America's Great Waters Coalition Banks on Numbers for Action
An alliance representing more than 30 organizations came together with lawmakers from across the nation to launch America’s Great Waters Coalition, representing 9 of the largest water ecosystems in 27 of the lower 48 states—and involving nearly half of the country’s population.
The group's Web site link is part of the National Wildlife Federation's Web site.
“The degradation of our nation’s great waters has a serious environmental and economic impact on our communities,” said U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas). “I look forward to working with America’s Great Waters Coalition to improve these important ecosystems.”
America’s Great Waters Coalition is speaking with a united voice to act now, before the problems get worse and the solutions more costly.
“Research has found that cleaning up the Great Lakes and its waterways—by improving water and sewer infrastructure, restoring and preserving wetlands and coastal habitats, and cleaning up toxic areas—would create jobs and inject billions of dollars into the regional economy,” said Jennifer S. Vey, fellow, Brookings Institution. “This indicates that directing public investments toward improving the health of all of the nation’s Great Waters—from the Chesapeake to the San Francisco Bay—simply makes good economic sense.”
A national coalition will help leverage the vast political support among citizens from across the nation.
“This unprecedented alliance is united in our call to protect, preserve and restore our nation’s great waters,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “It’s time to lift all boats and restore the waters that millions of people depend on for their health, jobs and way of life. Restoring America’s great waters will benefit the country’s economy and environment—and will be vital in addressing the impacts of global warming.”
The waters include, but are not limited to, the Chesapeake Bay, Coastal Louisiana, the Everglades, Great Lakes, Gulf of Maine, Long Island Sound, Mississippi River, Puget Sound, San Francisco/Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.