Wildlife Promise » #ProtectCleanWater http://blog.nwf.org The National Wildlife Federation's blog Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 California Love: 40 Years of Clean Water Act Protections http://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/california-love-40-years-of-clean-water-act-protections/ http://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/california-love-40-years-of-clean-water-act-protections/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:52:43 +0000 Robyn Fischer http://blog.nwf.org/?p=68353 Read more >]]> This Thursday marks the 4oth Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which begs the question: what has the Clean Water Act done for your favorite waters—the very waters you swim in, you fish on, and/or you get your drinking water from? And the answer is quite simple: the Clean Water Act protects them from pollution! For forty fabulous years the Clean Water Act has ensured that America’s waters remain swimmable, drinkable, and fishable, so why stop now?!

Manhattan Beach. Flickr photo by elfidomx.

I am a Californian—I was born and raised in Los Angeles, I attended college in Northern California, and the term ‘hella’ has become a part of my every day vernacular—and I care about clean water. As a child my father would take my brother and me to the southern California beaches, from Santa Barbara to Long beach, we visited them all. Periodically, I would see trash wash up on the shore and I would ask my father why that would occur. He responded by saying, “Well, when it rains all the trash along the street will go into the sewers and then flow to the ocean. But believe me Robyn, it used to be a lot worse.” I could not fathom how such dirty, polluted water could find its way into our pristine waters, but my father was right: prior to the Clean Water Act, our waters, in fact all of America’s waters, were a lot worse.

California’s Waters Depend on the Clean Water Act

In light of two Supreme Court decisions, the scope of the Clean Water Act has been narrowed leaving at least 66% of streams and more than 77,000 acres of scarce wetlands in California at risk of uncontrolled filling and pollution. To protect California’s waters, Clean Water Act protections need to be restored to all wetlands, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

These small and seasonal streams and wetlands trap substantial amounts of nutrients, chemicals, and sediments.  They are vital for capturing fertilizers and other run-off from California’s cities and 75,000 farms and ranches. If these pollutants are not filtered out then they will reach downstream waters, increasing drinking water treatment costs and damaging fish and wildlife.

Los Angeles River. Flickr photo by Al Pavangkanan.

Small streams and wetlands also recharge groundwater in the wet season and maintain stream flow in the dry season. EPA reports that seasonal streams are responsible for “a large portion of basin ground-water recharge” in California’s arid and semi-arid regions. Wetlands recharge groundwater at a rate of up to 20% of wetland volume per season, and some forested wetlands can recharge 100,000 gallons of water per acre per day.  Recurring droughts and overuse of existing water supplies make protecting these vital recharge areas critical for Californians.

What’s next?

If the small, intermittent streams are not protected then the services they provide will no longer exist. Therefore, Californians may be at risk for increased flooding, drought, nutrient pollution, stormwater runoff and polluted beaches. We can celebrate the success the Clean Water Act has provided us, such as cleaner Californian beaches and streams, but there is still work that needs to be done.

For those of you who care about clean water—I’m looking at you America—help us celebrate 40 years of clean water and push forward for at least 40 more! I know what you’re thinking: “I haven’t even bought a gift, and I don’t even know what I am going to wear to the party!” Don’t worry, those details will work themselves out, but for now the easiest action is to participate in our social media actions this week.

Take ActionWhiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting over. No words have ever been so true. Fight for America’s waters and ensure that future generations have fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters! Take action and help restore clean water today!

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/california-love-40-years-of-clean-water-act-protections/feed/ 0 Happy 40th Anniversary Clean Water Act! http://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/happy-40th-anniversary-clean-water-act/ http://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/happy-40th-anniversary-clean-water-act/#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:56:47 +0000 Robyn Fischer http://blog.nwf.org/?p=68154 Read more >]]> Yellowstone National Park

The Clean Water Act protects bodies of water across the country, like those in our National Parks. Yellowstone National Park photo by Flickr user Jeff Gunn.

This Thursday, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. This landmark act has ensured, and will continue to ensure, that America’s waters are fishable, swimmable, and drinkable. Since its inception, the Clean Water Act has logged numerous successes: it has prevented pollution by providing assistance to publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.

**Help us celebrate this milestone and tell everyone how important clean water is to you!**

Facebook: This week change you profile picture to the image below and share it with your friends. Remind people that October, 18th we celebrate four decades of the Clean Water Act and the historic results this keystone legislation has achieved: healthier water to drink; cleaner streams, rivers and lakes in which to swim, fish and play; and dramatically lower rates of natural wetland loss.

Twitter: Tweet a message showing your support for clean water. Feel free to use some of the samples we have provided below or create your own.

* When tweeting be sure to use #CleanWaterAct.

Sample Tweets:

  • For 40 years the #CleanWaterAct has protected America’s waters and ensured that they are fishable, drinkable, and swimmable. Thank you!
  • 79% of Sportsmen favor restoring Clean Water Act protections http://bit.ly/Sj5ez9 #CleanWaterAct
  • For 40 years, @EPAgov has worked to restore #CleanWater and protect the #CleanWaterAct. Let’s keep it that way.
  • The Chesapeake Bay is one of the most extraordinary places in America. Let’s  protect the #CleanWaterAct
  • The #CleanWaterAct, has doubled the water safe for swimming & fishing. Let’s keep working to #ProtectCleanWater
  • 73% of Republicans favor restoring Clean Water Act protections to wetlands and waterways. http://bit.ly/Sj5ez9 #CleanWater
  • Sportsmen – regardless of political party – favor restoring Clean Water Act protections to wetlands and waterways http://bit.ly/Sj5ez9
  • The Great Lakes are the largest system of surface freshwater on earth, they deserve adequate protection. Protect the #CleanWaterAct
  • The #CleanWaterAct is under assault from the biggest polluters around. @WhiteHouse, we’re with you to #ProtectCleanWater
  • 117 million Americans whose drinking water is at risk count on @WhiteHouse @USACE_HQ and @EPAgov  to continue to protect the #CleanWaterAct

Hashtags:

  • Always use #CleanWaterAct in your tweets. 
  • Whenever possible make sure @MittRomney, @BarackObama or @WhiteHouse are included in your tweets.  Where appropriate use @EPAgov, @LisaPJackson, or @USACE_HQ (many local Army Corps Districts have their own Twitter handles)
  • Other hash tags to consider using, in addition to #CleanWaterAct (space permitting): #ProtectCleanWater, #DrinkingWater, #CleanWater
  • Please tweet this at least once: “For 40 years the #CleanWaterAct has protected America’s waters and ensured that they are fishable, drinkable, and swimmable. Thank you!“

Links to include as needed:

*Follow us (@NWFCleanH2O) and other organizations working to protect America’s waters!*

Take ActionIf you care about clean water and would like future generations to have fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters, take action and help restore clean water today!

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