Millions of acres of wetlands threatened

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 2, 2009 – America's wetlands would have their Clean Water Act protections restored under a new bill introduced today by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (Wisc.) and 23 co-sponsors. The Clean Water Restoration Act, which is supported by Ducks Unlimited and other conservation/sportsmen’s groups, would restore protection to more than 20 million acres of geographically isolated wetlands at risk of pollution and destruction under current guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers. 

"Existing EPA and Army Corps of Engineers guidance make it clear that a legislative solution must be sought to restore protection to America's wetlands," said Don Young, executive vice president of Ducks Unlimited. "Many of these wetlands that have lost their protection are critical waterfowl breeding habitats."  

The guidance on interpreting the Clean Water Act from the EPA and Army Corps came in response to two Supreme Court cases. Since the guidance was released, permitting times for the farmers and ranchers that Ducks Unlimited work with have increased dramatically as agencies determine how to apply the guidance to proposed projects. Under the Clean Water Restoration Act, the guiding language would be restored to previously understood guidance, which would reduce the time to receive permits for land alteration.

"The loss of protection for geographically isolated wetlands and the confusion over how to interpret the new guidance is detrimental to people and wildlife," said Young. "Alleviating these problems through the Clean Water Restoration Act eliminates both and will ultimately benefit everyone, from landowners to waterfowlers."

To learn more about DU and the Clean Water Restoration Act go to www.ducks.org/cleanwater. 

Co-sponsors on the bill include Senators Boxer (Calif.), Cardin(Md.), Brown (Ohio), Cantwell (Wash.), Carper (Del.), Dodd (Conn.), Durbin (Ill.), Gillibrand (N.Y.), Kerry (Mass.), Kohl (Wisc.), Lautenberg (N.J.), Leahy (Vt.), Levin (Mich.), Lieberman (Conn.), Menendez (N.J.), Merkley (Ore.), Reed (R.I.), Sanders (Vt.), Schumer (N.Y.), Shaheen (N.H.), Stabenow (Mich.), Whitehouse (R.I.), and Wyden (Ore.).

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature's most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres important to waterfowl each year.

Neil Shader
nshader@ducks.org
202.347.1530