A new study conducted by the EPA shows that 55 percent of the nation's rivers are in "poor" condition, and only 21 percent are rated as "good" and "healthy biological communities." Farm and industrial pollution are to blame.
"A new report by the Environmental Protection Agency found that the majority of rivers and streams in this country can't support healthy aquatic life and the trend is going in the wrong direction," writes Dashiell Bennett. "Even worse, the number of rivers and streams that qualify as 'good' went down seven precent between 2004 and 2009."
"The reason for these failing grades is, of course, pollution; specifically, phosphorus and nitrogen pollution that comes from fertilizer and wastewater run-off. Those chemicals, which come from farms and industrial sites, choke off healthy plant growth, which turn leads to more soil erosion, more flooding, and unhealthy fish and wildlife," explains Bennett.
"The worst areas for river pollution are the Northeast and deep South, where a shocking 71 percent of rivers rated 'poor.'"
FULL STORY: Half of All U.S. Rivers Are Too Polluted for Our Health
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Amtrak Breaks Ridership Record in FY 2024
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
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American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
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