The Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) went into effect on June 21, 2020.  The NWPR greatly reduces federal jurisdiction over both streams and wetlands.  Most significantly has been the impact to ephemeral streams (i.e. streams that have water only when it rains or there is snow fall).

However, even intermittent streams have less

What action was taken?

On January 23rd, the Trump Administration released the final version of the rule which defines which waters are protected under the Clean Water Act.  The new rule is called the Navigable Waters Protection.  It replaces the prior Obama Administration rule referred to as WOTUS- “Waters of the United States.”

Back on