How did the Clean Water Act affect the quality of water?

(1972) The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. EPA has also developed national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters.

Is Jordan Lake contaminated?

Jordan Lake has been an impaired waterway for decades due to nutrient pollution and high levels of pH.

Why is Jordan Lake so dirty?

The Jordan Lake watershed resides in the Upper Cape Fear River Basin with the watershed streams and creeks ultimately draining into Jordan Lake. This classification means that the lake is impaired due to excess nutrient pollution levels that are above EPA water quality standards.

Why is the Clean Water Act controversial?

The CWA has always been controversial, especially for its notoriously vague definition of navigable waters: “waters of the United States, including the territorial seas.” Some argue that the definition of waters of the United States, often called WOTUS, should be broad, thus allowing the federal government to secure …

Is the Clean Water Act still in effect today?

The 2015 Clean Water Rule was repealed by the 2019 Rule, which reinstated the 1980s regulations, implemented consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court cases and applicable guidance.

What are three main goals of the Clean Water Act?

The CWA aims to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution in the nation’s water in order to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters”, as described in CWA section 101(a).

What is the Water Quality Act of 1965?

The Water Quality Act of 1965 and the amendments that became law in 1977 represent two of several initiatives by the federal government of the United States to protect and ensure the quality of surface and ground waters. Legislative concern over water quality began in 1948, with the passage of the Water Pollution Control Act.

What percentage of Jordan Lake is allocated?

Initial allocations of water supply from Jordan Lake were made in 1988. At that time, 42 percent of the water supply pool was allocated; however, some original allocation holders have since released their allocations. Currently, 44 percent of the water supply pool is allocated.

What is the state of North Carolina doing with Jordan Lake?

The State of North Carolina has been assigned the use of the entire water supply storage in Jordan Lake and, under G.S. 143-354 (a) (11), can assign this storage to local government having a need for water supply storage.

When was the Jordan Lake Dam built?

Construction on the dam started in 1967 and Jordan Lake completed filling in 1982. As seen in Figure 1, the dam is located on the Haw River just downstream of the confluence of the Haw and New Hope Rivers, with most of the Lake’s storage in the New Hope basin.