House Bill (HB) 1691 and Senate Bill (SB) 981 alarmingly changes the definition of "Waters of the State", which outlines what water bodies the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) must protect. These bills endanger our water by:
- Weakening protections for wetlands, which prevent floods and naturally clean our water;
- Excluding bodies of water that are not "relatively permanent", which will become more common as climate change continues to change our state;
- Creating confusing language that can cause significant issues in planning and permitting;
- Harming our ability to protect recreational areas used for hunting, fishing, and more.
Our present water rules have worked for over five decades - there is no reason to change them now. We've seen, at the federal level, that changing these definitions result in costly, time-consuming litigation, and yields more confusion and uncertainty for regulated entities such as manufacturers, farmers and ranchers.
We know the answer. Leave the definition of "Water of the State" alone! Reject HB 1691 & SB 981!
Learn more about HB 1691 & SB 981 via our legislative fact sheet.