Two things: Today is the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the most important water protection law in the nation’s history, which we’ve been celebrating (and reflecting on) all month. And, VNRC and our partner organization, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV), have put together a guide for 2022 candidates outlining key environmental challenges and opportunities, which we want to share with you.
Stay informed, stay connected. Two things! (Well, today it’s technically three things–it’s just one of those days.)
Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
This month (and officially, today), the Clean Water Act (CWA) turns 50. As we continue working to address water pollution in Vermont and across the country, this is an important moment to take stock of both the progress we have made and to identify what more we need to do to ensure that everyone has access to clean, safe water as a human right.
Before the CWA was enacted in 1972, it was legal to dump all kinds of pollution in our lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. In Vermont, this translated into raw sewage being regularly discharged to our waters. But a lot has happened in the last 50 years…
Read more in Brian Shupe’s commentary here….
Check out VNRC’s timeline of 50 years of the CWA in Vermont’s History…
Clean Water, Climate Change, and Strategies for Local Resilience
It wasn’t just autumn leaves at peak brilliance—so was this weekend’s conversation around climate change and local strategies for resilience at the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC)’s Annual Summit, “Planning for a Climate-Changed Future”. Held at the Lake Morey Resort on Saturday, October 15, conservation commissions, climate scientists, activists, and environmentalists from around the state convened to discuss community resilience, the intricacies of climatology region by region, and the long-standing structural inequities that have resulted in low-income and historically disenfranchised populations being disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis.
Jon Groveman (VNRC’s Policy and Water Program Director) and Karina Dailey (VNRC’s Restoration Ecologist) led a particularly informative discussion on how intact freshwater systems build climate resilience, and the importance of freshwater ecosystems—including our rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, riparian areas, and floodplains—as critical resources we must protect in the interest of public health and combating the effects of climate change.
Take a Look!
VNRC and VCV are pleased to offer the 2022 candidates for elected office information on some of the most pressing issues facing Vermont. In this guide, we aim to provide a brief overview of critical issues and opportunities for action–from addressing climate change, enduring clean water for all, protecting people from toxic chemicals, building sustainable communities with smart growth housing, and maintaining healthy forests and wildlife.
Take a look at the guide here…
Thank you for supporting VNRC’s continued efforts to meet environmental challenges head on.