Clean Lakes

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.

This Clean Lakes site includes information on a broad range of topics:

• National Lakes Assessment
• Lake water quality summaries
• Clean Lakes Program under Section 314 of the Clean Water Act
• Lakes funding under Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program
• On-line lakes documents and how to order lakes documents
• Lakes meetings
• Lakes Awareness month celebrated each July and outreach materials
• Related links