1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's attempts to roll back clean water protections put South Dakota's abundant freshwater resources at serious risk. A proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers would remove federal safeguards for certain wetlands and streams, allowing unchecked pollution and destruction of these vital waterways. As a headwaters state supplying clean water to the Missouri and Mississippi river systems, South Dakota's wetlands, lakes, and rivers play a crucial role in sustaining aquatic ecosystems and providing safe drinking water across the central United States. Stripping federal protections would be catastrophic for South Dakota's cherished waters and all those downstream who depend upon them. Strong clean water rules must be defended to preserve our natural heritage for future generations. Urge opposition to this reckless deregulatory effort that endangers South Dakota's living waters.