Groups like the American Soybean Association applauded the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers for proposing a more workable version of the “Waters of the United States” rule for agriculture.

“For too long, shifting interpretations have created real uncertainty about whether everyday decisions might trigger federal oversight,” said ASA President Caleb Ragland.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said WOTUS has been a longstanding and frustrating issue. “This WOTUS announcement acknowledges that the government should work to protect lakes, rivers, and oceans, rather than regulating ditches and ponds on family farms and ranches,” said NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture said the federal government has recognized the states’ expertise in managing and protecting local lands and resources.

As NASDA previously stated, states are currently responsible for enforcing more than 96 percent of federal water laws in the Clean Water Act.