Pacific Northwest
Rivers define the Pacific Northwest, from big cities to remote wilderness. Rivers provide clean water for drinking and support an abundance of wildlife including salmon and steelhead, the cornerstone of the region’s web of life.
contact us
NORTHWEST
P.O. Box 1234
Bellingham, WA 98227
Recreation, agriculture, energy production, and industry all rely on rivers. Rivers have significant cultural value for the region’s Tribal Nations, who continue to steward their health.
The Pacific Northwest is a leader in innovative water and river management. The region is home to innovative green infrastructure efforts to protect clean water, a groundbreaking water supply and river restoration agreement on the Yakima River that is a model for other western river basins, and the world’s biggest dam removal effort.
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Key Issues
For over 20 years, American Rivers has been the lead voice for river conservation in the Pacific Northwest. We are known for our advocacy on issues ranging from dam removal to water supply to Wild and Scenic River protection.
Today, we are working closely with local, state, and federal leaders to reshape the way water is managed, ensuring that rivers remain healthy while meeting the needs of the region’s communities. As climate change shrinks mountain snowpack and causes more intense floods and droughts, our work to protect the Northwest’s rivers and freshwater is more important than ever.
Solutions for the Snake River: restore native salmon runs, honor Native American treaty rights, and catalyze clean energy and infrastructure investments.
Restore rivers by removing dams: The fastest way to restore a river is by removing a dam. We are working with partners to remove outdated, unsafe, and harmful dams across the region.
Wild and Scenic designations: permanently protect healthy rivers that provide significant clean water, habitat, and cultural benefits.
Track record of success
For nearly 30 years, American Rivers has been the leading voice for river conservation in the Pacific Northwest. We are known for our advocacy on issues ranging from dam removal to water supply to Wild and Scenic River protection. Respected for our pragmatism and willingness to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, we have a long track record of negotiating successful agreements around complex water and dam issues.
Elwha River: provided advocacy and fundraising support for a successful effort to remove two massive dams so that native salmon could once again reach their spawning grounds.
Yakima River Basin Integrated Plan: established a collaborative, long- term plan to address climate change, water supply, river restoration, and land management for farms, fish, and forests.
Wild river protections: won Wild and Scenic safeguards for priceless streams in Oregon and Washington.
