Clean Water Act Turns 50
If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. All living things, from tiny microorganisms to giant blue whales, need water to survive. Without water, life as we know it would not exist. It is our responsibility to do everything in our power to protect this vital resource.
The Clean Water Act (CWA) has been a critical component of our nation's environmental protection for 50 years. As a result, our rivers, floodplains, and streams are healthier, safer, and more productive. Congress enacted the Clean Water Act in 1972 with bipartisan support.
Today, the Clean Water Act has protected more than a million miles of rivers and streams from toxic pollutants. It is the most fundamental tool we have for protecting our waters across the country. Before 1972, rivers were treated as sewers, with toxic pollutants dumped into them daily. Some rivers were so polluted that they frequently caught on fire. We have come a long way since the days of firey rivers – but we need your help to ensure that we continue to protect our water resources now and into the future.
The CWA requires that all sources of pollution be controlled and that degraded waters be restored. This is vital for the Tuolumne River, which is impaired due to pollution from pesticides, mercury, and elevated temperatures.
TRT is working to improve conditions in the river. We are advocating for more water releases from Don Pedro Dam, which will help keep the river cooler and create better habitats for fish and wildlife. We are also working to restore floodplains, wetlands, and riverside forests. These natural features help to filter pollutants out of stormwater before they reach the river.
By taking these actions, we aim to keep the Tuolumne River's water clean and protected for both humans and wildlife.
The way we treat our water (a precious resource we rely on) reflects our relationship with the planet as a whole. When we sustain the earth, the earth sustains us.
Although we have made immense progress since 1972, there is still work to be done.
The Supreme Court is considering a case that could remove Clean Water Act protections for over half of our wetlands and streams, putting the drinking water for a third of Americans at risk. The case, Sackett v. EPA, is backed by polluters who aim to weaken the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to safeguard waterways that are critical to our drinking water, wildlife habitat, flood protection, and carbon sequestration.
We can't live without clean water. It is essential for our health and well-being. But pollution, climate change, dangerous legislation, and overuse threaten our rivers. We must take action to protect this vital resource for current and future generations.
By supporting policies and regulations that safeguard our watersheds, we can ensure that our rivers, streams, and floodplains are clean and safe for all to enjoy. Here at TRT, we have been working on policy issues that help the river for over four decades, and we're not stopping any time soon.
Let's make clean water a value that unites us all.
