News

Policy News

American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society Oppose Changes to the Waters of the US Rule

American Fisheries Society 425 Barlow Place, Suite 110, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Telephone: 301-897-8616 www.fisheries.org The Wildlife Society 425 Barlow Place, Suite 200, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Telephone: 301-897-9770 www.wildlife.org April 12, 2019 Mr. R.D. James Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 441 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20314 Via... Read More

Science Societies Urge EPA Not to Change the Waters of the US Rule

April 10, 2019 Mr. R.D. James Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 441 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20314 Via regulations.gov: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0149 Re: Scientific Societies Comments on Proposed Rule – Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States” (84 FR 4154; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0149)... Read More

Highway Bill Should Consider Habitat Connectivity and Natural Infrastructure

Highway Bill Presents Golden Opportunity to Support Conservation and Outdoor Recreation 43 groups offer input as lawmakers craft infrastructure legislation (Washington D.C.) — “A paradigm shift.” That’s what 43 hunting, fishing, and conservation groups are calling for as lawmakers begin drafting infrastructure legislation. With the current Highway Bill expiring in 2020, these organizations are asking... Read More

National Fish Habitat Partnership Congressional Briefing

Recently, AFS joined the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Trout Unlimited, the American Sportfishing Association, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) in sponsoring a briefing for congressional staff on the accomplishments of the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) program. AFS member Doug Nygren, Fisheries Division Director of the... Read More

National Fish Habitat Conservation through Partnerships Act Introduced

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS ACT INTRODUCED IN BOTH THE U.S. HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES & U.S. SENATE Washington D.C. (March 14, 2019)- The recreational fishing industry and conservation partners of the National Fish Habitat Partnership, applaud the sponsors of the National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act, as the bill was introduced in both... Read More

Webinar recording: Waters of the US (WOTUS)

Waters of the US (WOTUS): What You Need to Know About the Rule and How to Take Action from fisheries on Vimeo. This webinar was recorded on February 27, 2018. The video contains some sections with poor audio quality, and AFS staff will work to edit portions of this recording. Presenter slides: Gillian Davies –... Read More

CASS Requests Extension of Waters of the US Comment Period and Additional Public Hearings

American Fisheries Society • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography • Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation • Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society • International Association for Great Lakes Research • North American Lake Management Society • Phycological Society of America • Society for Freshwater Science • Society of Wetland Scientists February 22, 2019 Mr.... Read More

AFS Requests Extension on Waters of the US Comment Period

December 21, 2018 Andrew Wheeler, Acting Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20460 R.D. James Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Department of the Army 108 Army Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20310-0108 Email delivery to: [email protected] RE: Request for Extension to Comment on Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2018–0149 Dear Acting Administrator Wheeler... Read More

How to Submit Comments on the Revised Waters of the US (WOTUS)

Opportunity for public comment is now open.  The comment period will close on Monday, April 15th at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.  Download a PDF flyer on how to comment. The very narrow rule fails to account for the full range of physical, chemical, and biological connections between navigable waters and the streams and wetlands.  The limited protections... Read More