Critical Clean Water Protections Introduced in Senate Today

Clean Water Restoration Act Would Safeguard Public Health, Community Safety

April 2, 2009

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act, critical legislation that would restore historic clean water protections for our nation’s streams and wetlands and protect public health and safety.  Twenty-three Senators joined Senator Feingold in co-sponsoring this important legislation.

This legislation is urgently needed to restore Clean Water Act protections to the nation’s vast array of headwater streams and wetlands -- waters that are critical for clean drinking water, public safety, and fish and wildlife habitat.  Protection of these waters is at risk due to recent Supreme Court decisions that called into question the scientific and legal relationship between these vitally important small streams and wetlands and large rivers downstream. 

More than 160 leading freshwater scientists and engineers agree that protecting the nation’s vast array of headwater streams and wetlands is critical for clean drinking water, public safety, and fish and wildlife habitat.  These scientists sent a letter to President Obama urging his support for the Clean Water Restoration Act in February of this year.

To view the letter, click here.

Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“Nothing is more vital to the health, safety and quality of life in our communities than clean water, and the science is clear that we cannot have clean water unless we protect our vast array of small streams and wetlands.  Congress recognized the importance of protecting these waters when it passed the Clean Water Act thirty-seven years ago.  Tragically, the Clean Water Act is now broken, and only Congress can fix the problem.”

“Every day of delay in passing the Clean Water Restoration Act is a day when the majority of the nation’s streams and 20 million acres of wetlands remain at risk from pollution and destruction.  It is long past time for Congress to put an end to these dangers.  We applaud Senator Feingold and his Senate co-sponsors for their leadership in ensuring that the nation’s streams and communities receive clean water protections.  We urge Congress to immediately pass the Clean Water Restoration Act to ensure that all Americans get the clean water protections they deserve.”
 

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American Rivers is the leading conservation organization fighting for healthy rivers so communities can thrive. American Rivers protects and restores America's rivers for the benefit of people, wildlife and nature. Founded in 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and supporters, with offices in Washington, DC and nationwide.