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By Marion Stoddart and John Duff, Guest Writers This is the second in a series of posts c elebrating the fortieth anniversary of the landmark Clean Water Act. Check back each day for the latest installment. In early 2012, Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced “America’s Great Outdoors Rivers Initiative,” an effort to protect and restore America’s rivers for people and wildlife and to support jobs in tourism and outdoor recreation. This is good news, because rivers— and oceans— are our lifeblood and need ongoing care. Thanks to the Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, it’s now

By Bob Wendelgass, President & CEO This is the first in a series of posts celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the landmark Clean Water Act. Check back each day for the latest installment. The Clean Water Act turns 40 on October 18th, with a remarkable record of accomplishment. I remember back in the 1960s when the Great Lakes were declared dead, the Cuyahoga River caught on fire and many of our rivers were so full of toxic chemicals that they’d eat the paint right off boats. I remember being told not to eat the fish from Lake Ontario or to swim at the beach near my neighborhood. Today, the

By Kim Labo, Minnesota Program Organizer Evidently the Mississippi River is now germ free thanks to thousands of Minnesotans washing antibacterial soaps, toothpaste and cleaners down the drain. At least that is the result you would expect given the level of chemicals in the river from antibacterial products has increased more than 200% since the 1960’s. Instead we have carcinogenic dioxins being formed when antibacterial chemicals like triclosan break down in our water. When exposed to chlorine and sunlight during the wastewater treatment process triclosan turns into several dioxins (DCDD