America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2005

America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005

ten rivers reaching the crossroads in the next 12 months

WWW.AMERICANR IVERS. ORG AOL KEYWORD: A MERICAN R IVERS

20th Anniversary Edition 20 Years of Saving Rivers

With this edition of the America’s Most Endangered Rivers report, American Rivers celebrates 20 years of cooperative action to highlight rivers across the country facing pressing threats and uncertain futures. The first of its kind, this annual effort has contributed to a long and growing list of vic- tories — saving rivers and the benefits they provide: clean water, public health, wildlife populations, economic opportunity, and opportunities for family outdoor fun. The America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is the voice of large and growing watershed protection and restoration movement. American Rivers solicits nominations annually from thousands of river groups, conservation organizations, outdoor clubs, and individual activists. Over the past 20 years, 399 organizations have participated in the effort. Our staff and scientific advisors review the nominations for the following criteria:

■ The magnitude of the threat to the river ■ A major turning point in the coming year ■ The regional and national significance of the river This report is more than a warning: it offers solutions, identifies those who have the power to save the river, and highlights opportunities for the public to speak out.

This year, American Rivers thanks and recognizes Bert and Barbara Cohn, whose financial support has made this campaign possible for the past ten years. “Every child should have the opportunity to swim or fish in a nearby river or stream,” the Cohns say. By spreading the word about threats to our rivers, and highlighting rivers in the most precarious of situations, the Cohns hope more attention will be paid to our water sources before they become endangered. about american rivers

American Rivers, founded in 1973, is the leader of a nationwide river conservation movement. American Rivers is dedicated to protecting and restoring healthy natural rivers, and the variety of life they sustain, for the benefit of people, fish and wildlife.

On the Cover: The concentrations of pollutants shown on the front cover label do not necessarily reflect a national average, and will vary depending on the region, type of sewer and treatment system, and the volume of stormwater in the system. The current numbers are based on a moderate climate with moderate rainfall, and were obtained from the U.N. Department of Technical Cooperation for Development.

Printed on 20 percent post-consumer recycled paper, using the waterless printing process. Waterless printing conserves water and eliminates the use of volatile compounds (VOCs), linked to the deterioration of the ozone layer, used in conventional printing. Table of Contents

Introduction

When It Rains, Sewage Pours ...... 2

Map: Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 ...... 6

Most Endangered Rivers (by rank)

1. Susquehanna River ...... 7

2. McCrystal Creek ...... 10

3. Fraser River ...... 12

4. Skykomish River ...... 14

5. Roan Creek ...... 16

6. Santee River ...... 18

7. Little Miami River ...... 20

8. Tuolumne River ...... 22

9. Price River ...... 24

10. Santa Clara River ...... 26

20 years of saving rivers together ...... 28 LAUE UNSAFE PLEASURES OMK LIFE MAKE TO THREATEN OVERFLOWS S When itRains,SewagePours WRSIL AND SPILLS EWER ’ SIMPLEST S . 2 resumes. back intoasewersystem,and thecycle homes andbusinesses.From there,itgoes be pumpedout,treated,and pipedintomore body ofwater. Downstream,someofitmay pollutesthenearest cover, thisfoulslurry entire year. American totakeonebatheachweekforan Pennsylvania ankle-deep.It’s enoughforevery the country. That’s enoughtofloodallof this vilebrewescapessewersystemsacross rivers andstreams. onto streetsandparks.Sewagepouringinto up intopeople’s basements.Sewagespilling samesewers?Sewagebacking into thosevery offthestreetsanddowngutters trash run automotivechemicals,and cides, fertilizers, American homesandbusinesses?Insewers. elsethatgoesdownthedrainsin everything and sonal hygieneproducts,pharmaceuticals, W ◆ After burstingoutofapipeormanhole Each year, morethan860billiongallonsof And whatcanyougetwhenrain,pesti- America’s Most EndangeredRivers of2005 with householdchemicals,per- here doeshumanwastemingle

AMERICAN RIVERS PHOTO LIBRARY sured bythenumberofillnesses anddeaths. the rootcause. eating taintedseafoodhave human sewageas ences concludedthatmostillnesses causedby the CDCandNationalAcademyofSci- water intheUnitedStates.Anotherstudyby illnessfrom polluteddrinking waterborne outbreaks andnearlyhalfamillioncasesof trol (CDC)documented251separatedisease 1985 and2000,theCentersforDiseaseCon- around thewaterwhoareatrisk.Between infections. troenteritis casesandtwo-thirdsofallear gas- pollution forone-thirdofallreported ofEpidemiology tional Journal safe. A1998studypublishedinthe touchingwatertheythoughtwas otherwise each yearafterswimming,boating,fishing,or as many3.5millionAmericansgetsick become seriouslyillordie.Scientistsbelieve already weakenedbyillnessaremorelikelyto Young children,theirgrandparents,andpeople today’s orearinfection. cough,diarrhea, never realizethatyesterday’s swimcaused sewage hasdispersed.Healthyadultsmay year, buttheyarealllarge. many peoplesewagestillsickensorkillseach forhow zen toabout50years.Estimatesvary helped limitthelifeexpectancyofaU.S.citi- dred yearsago,epidemicsofthesediseases and manyotherinfectiousdiseases.Onehun- nella, hepatitis,dysentery, cryptosporidium, Untreated humansewageteemswithsalmo- Health A ThreattoHuman na River spills upstream. of poorsewagetreatmentandfrequent provideevidence dwindling seafoodharvests Chesapeake Bay, vanishingseagrassesand the Susquehannawidensandbecomes faucets fromNewYork Where toMaryland. Susquehanna Riverwatershedlinktoiletsand twenty threemajorsewersystemsinthe Most EndangeredRiverslist.Onehundredand The priceofsewagespillsisn’t justmea- It’s notjustthepeoplewhoplayinand lingerevenafterthestenchof Germs This isthesituationalong — whichtopsthisyear’s America’s blamed water Susquehan- Interna- Recreational economies like those in Winter Park and Granby, Colo. could suffer if sewage makes the Fraser River (#3 on this year’s list)

unapplealing or unsafe to swim and fish in. ANDREW HARVEY There are countless rural towns in the same position nationwide. The prognosis is for these problems to get worse… and soon. Treatment Plants from Yesteryear To understand why this is happening, it’s helpful to know some history. For centuries most American sewage poured into the near- est river or creek with little or no treatment, and few people gave it a second thought. That changed when Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972 and the federal government began making significant investments to mod- Runaway Development SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS ernize sewage treatment infrastructure serving Today communities across the country. NATIONWIDE CAN’T KEEP Today, many of the plants built with that Poorly planned development compounds the UP WITH RAPID, POORLY- initial investment are undersized or are near problem of aging infrastructure. As urban areas PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. the end of their effective lives. There are sprawl into the countryside, new expanses of 600,000 miles of sewer pipes across the coun- concrete and asphalt increase the amount of try and the average age is 33 years. Some pipes stormwater surging into sewers — and the in cities along the eastern seaboard are nearly amount of pollution spewing out. 200 years old. Some are even made of wood. In Consider this: A single acre of wetlands can 2001, The American Society of Civil Engi- hold up to 1.5 million gallons of rain or melt- neers gave America’s wastewater infrastruc- ing snow. When that wetland is replaced by a ture a “D” grade overall. parking lot or big box store, that water runs off and often winds up in the sewer system. Trees help keep water out of 3.5 million Americans sewer systems, too. In fact, the group get sick each year USDA NRCS American Forests estimates that as Washington, D.C.’s tree canopy after swimming, thinned by 43 percent between 1973 and 1997, the amount of stormwater boating, fishing, or running into the city’s aging sewer otherwise touching system increased by 34 percent. In the 1980s and 1990s, a boom in water they thought low-density, poorly planned development devoured millions of acres of was safe. wetlands, forest, and other habitat across the country. American Rivers estimates that metro Atlanta, for example, now contends with an additional 56 to 132 billion gallons more stormwater each year than it did before 1982. That’s as many as three and a half tanker trucks of polluted water running into the

Introduction ◆ 3 When it Rains, Sewage Pours continued

“Clean water sewer for each resident each year. Older without this level of sewage systems combine stormwater with investment, sewage prob- has no local household sewage, but even in systems where lems could return to boundaries… they are separated some stormwater ends up 1970s levels by 2016. in the sewer, where it contributes to raw This is a job that is too Americans sewage overflows. big for states and localities The compounding problems of aging sys- to do on their own, and believe this tems and new development are illustrated by the public knows it. is a national Ohio’s Little Miami River (#7 on this year’s “Clean water has no list). Cincinnati’s Sycamore Creek Sewage local boundaries… Ameri- problem and Plant can’t handle its existing base of cus- cans believe this is a tomers and has polluted the Little Miami with national problem and not not just illegal discharges at least 840 times during the just a local responsibility,” a local past five years. Adding insult to injury, a pro- wrote noted pollster Frank posed bridge across the river would open new Luntz in February 2004. responsibility.” areas along the river for development, increas- “As they see it, a 21st Century nation should COM ing pressure on the already inadequate facility. NOT have a 19th Century system to keep . their water clean.”

Pollster Frank Luntz DOCUPIC Solution: Invest More to Congress and the White House aren’t lis- February 2004 Protect Clean Water tening to the public. The federal government There is no getting around the fact that solv- will invest just over $1 billion to help repair ing this problem will be expensive. The U.S. and build sewage treatment plants in 2005. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) esti- That works out to just $3.70 per U.S. resident mates that sewer and wastewater treatment — about a penny a day — to help maintain capital replacement will cost between $331 vital public health infrastructure that most and $450 billion, or $17 to 23 billion per year people use every day. In fact, the federal con- for the next 20 years. Former EPA administra- tribution to wastewater treatment systems in tor Christine Todd Whitman warned that the United States has declined by about 70

AN ALL-TOO-RARE SIGHT: NEW SEWER PIPES AWAITING INSTALLATION. FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. AMERICAN RIVERS PHOTO LIBRARY

4 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 percent since the 1980s. President Bush is seeking further cuts in 2006.

As a first step towards rectifying this situa- USDA NRCS tion, Congress should reject further cuts and instead increase funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund to $3.2 billion in 2006 and beyond. Increasing investment to $10.85 per U.S. resident per year would be a good start, but it’s not enough. As a second step, lawmakers should establish a dedicated federal trust fund to disperse aid to water utilities on a consistent basis — something Con- gress has already done for airports, barges, and federal highways. Finally, while Congress must appropriate the necessary funds, the EPA must enforce water protection laws regarding sewage discharges. Together, sufficient funding and vigi- lant law enforcement will encourage communities and sewer utilities to repair their systems, protect their citizens, plan wisely for future growth, and budget for capital replacement. Projects like these prevent sewage over- PLANTING TREES AND CON- Solution: Invest Smarter flows as surely as bigger pipes — and cost STRUCTING OR RESTORING It isn’t enough to simply invest more. Protect- less. That’s why the law recognizes them as a WETLANDS ARE OFTEN THE ing and expanding natural areas helps prevent legitimate use of federal clean water dollars. MOST COST-EFFECTIVE stormwater from rushing into the sewer in the But there are other pots of money that can be WAYS TO KEEP SEWAGE OUT first place — stopping sewer overflows before tapped to stop sewer spills before they start. OF RIVERS AND STREAMS. they start. That’s investing smarter. For years, Congress has directed a portion of In fact, planting trees, constructing or the federal transportation trust fund to fight restoring wetlands, and creating rooftop gar- air pollution; lawmakers should follow suit dens are often the most cost-effective ways to and earmark a portion of those dollars to expand the capacity of reduce the stormwater running off federally sewer systems. A single funded roads and into overflowing sewers. mature tree with a Clean water. It’s essential. It’s irreplace- thirty-foot crown able. Every time we enjoy it, we are more can keep 4,600 gal- indebted to the generation that spent so lons of water out much and worked so hard in the 1970s and 1980s to guarantee it for us. If Americans

NELSON ROSS of the sewer each year. For less than today want our children and grandchildren to $300,000, it’s possi- splash along the shore at sunset or drink from ble to construct an arti- the faucet without worry, then it’s time for us ficial wetland that can to live up to that example. It’s time to make intercept 3.25 million gallons of stormwater the commitment to keep raw sewage out of otherwise destined for the sewer. In June 2003, our water. Ford Motor Company planted ten acres of veg- etation on the roof of its Dearborn, MI truck factory, keeping as many as four million gal- Rebecca R. Wodder lons of rain out of the sewer system each year. President

Introduction ◆ 5 America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005

1 8 9 3 7

5 10 2

1. Susquehanna River 2. McCrystal Creek 3. Fraser River 4. Skykomish River 5. Roan Creek 6. Santee River 7. Little Miami River 8. Tuolumne River 9. Price River 10. Santa Clara River N EW Y ORK, PENNSYLVANIA, MARYLAND #1 Susquehanna River

T HREAT: SEWER POLLUTION AND DAM CONSTRUCTION

Summary blocked the river since the early 1900s, and Throughout the Susquehanna River water- countless mill dams have plugged the Susque- shed, aging sewer systems discharge enormous hanna’s tributary streams since before the volumes of raw or poorly treated sewage, Civil War. A century of coal-mining in the which eventually flow into the Chesapeake upper watershed has left a legacy of acid mine Bay. Unless local, state, and federal lawmakers pollution to the river, and the infamous Three invest in prevention and cleanup, the Susque- Mile Island nuclear power plant is located DON WILLIAMS hanna will remain among the nation’s dirtiest along the river downstream of Harrisburg. rivers and more and more of the Chesapeake The Susquehanna contributes half the Bay will become a dead zone. freshwater flows to the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America. The Chesa- The River peake Bay Foundation calls the river and the bay “two integral parts of one ecosystem.” The Susquehanna River begins near Cooper- The Chesapeake was once the most produc- stown, New York and flows 444 miles through tive estuary in the world, but today excessive Pennsylvania before broadening into a vast nutrients in polluted runoff from farms and tidal estuary at Havre de Grace, Maryland. urban areas, and untreated and poorly treated The Susquehanna drains 27,510 square miles sewage cloud the water, suffocate fish, kill — more than any other American river on the underwater grasses, and devastate oyster and Atlantic coast. The West Branch of the crab harvests. Despite these woes, the bay Susquehanna winds through a rural landscape remains a major stopover for millions of in central Pennsylvania that attracts hunters migratory waterfowl and shore birds, and is an and anglers from throughout the region. The important tourism and recreation destination river boasts trophy smallmouth bass, a on the East Coast. rebounding population of American shad, large annual spawning runs of herring, and The Threat one of the longest stretches of free-flowing river in the eastern United States. In the city of Wilkes-Barre, local officials hope For centuries, the Susquehanna has been a to construct a giant inflatable rubber dam hard-working river. Many early industrial across the river to create a deep-water play- cities, including Binghamton, Scranton, ground for jet skis and party barges. Ironically, Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York, this misguided scheme will graphically reveal were built along the river and its major tribu- the extent and consequences of pollution and taries. Four large hydroelectric dams have aging sewer systems found throughout the river basin. It’s hard to imagine pleasurable boating and LEFT: AN INFLATABLE recreation in the reservoir — there are 16 DAM, LIKE THE ONE SHOWN sewage outfalls that pour untreated human HERE, WOULD CREATE A waste into the very reach of river where the FILTHY CESSPOOL ALONG current would pool behind the dam. Twenty- THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER

PA BUREAU OF STATE PARKS three more outfalls empty into the river with- IN WILKES-BARRE. in 15 miles upstream. An afternoon thundershower is sometimes all it takes to start raw sewage gushing into the river. Records show that in March 2002 just two of the 16 outfalls sent 150 million gallons of human feces, industrial wastewater, stormwater, hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, and food scraps into the Susquehanna. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warned that sewage spills into the dam’s impound-

Susquehanna River ◆ 7 Susquehanna River continued

A CRAB PICKER FACES AN ment would lead to “unpleasant odors, basin, the Chesa- UNCERTAIN FUTURE. FAILING unsightly algae blooms and deposits of sus- peake Bay Founda- SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS pended wastes within the pool.” The U.S. tion has determined ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added that nitrogen dis- RIVER THREATEN CRAB that “impoundment of poor quality river charges from 97 of POPULATIONS AND SEAFOOD water may pose significant risks to human them are “unaccept- INDUSTRY JOBS THROUGHOUT health from exposure to bacterial pathogens” able.” According to THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. like E. coli, salmonella, dysentery, and others. the EPA, the Dam proponents have withheld a study that Susquehanna con- concluded that the dam would trap so much tributes about 40 pollution from abandoned mines upstream percent of the nitro- that the “river bottom, rock surfaces, bridge gen and 20 percent of the phosphorous that piers, boat bottoms, and safety buoys may flows into the bay. Much of this runoff comes become discolored, discouraging the general from agricultural and urban sources, in addtion public from using the water for recreational to raw or poorly treated sewage. purposes.” High levels of phosphorous and nitrogen in DON WILLIAMS Unfortunately, these troubles are not limit- the water can cause algae blooms that suck up ed to the reach of river through Wilkes-Barre. oxygen and block out the light that nearly EPA data reveals that similarly deficient sewer every living thing in the water needs to sur- systems are found throughout the Susquehan- vive. In recent years, a “dead zone” of water na River watershed. On the river’s mainstem, devoid of fish from Annapolis, MD, to Newport for example, there are 10 combined sewer out- News, VA has appeared in the Chesapeake Bay falls in Binghamton, 70 in Scranton, PA, and each summer. Dwindling fish populations have 65 in Harrisburg. On the West Branch of the caused the number of licensed commercial Susquehanna, there are 12 in Clearfield, four fishermen in the bay to drop from 14,000 to more in Williamsport, and the list goes on. fewer than 10,000 in recent years. Even where wastewater treatment is pro- Without action, these problems will only vided, it is largely inadequate and fails to use grow worse. According to the U.S. Geological available technologies that remove excess Survey, the population in the Chesapeake Bay nutrients and pathogens from discharged efflu- watershed will increase from about 15 million ent. Of 123 large sewage dischargers in the today to 18 million by the year 2020. Pennsylvania portion of the Susquehanna What’s at Stake The prospect of greater pollution in the Susquehanna River looms over the economic prospects of the Mid-Atlantic states. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that anglers spent more than $580 million fishing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2001 — CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION and fishing is just one of the many economic activities that depends on clean water. In fact, economists have estimated that the drinking water, waste assimilation, recreational use, electricity production, seafood harvest, tourism, and other benefits of clean water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed contribute more than $1 trillion to the region's economy each year. If elected officials aren’t willing to invest the resources necessary to clean up the Susque-

8 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 hanna River and restore the Bay, an irreplace- able piece of America’s natural and cultural heritage will be lost. DON WILLIAMS The 12-Month Outlook In February 2005, State Senator Ray Musto, representing the town of Pittston along the Susquehanna River, introduced a bill to send a $1 billion bond referendum to Pennsylvania voters. The funds would establish a Com- bined Sewer Overflow Grant Program to help communities clean up the Susquehanna and other Pennsylvania rivers. The full General Assembly should approve the measure before it adjourns. Also in February, President Bush asked the U.S. Congress to cut clean water aid to Penn- sylvania by more than $14 million in 2006 and to slash other Chesapeake Bay cleanup that the governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland, CONGRESS SHOULD STEP measures, as well. Federal lawmakers should and Virginia have requested to aid in the UP THE AMOUNT OF AID IT not only reject the proposed cuts, they should Susquehanna and Chesapeake Bay cleanup. PROVIDES TO STATES TO MOD- provide an additional $12 billion in assistance Luzerne County officials are expected to ERNIZE SEWAGE TREATMENT apply for permits from the U.S. Army Corps of ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA. Engineers and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in April 2005 for construction of the inflatable dam near Wilkes-Barre. The agencies will review the applications and accept public comments for between three and six months. Both agencies have the authority and the legal obligation to deny the permits on the grounds that the dam will worsen water pollution problems, impede the recovery of migratory fish populations, and drown significant wetlands and shore-bird habitat in the river above Wilkes-Barre. It’s just common sense not to create a recreational destination in a cesspool. Contact SARA NICHOLAS, American Rivers, (717) 232- 8355, [email protected] BILL GERLACH, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, (717) 234-5550, [email protected] DON WILLIAMS, (215) 513-9870, susquehan- [email protected]

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO TAKE ACTION: HTTP://WWW.AMERICANRIVERS.ORG/SUSQUEHANNA2005

Susquehanna River ◆ 9 N EW M EXICO #2 McCrystal Creek

T HREAT: COALBED METHANE DRILLING

Summary trout, black bears, mountain lions, and the McCrystal Creek and much of the pristine largest elk herd in the state, the Valle Vidal Valle Vidal area that surrounds it face the attracts hunters, anglers, campers, hikers, prospect of intrusive coal bed methane skiers, and horse- drilling. Unless the U.S. Forest Service resists back riders from White House arm-twisting, the agency’s across the coun- ALAN LACKEY promise to protect McCrystal Creek will be try. Grazing con-

RAY WATT the next — but probably not the last — tinues in the promise to posterity that will be broken in the Valle Vidal, pro- quest for fossil fuels. viding vital support for northern The River New Mexico’s agricultural com- The Valle Vidal, or Valley of Abundant Life, is munities. The a 100,000-acre unit of the Carson National famed Philmont Forest in northern New Mexico’s Sangre de Scout Ranch, Cristo Mountains. McCrystal Creek drains the located adjacent to the eastern half of the eastern portion of this wondrous landscape, Valle Vidal, has served as an annual gathering including areas that may be opened for place since 1939 for Boy Scouts from across drilling. McCrystal Creek and its largest tribu- the nation to experience backpacking and tary, North Ponil Creek, have been identified camping adventures. by the Forest Service as possessing outstanding ecological and cultural values and being suffi- The Threat ciently pristine for inclusion in the National COALBED METHANE DRILLING Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The valley One of America’s largest natural gas compa- COULD TRANSFORM AN boasts exceptional numbers and varieties of nies, El Paso Corporation, seeks to drill up to OUTDOOR PARADISE INTO AN fish and wildlife, as well as remarkable scenery 500 wells in 40,000 acres of Valle Vidal, INDUSTRIALIZED AND and recreational opportunities. including the entire McCrystal Creek water- POLLUTED LANDSCAPE. Home to the native Rio Grande cutthroat shed. If the area is opened for gas extraction, the wells and associated infrastructure could pollute McCrystal Creek, damage its pristine watershed, kill its fish, and drive away

ALAN LACKEY wildlife. Coal bed methane drilling extracts natural gas trapped within a coal formation or seam by water pressure. This method releases millions of gallons of groundwater from the coal seam. This water can contain dangerously high levels of dissolved solids, toxins, salts, and carcinogens and is often discharged in such large volumes that it scours out the receiving stream. The intensive drilling proposed by El Paso Corporation would be accompanied by a dense web of roads, pipelines, well pads, and com- pressor stations in primary wintering range for the area’s 2,500 elk, forcing the animals to abandon critical winter habitat, disrupting reproduction and herd movements. The con- stant din of heavy machinery would shatter the silence. Diesel smoke from trucks would

10 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 defile clear mountain air. Ironically, another energy company, Pennzoil Corporation, donated the Valle Vidal to the American public in 1982 for its out- GARY KRELLER standing wildlife and recreational values. The U.S. Forest Service has invested heavily in protecting and enhancing the Valle Vidal’s special wildlife population and initially resisted over- tures by El Paso Corporation to drill in the area — until the White House Energy Task Force began to intervene aggressively. In August 2004, the Los Angeles Times quoted an anonymous Forest Service official, who described “almost weekly” phone calls from the White House. What’s at Stake? The Valle Vidal and McCrystal Creek’s pristine waters, clean air, scenery, and wildlife are irre- placeable assets for the nearby communities of the Valle Vidal. METHANE DRILLING COULD northern New Mexico whose economies are After finalizing the study, the agency will DISPLACE HISPANIC RANCH- heavily dependent on the Valle Vidal for recre- complete its Forest Plan Amendment for the ERS WHO HAVE GRAZED THEIR ation income. Drilling could pollute the waters Valle Vidal Unit in late 2005, officially deter- HERDS IN THE VALLE VIDAL where cattle and elk drink, delivering a sharp mining whether the proposed drilling can pro- FOR GENERATIONS. blow to the area’s recreation and agricultural ceed. The public will then have another economy. Hispanic ranchers with a 400-year opportunity to speak out for conservation and history of grazing the Valle Vidal could be dis- protection of McCrystal Creek and the entire placed. Valle Vidal. The area’s other major source of jobs is like- wise on the line. Elk hunters, trout anglers, Contacts: horseback riders, hikers, skiers, and campers CHAD SMITH, American Rivers, (402) 423- could shift their attention and dollars to other 7930, [email protected] destinations. Thousands of Boy Scouts who BRIAN SHIELDS, Amigos Bravos, (505) 758- have hiked into the area from the adjacent 3874, [email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO TAKE ACTION: Philmont Scout Ranch would lose the trails JIM O’DONNELL , Coalition for the Valle Vidal, HTTP://WWW.AMERICAN- where they learn about nature and self- (505) 758-3874, [email protected] RIVERS.ORG/MCCRYSTAL2005 reliance. The reputation of the U.S. Forest Service is also on the line. If the agency succumbs to White House pressure to develop lands donated to the American people for their enjoyment, it will compromise public faith in similar promises in the future. The 12-Month Outlook In May 2005, the U.S. Forest Service will release a draft of their “Proposed Action,” which will detail what activities will be allowed to take place in the Valle Vidal. The period of public notice and comment following the release of the “Proposed Action” will be the first chance for the public to speak for the protection of McCrystal and North Ponil Creeks from pollution and against drilling in

McCrystal Creek ◆ 11 C OLORADO #3 Fraser River

T HREAT: WATER WITHDRAWALS AND TRANS- BASIN DIVERSION

Summary The Threat For years, the Denver Water Board has The Denver Water Board, Colorado’s largest siphoned out 65 percent of the Fraser River’s utility, plans to assert its rights to increase the water and piped it across the mountains to amount of water it takes from the Fraser River fuel runaway development along the Front from 65 percent to a whopping 85 percent of Range. Now it plans to take most of the rest. the river’s flows. Insisting the extra withdraw- Unless the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers puts al is crucial to meet anticipated growth, the KIRK KLANCKE a stop to the water board’s plans, there won’t utility intends to deliver the water to suburbs, be much left in the river except effluent from cities, and corporations in the Denver metro- local sewage plants. politan area. A recent scientif- The River ic study found The Fraser River forms in the snowfields that such a along the Continental Divide in the Roosevelt dramatic fur- National Forest. The river flows 29 miles ther reduc- north and west before it joins the Colorado tion in River, itself only a modest mountain stream stream at that point. The Fraser teems with trout, and flows would KIRK KLANCKE President Dwight D. Eisenhower enjoyed cause the many summers fly-fishing in the river’s cold, Fraser to fail clear waters. health stan- The communities of Winter Park, Fraser, dards. There sim- Tabernash, and Granby depend on the Fraser ply wouldn’t be River to provide their drinking water, carry enough clean water left in away their treated sewage, and entice visitors the river to dilute the germs and chemicals in during the summer months when the ski lifts the effluent flowing out of the sewage treat- aren’t running. Unfortunately, the Fraser’s ment plants — an uninviting prospect for fly water is also coveted by faraway cities. The fishermen, paddlers, and parents whose chil- Denver Water Board captures the river in the dren want to play in the deceptively clear Moffat Collection System outside of Winter water. Park, diverting water through the Rocky Other existing problems would get worse as Mountains to the expanding communities of water levels dropped. Each winter, road crews the Front Range. spread magnesium chloride and more than 6,000 tons of traction sand on U.S. Highway IF DENVER PUMPS MORE 40 to keep the roads open for skiers and truck- WATER OUT OF THE FRASER ers. These wash into the Fraser, slowly pollut- RIVER, WHAT’S LEFT OVER ing the river and choking it with sand because MAY NOT BE SAFE TO SWIM IN. KIRK KLANCKE the flow isn’t strong enough to wash them away. The water board’s additional water withdrawals would reduce stream flows in the river to the bare minimum levels — or even lower — recommended by the Colorado Water Conservation Board to sustain wildlife, fish, and a generally healthy stream. Water temper- atures in the river rise as flows shrink, dimin- ishing the numbers and varieties of fish and wildlife.

12 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 What’s at Stake

Since 1999, a drought has starkly revealed EYEWIRE how important adequate water levels in the Fraser River are for the surrounding communities. Poor fishing in the depleted river has damaged the Fraser’s reputation among anglers, who are choosing to go elsewhere. In the ski resort town of Winter Park, authorities had to deny a request to expand a housing project from 250 to 500 units, citing the lack of water. The communities along the Fraser River are facing the prospect of a perpetual, man-made water shortage imposed upon them by faraway city dwellers. The 12-Month Outlook In fall 2005, the Denver Water Board will sub- mit an Environmental Impact Statement to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, describing their plan to divert and store 85 percent of the need federal and state assistance to construct THE FRASER RIVER IS A Fraser River. To secure the permit to store the state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants to pro- POPULAR DESTINATION FOR water, the board must prove the withdrawals tect the river that supports their livelihoods. RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS will not damage the environment or affect Unfortunately, President Bush has asked Con- ALIKE, AT LEAST FOR NOW. other downstream senior water rights. The gress to cut clean water aid to the state of Col- Corps will make its decision about the diver- orado by almost $3 million in 2006. Congress sion in December. should reject those proposed cuts and increase To protect the Fraser and the communities funding for the Clean Water State Revolving that depend on it, the Corps should consider Loan Fund to $3.2 billion in 2006, of which the cumulative impacts of all utilities with- $25.5 million would go to Colorado. drawing from the Fraser and other Colorado River tributaries Contact and deny the water board’s JAMIE MIERAU, American Rivers, (202) 347- proposal to 7550 ext. 3003, [email protected] expand Front ADAM CWIKLIN, Trustee, Town of Fraser, (970) Range storage 420-0797, [email protected] capacity. The KIRK KLANCKE, East Grand Water Quality Board, (970) 726-8691, [email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION OR agency should TO TAKE ACTION: KEN NEUBECKER also insist that , Colorado Trout Unlimited, HTTP://WWW.AMERICAN- the water board (970) 328-2070, [email protected] RIVERS.ORG/FRASER2005 maintain accept- able minimum flows in the river and provide for seasonal fluctuations. This need not impose a hardship on the Front Range. Conservation, reuse and efficiency measures could meet the needs of the growing population for the foreseeable future. Experts at the Colorado State Universi-

COLORADO TROUT UJLIMITED ty Cooperative Extension estimate that most Colorado residents use more than 200 gallons of water per capita per day, while their neighbors in Arizona manage just fine with 160 gallons — 20 percent less. The small towns along the Fraser River

Fraser River ◆ 13 WASHINGTON #4 Skykomish River

T HREAT: RUNAWAY DEVELOPMENT

Summary cals, trash, and other pollution. In the worst Runaway development threatens to foul the case, stormwater can cause sewer systems to clear waters of the Skykomish River, known leak or overflow, filling rivers and streams for its fishing and other outdoor activities, with disease-causing germs. Concrete and working farms, forests, and rural quality of other impervious surfaces prevent rain from life. Unless the Snohomish County Council recharging groundwater, causing lower river plans responsibly for growth and acts to pro- flows and leading to even greater pollution.

SCOTT CHURCH tect the river, the very characteristics that Lower water quality is a big reason why make the valley so attractive to its residents wild steelhead and salmon numbers on the could be lost. Skykomish aren’t what they used to be. There was a time when the river’s renowned winter The River steelhead fishery lasted through winter until April. In recent years, low returns forced the The Skykomish River begins as a series of state to close the fishery in February. Without small streams trickling off snowy mountain protections for the river, fish numbers will peaks in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie continue to decline. Implementing protections National Forest, northeast of Seattle. As the now would be more cost-effective than paying river flows west, it leaves forested slopes and for expensive restoration measures in the moves through a landscape of family farms. years to come. The river’s north and south forks meet near As part of a locally-driven salmon recovery the town of Index, and where the Skykomish process, a diverse group of Snohomish County joins the Snoqualmie River they form the farmers, developers, local governments, tribes, Snohomish River, which flows into Puget and others have drafted a plan to protect and Sound at the city of Everett. restore the Skykomish River. The draft plan The Skykomish was the first river desig- reveals that without suitable land protections, nated in Washington’s Scenic Rivers Program. salmon and steelhead will continue to decline. Local residents cherish the river and enjoy opportunities for salmon and steelhead fish- What’s at Stake ing, whitewater boating, and other family out- ings. The “Sky” lures families from across the The Skykomish’s clear, clean water and the state to enjoy these activities, as well. salmon, steelhead, and char that swim in it are in danger. Farmers and other residents The Threat have set an example for neighboring counties with their efforts to restore salmon runs, but The Skykomish River valley is at grave risk of this investment will be lost if runaway growth being loved to death. The population of Sno- POORLY PLANNED DEVELOP- homish County, one of the fastest growing in MENT DEVOURS WORKING the state, has increased by 30 percent since NRCS FARMS AND FORESTS, 1990 and is expected to expand by a third POLLUTING RIVERS ACROSS again by 2020. Without a strong plan to man- THE COUNTRY. THE age growth, runaway development will dam- SKYKOMISH COULD BE NEXT. age the health of the river and diminish the quality of life for watershed residents. Poorly planned development devours forested shorelines and working farms. This is a nationwide problem because conventional construction practices for big box stores, strip malls, and parking lots smother habitat and lead to massive increases in polluted stormwater running into local streams and rivers. Stormwater carries high loads of pesti- cides, fertilizers, metals, automotive chemi-

14 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 reduce the amount of stormwater that pol- UNLESS SNOHOMISH COUNTY lutes the Skykomish River and protect ACTS TO PROTECT THE groundwater supplies. The Snohomish County SKYKOMISH, THE AREA’S Council should also reject proposals for new CLEAN WATER AND FISHING “Fully Contained Communities” — new cities COULD BE LOST. that would likely replace forests with pave- ment and pollution. The county will release the plan and accompanying studies in May and June 2005. After a series of public hearings, the County Council will make its decision on the Com- prehensive Plan before the end of summer. At the same time, the county is updating its Critical Areas Ordinance, which governs development in environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands and stream corridors. To safeguard the Skykomish and protect property, the Snohomish County Council should adopt measures protecting the main chan- nel and tributary streams with sci- DUGGAN HARMAN ence-based buffers, transforms the valley. stronger stormwa- The quality of life for everyone who lives ter controls, and in the Skykomish River valley is also at stake. low impact devel- One local city chamber of commerce touts the opment methods scenery and excellent fishing on the that limit impervi- Skykomish as reasons to move to the area, but ous surfaces and out-of-control development jeopardizes those enhance native veg- very qualities. Congested, dangerous roads can etation. The county be a major problem without thoughtful land- will release the use planning. Family farms and rural areas update and a study would be harmed or eliminated by gridlock of its environmen- and sprawl, and increased air and water pollu- tal implications for tion would threaten the safety and health of public comment in county residents. spring or summer 2005. The 12-Month Outlook Contact Snohomish County is drawing up two blue- AMY SOUERS prints for the future that provide current resi- KOBER dents with their best chance for protecting , American their property and lifestyle, while preserving Rivers, (206) 213- clean water, salmon and wildlife, for genera- 0330 ext. 23, [email protected] JOHN MAURO tions to come. , Pilchuck Audubon Society, The county is revising its Comprehensive (425) 252-1927, [email protected] RICH SIMMS Plan — its broad vision for growth and devel- , Wild Steelhead Coalition, (425) opment. To protect the Skykomish River and 941-7041, [email protected] quality of life, the county should direct new development to existing urbanized areas. The County Council should protect natural areas, expand public transit, establish parks, and link residential and commercial areas with hiking, FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO TAKE ACTION: biking and walking trails. These steps will HTTP://WWW.AMERICANRIVERS.ORG/SKYKOMISH2005

Skykomish River ◆ 15 T ENNESSEE #5 Roan Creek

T HREATS: FACTORY DAIRY FARM

Summary The Threat The streams and rivers of the Appalachian Factory farms have already blighted large areas Mountains have largely escaped the scourge of of neighboring North Carolina, and now Ten- factory dairy farming — but that may be about nessee’s weak environmental rules are beckon- to change for Tennessee’s Roan Creek. Unless ing. Many Johnson County residents oppose Tennessee officials establish and enforce construction of an industrial dairy operation stricter rules, cow manure could foul the near a family neighborhood that will further

KELLY ALDRIDGE stream, expose residents to disease, and pollute Roan Creek. jeopardize the region’s economic prospects. Two companies, Maymead Inc. and High Mountain Hosteins, propose to confine 699 The River milk cows in a large barn in a residential Legend has it that in 1760 Daniel Boone neighborhood outside Mountain City. The named Roan Creek, in the eastern corner of cows would produce more than 12 million Tennessee, for an injured horse he recovered gallons of animal waste each year. That is there. The stream begins near the town of more than the sewage produced by the 18,000 Trade and flows 20 miles into Watauga Reser- people living in Johnson County. The liquid voir. Roan Creek drains an Appalachian valley animal waste will be of small farms, country stores, scenic byways, stored in huge lagoons on and fishing holes. a Roan Creek tributary. In 1998, the Tennessee Rivers Assessment Concentrated animal Project identified Roan Creek as a river of feeding operations, better “local significance, fully supportive water known as factory farms, quality, and an excellent fishery.” Just seven like the one under con- years later, the river’s pollution problems are a struction near Roan grave concern. Mountain City’s sewage treat- Creek, are notorious water ment system is now so inadequate that last polluters. If completed, the dairy facility could year plant operators were caught spreading foul the Roan in several ways. Liquid manure could seep into groundwater below the holding sewage sludge on frozen ground within Roan USDA NRCS MANY FACTORY DAIRY FARMS Creek’s watershed in the middle of the night. ponds, contaminating nearby wells, springs, ARE NOTORIOUS WATER POL- Agriculture, quarrying, and gravel mining and Roan Creek. Once the lagoons fill up, LUTERS. ROAN CREEK COULD practices have also contributed to the stream’s manure will be spread onto farm fields, which BE NEXT TO BE SPOILED. decline. could later wash into Roan Creek. Most omi- nously, the manure lagoons could spill during a storm, sending a wave of liquid manure down NRCS / the valley and eventually into Roan Creek. USDA Factory farms aren’t just undesirable, they are dangerous. Bacteria, viruses, mold, heavy metals, antibiotics, hormones, and noxious gases escape the lagoon pits into the surrounding air and water, threatening the health of workers and neighbors. The stench irritates noses, eyes, and lungs up to a mile away. The list of ailments associated with factory farms includes salmonella, E. coli, listeria, cryptosporidium, blue baby syndrome, bronchitis, asthma, miscarriages, and more. In fact, factory farms cause so many waterborne and respirato- ry illnesses that in 2003 the American Public Health Association called for a national mora- torium on factory farm construction.

16 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 What’s at Stake For factory farm neighbors, the stakes couldn’t be higher than the water they drink and the air they breathe, but the damage caused by factory KELLY ALDRIDGE farms extends far into the surrounding community. Researchers at Iowa State University have implicated factory farms for tearing the social fabric of rural life — depressing property values, curbing business growth, and driving away residents. All this would be devastating to an impov- erished county whose economic future hinges on the promise of fresh air, clear water, and clean country living to attract new residents, visitors, and businesses. If High Mountain Hol- steins’ factory farm harms the area’s reputation along with Roan Creek’s water, a handful of low-wage dairy jobs will come at a terrible price for the county as a whole. The 12-Month Outlook In the coming year, Johnson County citizens will continue to challenge the construction of those proposed cuts and increase funding for THE TENNESSEE LEGISLA- the factory farm near Roan Creek, citing the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund to TURE SHOULD GIVE CITIZENS national studies and strong evidence that such $3.2 billion in 2006, of which $46.4 million RECOURSE WHEN FACTORY facilities are detrimental to communities, local would go to the state of Tennessee. FARMS POISON WELLS, economies, and water quality. POLLUTE THE AIR, OR Some 1400 local residents petitioned state Contact DEPRESS PROPERTY VALUES. officials in opposition to the original permit to ERIC ECKL, American Rivers, (202) 347-7550 build the factory farm. The permit coverage, ext. 3023, [email protected] issued by the Tennessee Department of Envi- STEVE FERGUSON, Johnson County Citizens’ ronment and Conservation, appears to violate Committee for Clean Air and Water, the agency’s own rules, which state that the (423) 727-2543, [email protected] agency “cannot authorize additional loadings BARRY SULKIN FOR MORE INFORMATION OR , Tennessee Public Employees : of the same pollutants” into streams that are TO TAKE ACTION for Environmental Responsibility, HTTP://WWW.AMERICAN- already polluted. The department should act (615) 313-7066, [email protected] RIVERS.ORG/ROAN2005 responsibly and withdraw the coverage for the factory farm. The Tennessee legislature will be asked to revisit state laws that govern factory farming, and also to review the rights of citizens regarding current agency practices. The legislature should provide Tennesseans with stronger recourse when factory farms poison wells, pollute air or water, or depress property values. This would encourage factory farms across the state to be better corporate citizens. Mountain City and small towns throughout Appalachia need federal and state assistance to acquire the state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants that will protect the rivers that are the heart of their communities. Unfortunately, President Bush has asked Congress to cut clean water aid to the state of Tennessee by almost $5.25 million in 2006. Congress should reject

Roan Creek ◆ 17 S OUTH C AROLINA #6 Santee River

T HREAT: HYDROPOWER DAM

Summary Threats For decades, an enormous hydropower dam Today, the ocean-going ships that sailed far up complex has drained one of the East Coast’s the Santee in centuries past would run largest rivers virtually dry. Unless state regula- aground within sight of the sea. That’s because tors stand up to a powerful and uncooperative much of the river’s water never makes it to the utility and demand that some of that water be mouth. Instead, a massive hydropower system put back, the Santee will continue to be South captures almost all the water and redirects it,

GERRIT JÖBSIS Carolina’s “forgotten river.” with a large portion going into the adjacent Cooper River, which empties into the Atlantic The River in Charleston harbor, some 30 miles to the The headwaters of the Santee River flow from south. the Appalachian Mountains in western North Most of the time, Santee Dam releases just and South Carolina, braiding together on South a trickle into its namesake river — only three Carolina’s coastal plain to form the river percent of its natural flow. The Corps of Engi- southeast of Columbia. Shortly thereafter, the neers funnels a little more water into the river is impounded into an expansive system lower 50 miles of the river, but released vol- of dams, canals, and reservoirs jointly operated umes are erratic and do almost as much harm by the state-owned utility Santee Cooper and as good to the river and the floodplain forest. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After exit- With flows choked off, much of the bottom- ing Lake Marion, the river, much reduced in land forest is transforming from rich, flooded volume, flows through an unpopulated area woods of tupelo and cypress trees draped with along the northern edge of the Francis Marion Spanish moss into an ordinary forest of oaks National Forest for almost 90 miles to the sea. and sycamores. Many of the back channels and The Santee River Basin drains one of the sloughs where alligators once lurked and fish largest watersheds on the Atlantic coast and is spawned have dried up. The Santee’s fish community is so distressed and depopulated that scientists had to examine other coastal rivers to figure out which fish species should be found in the Santee’s waters. GERRIT JÖBSIS Thanks to this degradation, the Santee River has been nicknamed “the forgotten river.” Despite boat ramps and trails to the river, fishing is poor and recreational use is low. Although most of the north bank of the river is in private hands, there are no substan- tial communities for many miles on either side of the river. Human activity in the floodplain is largely limited to a few tree farms and hunting leases. What’s at Stake This excessive degradation of the Santee River is inconsistent with the values of South MOST OF THE TIME, THERE’S home to 125 species of fish, including Ameri- Carolinians. In a 2002 survey, 89 percent of NOT MUCH OF THE SANTEE can shad, herring, striped bass, and the endan- state residents reported that they thought it RIVER LEFT BETWEEN ITS gered shortnose sturgeon. During the colonial was “very important” that “freshwater BANKS. period and the first decades of American inde- resources must be safe and well protected in pendence, the Santee River was an important South Carolina.” shipping route, and rice and indigo plantations The degraded river is also a lost opportunity lined its banks. for the state’s economy. Outdoor recreation is

18 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 big business in the state — and would be even bigger if the Santee River were the destination it has the potential to be. The U.S. Fish and GERRIT JÖBSIS Wildlife Service reports that in 2001, anglers spent more than $550 million on trips and tackle in South Carolina. Wildlife watchers spent another $256 million. The 12-Month Outlook As degraded as the Santee River is, it doesn’t have to be that way forever. Santee Cooper’s license for the hydropower project will expire on March 31, 2006. This presents an opportunity for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to require changes that will restore much of the river’s former richness and diversity.

Santee Cooper has publicly signaled its Contact THE SANTEE'S FISH reluctance to put more water in the river and ROBBIN MARKS, American Rivers, (202) 347- COMMUNITY IS SO has resisted conducting some of the studies rec- 7550 ext. 3051, [email protected] DISTRESSED AND ommended by South Carolina and federal offi- GERRIT JÖBSIS, South Carolina Coastal Con- DEPOPULATED THAT cials. During 2005, Santee Cooper will release servation League and American Rivers, (803) SCIENTISTS HAD TO an analysis of the benefits of restoring flows to 771-7114, [email protected], gjobsis@american- EXAMINE OTHER the river. Citizens rivers.org COASTAL RIVERS TO will depend on FIGURE OUT WHICH state and federal FISH SPECIES FOR MORE INFORMATION: experts to scruti- HTTP://WWW.AMERICANRIVERS.ORG/SANTEE2005 SHOULD BE FOUND nize the docu- IN THE SANTEE'S ment to WATERS. determine the flows needed to restore this public treasure. With study results in hand, state environmental officials should require Santee Cooper to

SCDNR operate the hydropower facility in a manner that ensures enough clean water in the Santee River for South Carolinians to fish, swim, and boat. Even a modest increase in flows would reinvigorate much of the floodplain forest, fill sloughs and back channels, and lead to rebounding fish and wildlife populations and recreational opportunities along the river. The state’s vigilance here will foreshadow what is to come elsewhere. Duke Power, South Carolina Electric & Gas, Progress Energy, and Alcoa are all poised to follow Santee Cooper and re-license 18 more dams affecting rivers throughout the state. If state regulators don’t stand up to Santee Cooper, other utilities will take advantage and resist steps to restore other rivers in South Carolina.

Santee River ◆ 19 O HIO #7 Little Miami River

T HREAT: SEWAGE AND POLLUTED RUNOFF

Summary The Threat Proposed wastewater plant expansions and During the late summer and other low-flow new bridges and roads are poised to pollute periods, up to 70 percent of the water flowing Ohio’s Little Miami River with more sewage, in the lower Little Miami is sewage plant . stormwater, chemicals, and trash. Unless the effluent. One of those plants, Sycamore Creek INC , state insists on modern sewage treatment and Sewage Treatment Plant, chronically violates sensible transportation planning, the crown its discharge permits by releasing untreated jewel of Cincinnati’s and southwestern Ohio’s sewage into a tributary of the Little Miami LITTLE MIAMI outdoor destinations could be sullied beyond River. Despite this, the Ohio Environmental recovery. Protection Agency (EPA) granted a permit to expand operations without repairing its leaky The River collection system and without upgrading to The Little Miami originates near Clifton the most sophisticated treatment technology Gorge State Nature Preserve, outside of Day- available. The plant will be authorized to ton, and flows south through gorges, wooded dump up to 32 million gallons of inadequately bluffs, and rolling farmland. The river emp- treated wastewater containing germs and high ties into the Ohio River on the rapidly grow- levels of pollutants like nitrogen and phospho- ing eastern fringe of metropolitan Cincinnati. rus into the river each day. The Little Miami River is home to dozens of And that’s just the beginning. The Ohio fish species, including three state endangered EPA is reviewing expansion applications for fish, and more than 250 bird species. up to seven sewage treatment plants along the At least three million people live within lower Little Miami. an hour’s drive of the Little Miami River, and Road construction and the subsequent real many of them are attracted to the river. estate development boom threaten to make According to official estimates, more than these pollution problems in the Little Miami 100,000 people canoe the river and over River much worse. The U.S. and Ohio Depart- OHIO RESIDENTS CLEANED UP 200,000 enjoy riverside trails each year. ments of Transportation are planning the East- THE LITTLE MIAMI RIVER Although the river is part of the National ern Corridor Project, a package of proposed ONCE ALREADY; NOW AGING Wild and Scenic Rivers System, its water new roads and bridges intended to speed traf- SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS becomes progressively more polluted as it fic through Cincinnati and its eastern suburbs AND PROPOSED ROADS flows past each of the 20 aging sewage treat- and exurbs. A key aspect of this project is a THREATEN THEIR HARD WORK. ment plants along the river. $1.4 billion bridge and highway project through ten miles of the Little Miami River Valley that would seriously harm the river and .

INC its watershed. , The likely site for the bridge would be the “Horseshoe Bend” section of the river, the

LITTLE MIAMI reach that supports the largest variety of animals along the entire length of the Little Miami. The highway would spur development in the valley, and the new big box stores, strip malls, and other development would increase the amount of polluted stormwater running into the river as well as further stress the region’s already inadequate sewage treatment infrastructure.

20 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 transit intheLittleMiamiRiver Valley. River andinsteadrecommend expandingmass al tobuildanewbridgeover theLittleMiami to build.Theagenciesshould dropthepropos- specify anynewbridgesand roadstheywish options forreducingtrafficcongestionand The agencieswillidentifytheirpreferred ject andseekpubliccommentinspring2005. Pro- Corridor reveal thedetailsofEastern ofTransportationthe OhioDepartment will would gotothestateofOhio. billion in2006,ofwhichalmost$180million Water StateRevolvingLoanFundto$3.2 grams, andincreasefundingfortheClean should rejectthosecutstocleanwaterpro- more than$20millionin2006.Congress cut cleanwateraidtothestateofOhioby nately, PresidentBushhasaskedCongressto treatmentfacilities.Unfortu- acquire modern shed needfederalandstateassistanceto quality standards. be withinnationalCleanWater Actwater sewage endandthattreatedwastewaterwill This willensurethatillegalspillsofuntreated their treatmenttechnologywhenupgrading. plants inthewatershedtofullymodernize at anytime.Thestateshouldrequireall expansion atseveralsewagetreatmentplants Ohio EPA onapplicationsfor couldrule The 12-MonthOutlook thing butfresh. trash, andthebreezealongitsbanksisany- alongthisriverismostly rare, thescenery be longbeforewildanimalsalongtheriverare resolve toprotecttheLittleMiami,itwon’t citizens’ laborareatrisk.Without fresh Scenic designation. tle MiamireceivedtheprestigiousWild and and restoredtheriver. In1980,thelowerLit- dumps andpollution,reforestedtheriverbank, agencies rolleduptheirsleeves,cleaned status, Cincinnaticitizensandgovernment degraded forNationalWild andScenicRiver reach oftheriverwasinitiallydeemedtoo Ohio.Whenthelower of lifeinsouthwestern Little Miamicontributesmuchtothequality hundreds ofthousandspeopleeachyear, the forfamilyoutingsthatdraw opportunities Boasting a60-milegreenway/bikewayand What’s atStake The FederalHighwayAdministrationand Communities intheLittleMiamiwater- Twenty-five yearslater, ofthese thefruits [email protected] Q Contact Info HTTP F A 965-9344, [email protected] M 7550 ext.3069,[email protected] E 4003, [email protected] RMR NOMTO RT AEACTION TAKE TO OR INFORMATION MORE OR RIC UINN NDREW IKE :// WWW B. P F M REMONT C . B AMERICANRIVERS ARTEE K ETTS EW , AmericanRivers,(202)347- , RiversUnlimited,(513)761- , Sierra Club,(513)891-2299, , Sierra , LittleMiami,Inc.,(513) Little Miami River . ORG / LITTLEMIAMI : 2005 ◆ 21 EE OF JEWEL W OPOETTHE PROTECT TO M OL ESPOILED BE COULD DESTINATIONS OUTDOOR IAMI TOTFEHRESOLVE FRESH ITHOUT R IVER C INCINNATI , H CROWN THE L ITTLE . ’ S

LITTLE MIAMI INC. C ALIFORNIA #8 Tuolumne River

T HREAT: WATER DIVERSIONS

Summary The recreational bounty of the upper reaches The City of San Francisco has proposed a means jobs and economic diversity in Califor- new pipeline that could increase the water it nia’s mountain towns. Downstream, the river removes from the Tuolumne River by as irrigates 300,000 acres in the San Joaquin Val- much as 70 percent. These additional diver- ley, one of the most productive agricultural sions would deplete 100 miles of productive, regions in the nation. Ultimately, the river pristine river habitat and compound pollution provides 85 percent of the drinking water for problems in San Francisco Bay. Unless San 2.4 million people in San Francisco and sur- TUOLUMNE RIVER TRUST Francisco invests in making its existing sup- rounding communities. plies go further, California could lose some of its best salmon and steelhead runs, world- The Threat class outdoor recreation, and the economic San Francisco is poised to increase the amount diversity this river now provides. of water it can remove from the Tuolumne River by up to 70 percent. Today, it takes an The River average of 235 million gallons each day. A The Tuolumne River begins within Yosemite $4 billion project, known as the “Water National Park east of San Francisco in the System Improvement Program,” includes Sierra Nevada range. One of the earliest defin- pipelines and reservoirs that would increase ing moments of the environmental movement withdrawal capabilities to 400 million gallons was John Muir’s failed effort to halt a dam on per day, with no safeguards preventing harm- the river in Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Valley. ful diversions. Below Hetch Hetchy, 83 miles of Tuolumne Because the city removes water close to the River are designated Wild and Scenic. This river’s source, increasing diversions would area is home to bald eagles, world-class fly- have dire consequences for most of the river. fishing, and thrilling whitewater. After pass- Falling water levels mean shrinking habitat, ing Modesto, the Tuolumne joins the San fewer fish, and fewer family fishing trips. Less Joaquin River, meanders north through the water in the river means fewer rafting adven- fragile Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, and tures and less business for local hotels and empties into San Francisco Bay and the Pacif- eateries, as well. ic Ocean. The lower reach boasts the largest About the only thing that goes up as water run of wild salmon in the San Joaquin Valley. levels go down is the concentration of pollu- The Tuolumne is a lifeline to many on its tion. Less Tuolumne water means a dimin- journey from the Sierra Nevada to the Pacific. ished ability to dilute agricultural and urban

WATER IS PUMPED FROM wastes and runoff in the river. And with less HETCH HETCHY RESERVOIR cool water coming from the mountains, the

TO SAN FRANCISCO, river would become warmer, contain less oxy- MORE THAN 150 MILES AWAY. gen, and produce fewer salmon. The extra diversions could reduce flow levels at the

TUOLUMNE RIVER TRUST mouth of the San Joaquin to as little as 34 percent of the natural average. Water managers must sometimes request emergency releases of clean water from Tuolumne reservoirs to meet water quality standards in the delta. San Francisco’s plans could foreclose this option. What’s at Stake One of the nation’s finest wild rivers is at risk. For decades, Californians have rallied around the Tuolumne River. In 1984, they secured its designation as a National Wild and Scenic

22 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 River. They restored Chinook salmon runs from fewer than 100 fish just ten years ago to as many as 15,000 in recent wet years. The results of those efforts are jeopardized. Families that spend quality time together rafting, fishing, and enjoying scenery along the Tuolumne will lose out if San Francisco devel- ops its plans. And so will rural communities AMERICAN RIVER TOURING ASSOCIATION like Groveland that rely on tourism to comple- ment the agriculture and timber industries. The city of San Francisco is confronting a choice between further depleting a magnificent resource or using its existing water supply more efficiently. Its reputation as one of Amer- ica’s most environmentally enlightened cities is on the line. The 12-Month Outlook In spring 2005, the San Francisco Public Utili- should incorporate the results of this review THE TUOLUMNE IS ONE ties Commission will begin work on a year- into its long-term water planning, and develop OF AMERICA’S FINEST long environmental review of the Water a plan for a water supply that avoids addition- WILD RIVERS — AT LEAST System Improvement Program, describing al withdrawals from the Tuolumne River. FOR NOW. options and recommendations for protecting its water system from earthquakes — and Contact whether to increase the amount of water it STEVE ROTHERT, American Rivers, (530) 277- takes from the Tuolumne. 0448, [email protected] The commission justifies increased with- JENNA OLSEN, Tuolumne River Trust, (415) drawals by forecasting a 14 percent increase in 292-3531, [email protected] demand by 2030. However, using data devel- ERICH PFUEHLER, Clean Water Action, (415) oped by the Pacific Institute, conservationists 369-9160 ext. 312, [email protected] estimate that San Francisco area water users SPRECK ROSEKRANS, Environmental Defense FOR MORE INFORMATION OR could cut consumption of Tuolumne water TO TAKE ACTION: (510) 658-8008, S_rosekrans@environmen- more than 30 percent by upgrading appliances HTTP://WWW.AMERICAN- taldefense.org RIVERS.ORG/TUOLUMNE2005 around the home and altering their landscap- ing practices. San Francisco should diversify its water supply options and embrace cutting-edge water conservation and efficiencies to meet water needs rather than withdrawing additional water from the Tuolumne River. The city should establish a watershed improvement program to fund land acquisition and recreation projects, provide for in-stream habitat enhancement, and maintain high-quality recreation flows in the entire Tuolumne watershed. In November 2004, the California Resources Agency began reviewing indepen- dent studies that found that San Francisco could meet its needs for safe, reliable water supplies without O’Shaughnessy Dam in Yosemite National Park. Removing the dam would restore the free-flowing Tuolumne River through Hetch Hetchy Valley, once one of America’s most stunning landscapes. The city

Tuolumne River ◆ 23 U TAH #9 Price River

T HREAT: DAM CONSTRUCTION AND DEWATERING

Summary N

ear the remote headwaters of the Price EYEWIRE River in central Utah, the Bureau of Reclama- tion is under pressure to build a dam and reservoir to take away one community’s water and pipe it over the mountains to another. Unless the local water district comes to its senses and the Forest Service strengthens

DAVID BROWN watershed protections, communities along the Price River could lose their water, their wildlife, and their hopes for a more prosperous future. The River The Price River officially begins at Scofield The Threat Reservoir in central Utah, on the edge of the The Sanpete Water Conservancy District has Wasatch Plateau. The river flows south and dusted off an old proposal to build a dam at east through the towns of Helper and Price the Gooseberry Narrows upstream of the con- before emptying into the Green River. On this fluence of Gooseberry and Fish creeks and journey, the Price is bordered by dramatic Scofield Reservoir. The irrigators envision cre- 1000-foot canyons that are home to desert ating a 17,000 acre-foot reservoir and piping bighorn sheep and mountain lions. Springtime about a third of the water each year across the flows offer adventurous rafters the chance to Wasatch Plateau to Sanpete County, where float a spectacular, roadless gorge. approximately 250 irrigators would use most Native American petroglyph of it to grow a third cutting of alfalfa each panels are found along the year. It is likely that this water would one day Price River, and Butch be transferred to municipal use. Cassidy and the Wild Below the dam, reduced water levels would Bunch reportedly be measurable for many miles. Portions of used the river canyon Gooseberry Creek could drop by as much as as a travel route. The 74 percent. Fish Creek could drop by as much

DAVID BROWN Price River is a Utah as 24 percent. These lower flows would lead Blue Ribbon Fishery to lower water levels in Scofield Reservoir, the and is wild enough to only water supply for Carbon County. The fire qualify for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. DAN MILLER As stunning as the Price River is, two important tributaries rival the mainstem for beauty, fisheries, and recreational values. Gooseberry Creek and Fish Creek drain the eastern slope of the Wasatch Plateau in the A PROPOSED DAM WOULD Manti-La Sal National Forest in central Utah, DROWN A POPULAR coming together just upstream of Scofield RECREATIONAL AREA AND Reservoir. Like the Price, both streams merit DEPLETE THE PRICE RIVER. federal Wild and Scenic protection. Fish Creek is home to a stunning variety of bird species, and the Fish Creek National Recreation Area is a popular destination for hiking, fishing, and horseback riding.

24 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 departments in the towns of Price, Helper, and USFWS Wellington warn that the water diversion could hamper their ability to fight fires. Siphoning this much water out of the Price River watershed would not only reduce the amount of water for Carbon County residents to meet their basic needs, it would compromise the outdoor activities that their families enjoy and that draw visitors from around the state. Lower flows in Gooseberry and Fish creeks would damage popular fisheries for rainbow and cutthroat trout. Scofield Reser- voir is currently designated a Utah Blue Rib- bon Fishery, but lower water levels would make it less attractive to anglers, boaters, and campers. Above the dam, valuable habitat would be release its management plan for the Manti-La THE BUREAU OF RECLAMA- drowned, including 100 acres of wetlands, a Sal National Forest. The agency should recom- TION SHOULD REJECT THE mile of upper Gooseberry Creek, and 4.3 miles mend including Lower Gooseberry and Fish PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD of small tributary streams. Downstream, creeks in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers TRADE WILDLIFE HABITAT towards the confluence of the Price and the System, a prestigious designation that would FOR LOW VALUE CROPS. Green rivers, lower flows would shrink habi- end the prospect of dam construction on these tat available to the endangered pikeminnow, remarkable rivers once and for all. the top native predator in these waters but now perilously close to extinction. Contact Info GARY BELAN, American Rivers, (202) 347- What’s at Stake 7550 ext. 3027, [email protected] The Gooseberry Narrows Dam would not only MERRITT FREY, Utah Rivers Council, (801) take water from one community and give it to 486-4776, [email protected] another; it would also suck money from the FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO TAKE ACTION: public purse. The project’s official price tag is HTTP://WWW.AMERICANRIVERS.ORG/PRICE2005 optimistically pegged at $25 to $30 million. Even at the conservative cost of $25 million, providing this water will cost taxpayers $4,620 per acre-foot. Recreation and tourism are increasingly important aspects of the economy along the Price River. The communities can ill-afford to have some of their most valuable assets drowned or depleted to provide subsidized water to other areas that have other options. The 12-Month Outlook The Sanpete Water Conservancy District is pressuring the Bureau of Reclamation to advance the Gooseberry Narrows Dam proposal and release its findings for public review and hearings. The Bureau should reject the dam and instead act on an alternative plan developed by community groups that proposes meeting Sanpete County’s needs by improving the efficiency of existing water delivery and irrigation systems. In summer 2005, the Forest Service will

Price River ◆ 25 C ALIFORNIA #10 Santa Clara River

T HREAT: RUNAWAY REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

Summary These are the same heavy-handed and out- Until recent years, the Santa Clara River has moded practices that have ruined almost largely escaped the intense development every other river in Southern California. The transforming most of Southern California, but consequences of burying and channelizing developers are now eyeing the river and adja- streams, paving wetlands, deforesting river- cent lands for a massive expanse of new con- banks, and the false security and hidden dominiums and shopping centers. Unless hazaards of buried regulators hold new development to high bank stabilization are ANDREW HARVEY standards, Southern California will lose its well-documented — last significant natural river. polluted water, trash- strewn banks, and van- The River ishing wildlife. The Santa Clara River, Southern California’s Importantly, this type longest free-flowing river, rises on the north- of development can ern slope of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los also increase the fre- Angeles County and flows through Ventura quency and severity of County to the Pacific Ocean. During its 87- flash floods, such as mile journey to the sea, the river meanders those that swept com- past mountains, desert, and berry and citrus munities along the Santa Clara in early 2005.

farms. The river and its associated aquifer Even though construction has yet to start, USFWS provide drinking water and carry away treated the loss to the community has begun. sewage from communities such as Santa Newhall has already closed about 15 miles of Clarita, Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Ventura. the Santa Clara and its shoreline to the public. Sixteen species of animals and plants that As bad as the Newhall Ranch Project would are close to extinction cling to existence in be, there is more to come. Another 8,500 acres the river and in the forested corridor along the of development are on the drawing board. banks. At the mouth of the Santa Clara in What’s at Stake Ventura County, brown river water collides with ocean waves and white foam. The sand Unless developers use 21st century techniques and sediment carried by the river settles out to reduce the damage that traditional develop- to nourish the area’s world-famous surfing ment would have on the Santa Clara, the last beaches. major natural river in the area could be lost. The condition of the river is not just a senti- The Threat

MUCH OF THE SANTA CLARA Developers are seeking permits to build four RIVER REMAINS SCENIC AND huge housing projects and develop more than NATURAL. 2,000 acres along the Santa Clara River. ANDREW HARVEY Additionally, Newhall Land and Farming is seeking approval for the five-village Newhall Ranch Project, one of the largest urban development projects ever proposed in Los Angeles County. If the developer secures the required permits for Newhall Ranch, it will unleash its bulldozers on 19 square miles of natural areas straddling the upper Santa Clara River, including 141 acres located on the river’s floodplain. The developer plans to smother 15 miles of tributary streams with concrete and channelize 17 more.

26 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 mental matter. Newhall Ranch and other developments will send more pollution downstream, and increase the risk of flash floods.

By fragmenting the riparian corridor and ANDREW HARVEY fouling the river with polluted runoff, overly aggressive development will push the southern steelhead trout, southwestern arroyo toad, the red-legged frog, and other endangered species closer to extinction. The 12-Month Outlook Newhall Ranch developers have already secured preliminary approval for their project from Los Angeles County and are awaiting final county approval for the first stage. They are also awaiting permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fill wetlands and modify shoreline along the Santa Clara River. The Corps should deny Newhall Land’s application — and every other floodplain development permit along the Santa Clara TERESA SAVAIKIE, Santa Clara River MORE AND MORE OF River — until it has completed an $8.2 mil- Alliance Coordinator, (661) 263-9624, THE RIVER IS BEING lion river study launched in September 2004 [email protected] SQUEEZED BY POORLY in partnership with Ventura and Los Angeles PETER GALVIN, Center for Biological PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. counties. The study should examine cumula- Diversity, (707) 986-7805, pgalvin@biological- tive impacts, as well as identify opportunities diversity.org for sound watershed planning, and managing DR. SHELLEY LUCE, Heal the Bay, (310) 453- growth in the area to protect the river for 0395, [email protected] future generations of southern Californians to DANIEL COOPER, Lawyers for Clean Water, enjoy. (415) 561-2222 ext. 103, [email protected] In early summer 2005, the Corps and the MATI WAIYA, Ventura Coastkeeper, (805) 382- developer will each release environmental 4540 studies of the Newhall Ranch project. Both documents should disclose the full range of FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO TAKE ACTION: HTTP://WWW.AMERICANRIVERS.ORG/SANTACLARA2005 consequences of the proposed development along the Santa Clara, and include strong pro- visions to prevent development in the river’s floodplain. Communities along the Santa Clara River will need state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants to preserve their water quality in the face of future growth. Unfortunately, Presi- dent Bush has asked Congress to cut clean water aid to the state of California by more than $25 million in 2006. Congress should reject those proposed cuts and increase funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund to $3.2 billion nationwide. Contacts SERENA S. MCCLAIN, American Rivers, (202) 347-7550 ext. 3004, [email protected] RON BOTTORFF, Friends of the Santa Clara River, (805) 498-4323, [email protected]

Santa Clara River ◆ 27 The voice of a movement: 20 years

For 20 years, American Rivers has partnered Clark Fork – Pend Oreille Four Corners Action Hackensack Meadowlands with local river and watershed conservation Coalition Coalition / 'A-LP Partnership Clean Up Our River Central' Hackensack Riverkeeper organizations, national environmental groups, Environment (CURE) Four Corners Rivers Hardee County Citizens outdoor recreation interests, tribes, and local Clearwater Biodiversity Sports Against Pollution Project Friends of Acadia Heal the Bay governments to highlight the pressing threats Coal River Mountain Friends of Burton Park Help Save the Apalachi- to rivers and the people working on their Watch and the Scenic Clacka- cola River Coal River Watershed mas River High Country Citizens’ behalf. We thank each and every one of the Preservation Association Friends of Mount Alliance 399 organizations that have teamed up with us Coalition for a Clean Aventine Hoopa Valley Tribe over the past 20 years of our America's Most Minnesota River Friends of the Animas Hoosier Environmental Coalition for Health River Council Endangered Rivers report and wish them all the Concerns Friends of the Cheat River Horse Creek Community best in their ongoing efforts to save their home- Coalition for Outer Friends of the Crystal Association Connector Alternatives River Housatonic Environmen- town rivers for themselves and their children. Coalition for the Valle Friends of the Earth tal Action League Vidal Friends of the East Fork Housatonic River Coastal Coalition Friends of the Elk River Initiative 1000 Friends of Florida Alliance Colorado Environmental Friends of the Everglades Huachuca Audubon 1000 Friends of BC Wild Coalition Friends of the Fox River Society Washington Beartooth Alliance Colorado River Alliance Friends of the Kaw Hudson River Sloop Adobe Whitewater Club Biodiversity Associates Colorado River Regional Friends of the Los Angeles Clearwater Alabama Rivers Alliance Blue Mountain Audubon Sewer Coalition River Idaho Conservation Alaska Center for the Society Colorado Trout Unlimited Friends of the Minnesota League Environment Bracy Tucker Brown Colorado Whitewater Valley Idaho Rivers United Alaska Clean Water Bucksport Town Council Association Friends of the Mississippi Illinois Stewardship Alliance Burruoughs Audubon Columbia Gorge River Alliance Alaska Rainforest Cahaba River Society Audubon Society Friends of the Northfork Interstate Commission on Campaign California Hydropower Columbia River Inter- and White Rivers the Potomac River Basin Alaska Wilderness League Reform Coalition Tribal Fish Commission Friends of the Payette Institute for Agriculture All Indians Pueblo California Native Plant Concerned Citizens for Friends of the Poudre and Trade Policy Council Society, Monterey Bay Nuclear Safety Friends of the Rappahan- Iowa Audubon Council Allagash Alliance Chapter Conservation Federation nock Ipswich River Watershed Allagash Canoe Trips California Trout of Missouri Friends of the Reedy River Association Alliance to Save the Canadian Nature Conservation Fund Friends of the River Izaak Walton League of Mattaponi Federation Conservation Law Friends of the Russian America Altamaha Riverkeeper Carmel River Steelhead Foundation River James River Association American Canoe Association Coosa River Basin Friends of the San Pedro Johnson County Citizens’ Association Carmel Valley Property Initiative River Committee for Clean American Littoral Society Owners' Association Crooked Creek Coalition Friends of the Santa Clara Air and Water American Watersheds Cascade Gateway Citizens Dallas Historic Tree River Kansas Natural Resources American Whitewater Alliance Coalition Friends of the White Council Affiliation Catawba Riverkeeper Darby Creek Association Salmon River Kansas Riverkeeper Amigos Bravos Center for Biological Defenders of Wildlife Galveston Bay Foundation Keep the Sespe Wild Anacostia Watershed Diversity Ducks Unlimited Georgia River Network Kentucky Resources Society Center for Conservation Earthjustice Gila Watch Council Apalachicola Bay & River and Use of Natural EarthWays Gold County Flyfishers Kentucky State Nature Keeper, Inc Resources East Grand Water Goliad County Historical Preserve Commission Apalachicola National Central Arizona Paddlers Quality Board Commission Kentucky Waterways Estuarine Research Club ECHO River Trips Grand Canyon Private Alliance Reserve Central Cascade Alliance Ecological Environmental Boaters Association Kettle Range Conservation Appalachian Restoration Central Coast Fly Fishing Experiment for Grand Canyon Trust Group Campaign Central States Education Everyone, Inc. Grand Canyon Wildlands Klamath Forest Alliance Arbor Hill Environmental Center Ecology Center Council Lake Havasu City, Arizona Justice Corporation Charlotte County (FL) Enlightened Energy Grand Council of the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Arctic Connections Commission Environmental Advocates Crees Club Arkansas Game and Fish Chattahoochee Environmental Defense Greater Yellowstone Lake Texoma Association Commission Riverkeeper Environmental Federation Coalition Lake Watch of Lake Arkansas Wildlife Chehalis River Council of Southwest Florida Green-Duwamish Water- Martin Federation Chesapeake Bay Environmental Health shed Alliance Land and Water Fund of Atlantic Salmon Foundation Coalition Greer County Landowners the Rockies Federation Citizens for Alternative Environmental Working Association Lawyers for Clean Water Audubon Arkansas Water Supply Group Gulf Coast Tenants LightHawk Audubon Dallas Citizens for the Preserva- Everglades Coalition Organization Little Horn Water Group Audubon Society of tion of Powers Gulch Evergreen Legal Services Gulf Restoration Network Little Miami, Inc. New Jersey and Pinto Creek Eyak Preservation Council Gulf States Natural Louisiana Environmental Audubon Society of Citizens to Preserve the Fish First Resources Center Action Network Omaha Upper James River Valley Florida Defenders of the Hackensack Estuaries and Lower Beaverdam Creek B.A.S.S. Inc. Clarendon Chamber of Environment River Tender (HEART) Task Force Bass Anglers Sportsmen's Commerce

28 ◆ America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2005 of saving rivers together

Lower Columbia Basin New York Rivers United RESTORE: The North Sierra Club, North Texas Committee on Audubon Society North Dakota Sportfishing Woods Carolina Chapter Natural Resources Lower Elwha S'Klallam Congress Rio Grande Bosque Con- Sierra Club, Northwest The Nature Conservancy Tribe North Fork River servation Committee Iowa Group The Nature Conservancy Lower Kern Recreation Improvement Association Rio Grande Restoration Sierra Club, Teddy of Washington Association Northcoast Environmental Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Roosevelt Group The Nature Conservancy, Mammit-Innut Center Basin Coalition Sierra Club, Texas (Lone- Arizona Chapter Manasota-88 Northern Alaska Environ- River Alliance of star) Chapter The Nature Conservancy, Maryland B.A.S.S. mental Center Wisconsin Sierra Club, Thomas Hart Clinch Valley Bioreserve Federation Northern Plains Resource Rivers Unlimited Benton Group The Wilderness Society Mattaponi Indian Tribe Council RiverWatch Sierra Club, Upper Tongass Conservation McHenry County Northwest Rafters Rock Creek Alliance Columbia River Group Society Defenders Association Rogue Fly Fishers Sierra Club, Ventana Trapp Hill Watershed Menominee Indian Tribe Northwest Sportfishing Russian River Watershed Chapter Association of Wisconsin Association Protection Committee Sierra Club, Virginia Trout Unlimited Menominee Nation NY/NJ Baykeeper Safer Waters for Chapter Trout Unlimited, Big Metropolitan Council of Ohio Valley Environ- Massachusetts Sierra Club, West Virginia Blackfoot Chapter Governments mental Coalition San Antonio River Basin Chapter Trout Unlimited, Idaho Mid-South Peace and Oil and Gas Accounta- Alliance Sierra Club, William Panhandle Chapter Justice Center bility Project San Jacinto River Bartram Group Trout Unlimited, Montana Middle Tallapoosa River Oregon Natural Desert Association Siskiyou Audubon Society Trout Unlimited, New Conservation Association Association San Joaquin Raptor Rescue Siskiyou Regional York Mill Creek Restoration Oregon Natural Resources Center Education Project Trout Unlimited, Valley Project Council San Juan Citizens Alliance Skokomish Indian Tribe Forge Mineral Policy Center Oregon Rivers Council San Marcos River Snowmass Capital Creek Trustees for Alaska Mining Impact Coalition Ouachita River Basin Foundation Caucus Tuolumne River Trust of Wisconsin Group Santa Clara River Alliance South Carolina Coastal Umpqua Valley Audubon Minnesota Center for Ozark Mountain Center Save America's Forests Conservation League Society Environmental Advocacy Ozark Riverkeepers Save Our Klamath South Carolina Wildlife University of Arizona Mississippi River Basin Network Save Our River Federation Upper Chattahoochee Alliance Ozark Society Save Our River South Yuba River Citizens Riverkeeper Mississippi Wildlife P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Environment League Upper Salinas Watershed Federation Pacific Coast Federation of Save Our Streams Southeast Alaska Coalition Missouri Coalition for the Fishermen's Associations Save Our Wild Salmon Conservation Council Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Environment Pacific Rivers Council Coalition Southeast Alaska Natural Resource Conservation Missouri Natural Streams Pamunkey Indian Tribe Save the Trinity Alliance Resources Center District Campaign Park County Environ- Save-the-Redwoods League Southern Environmental Utah Rivers Council Missouri River Citizens, Inc. mental Council Scenic Hudson Law Center Ventura Coastkeeper Missouri River Coalition Passaic River Coalition Sheyenne Valley Natural Southern Rockies Forest Walker Lake Working Montana Environmental Pennsylvania Environ- Science Society Network, Aspen Wilder- Group Information Center mental Council Sierra Club ness Workshop Washington Environ- Montana River Action Penobscot Indian Nation Sierra Club of Canada Southern Utah Wilderness mental Council Network People Opposing Water Sierra Club, Arkansas Alliance Washington State Montana Wilderness Export Sales (POWER) Chapter Southern Ute Tribe Audubon Society Association, Island Pilchuck Audubon Society Sierra Club, Cascade Southwest Environmental Washington Trout Range Chapter Platte River Whooping Chapter Center Wateree Homeowner's Monterey Peninsula Crane Maintenance Trust Sierra Club, Dacotah Southwest Forest Alliance Association Audubon Society Potomac Headwaters Chapter Southwest Network for WaterWatch of Oregon National Audubon Society Resource Alliance Sierra Club, Dallas Group Environmental and West Virginia Highlands National Committee for Powder River Basin Sierra Club, Florida Economic Justice Conservancy the New River Resource Council Chapter St. Louis Audubon Society West Virginia Rivers National Organization for Prairie Rivers Network Sierra Club, Grand State Water Improvement Coalition Rivers Prince William Sound Canyon Chapter Monitors Western Mining Action National Parks and Audubon Society Sierra Club, Houston Sunburst Unlimited Project Conservation Association Protect Our Rivers Now! Chapter Suwannee River Coalition Western Pennsylvania National Wildlife Public Employees for Sierra Club, Illinois Taku Protection Coalition Coalition for Abandoned Federation Environmental Responsi- Chapter Taku Wilderness Mine Reclamation Natural Resources Council bility (PEER), Maine Sierra Club, Kansas Association White River School of Fly of Maine Chapter Chapter Tatshenshini Wild Fishing Natural Resources Defense Public Employees for Sierra Club, Living River Taxpayers for Common Wilderness Watch Council Environmental Responsi- Group Sense Wildlife Management Nebraska Audubon bility (PEER), Tennessee Sierra Club, Lone Star Taxpayers for the Animas Institute Council Chapter Chapter River Willamette Riverkeeper Nebraska Wildlife Rainy River Watershed Sierra Club, Louisiana Tennessee Clean Water Wyoming Outdoor Federation Program (Delta) Chapter Network Council Neuse River Foundation Regional Clean Air and Sierra Club, Maine Tennessee Izaak Walton Yakama Indian Nation Neuse Riverkeeper Water Association Chapter League Yak-Tak Kwaan, Inc. Nevada County Board of Resource Alliance Sierra Club, Mississippi Tennessee Valley Energy Supervisors Resource Center for Chapter Reform Coalition New York Public Interest Non-Violence Sierra Club, Nevada Texas Center for Policy Research Group Chapter Studies

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COVER PHOTO CREDITS: Bottle: Harriet Wise, Other photos, clockwise from upper right: Harriet Wise, Stephen Holt/stockpix.com, American Rivers photo library, Stephen Holt/stockpix.com, Eric Eckl REPORT DESIGN/ PRODUCTION: Gallagher/Wood Design MAPS: Ross Freeman, American Rivers