During last year’s December news doldrums, I wrote about the under-appreciated long-term improvement in the quality of America’s water — more of our lakes and rivers are swimmable, they are no longer covered with oil slicks that catch on fire, and generally speaking, the revolution unleashed by the Clean Water Act and ongoing technical improvements is working.

Clean Water fans got more good news this December as the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 was incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act and passed on December 15. It’s a bit of a legislative Christmas tree, as you’d expect from something that ends up with 88 votes in the Senate, but all the major environmental groups are endorsing it with Environmental Defense Fund’s Natalie Snider especially calling out investments to promote climate resilience. But the National Audubon Society says it will also “drive ecosystem restoration,” while the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association says it will “address harmful algal blooms,” and the National Parks Conservation Association is looking forward to “improved water quality for drinking and outdoor recreation.”