During Earth Week this week the White House made a big announcement--the White House Water Summit. With a combined total of nearly 50 municipalities, states, tribes, organizations, and more The America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge: A Partnership to Conserve and Restore America’s Rivers, Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands sets a bold, new national goal to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s river and streams. Like our partnership with Trout Unlimited and other important conservation and community organizations, onWater is proud to support conservation and restoration efforts across the United State. Join onWater and the White House in making a difference in places to fish near you. Our dedication to one of our most imperiled resources is unwavering, as we join forces with leading conservation organizations. Through collaboration, we aim to conserve this resource by giving it a voice through all outdoor recreation enthusiasts and ensure the future of our water resources.  

From the White House:

Our nation’s lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, and wetlands are fundamental to the health, prosperity, and resiliency of our communities and held sacred by many Tribal Nations. They are the sources of clean, fresh drinking water that flows into the taps of our homes. Marshes and wetlands soak up excess water when it storms and floods.

Lakes, wetlands, and underground aquifers help store clean water for times of drought. Coastal estuaries and mangrove forests protect communities against storm surges, and provide habitat for animals, plants, and fish that sustain economies and help feed communities. By absorbing and storing carbon, our nation’s waterways and wetlands – and the forests, grasslands, and farmlands they nourish – also play a critical role in the fight against climate change. And importantly, our lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands are places families play, fish, hunt, and enjoy the wonders of the outdoors.

Despite their importance to both people and nature, freshwater resources here in the U.S. and around the world are at risk. Globally, wetlands are disappearing at three times the rate of our forests, and freshwater animal populations are declining at twice the rate of terrestrial animals. In the U.S., over 50 percent of the nation’s wetlands in the Lower 48 states have been lost since colonization; most Western states are experiencing long-term drought conditions; nearly half of threated and endangered species in the U.S. are dependent on wetlands; and more than 600,00 0miles, or about 17% of our rivers, have been modified by large dams. And in 2023, a Supreme Court ruling known as the Sackett decision limited the ability of Federal agencies under the Clean Water Act to protect some of our country’s most important

Join us in making a difference in where to go fishing near you.

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About onWater Fish

onWater Fish is a mobile app designed to empower anglers of all skill levels to find success on the water, while promoting conservation awareness and responsible fishing practices. The app provides users with real-time fishing information, interactive maps, catch tracking tools, and a platform for sharing experiences.