A small cascade along the Pemigewasset River in Franconia Notch State Park. Photo by Avelino Maestas.

To reverse this water quality degradation in our rivers, lakes, and bays, we must protect and restore the millions of small streams and wetlands that store and filter pollutants upstream, before they enter major waterways. Office of Water Acting Assistant Administrator Nancy Stoner put it best in announcing the study results (emphasis added):

 “The health of our Nation’s rivers, lakes, bays and coastal waters depends on the vast network of streams where they begin, and this new science shows that America’s streams and rivers are under significant pressure.” As she went on to say, “We must continue to invest in protecting and restoring our nation’s streams and rivers as they are vital sources of our drinking water, provide many recreational opportunities, and play a critical role in the economy.”

These headwater streams and wetlands serve important ecological functions. They trap floodwaters, recharge groundwater supplies, filter pollutants, and provide fish and wildlife habitat. These streams and wetlands are also economic drivers because of their key role in providing agricultural and industrial water supplies, and support for fishing, hunting, boating, and other outdoor recreation and tourism industries. They also provide approximately 117 million people – one-third of the U.S. population – with some or all of their drinking water. Protecting these small streams and wetlands is essential to protecting downstream waters and the communities and economies that depend on them.

It is of the utmost importance for these waters to be protected now!

What’s truly in jeopardy?

About 60 percent of stream miles in the continental U.S. only flow seasonally or after rain. Approximately 20 percent of the wetlands – roughly 20 million acres – in the continental U.S. are not visibly connected to other waterways but have critical groundwater connections and provide many other benefits.

These streams and wetlands are the very foundation of our nation’s water resources and are absolutely vital to the health of waterways and communities that are downstream. Because they are often small, unnamed, not on maps and not always wet, these streams and wetlands are very vulnerable. With each mile of stream and acre of wetland destroyed, we are losing critical resources we depend on.

Next Steps

Last February, the Obama Administration was poised to issue its final Clean Water Act guidance, which will clarify protections for millions of wetland acres and stream miles. Then, suddenly, progress stalled at the White House. A process that should have taken 60 days has gone on more than a year! These guidelines are crucial for at-risk wetlands and streams to regain critical protections from polluters and developers.

Now more than ever, we must encourage officials to protect our iconic waters and important tributaries. Contact the Obama Administration today>>

USFWS Headquarters/Flickr

I’m a native Floridian and have lived most of my life just a few steps from the Gulf of Mexico in the quiet paradise of downtown Naples, Florida. I spent every possible moment outdoors; so, I should have been prepared to identify what I saw out of the corner of my eye while swimming with my sister offshore, right?

Apparently not.

As soon as I glimpsed the two massive, amorphous gray blobs swimming towards me, my already active imagination flipped into overdrive and bypassed the obvious conclusion that the shapes were nothing but two whiskery manatees.

Naturally, I screamed at the top of my lungs and swam as fast as possible towards the shore, leaving my sister to the “mercy” of the strange, shadowy figures eight feet away. After several seconds of panicked swimming, I began to laugh hysterically, realizing the absurdity of my mistaken conclusion that these creatures were out there to eat me. I then turned around to enjoy the incredible sight.

In High Tide or Low Tide…But Not Red Tide

Though this interaction paints me in a rather embarrassing light, it was an extraordinary experience to have two peaceful manatees happen upon us so naturally.

Manatee populations have been suffering for decades due to human activities – we flock to coastal areas and replace natural shoreline environments with concrete developments – bringing the animals into contact with boat propellers and contributing to dramatic habitat destruction. While the mammal is currently listed as endangered, years of conservation efforts have improved manatee populations though grave threats still remain.

USFWS Endangered Species/Flickr

HABs can result when excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen are added to aquatic systems, essentially fertilizing the algae and causing populations to increase exponentially. The bloom currently impacting these manatees is caused by a type of phytoplankton called Karenia brevis that produces toxins detrimental to both humans and marine wildlife. Manatees in Florida’s warm waters typically feast on sea grass, so when the phytoplankton settles on marine plants, the animals can ingest the toxins. The manatees then lose coordination and cannot surface to breathe.

This particular bloom has been referred to as red tide and it has already killed more than 240 manatees this year. This alarming figure already surpasses the previous record for algae-related manatee deaths in a calendar year, when 151 manatees died in 1996.

Protect the Gulf’s Wildlife

A view of the Gulf from my hometown beach. NWF photo by Glenn Watkins

In Florida, one way to improve water quality in Gulf waters is by restoring America’s Everglades, particularly focusing on the Caloosahatchee River (C-43 Basin Storage Resorvoir) project and the elevation of Tamiami Trail. These two projects will improve the quality and quantity of freshwater flows into the Gulf of Mexico, reducing the amount of nutrient pollution entering coastal environments.

These recent manatee deaths highlight just how complex and interconnected water systems are, reminding us that our actions have incredibly far-reaching consequences. For the sake of Florida’s manatees and other wildlife, we need to restore the Gulf ecosystem.

Since human settlement in the region, Great Lakes wetlands have vanished as they are converted to agricultural land or other types of development.

As a response to declining water quality in the area the community of western Lake Erie is collaborating to bring their filters back. One step towards doing so is to rehabilitate wetlands adjacent to Lake Erie.

This field of weeds and grasses will soon become rich, diverse wetlands. Photo by Melinda Koslow, 2011.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative(GLRI), an investment to restore the Great Lakes, provides the means.

This GLRI project near the Ottawa Wildlife Refuge in Ohio is now set to rehabilitate 300+ acres of wetlands from fallow agricultural fields.

Since these fields are no longer used to farm, as they lie unused they act more like “tubs” and “drains” than “filters.”

This green color indicates nutrient pollution. Photo by Melinda Koslow, 2011.

When a large rain event happens (as they more often do) nutrients such as fertilizer and other debris from nearby farms or yards get carried by the rain and directly into Lake Erie.

A site manager on the project said:

The heavy rains we are experiencing in the springtime drain muck right out of the fields and into Lake Erie.

Algal in blooms Lake Erie. Photo by S. Bihn, 2011.

The health of Lake Erie and its community of people and wildlife pay the price. Algal blooms caused by nutrient pollution encourage the growth of harmful bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella.

See the National Wildlife Federation report, Feast and Famine, to learn more about this issue.

Restored wetlands resulting from this project will provide cleaner water and beaches, and also habitat for numerous species of shorebirds, hawks, ducks, bald eagles, fish like walleye and perch, turtles, frogs and land mammals.

These photos show the Before. I am looking forward to posting the During and especially the After, likely including some bird and turtle sightings!

This blog is the first in a series to track this and other restoration projects throughout the Great Lakes region.

To learn more about Great Lakes ecosystems and how you can help visit the Great Lakes Regional Center.

Mass Opposition to Keystone XL in DC Today

October 7 – It was a festive atmosphere outside the Ronald Reagan building in downtown Washington today, as protesters, many from National Wildlife Federation, flooded the plaza with chants, songs, and demands that President Obama reject the proposed Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline.

Opposed by top scientists and riddled with charges of lobbyist abuses, the proposed pipeline has become the most controversial environmental policy item for the Obama Administration.

Nearly 1,000 people joined a noontime event that coincided with a final U.S. State Department hearing on the pipeline inside the Reagan Building. President Obama will soon decide whether to approve the $7 billion pipeline, which would increase carbon emissions equal to adding six million cars to America’s roads.

National Wildlife Federation and Minnesota Conservation Federation Launch Lawsuit to Protect the Great Lakes from Invasive Species

October 6 – The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Minnesota Conservation Federation (MCF) filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in federal court in Washington, D.C., to prevent the EPA from ignoring state measures to protect water quality.  The lawsuit was prompted by concerns about the harm invasive species cause the Great Lakes.

Under the Clean Water Act, any vessel that may discharge ballast water in rivers, lakes, or coastal waters must be covered under an EPA permit.  This is because ballast water may contain non-native species.  Non-native species like the zebra mussel that have invaded the Great Lakes have caused great economic, environmental, and ecological harm.

Groups Praise Momentum on Gulf Restoration as House Introduces Bill and Task Force Calls for Bold Action

October 5 – A coalition of groups supporting Gulf restoration thanked Members from both sides of the aisle who introduced a bill today that will ensure that 80 percent of penalties paid by BP and others responsible for last year’s Gulf oil disaster are used to help restore the region, not for unrelated federal spending. The RESTORE Gulf Coast States Act of 2011 (pdf) was introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) as lead sponsor, along with more than 20 other bipartisan leaders as joint co-sponsors.

Future Friendly Farming: Seven Agricultural Practices to Sustain People and the Environment

October 5 – American farmers provide food, fuel and fiber for a growing nation. In the face of challenges including tight budgets, increasing threats to natural systems, climate change and extreme weather, farmers can implement strategies that assure yields and farm income while helping to address these challenges. A new report from the National Wildlife Federation, Future Friendly Farming: Seven Agricultural Practices to Sustain People and the Environment, offers techniques that farmers and ranchers can use to increase profits, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect soil, water and wildlife habitat.

“These practices offer readily-available and highly cost-effective opportunities for farmers and land managers to reduce costs and maintain or increase yields while addressing water quality, wildlife habitat concerns and reduce emissions that fuel climate change,” said Ryan Stockwell, Ph.D., report co-author and agricultural manager for the National Wildlife Federation.

Lansing Community College Leads a Revival with Help from Greenforce Initiative

October 4 – About two blocks west of the Allen Neighborhood Center on Lansing, MI’s, Eastside, the flat, tree-lined expanse of East Kalamazoo St. is showing signs of renewal.

It’s a welcome change. In 2009, the median inflation-adjusted household income in Lansing was more than 36% below the national average. The city, Michigan’s fifth largest, is home to nearly double the U.S. average in individuals and families living below the poverty line, with many hit especially hard by the struggles of the auto industry. Population in the area has declined by more than 5% since 2000, leaving many houses abandoned or in a state of disrepair. This is, in most measurable ways, a town in serious need of a boost.

Enter Lansing Community College (LCC) and a bevy of students wielding hammers and a sense of purpose. They are on the front lines of the Restoration Works! project, a partnership between the school, the Ingham County Land Bank and the Allen Neighborhood Center to provide a living laboratory for students learning about energy auditing and sustainable construction and help maintain property values in the neighborhood with the help of a Greenforce Initiative Innovation Mini Grant.

Emerging Nutrient Crisis Causing Massive New Breakdowns in the Great Lakes

October 4 – The National Wildlife Federation today released a report documenting new and massive ecosystem breakdowns in the Great Lakes caused by interactions between excessive fertilizer run-off from farms and invasive zebra and quagga mussels. The report comes on the same day that NWF is testifying before the U.S. Senate Environment for Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife on the report findings.

The report, “Feast and Famine in the Great Lakes: How Nutrients and Invasive Species Interact to Overwhelm the Coasts and Starve Offshore Waters (pdf),” details the links between enormous algal blooms in Lake Erie that threaten the health of people and wildlife and a 95 percent decline in fish biomass in Lake Huron.

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

• The Guardian: Final Keystone XL pipeline hearing sees show of force from both sides
• Reuters: Great Lakes face stresses from run-off, invaders
• The Daily Tribune: Addressing the Sleep Gap
• WSJM: Group Aims To Get More Kids Outdoors

For more, visit www.nwf.org/News

Chesapeake Bay photo by Scott Bauer

The government shutdown clock is ticking away furiously in Washington, D.C. as Congress wrestles with a budget agreement.

While many Americans have no choice but to ride out the storm, bad water riders in the house-passed Continuing Resolution, or H.R.1, continue to cloud the budget battle.

These harmful and unnecessary pieces of legislation have little to do with the budget bill or spending cuts and more to do with handcuffing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and creating giant loopholes for big polluters.

Bad water riders will:

• Ban EPA from closing recent Clean Water Act loopholes that remove protections for many waters,  jeopardizing the drinking water for 117 million Americans, threatening over half the nation’s stream miles, and opening 20 million acres of wetlands and prime wildlife habitat to polluters and developers. The Clean Water Act gives the EPA the authority to hold polluters accountable for oil spills, sewage and animal waste dumps, and other pollutants that go into rivers, lakes streams, estuaries, and wetlands.
• Ban EPA from protecting municipal water supplies, fisheries, and other critical water resources from being destroyed by large-scale mining, public works, and development projects that dredge, fill, and pollute productive waters.  EPA’s use of its Clean Water Act “404(c)” authority, a deliberative and open process rarely used, has saved taxpayers millions of dollars on wasteful and destructive public works projects, and saved Americans some of their most precious bays, rivers, and streams. This authority has only been used 13 times, and most recently to block the Yazoo Pumps project in Mississippi, which would have destroyed valuable wetlands and wasted billions of taxpayer dollars.
• Endanger the Chesapeake Bay by blocking efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay just as progress is finally being made to limit allowable pollution in the waters that feed the Bay through fair and effective measures. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, covering 6 states and Washington, D.C. The watershed supports rural economies and the $730 billion-a-year outdoor recreation industry.
• Endanger Florida Waters by blocking recently issued water quality standards for Florida’s lakes and flowing waters that are necessary to protect Florida’s waters from excess pollution from sewage, manure and fertilizer.  Excessive nutrient pollution from these chemicals and waste has created toxic algae blooms in Florida waters that can spread for over a 100 miles. The blooms undermine water quality in Florida, which lowers properties values, hurts waterfront businesses, and serves a major health risk to people, pets, and wildlife.
• Endanger the San Francisco Bay Delta by blocking key measures to protect imperiled salmon, Delta smelt, and the health of the entire Bay-Delta ecosystem, which is reliant on its life-giving water supply.
• Endanger Klamath salmon restoration by blocking a study critical to rebuilding what was once the Nation’s third largest salmon-producing river systems, while also accommodating fisheries, landowner, and electric utility stakeholders.
  
• Allow more stream dumping of coal mining waste by blocking EPA from restricting water pollution from proposed mountain top removal and other coal-mining projects, and from the toxic coal ash waste that is contaminating our streams and water supplies.

Speak Up for Wildlife

You can help stop the attacks on water and wildlife in the Continuing Resolution by speaking up for wildlife at NWF’s Action Center. Don’t let these bad water riders wash away America’s bedrock environmental safeguards.