Mississippi River Water Quality CenterMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Mississippi River Water Quality Center
DATE: March 2, 2011
Dubuque
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2007
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is recommending sending letters of support for a potential
Mississippi River Water Quality Center to be located in Dubuque.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mi a a l
C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Molly Grover, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dubuque Area Chamber of
Commerce
Mike Blouin, President, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
Rick Dickinson, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Greater Dubuque
Development Corporation
Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director, East Central Intergovernmental
Association
David Lyons, Sustainable Project Manager
Barry Gentry, Director of Government & Events, Dubuque Area Chamber of
Commerce
Dan McDonald, Assistant Director, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Dave Heiar, Economic Development Director
Aaron DeJong, Assistant Economic Development Director
THE DU CITY OF
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
MEMORANDUM
TO: Michael C. Van Milligan, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Mississippi River Water Quality Center
DATE: February 21, 2011
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to present letters of support for a potential Mississippi
River Water Quality Center to be located in Dubuque.
BACKGROUND
Two studies have recently been commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency
and completed by the National Research Council: Nutrient Control Actions for Improving
Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern Gulf of Mexico (2009) and
Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern Gulf of Mexico:
Strategies and Priorities (2010).
The National Research Council looked at the federal government's nutrient control
implementation initiative. The report concluded that "a new organization located in the
upper river basin (with) full -time staff is necessary to accomplish this ambitious and
essential water quality monitoring, evaluation and administration challenge." The report
thus recommended that the EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture "establish and
jointly administer a new Mississippi River Basin Water Quality Center."
DISCUSSION
Support is needed to generate interest in creating this Mississippi River Water Quality
Center and have it potentially located in Dubuque.
REQUEST
I request that the attached letters of support be signed by the Mayor.
Attach.
cc: Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
Dean Mattoon, Engineering Technician
Dubuque
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2007
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
February 24 2011
Senator Charles Grassley
135 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Grassley:
As you are aware, the City of Dubuque and the County of Dubuque have provided
extensive leadership in recent years raising awareness about and addressing issues related
to the Mississippi River.
Much of this work has been accomplished in connection with our internationally acclaimed
America's River Project and Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Increasing attention
is being paid to water quality issues as we recognize the impact of development, modern
agricultural practices and climate change in the context of society's accelerating demands
on the world's scarce fresh water resources.
Recently, we became aware of two related studies commissioned by the Environmental
Protection Agency and completed by the National Research Council: Nutrient Control
Actions for Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern Gulf of
Mexico (2009) and Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern
Gulf of Mexico: Strategies and Priorities (2010).
The National Research Council looked at the federal government's nutrient control
implementation initiative. The report concluded that "a new organization be located in the
upper river basin (with) full -time staff is necessary to accomplish this ambitious and
essential water quality monitoring, evaluation and administration challenge." The report thus
recommended that the EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture "establish and jointly
administer a new Mississippi River Basin Water Quality Center."
We respectfully request that our federal elected officials consult with the agencies and work
with them to create and fund the operation of a water quality center. We further request that
such a center be located in Dubuque. We are willing to work with you, EPA, USDA, the
State of Iowa and other stakeholders to make this a reality. State Rep. Chuck lsenhart, who
has been working on these issues as part of his involvement with the National Caucus of
Environmental Legislators, has indicated his commitment to seeking funding from the State
of Iowa to help finance the start-up costs of such a facility.
Given our community's 1) central location; 2) access to the river; 3) historic interest in river
issues and commitment to addressing them; 4) relationships we have developed nationwide
with entities concerned about the future of the river; 5) aggressive local investment in
stormwater management and other water quality projects; and 6) proven track record
developing and maintaining public /private partnerships for the common good, we believe
Dubuque would be an ideal location for a federal water quality center.
Dubuque
0114antteaCIP
I Ill l►
2007
Please contact us if we can be of assistance when you initiate conversations with the EPA
and USDA regarding our recommendation and proposal.
We thank you for your attention and, as always, look forward to working with you.
Sincerely yours,
CITY OF DUBUQUE
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
cc: Tom Harkin, US Senator
Bruce Braley, US Congressman
Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Lisa Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
Eric Manternach, Chairperson, Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Jerry Enzler, Executive Director, Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
THE CITY OF
DUB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
February 24 2011
Senator Tom Harkin
731 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Harkin:
As you are aware, the City of Dubuque and the County of Dubuque have provided
extensive leadership in recent years raising awareness about and addressing issues related
to the Mississippi River.
Much of this work has been accomplished in connection with our internationally acclaimed
America's River Project and Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Increasing attention
is being paid to water quality issues as we recognize the impact of development, modern
agricultural practices and climate change in the context of society's accelerating demands
on the world's scarce fresh water resources.
Recently, we became aware of two related studies commissioned by the Environmental
Protection Agency and completed by the National Research Council: Nutrient Control
Actions for Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern Gulf of
Mexico (2009) and Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern
Gulf of Mexico: Strategies and Priorities (2010).
The National Research Council looked at the federal government's nutrient control
implementation initiative. The report concluded that "a new organization be located in the
upper river basin (with) full -time staff is necessary to accomplish this ambitious and
essential water quality monitoring, evaluation and administration challenge." The report thus
recommended that the EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture "establish and jointly
administer a new Mississippi River Basin Water Quality Center."
We respectfully request that our federal elected officials consult with the agencies and work
with them to create and fund the operation of a water quality center. We further request that
such a center be located in Dubuque. We are willing to work with you, EPA, USDA, the
State of Iowa and other stakeholders to make this a reality. State Rep. Chuck lsenhart, who
has been working on these issues as part of his involvement with the National Caucus of
Environmental Legislators, has indicated his commitment to seeking funding from the State
of Iowa to help finance the start-up costs of such a facility.
Given our community's 1) central location; 2) access to the river; 3) historic interest in river
issues and commitment to addressing them; 4) relationships we have developed nationwide
with entities concerned about the future of the river; 5) aggressive local investment in
stormwater management and other water quality projects; and 6) proven track record
developing and maintaining public /private partnerships for the common good, we believe
Dubuque would be an ideal location for a federal water quality center.
Dubuque
bib li
rurf
2007
Please contact us if we can be of assistance when you initiate conversations with the EPA
and USDA regarding our recommendation and proposal.
We thank you for your attention and, as always, look forward to working with you.
Sincerely yours,
CITY OF DUBUQUE
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
cc: Charles Grassley, US Senator
Bruce Braley, US Congressman
Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Lisa Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
Eric Manternach, Chairperson, Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Jerry Enzler, Executive Director, Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
THE Du CITY OF
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
February 24 2011
Rep. Bruce Braley
1408 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20005
Dear Congressman Braley:
As you are aware, the City of Dubuque and the County of Dubuque have provided
extensive leadership in recent years raising awareness about and addressing issues related
to the Mississippi River.
Much of this work has been accomplished in connection with our internationally acclaimed
America's River Project and Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Increasing attention
is being paid to water quality issues as we recognize the impact of development, modern
agricultural practices and climate change in the context of society's accelerating demands
on the world's scarce fresh water resources.
Recently, we became aware of two related studies commissioned by the Environmental
Protection Agency and completed by the National Research Council: Nutrient Control
Actions for Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern Gulf of
Mexico (2009) and Improving Water Quality in the Mississippi River Basin and Northern
Gulf of Mexico: Strategies and Priorities (2010).
The National Research Council looked at the federal government's nutrient control
implementation initiative. The report concluded that "a new organization be located in the
upper river basin (with) full -time staff is necessary to accomplish this ambitious and
essential water quality monitoring, evaluation and administration challenge." The report thus
recommended that the EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture "establish and jointly
administer a new Mississippi River Basin Water Quality Center."
We respectfully request that our federal elected officials consult with the agencies and work
with them to create and fund the operation of a water quality center. We further request that
such a center be located in Dubuque. We are willing to work with you, EPA, USDA, the
State of Iowa and other stakeholders to make this a reality. State Rep. Chuck lsenhart, who
has been working on these issues as part of his involvement with the National Caucus of
Environmental Legislators, has indicated his commitment to seeking funding from the State
of Iowa to help finance the start-up costs of such a facility.
Given our community's 1) central location; 2) access to the river; 3) historic interest in river
issues and commitment to addressing them; 4) relationships we have developed nationwide
with entities concerned about the future of the river; 5) aggressive local investment in
stormwater management and other water quality projects; and 6) proven track record
developing and maintaining public /private partnerships for the common good, we believe
Dubuque would be an ideal location for a federal water quality center.
Dubuque
11 2007
Please contact us if we can be of assistance when you initiate conversations with the EPA
and USDA regarding our recommendation and proposal.
We thank you for your attention and, as always, look forward to working with you.
Sincerely yours,
CITY OF DUBUQUE
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
cc: Tom Harkin, US Senator
Charles Grassley, US Senator
Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Lisa Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
Eric Manternach, Chairperson, Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Jerry Enzler, Executive Director, Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium