Rainwater pours into a wash in Tucson, Arizona.Listen:
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule may give the federal Clean Water Act protections to more of Tucson's seasonal waterways, including washes and arroyos that criss-cross the city.
The rule would prohibit waste dumping in any waterway that shows signs of regular flow, including a bed, bank and high water mark.
It would exclude ditches that terminate before meeting up with larger bodies of water.
Republicans in the state's congressional delegation including U.S. Rep. Martha McSally and Sen. Jeff Flake have spoken out against the new rule, saying it could hinder economic growth.
Their concerns have been echoed by local business groups including the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association.
Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva was joined by local environmental groups, including the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, in heralding the decision, saying it helps protect water supplies and the environment.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.