Narragansett Bay joins Great Waters movement

There is strength in numbers and during these tight budget times a growing number of the nation’s large waterways are realizing it to band together to lobby Congress.

Called the America’s Great Waters Coalition, the fresh and salt water advocacy organizations are organizing to fight for common interests, from development to water quality in their water bodies.

Today, nine U.S. waterways, including Narragansett Bay and other southern New England waters, are being added to the already ten-member Coalition.

“We have come a long way to address the traditional water quality problems and industrial pollution from cities, but we still have tremendous problems,’’ said John Torgan, Narragansett Baykeeper for the Rhode Island-based Save the Bay. He said nutrient pollution to storm-water runoff are just some of the problems. “We are finding new challenges.”

The coalition launched 18 months ago as organizers watched funding disappear for water issues in many parts of the country – but also noting the great success Great Lakes had in getting Congress to set aside $475 million for those water bodies’ restoration.

“That was the inspiration,’’ said Peter Alexander, Director of the Northeast Great Waters Coalition.

“And now we have 19 great waters representing approximately 35 states – it adds a considerable amount of clout,” he said.

In its first year, Alexander says the coalition has worked with Congress to move dozens of restoration measures before Congress, argued for improvements water projects, worked on an court brief that highlights the impact of manmade climate change on water resources.

Today, Alexander sees the biggest challenge as water quality and habitat restoration, saying if the country fails to address significant problems from fisheries to sewage discharges there will be “dramatic economic costs.”

But it will not be easy to get money for restoration. For example, A Gulf of Maine study noted there should be a $3 billion investment to ensure a healthy Gulf ecosystem.

The new designees also include New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary, Delaware River, Albemarle-Pamlico Sound, Ohio River, Missouri River, Colorado River, Rio Grande and Galveston Bay. They join the original 10 designees Great Lakes, Gulf of Maine, Lake Champlain, Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, Coastal Louisiana, Everglades, Mississippi River and Long Island Sound.