Contact:
Jeffrey Barich, Senior Civil Engineer, City of Richmond
(510) 412-2009, jeffrey_barich@ci.richmond.ca.us
Sarah Puckett, Central Valley Program Director, American Rivers
(415) 203-3766, spuckett@americnarivers.org
Juliana Gonzalez, Executive Director, The Watershed Project
(510) 224-4085, juliana@thewatershedproejct.org
Nathan Bickart, Director of Watershed Restoration Programs, Urban Tilth
(510)-232-0911. Nathan@urbantilth.org
City of Richmond, CA – The residents in the Rollingwood neighborhood near Richmond, California are finally getting some relief from flooding. The construction phase of the Rheem Creek Flood Risk Reduction Project concluded in October 2024, and replanting was completed in January 2025. Residents and project partners will celebrate the project’s completion on February 8, 2025, at a ribbon cutting ceremony in the neighborhood.
For over 20 years, the Rollingwood neighborhood in unincorporated west Contra Costa County has dealt with flooding from Rheem Creek. The project removed invasive species and excessive sediment, and planted native vegetation to improve creek habitat and sequester carbon to reduce greenhouse gases. The project also replaced failing storm drains, installed new fences, and installed an interpretive sign explaining the project. Residents are already seeing the benefits, as heavy precipitation during a recent atmospheric river storm system in November 2024 did not result in flooding in the Rollingwood neighborhood.
The City of Richmond has partnered with American Rivers, The Watershed Project, Urban Tilth, Contra Costa County, and Restoration Design Group since 2019. Prior to construction, the Rheem Creek channel was full of sediment from upstream and choked with non native and invasive vegetation. Storm drains flowed in reverse direction, flooding the streets. With extreme precipitation patterns caused by climate change, these risks have become heightened and needed to be addressed.
The City of Richmond received $2.2M in funding from the California Natural Resources Agency – through Prop 68 – for project implementation in October 2021. The City [1] is also contributing General Funds[2] to cover the additional costs of construction and maintenance. The completed project will improve watershed health and reduce flood risk for communities that live adjacent to the creek.
“For years, no one knew how or wanted to tackle this complex neighborhood flooding problem. The City of Richmond approached the Wildcat, San Pablo, and Rheem Creek Watershed Council and asked for help to find a solution. It took a team of effective and dedicated partners to come together to get this project to completion,” said Sarah Puckett, Central Valley Program Director with American Rivers.
“The restoration at Rheem Creek has been an important project for the residents who live in Rollingwood and for our city. Through working with our partners, we have been able to create a safer and more beautiful Rheem Creek and a roadmap for how to enhance urban green spaces in Richmond,” said Daniel Chavarria, Public Works Director with the City of Richmond.
Two local community nonprofit organizations worked on the project and employed local young adults. The Watershed Project served as the community outreach partner and landscape contractor and Urban Tilth grew the majority of the plants in their native plant nursery. These organizations worked together to plant over 500 native plants and 170 native trees. Following the project’s construction, both organizations will work with the City to care for the plants and site. The Watershed Project will conduct water quality and sediment monitoring activities to assess and measure the impact of restoration work on the watershed.
“The neighbors around Rheem Creek played a critical role in the project design, led cleanups, helped with plant maintenance, and engaged in discussions about stewarding the creek for years to come. After all their dedication, we are thrilled that they have finally experienced a rainy season without flooding in their streets and homes. We are also proud that the project employed local young people in the community, a model we hope represents the future of watershed restoration,” said Anne Bremirez with The Watershed Project.
“We’ve been so grateful to be a part of this incredible project team to relieve flooding in the Rollingwood neighborhood, to return Rheem Creek to a form that supports both the human and more-than-human communities here in Richmond. Our Watershed Restoration Field Crew, composed of young Richmond residents, grew and helped install the native plants for this project. It is particularly gratifying for this Crew to support restoration projects in our local neighborhood, and we can’t wait to see the site flourish in the coming years,” said Nathan Bickart with Urban Tilth.
Rheem Creek flows through a highly urbanized watershed before entering San Pablo Bay. This multi-benefit project will help protect this urban community from flooding as well as increase resilience to intensifying floods due to climate change.
The Rheem Creek project partners recognize and honor that all restoration work in the Rheem Creek watershed took place on occupied indigenous territory of Chochenyo-speaking Ohlone people who have continuously lived on this land since time immemorial.
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C. — American Rivers is today, pleased to announce the addition of two new board members, as we continue to grow and expand our impact across the country. The new members bring decades of conservation leadership, business acumen and regional expertise to our board.
“This is an exciting time for American Rivers, and we are thrilled to add two such accomplished leaders to our board,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “Their passion for our nation’s great outdoors, clean water, and healthy rivers shines through in their work and our organization looks forward to continued growth and impact with their added expertise.”
Maite Arce (Washington, D.C.) founded the Hispanic Access Foundation in 2010 transforming it from zero reach and budget to a national organization impacting 2.1 million people annually with a $10 million budget. Her journey is rooted in her immigrant story of adversity, love, support and progress, guided by the values instilled by her parents: work ethic, family devotion, service, and a drive for improvement. Through her efforts, she has built a network of 6,000 U.S. Latino faith leaders reaching 2 million immigrants.
Arce’s work has contributed to impactful public policies, including the Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the designation of National Public Lands Monuments like Castner Range in Texas and the San Gabriel Mountains in California.
In recognition of her contributions, Arce was awarded a PhD in 2021 – Honoris Causa in Organizational Leadership from Logos Christian University. Her accolades include the 2023 Women Leaders of Faith on the Frontline Award from the U.S. Department of Health, the 2022 Environmental Leaders Award from The Center for Rural Affairs, and the 2021 Eagle Award from the Asociación de Ministerios Evangélicos Nacional.
Eric Ladd (Big Sky, MT) is the founder and CEO of Outlaw Partners, an award-winning experiential real estate, marketing, media, events and adventure travel company based in Big Sky and Bozeman, Montana. Through its various entities, Outlaw Partners creates meaningful connections, supports local community organizations and inspires action in service. He is committed to supporting organizations focus on preservation of public lands, rivers and wildlife.
Outlaw Partners’ award-winning media publications include Mountain Outlaw magazine, Explore Big Sky newspaper, Town Crier newsletter and VIEWS magazine, which have over 5,000,000 readers and subscribers. Outlaw also produces events in southwest Montana, including the Wildlands Festival and the nine-time PBR event of the year: the Big Sky PBR.
Ladd’s passion for wilderness, rivers and guiding began at the age of 15 and never subsided. Turning his passion into a business, he launched Boundary Expeditions in 2016. With his team of professional river guides, they operate exclusive, multi-day river rafting trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.
###
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org
Northwest needs bipartisan, collaborative solutions to address region’s economic and conservation needs
Contact: Susan Woodward, swoodward@americanrivers.org
January 27, 2025
Olympia, Wash.—A federal bill that aims to prevent removal of four dams on the lower Snake River is shortsighted and would harm the people of the Pacific Northwest if passed, American Rivers Action Fund said today.
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash) introduced the “Northwest Energy Security Act” last week to prevent removal of the four dams on the lower Snake River.
The four dams produce just 4% of the total power generated in the Northwest.
“That energy can be cost effectively supplied by alternative energy and updated transmission, and the dams can be removed to ensure healthy and abundant salmon runs that benefit local economies, cultures, and critically endangered Southern Resident orcas,” said Sarah Dyrdahl, senior advisor for American Rivers Action Fund.
Recent studies show how other services the dams provide can continue and even improve. They include a draft water replacement study by the Washington Department of Ecology and the Bureau of Reclamation. It found sufficient water would exist in a free-flowing lower Snake River to meet all current agricultural, municipal, and industrial requirements year-round, even under low-water scenarios.
“The Risch-Newhouse bill detracts from the efforts of states, Tribal Nations, anglers, industry, and nonprofit entities working together to solve the pressing and intertwined economic and conservation challenges affecting the Columbia Basin,” said Dyrdahl. “Instead of preserving costly, aging infrastructure, we continue to work towards viable, modern solutions that will benefit millions of people.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
WASHINGTON D.C. — In response to President Trump’s executive order on water resources and disaster response in California and North Carolina, American Rivers is today encouraging additional investments in water infrastructure and urging the administration to commit to science-based decision-making.
“This executive order could risk the health and safety of Californians and their natural resources up and down the state,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “California is an economic powerhouse dependent on smart water policy informed by science and the best approaches for protecting people from fires, droughts, and other extreme weather. This executive order falls short of that goal.”
The executive order overrides state laws, particularly around private water rights, and state water policy in California, undermines the Endangered Species Act and its protections of several species of imperiled fish that present high commercial value, hinders the National Environmental Policy Act and directs the Interior and Commerce Secretaries to maximize water storage at projects, without consideration of limitations based in public safety.
It would also potentially allow for road construction with limited environmental oversight in storm-stricken areas in North Carolina, jeopardizing river health and water quality.
“Fundamentally, extreme weather has magnified what used to be natural processes into natural disasters that are far more extreme than any of our infrastructure is designed to address,” said Ann Willis, California regional director for American Rivers. “Sadly, these issues have been politicized and conflated with other difficult and complex water challenges. The problems around water management in the Delta for agriculture and ecosystems are not closely related to the reasons why we’re short of water right now for wildfires.”
Fire season in California historically has been May through October; now it is year-round. Concurrently, Southern California has experienced its driest 9-month period in the last 150 years.
“Water systems that were designed to store water for fire-fighting responses were never designed to supply enough water for this confluence of major fires and extreme winds,” said Willis. “We need to follow the science and avoid politicizing tragedy. Our people, our environment, and our economy depend on us building collaborations across difference for unprecedented and urgent solutions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
WASHINGTON D.C. — American Rivers is today welcoming President Trump’s executive order establishing a council to review the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s efficacy, priorities and competence, but strongly urge him to reconsider his stance on potentially eliminating it.
“FEMA is a vitally important agency that saves lives. Preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters like floods and dam failures is an essential role of the federal government and eliminating this agency would jeopardize human safety,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “We welcome the review because rebuilding after a tragedy provides the opportunity to rebuild in a smarter way that makes us resilient before the next disaster.”
The council is to be composed of government officials like the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense and also reserves spots for appointed officials outside of the government.
“We have an impressive staff of flooding, infrastructure, dam safety and river health experts here at American Rivers, and we are ready and willing to partner with the Trump administration to achieve its goals of improving the nation’s disaster response,” said Kiernan.
“There is certainly opportunity to reposition FEMA as an independent agency and remove inefficiencies that come from being housed under the Department of Homeland Security. Americans have always helped each other when they are most in need, and FEMA is a powerful channel for that,” he said.
There are thousands of outdated, unsafe dams on rivers across the country. When a dam fails, the disaster can claim lives and destroy homes and businesses. FEMA provides important state oversight and helps manage dam safety across the nation. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, dozens of high-hazards dams failed or were damaged, and FEMA has been instrumental in stabilizing and repairing impacted dams and will be in removing failed dams, when needed.
“As floods become more frequent and severe, FEMA is an essential partner for the states and local communities who often do not have the staff or resources to adequately prepare for and respond to disasters on their own,” said Eileen Shader, Senior Director of Floodplains and a FEMA expert for American Rivers.
FEMA also manages the National Flood Insurance Program, that if left to the states or private companies, would likely lead to many people losing coverage.
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C.— In response to recent reports and removal of our own staff, American Rivers is today, voicing its concern to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Interim Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about the complete dismissal of all members of the National Dam Safety Review Board.
“As increasing severity and frequency of floods and fires devastate communities nationwide and imperil aging water infrastructure such as dams, it is vital to have the experts on the National Dam Safety Review Board in place and ready to serve,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, senior vice president of conservation for American Rivers. “Every day the work of this panel is interrupted and its existence left in limbo puts human lives and property at risk. As a non-partisan advisory committee, it cannot and should not get caught up in politics.”
The National Dam Safety Review Board is a critical advisory committee comprised of dam safety experts from other government agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as non-profits like American Rivers. The Board’s primary goal is to save lives by enhancing dam safety and security.
The United States has more than 16,000 high hazard dams that endanger working families across the nation. To underscore the urgency of reestablishing this advisory committee, at least 36 high hazard dams failed or were damaged from Hurricane Helene. High hazard dams are dams that in the event of failure would likely cause high value property damage or loss of life.
“American Rivers is dedicated to protecting people and property from unsafe and outdated dams, restoring our nation’s rivers and protecting clean drinking water. Our staff includes leading experts on dam safety and we encourage the rapid reestablishment of this board,” said Taylor-Miesle.
Further, the widespread dismissal includes members of the Technical Mapping Advisory Committee, which advises FEMA on improvements to flood risk maps that are necessary to keep homeowners and communities safe from flooding. Two-thirds of the nation’s streams still lack flood maps, and flood maps for many communities are outdated. It is essential that FEMA utilize the best available science and technology to provide communities with accurate knowledge of their flood risks.
Contact: Hawk Hammer, 630-272-3233
American Rivers announced today that Vickie Barrow-Klein is joining the organization as its new Chief Financial Officer. Barrow-Klein has more than two decades of experience in leadership positions at non-profit and for-profit organizations.
“American Rivers is increasing our reach and impact to meet the need for healthy rivers and clean water across the country. We are thrilled to welcome Vickie and I look forward to working with her to ensure American Rivers is in the strongest possible position to achieve our ambitious conservation goals,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers.
Barrow-Klein comes to American Rivers from Planned Parenthood, where she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, she was Executive Vice President of Finance & Operations, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer at Management Sciences for Health, Inc, and also served as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Rivers are essential to life. They influence our health, economies, and well-being in so many ways,” said Barrow-Klein. “I am excited to have the opportunity to help American Rivers advance its mission to ensure rivers everywhere are clean and healthy, supporting abundant wildlife and thriving communities.”
The CFO search was led by Calibrated Search, LLC.
Barrow-Klein will start at American Rivers on January 27. She will be based in the Washington, DC headquarters.
About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit www.AmericanRivers.org
Press Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C.- To begin his second administration, President Trump signed a large number of executive orders implementing policies focused on climate and energy. While divergent in their purposes, all of these climate and energy executive orders have one thing in common – they will impact the health of our rivers and our drinking water.
“Everything flows downhill and into a river or stream that someone drinks from. Our water sources will be the ultimate recipients of the impacts of these policies, so it is vitally important that we care about their consequences,” said Tom Kiernan president and CEO of American Rivers. “Clean water is vital to our economic growth, national security, energy dominance, and our health. We cannot regress back to the days when polluters were allowed to devastate communities and our environment.”
“There is nothing more common sense than providing access to clean drinking water for all Americans, no matter who they are or where they live,” said Kiernan. “We look forward to working with the Trump administration and elected leaders on both sides of the aisle in Congress to achieve the President’s goal of having the “cleanest water in the world”.
Learn more about our plans to defend water security.
Learn more about how these Executive Orders affect rivers.
Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145
Statement of American Rivers President and CEO Tom Kiernan
Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers issued the following statement on the passing of President Jimmy Carter:
“Jimmy Carter was one of our nation’s great river heroes. He had a personal love of rivers and was an avid angler and paddler. His dedication to river conservation leaves a legacy of healthy, free-flowing rivers that will benefit our nation for generations to come.”
“As Governor of Georgia, Carter was instrumental in protecting the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers. As President, he played a key role in strengthening the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and securing federal protection for the Chattooga. Carter also ensured a legacy of healthy, free-flowing rivers by vetoing construction of unnecessary, destructive dams across the country.”
“One of the best ways we can honor his legacy is to recommit ourselves to the protection of rivers nationwide, so that they may continue to support an abundance of life.”
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C., – American Rivers applauds the inclusion of $110 billion for disaster relief and recovery in the 118th Congress’ final government funding bill. Signed by President Biden, the investment will help communities impacted by river flooding during hurricanes Helene and Milton and other extreme weather events across the country, while keeping the government funded until March.
“We are pleased that this funding was passed with the support of both parties and that help is now on its way to river communities working hard to find their footing in the aftermath of horrific flooding. This critical investment will help revitalize local economies across the Southeast, help rebuild infrastructure and restabilize rivers now filled with trash and storm debris,” said Peter Raabe, Southeast Regional Director for American Rivers.
With dedicated leadership by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) the disaster relief also includes funding for public land restoration, provides aid to impacted farmers, and makes targeted investments flood control and dam safety programs.
At least 36 high hazard dams failed or were damaged from Hurricane Helene. High hazard dams are dams that in the event of failure would likely cause high value property damage or loss of life.
Other key provisions in the disaster relief bill include:
- Replenishing FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund at $29B;
- Funding critical water infrastructure via EPA’s SRFs and Army Corps Environmental Infrastructure Programs, $3.1B and $1.5B respectively; and
- Directs additional resources to USDA, Forest Service, USFWS, and NPS to support farmers and rural communities rebuild and repair important habitat.
Earlier this year, American Rivers and a group of 131 local, state and national partners have submitted a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to urgently pass emergency disaster relief funding for communities.
About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit www.AmericanRivers.org
Contacts:
SELC: Eric Hilt, 615-622-1199 or ehilt@selctn.org
American Rivers: Hawk Hammer, 202-243-7075 or hhammer@americanrivers.org
American Whitewater: Kevin Colburn, 828-712-4825 or kevin@americanwhitewater.org
ERWIN, Tenn. — This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent a letter to CSX Transportation, ordering the rail company to stop mining the Nolichucky River for rock and fill. The letter comes after the Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of American Rivers and American Whitewater, sued the Army Corps and two other federal agencies for approving CSX’s harmful mining practices in the Nolichucky River Gorge.
In the letter, the Army Corps states that the company is prohibited from performing “any excavation or dredging of material from the Nolichucky River or its tributaries in both Tennessee and North Carolina” until the Corps gets new approvals in place. Importantly, the letter does not prevent CSX from rebuilding its rail line in a responsible and less destructive way.
“From the beginning, we’ve said that CSX should be able to rebuild its rail line in the Nolichucky River Gorge, it just needs to do so in a way that follows the law and doesn’t put the river and the people that depend on it at risk. We commend the Army Corps for stepping in and putting a stop to CSX’s extremely harmful practices,” Patrick Hunter, Managing Attorney of SELC’s Asheville Office, said. “This is a major win for the Nolichucky River as well as nearby and downstream communities.”
In October, CSX began mining the Nolichucky’s riverbed in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina while repairing a rail line that was washed away during Hurricane Helene. Mining the river for rock and fill is much more destructive than trucking materials in from upland quarries, which is standard practice. The unnecessary mining was inflicting irreparable damage to the river, threatening local businesses, and impacting flooding risks for communities downstream.
“After losing so much in recent months it’s been really hard to watch the damage being done to the Nolichucky. These recent actions by the agencies give us hope that the remaining five miles of the Gorge will be spared from cobble mining and other unnecessary impacts. It’s encouraging news for a special place that means so much to so many people,” said Kevin Colburn, National Stewardship Director for American Whitewater.
In the weeks since CSX’s mining practices were discovered, community members, state and local officials, and nearby businesses expressed significant concerns about the impact the company’s mining could have on the river and the communities that rely on it. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation also sent a notice of violation to CSX this week and ordered the company to stop excavation of the river.
“CSX crossed a line that would have jeopardized the health and integrity of the Nolichucky River. We are heartened to see the Army Corps set this boundary and ensure future generations will still be able to enjoy the scenic and natural beauty of the Gorge, while also allowing a responsible rebuilding effort to occur,” said Erin McCombs, Southeast conservation director for American Rivers. “Our nation’s rivers deserve utmost care as a vital resource that we all share.”
The Nolichucky River Gorge is a one-of-a-kind natural wonder, described by the Forest Service as “one of the deepest, most spectacular gorges in the eastern United States.” It’s stunning beauty and world-class whitewater rapids attract thousands of visitors from all over the region, making the river a key part of the area’s local economies.
###
The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 200, including more than 120 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. southernenvironment.org
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit www.AmericanRivers.org.
American Whitewater is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) river conservation organization founded in 1954, with approximately 50,000 supporters, 7,000 dues-paying members, and 80 locally based affiliate clubs, representing whitewater enthusiasts across the nation. American Whitewater’s mission is to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely. American Whitewater is based in Western North Carolina, where the organization has helped establish public river access, secure conservation outcomes, and restore flows from numerous dams.
For Immediate Release
November 21, 2024
Contact
Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C., – American Rivers and a group of 131 local, state and national partners have submitted a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to urgently pass emergency disaster relief funding for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton and support key federal programs that aim to improve public safety, reduce flooding, and restore rivers.
“River communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton need our help now. Congress must ensure recovery funding is reliable, accessible, and flexible to meet the challenges ahead as we rebuild with resilience in mind,” said Erin McCombs, Southeast Conservation Director with American Rivers. “These areas need immediate resources to clear harmful storm pollution from streams and funding to assess and remove defunct or damaged dams as these communities work to recover. Every day these resources are delayed comes at a cost.”
These major storms caused failure or damage to dozens of dams within the region, making funding to assess their condition important to remove unneeded and unwanted dams and repair other structures to ensure the safety of communities when the next storm comes.
The letter included the support of businesses, community associations, public health professionals, agricultural conservation districts, farm workers, anglers, and environmental justice groups.
Additional Funding Requests and Recommendations from the Letter include:
- $100 million for Army Corps’ Environmental Infrastructure Program to assess dams;
- $35 million for EPA’s 319 program to support the implementation of greywater systems;
- $42 million to AmeriCorps to support regional stream debris removal teams;
- $35 million for Forest Services’ Dam Engineering and Management Program to support the assessment and removal of dams within their boundaries;
- $50 million for the National Fish Passage Program to facilitate fish migration;
- $24 million for the National Dam Safety Program’s State Assistance Program to provide states financial assistance to strengthen dam safety.
Recommended Policy Solutions to Prepare for Future Storms
- Congress should address the White House administration request to forgive all or some of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) debt to ensure policyholders and disaster survivors receive the assistance necessary after a flood.
- Congress needs to reauthorize FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program and eliminate barriers that often prevent communities from accessing assistance.
- Congress should require FEMA and HUD to better integrate programs for affordable housing with healthy floodplain management to meet the housing needs of families and communities who need to relocate to safer ground.
About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. For more information, please visit www.AmericanRivers.org