengood, who led a newly published study of the herons, said chemicals banned 30 years ago for harmful effects on wildlife are still showing up in the herons' offspring. For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2008/2008-02-02-093.asp

HI: Coluccio Construction Co. and Castle Family LLC fined for Oahu wetlands violations

Contact:  Dean Higuchi – EPA News Release – January 31, 2008 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today fined Frank Coluccio Construction Co. and Castle Family LLC. a total of $68,000 for filling sensitive wetlands adjacent to Hamakua Stream in Kailua , Oahu without federal permits.  “We will protect the Kailua wetlands from illegal filling and ensure it is restored to provide water bird habitat, flood storage, and protect the island’s coastal water quality,” said Alexis Strauss, water division director for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “When wetlands are filled, these important ecological functions are lost. Any discharge of fill to wetlands or streams requires a federal permit.” For full news release, visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/Press Releases From Region 9!OpenView

KY: Wildlife expert says restoration helps habitats

By Tonia Noe-Rose – The Morehead News – January 29, 2008 During the past 200 years, Kentucky has lost most of its wetlands to drainage and development and now one local man has written a book to help folks restore these “important” ecosystems. Thomas R. Biebighauser, a wildlife biologist for the USDA Forest Service in Daniel Boone National Forest , has taught wetland management workshops across North America . In fact, he is a three-time recipient of the Forest Service’s national Taking Wing award and is an expert in the field while working on over 1,000 restoration projects. For full article, go to: http://www.themoreheadnews.com/local/local_story_029155946.html

ME: Eight endangered sea turtles arrive at UNE's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center

University of New England – January 29, 2008 Seven Kemp's ridley turtles and one green sea turtle arrived on Jan. 25, 2008 from the New England Aquarium in Boston to the University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center where they will be rehabilitated and released to the wild. The eight endangered turtles were nicknamed by the New England Aquarium rescue biologists after cartoon characters. For full press release, go to: http://www.une.edu/ur/news/seaturtles0108.asp

MA: Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Seeks Rare Species Grant Proposals

The Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program has posted a request for proposals for rare species inventory work in Massachusetts on their website. For example, topics may include bog turtles, marsh birds, vernal pools and Jefferson salamanders, among others. See http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/conservation/pdf/src_rfp.pdf for other details. For more information, go to: http://www.nhesp.org then click on “Small Research Contracts 2008.” The deadline is February 22, 2008.

NY: The Environment: Public backs wetlands law

By Mitchell Trinka – Millbrook Roundtable – January 24, 2008 The process of getting a workable Wetlands Ordinance for the Town of Washington has been going on for more than two years. But after much hard work, the Wetlands Ordinance Committee presented the new zoning code amendment to the public and gave residents a chance to comment on the document. There was standing room only at the meeting, as more than 35 people stuffed themselves into town hall for the first hearing on the new ordinance. For full story, go to: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19228269&BRD=1705&PAG

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs

January 2008

Louisiana’s Wetlands Are Being Lost At The Rate Of One Football Field Every 38 Minutes Science Daily  & Louisiana State University – January 4, 2008 LSU and Ohio State University will battle for the BCS National College Football Championship in the Superdome early next week, but if the game was held in the Louisiana wetlands instead, the entire field would disappear before halftime. Louisiana’s wetlands are being lost at the rate of approximately one football field every 38 minutes. To fight against this rapid destruction, the two universities joined forces in 2003, forming an ongoing research partnership with the goal of rebuilding the vanishing coastal wetland ecosystem that makes up 30 percent of the nation’s total coastal marsh. For full article, visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080104112955.htm For additional story on this topic, visit: http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/07/WETLSU. ART_ART_01-07-08_B1_SK901N5.html?sid=101

Pajaro River Mitigation Bank trades conservation credits for wetlands development By Donna Jones – Santa Cruz Sentinel – January 4, 2008 At $225,000 an acre, the land isn't cheap. But if you're a developer looking to build on wetlands in the Pajaro River watershed, Wildlands Inc. has a deal for you. The company has purchased 273 acres in San Benito County to create the Pajaro River Mitigation Bank, which can be tapped to offset the impact of development elsewhere in the 1,300-square-mile watershed that covers portions of Santa Cruz, San Benito, Santa Clara or Monterey counties. For full article, go to: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/story.php?storySection=Local&sid=64607

National Wildlife Federation Appeals Court Decision Blocking Ohio Citizens from Lake Erie Shoreline Contact Andy Buchsbaum – National Wildlife Federation News – January 8, 2008 Conservation groups today took the first step to appeal an Ohio lower court decision that blocks Ohio citizens from walking, fishing and recreating along the shores of Lake Erie. The groups seek to overturn a December 11th decision by Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Eugene Lucci, which redefines the boundary separating public and private property along the Lake Erie shoreline from the ordinary high water mark to the point at which the water meets land from moment to moment—effectively barring citizens from the shores of Lake Erie unless they are in the lake itself. “We are filing this appeal to protect the historic right of all citizens to stroll, fish and recreate along the shores of Lake Erie,” said Neil Kagan, senior attorney for the National Wildlife Federation. “The law is clear: The Lake Erie shoreline is a public trust for all to enjoy.” The lower court ruling goes against more than 100 years of Ohio legal precedent, which holds that the land up to the high water mark be held in public trust. For full article, visit: http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=59F95923%2D15C5% 2D5FE8%2DB010DA70043695F6

FY 2008 Wetland Restoration Grants for Priority Projects RFR The Wetlands Restoration Program in the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management has issued an RFR seeking applications for wetland restoration grants for designated Priority Projects.  The RFR solicitation closes February 8, 2008.  Activities that are eligible to receive grants include construction-related activities, and  pre- and post-construction monitoring.  Approximately $200,000 in funding is anticipated to be available for the FY 2008 grant round.  The RFR number is "ENV 08 CZM 06" and the title is "Wetland Restoration Grants for Priority Projects".  To view the RFR, visit the Comm-PASS web site at http://www.comm-pass.com/ and search for solicitations using the RFR number.

IN: Dick Blythe honored for helping restore wetlands By Kass Stone – NWI Times – January 15, 2008 Area businessman Dick Blythe was named Outdoor Life magazine’s Top 25 most influential people in contributing to the outdoors in its December 2007 issue. The owner of Valparaiso and Griffith’s Blythe’s Sporting Goods was cited as an unsung hero for his work with the Indiana Grand Kankakee Marsh Restoration Project. Blythe is president of the project, which is dedicated to the restoration of the Grand Kankakee Marsh. “I’m just getting the adulation for what the whole committee is doing,” Blythe said about the honor. The marsh was once one of the largest fresh water complexes in North America, covering 500,000 acres. For full article, visit: http://nwitimes.com/articles/2008/01/15/sports/region_sports/doce3b068c059efb80 c862573d00080467f.txt

OH: Bellevue couple donates wetlands to park district By Jacob Lammers – Sandusky Register – January 14, 2008 Paul Shelley loved taking care of animals.  For several decades, he raised ducks, geese and even fed the occasional deer on his wetlands. Shelley died 11 years ago. His son James Shelley wanted to keep the memory of his father alive, so he and his wife, Nancy, decided to donate 17 acres of land commonly known as the Gravel Pit to the Sandusky County Park District. For full story, go to: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/01/14/front/564309.txt

NE: Looking After the Birds By Robert Pore – The Grand Island Independent – January 14, 2008 Every spring, Central Nebraska becomes the focus of millions of migrating waterfowl who take temporary shelter here, fattening themselves up for their long annual journey to their northern breeding grounds. Along with the Platte River, an important part of Central Nebraska's migratory landscape is a 4,200-square-mile area of rolling hills whose shallow wetlands have historically played home to thousands of migratory birds during their journey. For full story, go to: http://www.theindependent.com/stories/01142008/new_newsmain14_001.xml.shtml

CT: Wetlands agency tables Rte. 67 vote By Melvin Mason – The Connecticut Post – January 14, 2008 Concerns about wetlands impacts have prompted the Inland Wetlands Agency to ask for more information from a Bridgeport company that wants to build a retail office complex off Route 67. The IWA decided Monday to adjourn a public hearing for Primrose Cos. until Jan. 22 so it could receive a new blueprint for the building. Fred D'Amico, an engineer hired by Primrose, said he would supply the IWA with a plan that includes a second rain garden. That would reduce the size of the space from the 9,500 square feet initially proposed, D'Amico said. Primrose is owned by developer John Guedes, and D'Amico said the company would prefer to maintain the size of the project at the former gas station. For full article, go to: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_7971555

WI: Governor Doyle Announces $4.1 Million for Door County Coastal Wetlands WisBusiness ~ Wisconsin’s Business News – January 14, 2008 Governor Doyle announced today $4.1 million that will be used for land purchases in Door County that will increase protection of plant and animal species that are endangered, threatened, and of special-concern; preserve unique Lake Michigan coastal wetlands habitat; and provide additional opportunities for public recreation.  “Caring for our lakes and lakeshores is an important part of maintaining our quality of life in Wisconsin, and I am pleased that these funds will help so many valuable projects that are working to preserve our heritage,” Governor Doyle said. “The Stewardship Fund is one more tool we have at our disposal that will help us to leverage federal and partner funds to help us protect our state’s coastal wetland system from residential development." For full article, go to: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=115454

CA: Wetlands No. 2 on list of most endangered By Michael Shea – the Modesto Bee – January 13, 2008 When high snows melted in the Sierra or heavy rains pounded the Central Valley, long before the days of dams and canals, the mighty San Joaquin River overflowed and the Grassland was born. The meandering marshland from Stevinson to Dos Palos, the Grassland Ecological Area creeps as far east as the Merced National Wildlife Refuge and westward to the San Luis Reservoir on Interstate 5. The elevation on this western edge of Merced County is low. Just under the surface is clay and just under clay is a very high water table, said Candace Sigmond, education coordinator for Grassland Environment Education Center. For full article, go to: http://www.modbee.com/local/story/178722.html

CT: Many upset with Flatto decision By Andrew Brophy – The Connecticut Post – January 13, 2008 First Selectman Kenneth Flatto's decision to boot the town's Conservation Department off the biggest proposed development in town history still rankles some residents. Local environmentalists are upset by Flatto's Dec. 20 decision to supplant the town's conservation staff — which has a reputation for rigorously upholding environmental regulations — with Redniss & Mead, a Stamford environmental consultant that initially was hired only to assist the Conservation Department. Flatto contends he removed town Conservation Director Thomas Steinke and Administrator Annette Jacobson from the project because they had fallen behind in other work. http://www.connpost.com//ci_7956583?IADID=Search-www.connpost. com-www.connpost.com

FL: Battle brews over wetland development By Sara Robb – Pensacola News Journal – January 13, 2008 For more than a decade, Pensacola developer Mike Blanton has sought approval to fill about 20 acres of wetlands to make way for a shopping center at a prime intersection in southwest Escambia County. The proposed development has the necessary state and federal permits and awaits final approval from Escambia County. But members of a local environmental group say they're ready to go to court if the county's planning and engineering department signs off on the project. For full article, go to: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/ BUSINESS/801130312/1003

NC: Planning Board considers retirement facility proposal By Scott Parrott – Blue Ridge Now – January 13, 2008 A development that environmentalists fear could harm wetlands near Jackson Park comes before the Hendersonville Planning Board on Monday. Wisconsin developer Scott Frank wants to build a progressive care facility between Tracy Grove Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The development, called Oak Park Place, would be geared toward senior citizens. The planned development would be constructed in phases and include skilled care and assisted living facilities, independent living buildings, plus condos and duplexes. All told, the development would be built on about 28 acres and include 15 buildings. It would border the wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080113/NEWS/801130356/0/OPINION02

CA: Storm-damaged wetlands restored By David Reyes – Los Angeles Times – January 13, 2008 Robert Johnson steered his pickup carefully along an earthen levee ringing the newly renovated wetlands behind Prado Dam, which straddles the Riverside-Orange county border. He braked to watch a red-tailed hawk soar overhead and pointed proudly to young plants already sprouting where earthmovers had recently tracked. "People ask whether we have to plant those bulrushes and cattails out there, and we tell them no. They grow alarmingly fast. By spring this area will look overgrown." More than two years ago, the wetlands, constructed by the Orange County Water District in 1996, were wiped out when the Santa Ana River -- which feeds into the dam's vast reservoir -- changed course due to near-record rainfall, said Johnson, the district's director of wetlands operations. For full article, visit: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-prado13jan13,1,1045449. story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true

CT: Wetlands comeback: Area begins move to restoration By Tim Stelloh – the Advocate – January 13, 2008 Years ago, inland wetlands had a different reputation. To many, they were a nuisance, an obstacle. To make room for commercial and residential development, marshes, swamps, bogs and other inland wetlands across the state were filled in. They were paved over. They were dug up.  But as state and local protections have increased, the number of damaged inland wetlands across Connecticut has declined, while wetland restoration and creation has increased, according to data from the state Department of Environmental Protection. For full article, visit: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.wetlands5jan13,0,2944807.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines

AR: Outdoor Briefs - Conservation easements protect habitat, help landowners Log Cabin Democrat – January 13, 2008 Arkansas originally had an estimated 9.8 million acres of wetlands, primarily in what is known as the Delta. Today, less than 1 million acres of forested wetlands remain in the Arkansas Delta. The region once teemed with waterfowl, deer, bear, turkey and many other species of wildlife associated with wetland habitat. Fortunately, remnants of these habitats still exist and some of these species are still abundant. Cypress trees with their red-tinged fall leaves, buttonbush, or buck-brush swamps, and towering oaks still impress us and are often found in remote and inhospitable places, further enhancing their allure. For full article, go to: http://www.thecabin.net/stories/011208/spo_0112080042.shtml

WA: Sound Off: Wetlands update fair and balanced By John Dean – The Whidbey News-Times – January 12, 2008 The Board of Island County Commissioners Monday accepted the county’s Critical Area Ordinance wetlands update, as recommended by the Island County Planning Commission, and set a 2:30 p.m., Jan. 28, public hearing to specifically consider four additional amendments to further fine-tune the ordinance. The board is pleased with and proud of the balanced, scientific work presented to us Monday after extensive public outreach. But commissioners are not the only ones. The state regulatory departments of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Ecology, and Fish & Wildlife are pleased, too. Those three state agencies last week recognized in writing Island County’s “considerable efforts to develop a science-based approach to protecting wetlands that is specific to Island County.”  For full article, visit: http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=84&cat= 48&id=1137184&more=0

NH: Newington appeals PDA wetlands ruling By Terry Farish – Portsmouth Herald News – January 12, 2008 The Newington Conservation Commission filed an appeal Jan. 2 to the state Department of Environmental Services, asking the agency to reconsider its ruling giving the Pease Development Authority legal rights over prime wetlands on PDA land. At issue are 136.5 acres of wetlands in the town of Newington that are within Pease Tradeport boundaries. Newington has long claimed that it has the power to designate these areas as prime wetlands and bring them under state wetlands protections, and the PDA has maintained its rights to determine land use of all PDA property. Under the state law that created the PDA, land use controls of the town of Newington do not apply to property transferred to the PDA. For full article, go to: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/ NEWS/801120324/-1/NEWS&sfad=1

NY: DEC proposes adding protected wetlands in Seneca County Empire State News – January 11, 2008 The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Thursday proposed that 26 wetland areas in the towns of Varick and Romulus, Seneca County, be included in the state’s stringent oversight of critical freshwater wetland ecosystems. The wetlands being proposed for mapping – meaning they would be subject to state protection – are primarily located within the boundaries of the former Seneca Army Depot. Approximately 266 acres of wetlands on and near the former Army Depot property are currently mapped. DEC’s proposal would significantly expand the protected area by increasing the mapped wetlands an additional 2,100 acres. For full article, go to: http://www.empirestatenews.net/News/20080111-2.html For an official news release, visit: http://readme.readmedia.com/news/show/DEC-Proposes-Adding-Protected- Wetlands-In-Seneca-County/36905

WI: Public Comments Sought on Draft Invasives Rule The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species (Council) have been working over the last three years to develop administrative rules to identify, classify and control invasive species. To view the draft rule and the species under consideration, and to comment on them, visit our website at: www.dnr.state.wi.us/invasives/classification. Within the website is a description of the draft rule, the draft rule itself, as well as a rule summary, criteria used for assessing the species and a table listing the species under consideration.

CO: Company must fix creek, wetlands By Todd Hartman – Rocky Mountain News – January 10, 2008 The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered an excavating company to restore a section of creek and wetlands in city of Lafayette open space, which the firm allegedly damaged in violation of the Clean Water Act. The agency's regional office in Denver said Kenneth L. Schell and Twin Peaks Excavating Inc. dug a new stream channel in Rock Creek, filled nearby wetlands with debris and then filled about 150 feet of the original channel last March and April. The work was conducted without a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and without permission from Lafayette, the EPA said in a news release. For full article, go to: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/10/company-must-fix-creek-wetlands/  For an additional story on this topic, visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/f9035efec4f3a6ef852573 cb007451ac?OpenDocument

NY: Wetlands public ordinance hearing By Mitchell Trinka – Millbrook Roundtable – January 10, 2008 It has been a process that has lasted more than two years, but after careful study the Town of Washington board has given its approval to a new wetlands ordinance that would amend the town zoning code to add a new section 396. With the approval in hand, the board has scheduled a public hearing for Jan. 14 to hear what local residents have to say about Section 396. According to Section 396, the amendment's purpose is "to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the Town of Washington by preventing despoliation and destruction of wetlands, water bodies and watercourses, and wetland/water body/watercourse buffers ... recognizing their varying ecological, water quality, supply, and recreational values." http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19187694&BRD=1705& PAG=461&dept_id=71853&rfi=6

FL: Florida Appears to Be Losing Its Sunny Magnetism By Peter Whoriskey – Washington Post – January 9, 2008 The vast flow of people into Florida from elsewhere in the United States has been the defining feature of the Sunshine State's 20th-century history, draining swamps and spurring development, swelling the economy and shaping politics. Now, the migration has stalled, according to new census figures. With hurricane fears and the soaring costs of housing and storm insurance, many here have begun to fret that Florida, long a mecca for tourists and snowbirds, has lost its allure. For full story, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/08/ AR2008010803890.html?wpisrc=newsletter

MI: Man-made canal now a wetland By Julie Snyder – C&G Newspapers – January 9, 2008 The man-made canal on Benjamin Street was recently classified a wetland as a result of overgrown vegetation and low water levels, according to an official from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. DEQ Director Steven Chester said low water levels and creeping vegetation ultimately meant the canal, which was previously a waterway in its natural state, could not be dredged to allow for boat access to Lake St. Clair. However, he added, the canal was never used in such a manner. Benjamin Street residents use canals that also abut Statler and Maple. “It was not used as a canal to the lake,” Chester said. For full article, visit: http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2008/1-9-08/SG-WETLAND.asp

MD: Wetlands trade offered By Phillip McGowan – Baltimore Sun – January 9, 2008 The owner of Laurel Park wants to fill in 4 acres of wetlands in the Patuxent River watershed as part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment to modernize the floundering thoroughbred racetrack. The nontidal wetlands that would be filled in are near Route 198, said Walter Lynch, the project's lead architect. That is where a swath of heavily wooded wetlands buffers the racetrack complex from the state highway, near the line between Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. For full story, go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.wetlands09jan09,0,530362.story

MT: Downtown wetlands deal dries up

By Amanda Ricker – Bozeman Daily Chronicle – January 9, 2008 Plans to turn 33 acres of wetland near downtown Bozeman into a city nature park appear to have dried up. Mike Delaney, one of the developers of The Village Downtown who offered to sell the land to the city last spring, said discussions have come to a halt and he’s considering other possibilities, including draining the wetland. “We just assume the city doesn’t want to dance with that site anymore, so there are other partners we can dance with,” he said. The wetland is just north of East Main Street, and south of Interstate 90 and the Montana Rail Link tracks. For full story, visit: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2008/01/09/news/30swamp.txt

VA: Farm Lauded For Water Conservation

By Shannon Sollinger – Loudoun Times Mirror – January 9, 2008 Trees don't get loose and track up the lawn of your neighbor's new million dollar home. Nor do they kick or bite. And most important for John and Arlene Janney, trees don't lumber into Goose Creek on the family's 300-acre Telegraph Springs Farm south of Purcellville, destroy its banks, kick up silt and leave their manure behind. Goose Creek supplies much of Loudoun's drinking water. Its waters flow to the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay. For the Janneys, protecting their two and a half miles of North Fork Goose Creek contributes to the health of the Bay. To make the deal even sweeter, national and state government conservation programs pay a farmer to keep the cows out of the streams and to plant trees. For full story, go to: http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=600&pid=0&sid=1323022&page=1

MA: Greenfield wetlands eyed

By David Vallette – The Republican – January 9, 2008 Consultants for a developer seeking to build a large store off French King Highway told the Conservation Commission last night that the plan includes eliminating a wetland that is near the center of the targeted 17-acre parcel. Environmental consultant David Pickart said removal of the wetland, one of nine found on the property, would be accompanied by creation of a replacement wetland on the property periphery. "We can create a wetland much better than wetland 4," he said. For full story, go to: http://www.masslive.com/hampfrank/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-1 2/1199866820262680.xml&coll=1

MN: Science Center In Rochester To Feature 12 Wetlands

Associated Press – January 8, 2008 Organizers of a new science center planned here hope to showcase 15 different types of wetlands that can exist in southeastern Minnesota. The center, which is planned near the Rochester Athletic Club in northwest Rochester, will have miniaturized versions of each type of wetland, officials said. A marked trail leading past each wetland, a 12-acre lake and an education center with exhibits on nature and clean energy would all be part of the center. "It's something that will set Rochester apart from other cities," said Greg Munson of Quarry Hill Nature Center, one of the science center's proponents. Construction on the center should start in 2009 and an opening is expected in 2010. The wetlands will take longer to develop and might not be ready before 2014, said Jeff Broberg of McGhie & Betts Environmental Services. For full story, go to: http://wcco.com/local/science.center.rochester.2.625717.html

FL: South Florida Records Two Driest Back-to-Back Years

ENS – January 8, 2008 The past two years have been the driest back-to-back calendar years in South Florida since rainfall recordkeeping began in 1932, meteorologists at the South Florida Water Management District confirmed today. The 2006-2007 rainfall total of 83.63 inches district-wide displaces by nearly an inch the previous low of 84.59 inches that fell 50 years ago in 1955-56. Last year was the ninth-driest year in the 76-year record with rainfall of just 42.88 inches, across the district, 82 percent of the historical average. It followed rainfall of only 40.75 inches in 2006, the sixth-driest year on record. For full article, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-08-093.asp

NY: OpEd: State has an obligation to protect its wetlands

By Liz Kaszubski – the Buffalo News – January 7, 2008 Regarding the Dec. 25 story, “Route 219 extension is at risk, Young says,” the Sierra Club’s Wetlands Committee was disappointed to learn that a state senator seems to disregard the value of wetlands being disturbed by the currently designated route for the Route 219 extension in Western New York. The placement of this new section of highway should have been carefully planned to avoid wetlands. However, that has not been the case. Private property owners are expected to obey the laws put in place to protect wetlands. The same should certainly be true for the New York State Department of Transportation. For full opinion, go to: http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/245387.html

KS: Four-lane bypass threatens wetlands near Haskell

By Mary Pierpoint – Indian Country Today – January 7, 2008 Broken treaties and the loss of land is nothing new among American Indian people; many battles to retain these rights have become generational. At Haskell Indian Nations University, a continuing battle is being carried on to save the Haskell wetlands from being destroyed by a four-lane bypass around the city of Lawrence. ''It makes you wonder when enough is enough,'' said Esther Geary, former dean of students at Haskell. ''It has been going on since I moved here in 1988, and the students just keep taking up where earlier students left off in fighting to stop it. I thought it was over with when I retired a few years ago, but it seems almost like the way they used to take our land, always changing the terms of the 'treaty.' As long as this is an issue, the students will continue learn the history of Haskell and join in the efforts to stop the bypass. For many of them over the years, it appears that they just don't want to see any more Indian land taken.'' For full story, go to: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416422

MA: State upholds wetlands ruling

By Angela Carbone – The Republican – January 6, 2008 The state has upheld a decision made by the city's Conservation Commission related to a lot on Ohio Avenue. Last October, the commission rejected a request from Talal H. Soffan, a trustee of Ohio Avenue Realty Trust, who wants to build a house on .44-acre lot No. 25 on Ohio Avenue. It was the second time that Soffan had filed her request with the commission. Earlier in the year, the commission determined that the site was under its jurisdiction because it features a stream and bordering vegetative wetlands, which require the applicant to file a notice of intent. For full article, go to: http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1199523037177640.xml&coll=1 For more articles on this issue, visit: http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-12/ 1200387218165590.xml&coll=1

CA: A swamp in Half Moon Bay

Editorial, San Francisco Chronicle – January 6, 2008 The taxpayers of Half Moon Bay may find out that slow-growth policies can come with a cost. The Half Moon Bay City Council voted last month to appeal a federal ruling ordering it to pay a developer $37 million; if the city loses, taxpayers lose big. There is even talk of shuttering city government. U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker was clear in his 167-page opinion as to where the government of Half Moon Bay went wrong. In 1984, Half Moon Bay formed the Terrace Avenue Assessment District (TAAD) for a storm-drain project. A project designed to drain water, Walker determined, instead created wetlands on the 24-acre Beachwood property. For full article, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/06/ED46U87HR.DTL For an additional opinion on this topic, go to: http://talkabout.hmbreview.com/topic.php?t=1145&c=7

WA: Grants protect wetlands and upland habitat

The Olympian – January 5, 2008 More than 1,600 acres of wetlands and upland habitat will be protected or restored in the Puget Sound basin and Washington coast, the result of $5 million in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants. The four projects in Puget Sound contribute to two key goals of the Puget Sound Partnership, habitat protection and habitat restoration. For full story, go to: http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/318085.html

CO: Final hearings for CIG pipeline soon

By Dan Barker – Fort Morgan Times – January 4, 2008 A final environmental impact statement (EIS) to allow Colorado Interstate Gas Co. to build a new pipeline, including a portion which will run from within Morgan County to the Front Range, is up for a final public hearing over the next 30 days. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which conducted the study, the final study was mailed out to a number of agencies, individuals and organizations, including newspapers, so people can comment on the final decision. Normally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must publish a notice of availability and no agency decision on a proposed action may be made until 30 days later, but the process in this case will allow the 30-day rehearing process for FERC to run concurrently with the EPA’s time frame, a document from FERC says. For full story, go to: http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/articles/2008/01/04/news/local_news/cig%20pipeline.txt

WA: Comment period extended for draft climate change documents

Contact Seth Preston – Washington Department of Ecology News Release – January 4, 2008 The comment period now will end on Tuesday, Jan. 22, instead of Jan. 10. That gives the public more time to review three draft documents: a “Comprehensive Climate Approach for Washington” offered by the state’s Climate Advisory Team; “Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change” from the state’s Preparation/Adaptation Working Groups; and a citizen engagement framework created with help from stakeholders throughout Washington. The documents are posted at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm.

NJ: New Jersey Benefits From Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant Relicensing

ENS – January 4, 2008 The state of New Jersey has secured a habitat restoration and public access enhancement project for Barnegat Bay as a result of the federal government's process for the proposed re-licensing of the Oyster Creek nuclear generating station in Lacey Township. "The mitigation efforts we are requiring will benefit the bay tremendously by restoring degraded tidal wetlands and resulting in significant improvements to clam and oyster beds," said Department of Environmental Protection, DEP, Commissioner Lisa Jackson. "Equally important, this plan will dramatically improve public access to the bay through preservation of a large tract of bay front land that will be developed with a boat launch, nature center and walking trails," she said. For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-04-095.asp

MI: Reminder – Michigan Volunteer River, Stream Clean up Grants Available 2008

Great Lakes Information Network – January 4, 2008  The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) are pleased to announce the release of the 2008 Grant Application Package (GAP) for Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program (VRSCCP). A total of $25,000 (plus carryover from FY 2007) is available under the program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. This funding is provided by the MDEQ through fees collected from the sale of the State’s Water Quality Protection license plates (Public Act 74 of 2000). The application deadline for Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup grants is January 25, 2008. There is a minimum local match requirement of 25 percent of the total project costs. The Volunteer Stream Cleanup GAP and application instructions are available online at http://www.glc.org/streamclean/app08. For more information, contact John Hummer at the Great Lakes Commission at 734-971-9135 or jhummer@glc.org.

VA: Water-quality law causes dispute

By Lawrence Latane III – Richmond Times-Dispatch – January 4, 2008 A King and Queen County officer says she is ignoring a new county ordinance because it blunts state law designed to protect water quality from the effects of development. "We're just issuing permits based on the old rules," Environmental Codes Compliance Officer Christine Breddy said yesterday. Her decision is the beginning of political fallout over the ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors that would make it easier for developers to use land in a county known for unspoiled waterways. Lying about 60 miles northeast of Richmond, King and Queen is bounded by the pristine Mattaponi River and the remote Dragon Run Swamp, and dotted with beaver ponds and woodland streams. For full article, go to: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-04-0153.html

CT: Mapping the town, digitally

By Matt Dalen – Lewisboro Ledger – January 3, 2008 Compared to the overall budget, $30,000 for a geographic information system (GIS) is a small figure, but proponents of the system hope that it will completely change how some town departments work. In implementing such a system this year, town officials hope to streamline the planning, zoning and building departments, making them more efficient and, ultimately, to save money. “It’s very exciting, because I’ve seen how you can use this tool in a multitude of ways,” town wetlands consultant Bruce Barber told The Ledger. “I think it’s going to be a great thing for the residents, and for the folks that work for the town as well.” The geographic information system is, at its base, a map of the town. Map “overlays” are then added to the base map, potentially including information on anything from topography to storm water runoff, from fire and traffic maps to locations of wetlands or hydrants. For full story, visit: http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/lewisboro/27150.shtml

LA: Sewer makes way for growth

By Claire Taylor – the Daily Advertiser – January 3, 2008 The population of the city of Broussard is under 10,000 today, but its leaders are preparing for growth in a way that will save money and nourish wetlands at the same time. "We're trying to build a sewer treatment facility that will handle a population up to about 50,000 people for the next 50 years," Mayor Charles Langlinais said. Instead of a typical mechanical sewer plant like the Lafayette Utilities System facility on Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Broussard officials decided on earthen ponds where the treated waste can be used to nourish adjacent wetlands. For full story, go to: http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/ NEWS01/801030305/1002

FL: Sides Line Up in Florida State-Federal Water Dispute

ENS – January 2, 2008 A lawsuit by three environmental groups seeking to force the South Florida Water Management District to obtain federal discharge permits for pumping water into Florida's largest lake has attracted a large number of opponents. Nine states and dozens of agencies and organizations filed legal briefs in December in support of the South Florida Water Management District, SFWMD, and U.S. government position in a federal court case involving state authority over state water resource management. The case dates to 2002, when several groups filed suit to require federal discharge permits for moving water through three district pump stations on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee. For full article, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-02-092.asp

CA: Fish and Wildlife Service Claims Sacramento River Islands

ENS – January 2, 2008 Two islands in the Sacramento River owned by the federal government have been closed to filing of new mining claims and are proposed to be withdrawn from the general land laws and transferred from the Bureau of Land Management to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Todd Island and Foster Island are isolated tracts of public land within the boundary of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge and are proposed for withdrawal and transfer to the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect riparian habitat along the river, which is critically important for fish, migratory birds, plants, and river system health. For full story, go to: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2008/2008-01-02-096.asp

DE: Property owners fear expansion of flood plain

By Beth Miller – the News Journal – December 30, 2008 The big pine tree still stands in Tom Wagner's front yard -- the tree rescue workers tied their boats to it as floodwaters rushed through Glenville in September 2003. Wagner, 48, still lives in the Netherfield Road house he grew up in. And he still worries whenever the weather forecast calls for heavy rain. But just about everything else has changed in this small community since the day Tropical Storm Henri dumped more than 8 inches of rain into the upper Red Clay Creek watershed. For full story, go to: http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071230/NEWS/ 712300414/1006/NEWS

MI: 'Progress, but not enough'

By Gitte Laasby – Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana – December 23, 2007 The Clean Water Act set out to "virtually eliminate" discharges to U.S. waterways by 1985. But a Post-Tribune analysis shows Indiana's major facilities discharged more than 378 million pounds of pollutants into Lake Michigan and its tributaries in just one year. Dumping of nearly all pollutants discharged by Indiana's 33 major polluters has fallen dramatically since 1979. The Clean Water Act has made a difference. Dumping of nearly all pollutants discharged by Indiana's 33 major polluters has fallen dramatically since 1979. The Clean Water Act has made a difference. For full article, go to: http://www.post-trib.com/news/710067,lakedump.article

Army Corps of Engineers:  Known Performance Issues with New Orleans Drainage Canal Pumps Have Been Addressed, but Guidance on Future Contracts Is Needed http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-288

DWR Releases Independent Report – A California Challenge A California Challenge – Flooding in the Central Valley, is an independent report written by a panel of national flood experts assembled at DWR’s request. Though the report validates the flood management funding already provided by Governor Schwarzenegger and corrective actions taken by DWR, it finds that the current flood control system needs further improvement. (01/08/2008)  http://www.water.ca.gov/news/newsreleases/2008/101507challenge.pdf

Return to Top of Page Return to State Wetland Programs