Supreme Court decision threatens wetland protection and ecosystems.

The Supreme Court's decision to deregulate millions of acres of pollution-filtering wetlands could have serious consequences for the region, according to environmental advocates. The decision in Sackett v. EPA resulted in a more stringent definition that environmental regulators must meet to protect wetlands. The court's opinion is that the Clean Water Act covers wetlands with a continuous surface connection to a traditional navigable waterway, such as the sea, a river, creek, or lake. This decision marks the fourth time in 38 years where the Supreme Court clarified the phrase.