Toxic-Free Environment Reports
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Executive Summary
Background
Since 1972, the Clean Water Act (CWA) has protected America’s lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands from unregulated pollution and destruction. Unfortunately, two recent Supreme Court decisions effectively gutted the CWA and left many of our nation’s waters unprotected. As a result of the SWANCC (2001) and Rapanos (2009) decisions, the CWA no longer applies to seasonal or intermittent streams lacking a continuous flow or to water bodies that lack a “substantial nexus” or “adjacency” to traditional navigable waters or major tributaries of traditional navigable waters. In Oregon, 53% of our streams currently threatened by potential development and toxic pollution. This is bad news for the Willamette River and all waters of the United States.
Importance of the Willamette
Ecological Significance
The Willamette provides habitat for many species of native Oregon wildlife. Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, river otters and Great Blue herons are just a few of the species that depend on the Willamette for food and shelter.
Healthy Communities
With approximately 2.5 million people living in the Willamette Valley, unpolluted, clean water is critical to maintaining safe drinking water and a high quality of life for Oregonians. In all, approximately 46% of Oregonians receive their drinking water from sources fed by threatened streams.
Economic Benefit
The Willamette is a vital component of Oregon’s multi‐billion dollar recreation industry. In Oregon, $2.5 billion is spent on fishing, hunting and wildlife‐related activities annually. And $8 billion is spent on travel and tourism within the state. Polluted waters discourage recreation and tourism, making it imperative that we maintain safe, clean waters if our economic success is to continue.
Commonsense Approach
Original Intent & 30 Years of Consistent Application
The Clean Water Act was originally intended “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.” For 30 years, the Clean Water Act was consistently interpreted and applied to protect all of America’s waters, including the Willamette.
Clean Water Is Good for Farms & Business too
Oregon farmers depend on clean, safe waters for their success. As agricultural leaders, Oregon’s farms require clean water that won’t sicken or kill their crops, but will allow them to continue growing and harvesting hazelnuts, blackberries, hops, and wine grapes, among other crops. And businesses in the Willamette Valley depend on healthy communities with clean water in order to attract workers, business, and tourism.
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