Network invites community organizers in Illinois dealing with flood-related issues to join 

Contact:
Teresa Haley, Illinois NAACP, 217-836-4339 
Olivia Dorothy, American Rivers, 217-390-3758 
Kentaro Kumanomido, United Congregations of the Metro East, 314-537-3212 
Larry Westbrook, Watertown Community Empowerment Coalition, 309-230-8204 

Springfield, IL – With the Spring flood season upon us, American Rivers, Illinois Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Watertown Community Empowerment Organization, and United Congregations of the Metro East is launching a new network for community organizers. 

The Illinois Floodplain Community Justice Network works to center the needs of communities of color in flood management and planning by organizing people, delivering information, and influencing planning and policy.  

“Communities of color are at the forefront of climate change,” said Teresa Haley, President of the Illinois Conference of the NAACP. “And in Illinois, this means they are more likely to suffer from flood-related health and safety issues.” 

According to the State Climatologist, Illinoisans will suffer from more frequent and prolonged flood events, including flash flooding, like the St. Louis and Metro East event on July 26, 2022, when almost a foot of rain fell over the region in 8-hours.  

“We need more information and resources to help local governments center the needs of people of color,” said Olivia Dorothy, Restoration Director at American Rivers. “Too many well-meaning flood risk reduction projects are displacing people of color, disconnecting communities and support networks, and draining intergenerational wealth.” 

There are many factors that drive people of color to have greater flood vulnerability. Formal policies, like redlining, forced many African Americans to live in flood-prone areas and these risks persist today as most communities continue to be segregated along those lines established in the 1920s and 1930s.  

“People of color, and especially African Americans, continue to have higher rates of poverty,” said Larry Westbrook of Watertown Community Empowerment Organization. “This lack of resources means that many people of color struggle to adequately prepare for, stay safe during, and recover from flood events.” 

“We feel that the current disaster management framework, whereby FEMA works directly with municipalities to deliver resources, sometimes fails to support the people who need it most,” said Kentaro Kumanomido of United Congregations of the Metro East. “That’s why engaging with community organizers is so important. Community organizers are nimble and can help municipal engineers center community needs.” 

Community Organizers interested in joining the Network to learn more about how to solve flooding issues in their communities at www.americanrivers.org/Illinois-Floodplain-Community-Justice-Network   

About American Rivers 

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

About Illinois Conference of the NAACP 

The NAACP works to ensure the political, educational, social & economic equality of rights of all persons & to eliminate racial hatred & racial discrimination. The NAACP envisions a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination. For more information, please visit IllinoisNAACP.org.  

About United Congregations of the Metro East 

United Congregations of Metro East is committed to promoting justice and equity for all communities facing systemic challenges, including those related to flooding. We are proud to be a part of the Illinois Floodplain Community Justice Network, which works to center the needs of communities of color in flood management and planning. Through organizing people, delivering information, and influencing planning and policy, our organization is actively working to ensure that all members of our community have a say in decisions that impact their access to vital resources such as clean water and safe housing. We believe that this work is essential to eliminating the root causes of systemic injustice in our region and promoting a more just and equitable society for all. For more information, please visit UCMetroEast.org.  

About Watertown Community Empowerment Coalition  

The Watertown Community Empowerment Coalition creates, provides, and promotes an environment that draws upon the resources of the community of the East Moline community to empower and enhance opportunity through assistance in education, life services, and healthy activities for the welfare of its members.  

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

Today, the Senate voted 53-43 on a bill (H.J. Res. 27/S.J. Res. 7), also known as the Waters of the U.S. Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution, that would invalidate the Biden administration’s Clean Water Restoration Rule, which clarifies the Clean Water Act’s “waters of the United States” and provides a balanced, science-based approach to protecting small streams and wetlands. 

Earlier this month, the House advanced the resolution through the CRA process, a legislative tool for Congress to overturn final rules issued by the federal agencies, to invalidate the rule and prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers to implement water protections.

Small streams make up at least 80 percent of the nation’s network of waterways. They are vital sources of drinking water, critical to the health of communities and ecosystems. Overturning federal protections for small streams and wetlands would make them vulnerable to pollution and destructive development, with potentially disastrous impacts to water quality, groundwater recharge, flood protection, and habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife. 

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

“Too many communities across our country are threatened with polluted water. Too many species of fish, birds, and wildlife are at the brink of extinction because of habitat destruction. Now is not the time to roll back safeguards for clean water and rivers, or create more loopholes for polluters.” 

“The Biden administration’s rule provides a science-based approach that recognizes the common sense fact that pollution upstream can have downstream impacts. Overturning the rule would open streams and wetlands to pollution and destruction. It would threaten the water supplies for millions of Americans and cause far-reaching harm to the rivers on which all life depends.” 

“The Waters of the U.S. CRA aims to weaken bedrock protections under the Clean Water Act, our nation’s primary law governing federal water pollution. We now call on President Biden to veto the Waters of the U.S. CRA and uphold the administration’s Clean Water Restoration Rule.”

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

A chemical spill in Bristol, PA into a tributary of the Delaware River has threatened drinking water for close to one million people, including communities in Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ. On Sunday, residents were cautioned against drinking tap water. Some of the chemicals in the spill are the same as those released into the Ohio River during the train derailment in New Palestine, Ohio. 

Gary Belan, Senior Director for Clean Water at American Rivers, made the following statement: 

“Our health is connected to the health of our rivers. Any threat to a river and drinking water source is ultimately a threat to our own health and well-being. Chemical spills are alarming and demand immediate attention and action. The impacts must be monitored closely, and those responsible for impacts must be held accountable.” 

“The Delaware River is a regional and national treasure. American Rivers named the Delaware ‘River of the Year’ in 2020 to honor the excellent progress in river restoration and water quality. When it comes to the river’s health, we must not go backwards. A healthy Delaware River is essential to all life across the region.” 

The Delaware River basin supplies water to 16 million people in four states. The river also provides vital habitat to fish and wildlife species including the endangered Atlantic sturgeon. The watershed hosts one of the largest populations of wintering bald eagles in the northeast. Great blue herons can sometimes be seen hunting American shad that travel unobstructed between the upper reaches of the river and the Atlantic Ocean. The urban Delaware River is home to globally rare freshwater tidal marshes and the nation’s first Urban National Wildlife Refuge and the Delaware Bay boasts the largest breeding population of horseshoe crabs in the world. 

About American Rivers 

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

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

Washington, DC — American Rivers applauded the Biden Administration’s proposed FY2024 Budget Request for prioritizing healthy rivers, which are essential to public health and safety and the well-being of communities nationwide.  

The request proposes to secure essential funding to help river communities jumpstart water infrastructure projects, reduce pollution, improve water storage in arid regions, and prioritize environmental justice to fight climate change. The President’s Budget would increase spending for critical agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

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

“President Biden’s proposed budget is smart, sensible, and sophisticated. Building on last year’s historic successes to modernize our water infrastructure and improve water quality across the country to create jobs, this budget advances the President’s commitment to river communities and prioritizes river health. With climate change, loss of nature, and racial injustice threatening rivers and river communities, Congress must follow the President’s lead and prioritize spending that supports rivers, which are essential to all life.” 

Earlier this year, American Rivers released its annual community-driven budget and appropriations report, the River Budget: National Priorities for Healthy Rivers and Clean Water, highlighting opportunities to protect healthy rivers and improve access to clean water nationwide. The report is endorsed by 151 partner organizations including utility and state agency associations, fishing groups, small businesses, rural communities, public health organizations, environmental justice leaders, and more. Congress must pass a spending bill ahead of the September 30, 2023, funding deadline. 

Key Budget Toplines: 

Protects Clean Water for All, Advances Environmental Justice, and Prioritizes Nature-Based Solutions 

• $12 billion for EPA, a $1.9 billion or 19-percent increase from the fiscal year 2023 enacted level. Tackles PFAS and implements Justice40 which ensures 40 percent of federal investments reach disadvantaged communities. 
• $2.1 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 
• $3.8 billion budget request for the National Park Service. 

Strengthens the Nation’s Defense Against Wildfires and Supports Climate Smart Agriculture 

• $18.9 billion for DOI, an increase of $2 billion, or 12 percent over last year the 2024 request for discretionary budget authority to fund programs and operating expenses. Addresses catastrophic wildfires which are expected to increase due to climate change. 

• $1.4 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation. Supports drought mitigation and domestic water supply projects. 
• $1.6 billion for the Bureau of Land Management, the proposed 2024 budget for the BLM is an increase of $140.5 million above fiscal year 2023 funding. 
• $32.6 billion for USDA, slightly more than 14.4 percent increase, or $4.7 billion, above the 2023 enacted level. The 2024 request for mandatory programs is $181.7 billion. Supports the 2023 Farm Bill and provides staffing resources to the agency. 

Invests in Flood Mitigation to Bolster Community Resilience 

• $4.0 billion for FEMA climate resilience programs, over a $150 million increase from the FY 2023 enacted budget. Supports flood hazard mapping, including the development of new data to support future flood conditions, as well as funding to sustain the Civilian Climate Corps. 

• $6.8 billion for NOAA, $451 million more than the FY 2023 levels. 

As the FY2024 Appropriations process moves forward, American Rivers will work on multiple fronts to ensure all promises made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act are kept in a final agreement. 

American Rivers will release a detailed analysis on the provisions of the president’s budget that will outline river health priorities in the coming days. 

Award recognizes national leadership for healthy rivers  

March 2, 2023 

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

Washington – American Rivers announced the recipients of the inaugural River Champion Award, recognizing national leadership for healthy rivers. The 2023 awardees are the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), and the Brunckhorst Foundations. 

The awards were presented yesterday evening at American Rivers’ 50^th anniversary celebration at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. 

“We are thrilled to honor these extraordinary leaders who are improving lives and strengthening our nation by advancing solutions for healthy rivers and clean water,” said Tom Kiernan, American Rivers President and CEO.  

“Rivers are essential to our health and our future, but they are facing growing threats. The River Champions of 2023 are demonstrating the courage, vision, and impact that is necessary to ensure rivers continue to sustain all life.” 

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians was honored for leading the coalition to remove the Ela Dam to repair 549 miles of stream and restore cultural connections to the Oconaluftee River, or Long Man. The Cherokees have always viewed the Oconaluftee River as “Long Man (Ga-na-hi-da A-sga-ya),” whose head lies in the mountains and whose feet lie in the sea. Long Man is a sacred figure who provides water to drink, cleanliness, food, and numerous cultural rituals tied to traditional and cultural ceremonies still being practiced today. Dam removal is the fastest way to bring a river back to life. The tribe’s advocacy underscores the importance of greater engagement and leadership by Tribal Nations in river conservation efforts across the country.  

Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID) was honored for his multi-year effort to advance solutions for the Northwest’s rivers, endangered salmon, and communities. In 2021, Rep. Simpson put forward the Energy and Salmon Concept/The Columbia River Initiative.  This creative and comprehensive proposal calls for the removal of the four lower Snake River dams to recover endangered salmon and fulfill obligations to Tribal Nations, while ensuring replacement of the dams’ transportation, irrigation, and energy services. 

Representative Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) was honored for championing protections for rivers in New Hampshire, including the Merrimack River and Connecticut River, and for advancing solutions for rivers nationwide in an era of climate change. In 2021, Rep. Kuster sponsored the Twenty-First Century Dams Act which provides support for dam removal, rehabilitation, and restoration while also supporting tax credits for hydropower projects to add environmental improvements or dam safety improvements.  The bill ultimately had over 40 bipartisan co-sponsors.  

Barbara Brunckhorst and the Brunckhorst Foundations were honored for helping American Rivers achieve our greatest victories over the past decades, including safeguarding more than 150,000 miles of rivers and 3 million acres of riverside lands vital to wildlife and human health. Their steadfast support for nearly 20 years has also allowed American Rivers to drive policies protecting drinking water sources for tens of millions of people. Generous gifts from the Brunckhorst Foundations have allowed American Rivers to consistently put our national expertise, on-the-ground presence, and policy experience to work, ensuring lasting impact for rivers. 

Rivers are essential to all life, and healthy rivers are for everyone, not just a privileged few. In conjunction with its 50^th anniversary celebration, American Rivers announced a new strategic vision that addresses the interconnected crises of climate change, loss of nature, and racial injustice impacting rivers nationwide. The vision is aimed at achieving four ambitious goals: 1) Protect one million miles of rivers, 2) Restore rivers by removing 30,000 dams, 3) Ensure clean water in every community, and 4) Champion a powerful river movement. 

“Tackling the threats facing our rivers and clean water will take all of us,” said Kiernan. “Thank you to the 2023 River Champions for showing the way forward.” 

About American Rivers 

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

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

Resources: 

• Map of dam removals 
• Dam removal highlights from 2022 with case studies 

The movement to restore healthy, flowing rivers continues to grow, American Rivers announced today, with 65 dams in 20 states removed in 2022, reconnecting more than 430 upstream miles of rivers. 

Dam removal is a proven tool to restore river health, improve public safety, revitalize fish and wildlife populations, safeguard cultural values, and reconnect communities to their rivers. River restoration also benefits the economy: every $1 million invested in restoring watersheds generates 16 jobs and up to $2.5 million in economic benefits. 

As part of its leadership in river restoration, American Rivers tracks dam removal trends and maintains a national dam removal database. A total of 2,025 dams have been removed in the U.S. since 1912. 

In 2022, the states leading in dam removal were Ohio (11 removals), Pennsylvania (10 removals), and Virginia (6 removals).

Many, if not most, dams in the U.S. are unnecessary, harmful, and even dangerous. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ National Inventory of Dams catalogs more than 90,000 dams nationwide, but the actual number exceeds 400,000 dams. American Rivers recently announced a goal to remove 30,000 dams by 2050, in partnership with communities, Tribal Nations, and state and federal agencies, to ensure that rivers can continue to sustain life. 

“Rivers are essential to our health and the health of the natural world. Removing a dam is the fastest, most efficient way to bring a river back to life,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers.  

“The river restoration movement is stronger than ever, but in the face of the climate crisis, wildlife extinction and loss of nature, and the racial injustice crisis, it’s crucial that we accelerate our river restoration efforts.” 

Dam removal numbers are once again on the rise across the country, following a lull during the pandemic, as dam safety and resilience to climate change become increasingly important priorities.  

The largest river and salmon restoration project in history will begin this year on the Klamath River in Oregon and California, with the removal of four dams. This effort on the Klamath is the result of decades of leadership and advocacy from the Karuk, Yurok, Klamath and other tribes, and will restore salmon runs, improve water quality, and revitalize cultural connections and food sovereignty. 

Dam removal projects are expected to increase nationwide thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service have already allocated the first round of IIJA funding toward the removal of at least 54 dams. 

Rivers start to come back to life almost immediately after a dam is removed and plants, fish, and wildlife throughout the ecosystem are revitalized. For example, in 2022, numbers of American eel in Maryland’s Patapsco River upstream of the former Bloede Dam (removed in 2018) increased nearly 10-fold each year from 2020 to 2022 (361 in 2020; 3,419 in 2021; and 36,520 in 2022).  

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

About American Rivers 

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

BIG SKY, MONTANA, February 9, 2023 – Outlaw Partners, in conjunction with actor Tom Skerritt, the EVRGRN Channel and Triple Squirrels Productions, is pleased to announce the largest event to ever be held in support of conserving the Gallatin River and rivers across the country. Wildlands Festival, the largest conservation-focused outdoor music festival in southwest Montana, will take place in Big Sky, Montana August 5-6, 2023. The artist announcement and schedule of festival activities will be released on February 21.

The event is a celebration for the 30th anniversary of the Academy Award-winning film, A River Runs Through It, and the50^th anniversary of American Rivers. It comes at a critical time for the Gallatin River, which is threatened by unprecedented development pressure along its length.

American Rivers believes that all life needs healthy rivers to survive. Earlier this year the national nonprofit river conservation organization announced the goal of protecting one million miles of rivers nationwide by 2030. Funds raised at the Wildlands Festival will help the organization work toward that goal and other vital efforts.

“We all need healthy rivers in our lives. Their clean water is essential to our health, and their habitats are critical for wildlife and the entire natural world. Now is the time to come together for their protection. We are honored to be a beneficiary of this event, and we are excited for the opportunity to celebrate rivers and inspire action in Montana and nationwide,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers.

The Wildlands Festival will also bring more attention to policies to help protect rivers including Senator Jon Tester’s Montana Headwaters Legacy Act, which would protect 385 miles of rivers on the Custer-Gallatin and the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forests. This federal legislation, which would double the number of protected river miles in Montana, is the most ambitious river protection bill in the state’s history.

The 2023 Wildlands Festival will feature an all-star lineup of musicians to raise awareness and help preserve America’s rivers, including the locally cherished Gallatin River, where many of the famous scenes from A River Runs Through It were filmed.

In addition to the live concert, Wildlands will offer unique memorabilia and fundraising opportunities to support American Rivers and Gallatin River Task Force — the two nonprofit partners chosen as beneficiaries of this year’s event.

“I’m honored to partner with Wildlands Festival and Outlaw Partners to have a voice and create an impact of care, concern and change for our rivers through music,” said Skerritt. Preserving America’s rivers is a life-long passion for Skerritt, who served on the board of American Rivers and continues to be a strong advocate for river conservation.

“The core ethos of Wildlands has always been to give back while creating an unforgettable music event celebrating wild and scenic spaces,” said Eric Ladd, Founder and Chairman of Outlaw Partners. “Tom’s passion for rivers and leaving an impact for future generations is commendable. We’re grateful to produce Wildlands Festival in support of rivers and the invaluable partners in our backyard.”

“The Task Force is thrilled to be included as a beneficiary in this year’s Wildlands Festival. The overwhelming support of this community to invest in our work and in the solutions for the Gallatin River is critical to our success,” said Kristin Gardner, Chief Executive and Science Officer of the Gallatin River Task Force. “The event provides tremendous potential to raise awareness about our community resource — and the means by which we must work to keep it thriving. We couldn’t be more grateful to have this public platform to elevate the importance of keeping the Gallatin healthy.”

Stay tuned to wildlandsfestival.com for updates.

About Tom Skerritt
Tom Skerritt is an Emmy Award-winning TV and film actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962. He is known for his roles in M*A*S*H, Alien, Turning Point, Top Gun, A River Runs Through It, Steel Magnolias, and Emmy award television series and directed Picket Fences. In 2020, Skerritt founded the digital media company Triple Squirrels Inc. and launched EVRGRN Channel, a free ad-supported channel available on STIRR, iOS, Android, streaming TV devices and on demand.

About Outlaw Partners
Outlaw Partners is an award-winning experiential marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky and Bozeman, Montana.  Formed around the pioneering principles of the Code of the West, Outlaw Partners builds brands that live to challenge the status quo. Founded in 2009, Outlaw Partners’ award-winning media publications include Mountain Outlaw magazine, Explore Big Sky newspaper and VIEWS magazine. In addition, we produce hand-curated events in Southwest Montana such as Wildlands Music Festival, Big Sky Professional Bull Riding, and the Big Sky Ideas Festival. With multiple awards for content and graphic design, Outlaw Partners is driven to make an impact in the world by creating meaningful connections, supporting local community organizations, inspiring action in service, and producing quality content that represents a unique demographic and fosters a global kinship to the spirit of the Mountain West. For more information, please visit www.outlaw.partners

About Wildlands Festival
Produced by Outlaw Partners, the Wildlands Festival takes place at the Big Sky Events Arena in Big Sky, Montana with the 11,166-foot iconic Lone Peak as the backdrop. This exciting and inspiring music event brings people together who have a mutual love for wild and scenic rivers, outdoor recreation, parks, trails and the enjoyment of what makes the Greater Yellowstone region special. Previous Wildlands Festival artists include: Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Robert Earl Keen and Madeline Hawthorne, among others.

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

About Gallatin River Task Force
The Gallatin River Task Force has been protecting the Gallatin River and advocating for sustainable water management for over two decades. Utilizing a watershed approach to resource conservation, the organization prioritizes problem-solving in key focus areas; ecological health of a river system, water conservation, and wastewater management.  The Task Force’s approach ensures broad stakeholder involvement and inclusivity, is community-based, relies on local leadership, and encourages collaboration for solutions-driven action. Conservation, mindful water sustainability and stewardship of the Gallatin River Watershed are paramount elements to the organization’s work and goals for a clean, cold, healthy river for future generations. For more information, please visit gallatinrivertaskforce.org

American Rivers releases art series to celebrate 50^th anniversary, inspire action 

February 6, 2023 

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

American Rivers today released the first of five limited-edition works of art to highlight the essential role rivers play in our lives. The series is part of the organization’s 50^th anniversary celebration and is designed to inspire action for healthy rivers. 

 “There’s a really nice symbiosis of using wood type as the base of these graphics. Because without rivers, trees don’t grow,” said Allison Fisher, manager of the Globe Collection and Press at MICA. “I like those really quiet moments in design where things sync nicely or in a way you don’t necessarily expect them to.” 

“We believe art has an important role to play in advocacy,” said Katy Neusteter, marketing director at American Rivers. “Art can remind us of our deep connections to rivers and the importance of healthy rivers and clean water in our lives.” 

Nearly everyone in our country lives within a mile of a river but few know what that river provides. Much of our drinking water comes directly from rivers, and clean water contributes to our health. Natural river habitats support thousands of plant and animal species. Our farms and cities depend on abundant river water for growth. For many of us, rivers offer recreation and a way to connect to nature. 

But rivers nationwide are threatened by pollution, dams, and increasing droughts and floods. Perhaps the greatest threat to our rivers is simply lack of awareness of how important they are to our lives. American Rivers is tackling these challenges with a bold vision to 1) protect 1 million miles of rivers, 2) remove 30,000 dams, 3) ensure clean water for every community, and 4) champion a powerful river movement.  

“Art inspires action and can help strengthen our nation’s river movement. Art can help create the transformational change we need for rivers and river communities everywhere,” said Neusteter. 

Over the coming months, American Rivers will release additional exclusive artwork by Jade Schulz, Robert Hodgin, Susana Sanchez, and Sarah Uhl.  

The art is available for purchase through the American Rivers store:  https://www.americanrivers.org/wear-your-love-for-rivers/ 

About American Rivers 

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

www.AmericanRivers.org 

Contact:  Jaime D. Sigaran, jsigaran@americanrivers.org, (240) 593-3433 

Washington, DC – American Rivers today released its annual community-driven budget and appropriations report, the River Budget: National Priorities for Healthy Rivers and Clean Water of Fiscal Year 2024 highlighting opportunities to protect healthy rivers and improve access to clean water nationwide. 

The report is endorsed by 150 partner organizations including utility and state agency associations, fishing groups, small businesses, rural communities, public health organizations, environmental justice leaders, and more. Congress must pass a spending bill ahead of the September 30, 2023 funding deadline. 

“Investment in rivers and clean water is an investment in our health, our economy, and our future. American Rivers and our partners urge the government to support funding for these key federal agencies and critical programs that will restore rivers, improve public health and safety, and strengthen communities in the face of climate change,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers. 

The River Budget includes priorities in five key categories: 

1. Promote Climate-Smart Agriculture: 

We can accelerate the pace and scale of innovation by adopting climate-smart practices and technologies in the upcoming Farm Bill and appropriations process. This will enable farmers, ranchers, landowners, and scientists to create enhanced state-federal partnerships. The River Budget calls on the Administration and Congress to support farmers who need better access to conservation programs, improved data and research, and technical assistance to reduce pollution and improve overall water quality. 

• $550 million – Agricultural Conservation Easement Program 
• $1.8 billion – Conservation Stewardship Program 
• $2.27 billion – Environmental Quality Incentives Program 
• $500 million – Regional Conservation Partnership Program 
• $750 million – Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program – Subsidies and Grants 

2. Restore Wetlands: 

Healthy watersheds, which include rivers, wetlands, small streams and tributaries, floodplains and estuaries, build resilience to climate change by providing flood protection, aquifer recharge, habitat for wildlife, water supply and water quality benefits. The River Budget calls on the Administration and Congress to strengthen communities and ecosystems by protecting and restoring rivers in step with the America the Beautiful goal of conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030. 

• $7.5 million – Wild and Scenic Rivers Program 

• $5 million – Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program 
• $15 million – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance 
• $100 million – Legacy Roads and Trails Program 
• $51 million – Threatened and Endangered Species Program 

3. Modernize Flood Management: 

As floods become more frequent and severe, communities need cost-effective, reliable solutions to protect people and property and safeguard river health. The River Budget calls on the Administration and Congress to fund the following key efforts: 

• $2 billion – Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program 
• $20 million – Engineering With Nature 
• $700 million – Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program 
• $200 million – Flood Plain Management and Flood Mapping 

4. Improve Water Infrastructure: 

Fortifying our nation’s drinking water and wastewater facilities to be resilient and sustainable requires urgent investment, especially in proven solutions like green stormwater infrastructure. The River Budget calls on the Administration and Congress to support necessary funding requests to address the scale of the drinking and clean water infrastructure crises. 

• $7.6 billion each for the Clean Water SRF and Drinking Water SRF 

• $225 million for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Pilot Program 
• $280 million for the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants Program 
• $91.5 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program 
• $425 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 
• $54 million for the Puget Sound Program 

5. Remove and Rehabilitate Dams: 

Dams harm river health and drastically disrupt the ecosystem, often leading to sharp declines in native fish and wildlife. Often the fastest way to restore a river is by removing a dam. The River Budget calls on the Administration and Congress to improve public safety, restore the natural functions of rivers, help endangered fish species, create jobs, protect important environmental and cultural resources, and increase climate resilience. 

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

• $92 million – National Dam Safety Program  
• $30 million – National Fish Passage Program  

In the American Rivers 2021 Blueprint for Action, American Rivers called on Congress to invest over the next 10 years $200 billion to improve water infrastructure, $200 billion to modernize flood management and $100 billion to restore watersheds in our communities. The recent Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provided a significant down payment and infusion of funding that addresses the complex challenges of a changing climate. Now, it is time for the Administration and Congress to fully deliver on solutions for public health and safety in river communities across the country.  

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

About American Rivers

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

Contact: Kayeloni Scott, 208-790-1815, kscott@americanrivers.org

Washington, DC – American Rivers is very pleased to see Congress protect and restore rivers as a part of an end of year spending bill including new Wild and Scenic River designations and studies for nearly 200 miles of rivers in Maine, Connecticut, and Florida. A bipartisan group of members of Congress championed these protections including U.S. Senators Angus King Jr. (I) and Susan Collins (R) from Maine and U.S. Representatives Darren Soto (D) and Vern Buchanan (R) from Florida.  

The legislation moving through Congress is a step forward and in addition to the aforementioned, we applaud the hard work championed by Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mitt Romney (R-UT), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Susie Lee (D-NV), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Rosa Delauro (D-CT), Kay Granger (R-TX), Jahana Hayes (D-CT) along with Joe Neguse (D-CO), Dina Titus (D-NV), Jason Crow (D-CO) and Diana DeGette (D-CO). 

The York River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2021 (HR 1469 / S. 491) and Housatonic Wild and Scenic River Act of 2022 (HR. 7551/ S. 4122) made it onto the omnibus. The federal designation would bring federal recognition and resources to the river towns upstream and downstream to support conservation efforts. This includes enhanced recreation use, clean water, habitat for wildlife, and countless other benefits.  

Additionally, Wild and Scenic studies and interim protections for the Little Manatee and Kissimmee Rivers in Florida were also included. For the Kissimmee the bill would study protection of the source of the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee and the heart of water supplies for central Florida. After decades of restoration and spending nearly $1 billion, over 63,000 acres of wetlands has been re-established within the watershed for fish, wildlife, and flora. This study would consider protecting that investment by authorizing a study to assess inclusion of the river in the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.  For the Little Manatee, which flows 51-miles from its headwaters into Tampa Bay, the study would analyze protections for one of the most pristine blackwater rivers in Florida, which is already recognized by the State as an ‘Outstanding Florida Water’. 

“Protecting rivers isn’t a luxury, it’s essential to our health, our economy, and the future of our country. We urge the next Congress to build on this bipartisan opportunity to protect rivers so we can preserve clean water, nature, and sacred values for future generations,” said Tom Kiernan, President of American Rivers. 

Several other provisions made it onto the omnibus which enhance resilience in the Colorado River Basin. This includes the Colorado River Basin Conservation Act, which authorizes the System Conservation Pilot Program 2023 and 2024. This is a key voluntary water conservation program that can help address drought in the region and builds on past successes to incentivize and support voluntary water conservation across the Upper Colorado River Basin. If successfully implemented, it will help keep more water in the Colorado River and in so doing advance basin-wide efforts to protect critical elevations at Lake Mead and Lake Powell.  

Additionally, the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Recovery Act (S. 3693/H.R. 5001) was included, protecting four threatened and endangered native fish species in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins. This extends conservation programs for one year to give partners and communities time to develop a long-term management plan to ensure continued recovery and protection of the threatened and endangered fish species in that region. 

“Time is running short. While we welcome the progress made to include river protections, more needs to be done this next Congress to protect clean water and wildlife, support local economies, and strengthen communities in the face of climate impacts. Bills have been introduced in Congress to protect 7,000 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers. American Rivers will look to the 118^th Congress to advance these durable and comprehensive bipartisan solutions,” said Kiernan. 

The omnibus spending bill is a $1.7 trillion bill that funds federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of the Interior (DOI). EPA received a $576 million increase from current levels to support the agency’s science, environmental, and enforcement work. The bill also includes $14.7 billion for DOI programs, an increase of $574 million above fiscal year 2022 enacted levels.  

Congress must pass the omnibus by Friday, December 23, 2022, to avoid a lapse in government funding. American Rivers looks forward to tracking its development and seeing the omnibus ultimately signed into law without any anti-environmental riders. 

December 14, 2022

Contact:

April McEwen, Project Manager
American Rivers
206-213-0330
amcewen@americanrivers.org

Neil Schulman, Executive Director
North Clackamas Watersheds Council
503-550-9282
neil@ncwatersheds.org

NOAA Restoration Center’s largest grant in history will advance Kellogg Creek Restoration and Community Enhancement Project

The Milwaukie community will be a major beneficiary of the federal funds available through the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The NOAA Restoration Center is recommending $15,000,000, its largest grant in history, for the Kellogg Creek Restoration and Community Enhancement Project (Kellogg Project). The effort will restore threatened fish access to 15 miles of habitat in the Kellogg Creek-Mt. Scott watershed, modernize the Highway 99E bridge while improving multi-modal transportation, and provide safe pedestrian access to a restored natural area and creek that will replace the 14-acre impoundment the dam creates.

The Kellogg Project is collaboratively led by American Rivers, the City of Milwaukie, the North Clackamas Watersheds Council, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The grant will be used to complete project planning, and the groups will target additional funding to complete the construction phase of the project.

“Healthy rivers and clean water provide so many benefits to our communities. We are incredibly excited to secure this funding and advance this great project with support from diverse partners. This project will deliver great value to the community, including sustainable infrastructure, environmental and cultural benefits, and a new natural area for the community to enjoy.” – April McEwen, Project Manager, American Rivers

Project planning will address the poor water quality and contaminated sediment that has accumulated in the lake behind the dam, create a natural stream channel from Oatfield Road to the Willamette River, modify the Highway 99E bridge, and ensure the opportunity for the local community to engage in developing the vision for public access and pertinent project elements.

“ODOT is proud to be part of the leadership team for this important environmental restoration project,” said Rian Windsheimer, ODOT’s Regional Manager.  “This opportunity to restore 15 miles of habitat for threatened fish, that has been dammed up since Oregon became a State, while also bringing new federal funding for a new bridge to serve Highway 99E travelers long into the future, is a win-win for Oregon.”

“How often do you get to restore a creek that supports salmon in a city center, create a new natural area a block from a high school, improve floodplain function, create jobs upgrading an earthquake-vulnerable bridge, and improve community access to nature?” says Neil Schulman, Executive Director of the North Clackamas Watersheds Council, which is located on Kellogg Creek in Milwaukie. “This is a fantastic opportunity to restore nature and strengthen our community at the same time.”

Kellogg Dam was built in 1858, before statehood, to power a flour mill that ceased operating in 1890. After mill operations ceased, the obsolete dam and the stagnant backwater pond it created known as “Kellogg Lake” remained and has filled with sediment over time. In 1934, the dam became part of the foundation for the Highway 99E Bridge in the City of Milwaukie and has impeded fish passage and natural ecological processes ever since. In recent years, the dam has been identified as the highest-priority fish passage barrier owned by ODOT. The existing 14-acre lakebed behind the dam is predominately owned by the City of Milwaukie. That same 14 acres will be transformed into a natural creek and floodplain, with public access points, educational opportunities, and multiple additional benefits including localized flood reduction.

A large coalition, including the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, NOAA Fisheries, Clackamas Water Environment Services, Metro, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Division of State Lands, the Native Fish Society, and the Natural Resources Office of Governor Kate Brown are working to advance the project.

“Removing Kellogg Dam and restoring the Kellogg watershed has been a goal of our community for decades”, says Mayor-elect Lisa Batey. “I look forward to seeing salmon thriving in lower Kellogg Creek, with the fish passage barrier removed and the creek restored.”

American Rivers is a national organization championing the effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways – because healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat.  North Clackamas Watersheds Council is a Milwaukie-based nonprofit that works to restore North Clackamas watersheds for fish, wildlife, and people. The City of Milwaukie owns most of the lakebed behind the dam, and the Oregon Department of Transportation inherited Kellogg Dam when Highway 99E was built atop it in 1934.

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December 2, 2022 

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

Today, Democratic members of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Majority Whip James Clyburn, and Natural Resources Committee Chair Raul Grijalva urging passage of the Environmental Justice for All Act before the end of the 117th Congress to honor the legacy of their late colleague Rep. Donald McEachin. Rep. McEachin passed away on Monday.  

Working alongside Chair Raul Grijalva, Rep. McEachin lead the environmental justice movement in Congress. Together, they launched an inclusive, transparent, community-led and community-driven process to create the most comprehensive environmental justice bill in history, the Enviromental Justice for All Act. Rep. McEachin served as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Natural Resources.  

“Rep. McEachin was a steadfast advocate for environmental justice and was a champion of legislation addressing the effects of climate change. He was an advocate for communities of color, low-income communities, Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, and other vulnerable populations disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards,” said American Rivers Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, Dr. Mel Michelle Lewis. “His legacy will live on in our work as we collaborate with communities on solutions that address polluted rivers, flooding, lack of clean water, and harmful policies.”  

American Rivers joins the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, and environmental justice advocates nationwide, urging the House passage of the Environmental Justice for All Act.  

Full text of the letter is available here.