Florida waterways need protection

While Congress prepared for hearings this spring on legislation that would strengthen clean water protections for smaller streams and wetlands, Environment Florida helped enlist Florida Reps. Corrine Brown (Jacksonville), Kathy Castor (Tampa), Alcee Hastings (Ft. Lauderdale), Ron Klein (Ft. Lauderdale), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Pembroke Pines) and Robert Wexler (Boca Raton) as co-sponsors of the Clean Water Restoration Act.

Over the past five years, the Bush administration’s “No Protection” policy has undermined protections for smaller streams and wetlands by narrowly defining the terms of the Clean Water Act.

Here in Florida, the Suwannee River is among the many waterways that need bolstered Clean Water Act protections. The Clean Water Restoration Act would ensure that the Suwannee River—as well as other streams and wetlands across the country—gets the protection it deserves.

Numerous Florida organizations, business interests and policy makers are opposing Georgia’s “water grab.” Environment Florida’s federation partner, Environment Georgia, is currently at work, advocating an environmentally sound water conservation plan in Georgia.