Washington D.C. — Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in San Francisco v. EPA, which weakened the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the Clean Water Act, American Rivers is issuing the following response:
“We are concerned this ruling will make it easier for polluters to harm the health of our waterways and make it harder and more time-consuming for the public to hold them accountable,” said Gary Belan, senior director of Clean Water Supply for American Rivers. “The Clean Water Act is the strongest tool everyday Americans have protecting our water sources and we all must be invested in its future. It is unfortunate to see the EPA’s ability to enforce it restrained like this.”
About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C.—Communities in 27 states saw important progress for river health, clean water, and public safety in 2024 thanks to the removal of 108 outdated, unsafe, and uneconomical dams, American Rivers announced today. 2024 tied with 2019 for the most dams removed in a single year.
The dam removals reconnected more than 2,528 miles of rivers, improving river habitats for fish and wildlife and public safety for thousands of people across the country. A total of 2,240 dams have been removed in the U.S. since 1912. The nation is blanketed with more than 550,000 dams.
“It is truly remarkable how fast a river recovers once it is returned to its free-flowing state. In some instances, it only takes a few moments for fish to return upstream,” said Serena McClain, senior director of American Rivers’ national dam removal program. “Not only is dam removal good for river health, but it is also just a smart investment. Removing outdated and unsafe dams eliminates liability for municipalities and private landowners, improves public safety for local communities, and overall river restoration lifts up local economies.”
2024 saw the completion of the largest dam removal project in our nation’s history with the restoration of the Klamath River thanks to decades of leadership from the Karuk, Yurok, and other tribes, and advocacy by local partners. The effort spanned four dams in California and Oregon and in total reconnected 400 miles of river, improving water quality, benefitting wildlife and river ecosystems — including salmon and many other species — and revitalizing the river for future generations.
States With the Highest Number of Dam Removals in 2024:
- Pennsylvania (27 removals)
- Michigan (10 removals)
- Minnesota and Virginia (7 removals each)
The threat posed by flooding and extreme storms continue to be a driving factor in the removal of dams. Of the 108 dams removed in 2024, more than 43 percent were motivated by safety concerns, liability concerns or economic considerations. It is one of the reasons why the continued investment of public funding in removing outdated dam infrastructure is so important. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided a needed infusion of funds for dam removals in 2024, with at least 13 projects utilizing these funds. More than 48 percent of the dams removed received some form of public funding to help address unsafe dams and support rebuilding recreational and commercial fisheries.
Dams harm rivers in many ways including lowering water quality and preventing the natural movement of sediment. They also impact aquatic ecosystems and block migrating fish. As they age, dams can be liabilities that put communities in harm’s way of catastrophic flooding and other risks.
“While the legal framework of dam management varies based on a number of factors, the safety of our nation’s most hazardous dams depends on assistance and funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Dam Safety Program,” said McClain. “As we face a new landscape of extreme weather, and infrastructure continues to age, we encourage the new administration to invest in FEMA’s future and ensure that hazardous dam deficiencies are addressed.”
Increasing frequency of extreme weather impacts over the last two decades often exceed the flow capacity for which dams were designed or threaten aging dams that are often already in poor condition. In 2024, the Rapidan Dam in Minnesota partially failed after days of intense rainfall. At least 36 high-hazard dams — dams that in the event of failure would likely cause high value property damage or loss of life —failed or were damaged by Hurricane Helene in addition to dozens of other non-jurisdictional dams. In Vermont, at least five dams failed and 50 dams sustained enough damage to require repair following multiple historic flooding events throughout July and August.
Additional Resources:
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About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit AmericanRivers.org.
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C.— In response to reports that hundreds of staff were cut from their positions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), American Rivers is releasing the following statement from Tom Kiernan, our president and CEO.
“The importance of NOAA’s scientific leadership in informing everyday people and decision-makers at the local, state and federal level about the threats of extreme weather like hurricanes, flooding and drought cannot be overstated. We hope the administration reconsiders these staffing decisions to avoid wide-ranging and dangerous impacts on our nation’s ability to protect people, water resources, and freshwater ecosystems. They could also impede investments already made to remove outdated and unsafe dams.”
About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org
2025 Awards Celebrates Leaders Supporting Clean Water and Safe, Healthy Communities
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington, D.C. – American Rivers is today announcing the 2025 recipients of our “River Champion” awards which recognize leaders who are improving lives and strengthening our nation by advancing solutions for healthy rivers and clean water. This year’s honorees are Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), the City of Grand Rapids and the Wilburforce Foundation.
“Healthy rivers provide clean water and are essential to our nation’s health, security, and prosperity,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “We are thrilled to honor this year’s River Champions for their work protecting and restoring our nation’s waterways. We are fortunate to have leaders like them at the local, state, and federal level committed to a safer, healthier future.”
“I’m honored to have been named American Rivers’ River Champion of 2025 for my work to strengthen dam safety across the country. For centuries, Americans have been constructing dams to address immediate needs, not realizing what it takes to maintain them, or the long-term effects they may have,” said Congressman Chuck Edwards. “Our nation’s dams have been neglected for too long, and we’re finally taking inventory, making programs more workable for states, and taking steps to make sure that the American people are safe from the dangers of crumbling dams.”
“So much of our lives depends on healthy, clean rivers: safe drinking water, habitat for plants and wildlife, thriving agriculture, urban development, and fulfilling recreation,” said Congressman Jared Huffman. “As our waterways face pollution and degradation, it’s urgent we do everything possible to protect our rivers, ensure a constant supply of clean water, and set future generations up for success. This work has been an important part of my career — from my days as an environmental attorney to serving in the CA State Assembly and now in Congress, and it’s an honor to have this work recognized through the River Champion award. American Rivers has been an invaluable partner in these efforts, and I look forward to continuing our work together.”
“The work to restore and revitalize our namesake river is a generational undertaking. One that began over three decades ago and involved not just the local government, but stakeholders from across our entire community. They understand that the Grand River is more than a natural resource. For us, it is a community asset. One that is worth protecting, preserving, and improving,” said David LaGrand, mayor of Grand Rapids. “This year, we will take another step in on this journey by removing a series of low head dams and adding in natural features to restore the rapids to the Grand River. Combined with on-going work to build out our riverside trail network and create access points along the river, we are continuing to realize the vision set out so long ago. It is an honor to be recognized by American Rivers as an example of what’s possible when people come together with a common goal of making rivers for all.”
“We are honored to be in such a long-standing partnership with American Rivers to advance our shared vision of conserving important lands, waters, and wildlife in Western North America. It is humbling to be recognized with this outstanding award, and look forward to many more years of working together for wild rivers and the people and wildlife that depend on them,” said Lisa Weinstein, executive director of Wilburforce Foundation.
Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC) introduced three public safety and healthy rivers bills that were passed as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024. These bills are the National Dam Safety Program Reauthorization Act of 2023, the National Dam Safety Program Amendment Act, and the Low-Head Dam Inventory Act. The need for these bills to protect our communities was underscored by the impacts of flooding of Western North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations committees, the congressman will have the opportunity to continue to advance policies that protect people and rivers.
Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) was elected to the top Democrat spot as Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee for the 119th Congress. He is widely regarded as a champion for both the environment and rivers nationwide. He spearheaded Congressional efforts to advance the restoration of the Klamath Basin ecosystem and has a long history of support for the removal of two dams to restore the Eel River in Potter Valley. As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, he was instrumental in the development and passage of the 2024 Water Resources Development Act, which included critical dam safety provisions.
City of Grand Rapids: the dedication of Grand Rapids city leaders – including Mayor David LaGrand and former Mayor Rosalynn Bliss – to invest in clean water, restore the Grand River and its tributaries, and conserve vital green space, has made a significant impact on the community. Through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches to stormwater management, they have implemented initiatives that have reduced pollution, spurred economic investment, protected local wildlife, and improved public safety and well-being.
As we honor the City of Grand Rapids, we also recognize the importance of strong community leaders and celebrate the leadership of West Michigan Environmental Action Council. WMEAC has advanced innovative infrastructure solutions, led the Mayors Annual River Cleanup, encouraged the city to adopt critical clean water safeguards, and are vital to amplifying voices of local residents.
Wilburforce Foundation: Rose Letwin founded the Wilburforce Foundation in 1991 based on her vision of a thriving, interconnected American West that could foster healthy wildlife. Today, the Foundation is focused on conserving important lands, irreplaceable waters, and important wildlife in western North America by supporting organizations and leaders advancing strategic solutions. The Foundation has been steadily funding American Rivers’ river protection work in Washington, Oregon, southwest New Mexico, Montana and Idaho since 2005. Over the last 20 years, the Foundation has been instrumental in supporting watershed-level approaches for protection and restoration for some of the most ecologically important rivers and streams in these states.
The annual awards celebrate a wide variety of leaders who are helping advance the river and water solutions our nation needs. Last year’s River Champion Awards celebrated leaders who were instrumental in the Klamath dam removal and river restoration effort: the Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Klamath Justice Coalition, Berkshire Hathaway, states of Oregon and California, Klamath River Renewal Corporation, and Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group. River Champion Award recipients in 2023 were Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Brunckhorst Foundations.
Learn more about the River Champion Awards.
About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org
Contact:
Hawk Hammer
National Communications and Media Director
Hhammer@americanrivers.org
MCCALL, Idaho— Local and national conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today to challenge its approval of the Stibnite Gold Project, an open-pit cyanide leach gold mine in Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains. The mine would jeopardize public health and clean water, harm threatened plants and animals, and permanently scar thousands of acres of public land in the headwaters of the South Fork Salmon River.
Perpetua Resources’ proposed mine site is 45 air miles east of McCall, Idaho, adjacent to the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness Area and within the homelands of the Nez Perce Tribe.
“The impacts to the South Fork Salmon River watershed, threatened fish and wildlife, public access, clean air, clean water and world-class recreation from the Stibnite Gold Project are simply unacceptable,” said John Robison, public lands and wildlife director for the Idaho Conservation League. “Given the recent layoffs at the Payette National Forest, we are concerned about the Forest Service’s ability to manage this high-risk project in addition to all their other responsibilities.”
The plan doubles the size of the existing disturbance to 3,265 acres — the equivalent of nearly 2,500 football fields — and entails excavating three massive open pits. It would create 280 million tons of waste rock and include constructing a 475-foot tall, 120-million-ton tailings storage facility — more than 1.5 times taller than the Statue of Liberty. One of the open pits would extend more than 720 feet beneath the riverbed of the East Fork South Fork Salmon River.
“Permitting this level of destruction not only threatens a culturally important area and cherished public lands, it fails to comply with the law,” said Bryan Hurlbutt, staff attorney at Advocates for the West. “By prioritizing mining and giving Perpetua Resources everything they asked for, the Forest Service violated its duties to protect fish and wildlife, and ensure clean water and air.”
Conservation groups and others submitted 130 objections to the Forest Service’s final decision highlighting significant flaws in the mine plan. The approved version fails to address water quality and public health concerns and fails to protect Idaho’s environment and communities from mining’s harms.
“Despite objections to the Forest Service’s environmental analysis and concerns voiced by hundreds of people about the Stibnite Gold Project due to its pollution and public health risks, especially to Valley County, the Forest Service has neglected to address those concerns,” said Mary Faurot Petterson, board member of Save the South Fork Salmon. “The agency is required by law to consider harms to the environment and reduce those harms.”
“The Stibnite Gold Project risks irreversible harm to one of the nation’s most cherished and ecologically important river ecosystems,” added Zack Waterman, northern Rockies conservation director for American Rivers. “Given the extraordinary scale and location of the proposed development, it’s unacceptable that the Final Environmental Impact Statement only considers the mine applicant’s proposed mine plan and a no-action alternative.”
Today’s lawsuit also includes the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, saying the agencies violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to protect threatened Chinook salmon, steelhead, bull trout, wolverines and whitebark pine from the mine. The South Fork Salmon River watershed is a cornerstone of efforts to restore the federally protected fish. According to the Forest Service, the South Fork Salmon River contains the “most important remaining habitat for summer Chinook salmon in the Columbia River basin.”
“This lawsuit is about protecting the South Fork Salmon River watershed from a toxic gold mine that would destroy vital habitat for salmon and bull trout along with this breathtakingly beautiful place,” said Marc Fink, senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The agencies need to focus on cleaning up the toxic mining pollution that’s already here, not make things worse by greenlighting decades more of it.”
The project requires constructing an industrial ore-processing facility, burying pristine bull trout habitat beneath 100 million tons of toxic mine tailings, building miles of new access roads and electrical transmission lines through inventoried roadless areas and providing on-site housing and services for hundreds of workers.
Immediately downstream from the mine site, the South Fork Salmon River provides world-class recreational opportunities for whitewater paddlers and anglers whose access and experience would be diminished by the project.
“The mine plan would destroy critical habitat for Chinook salmon and bull trout and increase stream temperatures for up to 100 years from the removal of riparian shading,” said Nick Kunath, conservation director with Idaho Rivers United. “Perpetua Resources will leave the site in worse condition than how they found it.”
Perpetua Resources is making a concerted effort to pitch the Stibnite Gold Project as necessary for national defense due to the project’s antimony reserves. The company received $75 million in federal funding to support antimony extraction, money it is not obligated to repay. While resources like antimony are important, the Stibnite Gold Project is fundamentally a gold mine. Gold accounts for 96% of the project profits and antimony only 4%. There is only a three-year supply of antimony at the site, and any antimony mined at Stibnite would have to be shipped abroad to be refined. Under the archaic 1872 Mining Law, mining companies are allowed to extract these valuable minerals from public lands with no royalties paid to the American people.
“The Forest Service is complicit in letting Perpetua Resources pull the wool over the public’s eyes about the true nature of the Stibnite Gold Project,” said Bonnie Gestring, northwest program director at Earthworks. “The vast majority of the project’s value is from gold, not antimony, and the Forest Service’s decision to greenlight the project results in American taxpayers lining the pockets of a mining company.”
The project cannot begin until several additional steps are completed. This includes Forest Service approval of revisions to Perpetua’s operations plan, acceptance of reclamation cost estimates and review of financial assurances. Other federal and state permits have not yet been issued, and several of the draft permits do not sufficiently protect public health and the environment.
The conservation groups are represented by Advocates for the West, Roger Flynn of the Western Mining Action Project, Julia Thrower of Mountain Top Law and the Center for Biological Diversity.
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
Save the South Fork Salmon strives to protect and preserve the ecological, cultural, and economic resources of the South Fork of the Salmon River watershed and the well-being of the people that depend on them for generations to come.
Idaho Conservation League’s mission is to create a conservation community and pragmatic, enduring solutions that protect and restore the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the land and wildlife you love.
Advocates for the West is a non-profit, public interest environmental law firm headquartered in Boise, Idaho, that works to defend public lands, water, fish and wildlife throughout the American West.
Idaho Rivers United’s mission is to protect and restore the rivers and fisheries of Idaho, and is the only conservation organization in the state focused exclusively on the health and protection of river resources.
Earthworks‘ mission is to protect communities and the environment against the adverse impacts of mineral and energy development while seeking sustainable solutions.
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways.
Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-798-1145
Washington, DC – Bipartisan leaders today introduced legislation to safeguard the Delaware River, a vital drinking water source for over 13 million people, and the driver of a $25 billion economy across Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act was led by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus, alongside Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, Co-Chair of the Congressional Delaware River Watershed Caucus. The legislation is also cosponsored by Reps. Evans, Houlahan, Gottheimer, Riley, Boyle, McBride, Van Drew, Scanlon, Watson Coleman, Dean, Kean, and Norcorss
Reauthorization of the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program ensures continued investment in water quality and fish and wildlife habitat restoration. It will protect communities from pollution and flood damage, while supporting jobs and improving access to recreation.
Lia Mastropolo, Director, Clean Water Supply at American Rivers and Steering Committee Member of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed issued the following statement:
“No matter who you are or where you live in the Delaware basin, we all depend on this river. Every family deserves clean water, and every community deserves to be safe, strong, and prosperous. This legislation will unite all levels of government with community partners to ensure a healthy river continues to support us all. We applaud the bipartisan leadership. This is the type of vision and collaboration we need in order to continue progress on the Delaware River, and on rivers nationwide.”
The Delaware River is well known for its fishing opportunities. Combined with its tributaries, the river supports more than 60 fish species—popular game fish like Eastern brook trout, striped bass, and migrating river herring among them. That’s a big part of the attraction for more than 500,000 people drawn to the Delaware River annually to boat, camp, hunt, hike, watch wildlife, or just enjoy the scenery.
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About American Rivers and American Rivers Action Fund: American Rivers and its affiliate American Rivers Action Fund are championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRiversActionFund.org
About the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed: The Coalition was formed in 2012 to protect and restore the land and waters in the Delaware River Basin. The Coalition amplifies the collective power of 180+ member organizations and other stakeholders as we advocate for a healthy and protected watershed with an inclusive, unified voice. The Coalition convenes member and non-member organizations, builds capacity, coordinates communications, and advances policy at the federal and state levels.
Contact:
Jeffrey Barich, Senior Civil Engineer, City of Richmond
(510) 412-2009, jeffrey_barich@ci.richmond.ca.us
Sarah Puckett, Central Valley Program Director, American Rivers
(415) 203-3766, spuckett@americnarivers.org
Juliana Gonzalez, Executive Director, The Watershed Project
(510) 224-4085, juliana@thewatershedproejct.org
Nathan Bickart, Director of Watershed Restoration Programs, Urban Tilth
(510)-232-0911. Nathan@urbantilth.org
City of Richmond, CA – The residents in the Rollingwood neighborhood near Richmond, California are finally getting some relief from flooding. The construction phase of the Rheem Creek Flood Risk Reduction Project concluded in October 2024, and replanting was completed in January 2025. Residents and project partners will celebrate the project’s completion on February 8, 2025, at a ribbon cutting ceremony in the neighborhood.
For over 20 years, the Rollingwood neighborhood in unincorporated west Contra Costa County has dealt with flooding from Rheem Creek. The project removed invasive species and excessive sediment, and planted native vegetation to improve creek habitat and sequester carbon to reduce greenhouse gases. The project also replaced failing storm drains, installed new fences, and installed an interpretive sign explaining the project. Residents are already seeing the benefits, as heavy precipitation during a recent atmospheric river storm system in November 2024 did not result in flooding in the Rollingwood neighborhood.
The City of Richmond has partnered with American Rivers, The Watershed Project, Urban Tilth, Contra Costa County, and Restoration Design Group since 2019. Prior to construction, the Rheem Creek channel was full of sediment from upstream and choked with non native and invasive vegetation. Storm drains flowed in reverse direction, flooding the streets. With extreme precipitation patterns caused by climate change, these risks have become heightened and needed to be addressed.
The City of Richmond received $2.2M in funding from the California Natural Resources Agency – through Prop 68 – for project implementation in October 2021. The City [1] is also contributing General Funds[2] to cover the additional costs of construction and maintenance. The completed project will improve watershed health and reduce flood risk for communities that live adjacent to the creek.
“For years, no one knew how or wanted to tackle this complex neighborhood flooding problem. The City of Richmond approached the Wildcat, San Pablo, and Rheem Creek Watershed Council and asked for help to find a solution. It took a team of effective and dedicated partners to come together to get this project to completion,” said Sarah Puckett, Central Valley Program Director with American Rivers.
“The restoration at Rheem Creek has been an important project for the residents who live in Rollingwood and for our city. Through working with our partners, we have been able to create a safer and more beautiful Rheem Creek and a roadmap for how to enhance urban green spaces in Richmond,” said Daniel Chavarria, Public Works Director with the City of Richmond.
Two local community nonprofit organizations worked on the project and employed local young adults. The Watershed Project served as the community outreach partner and landscape contractor and Urban Tilth grew the majority of the plants in their native plant nursery. These organizations worked together to plant over 500 native plants and 170 native trees. Following the project’s construction, both organizations will work with the City to care for the plants and site. The Watershed Project will conduct water quality and sediment monitoring activities to assess and measure the impact of restoration work on the watershed.
“The neighbors around Rheem Creek played a critical role in the project design, led cleanups, helped with plant maintenance, and engaged in discussions about stewarding the creek for years to come. After all their dedication, we are thrilled that they have finally experienced a rainy season without flooding in their streets and homes. We are also proud that the project employed local young people in the community, a model we hope represents the future of watershed restoration,” said Anne Bremirez with The Watershed Project.
“We’ve been so grateful to be a part of this incredible project team to relieve flooding in the Rollingwood neighborhood, to return Rheem Creek to a form that supports both the human and more-than-human communities here in Richmond. Our Watershed Restoration Field Crew, composed of young Richmond residents, grew and helped install the native plants for this project. It is particularly gratifying for this Crew to support restoration projects in our local neighborhood, and we can’t wait to see the site flourish in the coming years,” said Nathan Bickart with Urban Tilth.
Rheem Creek flows through a highly urbanized watershed before entering San Pablo Bay. This multi-benefit project will help protect this urban community from flooding as well as increase resilience to intensifying floods due to climate change.
The Rheem Creek project partners recognize and honor that all restoration work in the Rheem Creek watershed took place on occupied indigenous territory of Chochenyo-speaking Ohlone people who have continuously lived on this land since time immemorial.
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C. — American Rivers is today, pleased to announce the addition of two new board members, as we continue to grow and expand our impact across the country. The new members bring decades of conservation leadership, business acumen and regional expertise to our board.
“This is an exciting time for American Rivers, and we are thrilled to add two such accomplished leaders to our board,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “Their passion for our nation’s great outdoors, clean water, and healthy rivers shines through in their work and our organization looks forward to continued growth and impact with their added expertise.”
Maite Arce (Washington, D.C.) founded the Hispanic Access Foundation in 2010 transforming it from zero reach and budget to a national organization impacting 2.1 million people annually with a $10 million budget. Her journey is rooted in her immigrant story of adversity, love, support and progress, guided by the values instilled by her parents: work ethic, family devotion, service, and a drive for improvement. Through her efforts, she has built a network of 6,000 U.S. Latino faith leaders reaching 2 million immigrants.
Arce’s work has contributed to impactful public policies, including the Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the designation of National Public Lands Monuments like Castner Range in Texas and the San Gabriel Mountains in California.
In recognition of her contributions, Arce was awarded a PhD in 2021 – Honoris Causa in Organizational Leadership from Logos Christian University. Her accolades include the 2023 Women Leaders of Faith on the Frontline Award from the U.S. Department of Health, the 2022 Environmental Leaders Award from The Center for Rural Affairs, and the 2021 Eagle Award from the Asociación de Ministerios Evangélicos Nacional.
Eric Ladd (Big Sky, MT) is the founder and CEO of Outlaw Partners, an award-winning experiential real estate, marketing, media, events and adventure travel company based in Big Sky and Bozeman, Montana. Through its various entities, Outlaw Partners creates meaningful connections, supports local community organizations and inspires action in service. He is committed to supporting organizations focus on preservation of public lands, rivers and wildlife.
Outlaw Partners’ award-winning media publications include Mountain Outlaw magazine, Explore Big Sky newspaper, Town Crier newsletter and VIEWS magazine, which have over 5,000,000 readers and subscribers. Outlaw also produces events in southwest Montana, including the Wildlands Festival and the nine-time PBR event of the year: the Big Sky PBR.
Ladd’s passion for wilderness, rivers and guiding began at the age of 15 and never subsided. Turning his passion into a business, he launched Boundary Expeditions in 2016. With his team of professional river guides, they operate exclusive, multi-day river rafting trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.
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American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org
Northwest needs bipartisan, collaborative solutions to address region’s economic and conservation needs
Contact: Susan Woodward, swoodward@americanrivers.org
January 27, 2025
Olympia, Wash.—A federal bill that aims to prevent removal of four dams on the lower Snake River is shortsighted and would harm the people of the Pacific Northwest if passed, American Rivers Action Fund said today.
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash) introduced the “Northwest Energy Security Act” last week to prevent removal of the four dams on the lower Snake River.
The four dams produce just 4% of the total power generated in the Northwest.
“That energy can be cost effectively supplied by alternative energy and updated transmission, and the dams can be removed to ensure healthy and abundant salmon runs that benefit local economies, cultures, and critically endangered Southern Resident orcas,” said Sarah Dyrdahl, senior advisor for American Rivers Action Fund.
Recent studies show how other services the dams provide can continue and even improve. They include a draft water replacement study by the Washington Department of Ecology and the Bureau of Reclamation. It found sufficient water would exist in a free-flowing lower Snake River to meet all current agricultural, municipal, and industrial requirements year-round, even under low-water scenarios.
“The Risch-Newhouse bill detracts from the efforts of states, Tribal Nations, anglers, industry, and nonprofit entities working together to solve the pressing and intertwined economic and conservation challenges affecting the Columbia Basin,” said Dyrdahl. “Instead of preserving costly, aging infrastructure, we continue to work towards viable, modern solutions that will benefit millions of people.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
WASHINGTON D.C. — In response to President Trump’s executive order on water resources and disaster response in California and North Carolina, American Rivers is today encouraging additional investments in water infrastructure and urging the administration to commit to science-based decision-making.
“This executive order could risk the health and safety of Californians and their natural resources up and down the state,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “California is an economic powerhouse dependent on smart water policy informed by science and the best approaches for protecting people from fires, droughts, and other extreme weather. This executive order falls short of that goal.”
The executive order overrides state laws, particularly around private water rights, and state water policy in California, undermines the Endangered Species Act and its protections of several species of imperiled fish that present high commercial value, hinders the National Environmental Policy Act and directs the Interior and Commerce Secretaries to maximize water storage at projects, without consideration of limitations based in public safety.
It would also potentially allow for road construction with limited environmental oversight in storm-stricken areas in North Carolina, jeopardizing river health and water quality.
“Fundamentally, extreme weather has magnified what used to be natural processes into natural disasters that are far more extreme than any of our infrastructure is designed to address,” said Ann Willis, California regional director for American Rivers. “Sadly, these issues have been politicized and conflated with other difficult and complex water challenges. The problems around water management in the Delta for agriculture and ecosystems are not closely related to the reasons why we’re short of water right now for wildfires.”
Fire season in California historically has been May through October; now it is year-round. Concurrently, Southern California has experienced its driest 9-month period in the last 150 years.
“Water systems that were designed to store water for fire-fighting responses were never designed to supply enough water for this confluence of major fires and extreme winds,” said Willis. “We need to follow the science and avoid politicizing tragedy. Our people, our environment, and our economy depend on us building collaborations across difference for unprecedented and urgent solutions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
WASHINGTON D.C. — American Rivers is today welcoming President Trump’s executive order establishing a council to review the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s efficacy, priorities and competence, but strongly urge him to reconsider his stance on potentially eliminating it.
“FEMA is a vitally important agency that saves lives. Preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters like floods and dam failures is an essential role of the federal government and eliminating this agency would jeopardize human safety,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “We welcome the review because rebuilding after a tragedy provides the opportunity to rebuild in a smarter way that makes us resilient before the next disaster.”
The council is to be composed of government officials like the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense and also reserves spots for appointed officials outside of the government.
“We have an impressive staff of flooding, infrastructure, dam safety and river health experts here at American Rivers, and we are ready and willing to partner with the Trump administration to achieve its goals of improving the nation’s disaster response,” said Kiernan.
“There is certainly opportunity to reposition FEMA as an independent agency and remove inefficiencies that come from being housed under the Department of Homeland Security. Americans have always helped each other when they are most in need, and FEMA is a powerful channel for that,” he said.
There are thousands of outdated, unsafe dams on rivers across the country. When a dam fails, the disaster can claim lives and destroy homes and businesses. FEMA provides important state oversight and helps manage dam safety across the nation. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, dozens of high-hazards dams failed or were damaged, and FEMA has been instrumental in stabilizing and repairing impacted dams and will be in removing failed dams, when needed.
“As floods become more frequent and severe, FEMA is an essential partner for the states and local communities who often do not have the staff or resources to adequately prepare for and respond to disasters on their own,” said Eileen Shader, Senior Director of Floodplains and a FEMA expert for American Rivers.
FEMA also manages the National Flood Insurance Program, that if left to the states or private companies, would likely lead to many people losing coverage.
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C.— In response to recent reports and removal of our own staff, American Rivers is today, voicing its concern to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Interim Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about the complete dismissal of all members of the National Dam Safety Review Board.
“As increasing severity and frequency of floods and fires devastate communities nationwide and imperil aging water infrastructure such as dams, it is vital to have the experts on the National Dam Safety Review Board in place and ready to serve,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, senior vice president of conservation for American Rivers. “Every day the work of this panel is interrupted and its existence left in limbo puts human lives and property at risk. As a non-partisan advisory committee, it cannot and should not get caught up in politics.”
The National Dam Safety Review Board is a critical advisory committee comprised of dam safety experts from other government agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as non-profits like American Rivers. The Board’s primary goal is to save lives by enhancing dam safety and security.
The United States has more than 16,000 high hazard dams that endanger working families across the nation. To underscore the urgency of reestablishing this advisory committee, at least 36 high hazard dams failed or were damaged from Hurricane Helene. High hazard dams are dams that in the event of failure would likely cause high value property damage or loss of life.
“American Rivers is dedicated to protecting people and property from unsafe and outdated dams, restoring our nation’s rivers and protecting clean drinking water. Our staff includes leading experts on dam safety and we encourage the rapid reestablishment of this board,” said Taylor-Miesle.
Further, the widespread dismissal includes members of the Technical Mapping Advisory Committee, which advises FEMA on improvements to flood risk maps that are necessary to keep homeowners and communities safe from flooding. Two-thirds of the nation’s streams still lack flood maps, and flood maps for many communities are outdated. It is essential that FEMA utilize the best available science and technology to provide communities with accurate knowledge of their flood risks.