How Protected Are Our Nation’s Rivers?
Across the nation, 80% of rivers lack adequate protection
A first-of-its-kind study by American Rivers and Conservation Science Partners reveals that America’s rivers are alarmingly underprotected. The research shows that across the nation’s 4.4 million miles of rivers, roughly 80% are inadequately protected and two-thirds (64%) are currently completely unprotected. This leaves over 110 million Americans who depend on public drinking water systems located in watersheds with virtually no protection.
“Action for river protection is urgent. Over a hundred million Americans get their drinking water from rivers that lack adequate protections. With freshwater species also declining at an alarming rate, there has never been more need to maintain America’s healthy rivers for both people and nature.”
David Moryc, Senior Director of River Protection
We all depend on healthy rivers for the multiple values they provide. Rivers provide clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water to millions of Americans. They provide us places to hunt, fish, paddle, and access nearby nature. Close to 75 percent of the nation’s outdoor recreation takes place within half a mile of streams or other water bodies. And they also help protect lives and property from catastrophic wildfire.
Regardless of where we live or who we vote for, we all depend on rivers and the values they provide in some way. But how secure are these rivers? How do we know if they are adequately protected?
Measuring the degree that rivers are protected is inherently challenging. Rivers are hard to define. They cross boundaries and jurisdictions. They rise and fall, move across the floodplains and riparian areas on their banks, replenishing groundwater and soil. There are many factors that can impact a river’s health, from headwaters to mouth. Similarly, there are different mechanisms that contribute to protecting rivers.
The Protected Rivers Explorer is a groundbreaking tool based on cutting-edge science. Using the Explorer, we can, for the first time in history, see how secure rivers are all across the country.
What’s That Mean for Your State?
Explorer the National Protected Rivers Assessment Tool
See how secure rivers are across the country. Dig into data and see where local, state or federal protections are urgently needed.
What are the types of protections?
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