Benchmark: Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS): Proposed Rule and Clean Water Act Compliance

Take this benchmark to assess how much you would benefit from taking the course on the proposed rule updating the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). In a few minutes, you’ll gauge how well you understand why the rule is changing after Sackett, who will feel the impacts, and the practical trade-offs between clarity, consistency, and environmental protection.

What you’ll get from taking this benchmark:

• A quick read on whether you can explain the rule’s intent (regulatory certainty, legal alignment) without falling into trivia.
• A sense of how the proposal may change real-world workflows (jurisdictional determinations, wet-season evidence, SDAM use) and where your processes might need updating.
• Insight into federalism choices facing States and Tribes and how narrower federal coverage can shift responsibilities, costs, and risks.
• Awareness of sectors likely to see cost savings or forgone benefits and what that means for permitting timelines, mitigation, and restoration.
• Clarity on how to craft comments that actually shape the final rule—what data the agencies can use and what they’ll likely set aside.

If these prompts feel challenging or reveal gaps, the course will help you build a solid, working understanding of the proposed WOTUS definition so you can plan projects, advise leadership, or submit persuasive public comments with confidence.