In April 2011, the Obama administration proposed important new policies to close gaps in Clean Water Act protections.  As many Americans prepare for Memorial Day vacations to their favorite waterways, now is a perfect time to remind the Administration that people support these protections and want the president to finalize them. 

Current policies leave more than half our streams and 20 million acres of wetlands vulnerable.  These streams and wetlands aren't just geographical features; they provide drinking water for over 117 million people, serve as critical habitat for fish and wildlife, protect us against floods and filter pollution out of our water (one acre of wetlands can hold 1 million gallons of floodwaters).  They are vital parts of our water infrastructure. We need the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) to keep this clean water progress moving and finalize the guidelines as soon as possible.  

Help us tell the White House to keep standing up to polluters on water protection policies. Join the coordinated 48-hour Tweet-a-thon, which began Wednesday 5/23. The effort is being spearheaded by CWN member groups Environment America and Clean Water Action. Please join CWN and the clean water community in this important effort-and help spread the word by forwarding this message to your networks, friends, family...everyone! We want to show the Administration that support for clean water is broad and deep.

General Guidelines for the Twitter Torrent:

1.    This effort started at 11:00 am Eastern time today, 5/23, and continues until 11:00am 5/25.  It's good policy to schedule tweets until at least 6:00 pm Pacific.

2.    At 11 am start the Tweet-a-thon with a simple tweet from your organization's Twitter account (if you have a personal account, use it too) about what today's activity is all about - encouraging the Obama Administration(@WhiteHouse) to continue our clean water progress and ensure ALL Americans have access to clean drinking water. 

Kickoff Tweet: We're tweeting today as part of a Tweetathon to urge @WhiteHouse to finalize protections for our waterways #WeCantWait #ProtectCleanWater

3.    Then proceed to send out tweets about clean water over the course of the day (see Sample Tweets below),always using the hashtags #WeCantWait and #ProtectCleanWater in your tweets (See Hashtags below).

4.    Follow the Tweet-a-thon's progress throughout the day by clicking on the hashtags #WeCantWait or #ProtectCleanWater, where you'll be able to see all the tweets from the day. This is a great place to find clever tweets that can be retweeted.

5.    Whenever possible, please make tweets state-specific-referencing a favorite local waterbody and the fact that people in XX state support clean water.

6.    Respond and re-tweet your followers' tweets in support of clean water.

7.    If you have further questions, please contact Casey at Casey@cleanwaternetwork.org or Briana at Briana@cleanwaternetwork.org

Links to include as needed:

 The Clean Water Framework: http://1.usa.gov/vsLD7

  EPA Waters of the US page: http://1.usa.gov/uMJFr1

  William Reilly, former EPA Administrator on the Clean Water Act -  http://nyti.ms/sNmzyW

Clean Water Network Waters of the US Guidance Fact Sheet  http://www.cleanwaternetwork.org/sites/default/files/WOTUS_factsheet.pdf 

 The NY Times on EPA Guidance - http://nyti.ms/rCotHy

 The NY Times on Dirty Water Bills in Congress - http://nyti.ms/uPpQG

Hashtags

1. Always use #WeCantWait and #ProtectCleanWater in your tweets. 
2. Since we are tweeting The Administration, whenever possible make sure @WhiteHouse is included in your tweets (Important note: We are not using @BarackObama because it is the 2012 re-election campaign account.).  Where appropriate use @JonCarson (White House Director of Office of Public Engagement (See Sample Tweets below)
3. Other hash tags to consider using, in addition to #WeCantWait and #ProtectCleanWater (space permitting): #DrinkingWater, #CleanWaterAct, #CleanWater
4. Please tweet this at least once: "Clean Water is the Foundation of Healthy Communities & a Healthy Environment.  @WhiteHouse - #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater"

Sample tweets

Kickoff Tweet: We're tweeting today as part of a Tweetathon to urge @WhiteHouse to finalize protections for our waterways #WeCantWait #ProtectCleanWater

• START A TWITTER CONVO: "What's your favorite waterway? Tweet a pic or tell @WhiteHouse what it is & why #wecantwait to #protectcleanwater !"
• Tweet your favorite fun-in-the-water family photo and SHOW the @WhiteHouse why we need to #ProtectCleanWater and #WeCantWait
• In my house #WeCantWait for summer + riverside (or lakeside) fun! We're depending on the @WhiteHouse to #protectcleanwater.
•  Recreation & tourism are a significant part of our economy but they both require #CleanWater. @WhiteHouse, help support these sectors. #WeCantWait
• I'm proud to call the Chesapeake Bay (or other water body) home. If you're proud of your local waterway RT & let the @WhiteHouse know #WeCantWait
• In the future, my kids will swim in the (currently polluted river) safely but only if the @WhiteHouse steps up to #protectcleanwater now. #WeCantWait
• My favorite #MemorialDay memories are on the (insert water body). @WhiteHouse, will you help protect it? #WeCantWait to #protectcleanwater
• When I think #summer I think (insert water body). @WhiteHouse can protect this special place by restoring the CWA #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater
• RT if you live on a polluted water way and know that we can + should be doing better. @WhiteHouse, #ProtectCleanWater! #WeCantWait
•  @WhiteHouse, take the PLUNGE and #protectcleanwater! We know you WANT to but #WeCantWait!
• RT if you're NOT OK with pollution in your local waterway. We've got work to do, so let @WhiteHouse know #WeCantWait to #protectcleanwater
•  The #CleanWaterAct was meant to protect ALL water. @WhiteHouse, #WeCantWait  to #ProtectCleanWater
• ALL water deserves protection because ALL Americans deserve #cleanwater. #WeCantWait to ensure safety + health. #protectcleanwater
• @WhiteHouse, would you drink from the Potomac? Protect what's in your backyard + mine by restoring the CWA. #WeCantWait to #protectcleanwater
• We know big polluters won't #ProtectCleanWater. RT if you hope the @WhiteHouse will + know that #WeCantWait
• #DrinkingWater for 117 million of us could be at risk. RT because #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater
• #CleanWater is the Foundation of Healthy Communities & a Healthy Environment.  @WhiteHouse - #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater
• #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater! Now is the time for @WhiteHouse to keep standing up to polluters & move ahead w/strong protections
• @WhiteHouse, our water bodies need your help! #WeCantWait to #protectcleanwater
• Help celebrate 40 years of protecting clean water! RT and show your support for our waterways #WeCantWait to #protectcleanwater
• RT if you remember the Cuyahoga River fire and want the @WhiteHouse to make sure it never happens again! #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater
• You may not swim or fish, but I bet you like to drink #CleanWater. Clean water protection is for everyone. #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater
• #CleanWater is something we all take for granted. RT and remind the @WhiteHouse how important it is to #ProtectCleanWater for ALL of us. #WeCantWait
• I want my children to spend summer the same way I did. In clean, safe, American waters! @WhiteHouse can you help ensure they do? #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater
• RT if you're proud that the @WhiteHouse is protecting #peoplenotpolluters. Tell them #WeCantWait to #ProtectCleanWater !
• The #CleanWaterAct was groundbreaking legislation in 1972. Move forward, not back. We need to #ProtectCleanWater & #WeCantWait
• Brad Paisley's song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AHnQtY1bg4 sums up why I love #CleanWater & why #WeCantWait to protect it!
• Ppl in [insert state abbreviation-e.g. NY, OH, etc] are counting on @WhiteHouse to #ProtectCleanWater & defend [insert attractive waterbody in your state] against polluters. #WeCantWait
• @WhiteHouse - Let's #ProtectCleanWater because Puget Sound[or your fav water body] is precious - and #WeCantWait
• San Francisco Bay [or your fav water body] is amazing - @WhiteHouse let's #ProtectCleanWater because #WeCantWait to keep it that way