 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
. |
Health Of Water Supply May Be Found At The Head Of The River
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 15, 2007 Recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court have focused national attention on what bodies of water fall under federal jurisdiction for protection under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The CWA includes many important water quality and pollution prevention programs, particularly for headwaters, bodies of water that often serve as the tributaries for rivers and streams. The latest issue of Journal of the American Water Resources Association focuses on this issue by enlisting some of the foremost experts on America's waterways to determine what role headwaters play in the overall status and safety of the nation's water supply by maintaining the physical, chemical and biological integrity of downstream waters. "It is not often recognized that a large proportion of fresh water movement happens in ways we can't easily see, underground or via intermittent or ephemeral streams," says journal editor Kenneth Lanfear. "Through these often over-looked connections, compromised headwater streams can damage the integrity of downstream water supply, and impact the ability of downstream waters to perform ecological functions." Lanfear hopes that this publication can assist policy makers in making wise, scientifically sound decisions regarding the protection of all bodies of water at the federal, state and local level. "For the CWA to be effective, the whole picture of water movement and interaction needs to be considered," says Lanfear. "Applying this expertly researched information to policy and management issues would be a step in the right direction." Email This Article
Related Links 
Paris (AFP) Feb 14, 2007European countries must start planning now to cope with climate change, as shifting rain- and snowfall patterns will inflict water stress whose effects will ripple across the social and economic spectrum, the European Environment Agency (EEA) warned on Wednesday. "Changes in precipitation, combined with rising temperatures and reduced snow cover, will have impacts on water quality and quantity, requiring water managers to incorporate climate change in their planning and investment decisions," the EEA said. |
. |
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
