America’s Most Endangered Rivers® 2027 Nomination Process
Rivers make life possible. They provide our drinking water, nourish ecosystems, sustain local economies, and connect communities across the country. But America’s rivers are losing their life-giving power. This is not just an environmental tragedy, but a profound threat to our health, communities, and safety.
For this reason, every year, American Rivers announces America’s Most Endangered Rivers® — the campaign that shines a national spotlight on rivers at risk, galvanizes the public to take action, and helps secure lasting victories for clean water and healthy rivers.
Since 1984, local leaders have teamed up with American Rivers to use the report to save their local rivers, consistently scoring decisions that benefit rivers and communities. If your river facing an urgent threat, with a decision in the coming year that will impact its fate, please consider nominating your river for the 2027 report.
DATES AND DEADLINES
- All nominations must be received by Thursday, October 1, 2026.
- Nominators will be informed of the selection decision by February 2027.
- American Rivers will release the report on Tuesday, April 13, 2027, in a comprehensive communications and public engagement campaign coordinated with the nominating partners.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We will select rivers based on the following criteria:
- The significance of the river to people, wildlife, and nature.
- The magnitude of the threat to the river and its communities.
- The presence of an upcoming (June 2027 to February 2028) local, state, or federal policy decision that will impact the river’s fate. (This is the most important selection criterion. If there is no near-term decision point, please do not nominate the river.)
Nominations Due October 1, 2026
If accommodations are needed for your nomination, contact Chantel Dominguez at cdominguez@americanrivers.org.
If unable to complete the preferred online submission form, click here to download the nomination form and email it to Chantel.
While being part of this campaign can bring significant benefits for your river and organization, we recognize it takes extra effort and commitment. If your river is chosen for the 2026 list, here’s what you can expect:
What partners can expect from American Rivers
- Kickoff call and regular meetings to provide information about process and needs
- Content creation support (report, press releases, action alerts, social media toolkit etc.)
- Media – outreach to regional and national media, sharing within and throughout professional networks, national visibility strategies
- Project management and campaign leadership
- American Rivers staff liaison assigned to support your specific river listing
- Ongoing communication, updates, and general support from American Rivers’ Project Manager (Chantel Dominguez, Community Campaigns and Engagement Director)
What American Rivers expects from partners
- Approximately 5-10 hours per week from February – April (please note this is an estimate and may depend on your specific river listing situation and requirements)
- Participation in required virtual meetings and kickoff calls (at least 3, but no more than 5 mandatory)
- Photos and video production
- 7-10 high-resolution photos of your river
- Provide video content
- Writing and editing contributions (support and/or lead the creation of approximately 4 pages of written information about your river listing)
- Availability to answer clarifying questions about your river, threat, decision point, etc.
- Media – outreach to local media outlets
- Timely correspondence, feedback, and general responsiveness
- Participation in a brief post-feedback survey
Additional Information
- Completed nomination forms are required for all rivers, including previously nominated and listed rivers.
- Please do not disclose your nomination to the public, post it on the internet, or notify the media.
- Submission of a nomination does not guarantee inclusion in the 2026 report.
- All nominators will be informed of the selection decision in early January.
We encourage you to view past reports here to get a feel for the kinds of rivers that make strong candidates. It is important to clearly articulate the threat to the river’s health and to identify the specific solution or action needed. Your nomination will provide the basis for information included in the America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2026 report, so please ensure that information is presented clearly and concisely.
Nomination Submission
To submit a nomination, please either
1.) Fill out and submit the online nomination form (Preferred method) or
2.) Download this Nomination Form and email the completed document to Chantel Dominguez at cdominguez@americanrivers.org. If any accommodations are needed, please contact Chantel.
All nominations must be received by October 1, 2026. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions and contact Chantel with any additional questions about America’s Most Endangered Rivers®.
America’s Most Endangered Rivers® partner testimonials
The designation of the Tijuana River as one of the country’s most endangered by American Rivers has generation a national recognition for the plight of this ecological and cultural jewel of the US-Mexico border region. For far too long, the pollution crisis in the Tijuana River has been ignored and American Rivers has helped us elevate the issue to where it needs to be heard the most.
Zach Plopper, Sr. Environmental Director, Surfrider Foundation
The Most Endangered Rivers designation strengthened and amplified a message: That the health of our river matters,, not just to us, but to other environmentalists across the nation and for that we are forever grateful for the bittersweet designation.
Mario Ordonez-Calderon, Un Mar de Colores
The process went well and I commend American Rivers on the MER program and everything that they do.
Charles Pfeifer, Jackson Audubon, Orleans Audubon, and Louisiana Wildlife Federation
MER listings make a difference and immediately shine the public spotlight on an issue. The exposure catapults a campaign into the limelight and makes decision-makers pay attention. American Rivers was superb in supporting as a partner and making sure assets were in place… Love working with can-do, action-oriented optimists. Great experience!
Karen Knudsen, Clark Fork Coalition
I appreciate how American Rivers listens to, focuses on, and uplifts the local actors.
Alicia Hamann, Friends of the Eel River
All nominations must be received by October 1, 2026
Download the nomination form as a Word Document here
