The Calcasieu River has been the lifeblood of southwestern Louisiana sustaining local communities for generations. The river’s interconnected bayous and marshes are a vital nursery for fish and wildlife and once supported a thriving commercial fishing industry. However, a history of chemical mismanagement and continued unregulated dumping of toxic chemicals poses an existential threat to the river’s future. It is time to stop the unnecessary toxic pollution of this vital river and its estuary. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must update long-overdue water pollution standards to stop the flow of toxic waste into the river.