The U.S. government is facing pressure to establish new water quality standards for the Delaware River to protect endangered species like the Atlantic sturgeon. A pending legal agreement requires the EPA to create standards for a 38-mile portion of the river unless three states adopt new standards before June 30, which is unlikely to happen. The move comes after a lawsuit filed by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network to improve water pollution standards in the region.
The proposed increase in oxygen levels in the river would benefit not only the sturgeon but also other aquatic life and humans who rely on the water supply. The Atlantic sturgeon, once abundant, is now on the brink of extinction due to overfishing and pollution. The EPA would need to cut down on ammonia released by wastewater treatment plants to achieve higher oxygen levels.
Advocates like American Rivers and the Delaware Riverkeeper are pushing for more stringent water quality standards to protect the river and its inhabitants. The health of the Delaware River is crucial for the communities that depend on it and the environment as a whole.
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