Media Items Archive

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

Washington – American Rivers today announced that Oregon and California’s Klamath River is the 2024 River of the Year, celebrating the biggest dam removal and river restoration in history. American Rivers also announced the recipients of the 2024 River Champion Awards – leaders who have been instrumental in the ongoing restoration of the Klamath. The awardees are: Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Klamath Justice Coalition, Berkshire Hathaway, State of California, State of Oregon, Klamath River Renewal Corporation, and Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group.

The River of the Year honor recognizes significant progress and achievement in improving a river’s health. In recent years American Rivers has awarded this honor to the Cuyahoga, the Delaware, and the Neuse rivers. The annual River Champion Awards recognize leaders who are improving lives and strengthening our nation by advancing collaborative solutions for healthy rivers and clean water.

“On the Klamath, the dams are falling, the water is flowing, and the river is healing,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers. “The Klamath is proof that at a time when our politics are polarized and the reality of climate change is daunting, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and make incredible progress by working together. This is why American Rivers is naming the Klamath the River of the Year for 2024.” 

Indigenous peoples of the Klamath basin have been the caretakers of the Klamath River since time immemorial. Four hydropower dams, built between 1911 and 1962, blocked salmon habitat and devastated the river’s water quality. The plight of the Klamath galvanized national attention in 2002 when an estimated 70 thousand salmon were killed by toxic cyanobacteria growing in the reservoirs behind the dams. Local Indigenous families mobilized following this traumatic event, starting a campaign to remove the dams. The Tribes advocated tirelessly through the federal dam relicensing and subsequent legal proceedings. Ultimately, the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, along with the dam owner Berkshire Hathaway (owner of PacifiCorp), the states of California and Oregon, and conservation organizations signed the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement – the agreement that ultimately led to dam removal.

“The 2024 River Champion Awards spotlight the power of Indigenous leadership, grassroots advocacy, and collaboration. Rivers and waters across the country face many challenges. We must carry forward the lessons from the Klamath, and the examples set by these leaders, to protect and restore rivers nationwide,” Kiernan said.

Dam removal on the Klamath River began in the fall with demolition of Copco 2 Dam. Decommissioning of the remaining three dams and drawdown of the rivers began last month. Restoration of the river, streams, and lands impacted by the former reservoirs is being led by restoration contractor RES and the Yurok Tribe. Planting of more than a billion seeds in the lands exposed by drawdown has already begun.

The benefits of river restoration will be far-reaching for all who live along the river. The Tribes who have cared for and depended on the Klamath since time immemorial will see vital aspects of their cultures restored. The river’s water quality will improve as the stagnant reservoirs choked with toxic cyanobacteria disappear. Salmon will once again have access to hundreds of miles of habitat so they can multiply and thrive, supporting other species from bears and eagles to orca whales and people.

The River of the Year honor is generously supported by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Perkins Coie, and RES, the nation’s largest nature-based solutions company.

2024 River Champion Awards:

Yurok Tribe

On the coast, the Yurok Tribe’s ancestral territory stretches from the Little River in Humboldt County to Damnation Creek in Del Norte County. The tribe’s territory extends for 44 miles up the Klamath River to its confluence with the Trinity River. The Klamath and Trinity rivers are the lifeline of Yurok people, as the rivers provide the majority of the food supply including ney-puy (salmon), Kaa-ka (sturgeon), and kwor-ror (candlefish). Today, the tribe is the largest in California with more than 6,400 enrolled members. The Yurok Tribe was a signatory to the Amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, which ultimately led to dam removal. The Yurok Tribe has played a pivotal role in every single aspect of Klamath River Dam Removal and restoration efforts. The Yurok Fisheries Department and Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation are all at the forefront of these projects. The Yurok Fisheries Department collected a substantial volume of the approximately 20 billion native seeds that will be used to restore the 2,000-acre reservoir reach in between the four dams. Yurok Fisheries crews, RES and many project partners are now hand-sowing the seeds throughout the empty reservoirs. The Yurok Tribe is working on large-scale river restoration projects in other parts of California too. Informed by Traditional Ecological Knowledge and western science, the Yurok Fisheries Department and Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation transform severely degraded aquatic ecosystems into highly productive habitat for salmon as well as many other native fish and wildlife species. The Yurok Tribe has completed numerous projects on the Klamath and Sacramento Rivers and many smaller streams.

Karuk Tribe

The Karuk Tribe lives in its ancestral homelands along the middle part of the Klamath River, between Weitchpec and Seiad, California. The Karuk Tribe was a signatory to the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, which ultimately led to dam removal. As Karuk Tribal Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery stated in a video shared by KRRC, “Having the dams come out and having the almost 400 miles of salmon spawning grounds, and better water quality, is going to be imperative to life along the Klamath River. I was born and raised along the Klamath River and the fish, the river, and the clean water provides a perfect way of life. We are looking forward to the opportunity to have clean water again, and spawning grounds so our children can again experience the opportunities to fish and provide a food source for their families. It will be a great benefit to everyone who lives along the Klamath River.”

Klamath Justice Coalition 

The Klamath Justice Coalition was founded by grassroots Indigenous leaders more than two decades ago. They created what is now known as the “Un-dam the Klamath Campaign”. The refrain “Undam the Klamath, bring the salmon home” was heard from fishing boats on the river all the way to Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. As one of the co-founders Molli Myers (Karuk) states, “this was a movement of the people”. 

Berkshire Hathaway 

Berkshire Hathaway is the parent company of PacifiCorp, which owned and operated the four Klamath River dams. In 2020, Berkshire Hathaway played a pivotal role in securing the final dam removal accord: the company agreed to transfer operating licenses of the dams to the states of Oregon and California, and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. Berkshire also agreed to share the burden of any cost overruns. 

States of Oregon and California 

Bipartisan support was key to success on the Klamath: elected leaders from both parties saw the value of a restored Klamath River, with California Governor Schwarzenegger and Oregon Governor Kulongoski signing the original agreement to remove the dams in 2010. A decade later, California Governor Newsom and Oregon Governor Brown took a vital step, joining the Klamath River Renewal Corporation as a co-licensee, allowing PacifiCorp to relinquish the operating license for the dams. California Proposition 1 water bond funds combined with PacifiCorp ratepayer funds to make the project possible. Never before has a state contributed this much funding to a dam removal project. 

Klamath River Renewal Corporation 

The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is a nonprofit organization formed by signatories of the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, to take ownership and oversee removal of the four hydroelectric dams on the river. Managing the biggest dam removal and river restoration project in history is no small feat. KRRC’s team has prioritized safety, community engagement, and helping the people of the basin take steps toward a shared, sustainable future. 

Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group 

Ridges to Riffles is advancing Indigenous-led restoration efforts on the Klamath and other rivers. R2R works in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to advance their cultural and natural resource interests through legal and policy advocacy. In partnership with the Yurok Tribe, R2R is working on Klamath dam removal, habitat restoration, instream flows, and personhood rights for the Klamath River. 

About American Rivers

American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit www.AmericanRivers.org 

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

Resources:

Map of dam removals
Summary of dam removals from 2023 with case studies
Register for Feb 21 webinar in 2023 dam removal successes

Communities in 25 states saw important progress for river health, clean water, and public safety in 2023 thanks to the removal of 80 outdated, unsafe, and uneconomical dams, American Rivers announced today. The dam removals reconnected more than 1,160 miles of rivers, improving river habitats for fish and wildlife.

Among the portfolio of projects in 2023 was the initiation of the largest dam removal and river restoration project in history on the Klamath River in Oregon and California, with the removal of Copco 2 Dam. Restoration of the Klamath is the result of decades of advocacy by local community members and leadership from the Karuk, Yurok, and other tribes. Dam removal will restore salmon runs, improve water quality, and revitalize cultural connections and food sovereignty. Three additional dams are being removed on the Klamath in 2024.

Dam removal is a proven tool and a critical strategy for restoring river health, improving public safety, revitalizing fish and wildlife populations, safeguarding cultural values, and reconnecting communities to their rivers. While there are typically short-term impacts to the ecosystems, rivers and their plants, fish, and wildlife rebound quickly after a dam is removed. River restoration also benefits the economy: every $1 million invested in restoring watersheds generates 16 jobs and up to $2.5 million in economic benefits.

As a nationwide leader in river restoration, American Rivers tracks dam removal trends and maintains a national dam removal database. A total of 2,119 dams have been removed in the U.S. since 1912.

In 2023, the states leading in dam removal were:

Pennsylvania (15 removals)
Oregon (9 removals)
Massachusetts (6 removals)

Many dams in the U.S. are no longer serving the purpose for which they were constructed and/or are deteriorating and in need of significant repairs. Dilapidated dams pose safety hazards and threaten the resilience of human and natural communities. This year, the National Low Head Dam Inventory Task Force, in partnership with the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership, catalogued hundreds of thousands of dams, bringing the national total to more than 531,000 dams. American Rivers is building a movement to remove 30,000 dams by 2050, in partnership with communities, Tribal Nations, and state and federal agencies, to ensure that rivers can continue to sustain life.

“Removing a dam is the fastest way to bring a river back to life,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers. “From the Arkansas River to the St. Croix , from the Naches to the Monatiquot, communities are enjoying the benefits of healthier rivers, including cleaner water, more abundant wildlife, and improved public safety. But we have much more work to do to remove the thousands of obsolete dams that are harming rivers and holding communities back from their full potential.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided a needed infusion of funds for dam removals in 2023, with at least 18 projects utilizing these funds. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service have already allocated the first round of IIJA funding toward the removal of at least 54 dams. While this is a good first step, these agencies have received more than six times as many proposals as they have been able to fund. NOAA and the USFWS alone have received more than $6.2B in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act/Inflation Reduction Act funding requests for dam removal, fish passage, and habitat restoration. Significant dedicated funding on federal and state levels is critical to address the aging infrastructure crisis in this country. The demand is too great to ignore any longer.

Dams harm rivers in many ways. They block migrating fish and prevent the movement of sediment and other natural building blocks of habitat. Dams can impact water quality, and some dams pose serious public safety hazards. The reservoirs behind dams are a source of methane emissions, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. As they age, dams can be liabilities that put communities in harm’s way of catastrophic flooding and other risks.

American Rivers is gathering interested parties into a National Dam Removal Community of Practice to share knowledge, support practitioners, and further collaboration across the country. A webinar on February 21 will spotlight success stories from projects completed in 2023.

About American Rivers

American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit AmericanRivers.org

Contact:
Jaime Sigaran, 240-593-3433
Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

Washington, DC – American Rivers today released its annual community-driven budget and appropriations report, the River Budget: National Priorities for Healthy Rivers and Clean Water of Fiscal Year 2025, outlining key programs and opportunities for federal spending. The report is endorsed by 156 partners including utility and state agency associations, fishing groups, small businesses, rural communities, public health organizations, environmental justice leaders, and more.

As lawmakers reach a bipartisan agreement for FY24 funding, we continue to urge Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) to complete their work of ensuring our government remains open and responsive to the American people. With the second session of the 118th Congress underway, Congress must promptly finish passing a full year appropriation for FY24 then focus its attention on passing a spending bill ahead of the September 30, 2024, funding deadline for the start of fiscal year 2025. Last week, the White House Office of Management and Budget announced the Presidents FY25 budget proposal will be released on March 11, just three days after the current funding deadline is set to expire. The President is also scheduled to give the State of the Union address on March 7.

“While we continue to urge Congress to pass a final funding package for FY24, we must now look forward to the FY25 appropriations process to push for meaningful wins for healthy rivers as part of the spending bill packages this session. Investing in rivers is money well spent. Healthy rivers create jobs, improve access to clean water and recreation, and protect people from climate impacts including floods and drought. Congressional leadership is greatly needed to champion innovative and equitable investments for healthy rivers and clean water,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers.

Each year, the House and Senate start work on a budget resolution which, if adopted, kicks off a series of separate bills funding various federal agencies, programs, and activities. It is Congress’s job, as part of its primary constitutional responsibilities, to fund the operations of the federal government. Communities rely on these programs for healthy rivers and clean water.

The River Budget includes priorities in five key categories:

Promote climate-smart agriculture

$950 million – Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
$2 billion – Conservation Stewardship Program
$5 billion – Environmental Quality Incentives Program
$1.8 billion – Regional Conservation Partnership Program
$750 million – Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program – Subsidies and Grants

Protect watersheds

$7.5 million – Wild and Scenic Rivers Program
$100 million – Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
$15 million – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance
$93 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program

$450 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
$57 million for the Puget Sound Program
$15.5 million for the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund
$150 million for WaterSMART Grants

Improve flood management

$2 billion – Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program
$40 million – Engineering with Nature
$20 million – Flood Plain Management Services
$15 million – National Flood Risk Management Program
$700 million – Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program
$221 million – Flood Plain Management and Flood Mapping
$200 million – Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program

Enhance water infrastructure

$7.6 billion each for the Clean Water SRF and Drinking Water SRF
$225 million for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Pilot Program
$280 million for the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants Program

Remove and rehabilitate dams

$100 million – Community-based Restoration Program
$20 million – High Hazard Potential Dam Safety Grant Program
$92 million – National Dam Safety Program

$30 million – National Fish Passage Program

The River Budget is a tool to voice the interests and needs of river communities and allies by recommending to Administration and Congress funding priorities and levels for programs that create clean rivers and water nationwide.

About American Rivers

American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers℠. Learn more at www.americanrivers.org

Unsafe dams are “ticking time bombs” putting communities at risk

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

Andrew Fisk: 413-407-6484

A partial dam break on Connecticut’s Yantic River is threatening a downstream community with potentially life-threatening flooding. Authorities have issued a flash flood warning and are evacuating the area. The dam is rated as a high hazard potential by the state’s dam safety office.

The incident is an example of the growing threat of dam failures to communities nationwide, as infrastructure is aging and climate change is fueling more severe flooding.

Andrew Fisk, Northeast Regional Director for American Rivers, made the following statement:

“Dam failures can be disastrous and put lives at risk. This is a wake-up call. Increasingly frequent and severe flooding is straining infrastructure in the Northeast and nationwide. In order to protect communities, we must improve the safety and performance of dams.”

“Tens of thousands of dams across our country are old and obsolete. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives the nation’s dams a D grade in its report card on the nation’s infrastructure. One of the most cost-effective ways to deal with outdated, unsafe dams is to remove them.”

“We support the efforts of the community and the Connecticut Dam Safety Program to manage this emergency. American Rivers has advocated in past years to strengthen the dam safety program and get them the resources they need to keep Connecticut’s dams safe.”

“Congress must act to reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program which supports state dam safety agencies. The program’s authorization expired on September 30, leaving thousands of high-risk dams across the country vulnerable to failure. Aging dams are ticking time bombs. We must help communities invest in necessary repairs and, where appropriate, dam removal and river restoration.”

About American Rivers

Statement by Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

The effort to restore a free-flowing Klamath River is taking a major step forward this week. The three remaining dams are being decommissioned and the drawdown of the reservoirs is beginning. Removal of the first dam, Copco 2, was completed this fall. The Klamath is the largest dam removal and river restoration project in history. It will have far-reaching benefits for the river’s tribes, water quality, salmon, and communities up and down the river.

Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“This is a historic moment for the Klamath River. The water is flowing and the river can finally begin healing. A new chapter for the Klamath, its people, and salmon is beginning.”

“At a time when our politics are polarized and the reality of climate change is daunting, the Klamath presents an important lesson: we can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and make incredible progress by working together.”

“This success is thanks to the leadership of Tribal Nations and the collaboration of communities along the river. We applaud the decades of effort and bipartisan support that made this moment possible.”

“We celebrate today, and recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of restoration on the Klamath, and on rivers nationwide. Our nation is facing an urgent freshwater crisis. Accelerating the removal of outdated, harmful dams is vital to protecting community health and safety, addressing longstanding injustices, and protecting the rivers on which all life depends.”

Contact: Kayeloni Scott | kscott@americanrivers.org | 208.790.1815

Today’s announcement from the Biden Administration details a package of commitments to the Northwest, representing a critical step towards restoring the Snake River and saving the basin’s salmon and steelhead from extinction in a manner that ensures communities thrive in the transition. Past decisions have endangered keystone species and created services that communities came to rely upon. These commitments illustrate the dedication to building a stronger, more resilient region.

American Rivers applauds this path toward reciprocity for rivers, salmon, and all that depend on them. Just as Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID) outlined through his Columbia Basin Initiative, the lower four Snake River dams cannot be removed without first replacing the transportation, energy, and irrigation services they provide. This settlement package establishes a foundation for doing just that and puts us on a course toward restoring a healthy, free-flowing lower Snake River.

“The only way we will get to success is if we start working together to solve each other’s problems,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers. “We applaud the Biden Administration, the Six-Sovereigns¹, and all other parties for coming together in an historic agreement to advance solutions for the Northwest salmon and people. American Rivers will continue to stand with our partners and Tribal Nations across the Northwest to advocate for restoration of the Snake River, ensuring the survival of salmon and steelhead, and upholding Tribal Treaty Rights.”

1. The Six Sovereigns include Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation, Nez Perce Tribe, State of Oregon, and State of Washington.

Additional Resources:
White House Fact Sheet

Brent Blackwelder was a lifelong advocate for environmental protection and a true champion for rivers. As one of the founders of American Rivers, and our first board chair, he built the foundation for our organization’s 50 years of success.

In the early days of American Rivers, Brent fought the construction of massive dams, advocating for economic sensibility and conservation. In the late 1970s and early ‘80s, he organized the annual National Dam Fighters Conference, drawing advocates from across the country. As Brent described it, “We had to move fast or we would lose our best rivers. It was the golden age of dam building and we needed to fight back.”

For example, in 1975 on North Carolina’s New River, Brent was instrumental in stopping a dam and reservoir that would have swallowed farmland and devastated river health. Brent and colleagues not only killed the dam, they also succeeded in securing Wild and Scenic designation for the river. This precedent-setting success proved river conservationists could beat harmful water projects and score big wins on a national level.

Brent later served for many years as President of Friends of the Earth. He testified before Congress more than 100 times on environmental issues and was instrumental in instituting reforms to make the World Bank more conscious of environmental concerns.

All of us at American Rivers are grateful for Brent’s vision and leadership. His legacy lives on in the many rivers he protected that remain clean and free-flowing, and in the diverse and powerful movement of river advocates that continues to grow across our country.

About American Rivers

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

California Senator Dianne Feinstein, the longest-serving female senator in history, has died at age 90. Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“Dianne Feinstein was a champion for rivers. She was at the center of western water decisions since her first day in the Senate. She was the sponsor of the 21st Century Dams Act, which aims to provide billions in funding for dam removal and river restoration, and she supported many other pieces of river and dam safety legislation. We are grateful for her leadership and will honor her memory as we continue to fight for clean water and healthy, free-flowing rivers in California and nationwide.”

– Tom Kiernan, President and CEO, American Rivers

About American Rivers

Washington, DC (September 28, 2023) – Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation to advance hydropower, dam safety, and healthy rivers nationwide. This legislation is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers that includes Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 creates a new 30% investment tax credit to encourage environmental enhancements and dam safety improvements. Eligible investments include adding fish-friendly turbines and fish passage infrastructure, managing river sediments to improve habitat, upgrading or replacing floodgates and spillways, and improving public use of and access to public waterways impacted by existing dams. The bill also establishes a new federal cost-share to encourage the removal of obsolete river obstructions, restoring river health and improving public safety.

“Our nation’s efforts to transition to a clean energy grid have stopped just short of the finish line, as it failed to recognize the importance of hydropower’s existing fleet,” said Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association. “Hydro powers 30 million American homes with zero-carbon electricity. With the right tools, our industry can make environmental enhancements, bolster dam safety and prevent the hydropower fleet from retiring – outcomes that will lead to healthier rivers and a more reliable grid. Simply put, today’s hydropower fleet complements other renewables by providing power when the sun isn’t shining and wind isn’t blowing. We applaud the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Cantwell, Murkowski, Stabenow, Sullivan, King, Tillis, Gillibrand and Shaheen for recognizing that we can’t ensure a reliable grid without the nation’s second largest renewable electricity resource.”

“We applaud the bipartisan leadership for this bill that would incentivize dam safety, environmental improvements for healthy rivers, and dam removal. Conservation advocates and the hydropower industry have worked hard to collaborate on these measures that support healthy rivers and hydropower generation,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers. Sens. Cantwell, Murkowski, Stabenow, Sullivan, King, Tillis, Gillibrand and Shaheen should be commended for advancing solutions for healthy rivers and climate resilience.”

For more information, please contact Copeland Tucker with NHA at copeland@hydro.org or Amy Souers Kober with American Rivers at akober@americanrivers.org.

Statement from Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

Read the White House memo and factsheet

President Biden today released a memorandum directing federal agencies to use all of their authorities to restore healthy and abundant wild salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia-Snake basin. Earlier this year, American Rivers named the Snake River among America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2023, spotlighting the need for urgent action.

Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“For decades, Tribal Nations, businesses, and communities across the Columbia-Snake basin have called for the restoration of abundant, harvestable salmon runs. We applaud today’s order by the Biden administration clearly directing federal agencies and the Bonneville Power Administration to change the status quo to achieve this objective. The science is clear that we can restore salmon abundance, but only through removal of the four lower Snake River dams, as well as significant increases in habitat restoration in other tributaries in the Basin.”

“We look forward to working with the Administration, Tribes, members of Congress, and stakeholders around the region to provide necessary funding and authorities to get the job done. American Rivers is committed to collaborative salmon recovery actions that honor treaties, build climate resilience, support agriculture, and advance clean, affordable energy solutions.”

About American Rivers

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

American Rivers announced today that Adam Schellhammer is joining the organization as its new Mid-Atlantic Regional Director. Schellhammer has more than a decade of experience in regional and international conservation, with a focus on managing and implementing programs to improve environmental health and climate resilience.

“Rivers are vital to the Mid-Atlantic region’s health, environment, and economy. Yet the region’s rivers and clean water face unprecedented threats. Adam has what it takes to advance our vision and secure lasting solutions for clean water, abundant wildlife, and safe, healthy communities. We are thrilled to welcome him to the American Rivers team,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Regional Conservation.

Schellhammer is Associate Board Director of the Augusta County Soil and Water Conservation District. Most recently, he served as executive director of Valley Conservation Council, based in Staunton, Virginia. Previous roles included District Manager of the Monroe County Conservation District in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and Healthy Waters Team Manager with the Wai Ora Partnerships, Auckland Council, in New Zealand.

“Rivers provide the foundation of our existence, and protecting rivers is fundamental to our ability to survive and thrive as a species,” Schellhammer said. “I am so excited to have the opportunity to join an organization that understands the immense value of America’s waterways, ready to tackle the challenges that lie before us.”

Schellhammer will start at American Rivers on September 18. He will be based in Waynesboro, Virginia.

About American Rivers

New Biden Administration rule is inadequate, constrained by recent Supreme Court ruling

Statement by American Rivers

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

Today the Biden Administration released an updated rule on protecting wetlands and small streams. This rule comes in response to the damaging Supreme Court ruling that was issued in May that dramatically narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act, undoing protections that have safeguarded the nation’s waters for over 50 years.

While the Administration’s rule attempts to protect clean water and wetlands, it is severely limited in its ability to do so as a result of the Supreme Court ruling which slashed federal protections for thousands of miles of small streams and wetlands.

This means communities across the U.S. are now more vulnerable to pollution and flooding. Streams and wetlands are not only important sources of drinking water, they are buffers against extreme storms and floodwaters.

Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers, made the following statement: 

“With Hurricane Idalia barreling down on the Southeast, and severe storms increasing with climate change, communities need every tool they can get to help protect themselves from flooding. The first line of defense should be a healthy river with wetlands and floodplains that store and absorb floodwaters. By cutting protections for streams and wetlands, we leave communities more vulnerable to disaster.”

“We are grateful for the Administration’s attempt to protect clean water and wetlands with their new rule. They are doing what they can, but they are limited in the face of the flawed Supreme Court ruling. This simply demonstrates that Congress must act now to reinstate science-based safeguards for streams and wetlands to protect the health and safety of our communities.”