American Rivers announces the Clearwater River Basin as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® after protections stripped from 700 river miles
Contacts: Hawk Hammer, National Communications Director, American Rivers, (202) 243-7075
Nick Kunath, Idaho Rivers United, (208) 908-9232
Kevin Colburn, American Whitewater, (828) 712-4825
Washington, D.C. — American Rivers today named the Clearwater River Basin in Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2025. The basin includes the North, South and Middle Forks of the Clearwater River. Seven hundred miles of rivers within the basin are at risk from dredge-mining, dam-building and a four-fold increase in commercial logging due to a controversial new land management plan. Some of these rivers have been protected since the 1980s.
“The Clearwater River Basin’s cold, clear, high-elevation streams make it a Noah’s Ark for Chinook salmon, steelhead, and native trout, and it is a cherished destination for boaters and anglers from around the nation,” said Lisa Ronald, Northern Rockies Associate Conservation Director for American Rivers. “To have the Forest Service rescind long standing protections for some of its most remarkable rivers is a betrayal to everyone who loves this area, and all those downstream who depend on its clean water.”
At stake are the administrative protections for the headwaters of the Lochsa River — which joins the Selway River to form the Middle Fork—as well as for the North and South Forks of the Clearwater, all of which have been found to be eligible for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Prior to the new land management plan that was finalized last January, these waterways had been protected for nearly 40 years.
The Lochsa, Selway, and Middle Fork Clearwater rivers are permanently protected as Wild and Scenic Rivers, but the scale of the mining, road-building, and commercial timber harvest that could now occur on the other forks threatens the health of the entire basin.
“While we understand and appreciate the need for proactive management of our public lands, the Forest Service’s decision prioritizes damaging extractive practices over river protection, endangered fish, and beloved recreation,” said Nick Kunath, Conservation Director for Idaho Rivers United. “This approach is a stark departure from previous processes and severely undermines one of our nation’s most powerful and important river conservation tools.”
Road construction along these rivers would result in increased sedimentation, threatening fish eggs and aquatic insects—while logging in river corridors would remove shade and increase water temperatures, threatening coldwater fish and degrading world-class angling opportunities.
“These rivers are a national treasure that belong to all Americans. It’s painfully obvious to those of us that float these incredible rivers that it doesn’t make sense to roll back their protections just to make logging easier,” notes Kevin Colburn, National Stewardship Director for American Whitewater. “This is not a place to cut corners. The Forest Service should ensure these amazing rivers continue to thrive while managing timber and other resources. They’ve abandoned this reasonable approach.”
American Rivers, Idaho Rivers United, and American Whitewater are calling on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest to: 1) Update the Comprehensive River Management Plan for the Wild and Scenic designated Lochsa, Selway, and Middle Fork Clearwater rivers to provide guidance on how to design projects to ensure these rivers are protected; and 2) Issue a forest plan amendment to provide project-specific guidance to mitigate harm to the 700 miles of streams now at risk throughout the basin.
Learn more about America’s Most Endangered Rivers 2025, including other rivers and selection process.
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American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and strength of our communities. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org
Idaho Rivers United’s mission is to protect and restore the rivers and fisheries of Idaho and is the only statewide conservation organization focused exclusively on the health and protection of river resources.
American Whitewater’s mission is to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely. For more than 70 years, we have been the primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States by connecting the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data. americanwhitewater.org