March 2015 • Volume 7, Issue #3
OUTREACH for FY2016 APPROPRIATIONSSTILL NEEDED
As the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate deadlines for Appropriations requests to the Energy & Water Development Subcommittees approach, your outreach is critical!
The committee’s deadline of March 18 means each House Representative is now assembling their appropriations requests. WCI has been reaching out to offices as follow-up from the February 10-12 DC Seminar with four asks:
- $3 billion for the Operations and Maintenance account;
- $360 million - the maximum amount the Inland Waterways Trust Fund can support for the Construction account (modernization and rehabilitation);
- $10 million from the Investigations account to continue pre-construction engineering and design work for the Navigation-Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP);
- $1.25 billion for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.
A call to action for WCI members to reach out to Senators and House Members went out March 11. A pre-written letter is available on our website: Waterways Council Call to Action on FY16 River Infrastructure Appropriations
Advocates simply plug in their zip code, identify and select their elected officials in the House and Senate, review the letter (with the ability to edit it) and send the letter via email. The letter can be forwarded to co-workers or colleagues with a note to act. Advocates can also sign up to receive future action alerts.
CORPS of ENGINEERS to KEEP UPPER ST. ANTHONY FALLS OPEN UNTIL JUNE 9
Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock (USAF) in Minneapolis will reopen for the 2015 season and remain open until its imminent closure as prescribed by WRRDA.
In a February 25 press release, the St. Paul District announced the reopening of USAF for the navigation season. Doubts existed whether USAF would reopen, given its status to close indefinitely.
The Upper St. Anthony Falls lock was scuttled in the 2014 Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA). The Minneapolis-based lock (mile 854) will close on or before June 10, 2015, as required in WRRDA.
In a press release, the St. Paul District announced, “The decision to reopen the lock for approximately 2.5 months was based on our Environmental Assessment as well as discussions with our partners, stakeholders and concerned groups. The Corps considered every opinion and decided to open the lock to navigation for a brief period this spring to allow businesses to transport and stockpile materials prior to the permanent closure.”
The lock closure has significant economic impacts to the region’s businesses. Two Minnesota employers located upriver of the USAF, Aggregate Industries and Northern Metal Recycling, employ more than 800 people. In addition to the direct economic impact to these two employers, the lock closure will have an effect on Minnesota residents; as an example, in the case of Aggregate Industries, switching from barge to truck will require approximately 20,000 eighteen wheel trucks per year.
“’We fully recognize that this decision will be applauded by some and criticized by others,’” said Col. Dan Koprowski, St. Paul District commander. “’This is not a decision I made lightly. Certainly reopening the lock carries some limited risk, but that risk had to be balanced against the cost to the businesses that will be forced to transition away from inland waterway navigation as a result of the lock closure. After a great deal of consultation and careful consideration of the potential risks, I decided to reopen the lock for a brief period this spring in order to provide those businesses the opportunity to prepare for that transition.’”
Waterways Council urged its members to weigh in during WRRDA implementation listening sessions hosted by the Corps, as well as during a public comment period specifically related to the USAF closure, to stave off closure until absolutely the latest date.
Tied to the closure, as reported in last month’s Midwest Update, is the January announcement by the St. Paul District of its intention to reduce service at two neighboring locks. A single 10-hour shift each day of the week, spanning 10a.m. to 8p.m., would replace normal operations at Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam 1.
The move will begin when the Corps implements the permanent closure of USAF. In its January Waterways edition, the Upper Mississippi Waterways Association pointed out the closure, purportedly to stem Asian carp migration (though not mentioned in WRRDA), “was mandated well before an extensive water sampling program by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service” was completed. The UWFWS results thus far showed “only a small amount” of eDNA, or environmental DNA, in pools 6, 8, and 9. “Scientists collected more than 500 water samples and found eDNA in only one” of the samples. The accuracy of eDNA is still up for debate as a predictor of actual fish presence.
In a January press statement, the St. Paul District announced the reduced service at the other two locks, saying, “In the course of making this final decision, Corps staff evaluated many factors including a significantly higher than average number of lock closure days the past two years, impacts to staff, environmental concerns, navigation industry concerns and the impending closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam to navigation.”
WCI EDUCATES AG GROUPS at COMMODITY CLASSIC
A record 7,936 people attended the 20th annual Commodity Classic, co-hosted by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and National Sorghum Producers.
The total attendance was more than 600 people over the previous record, 7,325, set in 2014. Other records broken were the number of growers, at 4,328 (compared to 3,874 in 2014); and the number of first-time attendees, at 1,409 (compared to 1,261 in 2014).
Waterways Council hosted a breakfast briefing for its members and prospective members on the morning of February 27, detailing President Obama’s FY16 budget, current Appropriations requests, and the challenges ahead for 2015, as well as a review of the many highlights from 2014. The forum offered an opportunity for WCI member associations and companies to provide feedback for WCI activities.
"Since first joining the Waterways Councila year ago, we continue to be impressed by the quality policy work and issues communication WCI does on behalf of inland waterways,” said Brent Burchett, Program Director of the Kentucky Soybean Association (KSA).
“The value of its unique membership - barge operators, labor unions, nature groups, farmer organizations and others - was evident during our first Capitol Hill visit with WCI to work on WRDAA. Efficient river transportation is vital for Kentucky grain producers, and our partnership with WCI is a sound investment in the future of our agricultural economy," he continued.
KSA joined WCI last year as a result of WCI participation in Commodity Classic 2013 and 2014. KSA also joined several other agriculture associations toadvocate alongside organized laborand conservation groups at WCI-led Capitol Hill fly-ins last year, providing momentum for WRRDA’s passage.
WCI staff also took advantage of the many coalition members attending by providing individual briefings for state delegation meetings. The outreach allowed WCI to connect with multiple boards, committees and association leadership during the week.
WCI also joined 354 other companies in exhibiting at the trade show. The WCI booth was well-received, with new graphics and banners detailing the importance of inland river transportation to the agriculture and agribusiness sectors.
Former NCGA President (and WCI Board Member) Garry Niemeyer joined WCI staff and members of the Carpenters’ District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity in helping with outreach and networking with attendees.
WCI Board member Dale Roth joined Dan Barger, both from the Carpenters’ District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity, in outreach during Commodity Classic
The trade show continues to grow. This year’s 170,500 net square feet of booth space set a new record from 2014 results, with 301 exhibitors using 126,200 net square feet.
"The number of first-time attendees we saw at this year's Classic was important to us," Commodity Classic Co-Chair Bart Schott said.
"It shows that growers are spreading the word about the value of the Commodity Classic experience - and that they appreciate how the world-class educational and networking opportunities help them back home," he said.
The 21st annual Commodity Classic will take place March 3-5, 2016, in New Orleans.
RE-OPENING of NAV SEASON DELAYED
The St. Paul District announced the delay in reopening Lock and Dam 5A this month, based in part because “thick ice conditions indicate that navigation will not begin on the Upper Mississippi until later than originally anticipated.”
The original March 9 date for the site, located at Fountain City, WI, has now been changed to March 23 in part to accommodate work crews completing scheduled maintenance. Industry was consulted on the ice conditions and its impact to operations.
L/D 5A was closed for renovation and maintenance on December 1, 2014. During the closure, the lock is dewatered to perform the work. Scheduled maintenance includes repairing concrete; repairing, sandblasting and painting the miter gates and replacing the bubbler system.
CORPS to CONGRESS: SKY ISN’T FALLING REGARDING ASIAN CARP
The commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers testified to Congress on February 11 that Asian carp aren’t advancing toward Lake Michigan.
Lieutenant General Thomas Bostick said the presence of adult fish remain about 55 miles away from Lake Michigan, south of the electric barriers. The carp's spawning area is 62 miles from Lake Michigan. “Established populations” of the invasive carp remain 143 miles from the lake.
The reason, it would appear, is the success of the electric barriers installed in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) near Romeoville, IL. The CSSC is the man-made hydrologic connection between the Mississippi River basin and the Great Lakes. Allowing the reversal of the flow of the Chicago River, it was originally constructed for flood control and to address early 20th century sanitation needs for the rapidly-growing Chicago area.
During the Waterways Council Capitol Hill fly-in, LTG Bostick informed the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development that carp haven’t moved north of the electric barriers. The first of three barriers were constructed in 2002.
"The point is, the leading edge of the Asian carp has not changed movement since 2006," LTG Bostick said in response to a question from Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D, OH-09). "We don't know why they haven't moved" further upstream, he said. You can view a 3-D model of the barriers here.
Rep. Kaptur, from the Toledo area, began the discussion of Asian carp, inquiring “I’m curious as to how many years it would take to have the operational barrier completed at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam…and what can be done to speed up the process, if it’s going to languish out there.”
MG John Peabody responded that a review at Corps’ headquarters would occur in March on the regional proposal to “execute the feasibility study” for the Brandon Road lock project, and a determination for what “the appropriate funding allocation” would be at the Des Plaines River site, just south of Joliet, IL.
Rep. Kaptur also hinted at a request for a “special briefing” for legislators impacted by the threat of the invasive species.
The brief carp discussion was part of the larger hearing on the entire Army Corps of Engineers 2016 fiscal year budget. You can view the entire hearing here – Asian carp discussion begins at 1 hour, 59 minute, 20 seconds.
NEW USDA REPORT: RAIL CONGESTION LEFT GRAIN SHIPPERS HIGH & DRY
A newly-released U.S. Department of Agriculture study highlights, among other things, the effect of a lack of reliable river transportation. The record 2013-2014 harvest, combined with limited rail capacity to move the grain, resulted in many Upper Midwest grain-producing states with no options but to put it in storage.
The study, requested by Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), reveals that states were left with storage of grain and oilseed stocks of up to 40 percent higher than in previous years.
This storage resulted in less-than-optimal storage options for the 2015 harvest. According to the study, production and stocks exceeded permanent capacity by over 900 million bushels for the 2014-2015 harvest.
The study reveals for “particularly Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota..the farmers in that region have limited local markets for the products, less access to barge or other transportation alternatives, and more limited crop storage relative to the recent expansion of corn production.”
View Rail Service Challenges in the Upper Midwest: Implications for Agricultural Sectors – Preliminary Analysis of the 2013-2014 Situation here.
JOURNEY of EXPLORATION of AMERICA’S WATERWAYS OPENS with RECEPTION for INDUSTRY, ELECTED OFFICIALS
RiverWorks Discovery returned to the Midwest this month with an opening reception to celebrate the commerce, culture and conservation of America’s inland rivers.
St. Louis’ historic Union Station is hosting Journey of Exploration of America’s Waterways now through May 3. The exhibit provides hands-on, interactive displays, designed to teach the importance of commerce, culture, and conservation on America’s inland waterways. The exhibit was designed with a focus on children but is a fun experience for all ages.
View a local St. Louis television news feature about Journey of Exploration of America’s Waterways here.
RiverWorks Discovery supporters helped host a reception March 4 at St. Louis Union Station, in conjunction with the Inland Waterways Conference. Mayor Tom Thompson of Grafton IL did the ribbon-cutting honors to open the exhibit to the public in the venerable train station hall.
Staff members from the offices of Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Rep. Rodney Davis (R, IL-13), Rep. John Shimkus (R, IL-15), Rep. Mike Bost (R, IL-15) and Rep. Ann Wagner (R, MO-02) were also in attendance.
You can find event photos on the RWD Facebook page here.
The first field trip toured the exhibit on March 6, as the third grade class of Immacolata Catholic School from Richmond Heights, MO visited Journey of Exploration of America’s Waterways.
Students from the third grade of Immacolata Catholic School in Richmond Heights, MO enjoyed learning about how locks and dams work.
View more photos of the field trip on WCI's Facebook page.
LONGTIME RIVER ALLY ELECTED to IOWA LEGISLATURE
Congratulations to State Representative David Sieck, the 100th member of the Iowa House of Representatives, sworn in on February 17.The Republican fromGlenwood, Iowa has been a longtime advocate for river transportation through Iowa agriculture associations. He won a special election on February 10 with 73 percent of the vote.
Sieck is a past-president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and has been active in the National Corn Growers Association, as well as the U.S. Grains Council. In 2008 he was appointed to the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee.
Sieck and his brother manage their family’s fourth-generation farm, which sits along the Missouri River and extends near Maryville, Missouri. They also own a farm in Kansas.
COALITION to PROTECT the MISSOURI RIVER DIRECTOR to RUN for MISSOURI GOVERNOR
Randy Asbury, Director of the Coalition to Protect the Missouri River,announced on February 12 his candidacy for Missouri Governor in 2016.
Asbury's background includes farming, small business owner, Missouri State Representative, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect the Missouri River and Principal and CEO of Principled Solutions and Strategies, LLC.
Congratulations and best of luck to Randy, his wife Connie,sons Tristan and Eli, and daughters Kiersten and Mandi!
AUDUBON EVENT on BIRD MIGRATION, IMPORTANCE of UPPER MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
The Audubon Center at Riverlandsis hosting a Migration Family Bird Walk at its West Alton, MO center, 301 Riverlands Way, on March 28 from 10:30a.m. – 12:00p.m.
Come learn about the amazing journeys of some the birds of the Mississippi Flyway. The program will begin inside with an introduction to migration and some of the species in the sanctuary. Guided walks will then commence to find some of the migratory birds.The event, part of their educational programming and outreach, is free and family-oriented, but please RSVP by emailing Julie Watson at or calling 636-899-0090.
The Center is open year-round from 8:00a.m.to 4:00p.m. every day.