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a_ <br /> ) ave Stancil Forum Press Release 7 5 01 doc <br /> Page 1 <br /> 4 <br /> i <br /> 125 <br /> NATIONAL <br /> Wn% a F RR KnE.M., <br /> FORUM <br /> Building Partnerships for Healthy Watersheds <br /> PRESS RELEASE <br /> July 5 , 2001 <br /> National Watershed Forum recommends actions to improve the nations waters . <br /> The National Watershed Forum was held June 27 — July 1 , 2001 with about 500 <br /> community leaders and senior decision makers from around the country meeting in <br /> Arlington Virginia to develop recommendations for cleaner and more abundant water in <br /> watersheds around the country. The Forum resulted in a tidal wave of energy and good <br /> ideas for protecting and restoring watersheds and for supporting the work of local <br /> watershed initiatives . A report summarizing the Forum deliberations and outlining the <br /> recommendations of the Forum delegates will be available in four to six weeks . <br /> The Forum focused on collaborative approaches — getting industry and environmentalists , <br /> local and federal agencies , scientists and local citizens , to work together to solve the <br /> problems facing our nation ' s watersheds , Among some of the major themes apparent in <br /> the Forum deliberations were . <br /> • the desire for a national media campaign to highlight the importance of watersheds , <br /> • the need for a significant federal role as well as active State and private sector <br /> participation in enabling and supporting local watershed efforts , <br /> • the importance of tribal lands and waters and the need to recognize and support tribal <br /> watershed protection and restoration initiatives , and; <br /> • the value of disseminating information and sharing knowledge about effective <br /> watershed management strategies , and the need for a "clearinghouse" strategy to <br /> enhance the flow of information about watershed protection and restoration . <br /> The Forum was . held because it has become evident that the traditional regulatory tools <br /> and billions of dollars invested over the last several decades in reducing pollutants from <br /> point sources are not alone going to completely achieve clean waters across America. <br /> There are still problems with siltation, nutrients , organic enrichment, pathogens , and <br /> metals , as well as critical habitat loss and endangered species . Improvements need to be <br /> made at the local, state , tribal, regional and national level by government, private <br /> industry, non- governmental organizations and local citizens . Overcoming these complex <br /> problems requires the commitment of local people who have a stake in the creeks , rivers , <br />