After more than a year of consultation with stakeholders, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers released a final rule last week clarifying which bodies of water are protected under the federal Clean Water Act. The new rule will restore protections to 1,200 miles of streams and thousands of acres of wetlands in our state of Maine.

As Maine sportsmen and women, the Maine Council of Trout Unlimited applauds the administration for its leadership and efforts to keep these vital waterways healthy for fish and waterfowl, and safe for Maine residents to drink.

Healthy wetlands and headwater streams are also critical for Maine’s outdoor recreation industry, which contributes $1.4 billion to our state each year.

The just-released clean water rule resolves nearly 15 years of confusion that has put our waters, wildlife and economy at risk. But in the eleventh hour, some members of Congress are leading a last-ditch effort to block the protections and are trying to restart the multi-year rule-making process.

As the Senate prepares to consider this unnecessary delay, Maine’s senators have a critical role to play. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have opposed clean water protections in the past.

The Maine Council of Trout Unlimited, with our 1,840 members statewide, urges them both to protect Maine’s clean water, which we all care about and depend on. Please urge our senators to oppose efforts to block the new clean water rule.

Don Abbott

chairman, Maine Council of Trout Unlimited

Camden