Nature Adventures participates in EPA roundtable on the importance of clean water protections in the Southeast
June 8, 2022
Matt Gamble, a Nature Adventures manager and guide, participated in a June 7 virtual roundtable hosted jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Cahaba Brewing Co. on the importance of clean water protections in the Southeast.
Gamble joined stakeholders from a broad spectrum of land and water users who live or work across the Southeast. Participants included a director of a water and sewer utility; general contracting and construction management executive; mitigation banker; faith leader; environmental justice advocates; farmers; elected officials; representatives from conservation and environmental organizations; and clean water scientists.
In the Southeast, water is a way of life. Regional streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans are central to the area’s history, culture, and economy. Compared to other regions, the Southeast has more miles of streams and more acres of wetlands.
Located on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, Nature Adventure offers kayak and paddleboarding tours to locals and visitors.
“Throughout our region, families, businesses, and communities depend on these waters for drinking, fishing, hunting, paddling, as a guard against flooding and pollution, and to sustain a burgeoning tourism industry,” Gamble said. “We depend on consistent minimum federal standards to safeguard clean water and protect our everyday life.”
Gamble discussed the significance of ensuring strong protections for natural habitats. He highlighted the harm upstream activities can have on water quality downstream, especially on a small, family-owned company such as Nature Adventures.
A strong Clean Water Act helps protect the tourism industry and allows the public to experience untouched nature and enjoy outdoor activities, Gamble said.
Nature Adventures co-owner Ben-Jamin Toy pointed to the EPA’s Clean Water Act as a key player in protecting waters used for outdoor recreation in the Lowcountry and across South Carolina.
“Our beautiful Shem Creek is a clear example of why strong protections under the Clean Water Act are key to maintaining access to outdoor tourism on our rivers, streams, and estuaries,” Toy said.
A recording of the livestream is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO46VI1L-Keb9gXm9sTUf2Q.
