July 10, 2015
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers today announced that three new members, Carrie Besnette Hauser, Jimmy Kimmel, and David Solomon, were elected to its board of directors. The new directors bring deep passion for rivers and strong commitment to the mission of American Rivers, the nation’s leading river conservation organization.
“Rivers are under threat from complex challenges and American Rivers is spearheading solutions for rivers and communities across the country,” said Bob Irvin, President and CEO of American Rivers. “Carrie, Jimmy, and David each bring with them knowledge and experience from their diverse professional backgrounds, and they care deeply about the future of our nation’s rivers. Their varied expertise will help us achieve our mission of protecting and restoring rivers nationwide. We are grateful to have them join our board.”
Carrie Besnette Hauser (Glenwood Springs, CO)
President and CEO of Colorado Mountain College.
Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser is president and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public institution serving 12,000 square miles of the Central Rocky Mountains, an area that includes dozens of major rivers, creeks, and streams. The College’s degree programs include natural resource management, sustainability studies, and outdoor leadership, among others.
Dr. Hauser’s career has included leadership roles in higher education and private foundations. She has been an executive at the Kauffman Foundation, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the Daniels Fund.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and graduate degrees from UCLA, and completed the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business.
An avid outdoorswoman, Dr. Hauser has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, climbed to the Mt. Everest base camp, and held the proud title of “swamper” while working many summers for Hatch River Expeditions in the Grand Canyon, near her home town of Flagstaff, Arizona.
Jimmy Kimmel (Los Angeles, CA)
Host and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Mr. Kimmel has also worked as a writer, comedian, voice actor, musician, and radio personality. He has hosted other television programs, including Win Ben Stein’s Money and The Man Show, and started his own production company. Mr. Kimmel attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Arizona State. Mr. Kimmel serves on the board of the Dave Rice Foundation.
He is an avid fly fisherman, visiting Montana, Idaho, and other states to fish some of his favorite trout streams. Mr. Kimmel also fished as a member of the celebrity cast on the Outdoor Channel series, Buccaneers and Bones.
David Solomon (Chicago, IL)
CEO of Lazard’s Middle Market Advisory Group.
Mr. Solomon leads a team of professionals that provide transaction advice to public and private companies as well as private equity groups with regard to mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity recapitalizations. Prior to the start of his investment banking career in 1990, Mr. Solomon spent 13 years as a real estate professional, primarily developing retail shopping centers and mixed-use projects in Minneapolis. Mr. Solomon earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, graduating magna cum laude. He also received an MBA with a concentration in finance from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota, graduating in the Delta Gamma Sigma honors society.
Mr. Solomon is an avid fly fisherman and outdoorsman. He has canoed extensively in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Minnesota, and fished throughout the Rockies, Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges.
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 19, 2015
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When Lake Mead drops to 1,075ft elevation, The Bureau of Reclamation may reduce water deliveries to Arizona and Nevada. Action and funding is needed now to protect the health of the Colorado River and the Southwest Economy.
(Denver, CO) – The 15 year drought gripping the southwestern United States will soon signal increased urgency about the need to address the effects of outdated water use and the threat to communities, agriculture, the economy, and healthy rivers.
The water elevation in Lake Mead is predicted to reach an all-time low in the coming days at 1,075 feet, potentially triggering far-reaching requirements by the Bureau of Reclamation to enforce painful limitations on water delivery to cities, farms, and residents of the southwest. American Rivers encourages Reclamation and water providers to swiftly begin implementing the recommendations found in the Bureau’s own Moving Forward report, released in early May, to begin the work of funding and driving solutions to use water more wisely and protect rivers in the west.
“1075 is a clear call for action. To avoid what could lead to a “domino effect” and further water shortage in the Colorado River Basin, we all need to get to work funding and implementing solutions that exist today.” ” said Matt Rice, Colorado River Basin Director with American Rivers. “Between the recommendations found in the Bureau’s Moving Forward report, and the framework set forward in the Hardest Working River in the West white paper, authored by American Rivers and Western Resource Advocates, we have what we need to proactively address water supply needs through aggressive conservation strategies and other cost effective and smart solutions.”
Moving Forward highlights a series of steps that should be implemented now, including:
- Implementing or expanding water conservation, efficiency, and reuse programs in cities and towns across the basin
- Increasing local, state, and federal commitments to funding and implementing conservation efforts, and
- Expanding agricultural incentives, technology, and stewardship practices that save water in this important sector.
The time is now. The science about how to reduce water waste and outdated management practices is in, and the task of designing, funding, and implementing these solutions is long overdue. At risk is the Colorado River’s $1.4 trillion economy (Arizona State University), a vibrant culture of agriculture and recreation, as well as the intrinsic benefits of healthy rivers for all citizens of the west and the wildlife that depends on them. We must urgently begin the process of implementing real solutions, before the downward spiral inflicts more lasting, permanent harm to this critical region of the country.
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 15, 2015
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(Denver, CO) – The 15 year drought gripping the southwestern United States will soon signal increased urgency about the need to address the effects of outdated water use and the threat to communities, agriculture, the economy, and healthy rivers.
The water elevation in Lake Mead is predicted to reach an all-time low in the coming days at 1,075 feet, potentially signaling coming steps by the Bureau of Reclamation to suggest future limitations on water delivery to cities, farms, and residents of the southwest. American Rivers encourages Reclamation and water providers to swiftly begin implementing the recommendations found in the Bureau’s own Moving Forward report, released in early May, to begin the work of funding and driving solutions to use water more wisely and protect rivers in the west.
“1075 is a clear call for action. To avoid what could lead to a “domino effect” and further water shortage in the Colorado River Basin, we all need to get to work funding and implementing solutions that exist today.” said Matt Rice, Colorado River Basin Director with American Rivers. “Between the recommendations found in the Bureau’s Moving Forward report, and the framework set forward in the Hardest Working River in the West white paper, authored by American Rivers and Western Resource Advocates, we have what we need to proactively address water supply needs through aggressive conservation strategies and other cost effective and smart solutions.”
Moving Forward highlights a series of steps that should be implemented now, including:
- Implementing or expanding water conservation, efficiency, and reuse programs in cities and towns across the basin
- Increasing local, state, and federal commitments to funding and implementing conservation efforts, and
- Expanding agricultural incentives, technology, and stewardship practices that save water in this important sector.
The time is now. The science about how to reduce water waste and outdated management practices is in, and the task of designing, funding, and implementing these solutions is long overdue. At risk is the Colorado River’s $1.4 trillion economy (Arizona State University), a vibrant culture of agriculture and recreation, as well as the intrinsic benefits of healthy rivers for all citizens of the west and the wildlife that depends on them. We must urgently begin the process of implementing real solutions, before the downward spiral inflicts more lasting, permanent harm to this critical region of the country.
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.
May 27, 2016
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(Washington, DC) – Today the Obama administration closed loopholes that left the drinking water sources for more than 1 in 3 Americans at risk of pollution and destruction with the release of its long-awaited Clean Water Rule . A number of environmental, wildlife, and sportsmen groups praised the rule, which ensures Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands across the country, but warned that there are multiple efforts underway in Congress to weaken, undermine, or stop the rule completely.
“We applaud the Obama Administration for taking this vital step to safeguard the nation’s clean drinking water,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “Few things are more fundamental to our health. Nobody should have to worry about pollution when they turn on the tap. This administration’s leadership in protecting our streams will benefit millions of Americans and their children and grandchildren.”
“The Obama Administration’s decisive action today is good news for every American who wants to swim, fish, or simply drink a glass of water without the fear of toxic contamination. For too long, polluters have exploited legal confusion to destroy or dump dangerous waste in our waterways with impunity,” said Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club. “Now, President Obama and the EPA have helped put an end to that by restoring the Clean Water Act and helping ensure millions of miles of American waterways are protected for the enjoyment of the American people, not polluters.”
The Clean Water Rule restores clear protection to 60 percent of the nation’s stream miles and millions of acres of wetlands that were historically protected by the Clean Water Act, but have lacked guaranteed safeguards for nearly a decade. The rule enjoys broad support from local governments, small businesses, scientists, and the general public. In 2014 Americans submitted more than 800,000 comments calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) to protect clean water with a strong rule. A recent national survey found that 80% of Americans support the Administration’s the Clean Water Rule. When asked if they thought Congress should allow the rule to go forward, 79% said yes.
“The EPA and Army Corps’ Clean Water Rule will fight pollution and protect the drinking water of 117 million Americans, so it should be no surprise that our recent polling on the rule demonstrated overwhelming public support,” said Gene Karpinski, President of League of Conservation Voters. “People want to know that the water our children and grandchildren drink, swim, and play in is protected from pollution. It’s time for Congress to step away from their pro-polluter agenda and embrace these long-overdue protections for our small streams and wetlands.”
Clean Water is the economic lifeblood of many communities. According to EPA, the Clean Water Rule will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in annual benefits to the public from reducing flooding, filtering pollution, providing wildlife habitat, supporting hunting and fishing, and recharging groundwater. Anglers alone generated nearly $115 billion in economic activity in 2011, breathing life into rural communities and supporting more than one million jobs. Small and independent craft brewers contributed almost $34 billion to the U.S. economy in 2012.
The rule will also close loopholes that prevented EPA from moving forward with more than 1,500 major pollution investigations of companies that spilled oil, toxic chemicals and bacteria into streams over a 4 year period according to an analysis by the New York Times.
“When more than half of this country’s rivers and streams are in poor condition, unfit for swimming, drinking or fishing, it is time to finally realize the original promise of the Clean Water Act. While the state of U.S. waters has worsened, the Clean Water Act has been blunted by a decade of confusion and inaction”, said Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen. “We applaud the Obama administration and the EPA for finalizing this commonsense and vital rule that will end the confusion and further the goal of cleaning up our waters. People in Toledo, Charleston, WV, and Montana City know the stakes all too well, but all our lakes, rivers, streams, and beaches across the country will be cleaner for it.”
Despite the importance of the Clean Water Rule to businesses, wildlife, and communities across the nation, special interests and certain members of Congress are attempting to prevent EPA and the Corps from implementing the Clean Water Rule. Just last week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1732, which would force the agencies to scrap the current rule and start over. A similar bill will be debated in the Senate in the coming weeks – a bill that would create wasteful new hurdles to protecting various kinds of water bodies.
“Thanks to the Obama Administration, the drinking water supplies of 117 million Americans will gain strong safeguards against pollution,” said Rhea Suh, President of NRDC. “These long-overdue protections also will ensure cleaner wetlands, headwaters, brooks and streams that we use for swimming, fishing and other recreational activities. It was a long, hard slog to reach this day. Now we will redouble our efforts to defend the new Clean Water rule against developers, big polluters and their allies in Congress who want to kill it.”
EPA and the Corps engaged the regulated communities, State and Local governments, farmers, ranchers, and small business owners while developing the Clean Water Rule. The agencies also received more than 1 million comments, the majority of which supported action, during the public comment period in 2014. Contrary to what some Members of Congress will claim, the Clean Water Rule was informed by the input of thousands of stakeholders.
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.
May 14, 2016
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(Washington, DC) – One month after naming the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon America’s Most Endangered River® of 2015, American Rivers applauded a positive step toward protecting the river from harmful development.
Newly elected Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye expressed his opposition to the proposed Grand Canyon Escalade Project on the east rim of the Grand Canyon. On Wednesday, President Begaye stated:
“The Begaye-Nez administration will vet and evaluate each project and determine whether the project will be in the best interest of the Navajo Nation and our people. As for the project, Grand Canyon Escalade, this Administration has already stated it does not support the Grand Canyon Escalade project and that position has not changed, as Mr. Begaye has stated it is not in the best interest of the Navajo Nation and the Navajo people.”
American Rivers listed the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon as America’s Most Endangered River® because of a battery of threats surrounding the Grand Canyon, one of our nation’s most iconic national parks and an irreplaceable national treasure. One of these threats is the proposed Grand Canyon Escalade project which would create a massive development and tramway with noise, trash, and pollution scarring the heart of the canyon.
“The Grand Canyon should be protected for all of us, for all time. We applaud President Begaye’s stance against the Escalade project and support his efforts to bring economic development to the Navajo Nation while safeguarding one of our nation’s irreplaceable natural treasures,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers.
Since April, more than 50,000 people nationwide have signed a petition to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell in support of protecting the Grand Canyon from unwise development.
Learn more at www.AmericanRivers.org/GrandCanyon
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.
May 14, 2015
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(Denver, CO) – American Rivers and American Whitewater today applauded the Bureau of Reclamation’s new report, “Moving Forward.” The report outlines achievable, common sense solutions that will help protect the 1,450-mile Colorado River for outdoor recreation, wildlife, and water supply for people and agriculture for generations to come.
The current drought makes prioritizing, funding, and implementing the solutions in the report even more urgent. American Rivers and American Whitewater called on the Bureau and Colorado River water users to expand their current efforts to preserve the health of the river and basin communities.
American Rivers and American Whitewater support the key elements of the report including:
- A recognition of the need to expand water conservation, efficiency and reuse programs
- The imperative to increase local, state, and federal commitments to funding and implementing conservation efforts
- The pressing need to expand the use of innovative water management technologies, stewardship practices, and incentives for agriculture and urban areas to save water.
Spanning seven states, the Colorado River is the lifeblood of the American West, providing drinking water for 36 million people, irrigating fifteen percent of the nation’s crops, and generating a $26 billion recreation and tourism economy that provides 234,000 jobs. Yet a water supply and demand gap exists due to a history of unsustainable water consumption and the effects of a 14-year drought that is dramatically lowering supply. There is also increasing pressure to meet the needs of expected growth in communities that depend on the river.
“The need for real action has never been more obvious. The Bureau of Reclamation’s “Moving Forward” report offers realistic, actionable solutions to protect the Colorado River. But it is time to stop talking and instead start funding and implementing these solutions,” said Matt Rice, director of Colorado Basin Programs for American Rivers.
“We have an array of examples from successful conservation efforts, and a further, recent example from California’s strong drought response, that significant, proactive steps are possible. Government, communities, agriculture and individuals all have a role to play in advancing innovative solutions that increase water efficiency. It’s time to start reversing the imbalance between water supply and demand so that we can sustain rural and urban economies while restoring a healthy Colorado River.”
“Leaders across the West from communities, business and government can come together to apply these solutions immediately to protect the Colorado River basin from historic drought which is endangering the Western way of life,” said Nathan Fey, Colorado Stewardship Director for American Whitewater. “We are truly all in this together. We know what to do, now it’s time to do it.”
About American Whitewater
Founded in 1954, American Whitewater is a national non-profit organization (Non-profit # 23-7083760) with a mission “to conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.” American Whitewater is a membership organization representing a broad diversity of individual whitewater enthusiasts, river conservationists, and more than 100 local paddling club affiliates across America. The organization is the primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States, and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve the goals within its mission.
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.
May 13, 2016
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers today urged the House Energy and Commerce Committee to reject proposed legislation that would weaken or eliminate current state and federal resource agency authority over hydropower dams while handing increased responsibility for dam management to an already overworked federal commission. This proposed legislation would limit states’ ability to write the needs of their river communities into the terms of hydropower licenses and undermine their authority to hold corporate dam owners accountable for any harm caused to their communities.
“If this legislation passes, the president, states and tribes will lose authority over corporations operating in their backyards and on public lands,” said Bob Irvin, president of American Rivers, “Dam license renewals happen every 30 to 50 years, and are once-in-a-lifetime chances for communities and agencies to update agreements with private dam operators so that they protect public safety, clean water, and fish and wildlife.” Currently state and expert federal agencies have the authority to augment hydropower dam licenses and compel corporate dam owners to accommodate the needs of local communities and wildlife that rely on the river. Dam owners are also responsible for paying the costs of complying with state water quality and wildlife management laws.
The proposed legislation would reverse those two policies. It would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to alter license conditions requested by expert federal and state agencies even if dam owners have already agreed to them. It would also shift to taxpayers and local communities the costs and burdens of complying with state and local laws and mitigating harm done to water quality by hydropower dams.
Other ways this bill will rob the President and states of their authority:
- Allows any private entity to install hydropower up to 5 MW on an existing dam with no comprehensive review or oversight over the impacts to public safety, flood control, fish, wildlife, or public lands;
- Federalizes the venue for energy companies to challenge states’ remaining authority over corporate-owned hydropower dams by moving cases out of state courts and into federal courts;
- Exempts hydropower dam owners from the Clean Water Act by eliminating the 50 states’ and many tribes’ power to hold hydropower dam owners accountable to water quality laws, giving that authority instead to FERC;
- Allows FERC to trap state and federal natural resource agencies in a choice between making regulatory decisions based on incomplete applications that lack sufficient supporting information (thus leaving them vulnerable to legal challenge), or risk being sent to federal court for failing to meet FERC’s deadlines.
“Healthy rivers are essential to the health and well-being of our communities. Hydropower dams have major impacts on river health, clean water, and wildlife. We can achieve a balance between healthy rivers and hydropower production, but in order to do that it’s essential local voices have a say in how dams are operated,” said Irvin.
American Rivers has worked with states, tribes, and local conservation partners for decades to secure significant improvements to hydropower dam operations, resulting in tens of thousands of miles of restored rivers, improved fish passage, revitalized wildlife habitat, and better, safer river recreation opportunities. American Rivers documented these successes in a video series featuring Oregon’s Deschutes, Michigan’s Muskegon, and South Carolina’s Saluda rivers.
For more information about the proposed legislation, please see our hydropower factsheet.
Learn more about how we’re improving hydropower dams and restoring rivers.
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.
April 21, 2015
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(Denver, CO) – American Rivers and the Hispanic Access Foundation today announced an exciting partnership to spark a dialogue among tens of thousands of Latinos across the Colorado River basin, where one-third of the nation’s Latinos live and work, about the need for a healthy Colorado River.
Starting on Earth Day, April 22, congregations from Denver to Los Angeles will begin screening a Spanish-language version of the award-winning film, “I Am Red” as part of their discussions about protecting God’s creation, the importance of the Colorado River and its tributaries, and the need for conservation.
“The Colorado River connects us all, and when it comes to creating a better future for our communities we’re all in this together,” said Matt Rice, Colorado Basin Director for American Rivers. “We must build a future that includes healthy rivers and state-of-the-art water conservation for cities and agriculture. By sharing the story of the Colorado River with communities across the Basin, we want to inspire a new generation of river stewards.”
In addition, the Hispanic Access Foundation in partnership with Por La Creación: Faith-based Alliance will air the video at a conference of Latino faith leaders on May 23 in San Diego.Two hundred pastors are expected to participate, representing more than 3,000 youth from Western states. The video will also air at a June 13 event in Coachella, Calif. with 1,000 Latino youth expected to attend.
“The Colorado River is an integral part of our heritage and way of life, and by taking action now we can make strides in ensuring that future generation can continue to benefit from this tremendous resource,” said Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “The Colorado River supports wildlife, tourism and our agricultural industry, but, demand on the river’s water now exceeds its supply, leaving the river so over-tapped that it dries up to a trickle before reaching the sea.”
American Rivers has named the Colorado River one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers for the past three years. The river is threatened by outdated water management as well as harmful development projects and pollution in the Grand Canyon.
The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the southwest. Its water sustains over 35 million people and endangered fish and wildlife in seven states. The river drives a $1.4 TRILLION economy, according to a 2014 Arizona State University study. Dozens of rivers are part of the Colorado River system, including the Green River, Gila River, San Juan River, and the Gunnison River. Over-allocation and drought have placed significant stress on water supplies and river health.
For more information in English visit www.AmericanRivers.org/rivers/Colorado-River/, in Spanish visit www.SoyRojo.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 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.
April 7, 2015
Contacts:
American Rivers: Sinjin Eberle, 720-373-0864 or Amy Kober, 503-708-1145
Grand Canyon Trust: Roger Clark, 928-774-7488(w) or 928-890-7515(c)
Colorado River in the Grand Canyon named #1 Most Endangered River in the nation
www.AmericanRivers.org/EndangeredRivers
www.AmericanRivers.org/GrandCanyon
www.grandcanyontrust.org/keep-the-canyon-grand
GrandCanyonMap
(Washington, DC) — American Rivers today announced its annual list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers®, naming the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon the #1 Most Endangered River in the nation. One of our country’s most iconic stretches of river and an irreplaceable national treasure, the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon faces a battery of threats that could forever harm its health and unique experience that belongs to every American.
The canyon faces three serious threats, each with a key decision this year: the massive Escalade construction project in the heart of the canyon, pollution from uranium mining on the north and south rims, and expansion of the town of Tusayan that could deplete vital groundwater supplies. These threats would cause irreparable harm to the river’s unique wild character, clean water, and cultural values. American Rivers called on Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and the Obama Administration to use every authority to prevent damage to the river and preserve the Grand Canyon for all Americans to enjoy.
“The Grand Canyon is facing the biggest threats in a generation,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is an irreplaceable national treasure that should be preserved for all of us, for all time. The Grand Canyon is not for sale.”
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is the traditional homeland of native tribes including the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai, and Zuni and draws nearly five million visitors every year. Dozens of creeks, springs, and tributaries connect with the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, including the Little Colorado River, Kanab Creek, Havasu Creek, and Bright Angel Creek. “The Grand Canyon is the cultural homeland of many traditional people and this project would be a sacrilege to them,” said Roger Clark, Grand Canyon program director at the Grand Canyon Trust. “We’re honored to support Navajo community members opposed to this project as part of the Save the Confluence coalition.”
The proposed Grand Canyon Escalade project includes a two million square foot development on the canyon rim, a tram delivering up to 10,000 visitors a day to the bottom of the canyon at the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers, and riverside walkways, restrooms, a gift shop, and restaurant. The massive amount of construction, noise, and pollution would irreversibly harm the fragile heart of the canyon. The confluence, the site of the project, is a sacred area for native tribes.
“This billion dollar scheme would be a travesty, destroying the very qualities that make the Grand Canyon such a spectacular life-changing experience, and an economic engine for the region,” said Irvin.
In addition to the urgent threat of the Escalade project, existing and proposed uranium mining operations threaten the clean water of tributary streams in the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. And, a major expansion of the town of Tusayan, which lies less than five miles from the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, threatens sensitive groundwater supplies. Depleting already-stressed groundwater could impact the seeps and springs that feed the Grand Canyon, threatening the fragile desert environment.
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report is a list of rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates. Over the years, the report has helped spur many successes including the removal of outdated dams, the protection of rivers with Wild and Scenic designations, and the prevention of harmful development and pollution.
“This year’s report underscores the importance of healthy rivers to each and every American,” said Irvin. “Whether it’s for clean drinking water, ample water supplies for farms and cities, abundant fish and wildlife, or iconic places vital to our heritage, we all have a stake in protecting our nation’s rivers.”
Orvis, sponsor of the America’s Most Endangered Rivers campaign, connects people with the outdoors, and is renowned for investing its time and money in outdoor causes. “God isn’t making any new rivers and it’s our obligation to repair and renew the ones we have,” said Perk Perkins, CEO of Orvis. “They are nature’s bloodstream. What American Rivers does to focus constituencies on the most valuable and most beleaguered rivers is worthy of media headlines. Orvis is proud to support the vital conservation efforts of American Rivers and I urge everyone to take action to save America’s Most Endangered Rivers.”
America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2015:
#1: Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Arizona
Threat: Massive construction project, mining pollution, groundwater depletion
At Risk: An irreplaceable national treasure
Millions of Americans recognize the Grand Canyon as one of the most iconic landscapes on the planet. But this natural masterpiece of the Colorado River faces a battery of threats. A proposed industrial-scale construction project in the wild heart of the canyon, radioactive pollution from uranium mining, and a proposed expansion of groundwater pumping at Tusayan, all threaten the Grand Canyon’s wild nature and unique experience that belongs to every American. Unless the Department of the Interior acts to stop these threats, one of our nation’s greatest natural treasures will be scarred forever.
#2: Columbia River, Washington/Oregon
Threat: Outdated dam operations
At Risk: Healthy runs of salmon and other fisheries
The Columbia River is the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest’s economy and environment. The river’s dams provide more than half the region’s electricity as well as flood control and irrigation, but they have also decimated the basin’s salmon and steelhead runs. As the Columbia River Treaty is renegotiated, the U.S. Department of State must put the importance of a healthy ecosystem on an equal footing with the benefits of hydropower and flood control. We can achieve this balance by releasing more water for salmon when they need it and providing fish passage beyond currently impassable dams. Since the last Treaty was negotiated a little over 50 years ago, this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do right by one of the nation’s most important rivers.
#3: Holston River, Tennessee
Threat: Toxic chemical pollution
At Risk: Drinking water supply, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses
The Holston River is rich in history and heritage, and today provides drinking water for tens of thousands of Tennessee residents, as well as water for industry, livestock, and recreation. However, the river and its communities are threatened by an army ammunition plant that has been contaminating water supplies with toxic chemical pollution for years. The U.S. Army and its Holston Army Ammunition Plant must immediately stop polluting the Holston River with harmful explosive chemicals.
#4: Smith River, Montana
Threat: Copper mining
At Risk: Water quality, nationally renowned wild trout fishery
The Smith River is one of the most cherished floating and fishing destinations in Montana. The river is home to a nationally-renowned wild trout fishery, and provides prime habitat for dozens of fish and wildlife species. The river is threatened by a huge proposed copper mine in its headwaters that could seriously degrade water quality with acid mine drainage and toxic heavy metals. The State of Montana should not permit the copper mine unless it can be designed in a way that eliminates any risk to the river’s water quality and habitat.
#5: Edisto River, South Carolina
Threat: Excessive water withdrawals
At Risk: Water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation
The Edisto River is one of South Carolina’s most popular rivers for paddling, fishing, and outdoor fun. It’s also the state’s most heavily used river for irrigation, and excessive agricultural water withdrawals are threatening water quality and the water supplies of other users. While the state’s permitting process requires industrial and municipal water users to meet requirements to safeguard river health and clean water, large agribusinesses get a pass. The South Carolina House of Representatives must pass H.3564 this year to end this unfair exemption so that the Edisto, and all of the state’s rivers, can continue to provide sustainable water supplies for all, while supporting river health and recreation.
#6: Chuitna River, Alaska
Threat: Coal mining
At Risk: Native culture, wild salmon, and clean water
The Chuitna River supports Alaskan Native communities, wild salmon, abundant wildlife including moose, bear, and wolf, and excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other recreation. PacRim Coal’s proposal to develop what would be Alaska’s largest open-pit coal strip mine at the Chuitna River’s headwaters poses an unacceptable threat to the economy and communities that rely on clean water and healthy salmon runs. Unless the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denies the mine’s permit, this pristine wild river and its communities will be irreparably damaged.
#7: Rogue/Smith Rivers, Oregon/California
Threat: Strip mining
At Risk: Clean water, drinking water, wild salmon and steelhead runs, Wild and Scenic Rivers
The Wild and Scenic Illinois Rogue (OR) and Smith (OR and CA) rivers are known for their healthy salmon runs, world-renowned plant biodiversity, and outstanding recreation. However, proposed nickel mining in these rivers’ headwaters threatens their unique values. Immediate closure of the area to mining is the most effective way to help prevent the development of nickel strip mines from turning the pristine headwaters of the highest concentration of wild rivers in the country into an industrial mining zone. The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Interior must withdraw this area from mining immediately to protect this wild treasure.
#8: St. Louis River, Minnesota
Threat: Copper-nickel sulfide mining
At Risk: Clean water and wildlife habitat
Minnesota’s Arrowhead region is known for its pure and abundant waters, deep forests, expansive wetlands, and recreational opportunities. However, a proposed copper-nickel sulfide mine at the headwaters of the St. Louis River, the region’s main artery, threatens drinking water, wildlife, and the treaty-protected hunting, fishing, and gathering rights of the Ojibwe people. It is critical that state and federal regulators deny permits for the mine plan because it does not sufficiently protect the St. Louis River and its communities.
#9: Harpeth River, Tennessee
Threat: Sewage pollution and water withdrawals
At Risk: Clean water, fish and wildlife, recreation
The Harpeth River is one of the few free-flowing rivers in Tennessee. It flows through one of the fastest growing regions in the country, but remains an oasis for local families, anglers, and paddlers. The river’s waters, fish and wildlife, and recreation values are threatened by sewage and water treatment plant expansions. Unless state officials require state-of-the-art technology to improve sewage treatment, the river will be overwhelmed by treated sewage pollution and public health could be compromised.
#10: Pearl River, Louisiana/Mississippi
Threat: New dam
At Risk: Healthy wetlands and wildlife habitat
The Pearl River runs through Central Mississippi and supports vital oyster reefs and marsh habitat in the Mississippi Sound. Coastal wetlands and commercial fisheries depend on the Pearl River’s flows. However, the river’s health has been compromised by the Barnett Dam north of Jackson, Mississippi. Now, a new dam has been proposed for the Pearl that would cause additional harm to river health, wetlands, and fish and wildlife habitat. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must reject this unnecessary and ecologically harmful new dam.
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.
April 7, 2015
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers named the Holston River among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2015 today, highlighting the threat toxic chemical explosives from an army ammunition plant pose to clean drinking water supplies.
“The America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is a call to action to save rivers that are at a tipping point,” said Erin McCombs of American Rivers. “Chemical explosives and drinking water don’t mix. The families and communities along the Holston River have a right to clean drinking water. They shouldn’t have to worry about what’s coming out of the tap.”
The Holston Army Ammunition Plant discharges RDX, a toxic chemical explosive and possible human carcinogen, into the Holston River, which supplies drinking water for more than 56,000 residents in Tennessee and Virginia. The Environmental Protection Agency’s RDX lifetime health advisory limit is 2 ug/L for drinking water. In March and April of 2014, RDX was found in all five drinking water samples taken by the First Utility District of Hawkins County and the samples indicated RDX levels at more than double the EPA’s limit.
American Rivers called on the U.S. Army and the ammunition plant operator, BAE Systems, to stop or significantly reduce the amount of RDX they are dumping into the Holston River.
Another river in Tennessee, the Harpeth River, also made this year’s Most Endangered list because of threats from sewage pollution. The Most Endangered listing of two rivers in Tennessee this year underscores the importance of the state’s role in safeguarding clean water.
“Clean water and healthy rivers are vital to Tennessee’s heritage and the health of our families and communities. It’s critical that the state takes its enforcement responsibilities seriously and protects our clean drinking water from polluters,” said Renée Hoyos, Executive Director of Tennessee Clean Water Network.
The Holston River flows 274 miles from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the confluence with the French Broad River and becomes the Tennessee River. The Holston River is home to 47 species of fish including smallmouth bass, brown trout, rainbow trout, redline darter, and bigeye chub. The river has played a key role in our nation’s history – it was the site of a 1791 treaty between the United States and Cherokee Indian Nation, and also saw many battles throughout the Civil War.
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is a list of rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates. Over the years, the report has helped spur many successes including the removal of outdated dams, the protection of rivers with Wild and Scenic designations, and the prevention of harmful development and pollution.
“This year’s report underscores the importance of healthy rivers to each and every American,” said Irvin. “Whether it’s for clean drinking water, ample water supplies for farms and cities, abundant fish and wildlife, or iconic places vital to our heritage, we all have a stake in protecting our nation’s rivers.”
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.
April 7, 2015
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers named the Columbia River among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2015 today, shining a national spotlight on the impacts of outdated dam operations and an opportunity that the renegotiation of an international treaty creates for salmon restoration and flood protection.
“The America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is a call to action to save rivers that are at a tipping point,” said Michael Garrity of American Rivers. “The treaty governing management of the Columbia River is more than half a century old. But our values and needs for the river have changed, and the river is facing new challenges. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring management of our nation’s third largest river into the 21st century and realize lasting benefits for salmon and communities.”
Currently, the Columbia River Treaty between the United States and Canada has just two purposes: hydropower and flood control. The conservation community and Native American Tribes have called on the State Department to insist on the addition of a third “ecosystem function” purpose as the U.S. and Canada begin renegotiation of the treaty. This would include making changes in flood control operations to provide more flows for salmon, and exploring fish passage at dams that have prevented fish from reaching their historic habitats. 2015 is the year the Obama Administration will decide whether to seek to modernize the treaty – if it doesn’t, river restoration efforts and past investments will be at risk along with flood protection, water supply, and other traditional benefits of the treaty.
“Essential to ecosystem function is the restoration of fish passage to all historical locations and reintroducing salmon to Canadian spawning grounds,” said Paul Lumley, Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. “Over the past three years an historical regional consensus developed by states, tribes, and federal agencies pushed to include ecosystem function and fish passage as a primary component of the Columbia River Treaty. This vision is shared by citizens from the estuary to the headwaters and one that we must work with Canada to ensure.”
“We have a huge opportunity to correct an historic wrong related to the Columbia River by including ‘ecosystem function’ and fish passage as a third purpose in river operations,” said D.R. Michel of the Upper Columbia United Tribes. “We must adapt to changing times. We cannot afford to continue using our resources at current rates, and we must start managing those resources going forward. These are not just the Tribes’ issues, they are all of our issues. Our legacy will not be measured by what we have today, but by what we leave our future generations. Let us be the ones that make change happen for the benefit of all people.”
“Modernization of the Columbia River Treaty offers an opportunity to provide more certainty for the needs of salmon and the river’s ecosystem in the face of climate change and the resulting changes to flows and river temperature,” said Greg Haller of Pacific Rivers Council. “The region should seize this opportunity to modernize flood control operations to ensure more flow for fish, while at the same time protecting communities and property.”
The Columbia River Basin is home to more than six million people, most of whom live in Oregon and Washington. The Columbia Basin Project uses the river’s water to irrigate 600,000 acres of cropland. The 14 dams on the mainstem Columbia in the U.S. and five dams in Canada provide hydropower and flood control benefits. However, the dams have played a major role in the decline and extinction of numerous salmon and steelhead populations, including 13 stocks currently listed under the Endangered Species Act. Sturgeon populations have become landlocked and have also been listed under the ESA for protection. Populations of Pacific lamprey, a species with special value to the basin’s Native people, have also been impacted, and water quality has declined as a result of the dams.
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is a list of rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates. Over the years, the report has helped spur many successes including the removal of outdated dams, the protection of rivers with Wild and Scenic designations, and the prevention of harmful development and pollution.
“This year’s report underscores the importance of healthy rivers to each and every American,” said Irvin. “Whether it’s for clean drinking water, ample water supplies for farms and cities, abundant fish and wildlife, or iconic places vital to our heritage, we all have a stake in protecting our nation’s rivers.”
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.
April 7, 2015
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers today announced its annual list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers®, naming the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon the #1 Most Endangered River in the nation. One of our country’s most iconic stretches of river and an irreplaceable national treasure, the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon faces a battery of threats that could forever harm its health and unique experience that belongs to every American.
The canyon faces three serious threats, each with a key decision this year: the massive Escalade construction project in the heart of the canyon, pollution from uranium mining on the north and south rims, and expansion of the town of Tusayan that could deplete vital groundwater supplies. These threats would cause irreparable harm to the river’s unique wild character, clean water, and cultural values. American Rivers called on Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and the Obama Administration to use every authority to prevent damage to the river and preserve the Grand Canyon for all Americans to enjoy.
“The Grand Canyon is facing the biggest threats in a generation,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is an irreplaceable national treasure that should be preserved for all of us, for all time. The Grand Canyon is not for sale.”
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is the traditional homeland of native tribes including the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai, and Zuni and draws nearly five million visitors every year. Dozens of creeks, springs, and tributaries connect with the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, including the Little Colorado River, Kanab Creek, Havasu Creek, and Bright Angel Creek. “The Grand Canyon is the cultural homeland of many traditional people and this project would be a sacrilege to them,” said Roger Clark, Grand Canyon program director at the Grand Canyon Trust. “We’re honored to support Navajo community members opposed to this project as part of the Save the Confluence coalition.”
The proposed Grand Canyon Escalade project includes a two million square foot development on the canyon rim, a tram delivering up to 10,000 visitors a day to the bottom of the canyon at the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers, and riverside walkways, restrooms, a gift shop, and restaurant. The massive amount of construction, noise, and pollution would irreversibly harm the fragile heart of the canyon. The confluence, the site of the project, is a sacred area for native tribes.
“This billion dollar scheme would be a travesty, destroying the very qualities that make the Grand Canyon such a spectacular life-changing experience, and an economic engine for the region,” said Irvin.
In addition to the urgent threat of the Escalade project, existing and proposed uranium mining operations threaten the clean water of tributary streams in the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. And, a major expansion of the town of Tusayan, which lies less than five miles from the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, threatens sensitive groundwater supplies. Depleting already-stressed groundwater could impact the seeps and springs that feed the Grand Canyon, threatening the fragile desert environment.
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report is a list of rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates. Over the years, the report has helped spur many successes including the removal of outdated dams, the protection of rivers with Wild and Scenic designations, and the prevention of harmful development and pollution.
“This year’s report underscores the importance of healthy rivers to each and every American,” said Irvin. “Whether it’s for clean drinking water, ample water supplies for farms and cities, abundant fish and wildlife, or iconic places vital to our heritage, we all have a stake in protecting our nation’s rivers.”
Orvis, sponsor of the America’s Most Endangered Rivers campaign, connects people with the outdoors, and is renowned for investing its time and money in outdoor causes. “God isn’t making any new rivers and it’s our obligation to repair and renew the ones we have,” said Perk Perkins, CEO of Orvis. “They are nature’s bloodstream. What American Rivers does to focus constituencies on the most valuable and most beleaguered rivers is worthy of media headlines. Orvis is proud to support the vital conservation efforts of American Rivers and I urge everyone to take action to save America’s Most Endangered Rivers.”
America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2015:
#1: Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Arizona
Threat: Massive construction project, mining pollution, groundwater depletion
At Risk: An irreplaceable national treasure
Millions of Americans recognize the Grand Canyon as one of the most iconic landscapes on the planet. But this natural masterpiece of the Colorado River faces a battery of threats. A proposed industrial-scale construction project in the wild heart of the canyon, radioactive pollution from uranium mining, and a proposed expansion of groundwater pumping at Tusayan, all threaten the Grand Canyon’s wild nature and unique experience that belongs to every American. Unless the Department of the Interior acts to stop these threats, one of our nation’s greatest natural treasures will be scarred forever.
#2: Columbia River, Washington/Oregon
Threat: Outdated dam operations
At Risk: Healthy runs of salmon and other fisheries
The Columbia River is the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest’s economy and environment. The river’s dams provide more than half the region’s electricity as well as flood control and irrigation, but they have also decimated the basin’s salmon and steelhead runs. As the Columbia River Treaty is renegotiated, the U.S. Department of State must put the importance of a healthy ecosystem on an equal footing with the benefits of hydropower and flood control. We can achieve this balance by releasing more water for salmon when they need it and providing fish passage beyond currently impassable dams. Since the last Treaty was negotiated a little over 50 years ago, this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do right by one of the nation’s most important rivers.
#3: Holston River, Tennessee
Threat: Toxic chemical pollution
At Risk: Drinking water supply, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses
The Holston River is rich in history and heritage, and today provides drinking water for tens of thousands of Tennessee residents, as well as water for industry, livestock, and recreation. However, the river and its communities are threatened by an army ammunition plant that has been contaminating water supplies with toxic chemical pollution for years. The U.S. Army and its Holston Army Ammunition Plant must immediately stop polluting the Holston River with harmful explosive chemicals.
#4: Smith River, Montana
Threat: Copper mining
At Risk: Water quality, nationally renowned wild trout fishery
The Smith River is one of the most cherished floating and fishing destinations in Montana. The river is home to a nationally-renowned wild trout fishery, and provides prime habitat for dozens of fish and wildlife species. The river is threatened by a huge proposed copper mine in its headwaters that could seriously degrade water quality with acid mine drainage and toxic heavy metals. The State of Montana should not permit the copper mine unless it can be designed in a way that eliminates any risk to the river’s water quality and habitat.
#5: Edisto River, South Carolina
Threat: Excessive water withdrawals
At Risk: Water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation
The Edisto River is one of South Carolina’s most popular rivers for paddling, fishing, and outdoor fun. It’s also the state’s most heavily used river for irrigation, and excessive agricultural water withdrawals are threatening water quality and the water supplies of other users. While the state’s permitting process requires industrial and municipal water users to meet requirements to safeguard river health and clean water, large agribusinesses get a pass. The South Carolina House of Representatives must pass H.3564 this year to end this unfair exemption so that the Edisto, and all of the state’s rivers, can continue to provide sustainable water supplies for all, while supporting river health and recreation.
#6: Chuitna River, Alaska
Threat: Coal mining
At Risk: Native culture, wild salmon, and clean water
The Chuitna River supports Alaskan Native communities, wild salmon, abundant wildlife including moose, bear, and wolf, and excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other recreation. PacRim Coal’s proposal to develop what would be Alaska’s largest open-pit coal strip mine at the Chuitna River’s headwaters poses an unacceptable threat to the economy and communities that rely on clean water and healthy salmon runs. Unless the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denies the mine’s permit, this pristine wild river and its communities will be irreparably damaged.
#7: Rogue/Smith Rivers, Oregon/California
Threat: Strip mining
At Risk: Clean water, drinking water, wild salmon and steelhead runs, Wild and Scenic Rivers
The Wild and Scenic Illinois Rogue (OR) and Smith (OR and CA) rivers are known for their healthy salmon runs, world-renowned plant biodiversity, and outstanding recreation. However, proposed nickel mining in these rivers’ headwaters threatens their unique values. Immediate closure of the area to mining is the most effective way to help prevent the development of nickel strip mines from turning the pristine headwaters of the highest concentration of wild rivers in the country into an industrial mining zone. The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Interior must withdraw this area from mining immediately to protect this wild treasure.
#8: St. Louis River, Minnesota
Threat: Copper-nickel sulfide mining
At Risk: Clean water and wildlife habitat
Minnesota’s Arrowhead region is known for its pure and abundant waters, deep forests, expansive wetlands, and recreational opportunities. However, a proposed copper-nickel sulfide mine at the headwaters of the St. Louis River, the region’s main artery, threatens drinking water, wildlife, and the treaty-protected hunting, fishing, and gathering rights of the Ojibwe people. It is critical that state and federal regulators deny permits for the mine plan because it does not sufficiently protect the St. Louis River and its communities.
#9: Harpeth River, Tennessee
Threat: Sewage pollution and water withdrawals
At Risk: Clean water, fish and wildlife, recreation
The Harpeth River is one of the few free-flowing rivers in Tennessee. It flows through one of the fastest growing regions in the country, but remains an oasis for local families, anglers, and paddlers. The river’s waters, fish and wildlife, and recreation values are threatened by sewage and water treatment plant expansions. Unless state officials require state-of-the-art technology to improve sewage treatment, the river will be overwhelmed by treated sewage pollution and public health could be compromised.
#10: Pearl River, Louisiana/Mississippi
Threat: New dam
At Risk: Healthy wetlands and wildlife habitat
The Pearl River runs through Central Mississippi and supports vital oyster reefs and marsh habitat in the Mississippi Sound. Coastal wetlands and commercial fisheries depend on the Pearl River’s flows. However, the river’s health has been compromised by the Barnett Dam north of Jackson, Mississippi. Now, a new dam has been proposed for the Pearl that would cause additional harm to river health, wetlands, and fish and wildlife habitat. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must reject this unnecessary and ecologically harmful new dam.
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.
