Agricultural News
National Association of Conservation Districts Say Locally Led Efforts Best Solution to Clean Water Issues
Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:34:26 CDT
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) recently submitted comments in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Public Discussion Draft outlining the agency’s clean water strategy. NACD’s comments focus on the importance of locally-led conservation efforts, and address specific concerns with EPA’s approach to watershed restoration efforts and possible changes to the Clean Water Act (CWA). Click here for the Draft as released by EPA back in August of this year.
“As conservationists, NACD members fully support the common goal of achieving cleaner, healthier watersheds across the nation,” said Steve Robinson, NACD president and producer from Marysville, Ohio. “Districts work closely with state and local governments, agricultural producers, forest landowners, homeowners, and developers to address local water resource concerns and protect our streams, rivers, and lakes. The best way to achieve clean water is through locally-led conservation efforts – rather than a top-down federal regulatory approach.”
Conservation districts across the country work with state and local governments, agricultural producers, forest landowners, homeowners, and developers to improve and protect water through several CWA authorities, including Section 319 nonpoint source grants; storm-water permits; and source and drinking water protection.
NACD is therefore concerned by EPA’s statement that it plans to “support legislation and consider administrative action to restore the CWA protections to wetlands and headwater streams...” NACD fully supports the CWA as written, and opposes current legislative proposals to increase federal regulatory control—and usurp state jurisdiction—over local waters by changing the wording of the CWA from “navigable waters” to “waters of the United States.”
“States, local governments and private landowners play a critical leadership role in water management,” said Robinson. “Instead of solely relying on regulatory and enforcement tools, NACD encourages EPA to work collaboratively with local communities and stakeholders to address water quality concerns.”
NACD is also concerned by EPA’s plans to use the Chesapeake Bay watershed as a “model for watershed protection in other parts of the country.” Conservation districts are diligently working to make improvements in the Chesapeake Bay. With 121 conservation districts covering the Chesapeake Bay watershed, our ability to work with landowners and local communities to implement conservation practices is unrivaled.
“A one-size-fits-all approach is not the appropriate way to address watershed issues at regional and local levels,” Robinson continued. “It’s important that EPA gives locally-led efforts an opportunity to succeed by ensuring landowners and local communities have the tools and assistance necessary to achieve clean water goals.“
NACD and districts look forward to continuing to work with landowners, state and local partners, and federal agencies to achieve the important public benefits of clean water and healthy watersheds across the nation.
Click here for the full comments submitted by the NACD to the EPA on possible changes to the Clean Water Act
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