THREE FORKS, Mont. – Women from native tribes across the country begin their walk along the Missouri River today to show their respect for the water and raise awareness about protecting it.
Starting at the headwaters in Three Forks, Montana, the women will walk over the next month and a half to the river's confluence with the Mississippi in Missouri. They are inviting the public to join them along the way for as long as they want.
Lori Watso of the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes in Minnesota will be walking the river. She says she is honoring the water as a giver of life.
"It's our purpose, our intention to show our respect for the water and our gratitude and help other people to understand the importance of our caring for the water and its necessity in our future and future generations," she explains.
They will be passing through the homelands of Native Americans along the way, including the Standing Rock reservation.
People who want to join can go to www.nibiwalk.org There will be a geolocation tag at the top of the webpage.
In the past, the water walkers have followed the St. Louis River in Minnesota, the Ohio River and more.
Roxanne Ornelas, another river walker, also is a geography professor at Miami University in Ohio. While Ornelas talks to her class about protection of the environment in terms of regulations and public policy, she says it's also important to impart indigenous knowledge about the sacredness of the river to non-native students.
"We look at the earth and our place in it, on it, holistically, that we are not separate from the earth," she says. "We are the earth."
Sharon Day is a leader of the walks and executive director of the Indigenous People's Task Force. She says the Missouri River faces threats not just from oil and gas production but agriculture too. Chemicals from fertilizers used on large farms flow down into the river and contaminate it.
Day says it's important to talk about threats to the river on this walk, but more important is the spiritual connection she feels with the river. She talks about how she's felt at the end of other river walks.
"You have a deep relationship with the water," says Day. "And that's what we need to try to do is get people to understand that they do have a relationship and how do you nurture that relationship just as you would any other relationship, and this one is primary, right?"
get more stories like this via email
The Eastern hellbender, North America's largest salamander and Pennsylvania's state amphibian, is one step closer to receiving federal protection.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing listing the species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Kassie Fenn, Pennsylvania student leadership and education coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said their student leadership program's research and advocacy efforts led to the Eastern hellbender becoming Pennsylvania's state amphibian in 2019. She added protecting ecosystems and habitat for the hellbender will also protect habitat for other organisms.
"It's really important for the Eastern hellbender to make it on the endangered species list," Fenn emphasized. "Not only will it draw attention to the hellbender habitat, but it will also draw attention to fresh water habitats in general, and the importance of clean water and the impact it has on ecosystems."
Fenn pointed out the public has until Feb. 11 to submit comments. She noted the Chesapeake Bay Foundation recommends people sign onto its online letter, while high school students can draft their own. Comments can be submitted online.
Fenn highlighted the strong link between the Eastern hellbender and water quality, especially in relation to outdoor recreation.
"A lot of anglers in Pennsylvania love to fish for trout, either through fly-fishing or with their spinning rods," Fenn observed. "Trout really need those clean waterways and healthy waterways to survive and thrive, just like our Eastern hellbender. "
Eastern hellbenders can grow up to 29 inches and have been known to live 30 years. Fenn said evidence shows the Eastern hellbender inhabits certain streams, particularly in western Pennsylvania, although its historical range is much broader, extending into the southeastern United States.
Disclosure: The Chesapeake Bay Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Energy Policy, Rural/Farming, Sustainable Agriculture, and Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email
Indiana is working to eliminate lead pipes under the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which require most lead pipes to be removed within 10 years.
The rule aims to protect public health by reducing lead exposure in drinking water.
Jacquelyne Byland, engineering manager for Indiana American Water, said since 2017, the company has invested $109 million to replace more than 33,000 lead service lines and has eliminated lead water mains.
"We're also reaching out to customers to replace their side of the service lines and asking them to sign an agreement," Byland explained. "We can run the service line into their homes and complete the flushing and provide pitcher filters so all the lead is out of the system."
Indiana American Water serves 1.5 million customers in more than 50 Hoosier communities. Byland pointed out the company plans to continue this work with support from federal funding tied to the new regulations.
The nonprofit Environmental Policy Innovation Center praised the Biden-Harris administration for the rule.
Maureen Cunningham, chief strategy officer and director of water for the center, called it a big step toward lead-free drinking water.
"There's basically no safe level of lead in drinking water for human health," Cunningham noted. "Replacing lead service lines, and replacing all lead in our water systems, will significantly reduce and hopefully even eliminate the threat of lead in drinking water."
Despite progress, the center cautioned cities will face logistic and financial hurdles. Partnerships with local governments, communities and utilities will be key to meeting the rule's goals and ensuring safe drinking water for all. Nationally, $15 billion in federal funding is available for lead line replacements.
get more stories like this via email
An Environmental Protection Agency rule, finalized near the end of the Biden administration, calls on states and cities to replace all lead pipes in drinking-water systems within a decade.
This work is taking shape in Minnesota, even with uncertainty looming.
The federal rule was announced last fall, and prior to that, Minnesota laid out its goal of replacing all lead service lines by 2033. Cities such as St. Paul have been aggressive on that front.
With the help of state and federal aid, Brent Marsolek - the lead program project manager at the St. Paul Regional Water Services - said his staff has gradually increased no-cost pipe replacements for property owners, topping a thousand last year.
He touted the fairness of these projects.
"There are many residents," said Marsolek, "that just simply could not afford the $7,000 to $10,000 to get a lead service line replaced on their private property."
The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law emphasizes steering money toward disadvantaged areas.
Prior to these efforts, cities such as St. Paul were replacing main lines running along streets but now have flexibility to move across property lines.
However, the Biden rule faces a legal challenge from a utility association, with questions lingering about the Trump administration possibly rescinding the changes.
Those concerned say the federal rule puts too much pressure on utilities to do their part in a short amount of time.
Maureen Cunningham - the chief strategy officer and director of water at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center - said applying for grants can be a difficult process but notes there is technical help.
She said keeping pace with the EPA mandate, which begins in 2027, will result in meaningful health safeguards.
"There would be a reduction of 1,500 cases of premature deaths from heart disease," said Cunningham, "and it would prevent up to 200,000 IQ points that are lost in children on average every year."
The contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan from a decade ago brought focus on health risks linked to lead levels in drinking water.
St. Paul officials say they have enough funding for line replacements for the next couple of years.
But President Donald Trump has been vocal about reducing spending and scaling back Biden-era investments. And Minnesota faces a budget deficit a few years from now.
Disclosure: Environmental Policy Innovation Center contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Environment, Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email