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Legislation - Big Step for Clean
Waters
by Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com
The promise of "fishable and swimmable waters"
contained in the 1972 Clean Water Act will be a step closer to being
realized if the Fishable Waters Act (H.R. 325) introduced by Rep. John
Tanner, Tenn. becomes law. The Izaak Walton League commends Rep.
Tanner for his leadership in providing the resources and programs needed
to restore healthy fisheries to the nation's waters.
The Fishable Waters Act is the product of several years of effort
by a coalition of fisheries and agricultural organizations known as the
Fishable Waters Coalition (FWC). It creates a voluntary, incentive-based
plan that would enable states to convene watershed councils that would
in turn develop plans for watershed protection.
Projects in the plan would be focused on improvements to water
quality and fish habitat. Direct financial support would be available
for projects in approved plans or to compliment other federal
conservation programs benefitting fish.
"This locally led, incentives-based approach for cleaning our
waters and restoring our fisheries offers a new and exciting tool that
will supplement, not supplant, existing regulatory protections for the
nation's water quality," said Paul Hansen, the League's executive
director. "We are pleased to be a part of the FWC that helped to
craft this bill."
Separate provisions of the bill address urban fisheries, fish
habitat issues in major waterways and acquisition of water rights from
willing sellers for fish conservation.
"The latter provision is often the most critical element
required for fish," said Jim Mosher, IWLA conservation director.
"Not only are minimum in-stream flows necessary to support a
healthy fishery, but restoration of normal flow regimens especially
below dams can be equally important."
The League is committed to work with bill sponsors, the FWC and
others to successfully move a good water quality and fish conservation
bill through this Congress.
The Izaak Walton League of America is a national conservation
organization with 50,000 members and supporters, 21 state divisions and
more than 300 local chapters. Founded in 1922, the League is named
for the 17th century conservationist and author of "The Complete
Angler."
Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide
here in the
Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.
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