Today, I’ve got a couple of resources for those of you interested in the Clean Water Act.

First, the Congressional Research Service recently published a report titled “Evolution of the Meaning of ‘Waters of the United States’ in the Clean Water Act” that walks through the path that the term “waters of the US” has taken over the past several decades.  It is an interesting look at the history of the Act and the cases that have attempted to define the scope of federal jurisdiction in this area.  To read the report, click here.

Second, the Agricultural and Food Law Consortium, a group made up of several institutions involved in agricultural law education, offers a webinar series every third Wednesday of the month.  For July, their topic was the Clean Water Act and Agriculture.  The speaker, Sharon Mattox, is an attorney in Houston who regularly handles CWA matters for clients.  She walked through the Clean Water Act, Section 404 (which frequently impacts ag producers), and the new–although currently stayed–Waters of the United States Rule.  Sharon also offered pointers to producers and landowners who think they could potentially have a Clean Water Act Issue and to those who are facing an enforcement action.  To listen to the webinar, click here.