We agree with state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, and appreciate his leadership on an important — though, perhaps not colorful or controversial enough to frequently capture voters’ attention — issue.

Stream cleaning.

“As elected officials, we are responsible for putting forth policies that protect the constituents we serve and help local officials respond more quickly and efficiently to emerging problems,” Yaw wrote in an op-ed column in Friday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette. “This includes changes to ensure better maintenance of creeks and streams to help minimize the impact of flooding.”

“Proper stream maintenance protects people, land and bridges from flood damage,” he continues. “The need is immediate, and our local officials are in the best position to manage and maintain our streams. Eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and red tape can help prevent more widespread damage and destruction.”

As the damage and heartache in the wake of tropical storm Debbie proves, preventing or reducing the risk of flooding is a critically important issue — even if it doesn’t generate outrage from cable news pundits and on social media threads, as so many issues dominating the public’s attention do.

We are thankful that Yaw recognizes how state Department of Environmental Protection permitting unnecessarily slows down removing debris from streams and creeks — and how, when heavy rains fall, that debris impeds the flow of water downstream, helping to push it over streambanks into our neighborhoods and communities.

We are more thankful that Yaw is acting on this recognition to correct the problem, regardless of whether voters can find themselves passionately fire up about arguments on the matter.