Trump's Clean Water Rule Change Reduces Protection for 93% of Arizona Water

Most of Arizona's arroyos fall into the relentlessly contested grey area created by the 1972 Clean Water Act.

1 minute read

December 21, 2019, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Flask Flood

Mike Hardiman / Shutterstock

Arianna Brocius reports on the effects of the Trump administration's proposed changes to the Clean Water Act, as contained in a new Waters of the United States Rule.

The Trump administration's new Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule will eliminate those so-called "ephemeral or intermittent" waterways from regulation under the Clean Water Act. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality estimates that will reduce protection of state waterways, lakes and ponds by up to 93%.

The new rule rescinds protections put in place by a controversial rule implemented in the final years of the Obama administration. An article from September also details the effect of the proposed rule change on a development in Arizona that would add 28,000 homes southwest of Tucson.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019 in Arizona Public Media

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