Water Quality and Land Use Planning: Emerging Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Abstract

The year 2012 was a milestone in the history of clean water in the United States. It marked the 40th anniversary of what many believe to be the most successful federal environmental statute, the Clean Water Act (CWA). During the four decades since the CWA's enactment in 1972 over a presidential veto, significant progress has been made to improve the health and quality of the nation's waters. Rivers such as the Cuyahoga River in Ohio that literally caught fire and burned in the late 1960s and were devoid of any aquatic life now host growing populations of fish and waterfowl; streams and lakes that were once unsafe for swimming or recreational activities now boast swimmers and boaters; and urban waterfronts across the country that once sat in decay and disrepair are now redeveloped with bustling commercial and residential activity and the potential for further growth. All of these advances have been made possible through the CWA.