Mississippi River Water Quality and the Clean Water Act

Mississippi River Water Quality and the Clean Water Act
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 252
Release: 2008-02-08
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0309177812
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The Mississippi River is, in many ways, the nation's best known and most important river system. Mississippi River water quality is of paramount importance for sustaining the many uses of the river including drinking water, recreational and commercial activities, and support for the river's ecosystems and the environmental goods and services they provide. The Clean Water Act, passed by Congress in 1972, is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the United States, employing regulatory and nonregulatory measures designed to reduce direct pollutant discharges into waterways. The Clean Water Act has reduced much pollution in the Mississippi River from "point sources" such as industries and water treatment plants, but problems stemming from urban runoff, agriculture, and other "non-point sources" have proven more difficult to address. This book concludes that too little coordination among the 10 states along the river has left the Mississippi River an "orphan" from a water quality monitoring and assessment perspective. Stronger leadership from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is needed to address these problems. Specifically, the EPA should establish a water quality data-sharing system for the length of the river, and work with the states to establish and achieve water quality standards. The Mississippi River corridor states also should be more proactive and cooperative in their water quality programs. For this effort, the EPA and the Mississippi River states should draw upon the lengthy experience of federal-interstate cooperation in managing water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish

Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish
Author: Ken Schultz
Publisher: For Dummies
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2003-12
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9781620458464
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The definitive field guide to North American saltwater fish-from the absolute authority on sportfishing Before you head out to the open seas, listen up: Your tackle box is not complete without Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish! Written by one of the foremost experts in sportfishing, this colorful reference provides anglers and fish enthusiasts of all levels an easy-to-use, indispensable guide to help you identify and learn about the most common species found off the North American coastlines-from albacore to yellowtail. Based on the award-winning reference book Ken Schultz's Fishing Encyclopedia, this handy field guide compresses the essence of its bestselling predecessor into a more manageable, compact size. Arranged alphabetically by species, each entry covers the identification, size/age, distribution, habitat, life history/behavior, and feeding habits of each fish. This fully illustrated, full-color guide makes it easy to identify what's at the end of your line. You'll learn how to distinguish an Atlantic mackerel from a Spanish mackerel, for instance; why you might mistake a cobia for a shark or a remora; how the red grouper's saddle spot will help you tell it apart from a Nassau grouper; and so much more. Written for the 16 million people who enjoy saltwater fishing, Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish features: 227 of the most common saltwater fish Large, full-color illustrations to help you identify your catch Approachable organization in a compact, take-along size A comprehensive glossary that explains the terms used in the species profiles Overview and anatomy sections written in layman's terms Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish is a must-have for any fan of America's favorite pastime: fishing!