Immediate
Release: Contact:
July 24, 2002 Julie Sibbing – 202-797-6832
New Legislation Promises to Protect America’s Wetlands
and Their Benefits for People
and Wildlife
The Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2002 introduced today in the Senate by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), and in the House by Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), will protect the nation’s so-called “isolated” wetlands and their benefits for people and wildlife across America, according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).
“America’s wetlands are being literally hung out to dry through a loophole created by a Supreme Court decision,” said Mark Van Putten, NWF President. “This new legislation restores Clean Water Act protections for isolated wetlands and the critical benefits they provide. Without these wetlands, Americans could lose natural flood control, water purification, wildlife habitat and much more.”
Existing long-term threats to America’s wetlands were greatly exacerbated by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) issued in January 2001. Under the Clean Water Act, classifying a wetland as “isolated” eliminates the need for property owners to apply for a permit before filling the wetland. The 2001 Supreme Court ruling inadequately defined the term “isolated,” leaving it open for interpretation. The resulting loophole leaves as much as one-third of the nation’s wetlands, as well as other bodies of water, without Clean Water Act protections.
“These wetlands may appear to be isolated, but there’s nothing isolated about the flood control, water quality and wildlife habitat benefits they provide to thousands of Americans,” continued Van Putten. “This legislation will fix the confusion about isolated wetlands and ensure their benefits continue for people and wildlife.”
The National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Defense
Council recently brought the many benefits of America’s isolated wetlands to
light in a joint report titled Wetlands at Risk: Imperiled Treasures
(www.nwf.org).
Increasingly, however, poorly planned agricultural development and sprawl are putting all wetlands in peril, with serious environmental consequences, especially for wildlife.
For example, the Prairie Potholes of the Great Plains serve as a breeding ground for nearly half of North America's waterfowl population. The Fish and Wildlife Service has predicted devastating impacts to waterfowl if significant numbers of these wetlands are drained.
In addition, many species of America’s amphibians are in serious decline. A major contributing factor to these declines is the loss of small, seasonally-flooded wetlands that are isolated from other water bodies. These wetlands make ideal amphibian breeding grounds because they lack fish species that prey upon frog and salamander eggs and larvae. However, we risk losing them forever without Clean Water Act protections.
“Indeed, every region of the country has an array of diverse and unique isolated wetlands" that have lost protection under the SWANCC decision,” concluded Van Putten. “From tundra wetlands in Alaska to cypress domes in Florida, all isolated wetlands support unique plants and animals adapted for life in these isolated systems.”
NWF calls on Congress to enact this legislation quickly. Protecting isolated wetlands with federal action now will save the United States millions of dollars down the road from flooding, increased water pollution and the loss of wildlife habitat and biodiversity that support outdoor recreation and tourism. [RAC1]
The nation’s largest member-supported conservation education and advocacy group, the National Wildlife Federation unites people from all walks of life to protect nature, wildlife and the world we all share. The Federation has educated and inspired families to uphold America’s conservation tradition since 1936.
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