Image: 3 Fish Studios
Today, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its plan to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rewrite the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS)—the waters protected by the federal Clean Water Act. EPA’s announcement comes less than a month after the Institute for Energy Research—a think tank that promotes the fossil fuel industry and sat on the Project 2025 Advisory Board—submitted a petition requesting the agency take this very action.
The WOTUS definition is crucial as it establishes the jurisdictional reach of the landmark, bipartisan Clean Water Act. The first Trump EPA tried to narrow the definition of “WOTUS” and the conservative-leaning Supreme Court picked up the baton in 2023, making a decision that greatly constricted waters that receive Clean Water Act protections. Just last week, a divided Supreme Court took another swipe at EPA’s Clean Water Act authority. EPA’s latest action will only further restrict federal water quality protections.
We knew this was coming. And now, more than ever, California needs to step up to protect its waters. That is why CCKA has teamed up with Defenders of Wildlife and Senator Ben Allen to introduce Senate Bill 601: The Right to Clean Water Act to safeguard California’s water systems by enshrining into state law previous federal protections offered by the federal Clean Water Act. The Right to Clean Water Act would strengthen state water quality laws so California’s protections will no longer ebb and flow with variable national politics.
We’ve said it once and we’ll keep saying it: CCKA will not stand by and let our waters be stripped of crucial protections. California must be responsible for protecting its waters. We can no longer rely upon the federal government to protect and provide clean and affordable water to Americans. SB 601 provides California the opportunity to enshrine our state values and ensure clean water for all Californians.
SB 601 will be heard in its first policy committee in early April. Stay informed of CCKA’s legislative work and support our efforts to protect California’s waters by subscribing to California Coastkeeper Alliance’s monthly newsletter, becoming a lifetime CCKA member, and following us on social media: @CA_Waterkeepers.
Senior Staff Attorney Lauren Chase Marshall advances CCKA’s water quality initiatives via administrative, litigation, and legislative tools.
