Two western states in the news about water quality

Two Western states -- Wyoming and New Mexico -- are making headlines today on water quality issues....neither of them in a way that will make clean water advocates happy.

News that the Wyoming delegation has come out in opposition to the Clean Water Restoration Act is scattering around the web, including in this Associated Press story. The comments from the delegation include claims that this is a "massive power grab" and that the bill would allow EPA to "regulate mud puddles."

This is very clearly a misinterpretation of the Act's proposals. Rather that describing the reality in detail here, I'd suggest reading this American Rivers' summary of the Act and the need for it. National Wildlife Federation also has fact sheets describing the need for the Act in New Mexico and Arizona.

On a different note, the water quality impacts of New Mexico's giant dairies are getting quite a bit of press attention as well. Today NPR is featuring a story called New Mexico Dairy Pollution Sparks 'Manure War' that describes community opposition to groundwater and surface water pollution from intensive dairy development.

The story says:

...the New Mexico Environment Department reports that two-thirds of the state's 150 dairies are contaminating groundwater with excess nitrogen from cattle excrement. Either the lagoons are leaking, or manure is being applied too heavily on farmland.