Despite years of water quality regulation and financial support provided for water cleanup, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that nearly 39 percent of United States rivers, 45 percent of lakes, and 51 percent of estuaries do not meet water quality standards. Since the 1972 Clean Water Act, states have been required to set pollution budgets for discharge in streams, rivers, and lakes. Still, many water bodies do not meet these Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and the federal government is turning to market mechanisms in an effort to improve water quality.
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