![Navigable Water Protection Rule Back to WOTUS RULE?](http://townsquare.media/site/685/files/2019/09/Cannon-River-Between-Faribault-and-Northfield.jpg?w=630&h=472&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Navigable Water Protection Rule Back to WOTUS RULE?
It has been many decades that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has had the authority to regulate navigable waterways. Navigable waterways were defined and understood as U.S. rivers large enough for navigation, like barge traffic or steamboats back in the day. It was during the Obama Administration that navigable was redefined and we heard of a new phrase, Waters of the Unites States or WOTUS. The Environmental Protection Agency determined that any watershed or waterway that drained into a navigable waterway was a Water of the United States and they had the authority to regulate it.
Needles to sat many farmers and farm groups were not happy and were very concerned with what this might mean in terms of farming practices and new regulations. Then there was the 2015 Waters of the U.S. Rule that "pledged not to return to those overreaching regulations." Now Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Regan announced their intention to reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.
In a nutshell this all began with the Clean Waters Act which I believe was passed in the 1970's. The Environmental Protection Agency gained the authority to regulate Navigable Waters. WOTUS removes the key word navigable thus the Environmental Protection Agency can regulate all waterways. Stay tuned because I think we will hear a lot more about WOTUS and navigable!
18 Annoying Things that People in the Midwest are Doing
More From KDHL Radio
![Big Rigs Pass Through Southeast Minnesota To Cruise For A Cause](http://townsquare.media/site/718/files/2021/06/attachment-20210612_122458_burst02.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![9-Year-Old Was Fourth Drowning Victim of the Weekend in Minnesota](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2019/05/GettyImages-145997531.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota State Fair is Back- No Restrictions Planned](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2017/08/Minnesota-State-Fair.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Former Twins Great Mudcat Grant Has Died](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2021/06/attachment-GettyImages-124403495.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Owatonna Man Ruled Competent to Stand Trial For Murder](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2021/03/Musse.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Smoke Detector Gave Early Warning of Rochester Garage Fire](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2021/06/attachment-Odyssey-Drive-Pics-2-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Dassel Woman Killed in Head On Crash](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/09/State-Patrol-Stock-Image-3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![South Dakota College Pitcher Fitted with New Prosthetic Arm](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/08/Baseball1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Aggravated Sentence Requested For Man Charged With Dover Assault](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2021/06/Joseph-Martin.jpg?w=980&q=75)