Overview of the Clean Water
Act in the U.S.
by: Bill Painter
This talk consists
of an overview of the history and structure of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
in the US as well as discussion of successes and difficulties encountered
during 3 decades of efforts to implement this complex law. Key elements
of law and programs will be described briefly, with an emphasis on connections
between various parts. The presentation will include a brief history
of the development of the CWA; goals of the Act; requirements for state
water quality standards; monitoring and reporting requirements; the
controversial total maximum daily load (TMDL) program; the NPDES permitting
program that regulates "point sources"; the voluntary nonpoint
source programs; and State Revolving Loan Funds and other funding sources.
The two basic approaches employed in the Act will be described: the
"technology-based" approach, which was the focus of implementation
in the first two decades after the passage of the Act in 1972; and the
"water quality-based" approach, which emerged as the key approach
in the 1990s and the first years of the 21st century. A shift from concentrating
mainly on "point sources" to attempting to place equal emphasis
on nonpoint sources has occurred during this time frame. Also, there
has been a move away from concentrating on chemical impairments of waterbodies
to trying to deal with physical and biologically-based impairments as
well.
The CWA will not be presented as a "model" that should be
imitated in all it's aspects by other countries, but as one nation's
approach to solving it's water quality problems. Hence,
discussion of various parts of the law will include challenges encountered
by U.S. E.P.A., states, and other entities involved in implementation
of the Act. The presentation will include thoughts regarding possible
future directions for clean water programs in the United States. This
will include an overview of the key water quality problems currently
encountered in the U.S., as well as their sources.
Improved Surface Water Management:
Re-linking the Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystem Continuum
by: Azharul H. Mazumder
Bangladesh is situated
at the sprawling inter-linked delta of three great river systems of
the world - the Ganges, Meghna and Brahmaputra. The floodplains of Bangladesh
represent one of the world's most important wetlands - home to hundreds
of species of fish, plants, and wildlife and critical habitat for thousands
of migrating birds. Despite their uninviting appearance, the wetlands
in Bangladesh had been the inexhaustible source of its wealth, and constitute
one of its most important resources.
USAID/Bangladesh
recognizes that poor surface water management is leading to severe degradation
of the aquatic and floodplain ecosystems. The (perennial) wetland habitats
and ecosystems have lost connections with larger waterbodies (rivers
and canals) due to siltation and conversion of agricultural and homestead
use. Massive deforestation has also taken place, with negative consequence
for both diversity and production of tropical forest resources. In addition,
and more alarmingly, degradation of floodplain and terrestrial upland
has resulted in the degradation of aquatic ecosystems (both function
and health) and important wetland habitats. As a result, both diversity
and production of aquatic resources, including open water fish species
has decreased drastically along with the diversity and production of
tropical forest resources. Drastic reduction of aquatic resources has
negatively impacted food security and income of the poorest elements
of the population. Reduction of forest biodiversity and production has
negatively impacted food, fodder, medicine, and shelter of poor people.
USAID/Bangladesh
believes that improving the management of surface water will not automatically
lead to biodiversity enhancement vis-à-vis sustainable aquatic
resources production. What is needed is to address the issue from a
holistic perspective and to address the ecosystem health question. USAID/Bangladesh
addresses the natural resources management issues under a Strategic
Objective, Improved Management of Open Water and Tropical Forest Resources.
The specific goal is to demonstrate improved, environmentally sustainable
management of aquatic and tropical forest resources. The adaptive model
is based on the need to restore or maintain ecosystem function of aquatic
and forest habitats through a participatory approach. The strategy reflects
an integrated approach for improving the management of both open water
and tropical resources. The ability to integrate both types of interventions
will guide the selection of the target communities. The integrated approach
will be based on a generic principle that the health and productivity
of the open water ecosystems (wetlands) depend, to a great extent, on
rehabilitating the connections with the larger floodplain and the upland
terrestrial ecosystems. The program is based on the following major
themes: Re-linking the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem Continuum for
Biodiversity Conservation.
The focus of the
program is at the local community level. For improved management of
open water and tropical forest resources, the emphasis is on demonstrating
successful local models to decision-makers at the national level. The
term "community" means all stakeholders in a target community
who are either directly dependent or whose actions have an impact on
the open water and tropical forest resources. Owing to this principle,
the program has adapted a co-management approach that brings all the
stakeholders together under the community-based implementation structure.
The program, therefore, works with another equally important theme:
Re-linking People with Natural Ecosystems.
The program is based
on the following activities:
- Management of
Aquatic Ecosystems through Community Husbandry (MACH)
- Strengthening
the Arannayk Foundation (Bangladesh Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation)
- Habitat Restoration
in Wetland Ecosystems
- Physical intervention
to improve wetland habitats under MACH
- Riparian zone
management
- Community-based
buffer zone management
- Integrated Management
of Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems
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