American Rivers

Mission

American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers and conserves clean water for people and nature.

We envision a future where rivers thrive and provide for everyone, forever. Here in the Washington and across the Pacific Northwest, that means clean water, abundant wild salmon and steelhead runs, healthy orca whale populations, strong communities, thriving agriculture, and clean energy.

Description

Rivers define this special place we call home. Yet, Washington's rivers are under tremendous pressure. Rapid population growth and rampant development have increased pollution flowing into our waterways, resulting in the deterioration of wetlands and floodplains and exacerbating flooding events that put nearby communities at risk. Competition for the use of water has also created conflict among farmers, tribes and fishers. Caught in between are the salmon and other native fish, which have endured a century of habitat loss through dam construction and inadequate fish passage, over fishing and floodplain deterioration. And now, our rivers, communities and salmon are facing the impacts of climate change.

The secret to a healthy freshwater ecosystem is shockingly simple: Keep water clean and let rivers flow naturally. American Rivers has been doing just that since 1973. But we must do more and do it faster. When we let rivers be rivers, everything comes back to life. Life depends on rivers. And, right now, rivers need you.

In the Northwest

For over 30 years, American Rivers staff in the Northwest has worked to protect and restore our region's outstanding rivers, utilizing some of the most proven and effective tools available.

Dam Removal—Our dam removal program focuses on executing on the ground projects and building capacity to restore rivers through trainings and focused program assistance. Recently we partnered with the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe to remove the Middle Fork Nooksack Dam. Now, as part of our new North Star, American Rivers has the goal to remove 30,000 dams by 2030.

Floodplain Restoration—Our floodplain restoration team advances integrated floodplain management approaches at the local, state, watershed, and national levels for the benefit of healthy, connected rivers and communities. This work takes shape in strategies like the Floodplains by Design program and the Chehalis Basin Strategy.

River Protection—Our river protection program harnesses coalitions to advance protections for the Northwest’s outstanding rivers. This includes the use of federal river protection tools like the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act on the Olympic Peninsula, and state-level protections like Outstanding Resource Waters for the Green, Cascade, and Napeequa rivers, all of which are ongoing projects.

Snake River Dam Removal—Our Snake River Dam Removal campaign works directly with communities that will be directly impacted by breaching the four lower Snake River dams to find creative, necessary solutions for replacing the transportation, energy, and irrigation services currently provided by the dams.

Hydropower Reform—Our hydropower reform program actively engages in nonfederal dam relicensing proceedings and in the implementation of hydropower licenses to secure environmental improvements (floodplain reconnection, habitat restoration, fish-friendly flows, fish passage, etc.) for rivers impacted by hydroelectric dams. American Rivers also co-leads the Hydropower Reform Coalition, which seeks improvements to the way hydropower dams operate and are licensed. We recently worked with the hydropower industry, other NGOs, Tribes, and federal agencies to develop a suite of proposed changes to the Federal Power Act, which includes several provisions to expand the authority for Federally Recognized Tribes to protect their lands, waters, other resources, and treaty-protected rights.

Integrated Water Management—This work is reflected in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan: a collaboration of state, federal, tribal, business, and community organizations addressing water, fishery, habitat and climate variability challenges in the Yakima River Basin. The Plan works to increase the reliability of irrigation water supplied, increase municipal water supply, restore fisheries, sustain climate resilient rivers and communities, and support a strong economy.