Enhancing Protection for Vulnerable Waters

Authors

Irena F. Creed, Western University, London
Charles R. Lane, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati
Jacqueline N. Serran, Western University, London,
Laurie C. Alexander, US EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington
Nandita B. Basu, University of Waterloo
Aram J.K. Calhoun, University of Maine
Jay R. Christensen, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Las Vegas
Matthew J. Cohen, University of Florida
Christopher Craft, Indiana University
Ellen D'Amico, CSS-Dynamac
Edward DeKeyser, North Dakota State University
Laurie Fowler, University of Georgia
Heather E. Golden, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati
James W. Jawitz, University of Florida
Peter Kalla, US EPA Region 4 Laboratory
L. Katherine Kirkman, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center
Megan Lang, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Falls Church
Scott G. Leibowitz, US EPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, Corvallis
David B. Lewis, University of South FloridaFollow
John Marton, CDM Smith, Inc.
Daniel L. McLaughlin, Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech
Hadas Raanan-Kiperwas, ORISE Fellow, US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Mark C. Rains, University of South FloridaFollow
Kai C. Rains, University of South FloridaFollow
Lora Smith, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Keywords

environmental impact, hydrology, law, sustainability, water resources

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO3041

Abstract

Governments worldwide do not adequately protect their limited freshwater systems and therefore place freshwater functions and attendant ecosystem services at risk. The best available scientific evidence compels enhanced protections for freshwater systems, especially for impermanent streams and wetlands outside of floodplains that are particularly vulnerable to alteration or destruction. New approaches to freshwater sustainability — implemented through scientifically informed adaptive management — are required to protect freshwater systems through periods of changing societal needs. One such approach introduced in the US in 2015 is the Clean Water Rule, which clarified the jurisdictional scope for federally protected waters. However, within hours of its implementation litigants convinced the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to stay the rule, and the subsequently elected administration has now placed it under review for potential revision or rescission. Regardless of its outcome at the federal level, policy and management discussions initiated by the propagation of this rare rulemaking event have potential far-reaching implications at all levels of government across the US and worldwide. At this timely juncture, we provide a scientific rationale and three policy options for all levels of government to meaningfully enhance protection of these vulnerable waters. A fourth option, a 'do-nothing' approach, is wholly inconsistent with the well-established scientific evidence of the importance of these vulnerable waters.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Nature Geoscience, v. 10, issue 11, p. 809-815

Scholar Commons Citation

Creed, Irena F.; Lane, Charles R.; Serran, Jacqueline N.; Alexander, Laurie C.; Basu, Nandita B.; Calhoun, Aram J.K.; Christensen, Jay R.; Cohen, Matthew J.; Craft, Christopher; D'Amico, Ellen; DeKeyser, Edward; Fowler, Laurie; Golden, Heather E.; Jawitz, James W.; Kalla, Peter; Kirkman, L. Katherine; Lang, Megan; Leibowitz, Scott G.; Lewis, David B.; Marton, John; McLaughlin, Daniel L.; Raanan-Kiperwas, Hadas; Rains, Mark C.; Rains, Kai C.; and Smith, Lora, "Enhancing Protection for Vulnerable Waters" (2017). Integrative Biology Faculty and Staff Publications. 320.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/bin_facpub/320