"Environmental groups sued the Trump administration on Wednesday challenging moves they say weaken protections for rivers, wetlands and other waterways.

The actions follow an executive order by President Donald Trump in February 2017 that directed the Environmental Protection Agency to work toward rescinding a clean water rule issued under President Barack Obama in 2015.

Nine conservation organizations including the Center for Biological Diversity and regional groups in California and Idaho filed the lawsuit U.S. District Court Northern District of California.

The 2015 rule known as Waters of the United States (WOTUS) gave the federal government power to limit pollution in major waterways and wetlands."

Suzannah Gonzales and Valerie Volcovici report for Reuters June 13, 2018. [2]