contributed more than $20 billion in consumer spending to this
Commonwealth's economy in 2016; and
WHEREAS, Trout populations serve as an indicator of a
stream's overall health; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Trout
Unlimited are currently working together to classify all of
Pennsylvania's streams based on trout habitat; and
WHEREAS, The flora and fauna found in streams are the
foundation of a healthy ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, Excessive agricultural runoff of nutrient-rich soil
into streams can damage ecosystems and create "dead zones" from
algae blooms; and
WHEREAS, Agricultural runoff is a major contributor to the
degradation of the Chesapeake Bay; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has already spent billions of dollars
on Chesapeake Bay cleanup and is obligated to spend billions
more; and
WHEREAS, According to the Department of Environmental
Protection, nearly 20,000 miles of Pennsylvania's waterways are
considered impaired, mostly from agricultural runoff and acid
mine drainage; and
WHEREAS, According to the United States Geological Survey,
more than 3,000 miles of streams in this Commonwealth are
contaminated by acid mine drainage, with many of the impacted
streams containing no fish; and
WHEREAS, Storm water runoff is another major source of water
pollution in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, During rainstorms, litter, motor oil, antifreeze and
other chemicals, including salt used to treat roadways in the
winter, washes off roads and into storm drains, eventually
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