The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has deadlines for Pennsylvania, and other states in the watershed, to implement practices to reduce water-pollution levels by 2025. The latest checkup on the Blueprint shows the Keystone State is lagging behind.

At the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Agricultural Program Manager and Interim Director Bill Chain said they're disappointed the Keystone State hasn't made more progress, particularly in reducing farm runoff.

But he added that they're still hopeful because the Pennsylvania General Assembly has passed legislation and made funding available to speed up conservation implementation on farms.

"We're particularly pleased with the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program," said Chain. "We know that that's going to help local farmers, in working with their county conservation districts, to implement lots of conservation measures. In the Clean Streams Fund, there were other funding sources put out to help improve Pennsylvania's rivers and streams."

Chain added that money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal dollars are coming to the state for farm conservation practices. But he said more investment is needed to achieve the Clean Water Blueprint by 2025.

Chain explained that conservation means limiting nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution in local waters. This keeps farm topsoil on the fields, not running off into road gullies and local streams.

Controlling manure as fertilizer is another issue. He said more farmers are adopting practices like planting trees along stream banks.

And the Foundation's "Keystone 10 Million Trees" partnership plants its five millionth tree this month.

"So, this is a great milestone in the Commonwealth's mammoth goal for forested buffers," said Chain. "The nation, regional and state/local agencies and conservation organizations are going to join us for a five million tree dedication - and really, pep talk - to get the other five million seeded. Pennsylvania was once 98% trees. Right now, it's down to about 54%."

Agriculture in Pennsylvania is the main source of nitrogen pollution entering the bay. And farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have fewer than four years to adopt the practices to meet the goals of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.

It says about 90% of the remaining pollution reductions need to come from agriculture.

Iowa is getting federal help to eliminate lead water pipes in the state.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with local water agencies, planning where to prioritize funds.

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, cities and towns in Iowa are reducing the number of dangerous lead water lines.

The Iowa Environmental Council's Director of Climate Initiatives Cody Smith said even homes built as recently as 1988 are connected to the local water utility with lead lines - which leaves people at risk, even in Iowa's big cities like Des Moines and Council Bluffs.

"Particularly with the most vulnerable groups, such as unborn babies or young children, they have extreme and outsize risk related to exposure to lead through lead service lines," said Smith. "That can cause higher levels of lead in the blood and lead to developmental issues for children."

The State's Revolving Fund, which is the primary source for water infrastructure updates, has received more than $620 million as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The IEC says more than 700 communities have benefited so far.

Beyond replacing lead pipes and updating water system infrastructure, Smith said Iowa could also benefit from help with what are known as non-point source projects.

"Which is runoff from agricultural fields and from livestock operations that lead to nutrient pollution in source water," said Smith. "And source water is water that's used for drinking water somewhere in the state."

Smith said those strategies can help farmers and local utilities reduce nitrates and other pollutants in the soil.

The Biden administration has a goal of replacing all lead water service lines in the U.S. by 2031.




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Nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court left key watersheds unprotected by the Clean Water Act, the Polis administration has designated new protections for some 385 miles across 15 rivers and streams in the Upper and Lower Colorado, Eagle, Yampa and Roaring Fork river basins.

Chad Rudow, water quality program manager with the Roaring Fork Conservancy, said the Outstanding Waters designation is an important tool for protecting drinking water.

"Which means it's protecting the actual quality of the water, and that's the highest level of protection that can be given to a stream within the state of Colorado," he said.

The designation aims to protect existing high-quality waterways from any future degradation, including pollution from development, mining, oil and gas extraction, and other uses. It does not affect any existing uses in the watershed, so long as they don't degrade current water quality.

The designation, which won unanimous approval by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission in late August, comes after years of work done by conservation groups.

Carrie Sandstedt, senior officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts, said protections are still needed for many streams in the state, and added that protecting water quality is critical not only for drinking water but also healthy wildlife habitat and ecosystems.

"This designation not only protects rivers and streams, it also protects their associated wetlands. It helps preserve important plant life and other species critical for healthy freshwater habitats," she said.

The designation also protects one of the state's biggest economic drivers. A recent study found that Colorado's river basins generated nearly $11 billion in outdoor recreation spending in 2019. Rudow noted clean water is essential for swimming, rafting and other activities across the Roaring Fork Valley.

"We have the second longest contiguous reach of Gold Medal water in our watersheds, so that's high-quality fishing streams. People come from all over the world, literally, to go fly fishing," he explained.

World Water Week is underway, as leaders forge discussions on the global water crisis. Supply issues aren't as urgent in North Dakota, but that doesn't mean conservation is an afterthought.

Dani Quissell - executive director of the North Dakota Water Education Foundation - said the state is lucky to sit on a more predictable water supply, namely the Missouri River, when compared to elsewhere in the U.S.

But she acknowledged that droughts in recent years serve as a reminder for state & local governments, and residents, to not take this precious resource for granted.

At home, she said basic conservation tips still apply.

"Being mindful on when we're letting the tap run where you're filling a pitcher," said Quissell, "and then you walk away for a minute to go let the dog out or something, keeping in mind that that water is running over and right down the drain."

She said that mindfulness should also come into play with other daily practices, like brushing your teeth.

As for policymakers, Quissell encouraged strong communication across various agencies - to ensure water supplies are prioritized when mapping out commercial and residential development.

Surging demand and uneven regulations have plagued western states as key water sources dry up.

Quissell argued that North Dakota closely monitors water use around the state. As climate change threats take shape, she said that has to be the approach moving forward.

"It's a mindset to have in wet periods and dry periods," said Quissell. "I think you build those habits over the long term. I think it's important to be thinking about being a good steward of the resource to have available for our children and our grandchildren."

Agriculture is one sector that has come under scrutiny for how it uses up water for food production. But Quissell said innovation and technology have helped to address that problem.

For homeowners irrigating their lawns, she urged them to run sprinklers at dusk or pre-dawn. That way, the water won't quickly evaporate in the midday heat.



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