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For Immediate Release                                                            Contact:            Jeffrey M. Fleming

July 25, 2002                                                                                         301-548-0150 ext. 215

                                                                                                            jfleming@iwla.org

 

Izaak Walton League Gives Support To Wetland Protection Bills;

New Legislation Would Restore Protection For

Isolated Wetlands Under Clean Water Act

 

            The Izaak Walton League today expressed its support for new legislation to restore protection of America’s isolated wetlands and called on key natural resource committees in the House and Senate to approve the measures.

 

            Today, legislators in both the House and Senate announced plans to introduce legislation that would protect isolated wetlands under the Clean Water Act.  Protection of these critical wetland resources was put in doubt by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that held the Clean Water Act’s wetlands provisions could not be extended to cover isolated wetlands.

 

“This legislative effort in both the House and Senate takes a important step forward in our effort to protect isolated wetlands, reflects a common view that these wetlands should be protected under the Clean Water Act, and moves this debate forward in a constructive way,” said Jim Mosher, the Izaak Walton League’s conservation director.  “U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), and U.S. Reps. Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and John Dingell (D-MI) have proposed legislation that will move this debate forward in a meaningful and bipartisan way and ultimately lead to a common sense solution that protects these vital wetlands and the ducks, geese, and other wildlife that depend on them for survival.”

 

“Wetlands are the vital link in watershed conservation,” said Gwyn Rowland, the League’s watershed program director.  “Wetlands – isolated or otherwise -- protect and buffer our drinking water supplies and also help local communities and our economy by reducing the severity of floods, providing habitat to many species of waterfowl and other wildlife, and supporting local economies with the associated fish- and wildlife-dependent recreation.”

Celebrating its 80th anniversary, the Izaak Walton League and its 50,000 members and supporters share our nation's stewardship responsibilities and are dedicated to the common sense, solution-oriented conservation benefiting the nation's wildlife, fisheries and the watersheds they depend upon.  The League was founded in 1922 and maintains a national office in Gaithersburg, Maryland and a Midwest office in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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