Water: Lakes
Clean Lakes
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"Future Directions for Lake Management"[BROKEN] Keynote Address by Robert H. Wayland III, Director, OWOW, USEPA on April 21, 1999 |
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| Comprising 39.9 million acres, lakes and reservoirs are a major water resource in this country. Freshwater inland lakes and reservoirs provide our nation with 70% of its drinking water and supply water for industry, irrigation, and hydropower. Lake ecosystems support complex and important food web interactions and provide habitat needed to support numerous threatened and endangered species. Lakes are also the cornerstone of our nation's 19 billion dollar freshwater fishing industry, form the backbone of numerous State tourism industries, and provide countless recreational opportunities. |
Quality of the Nation's Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs (PDF) This is the lakes, ponds and reservoirs chapter of EPA's most recent National Water Quality Inventory Report. It includes information reported by the states, tribes, and other jurisdictions on support of uses and causes and sources of impairments.
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