EPA: More Than Half of Our Rivers in Poor Shape

The EPA has found that more than half of this country’s rivers are in poor shape, with only 21 percent found to be in good condition. Most of the rivers are the victims of nutrient pollution from phosphates and nitrates that are washed into the waterways from farms, urban areas and sewers. This is in general what is called nonpoint source pollution, meaning that it doesn’t flow into the river by a pipe or culvert, but is washed in with general drainage from the adjacent land.

            Believe it or not, there has been progress in cleaning up our streams and lakes since the enactment of the Clean Water Act over 40 years ago. And at least the Cuyahoga doesn’t catch fire anymore. But to have 55 percent of our rivers—70 percent in the eastern part of our country—to be suffering badly from pollution is unacceptable. We can do better than that.

OK, The Cuyahoga no longer burns, but our waters are still impaired.