Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. — A federal study shows municipalities nationwide need more than $300 billion worth of essential upgrades to long overlooked water and sewer systems over the next 20 years.

The need is acute in Northeastern states with older systems like New York, which needs $29.7 billion worth of improvements, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Wednesday. But he said that price is a "just a drop in the bucket" compared to the higher cost of continuing to upgrade parts of sewer and water systems when emergencies strike. He is pushing a bill that would counter planned funding cuts in the federal transportation bill now being negotiated in Washington.

"EPA found that the nation's 53,000 community water systems and 21,400 not-for-profit, non-community water systems will need to invest an estimated $334.8 billion between 2007 and 2027," stated the federal Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment, which is updated every four years.

The National Association of Counties' 2008 report estimated the need for water and sewer upgrades at $300 billion to $450 billion nationwide and the federal stimulus project provided just a fraction of that as the recession reduced local governments' revenues.

"This is a very serious concern," said Carolyn Berndt of the National League of Cities. "Many communities have a long-term plan to replace all their underground water infrastructure, but even if they do a couple percentages of pipes a year, it's still going to take over 100 years for some of them to replace it all."

She said local governments have been paying more than 95 percent of the cost of water and sewer upgrades since the 1990s as federal aid has declined. Schumer said federal aid covered 75 percent of local costs in the 1980s and 1970s.

"It's a huge undertaking," Berndt said. "Some of these pipes are 100 years old. That's why they continue to see water main breaks."

The group supports Schumer's effort, which comes as Congress works to cut spending.

—Copyright 2012 Associated Press

Hope for the Everglade Snail Kite: Army Corps Agrees to Evaluate Forward Pumps on Lake Okeechobee

"The Everglade Snail Kite is a system-wide indicator species for Everglades restoration success. In order to comprehensively protect Kite habitat and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem as a whole, water level declines should be dealt with through water restrictions and water conservation measures. Audubon urges that citizens, businesses, and agencies respond to these steps dutifully when drought conditions are identified to avoid the need to use temporary forward pumps when water is most scarce."

"A bill that would exempt proposed state water rules from legislative ratification passed the House on Friday, less than two weeks after it was filed.

Florida's springs and rivers are becoming choked with weeds and algae. Scientists say nitrogen and phosphorus from a variety of sources are to blame for the problems.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection in December adopted rules to impose limits on nitrogen and phosphorus. They are intended to replace federal rules that utilities and industry groups oppose as too costly."

A retirement home for Burmese pythons has been established in northern Palm Beach County, now that the federal government has banned imports and interstate commerce in the snakes.

The Burmese Python Initiative has been set up by a group of reptile dealers and hobbyists concerned that owners may abandon their snakes if their owners go off to college or take any step that would involve a move to another state. The organization plans to use the facility as a temporary haven and adoption service for the pythons and two other newly banned species, the African rock python and yellow anaconda.

The Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced this week that the Burmese python and three other species of snakes will be listed as “injurious” under the federal Lacey Act. This action makes it illegal to import or sell these species across state lines.

Audubon Florida has been urging this action for almost five years as part of a larger control and eradication strategy to reduce the harmful impact of these species. In the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Burmese pythons are already well established and pose a significant threat to native, imperiled species. Monitoring has shown that state and federally threatened and endangered species, including the Wood Stork and Key Largo woodrat, are already being predated by these large constrictors. Because these predatory snakes are cryptic, highly-productive, and can take advantage of difficult-to-access aquatic habitats, eradication is very difficult.

The ban also stops imports and interstate commerce in yellow anaconda and the northern and southern African pythons. Audubon Florida continues to advocate for the listing of boa constrictors, reticulated pythons, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, and other invasive species that harm the Everglades.

Audubon Florida commends the Department of Interior and Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), Congressman Tom Rooney (R-Tequesta), Congressman David Rivera (R-Miami) and other members of Florida’s Congressional delegation who were proponents for this listing. See Congressman Rivera's Press Release on this issue in English o en Español.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A burgeoning population of huge pythons - many of them pets that were turned loose by their owners when they got too big - appears to be wiping out large numbers of raccoons, opossums, bobcats and other mammals in the Everglades, a study says.