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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 bikri Ali- Ammica City 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 httitg AFAudeaCb '� 1' 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