In no particular order, here’s a snapshot of 10 of our biggest river wins of 2025: 

1. Secured major wins for America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2025 

Our 2025 America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report ranked the Tijuana River #2 due to toxic pollution threatening border communities. This designation, developed with partners Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores, helped catalyze swift federal action. Within three months of the April report release, American Rivers and others were invited to meet with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in southern California, which helped build momentum for a landmark agreement between the United States and Mexico to address the ongoing public health crisis. This demonstrates how strategic advocacy, combined with persistent community leadership, drives solutions for rivers and their communities. 

The Rappahannock River’s designation as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2025 brought crucial national attention to the threats facing Virginia’s longest free-flowing river. But this spotlight did more than raise awareness; it galvanized action that delivered tangible results. Working alongside our dedicated partners, The Friends of the Rappahannock, the Rappahannock Tribe, and the Southern Environmental Law Center, we achieved a significant victory for the river and the communities that depend on it. This collaborative effort secured permit changes for a proposed data center, banning industrial cooling withdrawals and reducing drought withdrawals by millions of gallons.

2. Mobilized action to protect Public Lands and Roadless Areas 

Bipartisan public outcry over a disastrous sell-off provision in a massive tax and spending bill led to the protection of public lands and the rivers that flow through them. Victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat thanks to supporters like you. 

The Trump administration is looking to rescind the Roadless Rule, which protects clean water and wildlife habitat by preventing road construction and timber harvest on roughly 45 million acres of national forests. This would be a significant setback (100,000 river miles) to our goal of protecting one million miles of rivers. Our team is making sure decision makers understand the impacts to clean drinking water supplies and we are mobilizing our supporters (we’ve collected more than 10,000 signatures so far) in support of these important river protections.

3. Safeguarding Montana’s Gallatin and Madison Rivers 

Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT) introduced the Greater Yellowstone Recreation Enhancement and Tourism Act (GYREAT Act) – Wild and Scenic legislation to protect nearly 100 miles of the Gallatin and Madison rivers and their tributaries in southwestern Montana. This legislation was developed through collaboration with American Rivers and our partners. If passed, these protections would create a vital corridor linking the rivers of Yellowstone National Park to the headwaters of the Missouri River.

4. Defending healthy rivers and Tribal sovereignty 

American Rivers helped rally national, regional, and local partners in urging the Department of Transportation to protect aquatic connectivity programs — efforts that restore fish passage, reconnect rivers and wetlands, and replace outdated culverts and road crossings. The joint comment letter was signed by 140 groups — including Tribes, anglers, businesses, universities, research institutions, conservation organizations, community leaders, agencies, faith groups, and planners — all united for healthier, more connected waterways. 

Additionally, when the Department of Energy urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to roll back its 2024 policy protecting Tribal sovereignty in hydropower permitting, American Rivers acted fast. Working with Tribal attorneys, Native networks, and partner organizations, we mobilized national opposition and filed formal comments — demonstrating our deep commitment to Tribal leadership and ensuring healthy rivers. We’ll continue working alongside Tribal partners to ensure these protections remain strong.

5. Restoring mountain meadows in California 

American Rivers is a key member of The Sierra Meadows Partnership, a coalition of environmental organizations working together to restore 30,000 acres of mountain meadows by 2030. These meadows act as natural sponges that store water, improve drought resilience, and provide essential wildlife habitat. Through this collaborative effort, we successfully secured a $24.7 million block grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board to support our restoration work.

6. Advanced critical protections for New Mexico’s waterways 

After naming New Mexico’s waterways #1 on America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2024 list, we’re celebrating significant wins across the state. In the Pecos watershed — home to elk, black bears, Rio Grande cutthroat trout, and generations-old acequia farms — the Department of Interior paused new mining claims across 165,000 acres while pursuing longer-term protections. Through advocacy with our partners, we helped secure Outstanding National Resource Waters protection for over 250 miles of rivers across five watersheds, including the Rio Grande. And now, Senator Heinrich (NM) and the All Pueblo Council of Governors are championing protection of the Caja del Rio — a 107,000-acre landscape along the Rio Grande and Santa Fe rivers that holds deep cultural significance for Puebloan and Hispanic communities while supporting diverse wildlife.

7. Furthering community safety through dam awareness 

American Rivers spoke on panels and hosted webinars addressing the deadly threat of low head dams, generating hundreds of participants from across the dam removal and safety industries. A low head dam is a human-made structure that spans the full width of a river and is designed to allow water to continuously flow over it, creating a dangerous hydraulic and earning them the nickname “drowning machines.” Our educational workshops brought together leading experts to discuss solutions for addressing these public safety hazards while advancing river restoration solutions.

8. Building momentum for dam removal across the Northeast 

American Rivers is celebrating a wave of funding that will free multiple rivers across the Northeast. We were awarded $220,000 to remove the Yopp Pond dam on the Fourmile River in Connecticut — the first barrier blocking this coastal river that drains to Long Island Sound. Fisheries biologists note this removal will be transformational for alewife runs in this critical watershed. Additionally, New Hampshire Fish and Game committed $150,000 to support two strategic dam removals: North Branch Gale dam in the Upper Connecticut River watershed and Mead Brook dam in the Contoocook River watershed. Both dams impact excellent cold-water habitat and are scheduled for removal in 2026. Additionally, the Davis Conservation Foundation granted $20,000 for our hydropower relicensing work in Maine.

9. Defended Idaho’s Salmon River 

Along with our partners at Advocates for the West and coalition members in Idaho, American Rivers and our Action Fund filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service to prevent a massive open-pit gold mine at the headwaters of the South Fork Salmon River. This important waterway is a national treasure that provides critical spawning habitat for the longest-distance, high-elevation salmon migration on Earth, as well as world-class whitewater recreation and fishing. It has been listed as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® for three consecutive years.

10.  Improved wildfire resilience in California 

American Rivers and our partner, Terra Fuego Resources Foundation, completed prescribed fire burns on 160 acres as part of a 570-acre fuel reduction and prescribed fire project — a critical effort to protect the South Yuba River and the communities of Nevada City and Grass Valley from catastrophic wildfire. In a major boost for river restoration, the California Wildlife Conservation Board approved nearly $5 million to launch the Pickel Meadow Restoration Project on the West Walker River. Construction begins this summer, marking an exciting next chapter for this important watershed.

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This year’s progress is thanks to you and thousands of passionate advocates, partners, volunteers, and expert staff who contribute to our mission daily. Together, we’re building a future of healthy rivers and clean water for everyone, everywhere.

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Together, these stories provide an excellent overview of the challenges and opportunities facing our nation’s rivers. They remind viewers about the vital role rivers play in providing our drinking water, supporting fish and wildlife, powering our economy, ensuring healthy communities, and creating endless opportunities for beauty, connection, and joy. 

“An American River” – a documentary about the Delaware River 

The CBS News crew traveled from source to mouth down the Delaware, meeting people along the way who work on, and speak up for, the river. The documentary is a heartfelt and hopeful look at the vital work underway to protect the river and all the life it supports. 

Paddling his canoe, Adam Schellhammer, Mid-Atlantic Director for American Rivers reflects, “It’s not just about fun… from a very basic survival need, we need to protect our waterways.” 

America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2025 

This year’s list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® is a call to action for clean water and public safety. CBS showcased the campaign with thoughtful news coverage, interviews with American Rivers leaders, and a spotlight on New Jersey’s Passaic River. 

Local reports highlighting river threats and solutions 

All 14 CBS-owned stations produced local reports highlighting regional rivers’ threats, and had great examples of river restoration. From Maryland to Texas to California, here are some inspiring stories: 

Take action and support your river 

If you feel inspired after watching these videos, there are great ways to help: 

1. Take action for America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2025

2. Donate to American Rivers to support our river protection efforts nationwide 

3. Speak up for your own river: contact your local decision makers and encourage them to be river champions. Find your local river group and support their important work. 

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It’s against this backdrop that American Rivers is announcing America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2025. Our message is simple, and we have a plan: To stop the cycle of destruction, we must invest in solutions that protect river health and our nation’s clean water security. 

Topping the 2025 list is “America’s River”, the Mississippi. As I write this, portions of the river are at flood stage, or approaching flood stage, as a result of recent heavy rain and snowmelt, according to the National Weather Service.  

But high water isn’t the only threat. Layoffs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and calls to abolish both the agency itself and the National Flood Insurance Program put river health and human safety at risk, and could compound longstanding threats to river health. 

Spotlighting what matters most 

Whether your community is more vulnerable to floods, droughts, or wildfires, we all want to keep our families safe from extreme weather. And no matter where you live, it’s the communities with healthy rivers that are stronger, better equipped, and more resilient in the face of these threats.  

In addition to safety, another need we all have in common is clean, safe, reliable drinking water. Most of our drinking water comes from rivers – but half of the rivers in the United States contain unsafe levels of pollution.  

Public safety and clean water aren’t red or blue state issues. They are shared values that connect us all. “Our water wealth is one of our greatest assets as a nation,” says American Rivers president and CEO Tom Kiernan. 

Protecting these shared values and our nation’s water wealth is the motivation behind America’s Most Endangered Rivers ®. Every year, working with local partners, we sound the alarm and deliver an urgent and timely call to action for the rivers we all depend on. As we celebrate the 40^th anniversary of this campaign, protecting clean water and healthy rivers has never been more important. 

America’s Most Endangered Rivers ® of 2025: Ten rivers at a crossroads 

1. Mississippi River: The lifeline of America faces an uncertain future as FEMA’s role in floodplain protections and infrastructure maintenance hangs in the balance. 

2. Tijuana River: Severe sewage and chemical pollution threaten communities on both sides of the US-Mexico border. 

3. Rivers of Southern Appalachia: Extreme weather is testing the limits of aging dams while hurricane recovery efforts struggle to keep pace. 

4. Passaic River: Historical industrial pollution continues to impact this essential New Jersey waterway. 

5. Lower Rio Grande: A mega-drought combined with outdated water management threatens this crucial border river. 

6. Rappahannock River: Declining groundwater levels and explosive growth from data centers are creating a perfect storm for water insecurity. 

7. Clearwater River Basin: Some 700 miles of potential Wild and Scenic River protections are at risk of being lost. 

8. Susitna River: Road construction and mining threaten one of Alaska’s most pristine waterways. 

9. Calcasieu River: Toxic and heavy metal pollutants endanger this Louisiana river system. 

10. Gauley River: Strip mining in the headwaters is introducing toxic pollution to this beloved recreational waterway. 

Making a difference together 

The America’s Most Endangered Rivers ® campaign has a track record of success. It galvanizes the public to speak up on behalf of the rivers, gets the attention of decision makers, and creates positive change. Together with partners, we have helped stop pollution in the Buffalo National River and prevented harmful mining in fragile ecosystems like the Boundary Waters. The campaign played an important role in protecting Wyoming’s beautiful Hoback River, and has contributed to dam removal and river restoration efforts on rivers such as the Penobscot, Klamath, and Eel.  

You can help turn this year’s endangered rivers into success stories. We need your voice for America’s Most Endangered Rivers ® of 2025. Learn more about the rivers, and take action today. 

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However, this anniversary isn’t just a moment to look back and celebrate what we’ve accomplished—it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the road ahead. Over these 40 years, we’ve faced countless challenges, but we’ve also seen victories that continue to motivate us to keep speaking up for the health of our rivers.

As a way to celebrate 40 years of America’s Most Endangered Rivers®, we wanted to highlight some of the most impactful stories; rivers that represent not only the challenges our rivers face but also the solutions we’ve been able to achieve through our collective efforts. 

New Mexico’s Rivers: A Hopeful Future

2024 #1 River Listing 

In 2024, New Mexico’s rivers were highlighted as the #1 most endangered due to threats facing nearly all streams and wetlands in the state, particularly the loss of Clean Water Act protections. This left the state’s waterways at risk of pollution from industrial runoff and agricultural waste, posing a danger to the local communities and ecosystems that rely on them. 

But just last week, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill to restore clean water protections that creates a state surface water permitting program to ensure the state’s precious water resources have the proper management and safeguards.   

Neuse River: A Turnaround Story

Listed in 2017, River of the Year 2022

When the Neuse River was listed among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2017, it faced threats from industrial agricultural waste being dumped into its floodplains. This was a river that, for decades, has been a vital water source for communities in eastern North Carolina, but its future seemed uncertain. 

Inclusion in America’s Most Endangered Rivers® sparked action and amplified community engagement to honor the progress and to support forward momentum, we named the Neuse “River of the Year” in 2022. Local advocates and communities continue to push for improvements to keep the Neuse River on a positive trajectory. 

Klamath River: A Milestone in River Restoration

Listed in 2002

The Klamath River, one of the most iconic rivers in the Pacific Northwest, made the America’s Most Endangered Rivers® list multiple times over the years, with four dams devastating river health, water quality, salmon runs, and a vital source of sustenance and cultural heritage for the river’s tribes. The Yurok, Karuk, Klamath, and other Tribes and Indigenous communities advocated tirelessly for river restoration. Last year, dam removal was completed and now the river is on a path to recovery. Learn more about the Klamath Dam removals. 

Gila River: The Ongoing Fight for Water Security

Listed in 2019

The Gila River, one of the most critical rivers in the American Southwest, was listed among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® in 2019 due to threats from the proposed construction of a damaging water diversion project.  

The diversion could have dried up the Gila River, impacted fish and wildlife, the local outdoor recreation and tourism economy, and harmed critical habitat for seven threatened or endangered species. Declining groundwater levels caused by the diversion could also have harmed some of the last remaining intact riparian forest in the Lower Colorado River Basin.  

In a win for the river and all who depend on it, in 2020, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission voted 7-2 to end work on the Environmental Impact Statement for the Gila River diversion. 

Looking Ahead: A Call to Action for 2025 

As we approach America’s Most Endangered Rivers® 2025, the work to protect our rivers is far from over. This anniversary not only celebrates the progress we’ve made but also serves as a starting point to redouble our efforts. The rivers and clean water that continue to face threats need our help now more than ever. 

Every action counts, and every voice raised has the power to make a difference. I invite you to join us in supporting efforts to protect and restore these endangered rivers, and all of the rivers we depend on nationwide. 

Check back on April 16, when we will announce America’s Most Endangered Rivers® 2025! 

This is a guest blog written by Alejandra Galindo, American Rivers MAP Fellow. Alejandra is a dynamic Senior Program Manager at Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll), where she spearheads initiatives that empower early-stage entrepreneurs from underserved, low-income, and minority communities. With a passion for inclusive economic development, Alejandra leverages over a decade of international experience to design and implement high-impact programs that drive innovation and opportunity.

Originally from Colombia, Alejandra holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations from Icesi University, an MBA in Finance from EUDE Business School in Spain, and a Strategic Project Management Certificate from Harvard University. Her global education and professional journey have shaped her into a versatile leader with a deep understanding of both grassroots challenges and strategic solutions.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Alejandra blends her multicultural insight with sharp operational acumen to build bridges between communities, entrepreneurs, and resources. Her work continues to open doors for aspiring business owners, helping to cultivate resilient, inclusive ecosystems where all entrepreneurs can thrive.

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America’s Most Endangered Rivers® #1 spotlight drives action 

New Mexico’s waterways face unprecedented threats, with nearly all rivers and wetlands at risk of pollution due to the loss of Clean Water Act protections. Yet recently, a significant breakthrough has inspired hope for the future. New Mexico allocated funding for a state program to regulate pollution and joined the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge. This ambitious initiative by the Biden administration sets a national goal to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s rivers and streams by 2030.  

Our America’s Most Endangered Rivers® listing and partners’ leadership played important roles in raising public awareness and securing these positive steps forward. Looking ahead, we’re committed to supporting our partners as they gear up for a critical year of advocating to restore clean water protections in state laws and regulations. 

Washington protects over 950 miles of pristine river systems 

After years of advocacy by American Rivers and our local partners, the Washington Department of Ecology designated more than 950 miles of the Cascade, Green, and Napeequa river systems as Outstanding Resource Waters. These rivers are now protected for their cultural and spiritual significance to Tribal Nations, critical habitat for salmon and wildlife, and their role in providing a sanctuary of clean, cool water for species adapting to a rapidly changing climate. 

$50 million boost for Flint River headwaters revitalization 

We helped secure $50 million in federal funds to build a trail network that gives Southside Atlanta communities access to the Flint River headwaters greenspace, while also addressing stormwater flooding that threatens homes, businesses, and public safety. After a decade of work with local communities to draw attention to water challenges, this influx of funding is especially gratifying. 

Yosemite’s groundbreaking meadow restoration effort  

A groundbreaking restoration effort is underway in Yosemite National Park’s Ackerson Meadow, a critical biodiversity hotspot. American Rivers and our partners are restoring 230 acres of habitat for endangered wildlife, which will also improve water quality and boost groundwater storage capacity by an estimated 20 million gallons annually. Groundwater is an important source of clean, dependable drinking water. 

Protecting thousands of miles of rivers across five states  

Several of our highest-priority river protection bills advanced in Congress, bringing them closer to becoming law. These bills will safeguard thousands of miles of rivers and streams in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Oregon’s Owyhee River Canyonlands, Colorado’s Dolores River watershed, California’s Ackerson Meadow complex, and New Mexico’s Pecos River. The Owyhee bill would also move tens of thousands of acres of sacred lands into a trust for the Burns Paiute Tribe. 

Philadelphia’s climate change leaders of tomorrow 

Fostering Philadelphia’s environmental leaders of tomorrow, we partnered with Overbrook Environmental Education Center to launch an inspiring climate change career discovery program. Over three months, local high schoolers gained hands-on experience in diverse conservation skills, learning everything from assessing stream channels and flood risks to engaging with policy leaders, preparing them for environmental careers or college.  

Grand Rapids advances green infrastructure  

We received funding from the Grand Rapids City Commission to advance our sustainable approach to stormwater pollution. Communities of Color, who disproportionately feel the impacts of pollution, are important partners in this work. Our approach encourages installing natural features like rain gardens and bioswales, which filter and absorb excess water, contributing to a healthier, cleaner Grand River. 

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WIN ✅ Klamath dams coming down for salmon and people
We are proud to have played an important role, alongside Tribal Nations and conservation partners, in advocating for the world’s largest dam removal and river restoration project currently underway on Oregon and California’s Klamath River. This time next year, salmon returning from the Pacific Ocean will swim upriver, past where four large dams once blocked their migration. These incredible fish will lay eggs in their spawning grounds and begin their species’ long road to recovery. Even if you’ve never heard of the Klamath, the reality of salmon returning — and what it means to local Tribes and the ecosystem — is breathtaking.

WIN ✅ Endangered Rivers became success stories
The 10 rivers featured in this year’s America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report underscore how health and safety are threatened by climate change, pollution, dams, and other threats to rivers and communities. Together, we must continue to defend these 10 rivers — and demand greater protections for all 3 million miles of rivers across our country.

Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, Arizona: The Bureau of Reclamation released a simulated flood into the dwindling Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. 39,500 cubic feet of water per second were released over 72 hours (that’s billions of gallons) to benefit endangered fish, restore wildlife habitat, rebuild beaches, and protect cultural resources in the canyon. Simulated floods like this one are extremely important to a healthy ecosystem in the Grand Canyon. What does 39,500 CFS look like? Watch the video.

Lehigh River, Pennsylvania: State Rep. Joe Webster introduced a bill to protect riparian buffers — vegetated riverside land that provides habitat, reduces bank erosion, filters pollution, and lowers flood risk. One of our asks in America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2023, the bill is especially important because it will help protect the Lehigh and other rivers across Pennsylvania from harmful development and stormwater pollution.

Clark Fork River, Montana: The Clark Fork is threatened by toxic waste left after the Smurfit-Stone pulp mill closed in 2010. By advocating at the local and state levels, we convinced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to speed up its testing at the mill site, which we are hopeful will help prompt the Biden administration to order a cleanup of the site.

WIN ✅ Turning federal $ into action for rivers
American Rivers played a leading role in drafting the legislative language and then securing $1.6 billion for dam removals and dam safety in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. We are now leveraging that funding and coupling it with your support to exponentially increase the number of rivers freed from dams.

• We are overseeing or advising on large, complex dam removal projects around the country. The Albright Power Dam on West Virginia’s Cheat River, for example. The project will open 75 miles of the Cheat and hundreds of miles of tributaries to fish species, including walleye, allowing them to secure habitat and food. And for the first time in 70 years, local communities will be able to boat, fish, and swim in this section of the Cheat.
• Thanks to our success in bringing together environmental groups, Tribes, and the hydropower industry for the benefit of rivers, American Rivers was selected to lead a $3.7 million project for the U.S. Department of Energy. The goal is to develop recommendations on dam safety, workforces, the federal dam-licensing process, and greenhouse gas emissions from reservoirs.

STILL FIGHTING ⏳ Supreme Court Ruling Puts Clean Water at Risk
For 50 years, the Clean Water Act, enacted with bipartisan support, has served as our most fundamental tool for protecting waters across the country. Yet, this past spring, the U.S. Supreme Court released a devastating ruling that dramatically narrowed the act’s scope. The court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA erased critical protections for tens of millions of acres of wetlands and made the clean drinking water sources for millions of Americans vulnerable to pollution and harmful development.

We can’t overstate the implications of the court’s ruling: The rate and severity of flooding and flood damages will worsen, clean drinking water sources for communities will be threatened, wildlife habitat will be destroyed, and water treatment will become more expensive, driving up costs for millions of people. Additionally, when these wetlands are drained and paved over, they will no longer serve as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide, making our fight against climate change even more of a challenge.

Gutting protection for half of our wetlands is the opposite of how to address the nation’s water and climate crisis. Rivers should unite us, not divide us. American Rivers will continue to stand with local partners and frontline communities to secure equitable protections for rivers and clean water nationwide. We will do everything in our power to work with Congress to rewrite the Clean Water Act and press states to enact tougher laws.

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“The Ohio River has always humbled me,” Sprouse says. “In parts, the river is a mile wide. From the confluence that begins the river in Pittsburgh to where it meets the Mississippi River in Cairo, Illinois, these waters are the lifeblood of our communities, our economies, and our ecosystems.”

The word Ohio comes from the Seneca (Iroquois) word ohi:yo, meaning “good river” or “beautiful river.” Collecting water from 14 states, from New York to Alabama, the Ohio River basin is one of the largest watersheds in the nation. It supports local economies and communities. The river also supplies drinking water to 5 million people and is home to 150 species of fish and wildlife. But that’s not the whole story.

The threats

The Ohio is also a case study of many of the threats facing the 10 rivers named among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2023: fossil fuel development, climate change impacts, such as extreme flooding, vulnerable wildlife, toxic pollution, drinking-water-safety concerns, access to river recreation, and lack of federal support. The list of threats is as varied as the six states the river passes through on its journey to reach the Mississippi.

A boom in hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia has resulted in toxic waste being barged down the river. That waste and other industrial pollution contain chemicals including PFAS — commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” — which don’t naturally break down and are linked to testicular cancer, kidney cancer, birth defects, and endocrine disruption. Meanwhile, coal-fired power plants have contaminated groundwater with arsenic and mercury. And nutrient runoff contributes to harmful algal blooms that make water unsafe for humans, pets, and aquatic life.

Recently, a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals used to make plastic derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, 16 miles from the Ohio River. The train cars were filled with cancer-causing chemicals, some of which leaked into surrounding waterways and made their way to the Ohio River. More than 40,000 fish and aquatic wildlife died, and the communities reported foul-tasting and smelling water, rashes, and body aches. This chemical disaster is yet another reminder of the river’s vulnerability to toxic spills as industry transports chemicals through the watershed.

The Ohio River and its communities deserve better.

What must be done

“Unlike the Great Lakes, Puget Sound, and the Everglades, the Ohio is not designated as a federally protected water system,” Sprouse says. “Federal designation would open the door to much-needed funding for restoration, industry safeguards, and increased river monitoring.”

The West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Ohio Environmental Council, 3 Rivers Water Keepers, and other allies are working with the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission and the Ohio River Basin Alliance to restore the Ohio River. They are advocating for a basin-wide restoration plan, much like the successful plan that exists for the Great Lakes. Based on insights gathered from communities across all 14 states in the Ohio River basin, the plan is five years in the making and will soon be submitted to Congress. It makes the case for recognizing the Ohio River as a protected water system worthy of substantial, sustained federal funding. It includes a blueprint for safeguarding drinking water, improving access to recreation, and funding pollution control efforts, water-quality monitoring, and ecosystem safeguards.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in this river as a precious resource that connects us and offers us really high-quality lives,” Sprouse says.

American Rivers named the Ohio River among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® to proudly support local advocates’ call to action: Now is the time to set the Ohio on a positive trajectory that includes clean water, enjoyable recreation, and a healthier environment for all. We know that championing grassroots movements like the one gathering steam right now along the Ohio — and the nine other rivers on this year’s list — is the only way the river movement will protect 1 million miles of rivers that people live near and rely on. Because when many people, each in their own way and in their own place, pull together toward a common goal, we can achieve transformational change.

That’s exactly the kind of future Heather Sprouse envisions for her state and her river.

“I dream of people being able to safely eat fish from the Ohio River. I’d love to see fence-line communities leading the way in making decisions for their communities,” Sprouse says. “If we can shift to valuing and protecting the Ohio River as a resource for our communities, I believe we can create a livable planet, good paying jobs, opportunities for recreation, and a way to invest in our communities.”

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What is an HFE?

A High Flow Experiment is in essence a simulated flood being conducted through Glen Canyon dam. In practice, the dam releases a high volume of water, usually through both the hydropower turbines and the bypass tubes, which are lower-elevation tubes through the dam that are usually only used for these short duration floods or in other unique situations (like releasing water during the extreme inflows of 1983) over a limited period of time. HFE’s are extremely important to the management of sand in the canyon and the healthy functioning of the Grand Canyon riparian ecosystem overall.

To set the stage even further, let’s go back to the time before the creation of Glen Canyon Dam. The Colorado River traditionally carried millions and millions of tons of sediment down the river each year. Since Glen Canyon was built, most of that sand has been trapped in the upper reaches of Lake Powell – as flows slow down as the river becomes the lake, the sediment drops out and settles (up near Hite and Halls Crossing and then the San Juan as it enters the lake as well.) The result is that the water coming through Glen Canyon dam is very clear, lacking the traditional sediment that would be carried by the river and maintaining beaches and sandbars and the natural ecological benefits of that silty, sediment-laden water throughout the canyon. This clear water erodes sand from beaches and sandbars, and for decades in the 1970’s and 1980’s was causing real problems with the canyon’s ecology. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, some experiments were conducted to begin to learn how these floods might act and how they might contribute to sand and other ecological functions within the canyon. Then, in 2016, the Long Term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP) was completed and set the guidelines for how and how frequently future HFE’s could be conducted.

Now, the Paria River, which is about 17 miles downstream from Glen Canyon dam (and about a mile below the put-in at Lee’s Ferry) is the main source of sediment into the Grand Canyon. When the Paria River flashes (most commonly during the summer monsoon season) it can deposit tons of sand – sometimes more than a million tons of sand – in a summer. This sand is what can be pushed downstream in an HFE to rebuild beaches and sandbars, and aid in the protection of cultural resources throughout the length of the canyon.

One of the elements within these LTEMP guidelines is how and when these HFE’s may be conducted, and how often the program should try to make them happen. Sadly, they have not happened often enough, and the canyon is really suffering because of it. Since the last HFE in 2018, there have been complications with declining water levels across the basin but felt most acutely in Lake Powell as elevations have declined to record lows. Then in 2021 and 2022, the monsoons delivered abundant sand through the Paria into the Colorado River, but unfortunately also caused a lot of erosion of beaches downstream as these monsoon storms ripped across Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau.

Today, we are celebrating the decision by the Bureau of Reclamation to use this opportunity to trigger one of these HFE’s to move the volume of sand currently sitting near the mouth of the Paria to rebuild beaches and sandbars, repair the ecology, and aid the protection of cultural resources downstream.

Reclamation was able to make this decision based on several factors. First, due to the drought operations conducted over the past two years, there is a good amount of water parked in Lake Powell to protect the hydropower infrastructure at Glen Canyon dam that had to be moved downstream sometime this year. Second, the sand is there and the damage to the beaches in the canyon is glaring. Third, the water sitting in Lake Powell right near the dam (in an area above the dam called the “forebay”) is quite cold, which could aid aquatic species downstream. And lastly, there is a window of time where Reclamation and the hydropower providers can shift the timing of some needed maintenance at the dam to free up the opportunity to have all 8 hydropower penstocks and some of the bypass tubes available to actually conduct the high flows through the dam.

This week’s HFE will be pretty dramatic, both visually and scientifically. The flow will begin early Monday morning (April 24) and last into Thursday evening (April 27.) The dam will ramp up releases to 39,500 cubic feet per second (CFS) and hold that for 72 hours straight creating a flood that will flow all the way to Lake Mead over a period of about a week, rebuilding sandbars and beaches along the way (and giving rafters in the canyon an exciting ride!) One additional key point to understand is that HFE’s consume no net loss of water in Lake Powell – after the HFE occurs, Glen Canyon dam will release slightly less water than normal over a period of weeks, in order to make up that amount of water that is shot downstream, yet another benefit in the design in these critically important High Flow Experiments.

Again, we applaud the Bureau of Reclamation, the scientists at USGS’ Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, and everyone else who has been working hard to make one of these HFE’s happen for years. We are looking forward to seeing the great results that will come out of this event very soon.

(To learn more about the Grand Canyon’s history and ecosystem, check out our new story map, Caught in the Middle – we think you will love it!)

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From dams and outdated water management to toxic pollution and development projects that would devastate river habitats, this report spotlights ten rivers in the U.S. that are at a crossroads and whose fates will be decided in the coming year. This year’s list underscores how essential rivers are for human health, public safety, and community wellness. 

We at American Rivers have immense gratitude for the leadership, diligence, and immense knowledge from our local partners on the frontlines, without whom this campaign would not be possible. We look to their guidance and leadership as we continue the fight for river protection and water justice across the nation. 

#1 on the list this year is among the seven natural wonders of the world, and one of the greatest natural treasures in the nation: the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. It’s no surprise that the Colorado River holds its place as the number one Most Endangered River for the second year in a row, as outdated water management, over-use, and climate change all pose great risks to this national treasure. This year, however, the Grand Canyon is of specific focus due to severe drought. As critical decisions are made about water management along the Colorado River, decision makers must recognize the environment as a critical component of human health and public safety – absolutely vital for the 40 million people that depend on the river for drinking water. 

“Diné Natural Law tells us that we should treat Mother Earth as we would treat our own mothers. When she is in distress we should respect and nurture her,” said Erik Stanfield, Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department, commenting on the Most Endangered River listing for the Grand Canyon.  

“Our concern for her should not be a reflection of self-interest, but rather an altruistic endeavor to give back when we have taken. We cannot repay all of her gifts, but we can show her kindness, gratitude, and a willingness to sacrifice when she suffers. This is the ethic that we would like to impart to the world outside of Diné-land. The Colorado River, Tooh in Diné Bizaad, is in deep crisis and needs our kindness, gratitude, and sacrifice to heal.” 

In this same region the Rio Gallinas is also suffering from the adverse effects of climate change. Community-focused, coordinated restoration efforts are imperative in protecting the future of the river. 

For the Ohio, Clark Fork, and Lehigh rivers, pollution threatens the safety and quality of life of local communities. The train derailment that took place in East Palestine, Ohio underscores both the vulnerability of the Ohio River and the value the river serves for the over 5 million people that rely on it for drinking water. A shuttered pulp mill threatens the Clark Fork River, actively leaking toxic chemicals into the groundwater and increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding, while poorly planned development along the Lehigh River threatens water quality and vital fish and wildlife habitat. 

In the Okefenokee Swamp, we must avoid the risk of increased drought and catastrophic fire posed by mining plans. The Okefenokee is a unique wetland and international treasure, but a proposed titanium mine threatens the swamp and ancestral lands of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. 

The effects of climate change are happening right now, fueling more severe droughts and floods, and pollution threatens drinking water sources. Unjust policies put the burden of these impacts disproportionately on Black, Latino and Indigenous communities, Tribal Nations and other communities of color. 

The Pearl River, for example—one of the most biodiverse rivers in the country and the primary drinking water source for the predominantly Black community of Jackson, Mississippi—is threatened by the One Lake development project. This project would result in severe environmental injustice by worsening urban flooding, exacerbating the ongoing water crisis, and funneling critically needed resources away from marginalized communities. 

Tribal sustenance, culture, livelihoods, and treaty rights are being threatened on the Snake, Eel, and Chilkat and Klehini rivers. It is imperative that we lean into the knowledge of Tribal Nations who are the original stewards of the land and have lived along these rivers since time immemorial. On the Snake and Eel Rivers, dam removal is necessary to protect vital fish habitat, honor treaties and commitments to Tribal Nations, and improve community health and wellness. For the Chilkat and Klehini rivers, proper permitting requirements are needed to ensure the protection of the entire ecosystem of the Chilkat Valley, which is critical habitat to the largest congregation of bald eagles in the world. 

The threats of climate change, outdated water management, drought, dams, and more put human health, public safety, and community wellness at risk. Rivers are vital community health resources and the lifeblood of our communities, cultures, and livelihood.  

Our rivers need our protection. The time to take action is now. Our health and our futures depend on it. 

We need individuals and communities to stand with American Rivers and our partners to protect and restore the rivers that support all life. We need your help to ensure the protection of this year’s Most Endangered Rivers. Rivers are sacred. Rivers are life. TAKE ACTION TODAY! 

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The national spotlight we create with our local partners has spurred successes for rivers from coast to coast. Together, we stopped fracking at the headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Hoback River in Wyoming. We forced a munitions plant on the Holston River in Tennessee to clean up groundwater pollution. And highlighting the threat that dams pose to fish and wildlife in the St. Lawrence River in New York helped spur a plan to improve water quality, support fisheries and bolster the region’s economy. Washington’s Elwha and White Salmon rivers, along with Maine’s Penobscot, which today are nationally recognized dam removal and river restoration success stories, were all once Most Endangered Rivers. So was the Klamath, where the world’s biggest dam removal and river restoration effort kicks off this year. 

When applied at the right moment, America’s Most Endangered Rivers® helps local leaders save their rivers and improve the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.  

In the words of advocate Lin Wellford on the Buffalo National River, “I definitely think Endangered Rivers played a huge part in taking our plight to a national level. Kudos to you and all your staff for helping us finally hit a tipping point that no one thought we would ever hit. Please spread the news far and wide to give all those other river advocates hope that they too may slay the dragons they face.” 

Thanks to our partners and supporters for making these America’s Most Endangered Rivers® victories possible – and may these stories serve as inspiration for others nationwide: 

THE EEL RIVER, CALIFORNIA (2023)

Our Endangered River listing helped expedite consensus on the need for dam removal in the Eel River watershed. Thanks to the work of Congressman Huffman, Round Valley Indian Tribes, local advocates, and American Rivers, in November 2023, Pacific Gas & Electric Company released a draft decommissioning plan that included the removal of both Scott and Cape Horn dams. American Rivers continues its advocacy for an outcome that ensures dam removal while preserving water deliveries essential to stakeholder interests. A final decommissioning plan is due from PG&E in January 2025.

BOUNDARY WATERS, MINNESOTA (2013, 2018, 2021) 

In early 2023, Interior Secretary Haaland ordered a 20-year mineral withdrawal (mining ban) in Superior National Forest lands in the watershed of the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park. American Rivers supported our partners in the Boundary Waters through America’s Most Endangered Rivers in 2013, 2018, and 2021, shining a spotlight on the damage mining would cause to clean water. 

BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER, ARKANSAS (2017, 2019) 

Thanks to the hard work of local advocates and thousands of people from across the country, Arkansas’ Gov. Asa Hutchinson made a deal to close the industrial hog farm that had been impacting water quality and causing algae outbreaks stretching 70 miles downstream in the Buffalo National River.  

GILA RIVER, NEW MEXICO (2019) 

Our Endangered River listing helped kill a harmful diversion project on the Gila, New Mexico’s last major free-flowing stream. Thanks to opposition by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham and Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), the Department of the Interior declined to extend federal funding for a proposed diversion dam — crippling the project. Upstream, American Rivers and our partners are working to permanently protect the Gila under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 

GREEN-DUWAMISH RIVER, WASHINGTON (2019)  

In 2020, the King County Flood Control District committed $6.7 million from its 2020 budget to increase salmon habitat and reduce flood risk to nearby communities. The river’s chinook salmon are vital to the Duwamish Tribe and critical to the diet of endangered Southern Resident orcas. However, decades of contamination, floodplain development, and dams have devastated the salmon population. This new commitment will help restore floodplain habitat and protect local communities from increasing flood risks due to climate change. 

HOBACK RIVER, WYOMING (2011, 2012) 

To stop fracking at the headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Hoback, American Rivers and our partners raised almost $9 million to buy back natural gas leases from a Houston-based energy company. The buyout — combined with existing legislation that bans new oil and gas leasing in the Wyoming Range protects clean water, wildlife, and recreational opportunities for generations to come. 

MIDDLE FORK CLEARWATER AND LOCHSA RIVERS, IDAHO (2014)  

Multinational companies wanted to transport massive mining and oil processing equipment, known as “megaloads,” along the narrow, winding highway paralleling these Wild and Scenic rivers. Megaloads can be longer than a football field and weigh a million pounds. A 2017 settlement between the Nez Perce Tribe and the U.S. Forest Service upholds Wild and Scenic safeguards and prohibits megaloads from traveling alongside the rivers. 

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER, VIRGINIA (2017) 

Rich in American heritage, a healthy Rappahannock River is important to the Chesapeake Bay. But the river has been threatened by fracking. In 2020, the state of Virginia banned fracking in the eastern part of the state, a move that came after a years-long campaign to expose the public health and environmental dangers of fracking, which include contamination of drinking water. 

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, NEW YORK (2016)  

Our America’s Most Endangered Rivers listing in 2016 shined a spotlight on dams harming fish and wildlife and helped secure a solution: The U.S. and Canadian governments approved a plan in 2017 to restore more than 64,000 acres of wetlands along the St. Lawrence. The plan will improve water quality, support fisheries and biodiversity, control erosion, and bolster the region’s economy. 

SOUTH FORK SKYKOMISH RIVER, WASHINGTON (2012, 2017)  

Thanks to seven years of overwhelming public opposition and determined local efforts, a proposed hydropower project at Sunset Falls was canceled by the local public utility district. The facility would have rerouted a 1.1-mile stretch of the South Fork Skykomish, reducing the river to a trickle and devastating the spring migration of steelhead smolts and chinook salmon, which are critical to struggling Southern Resident orcas. 

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