Sackett vs. EPA

May 27, 2023

SCOTUS overturned 45 years of precedent with this ruling

This week, the Supreme court voted 5-4 to remove federal Clean Water Act (CWA) protections from thousands of wetlands. While we are still analyzing the full impact that this will have locally, nationwide it will decrease the costs to develop flood-prone areas and shifts significant regulatory burden to the states.

In 1972, Congress directed the newly created EPA to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation’s waters. The CWA does not define the law’s jurisdiction, rather, it provides authority for EPA and the Army Corp to define “waters of the United States or WOTUS” in regulations. Since then, a series of agency definitions and court rulings have refined the scope of protections.

In the most recent ruling, Sackett vs EPA, all 9 judges ruled against the EPA that the wetland in question does not fall under federal jurisdiction. Waterkeepers, included Catawba Riverkeeper, filed an amicus brief in June 2022 urging the court to limit the scope of its ruling to the case at hand. However, 5 justices went further and overturned 45 years of precedent by excluding wetlands without a “continuous surface connection” to other jurisdictional waters. This would exclude many waterbodies traditionally protected such as wetlands only connected during flood events. This one size fits all approach ignores the well-established ecological importance of these waterbodies and could have significant impacts on flood resiliency. As Justice Kavanaugh noted the wetlands adjacent to Mississippi River levees will no longer be covered by the CWA, even though they are a critical part of the project’s flood control.

While both North and South Carolina have some protections for isolated wetlands, these provisions have already become the subject of administrative challenges and litigation. Due to the geology, historical agricultural practices, and modern development, the Catawba watershed has relatively few disconnected wetlands left. Those that remain, like Whitehall Preserve, are critical habitat for amphibians and protect adjacent property during flood events.

Catawba Riverkeeper will diligently continue our work at the local and state levels to preserve and restore our waters and protect the waterways our families and communities rely on for drinking, swimming, fishing, fueling local economies, and more.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Catawba Riverkeeper Welcomes Dr. Mo Drinkard as New Executive Director

December 17, 2025

Catawba Riverkeeper is pleased to announce that Dr. Mo Drinkard has been hired as their new Executive Director. A standout among over 100 applicants, Mo was offered the position by the Catawba Riverkeeper Board of Directors search committee on Thursday, November 20th, and she assumed her role as leader of the organization on Monday, December 1st, 2025. Catawba Riverkeeper Brandon Jones, who participated on the search committee, shared that “Mo’s education, experience, and passion are directly aligned with the organization’s mission and needs. We are excited for her perspective and leadership in continuing the critical work of protecting our waters.” Mo is a mission-driven non-profit leader, professor, and scholar with a passion for building strong organizations, nurturing future leaders, and tackling big challenges in conservation, equity, and education. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia (Kent State University, Brevard College, Miami University), community partnerships, and environmental science, she's worn many hats: executive director, grant writer, program architect, DEIB strategist, faculty and student mentor, and not often enough, field biologist in muddy boots. Mo's work lives at the intersection of applied research and social change. She specializes in transforming great ideas into funded, functional, and impactful programs, whether that’s designing experiential learning curricula, guiding strategic organizational turnarounds, or helping community-based groups access the resources they need to thrive. From leading national workforce development initiatives to restoring urban watersheds (Doan Brook Watershed Partnership) and mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists, Mo brings an entrepreneurial spirit and deep subject matter expertise in biology, ecology, sustainability, and inclusion. Mo believes that science is for everyone, and that real change happens when we build spaces where all voices can lead. “I am honored and excited to offer leadership for the next chapter of Catawba Riverkeeper’s work. I believe deeply in the mission and am fully invested in the health and future of this watershed. I look forward to getting to work supporting the waterways, communities, and people that make up this expansive and impactful basin,” Dr. Drinkard said. Catawba Riverkeeper, currently one of the ten largest riverkeeper organizations in the United States, boasts over 8,000 members across the 26 counties of North and South Carolina where the waters of the Catawba flow. As the fifth Executive Director of the organization, Mo will bring new and innovative ways to advance the work of her predecessors and the mission of the organization in this new chapter of Catawba Riverkeeper’s leadership. Mo will be supported by 11 full-time staff and 22 volunteer board members to preserve, protect, and restore the Catawba River so that it sustains plentiful, clean water for generations to come.