UPDATES ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS IN CALIFORNIA |
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Wetlands
You could think of wetlands as grocery stores for animals, plants and people – a sort of one-stop shop offering food, flood protection, even the air we breathe.
Wetlands filter our water and air, removing harmful pollutants and socking away greenhouse gases. They also provide food and habitat for animals and birds, and provide a natural break from flooding. In fact, scientists think wetlands could have protected Louisiana from the worst effects of Hurricane Katrina.
But federal court decisions and Bush Administration Inaction have removed the protections these places used to have (link to Legal page).
California’s State Water Board has one more chance to save our wetlands, streams and riparian forests! They are crafting a policy to protect our shrinking wetland reserves. The policy will protect wetlands and streams, and the fragile areas that surround them.
We need YOUR help to urge the state to get the strongest possible protections in place. Our efforts to get strong policies in place face enormous opposition from industry and development interests. Your involvement can help convince them it’s important to save these precious areas from development.
You can help protect our streams and riparian areas!
Please copy and paste this e-mail to name@waterboards.ca.gov by September 7, 2008:
Dear SWRCB Member:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit scoping comments on Phase 1 of the State Water Resources Control Board's proposed Wetland and Riparian Area Protection Policy. Because the federal government is no longer protecting many of our state's wetlands and streams, the state's efforts to protect these valuable natural resources are very much appreciated.
I would like to encourage you to adopt a strong Wetland and Riparian Area Protection Policy that:
Adopts a powerful definition of wetlands and steams that identifies all of California's wetlands and streams, no matter how small, intermittent or ephemeral.
Gives state and regional staff the authority to go after all types of wetlands damage, including draining, disking and other damaging activities that your staff calls 'hydromodification."
Includes a permitting process that will deny permits to most wetland- and stream-destroying projects. We can't allow developers to get away with building mitigation wetlands that don't do enough to protect our water quality and wildlife.
Recognizes that our wetlands and riparian areas are among our most important natural resources. They sequester over 30% of our carbon, provide essential habitat for over 75% of our fish species, purify our water and air and help control flooding.
I appreciate your consideration and the hard work of you and your staff.
Sincerely,
Your name and address here
DO MORE:
Here’s an in-depth explanation of the legal battle.
Explore Wetlands! Learn more about wetlands, ephemeral streams and riparian forests!
