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I don't want to save a creek for the creek's sake, but what's in it for human beings.

Preserving a river or a creek can bring a lot of revenue.

I think it's mental to pay for water. Where is that water coming from? Are they in the hills puttin' it into bottles when years ago it used to roll down and go into the lakes?

In my district, I know we have thousands of little creeks and streams, some of which only fill up when it rains. Nationwide, they're in the tens of thousands.

In the U.S. you have a system of lobbying and influence on our policy and law makers which is incredibly pronounced. The gas industry spent $250 million getting an exemption from our Safe Water Act. Every one of those dollars is toxic; a contaminant in our political system. It disrupts the normal flow of justice, science, fact and reporting.

In addition, the oil royalties the Federal Government does not collect from big oil will starve the Land and Water Conservation Fund of critical financial resources.

Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.

If we can find a way to keep floodwater in reserve and to use it when it's needed, it will be a double boon.

If you were to do it again, you'd probably do some things differently. But the decision is right to have a single entity manage the water and the waste water for a country.