“The Wild President” Film Highlights Jimmy Carter’s River Conservation Legacy
Contact: Amy Kober, American Rivers, 503-708-1145, akober@americanrivers.org
Washington, DC – Former President Jimmy Carter’s connection to rivers and his leadership in river protection is celebrated in the new film “The Wild President,” released online today by American Rivers and NRS.
“The Wild President” tells the story of Carter’s first descent down the Chattooga River’s Bull Sluice Rapid in 1974. As Governor of Georgia and President of the United States, Carter was instrumental in protecting the Chattooga as a Wild and Scenic River, and helped conserve rivers across Georgia and the nation. The film also features conservationist Claude Terry, a founder of American Rivers and Doug Woodward, co-founded of Southeastern Expeditions.
October 2, 2018 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. American Rivers and NRS produced “The Wild President” as part of the 5,000 Miles of Wild campaign, an effort to protect 5,000 new miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers nationwide. The film will be used in public outreach and education efforts in support of Wild and Scenic Rivers.
“President Carter’s connection to rivers runs deep and he has been a champion for wild rivers over the course of his lifetime. We are honored to share this story and we hope it will inspire a new generation to speak up and protect the rivers that connect us all,” said Amy Kober, National Communications Director for American Rivers.
“In an era when public lands and clean, healthy waters – concepts we once took for granted in America – face grave threats, President Carter’s example as a steward and guardian of rivers is inspiring. We hope this film helps renew our commitment as a nation to protecting free-flowing rivers and wild places for generations to come,” said Mark Deming, NRS Director of Marketing.
The federal Wild and Scenic designation safeguards values including clean drinking water, recreation and fish and wildlife. Wild and Scenic Rivers include beloved reaches such as the Middle Fork Salmon, Tuolumne, Flathead, Rogue, Chattooga, Rio Grande, Upper Delaware and New, among many others.
The designation prohibits new dams and harmful water projects. It engages communities and landowners to create locally-driven river management plans, while honoring existing water rights and common uses such as irrigated agriculture and hunting.
Today, less than one percent of America’s rivers remain wild and free. Without official protection, rivers are vulnerable to destruction from dams, pollution, oil and gas development and other threats.
“I think it’s very important for all Americans to take a stand, a positive stand, in protecting wild rivers,” President Carter says in the film. “I hope that all Americans will join together with me and others who love the outdoors to protect this for our children and our grandchildren.”
Watch “The Wild President”: https://vimeo.com/198888034
About the 5,000 Miles of Wild campaign:
https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/protecting-rivers/5000-miles-of-wild/
ABOUT AMERICAN RIVERS
American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers and conserves clean water for people and nature. Since 1973, American Rivers has protected and restored more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects and an annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® campaign. Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 250,000 members, supporters and volunteers.
Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.
