The Thirteenth Meeting of the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Task Force convened in Executive Session on January 10, 2007 with VADM Lautenbacher and Jack Dunnigan representing NOAA, and in a Public Meeting on January 11, 2007. The meeting resulted in the adoption, by the Task Force, of six major “themes” that will guide the revision of the landmark 2001 Action Plan which specifies actions to reach a goal of reducing the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone from its current size (decadal average area of 15,000 km2) to 5,000 km2. Theme areas include a number of issues that will integrate Task Force activities into national trends and policies including biofuel-driven changes in agriculture, reauthorization of the Farm Bill, and relationships with wetland loss/restoration in the lower basin. The themes also call for more specificity and accountability in the actions, as well as robust public participation. For more information, please contact Rob.Magnien@noaa.gov or Alan.Lewitus@noaa.gov
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