10. Public Spotlight on Water.In 2010, several in-depth reports and publications helped raise the profile of the nation's water resources crisis and galvanized new support for increased protection and restoration efforts. Particularly noteworthy coverage included the National Geographic's Water issue, which brought new focus to water globally; the release of Peter Gleick's new book, Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Nation's Obsession with Bottled Water; and continuation of the New York Times Toxic Water seriesby Charles Duhigg that investigated a range of water quality and shortage issues, including how Supreme Court rulings are restricting the Clean Water Act, and the high cost of replacing our aging water infrastructure. The Atlantic Monthly also featured an article on water contamination from abandoned mines, a huge problem in the west.

9. Potomac River Cleaner Now:According to a recent study by National Geological Survey, the Potomac River is in fact cleanerthan it was in the mid 1950s. The River is still polluted and in bad shape, but much progress has been made.

8. Overwhelming nationwide support to clean up the Gulf after the BP Oil Spill. The support for Gulf Oil Spill relief was unparalleled. Numerous high profile events took place across the country in 2010, including telethons, concerts and charity auctions, which were held to benefit grassroots groups working to clean-up the coast in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Disaster. Clean Water Network helped co-sponsor a successful Washington D.C. area Run for the Gulf race which raised funds for the relief effort. "BP Oil Spill" was the #1 search in Yahoo's online search engine for 2010. Many of our members including the Gulf Restoration Network, the Louisiana Bayoukeeper, and the Mobile Baykeeper are playing prominent leadership roles in the clean-up efforts.

7. EPA Actions. In the absence of congressional leadership, EPA took action on a number of important fronts. On November 14th, the US Environmental Protection Agency finalized its numeric nutrients standards rule for Florida. The final standards set numeric limits on the amount of nutrient pollution allowed in Florida's lakes, rivers, streams, and springs. While the environmental community did not get everything we asked for in the rule, it is a big step forward. The adoption of strong numeric nutrient criteria in Florida will help to serve as a national model for other states that are exploring adopting similar standards. We also know there will in all likelihood be serious bipartisan challenges to this rule in the next session of Congress. Click on the following link for a copy of CWN's earlier comments on the rule. The Agency is also initiating a rulemaking effort to reduce the effects of sanitary sewer overflows. In addition, EPA's new stormwater retention rules for DCthat are being developed could possibly be used as a national model.

Even though passing federal legislation is likely to be extremely difficult for the  foreseeable future, EPA has publicly expressed its willingness to explore a Waters of the U.S. rulemaking, if legislative options fail. On the climate-water front, the good news is that EPA is revising their strategy. Clean Water Network organized a major meeting for clean water advocates to provide input on the strategy. People from across the country participated in person and through a conference call in this important listening session.

6. Green Infrastructure Moves Forward!The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and America's Reinvestment and Recovery Act provided the largest pot of money ever for innovative green infrastructure projects for water systemsacross the country.

5. Clean Water Grassroots Groups busy finding success in 2010!The grassroots community, the heart and soul of the Clean Water Network, had an incredibly busy and successful 2010. While far from an exhaustive recounting of what our members have been up to, the following list highlights a few innovative projects. San Diego Coastkeeper has been working to strengthen CWA protections by reinforcing policies related to San Diego's MS4 stormwater permit. They recently conducted an on-the-ground audit of the City of Chula Vista's stormwater management system. The Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (GA) has been using CWN State Assistance Funds to support their four year campaign to address water quality issues in Lake Lanier.

Earlier this year, a group of environmental organizations including CWN member organization Alabama River Alliance (ARA), with support from a CWN SAF award,  filed a petition asking that EPA take over all water pollution enforcement in Alabama. As a result,

EPA issued a formal objection to the Alabama Department of Management 's (ADEM) proposed storm water permits for small cities expressing concerns that ADEM is not holding local governments to strict enough standards for controlling the runoff of sediment & pollution into waterways during storms. CWN also worked with a large number of

member groups to submit comments and sign on letters on a wide range of topics such as the Florida numeric nutrient standards, coal ash disposal regulation and community water infrastructure adaptation funding.

4. The environmental consequences of hydraulic fracturing come under public scrutiny-finally.EPA announced it is moving ahead with a major study on the environmental water quality and other impacts of injecting toxic chemicals into shale formations to drill for natural gas. New York is likely to become the first state to issue a temporary ban on hydraulic fracturing. The breakthrough documentary Gasland, produced by filmmaker turned activist Josh Fox, which highlights the environmental problems associated with hydraulic fracturing, made the nomination shortlist for a 2011 Academy Award for best documentary (final nominations will be announced on January 25th, 2011). Earlier this year CWN submitted extensive comments to EPA on the issue and also organized a groundbreaking OMG (Oil, Mining and Gas) caucus in Arkansas, funded by the McKnight Foundation and the Environmental Support Center, which explored the issue in more depth.

3. US Halts drilling in Gulf and East Coast:The Obama Administration announced in November that it is rescinding its decision to expand offshore oil exploration into the eastern Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Coast because of weaknesses in federal regulation revealed by the BP oil spill. CWN developed a comprehensive BP Oil Spillpolicy earlier this year in response to the BP Oil Spill disaster.

2. The United Nations formally declares that water is a human right:On September 24th the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a binding resolution that finally recognized access to clean water as a formal human right. The resolution "affirms that the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standards of living and inextricably related to the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as well as the right to life and human dignity.'

1. The Clean Water Network continued to expand and thrive!2010 was a year of major milestones. We unveiled a new website, expanded member services, weighed in on numerous water quality and quantity issues on the federal, state and local levels and increased our membership ranks. We also expanded our Board of Directors to include representatives from grassroots organizations across the country. We now have 23 Board members from all across the US including Alaska, Alabama, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Oregon, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, and the District of Columbia.

CWN also organized a major regional caucus on oil, mining and gas issues (OMG) in Arkansas, sponsored a Capitol Hill briefing on Mississippi River Basin issues, spearheaded a Major EPA/Grassroots activists stakeholder meeting on nutrient pollution and held more than twenty conference calls with member groups on issues ranging from green infrastructure and Clean Water Act jurisdiction to climate change and numeric nutrient standards. With Clean Water Week right around the corner and with support from members like you, we expect to make an even bigger impact in 2011.