The Clean Water Act is under attack—again. On March 12, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers announced plans to review and reconsider which streams, wetlands, and other water resources are protected under the Clean Water Act. A 30-day public comment period is now open through April 23, 2025—this is our chance to speak out before it’s too late!
Why It Matters:
Streams and wetlands are more than just landscape features — they are critical parts of our nation’s water infrastructure that filter out harmful pollutants and prevent flooding. Protecting streams, wetlands, and other water bodies is a commonsense way to safeguard downstream drinking water sources.
In May 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court drastically weakened Clean Water Act protections. The devastating Sackett v. EPA decision narrowed protections for more than half of the nation’s wetlands and for thousands of miles of streams throughout the country. Now, instead of working to restore those protections, EPA’s latest interim guidance takes an even more harmful approach, stripping protections from even more waterways. And the agency’s new administrator isn’t stopping there—he is further weakening protections and leaving the vast majority of our waterways vulnerable. Without strong public outcry, they’ll succeed in putting our water—and our communities—at risk.
The Sackett v. EPA decision and EPA’s new interim guidance ignores science, the rule of law, and public opinion. The only people who wanted EPA to weaken protections for water bodies are the industries who will profit if it is easier to pave over or plow under a stream or wetlands. The public expects the government to do more, not less to safeguard our water and health.
Your Voice Matters - Send a Message to EPA Today!
EPA must hear from all of us before April 23, 2025. Let EPA know you oppose weakening Clean Water Act protections and you expect EPA to do more to protect clean water. We must not let our voices be drowned out by special interests.