Riversmatter

rivers matter 2 0 1 2 A n n u A l R e p o R t 2012 Successes Thanks to the commitment of supporters like you, 2012 was a remarkable year for rivers. Here is a snapshot of the inspiring conservation achievements that we accomplished with your help: 308 miles of rivers restored through dam removal dams removed $2,070,000 40 grants from American Rivers to local 20 communities for river restoration projects communities miles of where we improved blue trails clean water and 400 nationwide that we reduced flooding created, expanded, or sustained young people we connected to their , 10,000 local rivers 1200 volunteers who acres of riverside participated in land protected 85,000 National River Cleanup® pounds of trash removed 3million through National River Cleanup® www.AmericanRivers.org/2012Successes 2012 Successes why Thanks to the commitment of supporters like you, 2012 was a remarkable year for rivers. Here is a snapshot of the inspiring conservation achievements that we accomplished with your help: rivers matter ince 1973, American Rivers has led Thanks to the commitment of American the effort to protect and restore Rivers’ supporters and the power of our our nation’s rivers and streams. vision, 2012 was a year of great success. We know healthy rivers matter — n We led river restoration projects, and Sfor our health, our economy, our environ- celebrated some of the biggest dam ment, and our communities. Rivers matter removal efforts in history on Washing- on a personal level, too. They are the ton’s Elwha and White Salmon rivers places where we make memories with our and Maine’s Penobscot River. families and friends. They are the places where we forge our values and learn about n We spearheaded river protection ourselves and the broader world. efforts, were instrumental in creating We both spent time on rivers when a National Blueways System to promote we were boys. Bob spent summers at his recreation and conservation, and grandparents’ small farm in the mountains connected more than 10,000 youth of eastern Kentucky, where the nearby with their local rivers. stream’s crayfish and minnows were disap- n We promoted 21st century clean water pearing because of pollution. Swep grew solutions and helped twenty communi- up exploring the bottomland forests of ties including Milwaukee and Atlanta Mississippi, riding his horse in the after- reduce polluted runoff, flooding, and noons to go fishing in his favorite creek. young people we sewer overflows. connected to their These early experiences shaped us, and they inspire our efforts today to restore This year also presented challenges, local rivers damaged streams and protect our last wild with bedrock environmental laws like rivers. Just about everyone has their own the Clean Water Act and Wild and Scenic river story. It’s why our work at American Rivers Act under attack in Congress. Rivers is so personal and so significant. We saw communities impacted by floods Rivers connect us. and droughts, which are becoming more frequent and severe with climate change. So while we celebrate our successes of the past year, we also rededicate American Rivers to addressing the challenges ahead. We take seriously our responsibility to create a safe and secure future for our pounds of trash removed children and grandchildren. With your through National River Cleanup® support, we will continue to fight for healthy rivers so that they will enrich our communities for generations to come. Wm. Robert (Bob) Irvin, President Swep Davis and Bob Irvin Swep Davis, Board Chair 1 rivers matter for health and clean water It all begins with clean water plashing with your kids in the Then we share the lessons from this local creek. Filling your glass on-the-ground work with other at the kitchen sink. Enjoying a communities and policy makers, riverside picnic. Water — and multiplying these 21st century Srivers — touch virtually every aspect solutions across the country. of our lives and are fundamental to This year we published Banking our health and well-being. American on Green, in partnership with the Green roofs help prevent polluted runoff. Rivers is pioneering new ways to Water Environment Federation, safeguard our clean water for today’s ECONorthwest, and the American communities and future generations. Society of Landscape Architects. It As climate change makes droughts, details how green infrastructure saves floods, and waterborne diseases more communities money while producing common, the need to protect clean other economic benefits like increased water is more important than ever. energy efficiency, less local flooding, American Rivers helps communities and better air quality. Another re- develop green infrastructure solutions port, The Economic Benefits of Green that prevent polluted runoff and Infrastructure, analyzes the actual sewage from fouling streams and dollar savings of greening stormwa- American Society of Landscape Architects rivers. We work with schools to ter management in the Chesapeake transform old pavement into lush Bay region. We also created an online rain gardens. We work with cities to tool (green.americanrivers.org) that plant more trees and improve water allows users to virtually “green” a roof systems in public housing. We partner of their choice and calculate cost 2 www.AmericanRivers.org/CleanWater with businesses to install green roofs. savings and clean water benefits. A success story in Milwaukee This year we helped General Mills install permeable paving and swales — marshy land designed to capture water runoff and filter pollutants — at its Milwaukee plant. The one-acre parking lot now absorbs more than 31,000 gallons of rainwater per one-inch rain storm, saving the company tens of thousands of dollars in sewer fees. Overall, our many projects in Milwaukee are filtering stormwater from over 12 acres of urban area, keeping more than 200,000 gallons of polluted runoff from entering Green roof in milwaukee, WI the Kinnickinnic River when it rains. “Nation’s river” is nation’s most endangered Once so contaminated by industrial pollution and sewage that President Johnson called it “a national disgrace,” the Potomac River has made an impressive comeback thanks to the Clean Water Act. But as we celebrate the law’s 40th anniversary, the Potomac is again at risk from polluted runoff. And polluters and their allies in Congress are trying to weaken the Clean Water Act, threatening decades of progress on the Potomac and rivers nationwide. American Rivers sounded the alarm in our 27th annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report, naming the Potomac number one on the list. “Our two year old son loves Our annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers for health and clean water playing in the water. We’re report spotlights rivers facing significant threats so grateful to American and critical upcoming decisions. Over the years, Rivers for protecting the report has spurred many successes including our local rivers. Without the removal of outdated dams, the protection their actions, these rivers of Wild and Scenic rivers, and the prevention of wouldn’t be as clean or harmful pollution. healthy. It’s great to know that, thanks to American Rivers, our son, and some- day grandkids, will be fishing and paddling here and having the same experiences we have today.” Regan and Aimee Norris Columbia, SC 3 POtOmAc RIveR, Washington, D.c. m.v. Jantzen rivers matter for fish and wildlife Grants for river restoration he Potomac Highlands region American Rivers launched the Potomac of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Highlands Implementation Grant Pro- Virginia, and West Virginia is gram last year, with funding from the home to some of the most Environmental Protection Agency. And Tdiverse and globally important resources this year, we provided $1.37 million in on Earth, supporting more than 116 dif- grants to six projects that will benefit ferent fish species as well as black bear, local communities, while protecting and bobcat, and grouse. It also has a long restoring rivers, clean water, and wildlife history of logging, mining, and dam in the Highlands region. Full descriptions construction that threatens the region’s of the six projects can be found at www. wildlife and river health. AmericanRivers.org/Potomachighlands. Standing up for our last, best rivers Rivers protected as Wild and Scenic River. It’s a risky precedent that not only boast outstanding habitat for fish, birds threatens the St. Croix, but hundreds of Wild and Scenic Fossil Creek, AZ and wildlife. The bears and steelhead on Wild and Scenic rivers nationwide. Steve Rich Oregon’s Rogue River, the trout in the We are working hard to fight Snake River headwaters, and the osprey another bill that waives the protection A federal Wild and Scenic River and bald eagles along the Delaware of Wild and Scenic designations and designation is our nation’s River all benefit from our advocacy to other environmental laws within a protect and expand the nation’s Wild 100-mile corridor along the Canadian strongest river protection tool, and Scenic Rivers system. and Mexican borders. If passed, we prohibiting new dams and other Unfortunately, this year we had to play could lose protection for rivers like the harmful development. Protecting defense on Capitol Hill to stop rollbacks Allegheny, Rio Grande, and Allagash to Wild and Scenic Rivers has been a to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. We a potential “no conservation” zone. In core part of the American Rivers suffered a significant setback when, light of these threats, American Rivers mission for nearly 40 years. despite our opposition, a bill passed is redoubling our efforts, working with allowing construction of an enormous members of Congress and local partners multilane highway bridge over Minnesota around the country to protect Wild and 4 www.AmericanRivers.org/Wildlife and Wisconsin’s Wild and Scenic St.

Load more