July 17, 2014
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(Columbia, SC) – American Rivers, the Southern Environmental Law Center, and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League announced a settlement agreement with Duke Energy and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control that includes important protections for the Catawba and Wateree rivers and imperiled fish and wildlife. The agreement ends a legal stalemate over the issuance of a new operating license for the Catawba-Wateree hydroelectric project.
“This is a great victory for the river and everyone who cares about the health of the Catawba and Wateree rivers,” said Gerrit Jobsis, Southeast Regional Director for American Rivers. “This settlement ensures that Duke Energy does its part to take care of these rivers that are an important resource for people and nature in this region.”
The Catawba-Wateree project is the nation’s largest hydroelectric project currently undergoing the federal licensing process. The project consists of 11 dams and impacts 300 miles of the Catawba and Wateree rivers from the North Carolina foothills near Morganton, North Carolina, to Congaree National Park near Columbia, South Carolina. Operating licenses, once issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, last from 30 to 50 years and can include a broad array of measures to benefit river and ecosystem health, including the release of more natural flows, water quality improvements, and fish passage requirements.
“This is a great day for the Catawba-Wateree River. The agreement between the parties strikes the proper balance between energy supply and ecological protection – and that’s good news for folks who care about the river,” said Julie Youngman, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.
The Catawba-Wateree settlement ensures Duke Energy will provide special water releases from the Wateree Dam to benefit endangered sturgeon and other species. Sturgeon, found in 76 miles of the Wateree River, benefit from certain flows at specific times of the year to aid in their spawning. The settlement also safeguards specific dam operations for seasonal inundation of the Wateree River floodplain, a natural area without homes or businesses. This will allow dam operations to more closely reflect natural conditions and protect the area’s fish and wildlife. Through the settlement, Duke Energy agrees to halt legal and regulatory challenges to the state of South Carolina’s ability to issue a water quality permit for the new operating license.
“This agreement will have positive, long-term benefits for water quality, wildlife, and important habitats like the downstream Congaree National Park,” said Natalie Olson, Project Manager for the S.C. Coastal Conservation League. “This agreement represents the future of businesses, governments, and the community working together to find comprehensive solutions to environmental challenges.”
Each year at least 10 million people visit the Catawba-Wateree to enjoy boating, camping, hiking and fishing. These visitors contribute to a $100 million recreation economy. American Rivers has named the Catawba and Wateree rivers among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® three times in the past decade because of outdated water management and threats to clean water.
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About Southern Environmental Law Center
The Southern Environmental Law Center is a regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast.
The Southern Environmental Law Center is a regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC’s team of more than 40 legal and policy experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use.
WEB: www.SouthernEnvironment.org
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/selc_org
About The Coastal Conservation League
Since 1989, the Coastal Conservation League has been working with communities, businesses, other conservation and citizen groups to protect what we love about the South Carolina coast. From the white sand beaches and pristine marshes to the freshwater swamps and pine savannahs, we focus on the most efficient and effective ways to protect natural habitats, the wildlife that depends on them and the variety of benefits they bring to this state. We also believe that the communities we live in, the air we breathe and the water we depend upon are important and that our quality of life deserves the same high level of attention. To learn more, go to www.scccl.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.
July 17, 2014
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(Denver, CO) – American Rivers and Western Resource Advocates – two of the foremost authorities on Western water issues – today issued a new report that identifies conservation, reuse and other innovative solutions that could eliminate Western water shortages stemming from the over-taxed and stressed Colorado River. The report defines five cost-effective and clearly defined solutions that – if implemented at a larger scale across the basin – could meet the water needs of the West’s businesses, agriculture, and growing population through 2060.
Communities across the West that rely on the river for drinking water, recreation and agriculture are ready for real-world solutions that they can start today and this solution set provides a game plan.
The Hardest Working River in the West: Common-Sense Solutions for a Reliable Water Future for the Colorado River Basin provides a comprehensive package of proven methods to conserve water. The report then estimates that 4.4 million acre-feet of water* could be saved and made available for other uses if these proven methods are implemented throughout the basin – more than enough water to meet projected growth in water needs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, for the next half-century.
This report comes at a critical time for these seven Western states. Just last week it was reported that the sustained drought in the southwestern U.S. has depleted Lake Mead to levels not seen since Hoover Dam was completed. Lake Powell, which supplies hydroelectric power to millions of people, is also critically low, jeopardizing its power production. Due to high water demands, the Colorado River no longer regularly reaches the sea and is at even further risk for depletion due to chronic drought and rapid population growth.
“Our report showcases the ‘All-Star’ water solutions – actions that are proven, cost-effective and ready to meet our current and future water needs,” said Bart Miller, Water Program Director at Western Resource Advocates. “The fact is, there is a lot of concern about the Colorado River right now but these solutions will work and help everyone – from agriculture to growing cities – have plenty of water now and in the future. It’s time for our Western leaders to draft these All-Star solutions and put them to work.”
* One acre-foot of water equals the amount of water that covers one acre of land to a depth of one foot, or 326,000 gallons
“There is a widening water gap creating 3.8 million acre-feet of additional water needed to meet the needs of the growing population of the West. This is an enormous amount which, if not carefully managed, could deplete the river and dramatically alter the landscape of the seven basin states,” said Matt Rice, Director of Colorado Basin Programs for American Rivers. “These solutions will ensure the river’s resources meet all future water needs for urban, rural, business and agricultural communities across all seven basin states, while still protecting the natural environment of the West.”
In addition to being cost-effective, these steps are faster and resolve water challenges better and cheaper than dams or diversions. The five solutions in the report protect the West’s recreational economy, are flexible enough to meet demand in high-snowpack, rainy or drought years, and protect the Colorado River for future generations. Each of these solutions has been tested and proven effective in cities or regions across the West.
The five critical steps for solving our current and future water shortages are:
- Municipal conservation, saving 1.0 million acre-feet through such efforts as improved landscaping techniques, rebate programs that incentivize water-saving devices and standardized water audits
- Municipal reuse, saving 1.2 million acre-feet through gray water treatment and re-use for irrigation, industrial uses and other purposes
- Agricultural efficiency and water banking, saving 1.0 million acre-feet via voluntary, compensated improvements in irrigation efficiency and technology, crop shifting and other measures (while avoiding permanently taking agricultural lands out of production)
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency, saving 160 thousand acre-feet using wind, solar PV, and geothermal energy solutions, and new water-efficient thermoelectric power plants
- Innovative water opportunities, generating up to 1.1 million acre-feet through creative measures such as invasive plant removal, dust-on-snow mitigation and targeted inland desalinization.
According to American Rivers and Western Resource Advocates, the economic and environmental damage of a further-diminished Colorado River are unacceptable. Millions of people rely on the river for drinking water, agriculture and future economic growth. Also, a dry Colorado River would drastically change our quality of life and failing to implement common sense, effective water conservation solutions could result in significant disruptions in Western economies as strident measures such as permanent agricultural fallowing could result.
Some key facts about the river:
- The river irrigates 15 percent of the nation’s crops on 5.7 million acres of farmland.
- The river directly supports $26 billion in recreational and tourism economies and 234,000 jobs across its seven state basin.
- 36 million people both inside and outside of the Colorado River basin rely on the river for municipal drinking water.
- The river and its tributaries flow through seven national wildlife refuges and 11 national parks.
- More than 30 distinct fish species are found only in the Colorado River. Four of those have gone extinct and 12 are imperiled.
In addition to providing solutions for future water use, this report comes as major municipal water suppliers that rely on the Colorado River are initiating a program to test conservation and efficiency measures to improve water supply reliability as well as bolster the levels of Lakes Mead and Powell.
“Municipal agencies recognizing the challenges facing the River are taking a bold step with their conservation measures, which can prevent permanent fallowing of agricultural land or other drastic measures,” added Miller. “We support their current efforts and recommend they implement the solutions in this report to fully tackle water shortages.”
To learn more about the critical role of the Colorado River to seven Western states, or the read the report in its entirety, please visit www.ColoradoRiverSolutions.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.
June 12, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – New Mexico Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich today introduced the New Mexico Drought Relief Act of 2014. The bill promotes innovative approaches to water management that will help keep water in rivers to benefit fish and wildlife while supporting rural economies.
In addition to initiating a study by the National Academy of Sciences to identify barriers to optimizing river health and water use, the bill reauthorizes the Department of Interior’s WaterSMART Program and leverages critical Farm Bill conservation programs to mitigate the impacts of drought, help restore rivers, and ensure clean water supplies while protecting working farms and rural economies.
American Rivers President Bob Irvin released the following statement:
“We thank Senators Udall and Heinrich for taking a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to addressing persistent drought and securing water supplies that will benefit people while maintaining healthy rivers.”
“Rivers and communities are threatened by water scarcity brought on by persistent drought and growing demand. The solutions in this bill are the kinds of steps we need to be taking in New Mexico and across the West.”
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 11. 2014
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(Petersburg, VA)– Work is underway to remove the Harvell Dam on the Appomattox River—with removal of the concrete spillway scheduled to begin on July 15, 2014. As the first obstruction on the river, the Harvell Dam has long been deemed the most critical fish passage site on the Appomattox and one of the highest priority sites for migratory fish restoration in Virginia. The project will re-open 127 miles of upstream habitat for migratory fish, such as American and Hickory Shad, American Eel, and river herring. Once complete, the dam removal is also expected to enhance recreational boating and fishing, providing an estimated $68 million economic boost to the area.
“Removing the Harvell dam will provide migratory fish like shad and herring greater access to their historical spawning grounds and will return this section of the Appomattox to a free-flowing river,” said David K. Whitehurst, Director, Bureau of Wildlife Resources, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The project is a collaborative effort of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), American Rivers, and the Harvell Dam Corporation, with support from the City of Petersburg, to restore migratory fish populations.
Both American Shad and river herring populations have drastically declined from their historical numbers due to over-fishing and loss of habitat. Access to spawning and rearing grounds within the watershed is a critical component in the effort to restore these valuable migratory fish species.
“The removal of Harvell Dam is a great example of the benefits of river restoration for wildlife and people, with the project reopening more than a hundred miles of important river habitat, improving recreational opportunities and providing millions of dollars in economic benefit,” said Wendi Weber, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Director. “This work is a high priority for our agency, and we are proud to collaborate with our partners to conserve the region’s natural resources.”
The Harvell Dam, originally constructed to generate hydropower, will be the sixteenth dam removed within the Chesapeake Bay drainage in Virginia since 2004. Its removal will contribute to the nearly 1000 miles of river and stream habitat already reopened to migratory and resident fish species, and help to attain the Chesapeake Bay fish passage overall goal of opening an additional 1000 stream miles by 2025. Removal is expected to be completed in early September.
“Together, we have been able to make real headway in restoring this important fish habitat,” said John Bullard, regional administrator, NOAA Fisheries. “Providing fish with the right places to breed, grow, and mature represents our single best opportunity to recover aquatic ecosystems. During restoration, jobs are created. When the work is done, we have a healthy ecosystem for local residents and visitors to enjoy that support new recreational and commercial businesses, all benefiting the local economy.”
Funding for dam removal implementation is made possible by grants from the Service’s National Fish Passage Program and NOAA’s Open Rivers Initiative program. Feasibility and additional engineering funding was provided by VDGIF and the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program.
The Harvell Dam is just one of more than 84,000 dams in the U.S., many of which require significant repairs or upgrades. As these figures continue to climb—groups like the American Society of Civil Engineers estimate a repair bill of more than $21 billion—there has been a shift toward removing dams that no longer serve their intended purposes or where the dam’s costs outweigh its benefits. As a result, more than 1,143 dams have been removed across the U.S. over the past 100 years. A good example of successful restoration is the VDGIF’s documentation of American Shad and Blueback Herring utilizing over 28 additional miles of the Rappahannock River after Embry Dam was removed in 2004. Furthermore, Hickory Shad, Alewife and Striped Bass have been documented, and significant American Eel population increases in the upper watershed have been directly linked to the dam removal.
To learn more about the VDGIF: www.dgif.virginia.gov
To learn more about the Service: www.fws.gov/northeast
To learn more about NOAA: www.noaa.gov/
To learn more about American Rivers: www.americanrivers.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.
June 2, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers applauded the Obama Administration today for taking a major step in the fight against global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency released a draft proposal to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants.
Power plants are responsible for 40 percent of U.S. carbon emissions, a major contributor to global warming. The EPA’s proposal would reduce carbon pollution from power plants 25 percent by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030.
The President of American Rivers, Bob Irvin, made the following statement:
“Global warming is one of the defining environmental challenges of our time, and we applaud the Obama Administration for championing real solutions. The EPA’s proposal will have major benefits for public health and the environment.”
“We are already seeing the impacts of climate disruption on our rivers and water resources. More frequent and severe floods and droughts are putting new stresses on communities nationwide. While it is imperative that we reduce carbon emissions, we must also prepare for these impacts. American Rivers will continue to work with the Administration and Congress to ensure a future in which healthy rivers support healthy, resilient communities.”
Learn more about rivers and climate disruption here.
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, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service for taking an important step towards restoring rivers and ensuring clean water supplies, while protecting the nation’s working farms and rural economies.
NRCS announced its Regional Conservation Partnership Program, a new 2014 Farm Bill conservation program that will invest $1.2 billion over five years to assist voluntary, locally-driven efforts on private lands, including water quality restoration, drought mitigation, flood prevention, and habitat revitalization. The program, which will prioritize landscape conservation efforts in critical river basins including the Colorado River, Columbia River, Mississippi River, Chesapeake Bay, and California’s Bay-Delta, presents an opportunity to strategically link land and water conservation efforts at a landscape scale. American Rivers thanked Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Congressman Scott Tipton (R-CO) for their leadership in advancing the program.
“Private landowners are important partners in river conservation and we all benefit when we work together. This program will not only advance innovative river conservation solutions, it will benefit individual farmers and ranchers, as well as local economies and communities in key river basins,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers.
“Prioritizing investment in key river basins will ensure major benefits for clean water supplies, wildlife habitat, and local economies. American Rivers looks forward to working with NRCS and farmers and ranchers to leverage this program to ensure healthy rivers and sustainable use of our natural resources,” said Irvin.
About American Rivers
American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers, and conserves clean water for people and nature. Since 1973, American Rivers has protected and restored more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects, and an annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® campaign. Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 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 24, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – One of the nation’s biggest river restoration efforts will get a major boost today thanks to Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introducing legislation to authorize the Klamath River Restoration Agreements.
The legislation authorizes agreements that resolve long-standing water rights disputes, increase water supply reliability for upper basin agricultural communities, improve river flows and water quality, restore wetlands, and restore struggling Klamath River salmon runs.
“Today marks a major step forward for one of our nation’s biggest river restoration projects. We applaud Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, Senator Feinstein, and Senator Boxer for championing this legislation that will heal the Klamath River and revitalize its communities,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “The Klamath story shows that by working together, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and find solutions that work for fish, farms, and families.”
The agreements, the first of which was finalized in 2010, are the product of years of negotiations among more than 40 stakeholder groups including American Rivers, with the goal of restoring the river, reviving ailing salmon and steelhead runs, and revitalizing fishing, tribal, and farming communities. If enacted, the legislation will open access to more than 300 miles of habitat for salmon and steelhead.
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 24, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers, the nation’s leading voice for healthy rivers and clean water, today announced the 2014 kickoff of National River Cleanup®, a program that mobilizes volunteers across the country to clean up trash from local rivers and streams. Thanks to National River Cleanup, more than 1 million volunteers have removed 17 million pounds of litter and debris from waterways across America over the past 20 years.
Healthy rivers provide benefits like clean drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife, and opportunities for fishing, boating, and other recreation. Communities nationwide are protecting and restoring their rivers to improve economic growth and quality of life. Unfortunately, millions of tons of trash, such as plastic bags, old appliances and tires, ends up in our rivers and streams each year. River cleanups help turn forgotten streams into community assets once again.
“National River Cleanup provides an excellent opportunity for children and adults to give back to their communities and help their local rivers,” said Peter Roquemore, National River Cleanup campaign manager for American Rivers. “River cleanup volunteers often go on to become lifelong stewards of their local waterways.” To learn more about National River Cleanup, find a river cleanup near you, or organize your own cleanup, visit www.americanrivers.org/make-an-impact/national-river-cleanup/
The National River Cleanup Program is sponsored by Cox Enterprises, Keurig Green Mountain and REI. These companies have made a long-term commitment to American Rivers’ work to protect and restore rivers across 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 22, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – The Senate voted today to approve HR 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA). The bill, which President Obama is expected to sign, makes major changes to how Army Corps of Engineers water projects are reviewed under cornerstone environmental laws.
“WRRDA is a mixed bag for rivers,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers. “On the one hand, it will be more difficult to challenge harmful water projects. On the other hand, there are a couple of important river restoration initiatives in the bill.”
“River conservationists across the nation will face new challenges as they fight to protect rivers from harmful water projects. Passage of HR 3080 will result in shorter public comment periods, cursory reviews of project impacts, and a reduced time period for filing legal challenges. The public will have to engage early and often to make sure water projects don’t bring undue harm to river health, clean water, and wildlife,” said Irvin.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects for flood risk management, navigation, and other purposes can have an enormous impact on rivers, at a huge cost to the federal taxpayer. Natural resource agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service review these projects to ensure impacts are minimized and they comply with environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.
WRRDA shifts control of these environmental review processes from resource agencies to the Corps and local project sponsors, shortens deadlines for public comment and agency reviews, levies fines for resource agencies unable to meet deadlines, and reduces the statute of limitations for legal challenges to harmful projects from six years to three. These changes have the potential to seriously undermine environmental review of Corps projects.
Despite these provisions, WRRDA does emphasize the importance of investing in water infrastructure – which is especially critical as infrastructure ages and the impacts of climate change increase. For example, WRRDA establishes a federal credit assistance program that has the potential to provide needed investment in water infrastructure if implemented properly. American Rivers will work with the EPA, the Corps, and interested stakeholders to ensure that the program prioritizes cost-effective projects that protect clean water, and minimizes harmful impacts to rivers and the communities that depend on them.
One bright spot in WRRDA is a section authorizing river restoration projects in the Northern Rockies, where the Corps will pursue strongly supported natural approaches to mitigating the impacts of extreme weather.
“This provision will provide a triple bottom line for the Northern Rockies states by mitigating the impacts of droughts and floods, bolstering fish and wildlife, and saving taxpayer dollars. Recent polling on this issue found that three-quarters of Montanans prefer using natural approaches to mitigate the impacts of floods and drought as opposed to building new dams and levees,” said Scott Bosse, Northern Rockies Director for American 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.
May 6, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers, made the following statement on the passing of Billy Frank Jr:
“All of us at American Rivers are saddened at the news of the passing of Billy Frank Jr. Billy Frank was a giant of a man who leaves a tremendous legacy advocating for tribal fishing rights and the restoration of Puget Sound and Pacific Northwest rivers and salmon. His efforts helped the region move to a better balance between development and river conservation. From his home river, the Nisqually, to rivers across the Northwest, communities will benefit for generations to come from Billy Frank’s lessons of stewardship.”
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 9, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers named San Francisquito Creek among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2014 today, shining a national spotlight on the impact Stanford University’s antiquated Searsville Dam is having on the health of the creek and its fish and wildlife.
“The America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is a call to action to save rivers that are at a critical tipping point,” said Kerri McLean of American Rivers. “This is the year for Stanford University to commit to removing Searsville Dam to restore San Francisquito Creek, revitalize fish and wildlife, and improve flood protection and recreation for the surrounding community.”
San Francisquito Creek is harmed by the 65 feet tall and 275 feet wide Searsville Dam. Originally built more than 120 years ago to provide drinking water, the dam has only provided irrigation water for Stanford’s golf course and landscaping. However, the dam is no longer needed even for that purpose. More than 90 percent of the reservoir is now filled in with sediment. Stanford could offset the small amount of water used from Searsville with existing low impact facilities. The dam also increases flooding risks to upstream and downstream communities.
Searsville Dam blocks 20 miles of threatened steelhead trout spawning habitat while degrading water quality and spreading non-native species downstream. The Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration has identified this mostly natural watershed as one of the key “anchor watersheds” in the San Francisco Bay for recovering wild steelhead runs.
American Rivers and its partners called on Stanford to remove the dam to restore this ecologically significant creek while implementing low impact water use and flood protection measures.
“Stanford claims to be a sustainable and green university, but its ongoing operation of this destructive and unnecessary dam shows otherwise,” said Beyond Searsville Dam founder Matt Stoecker. “The university has a unique opportunity to practice what they teach, show leadership in watershed restoration, and study the revival of an ecosystem.”
“The fact that wild steelhead are still hanging on in Bay Area streams is amazing considering the extensive development, dams, water diversions, and degraded water quality. Steelhead are often referred to as the ‘backyard fish’ because of their propensity to swim up small urban streams,” said Curtis Knight, Conservation Director for California Trout. “San Francisquito Creek is one of these streams, yet its full potential to harbor steelhead is greatly impaired by Searsville Dam. It’s time for Stanford to do the right thing and take this opportunity to restore California’s backyard fish to the Stanford campus.”
More than 1,100 outdated and unsafe dams have been removed in the U.S. since 1911. Last year alone, 51 dams were removed in the U.S.
San Francisquito Creek flows for 12 miles from protected headwater streams in the Santa Cruz Mountains east through Stanford University, and the cities of Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and East Palo Alto, before meeting the southern portion of San Francisco Bay.
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.
America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2014:
#1 San Joaquin River
California
Threat: Outdated water management and excessive diversions
At Risk: River health and resilient communities
#2 Upper Colorado River System
Colorado
Threat: New trans-mountain water diversions
At Risk: River health and recreation
#3 Middle Mississippi River
Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky
Threat: Outdated flood management
At Risk: Wildlife habitat and public safety
#4 Gila River
New Mexico
Threat: New water diversions
At Risk: River health, fish & wildlife, recreation, and tourism
#5 San Francisquito Creek
California
Threat: Dam
At Risk: Fish and wildlife habitat and public safety
#6 South Fork Edisto River
South Carolina
Threat: Excessive water withdrawals
At Risk: Fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and water quality
#7 White River (CO)
Colorado
Threat: Oil and gas drilling
At Risk: Drinking water supplies and fish and wildlife habitat
#8 White River (WA)
Washington
Threat: Outdated dam and fish passage facilities
At Risk: Salmon, steelhead, and bull trout populations
#9 Haw River
North Carolina
Threat: Polluted runoff
At Risk: Clean water
#10 Clearwater/Lochsa Rivers
Idaho
Threat: Industrialization of a Wild and Scenic River corridor
At risk: Scenery, solitude, world-class recreational values
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 9, 2014
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(Washington, DC) – American Rivers named the Middle Mississippi River among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2014 today, shining a national spotlight on the threat a new levee at the New Madrid Floodway poses to wildlife habitat and downstream flood safety.
“The America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is a call to action to save rivers that are at a critical tipping point,” said Eileen Fretz Shader of American Rivers. “Cutting off the Mississippi River’s connection with its floodplain would destroy critical fish and wildlife habitat and put communities at greater risk of flooding. The New Madrid Floodway project is completely at odds with modern floodplain management.”
The Middle Mississippi is threatened by a proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project that would cut off the last connection between the Mississippi River and its natural backwater habitat in the State of Missouri. The Corps proposes constructing a new 1,500 foot levee across the gap at the bottom of the New Madrid Floodway.
In addition to allowing the river to sustain vital habitat, the floodway serves as a “relief valve”, operated during large floods to permit floodwaters to spread out on the Floodway instead of threatening upstream communities like Cairo, IL.
American Rivers and its partners called on the Corps to abandon the New Madrid Levee project, and urged the Environmental Protection Agency to veto the project if the Corps continues to move it forward.
“The levee closure project is an unjustified handout to a small group of landowners who farm within this essential floodway. Its completion would only serve to benefit their bottom line, while making it politically harder to operate the floodway during an inevitable future flood,” said Brad Walker, Rivers and Sustainability Director for Missouri Coalition for the Environment.
“Severing the last remaining connection the Mississippi River has to its floodplain in this part of the river would devastate fish and wildlife populations,” said Melissa Samet, Senior Water Resources Counsel for the National Wildlife Federation. “This project is a subsidy for a small group of landowners that is not in the best interest of the American people. The Obama Administration needs to put a stop to this once and for all.”
“Why should taxpayers build a levee that may need to have a hole blown in it every time the floodway needs to be operated? In terms of the misuse of the public’s money, as well as damage to Missouri’s environment, this is the most wasteful Corps project we have seen in quite some time,” said Bruce Morrison, General Counsel for Great Rivers Environmental Law Center.
The Mississippi River once experienced seasonal floods that spread out over its floodplain, creating a mosaic of backwaters, wetlands, and sloughs. These periodic floods were the driving force behind robust and diverse ecosystems that were home to an amazing array of fish, birds, and wildlife. The Missouri “bootheel”, located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, was once one of the nation’s largest and richest wetland areas.
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.
America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2014:
#1 San Joaquin River
California
Threat: Outdated water management and excessive diversions
At Risk: River health and resilient communities
#2 Upper Colorado River System
Colorado
Threat: New trans-mountain water diversions
At Risk: River health and recreation
#3 Middle Mississippi River
Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky
Threat: Outdated flood management
At Risk: Wildlife habitat and public safety
#4 Gila River
New Mexico
Threat: New water diversions
At Risk: River health, fish & wildlife, recreation, and tourism
#5 San Francisquito Creek
California
Threat: Dam
At Risk: Fish and wildlife habitat and public safety
#6 South Fork Edisto River
South Carolina
Threat: Excessive water withdrawals
At Risk: Fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and water quality
#7 White River (CO)
Colorado
Threat: Oil and gas drilling
At Risk: Drinking water supplies and fish and wildlife habitat
#8 White River (WA)
Washington
Threat: Outdated dam and fish passage facilities
At Risk: Salmon, steelhead, and bull trout populations
#9 Haw River
North Carolina
Threat: Polluted runoff
At Risk: Clean water
#10 Clearwater/Lochsa Rivers
Idaho
Threat: Industrialization of a Wild and Scenic River corridor
At risk: Scenery, solitude, world-class recreational values
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.
