Biggest Dam Removal Project In History Will Restore Health of Klamath River

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:00:08 GMT

Iron Gate Dam on Klamath River. Image credit: American Rivers. Last week, after years of negotiations, 28 involved parties agreed on a plan to tear down the four PacifiCorp dams on the Klamath River, which is on the California and Oregon border, by 2020. American Rivers has played a leading role in these negotiations for the past nine years. When the Klamath dams come down it will be the biggest dam removal project the world has ever seen. It is exciting to see the momentum behind this historic river restoration effort - one that promises to not only restore the health of the river, but also boost local economies and revitalize communities. The project will help restore the river and revive its ailing salmon and steelhead runs. This will aid fishing and tribal communities who have suffered as these once abundant fish populations have dwindled over the past few decades. Farmers will also benefit from the certainty a restored river will provide them. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Natural Security - 8 American Cities Recognized For Adapting Water Managment To Changing Climate

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:21:27 GMT

Natural Security through water infrastructure improvements. Image credit:American Rivers Clean water is essential to our health and our communities. Yet climate change presents a serious threat to our most precious natural resource in the form of more frequent floods and droughts and worsening water pollution. American Rivers has highlighted eight communities' sustainable water management approaches that will make them more resilient to a changing climate in the new report, "Natural Security: How Sustainable Water Strategies Are Preparing Communities for Climate Change." These 21st century green infrastructure solutions protect and restore healthy ecosystems which will provide clean water and protect communities from severe weather as the climate shifts.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Good News For One Of Our Nation's Chronically Endangered Rivers.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:44 GMT

Snake River salmon. Image credit:American Rivers The lower Snake River has landed on our America's Most Endangered Rivers list seven times because of the threat posed by four outdated dams. Now, things are looking up for the river, its communities, and its endangered salmon. A federal judge recently told NOAA Fisheries that its plan for operating dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers - balancing the protection of endangered salmon and electricity production - needs work. Most notably, the judge said that federal agencies should examine and prepare for removing the lower Snake River dams in case other salmon recovery actions are insufficient. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

America's 10 Most Endangered Rivers Of 2009

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:52:33 GMT

Levee break, Sacramento-San Joaquin River in California. Image credit:American Rivers/Aquafornia blog. From outdated flood control schemes to harmful dams and mining projects, our nation's rivers and clean water are at risk. Today, we released America's Most Endangered Rivers: 2009 edition, spotlighting ten rivers in need of urgent action. Learn more and take action to help the rivers at AmericanRivers.org See summary descriptions the 10 most endangered rivers presented below.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Historic Day For Protection: President Obama Signs Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Expansion

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:14:46 GMT

Signing ceremony for Wild & Scenic Rivers Act expansion, March 30, 2009. Image credit:Rebecca Wodder Today, President Obama signed into law the second largest Wild and Scenic Rivers package in history. Today's law expands the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System by more than 50 percent, bringing the total number of Wild and Scenic Rivers to 252.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Help a River by Organizing a River Cleanup

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:32:25 GMT

Volunteer annual river cleanup. Image credit:Municipality of North Perth Each year, an appalling amount of trash finds its way into our nation's rivers and streams. These pollutants rob a river of its natural beauty and negatively affect the health of the river and surrounding communities. But you can easily help remedy this situation by volunteering for -- or organizing -- a cleanup in your community during the 2009 National River Cleanup season, which is sponsored by American Rivers. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Economic Recovery Act Is Good News For Clean Water And Rivers

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:10:40 GMT

Bear Run dam removal in Pennsylvania. Image credit:Terra Dawn Photography. The US economic recovery package is great news for clean water and healthy rivers, and communities across the country will reap the benefits. The plan contains over $6 billion -- an unprecedented amount of money for clean water, drinking water, water efficiency, green infrastructure and river restoration. The funds will transform the way our country manages water - our country's most vital resource - while creating good jobs, improving public health and safety, and creating more attractive, livable communities. The final version of the recovery plan includes:

$4 billion for clean water under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs
$2 billion for drinking water under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, with $1.2 billion set aside from both the clean water and drinking water programs for green infrastructure and water and energy efficiency projects
$830 million for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, a portion of which will be used for river restoration projects

... Read the full story on TreeHugger

US Senate Goes With The Flow: Wild & Scenic Rivers Act Passed

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:32:16 GMT

Runoff From Mount Hood, Oregon Image credit:Tim Palmer The second largest Wild and Scenic Rivers package in history passed the US Senate yesterday, safeguarding over 1,000 miles of rivers in Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, Vermont, and Massachusetts. New Wild and Scenic rivers will include rivers on Oregon's Mount Hood (as pictured), the Snake River headwaters in Wyoming, and the Taunton River in Massachusetts.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Act Locally: Create A Blue Trail

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:37:46 GMT

Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Image credit: Flickr, American Rivers, Blue Trails Set, photo by Jamie Mierau At American Rivers, we not only want to protect and restore our nation's rivers, we want to bring Americans back to their rivers. As more people learn to appreciate how great rivers are through paddling, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, and camping, more people will want to protect them. But some communities need help making these types of recreational activities accessible. A great way to do this is by establishing a blue trail, the water equivalent of a hiking trail. I recently posted about a new blue trail, on the Congaree River in South Carolina that we helped make possible by working with local partners. And now, thanks to a new guide, anyone can take on these types of projects. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

PacifiCorp To Remove Four Dams On Klamath River In California & Oregon.

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:29:38 GMT

In a historic milestone, after years of negotiations with American Rivers and other parties, PacifiCorp has agreed to remove four dams on the Klamath River in California and Oregon. The deal is part of a broader effort to restore the river and revive its ailing salmon and steelhead runs and aid fishing, tribal and farming communities. When the dams come down it will be the biggest dam removal and river restoration effort the world has ever seen. We have not popped the champagne cork yet, but we have put a bottle on ice. We believe this initial agreement is a huge step toward a healthy Klamath River Basin. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Hidden Reservoir: Why Water Efficiency Is The Best Solution For The Southeast

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:28:02 GMT

Imagine, if you will, that a brand new source of water is suddenly discovered in the Southeast. A big aquifer, perhaps, or a giant lake. A new water source that could quench the thirst of millions. You're probably thinking this sounds like a "too good to be true" dream in a region suffering from record drought. Today, American Rivers is releasing a new report, Hidden Reservoir: why water efficiency is the best solution for the Southeast. Water efficiency is proven, it is cost-effective, and the results are immediate. But it's not a dream, it's reality -- Atlanta and the entire Southeast are sitting on an enormous and forgotten water supply, and it's hiding in plain sight -- there is a "hidden reservoir" in our laundry rooms, our kitchens and bathrooms. Now, let's be clear: water efficiency does not mean telling people to shower just once a week, or to plant a cactus in their front yards. Water efficiency does not mean turning the water off. It's not about water use restrictions - because that just brings temporary results. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

On World Rivers Day, Take Time To Appreciate What Rivers Give Us

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:46:14 GMT

September 28th is World Rivers Day -- a great opportunity to stop and appreciate the many benefits rivers give us, our families, our communities, our businesses, and to the broader environment. The United States has more than 250,000 rivers -- that's 3.5 million miles of rivers. Consider how rivers touch your own life. Rivers give us drinking water. Rivers are places to learn and explore. Rivers give us time with family and friends. Rivers give us recreational adventures. Rivers are beautiful landscapes where the wild things are. These waters are the lifeblood of the land and our communities. Healthy rivers mean healthy people ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Our Country's Newest "Blue Trail" - The Congaree River In South Carolina

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:15:55 GMT

As President of American Rivers, the nation's leading river conservation organization, I get to enjoy our nation's rivers more than most people. After all, it's my job! But, I don't come to work everyday just because I love rivers and want to protect them so our communities can continue to thrive. I come to work everyday because I want everyone to love and appreciate rivers. I want all Americans to have a stake in the future of our rivers and the best way to do that is to connect people with their local rivers and streams. To engage individuals with rivers and allow people to truly see what they have to offer. To many people, a river is just something to look at as they cross a bridge - if they even notice it at all. In order to change this, we need to give people the opportunity to personally experience a river - to witness its beauty, behold its grace and respect its power.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Lessons From The Midwest Floods

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:21:06 GMT

Disastrous floods. We experienced them back in December in the Pacific Northwest. Now, more recently, devastating floodwaters submerged parts of the Midwest. We know that these kinds of rain storms and flooding will become more frequent and severe with global warming. How can communities prepare? What lessons can we learn? One thing is certain: while engineered solutions like levees are necessary in some places, for the most part they are costly and can create a false sense of security. Levees can encourage unwise floodplain development and increase flood damage costs, while also destroying some of the natural features that prevent downstream flooding, as well as river access and fish and wildlife habitat. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Give A Green Boost To The Economy

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:19:02 GMT

What our economy needs right now is a whole lot of green: Green jobs, green projects and green investments that will boost local economies while improving our environment and quality of life. Congress is looking at ways to jump-start the economy and avoid a recession. Recently, we've been hearing from a lot of governors, mayors, and economists saying that infrastructure investments are among the most powerful and enduring things we can do to grow the economy. Investing in "green" upgrades to our nation's sewage and drinking water systems may not sound sexy (know any Hollywood stars who want to speak up for sewage treatment?) but I'd argue it is the most important thing we can do to create jobs, improve clean water, protect public health and safety, beautify our communities, and revitalize our economy... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Hope For The Klamath River And Its Communities

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:00:13 GMT

It took two years and hundreds of hours of negotiating, but we did it. Yesterday American Rivers and 25 other parties announced a landmark agreement to end decades of disputes over water in the Klamath Basin, and chart a better future for the river and its fishing and farming communities. Now, the next step is to get PacifiCorp, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, to remove its four outdated dams on the Klamath. While we have a lot to celebrate with yesterday's agreement, we are still working to finalize the dam removal agreement with PacifiCorp, which is an essential part of the package. The Klamath River, flowing in Oregon and California, once supported the third-largest salmon run on the west coast. But the construction of four dams and years of irrigation diversions have taken their toll. Today, Klamath salmon and steelhead runs are a fraction of their historic abundance, with some near extinction. This has hurt the Karuk, Yurok, Klamath and Hoopa tribes whose livelihoods and cultures depend on the river and its salmon. It has been a disaster for fishermen, who have lost hundreds of millions of dollars because of fisheries shut-downs. And it has created uncertainties and difficulties for the basin's farmers, who need a reliable supply of water for their crops.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Honoring A Great Conservationist, Tony Lapham - New Fellowship Opportunity At American Rivers

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:44:49 GMT

American Rivers and the nation's conservation movement lost a dedicated leader last year with the passing of Tony Lapham. Gentle and thoughtful in every way, the long-time supporter, board member and, most recently, chairman of American Rivers was a giant in his intellect, his curiosity, his compassion and his enthusiasm for life. Tony loved paddling and hiking, and enjoyed spending time on his farm along Virginia's Jordan River. At the end of a life filled with accomplishment, service and hard work, Tony passed away peacefully, with his hip waders on, while fishing with his son in North Carolina. We are forever grateful to Tony for everything he gave to American Rivers and the conservation movement. And now we are happy to announce a new fellowship in his memory.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Strengthening The Resiliency Of Communities In The Face Of Global Warming: Lessons From The Pacific Northwest

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:20:00 GMT

People stranded on rooftops. Floodwaters covering the interstate. Thousands without power, displaced from their homes. Sound like the scene from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina? Right now, it's the reality for many communities in the Pacific Northwest. The region was recently hit by a major rain storm, which triggered massive flooding on rivers in Oregon and Washington. These floods are the latest wake-up call, showing us why we need to rethink our country's flood protection strategies. In many cases our old approaches - levees, dams and flood walls - have exacerbated the very problems they were meant to fix. Despite spending more than $25 billion on federal levees and dams, national flood losses continue to rise.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

A New Era Of Water Conservation

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:48:43 GMT

It used to be that only people in the dry western part of our country had to worry about drought, and the rest of us could enjoy our lush lawns and long showers, believing that our water supply was endless. Well, guess again. The extreme drought in the Southeast shows that no region of our country is immune to severe water shortages. We've all seen the TV footage of the dry lake beds, and every day we hear about cities like Raleigh, NC that have less than 100 days of water left in their dwindling supplies. As our country's population grows, so do the demands on our rivers and lakes - where most of our drinking water comes from. Paving over watersheds with sprawl is paving our way to water shortages. Water runs off pavement rapidly, instead of soaking into the ground to replenish groundwater supplies. And, global warming is putting an added strain on communities' water supplies. Hoping for rain is not the solution. Building expensive new dams and engineering massive transfers of water from one watershed to another won't solve our problems either.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

What Do Sewers and Our Rivers Have in Common? Too much.

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:49:42 GMT

Talking to Congress about sewage - you know, sometimes the joke is just too, too easy. But that's exactly why 85 river activists from all across the country are in town this week as a part of our fourth annual River Action Day. The facts on sewage in this country are pretty astounding - very, very few Americans have any idea just how much raw and partially-treated sewage is spilled or legally dumped into our streams and rivers every year. 860 Billion Gallons. Enough to cover the entire state of Pennsylvania ankle-deep. Every single year. Sounds like a problem you might face in a developing nation, but it's right here at home, including our nation's capital. In fact, we aren't the only ones watching anxiously for the latest dump of raw sewage here in Washington, DC - this weekend, hundreds of athletes will take part in the Nation's Triathlon, with a first-ever mass open-water swim in the Potomac. Well, maybe. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Rivers Awareness Partnership

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:26:46 GMT

American Rivers announces the new Rivers Awareness PartnershipTM between Tom's of Maine, American Rivers and River Network. Tom's of Maine is generously providing $1 million in support over five years to our organizations to enhance awareness, understanding and, ultimately, protection of rivers nationwide. Visit the Rivers Awareness PartnershipTM homepage to learn more, get inspired by volunteer stories and see beautiful river photos. And, American Rivers hopes to see you at upcoming events in San Francisco and Portland (times and locations below). Here's your chance to meet Tom and Kate Chappell, the co-founders of Tom's of Maine, and staff from American Rivers and River Network. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Explosive Boom Signals End Of Dam, Rebirth Of River

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:50:42 GMT

By Rebecca R. Wodder, President, American Rivers. It isn't every day that you get to see the rebirth of a river. Think of it as destruction in the name of creation: With an explosive boom and huge plumes of dust, demolition of Oregon's 95-year old Marmot Dam began on July 24. It's the beginning of a landmark environmental restoration project on the Sandy River - the "backyard river" of Portland, Oregon. Local community members cheered as the blast was detonated. As the dust cleared the crowd hurried toward the dam to see the cracked concrete, piles of rubble and tangles of re-bar. Excavators and dump trucks rumbled on to the dam to begin scooping away the concrete. Demolition will continue over the next several weeks and the Sandy River will be free-flowing some time this fall.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 15:55:44 GMT

Rebecca Wodder, President, American Rivers American Rivers is the only national organization standing up for healthy rivers so our communities can thrive. Through national advocacy, innovative solutions and our growing network of strategic partners, we protect and promote our rivers as valuable assets that are vital to our health, safety and quality of life.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Rebecca Wodder, American Rivers