The Clean Water Act mandates reporting of ‘impaired waters’ to support conservation and restoration efforts.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that Washington state is years behind on reporting polluted waterways. In an article for High Country News, Kylie Mohr describes the requirements set out by the Clean Water Act, which “requires each state to maintain a list of water bodies that don’t meet federal standards and submit an update to the Environmental Protection Agency every two years.” The lists are designed to help government agencies and the public understand local conditions and risks and prioritize cleanup efforts.
According to the GAO report, Washington has missed submission deadlines since 2012. “State officials attributed the backlog to the number and complexity of Washington’s water bodies and the amount of data collected by other agencies, saying it takes time to bring everything together.” The state also consults with dozens of tribal communities affected by conservation efforts.
Washington Department of Ecology Director Laura Watson, in a written response to the report, said “Ecology disagrees with the report’s focus on the timeliness of the state’s impaired waters lists as a key component of salmon recovery in Washington.”
FULL STORY: Washington lags behind in water-pollution oversight
The Nation’s Most Endangered Rivers
An annual list from American Rivers highlights the waterways most at risk from climate change, poor water management, pollution, and other dangers.
Fifty Years After the Clean Water Act, Half of U.S. Waters Are Unsafe for Humans and Fish
A study of U.S. waterways shows that around half of lakes, rivers, and streams in the U.S. are too toxic to swim or fish in.
Annual LA River CleanUp Invites Residents to Protect Local Ecosystems
The Friends of the Los Angeles River will host its 34th Annual LA River CleanUp on October 5, inviting residents to help beautify the river, prevent litter from reaching the ocean, and promote equitable access to green spaces.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research