The Northeast-Midwest Institute will hold a briefing exploring ways to improve the efficiency of conservation efforts using the Regional Conservation Partnership Program as a model.  The briefing will take place on Tuesday, December 11th, at 2:30 PM in Rayburn 2253.  Look out for an official invitation in the coming weeks.

The briefing will include a panel of the following experts:

• Michelle Perez, Water Initiative Director, American Farmland Trust 
• Rosalyn Brummette, Legislative Aide, Senate Agriculture Committee 
• Jimmy Bramblett, Deputy Chief for Programs, Natural Resources Conservation Service 
• Dr. Sri Vedachalam, Director of Safe Drinking Water Program, Northeast-Midwest Institute 

For more information, please contact  Eric Heath , Senior Policy Counsel for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute .

The latest National Climate Assessment was released last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.  The report at the heart of the apparent news dump highlights dire consequences for the United States if climate change is left unabated.  From slashed national GDP to plummeting crop yields, the 1600 page report is full of major red flags for the country.

The report is mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990.  Every four years, the U.S. Global Change Research Program - a task force comprised of experts from 13 federal agencies - issues a new national assessment.  Each assessment is required to meet the following goals:

"1) integrates, evaluates, and interprets the findings of the Program...; 

2) analyzes the effects of global change on the natural environment, agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources, transportation, human health and welfare, human social systems, and biological diversity; and 

3) analyzes current trends in global change, both human-induced and natural, and projects major trends for the subsequent 25 to 100 years."

According to reporting by the Associated Press, when asked about the economic consequences of climate change laid out in the thoroughly researched assessment produced by his own administration, President Trump stated "I don't believe it."

For more information, please contact  Eric Heath , Senior Policy Counsel for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute .

The Northeast-Midwest Institute released a report documenting the severity of the lead contamination problem in drinking water and analyzing policy changes in the Northeast-Midwest region. 

The study finds the lead contamination problem in drinking water has a broad geographic reach throughout the Northeast and Midwest region, with more than half of the region's Congressional districts - spanning cities, suburbs, and rural areas - having significant issues with lead contamination of water.

The report is available here and a related press release is available here.

For more information, please contact  Dr. Sri Vedachalam , Director of the Safe Drinking Water Research and Policy Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released the final draft of the GLMRIS-Brandon Road Feasibility Study, which is focused on preventing the transfer of aquatic invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.  The USACE had previously released a draft of the Brandon Road Feasibility Study in August 2017 calling for new controls at the controls at Brandon Road including such measures as acoustic fish deterrents, an engineered channel, an electric barrier, a flushing lock and boat launches.  The new draft has several changes including a proposed air bubble curtain to disrupt small and stunned fish.  A notice of availability of the final draft report was published in the Federal Register today and the report will remain under review through December 24, 2018.  The draft report can be viewed here. 

For more information, please contact  Matt McKenna , Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program, at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, has announced that it will receive $32.4 million for the New Soo Lock project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in the USACE's FY 2019 work plan.  The funding will be used for the design and construction of the project, through the initiation of the deepening of the upstream approach channel which will allow construction of the upstream channel deepening to begin.   The deepening of the upstream approach channel is considered a big step in the construction of a new lock.  The Soo Locks serves as a critical infrastructure component of the Great Lakes Navigation System, acting as a gateway for the movement of critical natural resources essential to the American manufacturing sector.  The USACE's press release can be viewed here. 

For more information, please contact  Matt McKenna , Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program, at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

More information can be found at the official notice, here.

For more information,  please contact  Eric Heath , Senior Policy Counsel for the Mississippi River Basin Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute .