Program areas at UMRBA
General services - policy research, issue analysis, meeting coordination, policy statements, and facilitating exchange of information among government agencies. Quantifiable outputs include 4 multi-topic umrba quarterly meetings and representation of umrba on the board of directors for america's watershed initiative (12 meetings), the interstate council on water policy (20 meetings), and the national waterways foundation (3meetings). Represented umrba at many regional and national navigation-, flood risk-, and ecosystem-related meetings and conferences.tracked appropriations and other federal legislation and communicated states' positions on important legislation and related policy. Conducted annual diversion consultation. Continued developing umrba website, mostly involving uploading documents and designing web pages.
Ecosystem - coordinated states involvement in ecosystem-related programs and other efforts and provided staff services for a federal/state interagency committee. Hosted several interagency meetings and conference call meetings. Providedextensive writing and review in developing partnership program reports as well as meeting-related services. Facilitated the development of partnership priorities for water level management, including updating the environmental pool management-focused nesp environmental report 53 and clarifying ecological objectives for employing water level management as a management tool. Supported evaluation of the umrba member states' charter regarding out-of-basin water diversions, including developing scenario planning exercises.
Oil pollution act project and hazardous spills - data collection, mapping, and development of spillresponse plans and protocols; including completion of the minneapolis/st. Paul sub-area contingency plan and the Illinois statewide inland sensitivity atlas (isa) updates as well as development of the Wisconsin isa update. This includes assisting in stakeholder meetings and facilitating plan review. Development of response strategies within the greater st. louis sub-area, in coordination with usepa regions 5 and 7. This includes hosting regional conversations to identify draft response strategy sites. Field works was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.continued support of the umr hazardous spills coordination group, including in hosting two semi-annual meetings and initiating the development of a five-year draft strategic plan.
Water quality - supported implementation of a pilot test of a shared, interstate cwa monitoring strategy on the umr along the Upper Mississippi River in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. Continued staff support for a work group focused on addressing harmful algal blooms (habs) on the umr and developing a significant federal water quality improvement legislative framework. Represented umrba at other regional and national water quality meetings (5 meetings). Produced an annual water quality program report. Finalized a draft 10-year program plan for the umrba water quality executive committee. Hosted two workshops on progress tracking related to the states' implementation of their respective nutrient reduction strategies.
Coordinated states' positions on important legislation and related policy, including the navigation and ecosystem sustainability program (nesp), and facilitated partnership consultation with respect to nesp implementation. Represented umrba at regional and national navigation-related meetings (4 meetings). Executed a cost-share agreement with the u.s. army corps of engineers to develop a report of key high-leverage actions and a framework for long term planning.