Protecting Rivers

Safeguarding our nation’s healthy rivers – from backyard streams to the wildest
watersheds – for generations to come

Healthy rivers provide drinking water, flood protection, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, and economic benefits to local communities. They are a vital part of our heritage and are sources of community identity and pride. In an era of global warming, effective long-term protection for rivers must begin at the headwaters and encompass the entire watershed. 

American Rivers is leading the way to secure Wild and Scenic River and Outstanding Resource Water designations for deserving rivers, and we are helping communities create Blue Trails to protect clean water and critical lands.  We are pursuing protections for watersheds through innovative partnerships with government agencies, local land trusts, and private property owners to prevent harmful logging, dams, and other short-sighted, destructive development.

Our Protecting Rivers Work Wild and Scenic Rivers Blue Trails America's Most Endangered Rivers™ Outstanding Resource Waters

Press Releases A 21st century flood management strategy for New Jersey (03/16/10) A 21st century flood management strategy for Massachusetts (03/16/10) Kershaw County, SC’s river protections are a national model (02/23/10) Don’t Sacrifice Science, Fishing Jobs in Jobs Bill Rider (02/11/10) New Poll Results Show Horry and Georgetown County Resident’s Thoughts on the Waccamaw River (12/09/09)

Blog Posts Molalla Wild and Scenic Legislation Ranks in National Environmental Scorecard (02/24/10) British Columbia government announces protections for Flathead (02/12/10) New Protections for Wateree River (02/09/10) Save the Wild Rogue (01/27/10) “Hydrofracking” poses threats to Streams and Rivers (01/26/10) More