Protecting our waterways

Into every great body of water flows a series of smaller streams and wetlands. If the smaller upstream waters are fouled or impaired, the larger waters, such as the Chesapeake Bay, pay the price—as do the wildlife and fish that depend on them.

Yet a pair of misguided Supreme Court decisions put the bay at risk by declaring 57 percent of the small streams in the bay watershed outside the scope of the federal Clean Water Act. This is a particular problem for Maryland, where our treasured bay is fouled by upstream rivers in Pennsylvania and other states.

Environment Maryland is building support to restore Clean Water Act protection to these streams and wetlands. In June, we won our first victory when a Senate committee approved the Clean Water Restoration Act.