County Commissioners Protecting America's Natural Resources 

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Clean Water

County commissioners from across the country have been advocating for clean water protections.  Most county officials know that we all need clean water and healthy watersheds to ensure clean and safe drinking water supplies and outdoor recreation, and to protect bridges, roads, hospitals, treatment plants, and other critical infrastructure.  

Their "Clean Water for All--County Leaders Speak Out for Clean Water" report has just been released.  Follow this link to see for yourself:  Clean Water for All Report.

The National Association of Counties' Environment, Energy and Land Use (EELU) Committee is the committee charged with dealing with water quality issues. Last year, EELU voted overwhelmingly (54 to 1) in support of the Resolution in Support of Clean Water for All at the annual conference in Nashville TN in July. This resolution was a compromise effort which sought to bridge the divide at NACo, drafted after NACo staff asserted that the Clean Water for All resolution was in conflict with the NACo platform (something resolutions are not supposed to do).  

Click here if you'd like to see a Fact Sheet that demonstrates that the Resolution in Support of Clean Water for All is consistent with the NACo Platform.  In fact, it is the Waters of the US resolution that is in conflict with the NACo platform. Click here to find that Fact Sheet.

The Committee also voted down, for the second year in a row, the existing Waters of the US resolution, which seeks to shrink the number of American waterways which enjoy clean water protections. 

In a repeat of last year’s actions, the NACo Board of Directors chose to disregard the recommendations of the EELU Committee, even though this is the committee that is responsible for “All matters pertaining to air, water, and noise pollution control; solid and hazardous waste management and disposal; the preservation and proper utilization of water resources; energy; and the use of land resources, including comprehensive planning, coastal zone management, growth management, energy facilities siting, and recreation.” The Board rejected the Resolution in Support of Clean Water for All and approved the Waters of the US resolution, exactly the opposite of the committee’s recommendations.  It leads one to wonder why a national association establishes a Steering Committee and then disregards its recommendations repeatedly. 

This year, that's not a problem for NACo because the EELU Committee reverted to its anti-clean water position and went so far as to get that language into their platform, which makes changing it more difficult. 

Clean water opponents were very strategic in that they waited for a conference in the West and got Western anti-clean water (and anti-environment, for that matter) commissioners to join the committee and attend that meeting.  Due to a variety of reasons (it's an election year, Reno has negative connotations among county voters, county travel budgets have been slashed, family commitments), our strongest clean water leaders were unable to attend.  Conference attendance as a whole was reportedly only a third of normal.

Attendance was very low at the strategy session we helped organize the night before the committee meeting, so the 10+ clean water supporters who attended the committee meeting were unprepared for the platform change.  It wasn’t until after the platform changes were approved and the anti-clean water resolution withdrawn (because the anti-clean water language was now in the platform, the resolution was moot) that they realized they had missed their opportunity.

 It is a significant setback but can be instrumental in motivating our clean water allies to strengthen Local Officials for Clean Water.  There has always been debate as to whether they even want to bother with NACo.  With new energy, they may be able to take advantage of NACo over-stepping itself.  Next year, the conference will be held in Portland  OR, a locale more likely to attract the pro-clean water voices so desperately needed.

The Conservation Leaders Network has been supporting county officials who value clean water for all Americans. 

The Conservation Leaders Network and Local Officials for Clean Water hosted a social/informative event during the National Association of Counties' Legislative Conference in Washington DC in early March. 

Featuring Jan Goldman-Carter, Wetlands and Water Resources Counsel for the National Wildlife Federation, who brought us up to speed on the current status of Clean Water Act administrative rulemaking, the get-together was well-received.

The Conservation Leaders Network also monitored the Environment, Energy and Land Use Committee and the Public Lands Committee. Give Executive Director, Peg Reagan, a call if you'd like an update.

Check out News and Events to learn more about the issues we've been working on.

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Masthead photo credits: Rolf Sklar, Curtis J. Carley FWS, NOAA