Protect Florida's Waterways - Environment Florida

What's New

On May 22, Representatives John Dingell (D-MI), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), James Oberstar (D-MN), and 155 members of the House of Representatives introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007, a bipartisan bill to protect America’s waterways. Clean Water Act protections provide communities and Americans with clean drinking water and the opportunity to safely swim, fish and boat. These goals have recently been jeopardized by polluter-led attacks to eliminate protections for many streams, wetlands and other waters across the country. The Clean Water Restoration Act would protects America’s waters by ensuring that all U.S. waterways continue to be safeguarded by the Clean Water Act.

Brief Summary

Over the last 30 years, we have made significant progress in cleaning up our water, but we still have important work to do. Many of Florida's waterways from the St. John's River to Florida Bay to Lake Okeechobee are struggling from too much pollution.

Instead of improving the quality of our water, the Bush administration is weakening water protections by putting in place a "No Protection Policy" for America’s waters that removes basic Clean Water Act safeguards from small streams, wetlands and ponds that feed and clean our great waters. The "No Protection Policy" puts these streams, wetlands and other waters at risk of unlimited development, pollution and destruction.

Environment Florida is calling on the Bush administration to drop the "No Protection Policy " and for Congress to restore the original intent of the Clean Water Act to protect all waters in the U.S.

Additionally, a recent Supreme Court’s decision has left the extent of existing clean water protections in question. Absent some corrective action from Congress, this decision could leave some vital wetlands, sensitive streams, and other water bodies open to unregulated pollution, dredging or fill. Environment Florida opposes any efforts by powerful developers and other polluters to weaken the Clean Water Act. We support efforts, local state and federal to ensure clean and safe water supplies for all Floridians.