From our friends at the Sierra Club: Action Alert
After ten years of development, the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) is planning on issuing new regulations to guide which wetlands in California are protected under state law, and what people can do to avoid or mitigate harming them.
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., the Trump Administration is rolling back Federal wetlands protections. The Clean Water Rule, issued by the Obama Administration, set new broader definitions for when wetlands would be considered Waters of the United States and subject to federal protection. It drew the ire of developers, and thus was one of the first actions Trump took to attack the environment.
The Water Board has broad authority to regulate all wetlands, and this new rule will make sure that many of California’s wetlands are still protected, despite Trump’s big give to developers. Any proposal to protect wetlands is up against tough opposition, and needs your help to succeed.
California has lost over 90{5fc40a96f14c4a6aa4c2a32569b0a57dcc67c0b31eb04c341474283f11b6cdd2} of its historic wetlands. Wetlands provide habitat for numerous native fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, plants, and insects. Migratory birds rely on wetlands as they traverse the continent. Wetlands filter out nutrients and pollutants from our waters, and are our natural carbon sinks. Coastal wetlands can help prevent erosion and help address sea level rise.
A strong wetlands regulation by the Water Board will help stop the loss of more wetlands, and will help us restore some of what we have lost.
Contact the Water Board today to thank them and ask them to adopt strong wetlands protections.
California needs better protections for our wetlands from the Water Board. We don’t need more developer handouts from the Trump Administration.
Sincerely,
Kyle Jones
Policy Advocate