News & Updates

Help Fully Restore the National Environmental Policy Act
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Climate And Safe Energy | News
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), passed in 1970, requires federal agencies to assess any significant environmental impacts a federal action,...

EPA Restores Authority to States, Territories, and Tribes under CWA 401 Final Rule
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- Clean Water Defense | News | Press Releases
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final 2023 Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule,...

Estonian Oil Shale Giant Abandons Federal Oil Shale Lease, Loses Colorado River Basin Water Deal
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- Clean Water Defense | Climate And Safe Energy | News | Press Releases
Estonian state-owned oil shale company Enefit American Oil is abandoning its lease to mine oil shale on federal public land in northeastern Utah’s Uinta...

Legal Victory Puts Hellbender Back on Track for Endangered Species Protection
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- Clean Water Defense | News | Press Releases
In response to a lawsuit filed by five conservation groups, a federal judge found today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2019 denial of Endangered...

Tell Congress to Pass the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act!
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Clean Water Defense | News
The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, which was first introduced in 2020 and updated in 2021, will soon be reintroduced in both the U.S. House of...

Waterkeeper Alliance Calls on Lawmakers to Step Up After EPA Finalizes Weakened WOTUS Rule
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- Clean Water Defense | News | Press Releases
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule following the Supreme Court’s ruling in...

Who Is Waterkeeper: Julie Silverman, Lake Champlain Lakekeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Throughout the world, large bodies of water contain within them a bit of mythology. Humans can’t breathe under water. We can’t see or ever truly...

Waterkeeper Alliance Stands With Groups in the Western U.S Seeking to Avoid the Collapse of the Colorado River Supply System
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- Clean Water Defense | News
Colorado Riverkeeper, John Weisheit, drafted detailed scoping comments submitted to the Bureau of Reclamation on August 17, 2023 as a part of that agency’s...

Remembering Dr. Bruce Bell
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- News
Earlier this summer, the Waterkeeper movement and the planet lost a key ally with the passing of Dr. Bruce A. Bell. Bruce, through Carpenter Environmental...

Waterkeeper Alliance Responds to EPA’s Denial of Petition to Better Regulate Pollution From Animal Factories
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- News | Pure Farms Pure Waters
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week denied a petition from Waterkeeper Alliance and dozens of environmental and community...

Waterkeeper Alliance Calls on NCDEQ To Listen to Public Input, Protect Communities During 2024 General Permitting Process
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- News | Pure Farms Pure Waters
Waterkeeper Alliance & Partners Will Host the “People’s Hearing” to Increase Access to Public Participation & Ensure that the Final General...

Who Is Waterkeeper: Cheryl Nenn, Milwaukee Riverkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
The city of Milwaukee is home to the confluence of three rivers: the Menomonee River, the Kinnickinnic River, and the aptly named Milwaukee River. The...

Help Extend Water Quality Protections to Tribal Waters
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Clean Water Defense | News
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed a new rule that would institute federal baseline water quality standards (WQS)...

Tell Congress to Keep Plastic Out of Our National Parks!
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Representative Mike Quigley of Illinois recently introduced House Resolution 4561, also known as the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act, for the reduction...

Waterkeepers Meet in Detroit for Regional Summit
- By: María Victoria Díaz-González
- News
In early June, Great Lakes Waterkeepers gathered in Detroit, Michigan. The Great Lakes Regional Summit drew 20 participants, representing four states...

Waterkeepers Meet in Sweden for Regional Summit
- By: Chris Wilke
- Climate And Safe Energy | News
Skill building in the far North, with 24 hours of daylight, sled dogs, and coffee. Earlier this month, Waterkeepers from Africa, the Middle East, Europe,...

Who Is Waterkeeper: Anna D’Apolito, Lake Atitlán Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Lake Atitlán is a historically significant body of water that is also known for its beauty and volcanic activity. It enjoys UNESCO designation and is...

Urge USDOT to Finalize the Strongest Possible Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Standards
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Clean Water Defense | Climate And Safe Energy | News
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), by way of its Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), recently announced a proposed...

Catawba College and Waterkeeper Alliance Partner on Advocacy Boot Camp
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- News | Pure Farms Pure Waters
A Profound Learning Experience in Environmental Advocacy Recently, six Catawba College undergraduate students traveled to New Bern, NC to participate in...

Help Protect American Communities, Air, and Waters From Toxic Power Plant Pollution!
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Clean Water Defense | Climate And Safe Energy | News
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to strengthen Clean Air Act (CAA) controls on mercury and other toxic pollution emissions...

Who Is Waterkeeper: Heather Smith, Grand Traverse Baykeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Grand Traverse Bay sits at the northern end of Michigan’s lower peninsula. The embayment is known for its pristine blue waters that look almost turquoise...

Waterkeepers Meet in Hyannis, Massachusetts for Regional Summit
- By: María Victoria Díaz-González
- News
Earlier this month, North Atlantic Waterkeepers gathered in Hyannis, Massachusetts for a long awaited Regional Summit. The North Atlantic Regional Summit...

Waterkeeper Alliance Calls on Congress for Safeguards After Supreme Court Delivers Blow to Clean Water Act
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- Clean Water Defense | News | Press Releases
Court’s Decision Prioritizes Polluting Industries Over Clean Water and Public Health and Ignores Decades of Legal Precedent, Science, and Clean Water...

What’s Up With WOTUS?
- By: Jen Lomberk
- Clean Water Defense | News
What’s Up With WOTUS? In recent weeks, you may have seen news stories about “WOTUS” or “Waters of the United States.” The argument over what...

Waterkeepers Meet in Alabama for Regional Summit
- By: Patience Burke
- News
Last month, Waterkeeper groups from more than a dozen different states descended upon the Magic City – Birmingham, Alabama – to attend the Gulf and...

Tell President Biden to Protect Environmental and Public Health Safeguards From the Reckless Demands of the Fossil Fuel Industry
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Climate And Safe Energy | News
Certain members of Congress are trying to sneak through a dirty deal to undo environmental protections by trading away vital safeguards in exchange for...

Urge EPA to Protect Waterways From Coal-Fired Power Plant Pollution
- By: Kelly Foster
- News
In response to decades of advocacy and litigation by Waterkeeper Alliance and our partners, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now proposing...

Waterkeepers Meet in Guatamela for Regional Summit
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- News
With stunning views of volcanoes towering over Lago el Atilan, Waterkeepers from seven countries throughout Latin America gathered at high elevation in...

The 2023 Goldman Prize Winners Symbolize Hope for Our Future
- By: Lori Harrison
- News
In many cultures across the world a rainbow symbolizes hope. For The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where I was headed for the second...

San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper Diane Wilson is a 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize Winner
- By: Waterkeeper Alliance
- News
Congratulations to the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize winners San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper Diane Wilson from the North America/United States,...