Friend: Today, nearly 49 years after the Clean Water Act was passed, half of our waters are impaired by pollution. This didn’t happen overnight.
Decades of government failures have reduced the effectiveness of this landmark law, as politicians winnowed its scope and abdicated their enforcement responsibilities. The Act turns 49 on Oct. 18 — a date that looms large in our goal to restore the effectiveness of the Clean Water Act by its 50th anniversary.
This will take concerted effort through the next 12 months. It will demand long-term planning and partnership we can count on.
The fight to restore the Clean Water Act will not be easy; polluting special interests speak with a megaphone and with huge campaign contributions in halls of power, often finding receptive ears in federal and state governments.
In fact, during President Trump’s administration, agencies defined “waters of the United States” — which the Act is charged with protecting — so narrowly it left 75%+ of New Mexico’s streams completely unprotected.
Restore a broad definition of “waters of the United States” so our drinking water, fisheries, and recreational waters are protected;
Implement and strengthen pollutionprotections against discharges from industrialized factory farms;
Control pollution from emerging contaminants, including “forever chemicals;” and more.
The next 12 months are critical to getting this done, and monthly gifts of ANY size are crucial in helping us forge long-term strategies for action on clean water.
