Senator Wyden introduces Malheur County Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act
November 7, 2019
Contact: David Moryc, 503-307-1137
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
American Rivers today applauded Oregon Senator Ron Wyden for introducing legislation to protect Owyhee River canyon country for the benefit of the Burns Paiute Tribe, local ranchers and the recreation economy.
The Malheur County Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act designates 14.7 miles of the Owyhee River as Wild and Scenic and over a million of acres of wilderness. It also supports science-based adaptive management of federal lands and safeguards sacred tribal resources.
Malheur County public lands and Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands are some of the last, most wild places in the U.S. The Owyhee is known for its vast, intact fish and wildlife habitat, clean, wild waters, cultural heritage, and dark night skies. The process led by Senator Wyden ensures that this incredible landscape can be protected while preserving and improving current uses.
David Moryc, Senior Director for Wild and Scenic Rivers and Public Lands Policy at American Rivers, made the following statement:
“After decades of conflict, Senator Wyden’s leadership has brought together ranchers, conservationists and the Burns Paiute Tribe to craft a conservation vision for the Owyhee River canyon country and millions of acres of public land in southeastern Oregon. We look forward to working with the senator to improve protections in the bill for the rivers and springs that are the lifeblood of this incredible landscape.”
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Press Release from American Rivers, Charleston Waterkeeper, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Clean Water Action, Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Rappahannock, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, North Carolina Coastal Federation, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and the Southern Environmental Law Center
For Release: October 23, 2019
Contacts:
Southern Environmental Law Center, Kathleen Sullivan, 919-945-7106, ksullivan@selcnc.org
Representing:
American Rivers, Amy Kober, 503-708-1145 akober@americanrivers.org
Charleston Waterkeeper, Andrew Wunderley, 843-906-7073, andrew@charlestonwaterkeeper.org
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Kevin Jeselnik, 404-352-9828, kjeselnik@chattahoochee.org
Clean Water Action, Michael Kelly, 202-895-0420×103, mkelly@cleanwater.org
Defenders of Wildlife, Gwen Dobbs, 202-772-0269, gdobbs@defenders.org
S.C. Coastal Conservation League, Lisa Jones Turansky, 843-723-8035, lisajt@scccl.org
Natural Resources Defense Council, Mark Drajem, 202-289-2436, mdrajem@nrdc.org
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Conservation groups today challenged in court the administration’s effort to strip away crucial clean water protections from rivers, lakes, streams and other waters that feed drinking-water sources for 200 million Americans and 32 million people in the South, or seven out of ten Southerners. The legal challenge, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, opens a major court battle over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ repeal of clean water protections under the Clean Water Act, one of the nation’s bedrock environmental laws. The repeal of these standards is one of several steps announced by the administration to gut long-standing clean water protections, including a proposal currently subject to public comment that would leave many waters vulnerable to pollution and fill by redefining what waters are protected.
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed today’s challenge on behalf of American Rivers, Charleston Waterkeeper, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Clean Water Action, Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Rappahannock, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, North Carolina Coastal Federation, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, and South Carolina Coastal Conservation League.
The lawsuit contends that EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated a long-standing law that prohibits agencies from altering basic environmental safeguards without giving the public adequate notice and a chance to weigh in. According to the lawsuit, the agencies failed at their most basic responsibilities: evaluating the effect of their reckless actions and giving the public a meaningful opportunity to comment on their decision to eliminate scientifically backed protections for streams and wetlands.
Comments from the groups who filed in federal court today to protect clean water follow.
“Clean water is a way of life we take for granted in America, but now large polluters are trying to dismantle bipartisan water protections in place for almost 50 years,” said Blan Holman, a managing attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center which is representing the conservation groups in court. “The administration is pretending that pollution dumped upstream doesn’t flow downstream, but its plan puts the water used by hundreds of millions of Americans for drinking, bathing, fishing, and business at risk. We are going to court to protect clean water across the country.”
“Without the Clean Water Rule’s critical protections, innumerable small streams and wetlands that are essential for drinking water supplies, flood protection, and fish and wildlife habitat would be vulnerable to unregulated pollution, dredging and filling,” said Bob Irvin, president and CEO of American Rivers. “We will keep fighting for the Clean Water Rule because every American should have clean drinking water and healthy rivers.”
“This rollback threatens iconic Lowcountry wetlands like Carolina Bays and even some Cypress-Tupelo ponds,” said Andrew Wunderley, Charleston Waterkeeper. “We will not stand by and watch these important protections stripped away. It’s especially important to maintain these protections because there are not state or local protections for these wetland systems in the Lowcountry.”
“The only people who support this outrageous repeal are the corporate polluters who stand to benefit from making it easier to contaminate streams or to fill in wetlands, while burdening communities downstream with their pollution,” said Jennifer Peters, National Water Programs director for Clean Water Action. “Americans understand the importance of clean water and expect our government officials to do more, not less, to protect it. We’re going to fight this scheme, along with the rest of the Trump administration’s dirty water agenda.”
“The Trump administration’s latest attack on clean water is irresponsible and dangerous. The Clean Water Rule relied on science to clarify the scope of federal protections for wetlands and streams across the country. In the Southeast this meant greater protections for the pocosins, Carolina Bays, and Appalachian headwaters that provide sanctuary for our region’s rich array of wildlife. The Trump administration continues its callous disregard for human health and the environment,” said Ben Prater, Southeast Program director, Defenders of Wildlife.
“At a time when Americans face increased threats to their drinking water and increasingly intense and damaging storms and floods that threaten communities upstream and down, we should be strengthening stream and wetland protections, not weakening them,” said Jim Murphy, director of Legal Advocacy, National Wildlife Federation. “Instead, the agencies’ repeal the Clean Water Rule and rollback of Clean Water Act protections threatens the drinking water supplies of more than 117 million Americans and more than 20 million wetland acres remaining in the continental U.S. The repeal of the 2015 Clean Water Rule will strip the protections that have prevented harmful pollution of the nation’s waterways for decades.”
“Ending science-based protections for the streams our kids play in and fish from, along with wetlands that filter pollution and protect communities from flooding, is reckless and radical,” said Jon Devine, Director of Federal Water Policy for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Sadly we’ve come to expect these kinds of attacks on clean water over the last few years.”
The agencies have 60 days to respond to the lawsuit.
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For more than 30 years, the Southern Environmental Law Center has used the power of the law to champion the environment of the Southeast. With over 70 attorneys and nine offices across the region, SELC is widely recognized as the Southeast’s foremost environmental organization and regional leader. SELC works on a full range of environmental issues to protect our natural resources and the health and well-being of all the people in our region. www.SouthernEnvironment.org
October 14, 2019
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145 akober@americanrivers.org
“As we observe Indigenous Peoples Day, this is a moment for the conservation community and all of us who use and benefit from rivers to listen. This day is a reminder that we have a lot to learn from indigenous people on the Columbia River and on rivers nationwide. The Yakama Nation and Lummi Nation leaders in the Pacific Northwest are calling on us to think at a truly meaningful scale, about the importance of healthy rivers to our communities, our environment and our future. American Rivers is committed to learning from indigenous leaders and their communities. We believe honest dialogue about all the values rivers provide is needed. We seek to reach for a future where rivers, salmon and people can thrive together. We have a lot of work to do. We are listening.”
October 2, 2019
Contact: David Moryc, 503-307-1137
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Washington – Senator Ron Wyden today launched an effort that could lead to major new protections for healthy, free-flowing rivers across Oregon.
His statewide public process asks Oregonians for their input on which rivers deserve new Wild and Scenic River protections. October 2 marks the 51st anniversary of the national Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and Senator Wyden has protected more Wild and Scenic Rivers than any other member of Congress for his home state.
Bob Irvin, President and CEO of American Rivers, made the following statement:
“Oregonians have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect the rivers that make their state so special. Senator Wyden’s call to action to conserve clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, and world-class outdoor recreation furthers his legacy as one of the nation’s strongest champions for rivers. We applaud his leadership and we encourage every Oregonian who values clean water, fish and wildlife and all of the health and economic benefits of wild rivers to speak up.”
See:
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-announces-statewide-effort-for-wild-and-scenic-rivers
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September 12, 2019
Contact: Sinjin Eberle, 720-373-0864
The Grant County Commission today passed a resolution to support federal legislation that would protect portions of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and their tributaries as wild and scenic. The vote comes after a groundswell of support from Tribes, sportsmen, veterans, small business owners, faith and civic organizations, local municipalities and governments, and outdoor recreation and conservation organizations. The local community expressed their appreciation for the commission’s support of this important designation.
The resolution of support states, in part, “Now, therefore be it resolved, that the Grant County Board of Commissioners supports the introduction of legislation to protect the Gila River through the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.”
The community-driven proposal would designate roughly 436 miles of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and their tributaries as wild and scenic. To date, only .01% of the 108,104 miles of rivers in New Mexico are designated as wild and scenic. However, its significance should not be minimized: the rivers and tributaries compose one of the largest undammed watersheds left in the Lower 48.
“It is important that we call for the protection of the Gila River because we have been going there to fish, hunt, and picnic with our families for many years and we want to continue to do so while securing it for future generations,” said Chon S. Fierro, the City of Bayard’s Mayor.
Designating the rivers and tributaries as wild and scenic will sustain the local, rural economies that depend upon time-tested traditions like grazing, ranching, and hunting and fishing. It will also enhance those economies through increased outdoor recreation activities like rafting and paddling, horseback riding and wildlife watching, and hiking and camping. Outdoor recreation is big business in New Mexico: Every year it generates nearly $10 billion in consumer spending, roughly $3 billion in wages and salaries, $623 million in state and local tax revenues, and directly employs 99,000 people.
“The Gila River is a powerful economic driver,” added Chris Schlabach, a small business owner. “Our store, Gila Hike and Bike, relies heavily on visitors to the Gila purchasing gear for their adventures or spending time in our community.”
Grazing and ranching would continue surrounding the segments designated as wild and scenic. Additionally, development on or roads to private land would not be impacted. Hunting and fishing access would not only be ensured, but the designation would safeguard critical habitat needed to sustain land and water wildlife populations.
Jason Amaro, a sportsman in Grant County said, “Sportsmen and sportswomen have long understood the value of the Gila River, not only because it is a place where we find peace in the world, but also a place where if we work hard, we can find a meal or two. Let’s work together to permanently protect our wild and scenic rivers in the Gila.”
A diverse coalition is now calling on Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich to introduce legislation to designate portions of the Gila and San Francisco and their tributaries as wild and scenic. With the impacts of climate change affecting New Mexico, community members are urging the New Mexico Senators to act quickly so future generations can always experience and wild and scenic Gila River.
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September 12, 2019
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145, akober@americanrivers.org
Washington – Continuing its assault on rivers and clean water nationwide, the Trump administration today released its final rule repealing the Obama administration’s Clean Water Rule. Promulgated in 2015, the Clean Water Rule clarified the definition of “waters of the United States” and the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. Repeal of the Clean Water Rule will return the nation to pre-2015 rules and the regulatory confusion and paralysis that resulted from the Supreme Court’s SWANCC and Rapanos rulings. Those rulings severely undermined federal protections for small streams, headwater streams and wetlands, threatening clean drinking water sources and rivers nationwide.
Bob Irvin, President and CEO of American Rivers, released the following statement:
“The millions of children newly back to school could give this administration’s officials a basic science lesson: wetlands and streams connect to larger rivers. They are vitally important to protecting water quality for all of our communities. The destruction we cause upstream impacts our neighbors downstream.”
“We need to be doing more as a nation, not less, to safeguard clean water. With millions from New Jersey to California lacking access to safe drinking water, and with toxic algae from North Carolina to Oregon threatening public health and our pets, now is not the time to create more loopholes for polluters.”
“American Rivers is fighting back against this administration’s rollbacks and we believe, ultimately, we’ll succeed. Not only because we have science and the law on our side. But because a healthy river is more valuable to a community than a dead, polluted one. And, because clean water and healthy rivers are absolutely vital to our nation’s security and our future.”
Background:
For almost thirty years after its enactment in 1972, the Clean Water Act was broadly interpreted to provide comprehensive protections to waters across the country. However, following two Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006, uncertainty arose about Clean Water Act jurisdiction over small streams and wetlands, putting the health of rivers and the communities that depend upon them at risk. In defining “waters of the United States”, the case of Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 531 U.S. 159 (2001) (SWANCC) called into question the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction over isolated wetlands. While the opinion of the Supreme Court only held that isolated wetlands could not be considered jurisdictional waters solely on their basis as habitat for migratory birds, the practical result was that very few isolated wetlands were considered to be jurisdictional.
Five years later, in Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006) (Rapanos) the Supreme Court took up the question of the proper test for determining if a small stream or wetland was “jurisdictional” under the Clean Water Act. Justice Scalia, joined by three other Justices, issued a plurality opinion for the Court, with a separate concurring opinion by Justice Kennedy, and a dissenting opinion written by Justice Stevens with three other Justices joining. The result was three contradictory opinions. The confusion created by SWANCC and Rapanos amongst federal courts, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led to virtual paralysis of the long-accepted regulatory scheme that protects small streams and wetlands.
In 2015, after engaging in an extensive outreach program, conducting an exhaustive scientific review, and preparing a comprehensive legal analysis, EPA and the Corps published the Clean Water Rule (also referred to as the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule), a regulation that clearly and comprehensively defines what waters are protected by the Clean Water Act. In the four years that the two agencies worked to craft the rule, they reviewed over 1,200 scientific studies, collected over 1,000,000 public comments, drafted over 6,000 pages of responses, and held over 400 public meetings. American Rivers was active in this process, both at the administrative and congressional levels. The final rule better protects small streams (including headwater, intermittent, and ephemeral streams) as well as wetlands. The Rule clarifies these waters’ status after years of uncertainty spawned by SWANCC and Rapanos, as well as the EPA and Corps’ various policies and guidance adopted in the wake of those decisions.
Shortly after taking office, President Trump ordered that the Clean Water Rule be revised or replaced. Since then, in the face of popular opposition and legal challenge, the Trump administration has sought to stymie and now repeal the Clean Water Rule, with little scientific backing, legal analysis or public outreach. The administration has already proposed a new rule that will unambiguously strip protection from isolated wetlands and ephemeral streams (and perhaps other categories of waters as well) despite overwhelming scientific consensus around their importance to the health of the waters of the United States.
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September 4, 2019
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Washington – Non-profit leader Paula Wolferseder Yabar has joined American Rivers as Senior Vice President of Advancement.
Ms. Yabar has more than 30 years of fundraising and marketing experience at major institutions including the Council on Foundations, The Wilderness Society, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Smithsonian Institution and The Nature Conservancy. Most recently, she was Vice President for Development at Resources for the Future.
“Paula’s extensive fundraising expertise and leadership will help us achieve our vision ensuring everyone in this country has clean water and a healthy river. We are delighted to welcome her to American Rivers,” said Bob Irvin, President and CEO of American Rivers.
Ms. Yabar joins American Rivers as the organization launches a new strategic plan that prioritizes improving water security for people and the environment, strengthening communities in the face of climate impacts, and ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion in river conservation nationwide.
“I am thrilled to be joining an organization with such a strong track record protecting and restoring the rivers that are the veins and arteries of our country, vital to our well-being and survival. From clean drinking water to flood protection, American Rivers is advancing innovative solutions and addressing urgent issues that impact us all,” said Ms. Yabar.
A native of Rhode Island, she graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in geography and marine affairs and also holds an MBA from George Washington University.
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American Rivers believes every community in our country should have clean water and a healthy river. Since 1973, we have protected wild rivers, restored damaged rivers and conserved clean water for people and nature. With headquarters in Washington, D.C. and field offices across the country, we are the most effective river conservation organization in the United States, delivering solutions that will last for generations to come. www.AmericanRivers.org
August 9, 2019
Contact:
Olivia Dorothy, 217-390-3658
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Threats to the Clean Water Act are intensifying as the Senate weighs a bill that would overturn a Clean Water Act veto of an ecologically devastating pumps project in the Mississippi Delta.
Last week, Senators Hyde-Smith and Wicker introduced legislation that would overturn the Clean Water Act veto of the Yazoo Pumps Project, located just north of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
The project was vetoed by George W. Bush’s Administration in 2008 because it would have drained or damaged up to 200,000 acres of ecologically significant wetlands – an area larger than the 5 boroughs of New York City. The vast majority of these wetlands are within protected areas, including Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, and the Delta National Forest. And, much of the impacted private land is enrolled in conservation easements.
Should the veto be overturned, it would be the first time in the history of the Clean Water Act. “Such an action,” warns Bob Irvin, President and CEO of American Rivers, “would pave the way for other environmentally damaging projects to move forward.”
Yazoo Pumps is touted as a flood control project that would alleviate flooding in the Mississippi Delta area devastated by this year’s high water. But according to the Corps’ own analysis, the proposed pumps would do almost nothing to help Delta communities. Indeed, the stated purpose of the Yazoo Pumps is to drain wetlands to expand crop production. In fact, should the pumps be built, it is likely they would exacerbate flooding elsewhere, including around Vicksburg, Mississippi.
“It is always heartbreaking to see homes and businesses flooded. But there are better options for Delta residents that focus on getting people out of harm’s way,” said Irvin. “It is irresponsible to spend almost half a billion dollars in federal tax money on a flood control project that will devastate the Delta’s swamp ecosystem and do little to protect people.”
In 2018, American Rivers listed the Big Sunflower River as America’s #1 Most Endangered River due to similar proposals to overturn the 2008 veto of the project.
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July 31, 2019
Contact: Serena McClain, American Rivers, 202-347-7550
Gregg Bortz, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 410-260-8001
Jennie Lyons, NOAA, 301-427-8013
David Eisenhauer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 413-253-8492
Washington – One of the most important dam removal projects in the Mid-Atlantic is officially complete. Project partners announced today that the Bloede Dam removal and river restoration is finished and a significant portion of the Patapsco River now flows freely through Patapsco Valley State Park.
After 18 months, often spent battling the elements during one of the region’s wettest years on record, crews have completed all construction work, including dam demolition, replacing portions of both Baltimore and Howard county sanitary sewer lines, and rebuilding the Grist Mill Trail. This area of the park re-opened just in time for the busy summer season. Visitors are enjoying the full range of outdoor recreation, anglers are fishing from newly emerging boulders in the former dam impoundment, and families are exploring the riverside trail.
“The Patapsco River is free, after years of hard work by so many. It’s wonderful to see the Patapsco rushing back to life, and to watch park visitors discover and enjoy the free-flowing river,” said Serena McClain, project manager and director of river restoration for American Rivers. “This major river restoration project would not have happened without the collaboration and dedication of many public and private partners. This success is proof that when we come together, we can accomplish great victories for our rivers and our communities that will resonate for generations to come.”
Bloede Dam served no functional purpose for decades and posed a serious public safety hazard in Patapsco Valley State Park. There were a number of injuries and deaths at the dam, with at least nine dam-related deaths since the 1980s, and the most recent occurring in June 2015.
“Today’s announcement caps a decade of work with many partners and is a win in many ways,” said Pat Montanio, Director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation. “Opening the area to natural river flow benefits a healthier Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, including fish passage and improved river habitat for important fish species. The dam’s removal also benefits the people and the economy.”
“Removal of the Bloede Dam has been a long-term priority for both public safety and environmental reasons, so the department is very grateful for the strong partnerships that have finally made it a reality,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio said. “Completion of this project means improved safety for our park visitors, restoration of the Patapsco River System, and healthier habitats for aquatic species – all of which are important to our department.”
In addition to eliminating the public safety risk, dam removal gives a tremendous boost to the health of the river ecosystem, including fisheries critical to the food web of the Chesapeake Bay. Bloede Dam was the first barrier on the Patapsco River blocking migratory fish swimming to and from the Bay. Its removal is the linchpin of a decades-long restoration effort that included the removal of Simkins Dam (2010) and Union Dam (2010).
Removal of Bloede Dam restores to the river and its tributaries more than 65 miles of spawning habitat for blueback herring, alewife, American shad, and hickory shad in the watershed, and more than 183 miles for American eel. Project partners will continue to monitor the site to better understand how the river responds physically and biologically to dam removal.
“The Service is a proud partner in the restoration of this historic, industrialized river to a free-flowing, connected, natural system,” said Wendi Weber, Northeast Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Where a concrete dam once threatened public safety and degraded wildlife habitat, people can now recreate, while aquatic species can move freely to reach important habitat. We are thankful to all who made this transformation possible and especially appreciate NOAA, American Rivers, and Maryland DNR for their vision and leadership.”
Removal of Bloede Dam was made possible through a partnership of American Rivers, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Friends of the Patapsco Valley State Park, as well as monitoring partners U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland Biological Stream Survey, Maryland Geological Survey and University of Maryland Baltimore County.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $17.9 million. Funding for the project came from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, MDOT SHA, NOAA, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Coca-Cola Foundation and Keurig-Green Mountain.
Since Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast in 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has helped fund 32 coastal resilience projects in 11 states, using more than $100 million from the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. Twelve dam removals, including Bloede, have restored nearly 100 miles of mainstem river to their natural state.
July 8, 2019
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Statement by Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers:
“President Trump’s claim today that ensuring clean water has been a top priority from day one of his administration is truly fake news. From the outset, the Trump administration has used every means at its disposal to stifle science and undermine protection for clean water and rivers. Even as President Trump spoke this afternoon, his administration is proposing to adopt a Dirty Water Rule which would eliminate Clean Water Act protection for nearly 20 percent of the streams in the U.S. and more than half of all wetlands.”
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May 31, 2019
Contact: Olivia Dorothy, 217-390-3658, odorothy@americanrivers.org
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145, akober@americanrivers.org
A major levee in Missouri was overwhelmed last night, across from the town of Quincy, Illinois. The overtopping of the Union Township Levee sent floodwaters into farms, homes and businesses. The levee breach is another hit to Mississippi River communities, who have been challenged by record flooding for months.
According to the National Levee Database, the Union Township Levee is supposed to protect roughly 4,000 acres, 86 structures and 147 people. The levee is at a “choke point” in the river where so much of the floodplain is blocked by levees that the river has no room to spread out when it floods. The Union Township Levee is surrounded by illegally over-built levees downstream and across the river. The actions of the neighboring levee districts to build up their levees without the requisite permits and approvals likely pushed additional water onto the Union Township Levee, contributing to the breach.
Statement from Olivia Dorothy, Associate Director for the Upper Mississippi River Basin with American Rivers, based in East Moline, Illinois:
“My heart goes out to the farmers and homeowners in the Union Township Levee District, who were evacuated last night when the levee was overtopped by the Mississippi River. As the Mississippi continues to rise for the second time this spring, I pray the levees hold.
When Mississippi River communities are able to recover from this disaster, we must commit ourselves to fundamentally changing our approach to flood protection. The current approach allowing unchecked levee development pits communities against each other and makes us less safe.
The best way to protect people and property is to give the river room and help people move out of harm’s way. I call on regional leaders to support the development of a basin-wide flood risk management strategy that puts public safety first.”
The Upper Mississippi River is among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2019 due to the threats of illegal levee development and climate change. Read the report at https://endangeredrivers.americanrivers.org/upper-mississippi-river/
May 22, 2019
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145, akober@americanrivers.org
As we enter hurricane season along the Atlantic coast, American Rivers is underscoring the importance of restoring healthy rivers and giving rivers room as the best way to protect people and property from flooding.
“The Carolinas have been hit with devastating hurricanes and flooding for four years in a row. While we hope to avoid the worst of the 2019 hurricane season, we also need to prepare. Climate change is making flooding more frequent and severe. Giving rivers room to safely accommodate and better manage floodwaters is the best way to keep communities safe,” said Gerrit Jöbsis, Senior Director, Rivers of Southern Appalachia and the Carolinas.
There are two main factors exacerbating flood danger associated with hurricanes:
- Development and disconnection of floodplains: Floodplains are the natural, low-lying areas along rivers that absorb and store floodwaters. By cutting rivers off from floodplains with levees and filling these lands with pavement, homes and businesses, there’s nowhere for floodwaters to go – and we’ve put people in harm’s way.
- Outdated and unsafe dams: The Association of State Dam Safety Officials estimates that aging dams across the nation need more than $70 billion in repairs. More than 100 dams breached in recent years in South Carolina and North Carolina because of hurricanes and flooding.
“If we want to keep our families and communities safe, we need to protect and restore our rivers. It’s time for action now,” said Jöbsis.
Five actions needed to protect communities from increasingly severe flooding:
- Protect and restore floodplains: Naturally functioning floodplains store floodwaters and reduce downstream flooding. We need to take advantage of these natural defenses.
- Get people out of harm’s way: Poorly planned growth has allowed development in flood prone areas, putting people in harm’s way. Where possible, we should replace developed areas with green spaces that can absorb floodwaters and buffer communities from damages.
- Strengthen state dam safety laws and programs: More than 80 dams failed in South Carolina over the past several years. Coupled with dozens of additional dam failures in North Carolina it is clear that our current standards, especially for earthen dams which are by far the most likely to fail, do not provide safety with the reality of today’s extreme flooding.
- Remove dams that do not meet safety requirements: We cannot wait until dams fail to take action. Poorly maintained and improperly designed dams need to be removed to protect downstream communities and infrastructure before they fail. See https://www.americanrivers.org/2016/10/removing-dams-can-save-lives/
- Relocate industrial livestock feedlots out of vulnerable floodplains.See America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2017 listing of Neuse and Cape Fear rivers: https://www.americanrivers.org/2017/06/neuse-cape-fear-floodplain-protection/
Experts available for comment:
Gerrit Jöbsis, Senior Director, Rivers of Southern Appalachia and the Carolinas (Columbia, SC):803-771-7114, gjobsis@americanrivers.org
Peter Raabe, Conservation Director, Rivers of Southern Appalachia & the Carolinas (Durham, NC): 919-682-3500, praabe@americanrivers.org
