Water Laws in the United States of America Essay

Water Laws in the United States of America - Essay Example There are rights of tribes that need to be taken into account while framing these laws. Apart from this, there is also the issue of balancing conservation with development, which has become a major issue in the understanding of the use of natural resources. An awareness of the need for sustainable development has led to a greater amount of care being put into the conservation of the environment. Framing appropriate laws is one of the most important parts of the conservation of the environment. This paper shall look at the different laws that govern the use of water and water bodies in America. It shall also look at the conflicts that have arisen as a result of such laws and the violations that have happened. All of these go to show how important the preservation of the environment is and the problems that may result as a result of neglect and avarice. The United States Environment Protection Agency seeks to ensure the quality of the water that is found in American water bodies. Water Quality Standards are set to be maintained that are then strictly enforced. These not only prevent unauthorised factory effluents from dirtying the water, they also prevent the contamination of the water by people who live near these rivers and lakes. An important part of this endeavour is the Clean Water Act that results in the standards being constantly monitored. This act lays down specific standards that need to be revised regularly to meet the needs of the community and also to make it scientifically viable. Section 304(a)(1) makes it necessary for the criteria that are laid down for the quality standard of the water found in rivers and lakes to be measured according to the latest scientific discoveries. These discoveries are required to be done taking into consideration the state of the fish that live in these water bodies. CWA Â §316(b) requires that the different aspects that are associated with cooling water intake structures are required to meet certain standards that ta ke into account the environmental impact that they have (Surface Water Standards & Guidance, 2012). The rights of the separate communities of America too have to be maintained while framing the laws regarding them. The maintenance of the peaceful fabric of the American society is to be given a great deal of importance while framing these laws. Laws that reserve a certain amount of water from certain water bodies are commonly known as Winter Rights. They prohibit the use of water that is reserved for the use of Native American tribes that are federally recognized, by others. It prohibits such use, unless such instances are those where the tribes relinquish their rights. These laws are created in such a way that they coincide with the laws that are created by the states for the protection of the rights of the Native American tribes. This has been done to avoid conflicts that may escalate into racial tension. Such laws need to exist to maintain the culture of America that integrates pe ople of different backgrounds and ensures their cultural and economic welfare. There is however, conflict regarding this law where it is felt that certain sections of the populations seeks to appropriate the water that is reserved for the federally recognized tribes in America (Winters Rights (Decision), 2011). Riparian rights are also an important part of the legal framework governing the use of water. It provides a person who owns a piece of land in front of a water body the rights to usage of the water and other resources associated with it. The owner of the land is allowed to use the vegetation of the bottom of the river right in