Nothing is more fundamental
than clean water.
Sackett vs. EPA Decision, August 29, 2023
Read more about the Sackett vs. EPA decision here and how it affects our nation's wetlands and waterways.
Issue Update - January 2020
On January 23, 2020, a new definition for waters of the U.S. was released by the Trump administration, known as the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The revised definition identifies four categories of waters that are federally regulated under the Clean Water Act: the territorial seas and traditional navigable waters; perennial and intermittent tributaries; certain lakes, ponds, and impoundments; and wetlands that are adjacent to jurisdictional waters. The new action also spells out what is not subject to federal control: features that only contain water in direct response to rainfall; groundwater; many ditches, including most farm and roadside ditches; prior converted cropland; farm and stock watering ponds; and waste treatment systems.
In the News
Local:
Trump's official rollback of water regulations triggers alarm, cheers - Springfield News-Leader
Trump removes protections for waterways, aiding developers - KOMU
President Trump loosens federal water regulations - Ozarks First
National:
Trump Administration Cuts Back Federal Protections For Streams And Wetlands - NPR
Trump Removes Pollution Controls on Streams and Wetlands - The New York Times
In the News
Local:
Trump's official rollback of water regulations triggers alarm, cheers - Springfield News-Leader
Trump removes protections for waterways, aiding developers - KOMU
President Trump loosens federal water regulations - Ozarks First
National:
Trump Administration Cuts Back Federal Protections For Streams And Wetlands - NPR
Trump Removes Pollution Controls on Streams and Wetlands - The New York Times
September 2019 Update
The Trump administration is changing the definition of what qualifies as "waters of the United States," changing Obama-era regulations that had enhanced protections for wetlands and small streams
In the News
Local:
EPA's Decision To Scrap Clean Water Rule Could Weaken Missouri’s Flood Defenses - St. Louis Public Radio
National:
EPA Makes Rollback Of Clean Water Rules Official, Repealing 2015 Protections - NPR
Proposed Clean Water Act changes will mean uncertainty, loss of protections for Arizona waterways - Arizona Public Media
In the News
Local:
EPA's Decision To Scrap Clean Water Rule Could Weaken Missouri’s Flood Defenses - St. Louis Public Radio
National:
EPA Makes Rollback Of Clean Water Rules Official, Repealing 2015 Protections - NPR
Proposed Clean Water Act changes will mean uncertainty, loss of protections for Arizona waterways - Arizona Public Media
February 2017 Update
President Trump signed an executive order on February 28, 2017, aiming to revise or rescind the Waters of the U.S. Rule, an Obama-era ruling to add definition to the Clean Water Rule.
In the News
Local:
How President’s Executive Order Impacts Missouri Waterways - Ozarks First
Trump starts process to rescind Waters of US rule, earns kudos from farmers - The Missouri Times
Missouri attorney general applauds Trump’s EPA order - Springfield Business Journal
Statement from Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst regarding executive action taken to ditch the Waters of the U.S. rule - High Plains Journal
National:
Trump Signs Executive Order to Begin Water Rule Rollback - NBC News
Wetlands scientists speak out against Trump's move to undo water rule - AAAS
Farmers Are Cheering Trump’s Repeal of an Environmental Rule That Doesn’t Affect Them - Mother Jones
The Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule: What It Is and Why It’s Important - National Audubon Society
Trump water directive cheered by ranchers, blasted by environmentalists - The Texas Tribune
In the News
Local:
How President’s Executive Order Impacts Missouri Waterways - Ozarks First
Trump starts process to rescind Waters of US rule, earns kudos from farmers - The Missouri Times
Missouri attorney general applauds Trump’s EPA order - Springfield Business Journal
Statement from Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst regarding executive action taken to ditch the Waters of the U.S. rule - High Plains Journal
National:
Trump Signs Executive Order to Begin Water Rule Rollback - NBC News
Wetlands scientists speak out against Trump's move to undo water rule - AAAS
Farmers Are Cheering Trump’s Repeal of an Environmental Rule That Doesn’t Affect Them - Mother Jones
The Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule: What It Is and Why It’s Important - National Audubon Society
Trump water directive cheered by ranchers, blasted by environmentalists - The Texas Tribune
January 2016 Update
President Obama stands with clean water by vetoing legislation that would gut new Clean Water rule
On January 19, 2016, President Obama stopped Congress from nullifying a rule developed by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and supported by many of you, to clarify “Waters of the U.S.” to ensure the effectiveness of the Clean Water Act.
“We must protect the waters that are vital for the health of our communities and the success of our businesses, agriculture,and energy development. As I have noted before, too many of our watersheds been left vulnerable. Pollution from upstream sources ends up in the rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters near which most Americans live and on which they depend for their drinking water, recreation, and economic development. Clarifying the scope of the Clean Water Act helps to protect these resources and safeguard public health. Because this resolution seeks to block the progress represented by this rule and deny businesses and communities the regulatory certainty and clarity needed to invest in projects that rely on clean water, I cannot support it. I am therefore vetoing this resolution.” - President Barack Obama
“We must protect the waters that are vital for the health of our communities and the success of our businesses, agriculture,and energy development. As I have noted before, too many of our watersheds been left vulnerable. Pollution from upstream sources ends up in the rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters near which most Americans live and on which they depend for their drinking water, recreation, and economic development. Clarifying the scope of the Clean Water Act helps to protect these resources and safeguard public health. Because this resolution seeks to block the progress represented by this rule and deny businesses and communities the regulatory certainty and clarity needed to invest in projects that rely on clean water, I cannot support it. I am therefore vetoing this resolution.” - President Barack Obama
Thank you to everyone who submitted comments or called their legislators to protect Clean Water!
Past Updates
Thank you to those who voiced your opinion on this issue!
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers recently finalized a federal rule restoring Clean Water Act protections to smaller streams and wetlands–waters that provide drinking water for 117 million Americans.
The rule would be particularly beneficial for the nearly 2.5 million in Missouri who get drinking water from streams covered by the rule. These streams and wetlands are also important for fish and wildlife–and therefore for the $2.7 Billion spent in Missouri each year on wildlife recreation.
Recent movement in Congress occurred that jeopardized portions of the Clean Water Act.
Congressional Review Act Clean Water Rule-Passed
This “disapproval” of the Clean Water Rule passed by getting the simple majority it needed to move forward in the Senate. However, Senator McCaskill (MO) and Senator Collins (ME) voted against the Act despite their support of the Barrasso Bill. Because of this outcome there is hope to sustain a Presidential Veto that will give the White House and the EPA the backing they need as Congress moves into appropriations.
Barrasso Bill S. 1140 “Federal Water Quality Protection Act”-Did Not Pass
This bill attacked not only the Clean Water Rule, but threatened the Clean Water Act. It was defeated with exactly the 41 votes needed to avoid this piece of legislation moving forward.
We encourage you to stay educated on this issue and continue to voice your opinion to our U.S. Representatives.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers recently finalized a federal rule restoring Clean Water Act protections to smaller streams and wetlands–waters that provide drinking water for 117 million Americans.
The rule would be particularly beneficial for the nearly 2.5 million in Missouri who get drinking water from streams covered by the rule. These streams and wetlands are also important for fish and wildlife–and therefore for the $2.7 Billion spent in Missouri each year on wildlife recreation.
Recent movement in Congress occurred that jeopardized portions of the Clean Water Act.
Congressional Review Act Clean Water Rule-Passed
This “disapproval” of the Clean Water Rule passed by getting the simple majority it needed to move forward in the Senate. However, Senator McCaskill (MO) and Senator Collins (ME) voted against the Act despite their support of the Barrasso Bill. Because of this outcome there is hope to sustain a Presidential Veto that will give the White House and the EPA the backing they need as Congress moves into appropriations.
Barrasso Bill S. 1140 “Federal Water Quality Protection Act”-Did Not Pass
This bill attacked not only the Clean Water Rule, but threatened the Clean Water Act. It was defeated with exactly the 41 votes needed to avoid this piece of legislation moving forward.
We encourage you to stay educated on this issue and continue to voice your opinion to our U.S. Representatives.
Learn More
In the News
Local
Clean Water Rule Not a ‘Water Grab’ - Springfield News-Leader
New ‘Clean Water Rule’ Needs to be the Law of the Land - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Editorial: Koster Chooses Big Farm over Clean Water. Bad Move. - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lt. Governor Peter Kinder Statement on Waterways Ruling – The Missouri Times
State Officials Applaud Court Ruling on Waters of the United States – The Missouri Times
Letter: Keep Our Water Clean - Springfield News-Leader
Clean Water Rule Not a ‘Water Grab’ - Springfield News-Leader
New ‘Clean Water Rule’ Needs to be the Law of the Land - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Editorial: Koster Chooses Big Farm over Clean Water. Bad Move. - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Lt. Governor Peter Kinder Statement on Waterways Ruling – The Missouri Times
State Officials Applaud Court Ruling on Waters of the United States – The Missouri Times
Letter: Keep Our Water Clean - Springfield News-Leader
National
Supreme Court will likely have to wade into ‘Water of the United States’ Rule– Crain’s Detroit Business
Clean Water Wins as U.S. State Leaders Fail to Overturn Stream Protections – Environment America
Supreme Court will likely have to wade into ‘Water of the United States’ Rule– Crain’s Detroit Business
Clean Water Wins as U.S. State Leaders Fail to Overturn Stream Protections – Environment America
KOLR 10 Investigates the Clean Water Rule
Proposed Rule to Change 43-Year-Old Law
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Looking Back: What Lead to the EPA and the Clean Water Act
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Water Regulations Flow from the Federal to State to Local Levels
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Clean Water Rule and the Impacts on Agriculture
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Clean Water Rule Halted in Federal Court
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MSTWC’s effort on this issue is supported by the National Wildlife Federation