January 14, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Moyer, Vice President of Government Affairs, smoyer@tu.org, 202-796-9406
Trout Unlimited applauds EPA stream connectivity report
Science unequivocally supports the need to protect headwater streams
WASHINGTON, D.C.Trout Unlimited (TU) today applauds release of the report Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters by the Environmental Protection Agencys Scientific Advisory Board. TUs robust interdisciplinary scientific team concurs that with respect to the connectivity of seasonally-flowing intermittent and ephemeral streams in particular, the report accurately reflects the current state of science.
From a scientific perspective seasonally flowing streams and headwaters are undoubtedly biologically, chemically and hydrologically connected to downstream waters, said Helen Neville, Senior Scientist for Trout Unlimited. But this is old news from an anglers perspective. We know protecting all of our headwaters provides habitat for spawning and young fish, and provides the high water quality needed for the larger downstream rivers where we all fish.
The connectivity report also confirms the legitimacy of the scientific basis behind the ongoing Waters of the United States rulemaking. This proposed rule, which closed its public comment period in November of 2014, would clarify the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act after a series of Supreme Court cases muddled the laws application.
Steve Moyer, vice president of government affairs for Trout Unlimited added, Today the proposed Waters of the United States rule is on an even stronger footing than it already was. Restoring the protections of the Clean Water Act to headwater streams and wetlands is important to sportsmen and women all across the country, and we look forward to the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers quickly finalizing the rule.
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Trout Unlimited is the nations oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North Americas trout and salmon and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook and Twitter, and visit us online at tu.org.
