Resources and Publications
What's In Your Water: The State of Public Notification in 11 U.S. States
ISSUES: Water Pollution, Stormwater & Sewage
This report shows that residents from 10 states, out of 11 examined across the country, are provided with little to no information about sewage pollution in their local waterways. Only one of these states has adequate public notification provisions for sewage spills and overflows. The report makes recommendations for improving the public's access to information about sewage spills, so that all Americans can know when they can safely use local waterways.
America's Most Endangered Rivers™ Report: 2007 Edition
ISSUES: Most Endangered Rivers
The America’s Most Endangered Rivers™ report is one of the best-known and longest-lived annual reports in the environmental movement. The report is a call to action and emphasizes solutions for the rivers and their communities. By shining the spotlight on key decisions that will impact the rivers’ futures, and by providing clear actions for the public, the report has spurred scores of successes on rivers nationwide.
Protecting Wisconsin's Waters: Better Oversight of Development is Necessary to Prevent Runoff Pollution
ISSUES: Stormwater & Sewage, Water Pollution
This report takes a broad look at the effect of runoff on Wisconsin’s waterways and examines how future growth and development could lead to water quality decline. The report also explores problems with the enforcement of the state’s runoff prevention rules, suggesting reforms that will realign oversight of development activity with the ultimate goal: cleaner water for Wisconsin.
Greening Stormwater
ISSUES: Water Pollution
This report illustrates the innovations and processes of several communities that are leading the way to more sustainable methods of addressing stormwater pollution. We urge other communities to learn from the approaches outlined herein.
Natural-Resource Amenities and Nebraska’s Economy: Current Connections, Challenges, and Possibilities
ISSUES: Blue Trails
Natural resources do not have to be converted into crops, electricity, or other commodities to support economic growth. Instead, growth can occur when natural resources provide recreational opportunities (bird-watching, fishing, boating, etc.) and other amenities consumers find desirable. This process is called amenity-driven growth. This report examines the current status of, and potential for naturalresource-related, amenity-driven growth in Nebraska.
Unnatural Disasters, Natural Solutions: Lessons from the Flooding of New Orleans
ISSUES: Climate Change, Floods & Floodplains, Water Supply
This report discusses the failings of structural flood protection as seen in the case of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina. It makes the case for natural flood protection via eight case studies, where communities have chosen to protect themselves by protecting and restoring nature's own capacity to reduce the size and power of floods, and by simply moving out of harm's way.
Dam Safety: Protecting Communities and Ecosystems from Dam Failure
ISSUES: Dams & Dam Removal
Dams are not designed to last forever; their deterioration is inevitable. It is imperative that we take a proactive approach to dam safety now, before the next major dam failure occurs. This means we must have a complete inventory of dams and their safety conditions, and, where significant safety risks occur we must ensure that the resources are available to either remove or repair that dam.
Waterways at Risk: How Low-Impact Development Can Reduce Runoff Pollution in Michigan
ISSUES: Water Pollution, Stormwater & Sewage
Irresponsible land use is now one of the most important threats facing the Great Lakes and inland waterways. This report documents where development is occurring in Michigan and identifies areas of the state vulnerable to water quality decline. It also suggests policy ideas for local government to use in protecting water resources from new development or in restoring impaired waterways in urban areas.
Follow the Money: An Agenda for Smarter Infrastructure Funding in the Great Lakes
ISSUES: Stormwater & Sewage, Water Pollution
Irresponsible land use is now one of the most important threats facing the Great Lakes and inland waterways. This report documents where development is occurring in Michigan and identifies areas of the state vulnerable to water quality decline. It also suggests policy ideas for local government to use in protecting water resources from new development or in restoring impaired waterways in urban areas.
Catching the Rain: a Great Lakes Resource Guide to Natural Stormwater Management
ISSUES: Water Pollution, Stormwater & Sewage
This handbook is intended to provide a concise resource guide to more natural, or "soft path" solutions for stormwater problems. It offers an easy reference to a variety of low impact development approaches suitable for the Great Lakes region.
Beyond Dams: Options and Alternatives
ISSUES: Dams & Dam Removal
The purpose of this report is to provide stakeholders and decision-makers with an overview of low-impact and non-structural alternatives to dams. It is designed as a reference for anyone interested in exploring options for replacing a function served by an existing dam or replacing a function to be served by a proposed dam.
Ecological Riverfront Design: Restoring Rivers, Connecting Communities
ISSUES: Floods & Floodplains
This PAS Report provides a set of planning and design principles that can be employed to ensure that, as we reclaim our urban river edges, we do so in the most ecologically sound and economically viable manner possible. The material in this report is intended to help planners, mayors, public works and environmental officials, river advocates, and the general public in their research about effective, ecological riverfront design. The report is structured to provide general information on a number of key topics related to ecological health and human interaction with rivers.
Instream Flow Toolkit: Advocacy Guide to Healthy River and Stream Flows in Washington
ISSUES: Water Supply
American Rivers and the Washington Environmental Council developed this toolkit to assist citizens working to restore and protect river and stream flows. In the most basic sense, "instream flow" refers to the amount of water preserved in a river or stream to protect resources such as fish, water quality, wildlife and recreation.
Where Rivers Are Born: The Scientific Imperative for Defending Small Streams and Wetlands
ISSUES: Water Pollution
Based on the most recent research, this paper summarizes the scientific basis of understanding how small streams and wetlands mitigate flooding, maintain water quality and quantity, recycle nutrients, create habitat for plants and animals, and provide other benefits.
