Water Resource Management Commons^™

The Impact Of Redefining Navigable Waters Under The Clean Water Act, Kate Miller

Kate Miller

For decades, the Clean Water Act has been the foundation for the comprehensive protection of our nation’s waterways. Unfortunately, in the last ten years, two Supreme Court cases have undermined the ability of the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to protect intermittent and ephemeral streams, as well as so-called “isolated” wetlands, all of which make up a significant and vital portion of the country’s hydrologic profile. This report examines the legal background of the cases and then utilizes GIS technology to demonstrate the potential ramifications for the waters in the State of Delaware, including both the physical and …