INDEX:

---EDITOR'S NOTE--

---EDITOR'S CHOICE---

·	ELI Releases Report Profiling State Wetland Programs
·	Home Builders Release Wetlands Wish List
·	Western Wetland Conference: Collaboration across Boundaries
·	Report: Using the National Wetland Inventory as a Tool for Endangered Species Conservation

---NATIONAL UPDATES---

·	Federal Judge Finds Phosphorus Discharges Violate Everglades Cleanup Settlement
·	Western Drought Further Jeopardizing Endangered Wildlife
·	Largest Red Tide Outbreak in 12 Years in Massachusetts Bay Monitored By WHOI Scientists and State Agencies
·	Bush Says New EPA Chief will Put Science at Heart of Environmental Policy
·	EPA Does About-Face, Won't Allow Partial Treatment at Sewage Plants in Storms
·	World's Biodiversity Declining at an Alarming Rate
·	USDOI Awards $3.9 Million in Grants for Migratory Bird Conservation
·	NRCS Provides $4 Million and Requests Proposals for Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program
·	Road Building to Be Allowed on National Forest 'Roadless' Areas
·	Interior Secretary Turns Down Request to Reduce Release of Colorado River Water

---LEGISLATIAVE NEWS---

·	Excerpts from Natural Resources Defense Council's LEGISLATIVE WATCH
·	Action Alert: Help Kill Destructive WRDA Provision
·	Sen. Vitter Defends Measure That Critics Say Would Destroy Cypress Forests

---STATES NEWS---  

·	ME:  Pooling Resources--Vernal Pool Legislation Passed in Maine
·	KY: Group Will Study State Takeover Of Wetlands Protection Program
·	FL: Effect of Wetlands Bill Being Debated
·	SC: Parties Fail To Agree On Wetlands Guidelines
·	NY: The Wetlands Damper (Opinion piece)
·	Virginia Pledges To End Even Small Losses Of Wetlands
·	In-Depth Look into Status of Florida Wetlands
·	Illinois Anti-Wetland Bill Dies Quiet Death
·	3,100-Acre Wisconsin Habitat Jewel Dedicated
·	Weak Salmon Run Closes Some Northwest Fisheries
·	U.S. EPA awards Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission $345,000
·	Army Corps To Protect Tennessee Wetlands
·	Michigan to Regulate Some Groundwater Withdrawals
·	Partners Break Ground on Project To Save Louisiana Marshes

---PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES---

·	Watershed Academy Webcast Seminars
·	NOAA Releases Second Volume Of Manual On Coastal Habitat Restoration Monitoring
·	WI Wetland Restoration Handbook Wins Award
·	NRCS PMC to be Aired on Discovery Science Channel
·	National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Forestry
·	Research: Road Salt Affects Mitigation Wetlands
·	Welcome to the June 2005 edition of the Playa Post!
·	Available Online: EPA's Nonpoint Source News-Notes Issue #75, May 2005
·	National Geographic Magazine Highlights the Chesapeake Bay
·	Biodiversity Values of Geographically Isolated Wetlands
·	Conservation Easement Handbook 2nd Edition is Now Available from LTA

---POTPOURRI---

·	Position Announcement: Regional Wetlands Specialist
·	Point Reyes National Seashore Seeks Applicants for a Biological Sciences Technician
·	Environmental Scientist/Hydrologist/Geologist (Fluvial Geomorphologist)
·	Graduate Assistantship In Aquatic Ecology At Baylor University
·	RESEARCH ASSOCIATE 3 (Plant Eco-physiologist) Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute

---MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES---

For a rolling calendar of meeting, conferences, and other events visit the ASWM calendar.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Dear friends and colleagues,

I am so happy to put this edition of WBN to bed, especially since I've denied myself a hot soak in the whirlpool tub until I'm sure that I'm free from the computer for at least a day.  My ankles have swollen madly since my Land Trust Alliance - related trip to Tiburon, CA last week (a wonderful town and great trip!) and it was exacerbated by evenings sitting at the desk working on WBN and the theater website.

I whined a bit to my husband about the fact that my feet were heavy and swollen (what isn't!), and removed my socks so he could see. I indulged in a fantasy in which he looked concerned, encouraged me to lay down and placed pillows under my legs so he could massage lotion into my calves, ankles and feet to help their circulation.  After all, I'm carrying his baby, the namesake of the Connor family.  The fantasy was shattered when instead he grimaced, said  "Ugh, they look like club feet" and took a step back like edema is contagious.  So I indulged in another fantasy, that involved beating him about the head and shoulders with my clubfeet until his apologetic cries reached the appropriate pitch.  Sigh.

All in all, though, life is good with beautiful weather, peas growing in the garden and a healthy, happy family that I love.  And, I really, really appreciate the many people who have contributed to this edition of WBN including Ralph Tiner, USFWS; Vivian Newman, Sierra Club; Juie Sibbing, National Wildlife Federation; Jeanne Christie, supreme commander at ASWM; and David Merkey, NOAA.

Thanks, everyone - Happy Father's Day! Jennifer Brady-Connor Editor, Wetland Breaking News

EDITOR'S CHOICE

ELI Releases Report Profiling State Wetland Programs

ELI news release, 5/2/05. The Environmental Law Institute has recently released its report State Wetland Program Evaluation: Phase I, the first part of a multi-phased study designed to describe and analyze  "core" components of state wetland programs in a cross-section of states (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington) representing various approaches to wetland protection and regulation, as well as geographic diversity.  The report is available free for download at http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=11079.  Wetlands in the United States are regulated and protected through a variety of federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well as through the actions and initiatives of governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, universities and schools, and citizens. The efforts of these groups are often intended to complement each other and many rely upon planning and science in their design and implementation. Other approaches to wetland protection are the result of circumstance and incremental program development that have evolved organically over time.  In this report, ELI finds that state wetland programs are no exception, taking a variety of approaches to wetland regulation and protection.  ELI anticipates conducting additional studies in future years that cover the remaining states.

Home Builders Release Wetlands Wish List

NAHB news release, May 26, 2005 - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today released its Wetlands Wish List, a list of reforms that would improve the wetlands permitting process for home builders and home buyers. Release of the wish list coincides with the fifteenth anniversary of American Wetlands Month, focusing this year on the economic benefits of protecting wetlands.  "As stewards of much of the nation's developable land, home builders have taken a lead role in protecting wetlands," said David F. Wilson, president of NAHB and a custom builder from Ketchum, Idaho.  "It is important that federal legislative and regulatory bodies continue to work with landowners to protect wetlands sensibly and cost-effectively." . . . http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?sectionID=148&newsID=1512

Western Wetland Conference: Collaboration across Boundaries

The Western Wetland Conference will be held at the Denver Marriott West from October 24-26, 2005.   Individuals and organizations interested in wetland functions, conservation, and protection are invited from across the 17 state region (ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MT, WY, CO, NM, ID, UT, NV, AZ, WA, OR, CA). The conference will focus on successful approaches and strategies for overcoming wetland protection challenges which are unique to the west: water shortages and variability, limited regulatory protection, and lack of information.  Three tracks highlight topics high priority topics across the region.  Tracks are: Strategies for Wetland Protection; Gathering and Using Information; and Water Availability.  This conference, the first of its kind for a West-wide perspective will provide participants with: - Models for successful projects and programs - Opportunities to network across sectors and regions - Chance to share both challenges and successes with a broad group of participants - Tools and ideas to take home and apply to local issues, projects, and strategies For more information, please visit: www.mtwatercourse.org/wwc/index.htm. Call for speakers: Speakers for specific topics and sessions can apply by submitting an abstract and title to jkeigley@montana.edu by July 1, 2005. Successful candidates will be notified by the end of July.  Please visit ww.mtwatercourse.org/wwc/index.htm under  "speakers" for more information.

Report: Using the National Wetland Inventory as a Tool for Endangered Species Conservation

By Paul M. McKenzie, Ph.D., Endangered Species Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Background: The Hine's Emerald Dragonfly (HED) (Somatochlora hineana) is the only federally listed dragonfly protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Historically and more recently, HED was only known from Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  At the time of its listing in 1995, the species was restricted to Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.  In 1999, HED was discovered in Missouri . . . The use of NWI maps to identify potential new HED sites outside Missouri shows considerable promise.  Some states within the current or historic range of HED have the same NWI feature designations (PEMBs) as identified in Missouri.  Others (e.g., Michigan) have similar NWI feature designations (e.g., PFO1B & PFO4B or palustrine forested broad leaf deciduous saturated and palustrine forested needle-leaved evergreen saturated) where HED has been documented so the same process could be employed in such states.  Other map layers such as geology, soils, vegetation, could also be employed to help the analysis if available.  A similar process could be used in Wisconsin that currently has the largest populations of HED once the existing Wisconsin Wetland Inventory is converted and updated to NWI . . .  " View the complete report at http://www.aswm.org/wbn/archive/05/050531c.doc (307kb Word file)

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NATIONAL UPDATE

Federal Judge Finds Phosphorus Discharges Violate Everglades Cleanup Settlement

June 02, 2005 - By Curt Anderson, Associated ress. MIAMI - A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Florida and the U.S. government violated the 1992 Everglades cleanup settlement by allowing excessive discharges of phosphorus into the vast wetlands and failing to meet a stormwater treatment deadline.U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno ordered that a special master, who was appointed to oversee the cleanup, hold a hearing on how to resolve the violations, which were brought to the judge's attention by an Indian tribe and environmental groups. Moreno said allowable phosphorus levels have been exceeded each year since 1999, and that they were not the result of  "error or extraordinary phenomena" beyond federal or state control. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7861

Western Drought Further Jeopardizing Endangered Wildlife

June 02, 2005 - By Ananda Shorey, Associated Press. SAN BERNADINO VALLEY, Ariz. - Green and black spotted frogs loiter beneath the surface of a concrete pond's glassy water, their bumpy heads occasionally breaking through into the desert air. Others hop into the pool from behind tall tufts of dry grass, diving below their glistening eggs nestled in tangled, floating plants. A rancher transported the threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs to the artificial pond here because they were dying in a nearby reservoir that was being reduced to dried, cracked mud by years of drought. At the frogs' new home, a rush of water replenishes the pond when the water level drops. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7860

Largest Red Tide Outbreak in 12 Years in Massachusetts Bay Monitored By WHOI Scientists and State Agencies

May 31, 2005 - By Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. FALMOUTH, MA - With shellfish beds from Maine to Cape Cod coast closed from the largest outbreak of red tide in 12 years in Massachusetts Bay, scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) are studying the algae that causes these "red tides" and providing information to coastal managers using new molecular techniques and oceanographic models . . . Their data will again be shared with state officials and local shellfish managers given the significant public health concerns from this bloom. Shellfish contaminated with the red tide toxin, if eaten in enough quantity, can cause illness or death - a poisoning syndrome called paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP . . . http://www.enn.com/aff.html?id=661

Bush Says New EPA Chief will Put Science at Heart of Environmental Policy

May 24, 2005 - By John Heilprin, Associated Press. WASHINGTON - President Bush, in a rare visit to the Environmental Protection Agency, pledged Monday that science would be at the heart of the nation's air, water and land policies. Bush attended a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for Stephen Johnson, the first career employee to take over the agency's reins. Johnson, a 24-year EPA veteran, also is the first administrator with a science background.  "With this background, Steve will help us continue to place sound scientific analysis at the heart of all major environmental decisions," Bush said at a 15-minute ceremony in which White House chief of staff Andy Card administered the oath of office . . . http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7804

EPA Does About-Face, Won't Allow Partial Treatment at Sewage Plants in Storms

May 20, 2005 - By John Heilprin, Associated Press. WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it will not allow sewage treatment plants to skip a process for killing some disease-causing micro-organisms after heavy rains or snow melts. The decision reverses a plan proposed in November 2003 . . . The agency normally requires sewage to be treated using a three-step process. But during peak flows from storms, it routinely lets plants discharge a blend of fully and partially treated sewage. The agency had proposed letting that become the official policy for handling the huge volume of waste water that storms bring, but changed its mind after reviewing 98,000 public comments and the testimony at some congressional hearings. . . http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7783

World's Biodiversity Declining at an Alarming Rate

May 20, 2005 - By Phil Couvrette, Associated Press. MONTREAL - The world's biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate, threatening human well-being and future development and requiring important efforts and new thinking on conservation, a sweeping international report released on Thursday says. The report is the second of seven reports billed as the world's largest study of changes to Earth's ecosystems and their impact on humans. It is the result of five years of collaboration between 1,360 experts from 95 countries around the world . . . Entitled  "Ecosystems and Human Well-being: the Biodiversity Synthesis Report," it was prepared by the U.N. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment with the cooperation of the Convention on Biological Diversity . . . http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7782

USDOI Awards $3.9 Million in Grants for Migratory Bird Conservation

US DOI news release, 5/17/05. Interior Secretary Gale Norton today commemorated the 12th International Migratory Bird Day by signing a declaration of intent with Canada and Mexico to strengthen cooperation on bird conservation. She also announced $3.9 million in grants to conserve birds throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.  Norton signed the North American Bird Conservation Initiative Declaration of Intent to  "conserve North American birds throughout their ranges and habitats, and ultimately to collaborate with all participant nations regarding bird cooperation. http://www.doi.gov/news/05_News_Releases/050517a

NRCS Provides $4 Million and Requests Proposals for Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program

May 16, 2005-NRCS is providing $4 million for Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program partnership proposals that restore and protect habitat for migratorybirds and other wetland dependent wildlife. Of these funds, $500,000 will be available for proposals that address bog turtle habitat in the east and $500,000 for Ivory-billed woodpecker habitat in Arkansas. NRCS issued a request for proposals; applicants will have 45 days to submit proposals. Funds will be awarded through a nationwide competition including the Pacific Basin and Caribbean Area.  The RFP provides and opportunity to establish partnerships with states, tribes, not for profits and other eligible partners to assist in carrying out the Wetlands Reserve Program. Two states: Nebraska and Minnesota have established WREP's in partnership with NRCS.  Partners are required to provide at least a 50% match of the technical assistance (i.e., staffing costs) for proposed WREP's. These can be in-kind contributions. Proposals are due by June 30, 2005.  The request for proposals is available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/pdfs/wrep_rfp_051105.pdf. For more information on the Wetlands  Reserve Program visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/ or http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/ [scroll down to news release]

Road Building to Be Allowed on National Forest 'Roadless' Areas

May 06, 2005 - By John Heilprin, Associated Press. WASHINGTON - The last 58.5 million acres of untouched national forests, which President Clinton had set aside for protection, were opened to possible logging, mining and other commercial uses by the Bush administration on Thursday. New rules from the U.S. Forest Service cover some of the most pristine federal land in 38 states and Puerto Rico . . . Governors can submit petitions within 18 months to stop road building on some of the 34.3 million acres where it would now be permitted or request that new forest management plans be written to allow the construction on some of the other 24.2 million acres . . . http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7683

Interior Secretary Turns Down Request to Reduce Release of Colorado River Water

May 03, 2005 - By Ken Ritter, Associated Press. LAS VEGAS - California, Arizona and Nevada have scored an apparent victory in an ongoing dispute with four other Western states over how best to share water from the Colorado River in times of drought. Interior Secretary Gale Norton on Monday rejected a plea to reduce releases of Colorado River water from drought-depleted Lake Powell, the country's second-largest manmade lake and one of two main reservoirs on the river . . . http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=7658

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LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Excerpts from Natural Resources Defense Council's LEGISLATIVE WATCH

May 23, 2005 http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/legwatch.asp 1) The House approved a $320 million cut in EPA funding for next fiscal year, and the Senate began work on its version of comprehensive energy legislation. The Senate Armed Services Committee rejected a number of exemptions from environmental health statutes sought by the Pentagon in the Defense Authorization bill. 2) On 5/19, the House approved its version of the FY06 spending bill for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. Under the bill (H.R. 2361), the EPA would receive $7.71 billion, a cut of about $320 million from $8.02 billion in FY05 but $187 million more than President Bush's proposal of $7.52 billion. The program suffering the biggest cut would be the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, which provides funding for upgrading wastewater treatment plants across the country; during the last two fiscal years, the fund has been reduced almost $500 million from a level of $1.34 billion. The bill also includes $18 billion for environment-related programs overseen by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service . . . A complete budget analysis is available at http://www.nrdc.org/media/pressreleases/050209a.asp 3) On 5/13, the Senate Armed Services Committee rejected a series of exemptions from environmental health statutes that the Defense Department has sought as part of the Defense Authorization bill (S. 1042). These provisions have been vigorously opposed by a coalition of environmental groups, water utilities, local and state government officials and other stakeholders.]

Action Alert: Help Kill Destructive WRDA Provision

Michigan Wetlands Action Coalition eNewsletter 5/20/2005. . . . In April, a US Senate committee passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a bill that is usually presented to Congress every two years. Unfortunately, Section 2022 of S. 728 contains a destructive provision added by Louisiana Senator David Vitter, wiping out important wetland protections that have been in place for over 100 years. The provision would prevent the Corps from regulating activities (read dredging and filling of wetlands) on private property, unless the activity was determined to  "pose a threat to the safe transit of maritime traffic." If this provision is not removed, hundreds of thousands of wetland acres could potentially lose regulatory protection. The Senate is expected to vote on the WRDA in May.  At this time, we have an opportunity to urge our senators to protect our precious wetlands by supporting key amendments, including removal of Section 2022 . . . Contact National Wildlife Federation for a copy of the draft sign-on letter and the latest information on the status of this legislation.

Sen. Vitter Defends Measure That Critics Say Would Destroy Cypress Forests

5/4/05. By JEREMY J. ALFORD Courier Capitol Correspondent. BATON ROUGE -- A national environmental group is criticizing U.S. Sen. David Vitter for inserting language in a federal water bill that would allow logging in cypress forests with little oversight in the same measure that would pay for coastal restoration. Environmental groups aren't the only ones concerned. A member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration and Conservation also said he is concerned the provision would overshadow Louisiana's coastal efforts and could jeopardize the bill by prompting environmental groups to withdraw their support. Vitter, R-La., counters that the Sierra Club -- a national environmental group that has led the charge thus far -- is on the  "far left" and doesn't have a firm grasp of the topic . . . http://www.aswm.org/wbn/05/archive/050531b.htm

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STATES NEWS

ME:  Pooling Resources--Vernal Pool Legislation Passed in Maine

May 18, 2005-- by John Richardson Portland Press Harold. Copyright C 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.  Maine's vernal pools may finally be getting some of the respect and protection they deserve, biologists and conservationists say. The small woodland pools, long overlooked and left vulnerable to filling and development, have become a priority in the effort to save wildlife habitats. Now Gov. John Baldacci is about to sign legislation that will lead to the first statewide protections for vernal pools and the critters that rely on them as breeding grounds, nurseries and a source for easy meals. http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/050518pools.shtml

KY: Group Will Study State Takeover Of Wetlands Protection Program

5/14/05 By James Bruggers, The Louisville Courier-Journal - Louisville,KY  "A work group will study how Kentucky could take over a federal program that protects streams, rivers and wetlands. LaJuana S. Wilcher, secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, announced the members of the work group yesterday and said they would seek input from the public. The '404' program, named for a section of the Clean Water Act, is run by the Army Corps of Engineers. Only Michigan and New Jersey have developed their own wetlands regulation programs, Wilcher said.  The General Assembly this year passed a bill that authorized the environmental cabinet to issue wetlands permits under the Clean Water Act . . .  " http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050514/NEWS01/505140454/1008/NEWS01

FL: Effect of Wetlands Bill Being Debated

By DAN DeWITT and CRAIG PITTMAN, St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg,FL,USA. 5/6/05. TALLAHASSEE -  "A bill that critics say could make it easier for developers to destroy wetlands passed the Legislature Thursday. The bill would shift oversight of wetlands smaller than 10 acres from the federal government to the state. But the federal government would have to agree, and it is unclear that will happen. The state defines wetlands differently from the Army Corps of Engineers, the agency responsible for protecting wetlands. 'The federal definition of what's included is greater than the state's,' said Col. Robert Carpenter, who commands the Corps of Engineers in Florida. That means stricter enforcement than the state would provide. Senate sponsor Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, said environmentalists and the corps are overstating the bill's potential harm. The bill merely speeds the process, she said . . .  " http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/06/State/Effect_of_wetlands_bi.shtml

SC: Parties Fail To Agree On Wetlands Guidelines

BY JESSICA FLATHMANN, The Hilton Head Island Packet, 5/9/05.  "The state's piecemeal approach to regulating isolated freshwater wetlands will continue for at least another year because environmental and business interests couldn't reach an agreement on how the legislature should handle the issue. At the end of the 2004 legislative session, after disagreement between the groups stalled a bill to regulate wetlands, the two sides agreed to work together on new legislation this year. But they failed to reach an agreement again. Officials with the S.C. Association of Realtors and the Coastal Conservation League said the minimum size that would require a wetland to be regulated remains the major stumbling block . . .  "

NY: The Wetlands Damper (Opinion piece)

5/30/05. The Journal News.com - Westchester,NY.  "The Brennan Center for Justice zeroed in on state Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno Wednesday as solely responsible for holding up a bill to protect New York wetlands. Bruno, defiantly, admits it . . . The bill Bruno is sitting on would give the state the authority to regulate wetlands as small as 1 acre. Currently, the state can regulate wetlands of 12 acres or more. Several northern states have adopted similar measures following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2001 ruling that annulled the federal government's power to regulate small wetlands. This opened small wetlands to unregulated development . . . " http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050530/OPINION01/505300312/1015

Virginia Pledges To End Even Small Losses Of Wetlands

By SCOTT HARPER, The Virginian-Pilot, 5/25/05. NEWPORT NEWS - For years, Virginia has approved hundreds of small waterfront projects - new piers, bulkheads, boat houses, stone barriers - that destroyed tidal wetlands without compensation. According to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 132 acres of shoreline wetlands have been ruined by such projects since 1993 - despite a state commitment to  "no net loss" of wetlands. On Tuesday, the state adopted a new policy to stop this trend. And officials pledged to implore dozens of local governments, from Norfolk to the Northern Neck, to follow suit in requiring compensation for destroyed wetlands of any size. Members of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the state agency that regulates shoreline habitat and construction, said the move should greatly help efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay, which is slowly losing its green, marshy shores to development . . . http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/print.cfm?story=86906&ran=190260

In-Depth Look into Status of Florida Wetlands

E-mail from Julie Sibbing, National Wildlife Federation. Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite from the St. Petersburg Times in FL have taken the last 10 months or so to look in-depth into the status of wetlands in Florida. Check out the result of their research, including their series of articles, audio clips, photos, more information, etc. at: http://www.sptimes.com/2005/webspecials05/wetlands/index.shtml

Illinois Anti-Wetland Bill Dies Quiet Death

E-mail from Julie Sibbing, National Wildlife Federation.  "An update from Richard Acker of the Environmental Law and Policy Center: I am reporting on some good news from Illinois!  An anti-wetlands bill drafted by representatives from the regulated community died a quiet death in the Illinois House of Representatives' Energy and Environment Committee last week. The bill (SB 761) would have created a very weak state-level wetland program in exchange for abolishing strong local-level programs.  Many of the fastest growing counties in the Chicago suburban region have distinguished themselves by adopting good wetland protections in the wake of the SWANCC decision, and representatives from the homebuilders', realtors', and other communities have sought to undo these local protections.  SB 761 would have eliminated the good local programs and replaced them with a state-level program exempting approximately 50% of all isolated wetlands from any protection at all and offering very weak protections - in many cases without any mitigation or with mitigation at less than a 1:1 ratio - for the remaining wetlands . . .  "

3,100-Acre Wisconsin Habitat Jewel Dedicated

NRCS This Week 6/1/05. As a result of a collaborative effort between NRCS, Pheasants Forever (PF), and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), the new 3,100-acre Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area was recently dedicated. All 3,100 acres are now open for public recreation including, hiking, hunting, and wildlife viewing. Merlin Bartz, NRCS Regional Assistant Chief Central, Pat Leavenworth, State Conservationist, Scott Hassett, WDNR Secretary and Howard Vincent, President and CEO of Pheasants Forever, were on hand to speak. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/2005/060105/home.html

Weak Salmon Run Closes Some Northwest Fisheries

Idaho, Oregon, and Washington have ended commercial fishing in the Columbia River after this year's salmon run fell drastically short of expectation. Fisheries experts had expected 254,000 chinook salmon would pass the Bonneville Dam during the annual run, but only 52,000 have passed the dam. Officials are having difficulty explaining the low numbers . . . http://www.nationalacademies.org/headlines/ [scroll down to article]

U.S. EPA awards Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission $345,000

EPA news release, 5/19/05. LOS ANGELES -- EPA awarded $345,000 to the CA State Water Resources Control Board for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, which will use the funds to implement environmentally significant projects to enhance Santa Monica Bay. The EPA grant will help finance storm water pollution control, habitat restoration, long-term restoration and pollution control strategies. The Santa Monica Bay National Estuary measures approximately 1,465 square kilometers, and is host to world famous beaches and urban centers, kelp forests, and several endangered species including the Brown sea turtle and California pelican. For more information on the EPA's National Estuary Program, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/about1.htm For more information on the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Committee, please visit:http://www.santamonicabay.org/site/home/layout/index.jsp

Army Corps To Protect Tennessee Wetlands

NWF Press Release, 5/6/05. Cumberland Plateau, TN (May 6)  -- As a result of a lawsuit filed by the National Wildlife Federation and other groups, the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has reversed its call not to regulate an important wetland area in Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau region.    "This is a victory as these wetlands will receive federal Clean Water Act safeguards against destruction," says Jim Murphy, Water Resources Counsel for the National Wildlife Federation.  "The downside of this victory is that it took a lawsuit in order for the Corps to do the right thing and protect these wetlands for future generations." In a letter to the Airport proposing to fill the wetlands, the Corps stated it will assert jurisdiction over the wetland because the Corps has concluded that a hydrological connection exists between waters leaving the wetland and the Falling Water River, a navigable water . . . http://www.aswm.org/wbn/archive/05/050531a.htm

Michigan to Regulate Some Groundwater Withdrawals

Michigan Governor news release, 5/25/05. LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Steven E. Chester announced that the state will begin the process of regulating any groundwater withdrawal that would change the size of a lake, stream or river. Granholm asked the DEQ to write rules requiring permits for any withdrawal that will  "create, enlarge or diminish" an inland lake or stream. Her request for the new rules follows a DEQ brief filed with the Michigan Court of Appeals, in which the department reversed policies established by previous administrations, saying that state law requires a permit for any activity that will change the size of a surface body of water.  "No one has sole ownership of the state's water - it belongs to all of us," Granholm said. http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-23442_21974-118837--M_2005_5,00.html

Partners Break Ground on Project To Save Louisiana Marshes

NRCS This Week, 5/4/05. Gathered beneath a tent on a small bridge, State leaders commented on the missing marsh that used to lie not far from their feet, now replaced by lapping water. In an effort to save remaining marsh from the same fate, elected officials and community leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of a $1.7 million project intended to restore 4,700 acres of marsh within the Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area. The project is part of a nationwide push for Ducks Unlimited coastal projects. Ducks Unlimited secured a $1 million North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant to construct the project. The federal grant program funds projects to protect and restore habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/2005/050405/almarshes.html