State Water Pollution Control Revolving Funds

The Clean Water Act provides low-interest loans for communities, individuals, citizens' groups, non-profits, and others to better the quality of watersheds through a wide range of water-quality related projects. These loans are administered through "State Revolving Funds."

Storm water carries polluted runoff from streets, rooftops, parking lots, industrial
facilities and construction sites into water bodies. This major source of
pollution has attracted much more attention lately, and controlling stormwater
pollution is critical to improving and maintaining water quality in the most
populated areas and rapidly developing areas of the country.

The 1987 Amendments to the Clean Water Act set the process of controlling stormwater
pollution into motion. The changes were developed and instituted in two phases.

"A water quality standard defines the water quality goals of a water body, or portion thereof, by designating the use or uses to be made of the water and by setting criteria necessary to protect the uses. States adopt water quality standards to protect public health or welfare, enhance the quality of water and serve the purposes of the Clean Water Act ...

State Water Pollution Control Revolving Funds

The Clean Water Act provides low-interest loans for communities,
individuals, citizens' groups, non-profits, and others to better the
quality of watersheds through a wide range of water-quality related
projects. These loans are administered through "State Revolving Funds."

General Clean Water Act information

EPA's Office of Water: The first place to go for information on the federal Clean Water Act and its programs...after this site of course!

Watchdog 401 Certifications

Despite their importance, 401 certifications are often not reviewed by members of the public. You can make a difference by tracking the issuance of 401 certifications in your basin or state and by making sure that federal actions requiring a certification are in fact getting the required certification.

Is a cow a point source of pollution? 

It is important for citizens to prevent waivers from happening by default after one year of inaction on an application. Ask your state water quality agency to notify you when 401 applications come in. Mark your calendar and raise concerns if no certification is drafted after nine months.

Over the last dozen years, River Network has trained thousand of watershed activists to use the Clean Water Act to protect and restore their rivers. We've also trained dozens of leades to do Clean Water Act trainings in their own state or watershed. This "teaching tools" area of the online course provides examples of some to the teaching methods we've found to work over the years.

Watchdog Wetlands Permitting

Get to know your local Army Corps of Engineers staff.
Get on the list for public notice of dredge and fill permits in your basin.