Media Items Archive

September 5, 2018

Contact:
Amy Kober, American Rivers, 503-708-1145
Lauri Munroe-Hultman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 413-588-1005
Kate Brogan, NOAA, 202-603-9651

Baltimore – Conservation leaders, federal and state officials, and other partners gathered today on the Patapsco River to celebrate the removal of Bloede Dam – an effort that has been a decade in the making, and will have major benefits for fisheries, public safety, recreation, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

“Water is life, and healthy rivers are absolutely vital to our health, economy, and communities,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “Today, we’re celebrating a new chapter for the Patapsco and all of the people who depend on this river. This is one of the most significant dam removal and river restoration projects in the country. We applaud the exemplary leadership from the State of Maryland and the collaboration and dedication of many public and private partners.”

“Today marks a major milestone in the reclamation and restoration of the Patapsco River,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “With the removal of Bloede Dam from within Patapsco Valley State Park, we return a river to its natural flow and state, enhance fish migration and passage, improve water quality in its banks and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay, and better protect and serve our guests and patrons. Many thanks to all of our partners and stakeholders, especially American Rivers.”

Bloede Dam has served no functional purpose for decades and has posed a serious public safety hazard in Patapsco Valley State Park. There have been a number of injuries and deaths, with at least nine dam-related deaths since the 1980s, the most recent of which occurred in June 2015. Keeping the dam in place also would have been costly to taxpayers — at least $1 million would have been needed for repairs to comply with Maryland dam safety requirements.

In addition to eliminating the public safety risk, dam removal will give a tremendous boost to the health of the river ecosystem, including fisheries critical to the food web of the Chesapeake Bay. Bloede Dam serves as 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 also included the removal of Simkins Dam (2010) and Union Dam (2011). Removal of Bloede Dam will restore 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.

“The removal of Bloede Dam would not be possible without long-term partnerships among NOAA, the State of Maryland, and American Rivers,” said Stuart Levenbach, Chief of Staff for NOAA. “This project exemplifies the multiple benefits of habitat restoration. Together, we will remove unnecessary and unsafe structures while enhancing the natural resiliency of the Patapsco River Valley to benefit local communities, and restore 65 miles of spawning habitat for species like herring, shad, and eel.”

The benefits of the project extend beyond the river environment to coastal habitats, where sediment carried by the river will replenish marshes and beaches, making the coast more resilient to extreme storms.

“We’re proud to work with our partners to restore the natural flow of the Patapsco River,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Director Wendi Weber. “Free-flowing rivers create healthier coastal habitats for migratory fish and other wildlife and enhance recreational opportunities and public safety for nearby communities. What’s good for nature is good for people, too.”

Since Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast in 2012, the Service has helped fund 30 coastal resilience projects in 11 states, using more than $100 million from the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. Twelve dam removals have restored nearly 100 miles of river to their natural state.

Following the initial blast of explosives to breach the dam, crews will continue demolition work for the next three months. The site will remain closed to the public until July 2019.

Removal of Bloede Dam was made possible through a partnership of American Rivers, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, 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 $17.3 million. Funding for the project has come 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.

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 275,000 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.

Date: September 27^th at 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST

Communities continue to face significant challenges managing urban stormwater to reduce local and regional water quality impairments and flooding. A significant barrier for green infrastructure adoption and upgrading existing stormwater systems is a lack of funding. With limited public budgets, future stormwater strategies must create incentives and leverage private sector financing or capital to promote and implement green stormwater infrastructure adoption. Working in two differently situated Great Lakes cities, a partnership of American Rivers, Corona Environmental Consulting, and the Water Environment Federation are collaborating with local agency and municipal partners in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio to roll out green infrastructure funding strategies that will optimize public revenues, leverage private sector financing, and accelerate project delivery.

The Mayors Innovation Project is hosting a webinar to share this work with our membership. This presentation will discuss the background, history and context that led these agencies to consider a stormwater volumetric trading program, targeted grant programs and private sector capital as a means to address stormwater issues; an overview of stormwater exchange markets, using Grand Rapids, Michigan as a case study; and explore the various approaches to optimize grant programs, building off the partnership with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD).

The webinar will be presented by:

Jeff Odefey – Director, Clean Water Supply Program, American Rivers

Janet Clements – Senior Economist, Corona Environmental Consulting

Please join us on September 27^th by registering at MayorsInnovation.org

[su_button url=”https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7949545327963493121″ background=”#ef8c2d” size=”4″ center=”yes”]Register today »[/su_button]

Ruling Puts Clean Water Rule in Effect for More than Half the Country

For Immediate Release: August 16, 2018

Media Contacts:

Kathleen Sullivan, SELC, ksullivan@selcnc.org or 919-945-7106
Michael Kelly, Clean Water Action, mkelly@cleanwater.org or o: 202-895-0420×103
Amy Kober, American Rivers, akober@americanrivers.org or 503-708-1145

Charleston, S.C. – A federal judge in South Carolina today struck down the administration’s effort to strip away crucial clean water protections from rivers, lakes, streams and other waters that feed drinking-water sources for nearly 20 million people in the South and 117 million people across the country. Today’s decision follows a legal challenge filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. The ruling ends the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ suspension of clean water protections under the Clean Water Act, one of the nation’s bedrock environmental laws, and puts the Clean Water Rule back in effect for more than half of the country. This ruling does not apply to 24 states where other legal challenges are pending.

“This is a victory for families and communities across America who depend on clean water, and a rebuke to the polluting industries trying to gut this nation’s bedrock health and environmental safeguards,” said Geoff Gisler, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is representing the coalition of conservation groups before the court. “Water is a way of life in the South, where clean water is the lifeblood of our economy. We are thrilled the court rejected this administration’s blatant attempts to undermine safeguards that are critical to our nation’s welfare without being accountable to the American people.”

The Southern Environmental Law Center filed the initial challenge in February on behalf of American Rivers, Clean Water Action, Defenders of Wildlife, Charleston Waterkeeper, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Coastal Conservation League, Friends of the Rappahannock, North Carolina Coastal Federation, and North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

“This is a huge win for protecting rivers, wetlands and clean drinking water,” said Bob Irvin, president and CEO of American Rivers. “The court makes clear that the Trump administration cannot ignore the law, science, or the views of the American people in its rush to undermine protection of rivers and clean water.”

“Today’s decision affirms that rule of law, not politics, must dictate how regulatory decisions are made,” said Jennifer Peters, Clean Water Action’s National Water Programs director. “The Clean Water Rule was adopted with tremendous public support, a fact the Trump administration cannot brazenly ignore. The Administration should immediately scrap its plan to strip critical Clean Water Act protections for certain streams and wetlands and instead ensure all our nation’s waters are safeguarded from harmful pollution.”

“The Suspension Rule typified this administration’s disregard for the environment, the rule of law, and public input,” said Steven Goldstein, legal fellow at Defenders of Wildlife. “Judge Norton’s opinion is not only a victory for clean water but serves as a reminder that scientific and procedural integrity matter.”

“This is a great win in the ongoing effort to finally implement understandable, protective clean water laws based in sound science,” said Kevin Jeselnik, general counsel for the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. “Industries will benefit from the clarity the Clean Water Rule provides, and the millions of anglers, paddlers and others will enjoy cleaner, safer water in the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries.”

Their lawsuit contended that EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated fundamental laws that prohibit agencies from removing basic environmental safeguards without telling the public what they are doing, revealing the impact of those changes, and giving the public a chance to weigh in. The court held that the agencies refusal to allow meaningful public comment doomed the rule, stating that “An illusory opportunity to comment is no opportunity at all.” The agencies failed at their most basic responsibilities: evaluating the effect of their reckless actions and allowing the public to comment on their decision to eliminate scientifically backed protections for rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands.

Finalized after 200 days of public comment and review of 1,200 studies, the Clean Water Rule used science to draw clear lines about what American waters are protected from pollution by the Clean Water Act. It replaced a confusing, case-by-case regime with clearer protection for critical waters such as small streams that flow into our rivers and lakes, wetlands that shelter wildlife, and uniquely southern wetlands such as pocosins and Carolina Bays.

The administration’s suspension of standards under the Clean Water Act was the first of several steps the administration plans to take to repeal long-standing clean water protections, which could strip away safeguards from wetlands, rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources that our families and communities use.

About Southern Environmental Law Center

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

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.

August 2, 2018

Contact: Mike Fiebig: 406-600-4061
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145

Bozeman – In a victory for bipartisanship and healthy rivers, Montana’s East Rosebud Creek became the nation’s newest Wild and Scenic River today, when President Trump signed the bill into law, adding 20 miles of the stream to the national system of protected rivers.

East Rosebud Creek, part of the Yellowstone River watershed and known for its spectacular scenery, trout-fishing and other recreation is the first river protected in 2018, the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and is the first Wild and Scenic River designated in Montana in 42 years.

“This is a great victory for public lands and waters in the 50th anniversary year of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “We applaud the local residents who have worked so hard to safeguard this special river. Protection of East Rosebud Creek enjoyed strong bipartisan support. This is a great example of how, despite political differences, rivers connect us, and how we all benefit when we protect healthy rivers.”

The legislation to protect East Rosebud Creek on the Custer Gallatin National Forest as Wild and Scenic was championed by U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D), Sen. Steve Daines (R) and Rep. Greg Gianforte (R).

The effort to protect East Rosebud Creek was supported by local ranchers, businesses, homeowners, sportsmen and conservationists including the local group Friends of East Rosebud.

The campaign to permanently protect East Rosebud Creek began in 2009, when Bozeman-based Hydrodynamics Inc. applied for a permit to build a dam on public land just below the outlet of East Rosebud Creek within the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The hydropower project, which would have been built within the Wild and Scenic eligible reach, included building an eight-foot high, 100-foot wide diversion dam, a two-mile long penstock, substation, powerhouse and transmission lines.

American Rivers and our conservation partners filed formal objections to the project and eventually convinced the hydropower company to abandon it in 2013. The protection afforded by the Wild and Scenic designation will forever prohibit construction of new dams or other harmful projects on East Rosebud Creek.

East Rosebud Creek tumbles from the Beartooth Plateau near Granite Peak, (Montana’s highest at 12,807 feet) and flows into the Stillwater River, a tributary of the Yellowstone. The area is a popular destination for trout anglers, whitewater paddlers, hikers, and rock climbers.

“There is strong momentum in local communities nationwide to protect more Wild and Scenic Rivers,” said Irvin. “American Rivers and our partners are advancing the 5,000 Miles of Wild® campaign to protect 5,000 new miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers. As we celebrate the victory on East Rosebud Creek, our work continues to ensure we leave a legacy of healthy rivers for future generations across the country.”

Learn more at www.5000miles.org

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.

July 17, 2018

Contact: David Moryc, 503-307-1137
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145

Bozeman – In a major victory for public lands and waters, a bipartisan House vote today advanced Wild and Scenic River protection for Montana’s East Rosebud Creek.

The legislation to designate 20 miles of East Rosebud Creek on the Custer Gallatin National Forest as Wild and Scenic was introduced by U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte (R). His bill, H.R. 4645, mirrors existing legislation (S.501) that passed the Senate by unanimous consent last December. The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester (D) and co-sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines (R).

“This is a great testament to all the local residents who have worked so hard for so many years to protect this special river,” said Scott Bosse, American Rivers’ Northern Rockies Director in Bozeman. “It also demonstrates the bipartisan nature of protecting healthy rivers. Every Montanan will benefit from the passage of this bill.”

Protection of East Rosebud Creek has robust support from local homeowners, ranchers, businesses, sportsmen and conservationists. Assuming the bill clears one more procedural hurdle in the Senate and President Trump signs it into law, it will mark the first new Wild and Scenic designation to advance in 2018, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. And, it will be the first Wild and Scenic River protected in Montana in 42 years.

The campaign to permanently protect East Rosebud Creek started in 2009, when Bozeman-based Hydrodynamics Inc. applied for a permit to build a hydropower project just below the outlet of East Rosebud Lake. The project, which would have been located on federal public land within the Wild and Scenic eligible reach, would have entailed building an eight-foot high, 100-foot wide diversion dam, a two-mile long penstock, substation, powerhouse and transmission lines.

American Rivers and our conservation partners filed formal objections to the project and eventually convinced the hydropower company to abandon it in 2013. The formal protection afforded by the Wild and Scenic designation will forever prohibit construction of new dams or other harmful projects on East Rosebud Creek.

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.

For Immediate Release: July 9, 2018

Contact:

Emily Driscoll, Southern Environmental Law Center, edriscoll@selcga.org, 678-686-8482
Kelly Marshall, Alabama Rivers Alliance, kmarshall@alabamarivers.org, 205-322-6395
Gerrit Jöbsis, American Rivers, gjobsis@americanrivers.org, 803-546-7926

Birmingham, AL—A federal court has unanimously ruled in favor of conservation groups by tossing a harmful license issued to Alabama Power for operation of seven hydroelectric dams on the Coosa River, addressing the longstanding problems the dams have caused for the river for the first time in decades.

On behalf of American Rivers and Alabama Rivers Alliance, the Southern Environmental Law Center has prevailed on appeal filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. The groups charged that the 30-year license violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Federal Power Act without adequate environmental studies, without sufficient protections for threatened and endangered aquatic wildlife and habitat, and without requiring Alabama Power to maintain minimum dissolved oxygen levels in the river system for water quality.

“We are thrilled that the Court clearly understands that improving the license conditions is the only viable option to restore the health of the Coosa River and ensure better protections for water quality and wildlife,” said Gil Rogers, Director of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Georgia and Alabama offices. “After decades of degrading one of Alabama’s greatest rivers, it’s high time to bring these essential safeguards into the modern era.”

“This important ruling is a powerful example of how essential it is for citizens and conservation groups to be at the table when decisions are made about the health of our rivers,” said Cindy Lowry, Executive Director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance. “Since the relicensing of these dams only happens every 40 to 50 years, we must get it right or the water quality will suffer and we stand to lose even more species. After participating in this process for more than a decade to protect the integrity of the Coosa River for generations to come, we are ecstatic about the outcome of this case and what it means for future dam relicensing projects.”

“Poorly conceived and poorly operated dams are known to cause tremendous damage to rivers and the communities that depend on them—the Coosa River is among the worst examples of how extreme that damage can be,” said Gerrit Jöbsis, Senior Conservation Director with American Rivers. “American Rivers is delighted with the Court of Appeals’ unanimous decision that reins in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and halts the continued impacts that would have occurred under the new federal license.”

Once among the most biodiverse rivers in the world, the construction and operation of these hydroelectric dams spanning 225 miles along the Coosa River caused one of the most massive extinction events in the 20^th century, wiping out more than 30 freshwater species. The river continues to support a number of fish, mussel and snail species, but many of them are teetering on the brink of extinction as a result of significant ecological degradation.

Issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the license would have dictated dam and reservoir management operations on the river for the next 30 years. The groups filed a petition in June 2013 with FERC, arguing that that the agency did not complete a thorough environmental impact statement as part of the relicensing and requesting that the license be rewritten. FERC denied the petition in April 2016, prompting the groups’ appeal.

Click here to read the decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.

About Southern Environmental Law Center:
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. southernenvironment.org

About Alabama Rivers Alliance:
Alabama Rivers Alliance is a statewide network of groups working to protect and restore all of Alabama’s water resources through building partnerships, empowering citizens, and advocating for sound water policy and its enforcement. For more information, please visit www.AlabamaRivers.org.

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, including several in the Southeast, and more than 200,000 members, supporters, and volunteers. Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at www.AmericanRivers.org.

July 5, 2018

Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145

Washington – American Rivers today applauded the resignation of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt.

Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“Administrator Pruitt was a disaster for clean drinking water and the health of the nation’s nearly three million miles of rivers. We welcome his resignation.

Scott Pruitt’s assault on the very protections he was supposed to uphold, his dealings with polluters, and his misuse of taxpayer dollars made him unfit for office.

One of his most harmful actions was attempting to reverse the Clean Water Rule, which safeguards the small streams and wetlands that are drinking water sources for one in three Americans. We urge Mr. Pruitt’s successor to support and fully implement the Clean Water Rule.

The head of the EPA should be a guardian of the environment. Our communities need a leader at EPA who will put our rivers, clean drinking water and the health of American families first.”

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.

July 3, 2018

Contact: Matt Rice, 803-422-5244, mrice@americanrivers.org
David Nickum, 720-581-8589

Aspen – In a major victory for free-flowing rivers and Aspen’s iconic Maroon Bells, American Rivers and Colorado Trout Unlimited announced today that they signed an agreement with the City of Aspen to stop the development of two unnecessary new dams.

Since 2016, Aspen had been advancing a proposal to develop a 155-foot dam on Maroon Creek and a 170-foot dam on Castle Creek in the shadow of the Maroon Bells. The dams would have flooded private property as well as federally protected land in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, one of the most visited and photographed valleys in Colorado.

“This is a significant victory for rivers in Colorado,” said Matt Rice, Colorado River Basin Director for American Rivers. “We applaud the City of Aspen for working with the conservation community to find more sustainable and cost-effective water supply solutions. Thanks to the hard work and persistence of so many people who love this special place, these creeks will be protected forever from harmful new dams.”

“Sacrificing the places that make Colorado great is the wrong answer for meeting future water needs,” said David Nickum, Executive Director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “We appreciate the City of Aspen making this commitment to meet its water supply needs while protecting these much-loved valleys and creeks, and the wild trout that call them home.”

In December 2016, American Rivers and Colorado Trout Unlimited filed statements of opposition with the Colorado Water Court regarding Aspen’s application to continue conditional water rights to pursue construction of the dams. Aspen’s own 2016 water availability report clearly stated that the city did not need the two dams for municipal water supply or climate resiliency.

In the new agreement, Aspen commits to moving the water storage rights out of the Castle and Maroon Creek valleys forever, to alternate locations that won’t damage river health.

“With this agreement, Aspen is proving that smart development of water supplies and river protection go hand in hand,” said Rice. “This is the kind of leadership we need to see more of, here in Colorado, and across the West.”

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.

American Rivers statement on Florida v. Georgia case

Contact: Ben Emanuel, 706-340-8868
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145

Atlanta – American Rivers today applauded the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Florida v. Georgia, noting it provides the two states and the federal government the opportunity to work toward a lasting solution to water challenges.

American Rivers named the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin in Alabama, Florida and Georgia America’s Most Endangered River in 2016 because outdated water management and rising demand put the basin at a breaking point.

Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“The Court recognized that this river basin’s water-sharing challenges are very important and very complex, and that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must work with the basin’s states to find lasting solutions to these challenges.”

“We hope that today’s ruling leads the states from water conflict to a new era of cooperation. The water supply challenges in this basin are great, but there is also fertile ground for new and sustainable water supply solutions.”

For more on the 2016 America’s Most Endangered River listing, see: https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/news-acf-basin-endangered/

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.

June 20, 2018

Contact: Wendy McDermott, 970-275-2057
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145

Seattle — American Rivers announced today that it has been awarded a two-year, $100,000 grant from the Washington Women’s Foundation’s Pooled Fund to protect and restore rivers in the Puget Sound and Columbia River basins in Washington state.

The grant will enable American Rivers to advance work to protect the region’s last wild rivers, improve flood protection, and ensure sustainable water supplies for today’s communities and future generations.

“Washington is defined by water, but the region’s rivers and water supplies are under tremendous pressure from threats including dams, pollution and climate change,” said Wendy McDermott, Rivers of Puget Sound and Columbia Basin Director for American Rivers.

“If you turn on your water faucet every day, eat Washington-grown food, drink locally produced beer or wine, live or work in a floodplain, or enjoy the region’s outstanding natural areas, you should be concerned about the future of our rivers.”

American Rivers has a long presence in Washington, with a track record of protecting and restoring the region’s iconic rivers including the Columbia-Snake, Yakima, White, Elwha, White Salmon and many others.

“American Rivers has been a leading conservation advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest for more than 20 years, literally working ‘upstream’ with policymakers and state leaders to strike a balance between our communities’ needs and the health of our state’s rivers,” said Beth McCaw, Washington Women’s Foundation President and CEO. “It is a privilege to invest in their important work.”

With support from the Washington Women’s Foundation, American Rivers is pursuing the following specific goals:

1) Permanently protect healthy rivers and streams as Wild and Scenic;

2) Improve management of floodplains and restore floodplains and meadows;

3) Restore access to habitat for native fish by removing dams and/or improving fish passage facilities; and

4) Advance innovative projects aimed at reducing polluted water from flowing into Puget Sound, reducing the risk of harmful floods, and supplying clean water throughout Washington.

“We are committed to protecting the rivers that support this state’s economy, environment and quality of life, and we are grateful to the Washington Women’s Foundation for the generous grant to advance our critical conservation efforts. We have the pragmatism and experience to achieve significant conservation outcomes benefitting both rivers and communities,” McDermott said.

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.

May 29, 2018

Contact: Amy Kober, akober@americanrivers.org, 503-708-1145

Over the weekend, Ellicott City, Maryland was hit by its second 1,000-year flood in two years. While the recovery effort continues along the Patapsco River, many in Maryland and across the country are asking how communities can protect themselves from flood damage in the future.

“It’s heartbreaking to see the damage and our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by the flooding in Maryland,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers.

“Ellicott City isn’t alone. Many communities across the country are struggling with increasingly severe flooding. When it comes to protecting people and property from floods, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We encourage communities to rebuild in a way that increases their resilience. This includes using natural options and working with rivers to keep homes and businesses out of harm’s way.”

American Rivers has been working in the Patapsco River watershed for a decade, advancing dam removal and river restoration projects.

Experts from American Rivers are available for interviews to discuss how our nation can improve flood protection and public safety in Maryland and across the country. Specifically:

The option of moving people and infrastructure out of floodplains.
The perils of relying solely on traditional infrastructure, such as dams or levees – which in many cases are aging and outdated.
Why officials must factor climate change impacts into planning decisions.
Why flood risk management is much more effective then flood control for protecting property and lives.
Why giving rivers and floodways more room is the best approach for managing floods and keeping people out of harm’s way.
How pending water infrastructure legislation poses an opportunity to improve our approach to flood protection.
Implications of flooding on the Bloede Dam removal project

Additional resources:

Natural Defenses: Safeguarding Communities From Floods:
https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/natural-defenses-safeguarding-communities-floods/

Weathering Change: Policy Reforms that Save Money and Make Communities Safer
https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/weathering-change/

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.

April 10, 2018

Contact: Wendy McDermott, 970-275-2057
Amy Kober, 503-708-1145

Seattle – American Rivers announced a significant victory on Washington’s South Fork Skykomish River today, just one year after it named the river among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2017. The Snohomish County Public Utility District cancelled the Sunset Falls hydropower project that would have caused irreparable harm to the river, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities.

The proposed project would have rerouted a 1.1 mile stretch of the river through an underground tunnel to a powerhouse at the base of Sunset Falls.

“This is a major victory for everyone who values our region’s healthy, free-flowing rivers,” said Wendy McDermott with American Rivers. “Thanks to overwhelming public support and determined local activists, the South Fork Skykomish River has gone from ‘most endangered’ to ‘saved’. I commend the Snohomish PUD for making this prudent decision today.”

“The cancellation of the ill-advised Sunset Falls hydropower project means the river can continue to flow freely, supporting salmon and steelhead for generations to come,” McDermott said.

The South Fork Skykomish was declared by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council as a Protected Area under its Fish and Wildlife Program, which means it has been deemed an inappropriate location for hydropower development. The U.S. Forest Service has recommended the river for federal designation as a Wild and Scenic River due to its scenic, recreational, fish and wildlife values.

About American Rivers

Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.