The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have changed how they define which bodies of water are protected under the Clean Water Act. This change comes after a recent Supreme Court decision and could remove federal protections from many small streams and wetlands across the country.

The new rule means that wetlands connected to larger waterways only through ditches, culverts, or temporary streams will no longer be covered by federal regulations. This shift could have serious consequences for drinking water, flood control, and natural habitats.

Supporters of the change, including farmers, developers, and builders, believe the rule makes regulations clearer and easier to follow. They have long said that the old rules were confusing and made it difficult to know what land was protected by federal law.

However, many environmental groups and tribal communities are concerned. They say the change weakens protections for clean water and leaves many smaller bodies of water exposed to pollution. Without federal rules, it will be up to each state to decide how to handle pollution, and not all states have strong environmental regulations in place.

In farming states like Iowa, this is a big concern. More than half of the state’s rivers and streams, and about two-thirds of its lakes, are already polluted — mostly because of fertilizer and manure runoff from farms. Many of these rivers and lakes provide drinking water for local communities. With fewer federal protections, pollution could increase, making water less safe to drink.

One major problem is nitrate pollution, which comes from fertilizers. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause serious health problems, especially for babies and pregnant women. If fewer waterways are protected, more nitrate could end up in the water people drink.

Wetlands are also at risk. These areas help absorb floodwaters, filter out pollution, and provide homes for wildlife. Some people see wetlands as useless swamps, but they play an important role in keeping the environment healthy. Without federal rules to protect them, more wetlands could be drained or filled in for development or farming.

Tribal communities may be hit especially hard by this change. Many tribes rely on federal rules to protect the water on their lands. If those rules are weakened, tribes may have a harder time keeping their water clean and safe. They may also have less power to stop pollution from nearby activities.

The change could also make it harder to deal with the effects of climate change. As floods and droughts become more common, healthy wetlands and streams help protect people and property. If these natural systems are damaged or destroyed, communities may face more flooding and less clean water.

The federal government says it is following the Supreme Court’s decision, but environmental groups believe more could be done to protect water sources. Some are calling for new laws or updated rules to fix the problem.

For now, though, many small streams and wetlands will no longer be covered by the Clean Water Act. That means states will have to decide whether to protect them or not. In places where there is pressure to allow more farming or development, water protections could be weakened even more.

This decision marks one of the biggest changes to U.S. water policy in years. It could affect millions of acres of land and thousands of miles of waterways. What happens next will depend on how states respond and whether new efforts are made to restore the protections that have been removed.