Jessie Thomas-Blate
Coordinator, Most Endangered Rivers
Department: Conservation
Area of Focus: Jessie works with our staff and partners to develop our Most Endangered Rivers Program and annual report.
Background: Jessie joined American Rivers in 2010. Prior to that she worked for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission as their Habitat Coordinator. There she played a fundamental role in the establishment of the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership. Jessie also did an internship at the Natural Resources Defense Council where she focused on the reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act.
Education: B.S. in Biology from Mary Washington College, and M.S. in Natural Resources from Delaware State University
Favorite River: Rappahannock River
Blog Posts By This Author
Baby Steps for Big Endangered River…Who Will Be Next?
May 15, 2011 | Most Endangered Rivers, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Water Supply
The Great Waters Coalition has designated the Rio Grande River as a Great Water, and plans to work with agencies and organizations in the U.S. and Mexico to create a sustainable water management program.
Read more »Delaware Commission Delays Permit for Frack Water Withdrawal
May 12, 2011 | Water Pollution, Fracking
The fight continues for America's Most Endangered River of 2010, the Upper Delaware. Yesterday, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) unanimously voted to postpone a decision on a water withdrawal permit for fracking in the Marcellus Shale.
Read more »Delaware River Water Withdrawal Needs Public Input
May 7, 2011 | Water Pollution, Most Endangered Rivers, Wild and Scenic Rivers
America’s Most Endangered River of 2010, the Upper Delaware, continues to face significant challenges as natural gas development ramps up in the Marcellus Shale. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) plans to vote on a water withdrawal application by XTO Energy (ExxonMobil Corp.) for natural gas development in the Delaware River watershed at their regularly scheduled meeting May 11, 2011.
Read more »Maryland Sues Over Natural Gas Contamination of Susquehanna
May 4, 2011 | Water Pollution, Most Endangered Rivers
It is good to see that the State of Maryland is not taking lightly the contamination of their waters by natural gas activities. Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has sent a letter to Chesapeake Energy notifying them of the State’s intent to sue for violation of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA). This lawsuit comes in response to a massive spill on April 19 that caused thousands of gallons of fracking fluids to flow into Towanda Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River.
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