Four drought years in a row has highlighted the need to protect our waterways for drinking water, irrigation, and fish and wildlife habitat. Wetlands clean, store, and slowly infiltrate water into the ground where it seeps into streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries and ground water. We rely on this water for drinking, irrigation, and fish and wildlife habitats.

Until recently, these water bodies were protected by federal, state, and local regulations. However, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 Sackett v. EPA decision and the Federal agencies’ responses threaten to undermine this system. In Sackett, the U.S. Supreme Court cutback significantly on the wetlands and streams that qualify as the waters of the U.S. Many Federal wetland protections only apply to the waters of the U.S. Federal agencies have responded to this decision by cutting back on the wetlands they will protect.

Fortunately, the State of Washington Department of Ecology has the authority and the duty to protect wetlands and other water bodies under the Washington State Water Pollution Control Act, chapter 90.48 RCW. In the past Ecology has used this authority to issue administrative orders protecting wetlands and other water bodies. Now as Federal protections wane, Ecology is preparing regulations to make wetland permitting more protective, efficient, and transparent.

Futurewise together with a coalition of local, state, and national environmental groups are working to make sure Ecology’s new rules protect water quality, wetlands, rivers, streams, estuaries, and other water bodies. Futurewise staff have worked with the coalition to research effective approaches, address legal issues, help draft comments and suggestions, and meet with Ecology staff on several occasions. Futurewise staff bring decades of advocating for effective wetland protections, experience researching science, and legal expertise on the laws and regulations that are supposed to protect wetlands and water quality. Futurewise staff have experience administering wetland regulations and how local, state, and federal regulations can effectively work together to protect wetlands and water quality. The coalition began work in early 2026. The members include the Center for Environmental Law and Policy (CLEP), the Friends of the San Juans, Futurewise, the League of Women Voters of Washington, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Pacific Rivers, The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Spokane Riverkeeper, Trout Unlimited, the Twin Harbors Waterkeeper, and Washington Conservation Action.

Futurewise staff will continue to work with the coalition on this important project. Currently, Ecology will issue draft regulations in the fall and adopt final regulations at the end of the year. Futurewise will continue to be there to help get the most effective, efficient, and protective rules possible.