October 1972 was a turning point in the fight for clean water.
After overriding President Nixon’s veto of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Congress passed the landmark legislation into law. And, as a result, for the last 48 years, all “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) – from rivers to streams, bays, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries—have been federally protected against pollution.
American waterways became cleaner and healthier, and our ecosystems thrived.
In honor of the 48th anniversary of this monumental legislation being passed, Waterkeeper Alliance Executive Director Marc Yaggi penned an op-ed in The Hill highlighting the importance of The Clean Water Act in protecting not only the health of our waterways, but also the health of humankind.
It was a battle in 1972 to protect our waterways, and it remains a battle today. But thanks to you, and the more than 175 local Waterkeeper groups in the United States, we’re confident that the fight is ours to win.
Click here to read Marc Yaggi’s full op-ed in The Hill.
To clean water,
Mary Beth Postman
Deputy Director
P.S. — We're just 5 people short of our 48 donor goal marking the recent 48th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Please, will you be one of them?Step forward with a gift for clean water now >>
