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The Media of Water
News to let you know what's going on in the media related to water resources.
EPA Appeals Court's Decision to Overturn Veto of Mountaintop Removal Permit. Seven miles of streams at stake reports The Charleston Gazette. Feds Declare Disaster in 26 States due to Drought. 1000 counties effected reports
More detailed market information on
.  Congress Extends National Flood Insurance Program. discuss the legislation.
Atrazine manufacturer agrees to million dollar settlement to remove herbicide from water reports Journal Star. This video is part of the
says The Huffington Post. It's been at least 800,000 years ... since Earth saw carbon dioxide levels in the 400s, Jim Butler, Global Monitoring Director at NOAA's Earth Systems Research Lab and other climate scientists said. |
AWRA
Membership News
Renew NOW for 2012
or Request an Email Invoice
Special six month rates are available for new members starting in June.
"For water resources professionals
AWRA is the best of the best. It provides a network of committed experts and innovators that is unsurpassed."- Bill Battaglin, President of AWRA
"The study of water cuts across many disciplines. AWRA attracts individuals who wish to transcend the limits of their own discipline by exploring water from other perspectives and interacting with others who desire to do the same." - Michael E. Campana, AWRA Past President
From Seametrics posting, August 2011
NGO Embraces Multidisciplinary Approach to Water Resources *****************
Not a member? Please join us in protecting and managing our water resources ... together.
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AWRA State Section Activities
Pennsylvania|
"Water Quality in Pennsylvania: Sources of Impairment and Efforts to Address Them"
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The Pennsylvania Section of AWRA is planning its annual fall conference, to be held October 11, 2012 in Harrisburg and is issuing a CALL FOR ABSTRACTS. For more information, please contact Conference Chair: Andrew Dehoff, Vice President, PA-AWRA, adehoff@srbc.net 717-238-0423 ext 221
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AlabamaThe 26th Annual Alabama Water Resources Conference will be held Thursday & Friday, Sept. 06-07, 2012, at the Perdido Beach Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Orange Beach, AL.
Upcoming Luncheon Meetings 11:30 - 12:30 pm Presenter: Rick Carpenter - City of Santa Fe - Buckman Direct Diversion & WTP August 14, 2012 All talks occur at O'Neill's Pub on Central. For more information contact Florida AWRA FLORIDA SECTION ANNUAL MEETING KEY LARGO BAY MARRIOTT BEACH RESORT JULY 26 - 27, 2012 Alabama 2012 Alabama Water Resources Conference and AWRA Symposium Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Alabama September 5-7, 2012
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The Issues We're Facing Are Huge.
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Water Resources IMPACT is AWRA's bi-monthly magazine covering timely topics:
May 2012
Pipelines and Water Resources
March 2012
Religion, Culture and Water
January 2012
Water, Energy, and New Developments on the Way Ahead
November 2011
Historical Aspects of Water Resources
September 2011
The Global Market for Water Trading
July 2011Hydraulic Fracturing: The Concerns and Consequences of Resource DevelopmentMay 2011Integrated Water Resources Management: The Emperor's new Clothes of Indispensable ProcessJanuary 2011Managing Climate Change Impacts on Water ResourcesIMPACT and AWRA's Professional Journal JAWRA are included as part of AWRA's member benefits.
For information on a non-member subscription, please visit AWRA's subscription webpage.For the table of contents of the above editions and more, click here.
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Connections
The E-Newsletter of the
American Water Resources Association
June/July 2012
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"The Future [of water] is here. It's just not evenly distributed yet."William Gibson, cited on page 3 of The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civiziation's Northern Future
Dear Friend of AWRA,
From a "news about water resources" perspective, June was a difficult month. Aside from the loss of Lonesome George, the last known Galapagos Pinto tortoise, reports of fires, drought and the depleting availability of water were plentiful around the world.
In areas in which political and governing processes were not in place to help resolve water conflicts and provide strategies for sufficient access, things were and still are grave.
According to various news sources, over 1000 counties across the United States are in a state of a drought related emergency with serious implication for crops and local and state economies. Fortunately, federal, state and local agencies are stepping in to provide support. In certain areas of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, reports of riots over water insufficiency are plentiful across the web this month. There is little news that anything is being done by the authorities to relieve the stress. Hopefully this is changing.
As June is behind us and the rest of summer remains, there is much to be thankful for when it comes to living in areas in which water is effectively and holistically managed by a multidisciplined community of water resources professionals. Public, private and not for profit organizations working collaboratively from different perspectives seem to be what it takes!
In its efforts to help members and friends of AWRA expand their capacity to connect with other water resources professionals while addressing critical issues, the AWRA Board is working on a number of tasks to strengthen the Association's effectiveness and responsiveness as a leader in Water Resources Management education.
The tasks on the table right now include: revisiting 1) how technical committees and other committees can be better focused and involved; 2) how AWRA's website can be more user friendly and communicative; 3) how webinars can be used on a frequent basis to promote exchanges that advances multidisciplined perspectives and understanding; 4) how AWRA can demonstrate further leadership around the "cause" of Integrated Water Resources Management; 5) how to create greater clarity around what we need to do regionally, nationally, and internationally about the future of water resources - through partnerships, vision, and education. There are other pressing tasks as well.
As a member or friend of AWRA, I hope you'll watch for opportunities to become involved in shaping the outcomes of this work and stay tuned for bigger and better things.
All the best for a wonderful remaining summer - or winter - where ever you are! Please take the opportunity to browse the news on the left and check out all the announcements and conferences below. Comments from attendees of AWRA's Summer Specialty Conference held in Denver last month are below as well. Mary 
540.687.8390
info@awra.org
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 ANNOUNCEMENTS  AWRA ANNOUNCEMENTS
6 MONTH AWRA MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITY NOW AVAILABLE AWRA wants you to become a member of its multidisciplined community of water resources professionals ... officially! Use this six month offer to explore the benefits and become involved. There's important work ahead. Go to AWRA's website member info page for more information and/or call 540.687.8390.
CALL FOR WEBINAR IDEAS The Webinar Task Force - David Watt, Mark Dunning, Earl Spangenberg, Dick Engberg, and Michael Campana - is planning a series of webinars and seeks your help.
What topics would you like to see featured? Would you like to see a series on one topic or one-off presentations? Can you recommend presenters? And finally, would you like to be involved with the planning of future webinars as a Task Force member? If you have suggestions or comments, please email Michael Campana [Michael.Campana@oregonstate.edu]. Thank you!
on Agricultural Hydrology and Water Quality in March 2013 in St. Louis, MO will be announced shortly on AWRA's website. Many thanks to those who submitted topics for Special Sessions due June 18. For a "sneak peak" viewing of selected special sessions and other general topics, click here.
A FEW COMMENTS FROM ATTENDEES OF AWRA'S 2012 SUMMER SPECIALTY CONFERENCE held in Denver last month.
"The depth and breath of research that the conference brought to me as well as the expertise nationally and internationally have allowed me to learn things outside of my area of expertise that I would not normally be exposed to. I can't wait for the nest Riparian conference." Karen Hall, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
"Specialty conferences are the strength of AWRA. The focus on specific topics allows people of like interest to interact in venues of 100-200 people." Parker J. Wigington, Corvallis, OR
"Riparian restoration is in its infancy in Quebec. Nearly all the literature on riparian restoration comes from the United States. This conference was a wonderful opportunity for us to be exposed to the excellent restoration work being done in the United States."Audrey Comtois and Noemie D'Amour, Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada AWRA ANNUAL AWARDS (Repeat Announcement): The following were selected by the Board of Director's Nomination and Awards Committee to receive these 2012 AWRA Annual Awards. Congratulations to the winners and many thanks to all that submitted nominations! Fellow Member Award Gerald Sehlke, Advisory Scientist, Life and Earth Sciences, Idaho National Energy Laboratory Icko Iben Award Laurel Phoenix, Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Affairs, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay Outstanding State Section Award Florida Section American Water Resources Association Outstanding Student Chapter Award Hydrophiles, Oregon State University Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Award - First Time! Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Workgroup The Committee reported all of the nominees were outstanding and that it was difficult to choose just one recipient. In addition, the Committee wanted those not selected to know that the contributions they are making are exceptional. For information about these awards, please click here. EDITIONS OF AWRA's e-Newsletter CONNECTIONS are archived on AWRA's website under the Publication tab at the top of the home page. Also behind that tab are the table of contents for current and past editions of AWRA's magazine IMPACT and highlights of AWRA's professional journal JAWRA. OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Water and Rio + 20
The World's Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio in June attracted 45,381 individuals, 188 countries and 12,000 delegates. The seven critical issues for the conference are listed here.The Issue Brief on Water is presented here. The World Bank announces the birth of Global Partnership for Oceans at Rio +20. Click here for News Item on WB's blog. This website includes the list of voluntary commitments made by participating countries. A sampling of water related commitments are listed below: - Improving Global Water Quality (Global) - Building Global Capacity on using the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands for Policy and Decision-making (Switzerland) - Mountain knowledge solutions for sustainable green economy and improved water, food, energy, and environment nexus (Nepal) The document "The Future We Want." contains the vision coming out of the conference and addresses Water and Sanitation on p. 23, Oceans and Seas on p. 30, Climate Change on p. 36, Forests on p. 37, Desertification and Drought p. 39, and Chemicals and Waste on p. 41.
New Online Community for Groundwater
Waterwired blogger and AWRA Past-President Michael Campana has established an online Community for Groundwater and IWRM. Those interested should respond to the WaterWired Blog. More information is there as well.  New Report Released by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) recommends that large-scale commodity crop operations receiving federal farm subsidy be responsible for: 1) reducing water pollution from fertilizer runoff; and 2) disclosing information to the public about the quantity, type, and timing of fertilizers they apply. 
The U.N.s Division of Sustainable Development has released Road Map for Building a Green Economy for Sustainable Development in Carriacou and Petite Martinique Grenda. This publication includes principles and practices applicable to diverse localities. Chapter 4 is exclusively focused on Water Resources and includes a discussion on groundwater, desalination plants, use of cisterns, and recommendations for greater sustainability overall.  The Alliance for Water Stewardship has released the first draft of its International Water Stewardship Standard. While the due date for public comment has past (June 15th), the Alliance is convening an 18-month process that will include another public consultation period and lead to the first full version of the Standard (targeted for mid-2013). Click here for the first draft. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will pursue a campus wide theme "Water in Our World" for the purpose of bringing attention to the water crisis around the world and energizing activity across multiple disciplines within the University.
Putting an Economic Value on Natural Resources: The Australian Bureau of Statistics has updated Completing the Picture - Environmental Accounting in Practice. This publication outlines the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), a framework of metrics linking information on the economy and the environment. Its chapter 7 on Green Growth includes metrics related to water.
EPA has released a new fact sheet as part of its Healthy Watersheds initiative describing the economic benefits of protecting healthy watersheds.
The River Management Society (RMS) has announced winners of its 2012 River Management Awards given to individuals who have exhibited outstanding achievement and leadership among river professionals in their stewardship of North America's rivers.
On July 9, the Bureau of Reclamation will post on its website http://www.usbr.gov/ruralwater/ the Rural Water Assessment Report referenced in the June 15 edition of the Federal Register Reclamation will accept public comments for 60 days afterwards.
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Visit our instructions for authors to learn how to submit your manuscript.
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 Information
Postings here are captured from "The Media of Water" and "Announcements" sections of previous editions of Connections. Periodically postings are removed. Please find additional postings on archived Connections found on AWRA's website.
A New White Paper is Available: The 5 Essential Elements of a Hydrological Monitoring Program by Stu Hamilton, Senior Hydrologist at Aquatic Informatics.
The Obama Administration has released a 10-year strategic plan for research related to global change.
Updates to the 1988 National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) have been published in the May 9, 2012, Federal Register and is available at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-09/pdf/2012-11176.pdf The final list is also available for download, by region or state, at: http://wetland_plants.usace.army.mil. (Please note security message. ) The effective date is June 1, 2012.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced new health and environmental benchmarks for pesticides. Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides Fact Sheet.
EPA has developed draft Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class II permitting guidance for oil and gas hydraulic fracturing activities using diesel fuels.
EPA is requesting nominations of chemical and microbial contaminants for possible inclusion in the fourth drinking water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 4) and new information that has been made available since the development of the third CCL (CCL 3). The Federal Register Notice and CCL 4 Nominations website are available at:
UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) highlights immediate and achievable steps to extend sanitation and drinking water to unserved/underserved areas. In anticipation of World Environment Day, June 5, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon conveys message: "we must mobilize the partnerships we need to shift the world onto a more sustainable trajectory." Read More... New UN Survey indicates that sustainable water management brings economic, social & environmental benefits. "The survey focuses on progress towards the implementation of ... Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)."
A Survey of Europeans' Attitudes Towards Water-Related Issues was authorized by the Directorate-General for the Environment, European Commission and released this spring. "A majority believe water quality and quantify problems are serious."
The Municipal Services Project has explored ways in which public pension funds can help provide funding for water and electricity projects. Both the report and a summary article in IPS News are available.
Google Science Fair Finalist Focuses on Rain Energy Read the story and see the video posted by the Vancouver Sun. The Nation's River Continues to Be in Trouble Despite improvements, a new report says that The Potomac is the most endangered of U.S. rivers reports the Washington Post. An article in AWRA's April JAWRA reports that the disturbance to forests caused by the non-native hemlock woolly adelgid may have lasting impacts on aquatic ecosystem structure and functions. In a NY TImes Op-Ed, James Hansen, Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, says by releasing the carbon from the tar sands reserves, we "leave our children a climate system ... out of control." A new book, Climate Change Policy Failures: Why Conventional Mitigation Approaches Cannot Succeed, advocates for clean technology-replacement not "ineffective" emissions reduction programs. A New Study of the Ocean's Changing Salinity confirms wet places are getting wetter while dry places are getting drier and the worse is yet to come. Climate Change is Linked to WaterBorne Diseases in Inuit Communities reports National Geographic. Journey of the Universe: A new film tells the story of the universe from the birth of the cosmos to our present human impact and future. Mary Evelyn Tucker of the Yale School of Forestry and the Environment, and Brian Thomas Swimme, professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, are the co-writers. Click here for trailer and more information. "Endocrine Disrupters are Everywhere" reports NY Times Op-Ed and The Atlantic Minnesota is Setting Standards for Emerging Contaminants says MPR News FDA's Ruling Against a BPA Bans is reported on by the Food Poisoning Bulletin The Natural Resources Defense Council Comes Out Against FDA's Decision Not to Ban BPA. "Leaf Packs" to Attract Aquatic Bugs are Helping to Monitor Water Quality during major Amazon highway construction reports the National Geographic Ocean of Life is a new book by Professor of Marine Conservation, Callium Roberts. In it he pulls together "an astonishing collection of scientific discovery ... with non-textbook readability" says the Wall Street Journal. Here's a section reprint with photos. This article in the Guardian reports on the 6th World Water Forum's attention to the role of nature in smart water solutions. Lake Titicaca on the Peru and Bolivian Border is being drowned by pollution reports The Emerging Earth Community MIT students researched the western U.S. water supply for the next 100 years as the focus of their Mission 2012 Project. Their work is posted on the Mission 2012: Clean Water site. US Corps of Engineers' Institute for Water Resources has released a working draft report examining options for future modernization for the U.S ports and Inland water ways.
USGS study indicates that antibiotics in groundwater affects natural soil bacteria.
The USGS Cooperative Water Program provides online access to data on streams, groundwater, water quality,water availability, ecosystem health, water hazards, energy, and climate. New publication "Assessing the Health of Streams in Agricultural Landscapes:The Impacts of Land Management Change on Water Quality
was produced by the Council for Agriculture, Science and Technology (CAST).
click here. This linkis to a set of introductory slides to an AWRA organized IWRM presentation.
This report was prepared for the purpose of presenting the story of water management in the U.S. American West to the international water community at the 6th World Water Forum. Time for Solutions: Submission to the 6th World Water Forum by the Indigenous World Forum on Water and Peace
Just released: The United Nations World Water Development Report, the UN's flagship report on water giving an overall picture of the state of the world's freshwater resources. Scientists Warn of Low Dose Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, reports environment360. An article published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences also discusses the issue.
Governor Brownback's plan to conserve the state's dwindling water supply is moving quickly through the legislature reports the Central Valley Business Times. Texas farmers battle the Ogallala pumping limits reports The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that landowners can consider groundwater underneath their holdings personal property according to the New York Times. "The gulf oil spill may have had a greater impact on the Gulf of Mexico's ecosystems than previously thought." according to a report released March 26. Click here for the article in Chicago Tribune.
World Water Day Video answers question: "Why boiling water freezes faster than cold water? Click here.
Click here for an article on hidden water costs posted on The Nature Conservancy's website.
Here's a recent article on hydrometeorology and its implications for agriculture from Professor Pierre Gentine at Columbia Universities Water Center (CWC). Gentine is developing a new conceptual model to understand the daily cycle of clouds and precipitation over land.
The Draft of Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy (dated December 2011) is available here. Public comment closed March 15, 2012.
A study on hydrologic sciences conducted by the National Research Council identifies promising opportunities for addressing human and environmental challenges.
New report demonstrates that barriers to stop Asian carp invading the Great Lakes at Chicago are feasible.
USGS releases fact sheet: Phosphorus and Groundwater: Establishing Links Between Agricultural Use and Transport to Streams
Last Call at the Oasis: The international water crisis is the focus of a documentary coming to theaters in May 2012 according to Participant Media.
The Texas Water Development Board has released the 2012 Water Plan for Texas.
New Book edited by Farhana Sultana and Alex Loftus has been released: The Right to Water: Politics, Governance and Social Struggles.
A video highlighting Jim Thebaut's film Running Dry: Beyond the Brink is available. This documentary links global water scarcity, drought and climate change to a range of issues including international security.
An article on what's causing driest, warmest winters in history appeared in the Scientific American.
Article in Scientific American covers Brazil's plans to expand dam building in the Amazon Basin, a move opposed by many environmental groups.
presents a case for why dams are the wrong answer to addressing energy and related climate change issues.
AWRA's Dick Engberg writes about the pros and cons of Uranium mining in Virginia for the Middleburg Eccentric
Conservative, anti-global warming scientist Barry Bickmore has turned from global warming skeptic to advocate based on the evidence.Click here for comments and video
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AWRA Career Center
AWRA Career Center is the premier electronic recruitment resource for the industry. Here, employers and recruiters can access the most qualified talent pool with relevant work experience to fulfill staffing needs.
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Non-AWRA Conferences & Training Events CALL FOR ABSTRACTS & PAPERS
River Crossing: Linking RIver Communities
A Research Conference and Workshop
Convened by the River Management Society & Others
March 11-15, 2012
Abstracts Accepted through October 1, 2012
TRAINING
University of California is offering a five-day course in Geomorphic and Ecological Fundamentals for River and Stream Restoration at its Sagehen Creek Field Station, Truckee, California 13-17 August 2012. http://sagehen.ucnrs.org/courses/geomorph.htm
CONFERENCES |
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