Keep Great Blue Heron's Water Habitat Protected

America’s small streams and wetlands not only provide fish and wildlife habitat, but also naturally filter pollutants out of the water many of us drink, protect communities from the worst impacts of floods, and help provide relief from drought along with barriers from wildfires.

The Environmental Protection Agency just announced plans to further weaken federal protections for wetlands and streams across the country. This move puts the interests of polluting industries and developers ahead of the safety of our nation’s drinking water and healthy habitats for wildlife like great blue herons. Please speak out today by submitting a comment calling for the strengthening—not weakening—of protections for America’s wetlands and streams.

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National Wildlife Federation

Dear Administrator Zeldin,

I am very concerned about the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers’ plans to further weaken federal protections for wetlands and streams across the country. Small streams and wetlands provide clean water for farmers, supply drinking water to millions of people, protect communities from floods, provide fish and wildlife habitat, and naturally help provide relief from drought and barriers from wildfires. I am calling on you to strengthen—not weaken—protections for America’s wetlands and streams.

Marshes, bogs, swamps, and other wetlands naturally filter pollutants out of the water. Wetlands absorb water and slowly release it throughout the year, recharging groundwater and sustaining drinking water supplies.

Seasonal and ephemeral streams—the headwaters of our more well-known, iconic waters—have important biological, hydrological, and chemical connections to downstream navigable water that enhance downstream water quality. They also help sustain trout and salmon by providing important nursery habitat for spawning fish and delivering cool, clean water downstream. Science demonstrates that these streams serve critical functions in protecting clean drinking water and reducing flood damage for downstream communities.

Critical Clean Water Act protections for these waters have already been rolled back to alarming levels. I urge the agencies not to take any further action to alter the definition of “waters of the United States” as the current regulations are consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA. Any changes to the definition of “waters of the United States” must be done with a careful, inclusive, deliberative process that is driven by science and the goals of the Clean Water Act.

Without a strong federal baseline that adequately protects these waters nationwide, the burden falls to states and localities to protect wetlands and streams. History has shown us that this state-by-state approach is not enough to ensure the protection of our waters for future generations.

All wetlands, rivers, and streams deserve protections, and I urge the EPA to fully enforce the Clean Water Act—consistent with the Court’s ruling—to protect them. At a time when we need the natural benefits of healthy wetlands and small streams the most, we should be doing more, not less to protect clean water.

Sincerely,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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