CWN Executive Director Natalie Roy recently spoke at Save the Illinois River's (STIR) annual membership meeting.  

It is time to nominate rivers to American Rivers' 2012 America's Most Endangered Rivers^TM report!  Nominations are due Tuesday, November 1, 2011.  If you didn't get to see their 2011 report, please go to: http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/endangered-rivers/. 

On July 13th, the House of Representatives passed HR 2018, the so-called Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011, by a vote of 239-184. A sad but not surprising outcome. To see how your Member of Congress voted check HERE.

There is an assault taking place on Capitol Hill and across the states to weaken laws that keep our drinking water and waterways clean. It is important that decision makers know that supporting anti-environmental legislation will turn back the clock to times of dirtier rivers, lakes, streams and coastal areas. Read an opinion piece Natalie Roy penned  regarding onerous legislation that is being debated on Capitol Hill. 

Thanks to everyone who participated in Clean Water Week 2011 here in the nation's Capitol. The sessions were tremendously engaging, the workgroup meetings productive and the side meetings with EPA and OMB extremely useful. Photo to the left is Executive Director Natalie Roy and Hackensack Riverkeeper Hugh Carola with the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. at one of the many events during CWW.  We also had a great Mississippi River Basin briefing on Capitol Hill thanks to our new Mississippi River Basin leaders and workgroups members. CWW participants also paid many visits to their congressional member offices to discuss important clean water issues, particularly the disastrous environmental federal budget cuts being proposed for fiscal year 2011. Thanks to so many folks for coming here and putting in so much time and effort. It was a busy two days to say the least! We will follow-up with more specific results from the workgroup meetings and sessions next week. All presentations will be posted over the next week or so as well. Photos of the many events that took place can be found by clicking HERE.

Thanks again for participating and making CWW 2011 a terrific event!

Dereth Glance, Executive Program Director at Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Clean Water Network Board Treasurer, was recently appointed by President Obama to be a Commissioner with the International Joint Commission at the Department of State. In her time with Citizens Campaign as well as Defenders of Wildlife, Citizen Action Coalition of Indiana, the Michigan League for Human Services and a Board member of Clean Water Network, Dereth has been an incredibly effective dedicated servant to bettering the environment and public well being. Dereth has also served

The New Gang in the U.S. House is throwing Clean Water in to the Gutter.
Call your Member of Congress NOW and URGE them to vote NO on the CR bill (H.R. 1) and on ALL anti-environmental amendments!
Voting on amendments could begin as early as TODAY!

Yesterday the 112th Congress convened with members of the House and Senate being sworn in for the new term. Representative John Boehner (R-OH) was elected to be the new Speaker of the House and will lead that chamber for the next two years. Since the midterm elections gave the Republicans a majority in the House of Representatives, there are a number of new faces leading committees that directly effect our ability to protect America's waters. Of particular importance to the Clean Water Community is the rise of Congressman John Mica (R-FL) to the Chairmanship of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. He is replacing former Chairman and clean water champion James Oberstar (D-MN) who lost his race this year for reelection.

This was a bad year for incumbents and for Clean Water Supporters in Congress. The midterms brought a sweeping change in Congress and resulted in throwing out some of the most committed and respected clean water champs in Congress including Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and House T & I Committee Chair James Oberstar (MN). The midterm elections also brought new conservative members to Congress who vowed to make cutting funding for environmental programs a priority. For more information check out the following links:

Every year, CWN member organization American Rivers generates a list of America's Most Endangered Rivers™. Ten rivers are selected each year for inclusion in the list, not because they are the most polluted, but rather because they are facing a turning point in the coming year that could negatively impact the river into the future.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that it is taking the first step to veto an Army Corps of Engineers permit for the Spruce No. 1 mine in West Virginia, the largest mountaintop removal mine ever authorized by the Corps in Appalachia.  EPA has ultimate authority to enforce the Clean Water Act through the veto process established by law.  The EPA's action is based on sceientific studies that contain evidence that the mine would have severe health impacts on the people, waters, and ecosystems of the surrounding area.