Illinois rivers, lakes and groundwater have become unsafe for humans and wildlife. One organization has started the New Year with a "Clean Water Forever" campaign to spur improvements. An Illinois Environmental Protection Agency report in 2022 found 40% of streams in the state are too polluted to support aquatic life, 85% of the streams aren t safe for swimming or direct human contact, and 100% are too polluted to support fish consumption. .
In early January, some North Dakotans might be daydreaming about summer water activities but certain forms of pollution remain a threat to various waterways around the state, and officials want to hear residents concerns in a new survey. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality is crafting a new 10-year strategy as it responds to the latest and more pressing threats to surface water. The rollout includes an online survey where residents can identify which pollutants they are most concerned about, and which rivers and lakes they want protected. .
Portions of three Washington rivers, the Cascade, Green and Napeequa, now have an extra layer of protection, thanks to a special designation from the Washington State Department of Ecology. The Outstanding Resource Waters designation under the Clean Water Act means the rivers will be protected from future pollution and degradation. Chris Korbulic, a professional kayaker and nature photographer, became the first kayaker ever to descend the remote Napeequa in 2019, but he had to carry his kayak seven miles over a 6,400-foot pass to get there. .