Thank you to all who spoke up for protection of our streams and wetlands!

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has closed the comment period on their draft Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule – a clarification of the Clean Water Act. Thank you to FMR advocates for sending over 660 letters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and our Minnesota senators and representatives this fall in support of clean streams and wetlands through the draft rule.

The EPA drafted the Waters of the U.S. rule to clarify their jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, because for many years, they have struggled to prove jurisdiction to enforce protections for streams and wetlands.

Clarifying jurisdiction is extremely important for a variety of reasons. The EPA tells us the proposed rule will:

  • Ensure safe drinking water for one in three Americans (117 million people in the U.S.) that count on seasonal, rain-dependent, and headwater streams for drinking water.
  • Improve environmental health by requiring floodwater storage,and groundwater recharge, removing pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife.
  • Improve economic health by protecting water for fishing, hunting, agriculture, recreation, energy and manufacturing.
  • Finally, if these streams and floodplains are not given protection under the Clean Water Act, nearly 60 percent of stream miles in the U.S. will not be protected from pollution.

While the EPA now moves forward with the rulemaking process, we'll be monitoring Congress as they have the power to halt the EPA's progress this spring. Be on the lookout for additional action requests from us and watchyour local paper for letters to the editor and opinion pieces from our MN WOTUS Coalition of pro-environmental protection groups.

For more information, read the EPA's user-friendly information page and their list of myths debunking the misinformation circulating on this project.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
West River Parkway and 36th Street/44th Street, Minneapolis
Applications due Friday, May 3 by 5 p.m.
Virtual and in-person
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area