November 14, 2017
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145 or Jessie Thomas-Blate, 609-658-4769
View full database of dam removals www.americanrivers.org/DamRemovalDatabase
(Washington) – Information on 1,403 dams that were removed from rivers in the United States over the past century is now available to the public. American Rivers collected the information and has published the database for public benefit, to encourage additional research and support for river restoration.
“Removing outdated dams can improve public safety, water quality and fish and wildlife populations, and increase opportunities for local business and recreation,” said Jessie Thomas-Blate, Associate Director of River Restoration for American Rivers. “We hope that by making this century of dam removal information publicly available, we will add to the positive momentum for dam removal and river restoration nationwide.”
In the last century, the U.S. led the world in dam building for hydropower, irrigation, flood control and water storage. While dams can provide benefits, they also cause considerable harm to rivers. Dams have depleted fisheries, degraded river ecosystems, and reduced recreational opportunities on nearly all of our nation’s rivers. Today, many dams are old, unsafe or no longer serving their intended purposes. The U.S. now leads the world in dam removal and river restoration.
The American Rivers dam removal database includes all dam removals in the United States from 1916-2016. To be included in the database, a significant portion of the dam must have been removed for the full height of the dam, such that ecological function, natural river flow and fish passage can be restored at the site. This database is revised and updated annually with information provided by contributors across the country.
Facts from the data collection include:
- Last year, in 2016, 72 dams were removed across 21 states
- Pennsylvania leads the nation with 311 dam removals since 1916
- At 210 feet, Glines Canyon Dam on Washington’s Elwha River was the tallest dam ever removed in the U.S.
- American Rivers displays dam removal data on an interactive map that includes all known dam removals in the United States for which location information is available. Visit AmericanRivers.org/DamRemovalsMap
Information from the database may be used by anyone provided the following citation is included:
Rivers, American (2017): American Rivers Dam Removal Database. figshare.
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5234068.v2
Retrieved: TIME, DATE.
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.
November 1, 2017
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145, akober@americanrivers.org
Washington, DC – American Rivers today applauded a significant step toward protecting the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon from harmful development. On Tuesday, the Navajo Nation Council voted 16-2 to reject construction of the Escalade tramway and resort in the heart of the canyon.
American Rivers named the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon America’s Most Endangered River® of 2015 because of a battery of threats encroaching on the Grand Canyon, one of our nation’s most iconic national parks and an irreplaceable national treasure. The proposed Grand Canyon Escalade project would create a massive development and tramway with noise, trash, and pollution scarring the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers.
Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers, made the following statement:
“This is a major win for everyone who loves the Grand Canyon. We applaud the Navajo Nation Council’s vote and are grateful to the Save the Confluence families and everyone who has spoken out against this terrible proposal over the past three years.”
“The Grand Canyon should be protected for all of us, for all time. While today is a moment for celebration, we must remain vigilant. American Rivers will continue to defend the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River to ensure a positive legacy for future generations.”
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.
Effort will improve public safety, health of Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay
September 25, 2017
Contact: Serena McClain, American Rivers, 571-405-4506
Stephen Schatz, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 410-260-8004
Stan Rogers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 301- 427-8633
David Eisenhauer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 413-253-8492
Washington, DC – Construction workers broke ground this month on a major project to restore the health of the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay and improve public safety in Maryland’s Patapsco Valley State Park. Workers are relocating a sewer line and preparing the site in preparation for the removal of Bloede Dam.
Removal of the 34-foot high by 220-foot long Bloede Dam is a partnership of American Rivers, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and others. It is the linchpin of a larger plan— including removal of the Union and Simkins dams in 2010— to restore more than 65 miles of spawning habitat for blueback herring, alewife, American shad, hickory shad, and more than 183 miles for American eel in the Patapsco River watershed.
“This is one of the most significant dam removal and river restoration projects we’ve seen in the Mid-Atlantic, and nationwide,” said Serena McClain, senior director of river restoration for American Rivers. “The benefits of this project will resonate long into the future, improving the lives of community members, revitalizing the health of the Bay, and inspiring a new generation about the importance of healthy, free-flowing rivers.”
The Patapsco River flows into the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore and supports abundant and diverse species of fish and wildlife. The Bloede Dam serves as the first barrier on the Patapsco River blocking fish swimming to and from the Chesapeake Bay. Its removal is critical to improving access to habitat and restoring overall ecosystem balance and health.
“At long last, we are reclaiming a river ecosystem, restoring a waterway in the heart of Central Maryland and resolving a public safety hazard,” said Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton. “This dam removal project will enhance and improve Patapsco Valley State Park for all of its inhabitants and visitors, from bikers and hikers to eels and shad.”
“The removal of Bloede dam is a result of a long-term partnership among NOAA, USFWS, the State of Maryland and American Rivers,” said Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “This project truly 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 will restore 65 miles of spawning habitat for herring, shad, eel and other species.”
Bloede Dam is a documented safety hazard located within Patapsco Valley State Park. Injuries and deaths have repeatedly occurred, with at least nine damrelated deaths since the 1980s, the most recent of which occurred in June 2015. Removing the dam will allow visitors to swim, boat, and potentially float nearly 17 miles of the Patapsco from below Daniels Dam to near the mouth of the river largely unencumbered.
Episodic flooding has plagued the Patapsco River watershed and has resulted in the breach of dams upstream and downstream of Bloede Dam. The removal of Bloede Dam will eliminate the risk of catastrophic failure, which could have resulted in damage to infrastructure and personal property.
“We’re proud to join our partners in restoring rivers and river systems to better withstand future storms and other environmental and land-use changes,” said Wendi Weber, USFWS Northeast Regional Director. “Healthy rivers are lifelines for communities in the Northeast — providing recreation, water quality, strong economies and other benefits. By connecting and opening waterways like the Patapsco River, we’re helping wildlife thrive and creating more resilient communities for people.”
Demolition of Bloede Dam will begin in summer 2018. Originally built in the early 1900s to supply electrical power to the cities of Catonsville in Baltimore County and Ellicott City in Howard County, the dam is owned by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. It currently serves no functional purpose.
More than 1,300 dams have been removed across the country since 1912. Most of those dams (1,174) were removed in the past 30 years. According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, America’s dams are degrading faster than they are being repaired, the number of high hazard dams has increased over time, and the cost to rehabilitate dams continues to rise. By 2020, seventy percent of dams in the United States will be more than 50 years old. Aging dams can pose a serious safety threat for individuals and entire communities. Dam removal can deliver multiple benefits to communities including improved public safety, better water quality, revitalized fish and wildlife, and more opportunities for local business and recreation.
This effort has been made possible thanks to generous contributions from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, NOAA, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Keurig-Green Mountain, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, both through a grant administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as part of the Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program and through USFWS funding from the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. It is one of 70 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery and resilience projects in the Northeast under this funding.
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.
August 30, 2017
Contact: Amy Kober, akober@americanrivers.org, 503-708-1145
While the rescue and relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Harvey is ongoing, many are asking why the flooding in Houston has been so severe, and how communities can protect themselves from disastrous floods in the future.
Experts from American Rivers, a national non-profit river conservation organization, are available for interviews to discuss how our nation can improve flood protection and public safety.
Specifically:
- Why giving rivers and floodways more room is the best approach for managing floods and keeping people out of harm’s way, particularly people who live downstream of dams.
- The benefits 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.
- How reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program poses an opportunity to improve our approach to flood protection.
- Why California’s new flood plan for the Central Valley is a major paradigm shift, and a positive model for other watersheds nationwide.
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/
California’s new Central Valley flood plan prioritizes expanding floodways to accommodate larger floods: https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/central-valley-flood-protection-board-new-flood-plan/
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.
August 25, 2017
Contact: John Cain, American Rivers, jcain@americanrivers.org, (510) 388-8930 (c)
Jacob Katz, CalTrout, jkatz@caltrout.org, (707) 477-9878 (c)
Rene Henery, Trout Unlimited, rhenery@tu.org, (415) 640-0927 (c)
Sacramento, CA – On August 25, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board is anticipated to chart a dramatically new course to reduce the risk to the public posed by catastrophic flooding, by adopting the 2017 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update. The CVFPP is designed to improve flood protection for over one million Californians and $70 billion in homes, businesses and infrastructure with the objective of providing 200-year flood protection to urban areas while reducing flood risks to small communities and agricultural lands. The meeting agenda, location and webcast link can be found here.
For the past three decades, the central strategy in the state’s effort to reduce flood risk has been to “strengthen in place” – simply building larger and higher levees. That approach provides unreliable flood protection and results in a wide range of impacts, including reduced groundwater recharge and damage to ESA listed species, the state’s most important salmon runs and jobs in the fishing industry. The plan that the Flood Board is expected to adopt includes a dramatically new flood management approach.
This new approach, called multi-benefit flood management, is explained in detail in the Conservation Strategy, which will be adopted as part of the Flood Plan. In short, the multi-benefit approach recognizes that by strategically expanding floodplains, floodways and flood bypasses, we can reduce flood risk to people and property while providing a host of additional benefits.
According to John Cain, Director of Conservation for California Flood Management at American Rivers, “Giving rivers and floodways more room to carry flood waters is the best way to protect communities from dangerous floods, and giving rivers more room provides multiple benefits including clean water, parks, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Giving rivers more room is a proven flood management strategy that has been implemented successfully around the world, including in the Netherlands, where the Dutch are implementing an ambitious “Room for the River” program.”
In addition to providing improving flood protection and reducing maintenance costs, the multi-benefit approach helps restore the health of our rivers, by increasing floodplain habitat and food production for salmon, listed species, waterbirds and other wildlife. This approach can provide a wide range of additional benefits, including increasing groundwater recharge, new recreational opportunities and parks for Central Valley communities, decreasing the risk of Delta levee failures that threaten South of Delta water users, improving water quality, and preserving working agricultural land.
The new CVFPP’s emphasis on expanding floodways to achieve multiple benefits builds on the successful flood bypass system first implemented in California a century ago. After severe floods in the early twentieth century, decision makers agreed on a plan to expand Central Valley floodways, including the Yolo Bypass, which protects Sacramento and neighboring communities. This bypass system has been highly successful, but has not been expanded for more than half a century. Instead, flood managers focused solely on building bigger and stronger levees. This approach failed catastrophically in New Orleans, forcing engineers to rethink their approach. The new CVFPP proposes new multi-benefit projects, including expanding the Yolo Bypass and creating a new flood bypass along the lower San Joaquin River at Paradise Cut.
Expanding floodways is essential to accommodate the larger floods that are expected to arise from a changing climate. Analysis developed to inform the plan determined that the risk of catastrophic flooding is increasing as a result of climate change. For example, peak flood events along the rapidly urbanizing lower San Joaquin River are projected to increase by as much as 80% in the future and would be twice as large as the disastrous 1997 flood. The warming climate will result in increased storm intensity and more precipitation falling as rain, rather than snow.
Even while the CVFPP was being developed, more than a dozen multi-benefit projects were being planned or built across the Central Valley. Some of these projects are already providing a broad range of benefits to Californians and the state’s natural resources. At Friday’s meeting, the board will also vote to permit a project to place a small notch in Fremont Weir, the weir that controls flow into the Yolo Bypass, to enable adult fish passage by endangered salmon and sturgeon.
This dramatically new approach to flood management has been supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including consensus recommendations from an Advisory Committee that includes agricultural interests, local flood agencies, scientists, environmental and fishing representatives and more.
“Multi-benefit projects that simultaneously enhance the river ecosystem and improve flood safety are key to building a water system that works for both fish and people,” said Jacob Katz, senior scientist with CalTrout. “That’s why this new direction is broadly supported by farmers, flood agencies, scientists, conservationists and fishing groups. It’s rare and powerful for such a dramatic change in California water policy to be driven by a consensus in the stakeholder community. ”
Rene Henery, California Science Director for Trout Unlimited, stated that, “The new Flood Plan is an ambitious, science-based, collaborative effort that maps out the path to a more integrated and resilient California; it serves as a model for the nation on how we can adapt to climate change and reduce flood risk with carefully designed multi-benefit projects.”
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.
August 24, 2017
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Washington, DC – The Associated Press is reporting today that Interior Secretary Zinke will “recommend changes to a ‘handful’ of national monuments but none to be eliminated.” Scaling back protections for treasured public lands could result in the destruction of Native American archaeological sites, impaired access for hunting and fishing, and economic harm to local businesses dependent on tourism and outdoor recreation.
Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers, made the following statement:
“If someone is threatening to chop off your hands, he doesn’t deserve praise for only cutting off some of your fingers. While Secretary Zinke isn’t recommending eliminating any monuments, his proposal to shrink the size and protections for some monuments is a radical and unpopular move. It robs future generations of Americans of their natural heritage in order to open these lands to exploitation.”
“As President Theodore Roosevelt recognized when he created our first national monuments, public lands and waters belong to all of us. By targeting any national monuments for reduction, Secretary Zinke and President Trump are attacking our shared heritage and undermining the legacy we want to preserve for our children and grandchildren. American Rivers and our supporters nationwide will fight these proposals and continue to defend public lands, clean drinking water supplies, and the rivers that connect us all.”
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.
August 15, 2017
Contact: Meghan Boian, mboian@americanrivers.org
Washington, DC – President Trump signed an Executive Order today that undermines crucial environmental reviews and wastes taxpayer dollars by directing federal agencies to ignore flood risks in making federal expenditures on infrastructure.
“Today, President Trump ordered even more rollbacks of environmental safeguards in what has quickly become the most anti-environment administration in U.S. history,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “After more than 200 days in office, the President has failed to even propose a comprehensive infrastructure plan to Congress and the American people. Instead, today’s action is another transparent attempt to undermine the laws that protect the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the lands and wildlife we treasure.”
The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) provides a greater margin of safety for federally funded infrastructure so that it may withstand larger floods. It is a common-sense approach that many states and municipalities already take. By providing a greater margin of safety the FFRMS keeps infrastructure and communities safe. It also helps to protect floodplains which are an important part of a healthy river ecosystem.
Today’s order ignores the benefits healthy rivers and their floodplains provide to our communities and economy and slashes safeguards for clean water. It provides no investment in water infrastructure and unnecessarily endangers our waters instead.
Federal investment in water infrastructure is sorely needed, particularly investment in natural infrastructure such as floodplain restoration as well as green infrastructure such as rain gardens and green roofs that clean polluted runoff before it reaches streams. In addressing water infrastructure needs, environmental protections provided by laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act are essential. These laws enable us to critically examine and mitigate any harmful impacts of project construction and development and provide the most environmentally-sustainable, long-term solution for our needs.
“President Trump has decided to endanger our rivers and clean water under the guise of infrastructure improvements, yet he has failed to provide our country with an infrastructure plan. Rolling back environmental safeguards is not an infrastructure plan. Our nation deserves a real plan with real investment, and strong environmental safeguards, in order to address our serious infrastructure needs,” said Irvin.
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.
July 27, 2017
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Washington, DC – The Trump Administration today formally proposed withdrawing the Clean Water Rule, which protects the drinking water sources for one in three Americans. The inclusion of the proposal in the Federal Register triggers a 30-day public comment period.
“This administration is showing a blatant disregard for the rivers and streams that are vital to our communities and economy, and the health of millions of Americans,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers.
The Clean Water Rule clarifies which streams and wetlands are protected by the Clean Water Act, and which are not. Over a decade ago, two U.S. Supreme Court decisions raised questions over which of the nation’s waters are subject to federal protection under the Clean Water Act, and this confusion placed millions of miles of streams, particularly headwater streams, and millions of acres of wetlands in jeopardy. The Clean Water Rule remedied that situation.
Across the country, small streams and wetlands contribute to the drinking water supplies of 117 million Americans and provide tremendous economic benefits to the public in the form of reduced flooding, pollution filtration, groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.
“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 will be vulnerable to unregulated pollution, dredging and filling,” Irvin said.
More than 1,200 individually peer-reviewed studies provided the scientific foundation for the Clean Water Rule, and over one million comments demonstrated overwhelming popular support for strong protection for the country’s small streams and wetlands.
“President Trump and EPA Administrator Pruitt are throwing away carefully crafted safeguards that were based on strong economic arguments, sound science and broad public support,” Irvin said. “Every American should speak out against these rollbacks. As the nation’s voice for rivers, American Rivers will fight to safeguard the rivers and streams that connect us, and to protect clean drinking water for today’s families and future generations.”
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.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation joins Arizona to boost levels in Lake Mead and secure water supplies for 6+ million Arizona residents.
July 14, 2017
Contact: Michael Pauker, Michael.Pauker@berlinrosen.com, 646-335-0330
(Phoenix, AZ) – Conservation groups today praised a collaborative agreement that will protect Lake Mead and shore up Colorado River water supplies during an era of projected shortages.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), State Of Arizona, City of Phoenix and Walton Family Foundation (WFF) agreed to conserve a major portion of the GRIC’s Central Arizona Project (CAP) water entitlement to reduce the risk of Lake Mead falling to critically low reservoir levels. Under the agreement, the parties will share the cost of compensating GRIC to voluntarily leave 40,000 acre-feet of their Colorado River water supplies in Lake Mead during 2017. While the City of Phoenix and other parties approved the agreement in June, GRIC made the deal official with their announcement today.
“Solutions to Arizona’s water issues will take cooperation, collaboration and creativity,” said Bart Miller, Healthy Rivers Program Director for Western Resource Advocates. “This agreement is a great example of that, signaling new levels of coordination between uncommon partners to protect Lake Mead.”
“Collaborations such as this are essential to maintaining secure water supplies for both human and wildlife habitat needs, and will be increasingly important to the health of Colorado River Basin communities and ecosystems,” added Sonia Perillo, vice president and executive director of Audubon Arizona.
GRIC has been involved in a number of water conservation agreements in 2017 including an innovative partnership with the State of Arizona, City of Phoenix and WFF announced in March. Importantly, the addition of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to the partnership adds needed funding for water conservation measures and signals new levels of collaboration between federal, state, local, tribal and philanthropic entities.
“At a time when Arizona and its Colorado River neighbors are working hard to find solutions to drought and dropping reservoir levels at Lake Mead, it is highly valuable to have the support of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for this important water conservation agreement,” said Jeff Odefey, Director of the Clean Water Supply Program for American Rivers.
The agreement also establishes the foundation for the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to complete and successfully implement an Arizona “DCP Plus” Plan, as part of Lower Basin drought contingency planning, to voluntary acquire quantities of water from water users to be retained in Lake Mead.
“The agreement is another major success in the efforts led by ADWR to conserve water in ways that help to secure Arizona’s Colorado River water supplies for the state’s 6 million+ residents,” said Kevin Moran, Senior Director for the Environmental Defense Fund’s Water Program. “This shows the willingness of diverse water stakeholders to come together in order to help solve Arizona’s pressing water issues, starting with the health of the Colorado River system.”
ABOUT AMERICAN RIVERS
American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers and conserves clean water for people and nature. Since 1973, American Rivers has protected and restored more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects and an annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® campaign. Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 250,000 members, supporters and volunteers.
Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.
June 27, 2017
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency today put the drinking water supplies of 1 in 3 Americans at risk when it took official action to roll back the Clean Water Rule.
“The move by the Trump Administration to roll back the Clean Water Rule is another major blow to clean drinking water and the health of American families,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers.
“Few things are more fundamental to our health than the water we drink. No one should have to worry about pollution when they turn on the tap,” Irvin said.
More than a decade ago, two U.S. Supreme Court decisions raised questions over which of the nation’s waters are subject to federal protection under the Clean Water Act, and this confusion placed millions of miles of streams, particularly headwater streams, and millions of acres of wetlands in jeopardy. The Clean Water Rule remedied that situation by providing clarity as to which streams and wetlands are protected by the Clean Water Act, and which are not.
Said American Rivers board member Jo Ellen Darcy, “Every American deserves clean drinking water, and the public deserves clarity and predictability in decision-making. Today’s move to rescind the Clean Water Rule creates more risk for river health and more uncertainty for federal agencies, landowners and communities. By tossing out years of scientific study and public input, Scott Pruitt and the Trump Administration are muddying the very waters the Clean Water Rule sought to clarify.” Ms. Darcy was Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works in the Obama Administration and co-author of the Clean Water Rule.
Across the country, small streams and wetlands contribute to the drinking water supplies of 117 million Americans and provide tremendous economic benefits to the public in the form of reduced flooding, pollution filtration, groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.
“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 will be vulnerable to unregulated pollution, dredging and filling, “ Irvin said.
More than 1,200 individually peer-reviewed studies provided the scientific foundation for the Clean Water Rule, and over one million comments demonstrated overwhelming popular support for strong protection for the country’s small streams and wetlands.
“Administrator Scott Pruitt and President Trump are throwing away carefully crafted safeguards that were based on strong economic arguments, sound science and broad public support, “ Irvin said. “As the nation’s voice for rivers, American Rivers will fight to safeguard the rivers and streams that connect us all, and to protect clean drinking water for American families and future generations.”
ABOUT AMERICAN RIVERS
American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers and conserves clean water for people and nature. Since 1973, American Rivers has protected and restored more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects and an annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® campaign. Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 250,000 members, supporters and volunteers.
Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.
June 7, 2017
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Washington – President Trump spoke on the bank of the Ohio River today about the nation’s infrastructure, but failed to provide a coherent plan for addressing the pressing need to repair and improve the country’s outdated water systems.
“Today, President Trump promised more tax breaks and rollbacks of environmental safeguards. That isn’t an infrastructure plan,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “Ignoring the benefits healthy rivers provide to our communities and economy and slashing safeguards for clean water would take our country backward.”
There are few issues more vital to our health than clean water, and rivers provide more than two-thirds of our nation’s drinking water supplies. But the country’s water infrastructure – including pipes, sewage treatment systems, locks, and dams – is crumbling. Problems ranging from water contaminated by lead pipes in Flint, Michigan, to safety concerns at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam in California, have grabbed national headlines.
The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our nation’s dams, drinking water systems and levees a “D” grade in its 2017 report card on the nation’s infrastructure. The impacts of outdated water infrastructure and water management fall disproportionately on lower income neighborhoods and communities of color already suffering from a lack of investment and opportunity.
“We need smart public investment in modern water management and 21st century infrastructure. This includes updating water systems to ensure safe, reliable and affordable water supplies, and integrating traditional infrastructure with cost-effective natural solutions that provide multiple benefits to communities. It also includes removing obsolete infrastructure such as unsafe dams and levees. Natural infrastructure solutions are key to ensuring flexibility and reliability in an era of climate change,” said Irvin.
“If we want to make our country stronger for future generations, we must invest in innovative water infrastructure solutions and make healthy rivers a top priority.”
Federal investment in water infrastructure must prioritize the following:
1) UPDATE WATER SYSTEMS TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY
We must replace decaying and dangerously out-of-date drinking water systems (such as lead pipes) and upgrade wastewater treatment plants.
2) PRIORITIZE NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
We need a new kind of water management and we need it in the right places. Solutions that protect, restore, and replicate natural systems and use water efficiently have a wide range of social, economic, and environmental benefits. Natural infrastructure can mean planting trees and restoring wetlands, rather than building a costly new water treatment plant. It can mean choosing water efficiency instead of building a new water supply dam. It can mean restoring floodplains instead of building taller levees.
3) REMOVE OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE
Many locks and dams provide benefits, but many others have outlived their usefulness, creating an economic drain on communities or dangerous public safety hazards. Nearly 1,400 dams have been removed nationwide and efforts continue. For example, efforts are underway to remove Gorge Dam on the Cuyahoga, and the Army Corps is currently studying whether to retire five locks and dams on the Allegheny River, a tributary of the Ohio River.
4) MAINTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS
When deciding how to address our infrastructure needs, we must not forego the protections provided by laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act in our haste to move projects forward. These laws enable us to look before we leap and think about which path will provide the best and most environmentally-sustainable, long-term solution for our needs.
Resources for journalists:
Economic and social benefits of natural infrastructure (report and infographics) – https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/naturally-stronger/
Weathering Change: Bringing Federal Policy Into the 21st Century (report) – https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/weathering-change/
Restoring America’s Rivers: Preparing for the Future (video) – https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resources/river-restoration/restoring-americas-rivers-preparing-future/
ABOUT AMERICAN RIVERS
American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers and conserves clean water for people and nature. Since 1973, American Rivers has protected and restored more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects and an annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® campaign. Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 250,000 members, supporters and volunteers.
Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.
June 1, 2017
Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Washington – President Trump announced today that he will withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, a short-sighted decision that will harm our national security and the health and safety of American families for generations to come.
Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers, issued the following statement:
“In withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, President Trump is abdicating the responsibility of the United States to be a global leader and is putting our nation’s health, economy and national security at risk. Far from making America great again, his decision will leave our planet worse for future generations.”
“Climate change is here now, and is already impacting our rivers and clean water supplies. Without bold action to stop climate change, more severe floods and droughts, more waterborne diseases, and increasingly scarce water supplies will threaten communities in the United States and around the world.”
“The president’s head-in-the-sand approach to climate change contrasts sharply with the leadership and moral courage of countless individuals, businesses and cities that are working tirelessly to stop dirty fossil fuel pollution and strengthen communities against climate impacts including increased flooding and drought.”
“American Rivers will continue to stand with these local leaders, and we will continue helping communities build their resilience with innovative river conservation solutions. We will work to ensure the United States remains a global leader in river restoration and protection, because a healthy river is a community’s best defense against the impacts of climate change.”
ABOUT AMERICAN RIVERS
American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers and conserves clean water for people and nature. Since 1973, American Rivers has protected and restored more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects and an annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® campaign. Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 250,000 members, supporters and volunteers.
Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Find your connections at AmericanRivers.org, Facebook.com/AmericanRivers and Twitter.com/AmericanRivers.
