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Americans Need Clean Water and
Wetlands Americans Need Clean Water and Wetlands
If we want clean water for all Americans, we need to safeguard our wetlands. Not only are wetlands places of beauty in their own right and homes to wildlife, they can also serve as nature's filters, cleansing our water. People like you, your neighbors and your relatives are hurt by lax water pollution laws and destruction of wetlands. Their stories reaffirm our need for stronger clean water and wetlands programs. Homeowners protected by wetlands Wetlands can be the first line of defense against flooding. Just ask Doris Wilson, a schoolteacher from Louisville, Kentucky. She lived securely in her home for twenty years --until a local wetlands vanished and a new housing development appeared in its place. Without the wetland to soak up floodwaters, Doris found her yard flooded -- even in the summer months. The serious damage done to her home could have been avoided, if the wetlands' values were recognized and preserved. Gulf shrimpers threatened by polluted run-off Part of Louisiana's unique culture comes from the traditions of fishing and shrimping on the state's Gulf Coast. But in the Gulf, an area that's roughly the size of Massachusetts, has become a "dead zone," where fish and wildlife can no longer survive. Run-off from sewage, fertilizers and animal waste -- coming down the Mississippi River basin-- is killing the Gulf. Shrimp harvests are crashing and already, a fish processing plant closed its doors. Potomac River Heritage Reserve The lower Potomac River is home to a rich diversity of important natural and cultural resources, which have survived because of past preservation investment. Sierra Club activists want to establish the Potomac River Heritage Reserve, Friends of Mount Aventine, to guarantee the continued integrity of this collection of ecological and aquatic resources. A massive residential/commercial development called Chapman's Landing threatens that integrity. The proposed Chapman's Landing would threaten a major historical site that makes up most of the north side of the project. The south side is largely composed of steep slopes and stream valleys, which drain into the Mattawoman Creek -- an exceptional fish spawning and nursery ground. The Chapman's Landing proposal would also have major impacts to the Chapman forests, the Mattawoman Creek, groundwater, infrastructure demands, traffic, and historic Mount Aventine. Wetlands purify drinking water People living near South Carolina's Congaree Bottomland Swamp don't take the place for granted. Without the wetland, the community would have to build a water treatment facility -- with a price tag of about $5 million. Instead, the wetland acts as a natural water filter, removing toxins and sediment from the water. Relying on chemicals and treatment plants to clean our water doesn't always work. In recent years, outbreaks of the waterborne microbe, Cryptosporidium in several U.S. cities have been linked to polluted run-off. One solution? Preserve more wetlands to shield our drinking water sources. Pfietsteria: Water-borne toxic microbe threatens America's rivers When a mysterious illness turned up in Maryland communities, the symptoms were were odd (rashes, memory loss) but the pattern was clear: all the victims had contact with river water. The culprit was Pfiesteria, a waterborne microbe that has attacked the waters of North Carolina with a vengeance, causing the death of millions of fish since 1991. Many believe runoff from chicken and hog farms is one of several causes for Pfiesteria, but pollution of the waterways is also linked to poor wastewater treatment, overuse of lawn and garden fertilizers, and even air pollution that ends up in the waterways. The microbe is a frightening and tragic reminder that we all must act to protect America's water. Up to Top |
