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Waters of the United States

  • EPA and Army Finalize Rule Establishing Definition of WOTUS and Restoring Fundamental Water Protections

    The final "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'" rule was published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2023, and took effect on March 20, 2023. The Rule is operative in all jurisdictions of the United States except Idaho and Texas. The agencies’ final rule establishes a clear and reasonable definition of “waters of the United States” and reduces the uncertainty from constantly changing regulatory definitions that has harmed communities and our nation’s waters.

    Read the press release.

    More information about the final rule can be found here.

  • EPA and Army Host 10 Implementation-Focused Roundtables to Highlight Regional Implications of WOTUS

    These roundtables allowed stakeholders to engage and discuss their experiences with implementing the definition of "waters of the United States," including challenges and opportunities within their geographic areas.

    More information about the Roundtables can be found here.

About Waters of the U.S.

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  • About Waters of the United States
  • Current Definition of Waters of the United States
  • Programs Utilizing the Definition of Waters of the United States

Current Implementation

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  • Current Definition of Waters of the United States
  • Implementation Tools and Methods

Current Activities

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  • Revising the Definition of "Waters of the United States"
  • Public Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement Activities
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 20, 2023
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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