The comment period for the proposed rule that would redefine “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act ends April 15. If you have facts, opinions, or stories that you want to share with the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers concerning this rule or the 2015 rule, click here to provide a comment.

Image of the Blue River Watershed by Earthstar Geographics.

This proposed rule that would redefine “waters of the United States” was proposed by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers, and it would exclude streams with ephemeral flow and wetlands that do not have a direct and continuous surface connection with a traditionally navigable water. If the proposed rule is adopted, many headwater streams would no longer be protected by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers. Here is what the EPA has to say about the importance of those ephemeral headwater streams:

“Headwater streams and streams that only flow for part of the year make up the majority of river miles in the United States. About 53...

                                                                                                                                                        Four mini-grant awardees celebrated projects completed in June 2016. Neighborhood members attend a workshop to learn about the Field Guide. Photos by: Heartland Conservation Alliance.
 

Have you heard the news? Interacting with nature and green spaces on a daily basis can reduce your blood pressure. It has positive effects on your mental health, reducing anxiety and depression. Trees help filter and purify the air we breathe while native plants help filter and clean the wate...

Please take time tomorrow to perform your civic duty and vote in the Municipal Election. To help inform your vote, Heartland Conservation Alliance sent surveys to all the Candidates for Mayor asking them about their priorities for making Kansas City more resilient to climate change. 

Alissia Canady, Phil Glynn, Jolie Justus, Henry Klein, and Scott Taylor responded to our survey. Their responses to our questions are below.

The following candidates did not respond to our survey: Clay Chastain, Vincent Lee, Quinton Lucas, Steve Miller, Jermaine Reed, and Scott Wagner.

See survey results below:

For more information on candidates & issues, or where to vote, visit Missouri's Voter Outreach center here.