Evaluates long-term cumulative depletion volumes in 40 separate aquifers in the U.S. Finds the rate of groundwater depletion has increased markedly since about 1950 with maximum rates occurring during the most recent period.   From the U.S. Geological Survey

Reports on the vulnerability of 20 urban U.S. watersheds to a range of plausible mid-21^st Century climate change and urban development scenarios.  From the Environmental Protection Agency

This report documents flow-adjusted trends in sediment and total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations for 31 stations in 1985-2011 and for 32 in 2002-2011.  For 2006-2011 period, 65 stations are covered.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Examines scientific and technical issues related to determining risks to endangered species and calls for federal agencies with responsibilities for protecting these species to develop common assessment approaches.  From the National Research Council

Describes the need for a Water Census and steps taken toward establishing it. Also discusses plans for the future.   From the U.S. Geological Survey

Describes landscape disturbances from hydraulic-fracturing used to extract natural gas from the MarcellusShale located in the Allegheny Plateau.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Despite the date, this report was released in March 2013.  Provides information on the ecological condition of the nation’s rivers and streams (not good) and the key stress factors that affect them.  It also compares changes in water quality from an earlier study, the Wadeable Streams Assessment of 2004.  From the Environmental Protection Agency

The surge in gun sales following the Newtown school massacre and renewed legislative efforts at gun control have resulted in increases in funds for wildlife conservation from the excise tax on guns and ammunition sales. This report examines these taxes, their allocation, and their use.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Describes controversies over whether environmental regulations affecting agriculture, especially those dealing with air, water, energy, and chemicals, will impair economic growth and productivity or are needed to protect against adverse impacts on the environment.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Reports on the supply and price fluctuations of crude oil and natural gas, the amount that comes from federal lands, and whether production on federal lands could be increased by making drilling more attractive through price and permit changes.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Measures concentrations and loading estimates for nutrients, suspended sediment, and E.Coli bacteria at three monitoring stations of tributaries of the Potomac River.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Covers the status of water quality in the U.S., groundwater monitoring and modeling, predicting ecological conditions in streams, and forecasting future conditions.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Sounds an alarm about damage to the polar icecaps.  As sea ice melts (it was 18% below previous recorded minimums in the summer of 2012), a rush to exploit natural resources creates conditions for further damage to the fragile system.  From the United Nations Environment Programme

Warns of increasing dangers to peace and political stability from expected increases in the number and scale of extreme weather events related to global warming.  Foresees strife over shortages of food, water,

and other scarce resources.  From the United States Institute of Peace

Discusses how England tries to balance development with preservation of biodiversity through planning.

From the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Report on efforts to assist an endangered fish species in Virginia waters.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Basic information, current funding, and participation information for over 20 programs dealing with conservation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Updates report with information about legislative action in 112^th Congress and other recent developments.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Promotes the benefits of combining forests and cropland for sustainable development and other benefits.   From the Food and Agriculture Organization

Discusses the damage from excessive nitrogen in Chesapeake Bay and Pamlico Sound  and Atlantic coastal plain streams.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment trends at nine Chesapeake Bay monitoring sites have shown a lack of improvement from 1985 to 2010.  The measuring sites included the Potomac and James Rivers.  From the U.S. Geological Survey and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Concludes that the evidence for a changing climate has strengthened considerably since the last report in 2009; offers 11 key findings covering causes for climate change, effects on human health, relationship to extreme weather, and need for planning/adaptation.  From the National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee

A series of nine reports on the climate of various portions of the U.S. with descriptions of the historical climate for each region and anticipated future conditions associated with two future possibilities  for greenhouse gas emissions with two IPCC emission scenarios.  From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=17018&utm_medium=etmail&utm_source=National%20Academies&utm_campaign=01142013WhatsNew&utm_content=Web&utm_term=

Assesses the quality of the federal government’s strategic plan for dealing with increasing ocean acidification.  From the National Research Council

Discusses what desalination is, how it is being used in the U.S. to augment municipal water supplies and reclaim water from industrial processes such as fracking, and what role the federal government might  play  in regulation to protect the environment and public health.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://www.fs.fed.us/research/publications/gtr/gtr_wo87.pdf

Summarizes findings and management challenges about the status, trends, and projected 50 year future of forests, rangelands, wildlife and fish, biodiversity, water, outdoor recreation, wilderness and urban forests, as well as the effects of climate change upon these resources.  From the Forest Service

Provides a map of the Eastern Virginia Ground Water Management Area with information about permitted water withdrawals, names of permittees, increases, decreases, and new permits from 2005 to 2012.  From the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission

Describes the proposal for offshore wind energy research by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, solicits public input on the proposal and its potential environmental consequences, and asks for indications of competitive interest from others for potential commercial wind energy development projects.  From the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of the U.S. Interior Department

Latest in a series of five year reports on outdoors recreation, such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife w atching, the number of participants, and the economic impact.  Reports that nearly 38% of Americans participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011, an increase of 2.6 million participants from the 2006 survey.    From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Census Bureau

Describes changes in managed and wild bee populations, provides a listing of possible factors negatively affecting managed and wild bees, and summarizes scientific research regarding the role of pesticides among the facts affecting the well-being of bees.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists