"Clean Water for All" Report Released
Washington, D.C.—With spring floods on the way, local officials from across the country are gathering in Washington today to call on the Obama Administration and federal leaders to restore clean water and safe drinking water protections stripped from state and local governments by two recent Supreme Court decisions. They worry that lack of rules threatens our health, safety, jobs, and slows the recovery.
“As a registered nurse and health educator, I know that we are what we drink and eat, and polluted water can cause illness and tragically, even death,” said Commissioner Susan Adams, PhD, RN from Marin County, California.
Growing numbers of blue-green algae cases are being reported as polluted runoff for urban and rural areas combine with warmer weather to produce health and safety concerns.
“Blue-green algae poisoning caused a high school student and dog deaths, and sickened a college student in our county. We are taking strong actions to keep this from happening again,” said Dane County, WI Supervisor Brett Hulsey. “The good news is that are making progress to clean up our lakes and streams to protect our safety but we need more federal help and funding.”
Dane County is working with farmers to build a regional manure treatment plant for 2500 dairy cows to remove 100,000 pounds of phosphorus that causes blue-green algae blooms. They also banned phosphorus in lawn fertilizer and are launching the Yahara CLEAN process to clean up its lakes and beaches, but many counties have to spend thousands to clean up pollution.
“As a former game warden, I know that Alabama’s rivers and streams are not getting the protection they need and it cost my county $500,000 to clean up a polluter that dumped grease into our rivers,” said St. Clare County, Alabama Commissioner Stan Batemon.
The report highlighted nine local clean water stories like these from Martin County, FL, Clackamas and Lane Counties, OR, Calumet and Dane Counties, WI, St. Louis County, MN, St. Clair County, AL, and Mathews County, VA.
Water pollution threatens jobs in addition to safety. In Martin County, Florida blue-green algae put a stop to business as usual in 2005 and threatened its $840 million tourist economy.
“Literally, all tourism, commercial fishing and other marine activity stopped completely for the summer, fall and winter seasons,” said Martin County, FL Commissioner Sarah Heard. “Toxin levels in the St. Lucie River and estuary in 2005 were 300 times above suggested drinking water limits and 60 times above suggested recreational limits.”
Dealing with the bureaucratic mess caused by the recent Supreme Court decisions is stifling job growth and the recovery. St. Louis County, MN is facing the possibility of a long delay, took advantage of the Army Corps revised policy which allows prospective permittees to waive a formal jurisdictional determination and to stipulate to Clean Water Act jurisdiction over the wetlands in order to proceed with the normal permitting process.
“In northeastern Minnesota we are blessed by abundant clean water. We have Lake Superior, over a thousand lakes and hundreds of rivers and streams, so we have a responsibility to care for these great treasures,” said St. Louis County Commissioner Steve O’Neil. “Going back to the way things were speeds up building projects, creates jobs, and protects our rivers and lakes.”
The report also pointed out the importance of protecting headwater streams and wetlands in an era of increased flooding and climate change. In Clackamas County, Oregon, New Year’s Day flooding in 2009 caused by warm rain on a heavy snowfall rushing into a headwater stream that had been channelized and otherwise impacted by development.
“Clackamas County is concerned about the potential for future flooding and we support local governments exploring many different alternatives that would provide for improved watershed protection of riparian areas and wetlands. Full implementation of the 1972 Clean Water Act can only help us,” said Commissioner Bob Austin.
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The EPA estimates that an acre of wetland stores 1 million gallons of floodwater, and headwater wetlands often store the most.
March 8, 2010
"Clean Water for All" Report Released
Washington, D.C.—With spring floods on the way, local officials from across the country are gathering in Washington today to call on the Obama Administration and federal leaders to restore clean water and safe drinking water protections stripped from state and local governments by two recent Supreme Court decisions. They worry that lack of rules threatens our health, safety, jobs, and slows the recovery.
“As a registered nurse and health educator, I know that we are what we drink and eat, and polluted water can cause illness and tragically, even death,” said Commissioner Susan Adams, PhD, RN from Marin County, California.
Growing numbers of blue-green algae cases are being reported as polluted runoff for urban and rural areas combine with warmer weather to produce health and safety concerns.
“Blue-green algae poisoning caused a high school student and dog deaths, and sickened a college student in our county. We are taking strong actions to keep this from happening again,” said Dane County, WI Supervisor Brett Hulsey. “The good news is that are making progress to clean up our lakes and streams to protect our safety but we need more federal help and funding.”
Dane County is working with farmers to build a regional manure treatment plant for 2500 dairy cows to remove 100,000 pounds of phosphorus that causes blue-green algae blooms. They also banned phosphorus in lawn fertilizer and are launching the Yahara CLEAN process to clean up its lakes and beaches, but many counties have to spend thousands to clean up pollution.
“As a former game warden, I know that Alabama’s rivers and streams are not getting the protection they need and it cost my county $500,000 to clean up a polluter that dumped grease into our rivers,” said St. Clare County, Alabama Commissioner Stan Batemon.
The report highlighted nine local clean water stories like these from Martin County, FL, Clackamas and Lane Counties, OR, Calumet and Dane Counties, WI, St. Louis County, MN, St. Clair County, AL, and Mathews County, VA.
Water pollution threatens jobs in addition to safety. In Martin County, Florida blue-green algae put a stop to business as usual in 2005 and threatened its $840 million tourist economy.
“Literally, all tourism, commercial fishing and other marine activity stopped completely for the summer, fall and winter seasons,” said Martin County, FL Commissioner Sarah Heard. “Toxin levels in the St. Lucie River and estuary in 2005 were 300 times above suggested drinking water limits and 60 times above suggested recreational limits.”
Dealing with the bureaucratic mess caused by the recent Supreme Court decisions is stifling job growth and the recovery. St. Louis County, MN is facing the possibility of a long delay, took advantage of the Army Corps revised policy which allows prospective permittees to waive a formal jurisdictional determination and to stipulate to Clean Water Act jurisdiction over the wetlands in order to proceed with the normal permitting process.
“In northeastern Minnesota we are blessed by abundant clean water. We have Lake Superior, over a thousand lakes and hundreds of rivers and streams, so we have a responsibility to care for these great treasures,” said St. Louis County Commissioner Steve O’Neil. “Going back to the way things were speeds up building projects, creates jobs, and protects our rivers and lakes.”
The report also pointed out the importance of protecting headwater streams and wetlands in an era of increased flooding and climate change. In Clackamas County, Oregon, New Year’s Day flooding in 2009 caused by warm rain on a heavy snowfall rushing into a headwater stream that had been channelized and otherwise impacted by development.
“Clackamas County is concerned about the potential for future flooding and we support local governments exploring many different alternatives that would provide for improved watershed protection of riparian areas and wetlands. Full implementation of the 1972 Clean Water Act can only help us,” said Commissioner Bob Austin.
The EPA estimates that an acre of wetland stores 1 million gallons of floodwater, and headwater wetlands often store the most.