River Network releases report on the Clean Water Act in the West

River Network has just posted Phase 1 of our Clean Water West project report -- "Implementing the Clean Water Act in the Intermountain West: an Overview." This first phase covers water quality standards issues – uses, select criteria, and antidegradation (including Outstanding National Resource Waters).

Find phase 1 of this report at: http://www.rivernetwork.org/cwwpolicyanalysis

In this report we identified critical state Clean Water Act program areas and picked indicators under each area. The indicators are designed to provide a snapshot of threats and opportunities in the states – not to “grade” the state.

This review will allow river advocates to compare their state’s strengths and weaknesses with other states, prioritize the issues that will provide the greatest results for clean, healthy rivers, and better advocate for protections within their own states. The regional scope of the review will allow all of us to see where certain states are trying new and innovative approaches that should be spread to other states, or to address troubling trends emerging throughout the region.

This report will be released in three phases. Each phase will be released as a compilation or collection of white papers and provided on the River Network website. In the end, all three phases will be combined into one report.

The report is targeted for those with a basic understanding of water quality issues. If you need a more basic introduction to water quality standards, please use our great introductory Clean Water Act online course (there’s a whole lesson on water quality standards).

I would love to hear from any of you with feedback, reality checks and outright corrections – you all will know your own state better than anyone! Much of the research for this report involved regulatory analysis and interview with state agency staff – other perspectives are welcome. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts – the report will be a work in progress. Share your comments below or email me at mfrey@rivernetwork.org.