Aerial view of a group of friends kayaking Wood River near Fort Klamath in southern Oregon
Despite their importance to both people and nature, freshwater resources here in the U.S. and around the world are at risk. Globally, wetlands are disappearing at three times the rate of our forests, and freshwater animal populations are declining at twice the rate of terrestrial animals. In the U.S., over 50 percent of the nation’s wetlands in the Lower 48 states have been lost since colonization; most Western states are experiencing long-term drought conditions; nearly half of threated and endangered species in the U.S. are dependent on wetlands; and more than 600,000 miles, or about 17% of our rivers, have been modified by large dams.
Accordingly, the Biden-Harris Administration is setting bold, new national goals that help rebuild our nation’s wetlands and freshwater resources:
1) Reconnect, restore, and protect 8-million acres of wetlands by 2030, with an emphasis on forested, vegetated, peat soil, brackish, and tidal wetlands; and
2) Reconnect, restore, and protect 100,000 miles of our nations’ rivers and streams by 2030, using approaches like removal of impediments and stream bank restoration.
For Earth Week, the White House is convening state, Tribal, and local leaders from across the country for a White House Water Summit where the Administration is announcing the above national goals as well as partnerships to conserve and restore freshwater resources. CSP is proud to be an inaugural member of this important partnership.
Read more in this Fact Sheet.