Izaak Walton League of America

As American duck hunters go afield across the country, the U.S. Senate voted to repeal common-sense protections for wetlands, streams, and other waters vital to outdoor recreation and America’s economy.

A U.S. Senate bill (S.1140) that would have stripped Clean Water Act protections from some waters and nullified a rule to clarify protections for others was defeated. Senators who voted against the bill voted for clean water and the outdoor recreation economy, which depends on healthy streams and wetlands.

The temporary stay of the "waters of the U.S." rule means that waters essential for hunting, fishing, and the outdoor recreation economy remain at risk. And it means that drinking water supplies for 1 in 3 Americans remain threatened. For Izaak Walton League members nationwide, the status quo is not acceptable.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is one of our nation’s greatest conservation programs. Congress created the Fund in 1965 to provide outdoor recreation for all Americans and to conserve critical cultural and natural resources. The Izaak Walton League was part of the team that recommended such a fund, and we urge Congress to continue to support its goals.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is planning a major “refresh” of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for 2016. The Izaak Walton League sees an opportunity to make this program work better for farmers, conservation, and the American people.