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Not on my yard
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman recently announced that the USDA has developed a process that can remove phosphorus from swine production facilities and turn it into a solid, marketable fertilizer. Another beneficial byproduct from the process, she said, is a liquid fertilizer that's more "environmentally friendly" than untreated manure. "This technology is a good example of how agricultural research can provide benefits to everyone through environmental protection and improvement," said Veneman. Phosphorus overload from agricultural runoff currently threatens lakes, streams and rivers across America.

Great Lakes support
President Bush's 2004 proposed budget includes nearly $34 million for water quality improvements to the Great Lakes. Of that amount, nearly $15 million will support the Great Lakes Legacy Act and the cleanup of contaminated sediments. The new funding nearly doubles the EPA's current funding for the Great Lakes.

weather prediction
Weather experts are saying the El Niño weather pattern could drench California and might raise water levels of drought-stricken fisheries across the southeastern United States in the weeks ahead. The bad news? Drought conditions are expected to worsen across the Great Plains. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that El Niño has entered its "mature stage" and will probably linger through April.

Carolina water woes
Last summer's drought crippled public water supplies across the Carolinas from the Yadkin River to High Rock Lake. But despite improved technology and education about conservation, water use is growing faster than the population. Most of the increased use is due to new homes and the lawns that inevitably go with them. More and more new homes come with sprinkler systems, making lawns easier to water. After the drought last summer, cities and towns began searching for ways to reduce water use, and many are looking at restrictions — everything from limiting lawn size to outright bans on new development.

NASCAR outdoors
NASCAR superstar Ward Burton and his primary sponsor, Caterpillar, are teaming up with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to promote the centennial of the National Wildlife Refuge system. Burton will appear in three public service announcements promoting the anniversary, display a USFWS logo on his racing uniform, and serve as a refuge spokesman during media appearances. Refuges will be celebrating the centennial with special events all year long. March 14 is its "official" birthday.

Feds team up
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced a collaborative effort to improve the development of America's water resources and to conserve, protect and restore fish and wildlife resources. "We have established this partnership to encourage a spirit of cooperation between our agencies at all levels," said Steve Williams, new director of the FWS. 'We are committed to working together to find solutions to our nation's problems with water and fish and wildlife resources that will benefit the American people." The two agencies also agreed to provide joint training and interagency developmental assignments. In addition, the Corps may provide planning, design and construction services as well as environmental restoration services, hazardous or toxic materials removal, and other engineering or technical assistance. In exchange, the FWS may provide environmental management, fish and wildlife resource management and other services for both Civil Works projects and military installations.

For the birds
The long-running fight over the Missouri River's flow resurfaced as the U.S. Senate considered a massive spending bill. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., wants to allow river managers to move the nests of endangered birds to avoid an additional costly stop for barge traffic along the lower river. Environmental groups call the idea a "death sentence" for the birds. On the flip side, and because of the Endangered Species Act, water levels weren't raised last summer when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service blocked relocation of the nests of about 270 chicks that would have been flooded. Then Bond filed an amendment to the $390 billion spending bill moving toward passage in the Senate, thereby tying the agency's hands. Lawmakers were expected to vote on the package sometime in January.

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