AMERICA's MOST Endangered RIVERSTM
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2 0 1 0 E D ITIO N NORTHERN ROCKIES water consumption that threatened the Ipswich River (listed 2003) in North Fork of the Flathead River: Massachusetts, and work is being done Montana (2009) to minimize PCB contamination in New Threat: Proposed mines and oil York’s Hudson River (listed 2001). and gas drilling YEARS Mining and oil and gas drilling proposals MID-ATlanTic in British Columbia endangered the Susquehanna River: New York, pristine North Fork of the Flathead Pennsylvania, and Maryland (2005) River, its native fish and wildlife, and TM recreational opportunities in and around FLATHEAD RIVER, MT Ryan Hagerty/USFWS Threat: Sewage pollution, dam Glacier National Park. In 2010, Montana construction AMERICA’S MOST EndangERED RIVERS Senators Baucus and Tester, Governor Within days of our naming the Schweitzer, American Rivers and our GREAT LAKES Susquehanna an endangered river, the conservation partners convinced the U.S. EPA dropped its proposal that would Wolf River: Wisconsin (1997-1998) government of British Columbia to save have allowed the dumping of partially the river by moving to ban mining and Threat: Proposed zinc/copper treated sewage into the Susquehanna oil and gas drilling in the North Fork sulfide mine and other rivers. The U.S. Army Corps watershed. A zinc and copper sulfide mine would of Engineers also denied the permit to Other victories in the Rockies include have dumped 44 million tons of waste construct an inflatable dam on the river. saving the Blackfoot River (listed 1998) into the Wolf River, threatening fish and National Office: and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone wildlife and the sacred lands of four SOUTHEAST 1101 14th Street NW 25 River (listed 1994-1996) from mining. native tribes. In 2003, two tribes bought Suite 1400 the site, killing the mine proposal and Big SunflowerR iver: Mississippi Washington, DC 20005 25 YEARS OF SUCCESS ensuring the area will be forever (2002-2004) SOUTHWEST Phone: (202) 347-7550 Through the Most Endangered Rivers report, for 25 years protected to support clean water, Threat: Wetlands destruction and Toll-free: (877) 347-7550 Neches River: Texas (2007) tourism jobs, and tribal culture. river dredging www.AmericanRivers.org American Rivers has been the national watchdog raising the Threat: Proposed dam projects For almost 70 years, the U.S. Army TM alarm on imperiled rivers and energizing grassroots support NORTHEAST Corps of Engineers tried to push through Regional Offices: The Neches River was threatened by a plan to drain more than 200,000 acres California AMERICA’S MOST EndangERED RIVERS to stop threats such as dam proposals, mining operations, a proposed reservoir that would have Penobscot River: Maine (1989-1996) of wetlands in northwestern Mississippi Great Lakes coal-fired generators, and massive dumping of raw sewage. flooded 40 miles of the river and Threat: Dams to enhance production of subsidized Mid-Atlantic thousands of acres of hardwood forest crops. American Rivers played a lead Working with local partners, the media, elected officials, and In 2004, American Rivers helped block Midwest in a National Wildlife Refuge. Ultimately, role in convincing the U.S. EPA to kill the construction of new dams on the Northeast concerned citizens, we have achieved spectacular successes the U.S. Supreme Court stopped efforts the proposal, ensuring the river and its Penobscot and spur a landmark agree- Northwest to build the reservoir, saving the river wetlands will continue to provide natural for the nation’s rivers — and the people, fish, and wildlife that ment to remove two dams and improve Northern Rockies and its priceless fish and wildlife habitat flood protection benefits and critical operations on a third — a project that will Southeast depend on them. for future generations. wildlife habitat. restore more than 1,000 miles of river. Elsewhere in the Southwest, the We also played an instrumental role in Other success stories in the Southeast Here are just a few examples from 25 years of success: reliability of water flows has begun to securing $10 million in federal funding include saving Georgia’s Altamaha About American Rivers: improve in New Mexico’s Santa Fe River for these dam removals. River (listed 2002) from an unnecessary (listed 2007) and in the Guadalupe River dam and reservoir, and protecting the American Rivers is the leading conservation organization NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA (listed 2002) in Texas. Our advocacy fighting for healthy rivers so communities can thrive. Progress has been made to curtail Tennessee River (listed 2004) from Elwha River: Washington (1992, 1995) Klamath River: (1987-1990; 2002-2003) also helped save McCrystal Creek excessive groundwater pumping and sewage pollution. American Rivers protects and restores the nation’s rivers (listed 2005) in New Mexico from for the benefit of people, wildlife, and nature. Founded in Threats: Two dams Threats: Dams, water withdrawal for coalbed methane drilling and other 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and Two outdated dams have blocked the irrigation, and pollution harmful development. supporters, with offices in Washington, DC and nationwide. Elwha River near Olympic National Park In 2010, after years of negotiations, While we celebrate these successes, American Rivers for nearly 100 years, decimating the American Rivers signed historic agree- MIDWEST TaKE ACTION AT AmericanRivers.org salmon runs. Our advocacy helped ments to remove four dams on the continues to monitor these rivers—and all rivers nationwide America’s Most Endangered Rivers™: spur the decision to remove the dams. Klamath River, in what will result in the Minnesota River: South Dakota and 2010 Edition Sponsor KLAMATH RIVER, CA Tupper Blake/USFWS Deconstruction is on schedule to begin world’s biggest river restoration project. America’s Most Endangered Rivers™: 2010 Edition is made Minnesota (2008) —to ensure that victories are upheld and to safeguard in 2011 and will restore more than 70 The agreements will restore access to possible with generous funding from the Margaret T. Biddle 25 YEARS OF SUCCESS miles of river, from mountains to sea. more than 350 miles of salmon habitat, Threat: Proposed coal-fired power plant Foundation. against new threats. The 2010 list of endangered rivers resolve decades-long disputes over Other important victories in the A coal-fired power plant would have American Rivers would like to thank Bert and Barbara Cohn for their water in the basin, and provide greater provides a snapshot of today’s most critical threats to rivers Northwest include the protection of sent more pollution into the air, and long-time support of this campaign. economic security for fishing, tribal, endangered the Minnesota River with throughout the nation, from harmful gas drilling to outdated the Columbia River’s Hanford Reach and agricultural communities. excessive water withdrawals and (listed 1998) as a National Monument mercury pollution. In 2009, the U.S. flood management to construction of new dams. With the and the Alsek and Tatshenshini Rivers Also in California, a proposal for a new EPA said the proposal did not meet Printed on paper that contains (listed 1990-1993) in Alaska and British road that threatened San Mateo Creek federal air quality requirements — help of our activists and supporters across the country, we 30% post-consumer recycled fiber Columbia, which prevented potentially (listed 2007) and the famous Trestles effectively killing the plant. devastating copper mining. surf break was defeated, as was the will continue to protect these endangered rivers. Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX DESIGN: Levine & Associates, Washington, DC pipeline that threatened the Tuolumne www.levinedc.com River (listed 2005). 25 ElwHA RIVER, WA J. Poth 2 0 1 0 E D ITIO N NORTHERN ROCKIES water consumption that threatened the Ipswich River (listed 2003) in North Fork of the Flathead River: Massachusetts, and work is being done Montana (2009) to minimize PCB contamination in New Threat: Proposed mines and oil York’s Hudson River (listed 2001). and gas drilling YEARS Mining and oil and gas drilling proposals MID-ATlanTic in British Columbia endangered the Susquehanna River: New York, pristine North Fork of the Flathead Pennsylvania, and Maryland (2005) River, its native fish and wildlife, and TM recreational opportunities in and around FLATHEAD RIVER, MT Ryan Hagerty/USFWS Threat: Sewage pollution, dam Glacier National Park. In 2010, Montana construction AMERICA’S MOST EndangERED RIVERS Senators Baucus and Tester, Governor Within days of our naming the Schweitzer, American Rivers and our GREAT LAKES Susquehanna an endangered river, the conservation partners convinced the U.S. EPA dropped its proposal that would Wolf River: Wisconsin (1997-1998) government of British Columbia to save have allowed the dumping of partially the river by moving to ban mining and Threat: Proposed zinc/copper treated sewage into the Susquehanna oil and gas drilling in the North Fork sulfide mine and other rivers. The U.S. Army Corps watershed. A zinc and copper sulfide mine would of Engineers also denied the permit to Other victories in the Rockies include have dumped 44 million tons of waste construct an inflatable dam on the river. saving the Blackfoot River (listed 1998) into the Wolf River, threatening fish and National Office: and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone wildlife and the sacred lands of four SOUTHEAST 1101 14th Street NW 25 River (listed 1994-1996) from mining. native tribes. In 2003, two tribes bought Suite 1400 the site, killing the mine proposal and Big SunflowerR iver: Mississippi Washington, DC 20005 25 YEARS OF SUCCESS ensuring the area will be forever (2002-2004) SOUTHWEST Phone: (202) 347-7550 Through the Most Endangered Rivers report, for 25 years protected to support clean water, Threat: Wetlands destruction and Toll-free: (877) 347-7550 Neches River: Texas (2007) tourism jobs, and tribal culture. river dredging www.AmericanRivers.org American Rivers has been the national watchdog raising the Threat: Proposed dam projects For almost 70 years, the U.S.