The River Blog

() | Filed Under: Protecting Rivers by Molly McCluskey

We’re pleased to welcome Ben Lawhon, the Education Director for Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics, to share tips for minimizing impact on the river. Floating rivers is a unique way to enjoy the outdoors. From a raft, kayak, or canoe adrift on the water, a river traveler can watch a heron silently flying overhead, observe the record of millions of years of geologic time, or experience the thrill of running a turbulent rapid.

() | Filed Under: National River Cleanup , Restoring Rivers by Molly McCluskey

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to join our National River Clean-up Coordinator Ginny Crake on a clean-up event with Catholic University’s incoming first year law students at Rock Creek Park. This was a special occasion for me for a number of reasons; first because I live in the backyard of Rock Creek, second, because I lived IN Rock Creek when I volunteered with the National Park Service years ago as an Student Conservation Association intern, and third, because spending a beautiful Friday morning in a National Park is always a good thing. 

(09/01/10) | Filed Under: Floods & Floodplains , Small Streams & Wetlands , Protecting Rivers by Shana Udvardy

(08/31/10) | Filed Under: Dams & Dam Removal , Restoring Rivers by Sara Kaner

On August 12, federal scientists released data indicating that sediment stored behind the Klamath River dams targeted for removal do not pose a threat to communities or the river. Scientists tested for mercury, PCBs, dioxins, and other harmful substances. You can read the data from the latest study here.  This federal study confirms the findings of the 2006 California Coastal Conservancy analysis of reservoir sediments.

(08/31/10) | Filed Under: Most Endangered Rivers , Protecting Rivers by Sara Kaner

On August 6th, Region 9 of the Environmental Protection Agency criticized the Army Corp of Engineers’ Final Environmental Impact Statement for the massive Newhall Ranch development along the Santa Clara River in Los Angeles County.  American Rivers listed the Santa Clara in our 2005 Most Endangered Rivers report as a result of the threats posed by this development.

(08/31/10) | Filed Under: National River Cleanup , Restoring Rivers by Ginny H. Crake

River cleanups are often associated with spring and summer activities.  But I’m here to tell you, fall cleanup are the coolest—literally.  With cooler temperatures volunteers are more willing to stay out longer and go further.  But besides just the weather, there are plenty of reasons to host a cleanup in October and November. 

(08/27/10) | Filed Under: Blue Trails , Protecting Rivers by Matt Rice

I had a chance to attend the America’s Great Outdoors listening session in St. Louis last week. Like many of the listening sessions this summer, it was divided into two parts; a youth session in the morning and general session in the afternoon.  River protection and freshwater have been major themes at most of the sessions but at the St. Louis  session, everyone was talking about rivers! 

(08/23/10) | Filed Under: Clean Water , Global Warming , Greening Water Infrastructure by Gary Belan

Milwaukee is at the forefront of cities working to truly integrate green infrastructure into their water infrastructure, which also helps with climate adaptation. American Rivers works with the City and our partners at the Sweet Water Trust to help achieve Milwaukee’s green vision.

(08/23/10) | Filed Under: Clean Water , Global Warming , Greening Water Infrastructure by Katherine Baer

Don’t you just hate it when… there’s raw sewage in your local rivers? Unfortunately, this is the case all too often with over 850 billion gallons of raw or partially treated sewage flowing into our streams, rivers and lakes every year.

(08/23/10) by Devin Dotson

Earlier this week, Orvis re-launched their Fly Fishing Photo Contest to benefit American Rivers. The contest encourages people to submit their favorite fishing or river-related photo.  The winning photograph will appear on the cover of a future Orvis fly fishing catalog (mailed to millions of people) and the winning photographer will receive a $1,000 Orvis gift card or a Helios fly rod outfit.