On Sept. 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a national framework and action plan for its Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI). The initiative is part of the agency’s effort to prevent the degradation of currently healthy aquatic ecosystems. The framework describes the HWI as well as an implementation plan that will help EPA headquarters, regions, and states meet specific goals and objectives that are detailed in the plan. The Water Environment Federation’s (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Watershed Management and Government Affairs committees contributed to the framework by submitting comments.