Once healthcare and the nation’s economy are taken care of, Congress will be turning its attention to important legislation governing the nation’s wetlands. To counteract a Supreme Court ruling that limited federal protections of isolated wetlands, Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin has introduced legislation which will strip the word “navigable” from the Clean Water Act. The revision would give the federal government the ability to regulate all of the nation’s wetland areas, not just those that are open to shipping. Many small ponds and streams that are not navigable are important breeding grounds for birds. Protecting these important bird habitats is one of the more important environmental issues that will come before the Congress this year.
The Feingold legislation currently has 24 cosponsors in the Senate. All of the cosponsors are Democrats.
Birders United Action Alert: Tell your senator that you support the revision to the Clean Water Act that will help protect isolated wetlands from developers.
Clean water is so important to our nation. We take water for granted and we shouldn't. We need to protect the sources and then all the rest, including and especially our wetlands. By not doing so, we will pay the price down the road. In some cases, it has happened already with illness to our wildlife ( the canary in the mine) and even to humans.. Support the Clean Water Act and get your associates to do so too.