Spring 2016
CONSERVATION
UPDATE
Towhetyourappetiteforwarmerseasons,I’mpleasedtosharethelatesteditionofourRiver
GuardianConservationUpdatehighlightingoursuccessesandourworkinprogressacrossthe
country.Whetherwearepaddlers,whitewaterrafters,anglers,orriverbankexplorers,weknow
thevalueofhealthyrivers.Pleaseenjoythereport,andthankyouforyourinterestinandsupport
ofourwork.AllofusatAmericanRiverswishyouagreatseasonontheriver!
Water–andWine–inArizona:TheVerdeRiverisan
importantnaturalandculturalresourceincentralArizona,
runningthroughhundredsofancientarcheologicalsites
includingTuzigootNationalMonument.TherarestofallNorth
Americanforesttypesisfoundalongitsbanks.YettheVerdeis
over‐divertedforirrigation,andinmanyareasmorewaterisin
theditchesthanintheriver.Toencouragetransitiontomore
sustainablewaterusage,AmericanRiversisplayinga
leadershiproleinageo‐tourismprojectfortheSedona‐Verde
Valley.TheprojectincludesmarketingtheVerdeFront“String
ofPearls”sustainablerecreationsitesalongtheVerdeValley.
NearthetownofSedona,anumberofwinerieshaveopened,
Verde River Blue Trail; Credit: Doug Von Gausig
helpingtopreservefarmland,openspace,andwildlifehabitat.
BigSuccessforWaterPlanninginColorado:Afternearlytwoyearsofcollaborativework,the
ColoradoWaterPlanwassignedintolawbyGovernorHickenlooper.AmericanRivershasbeen
heavilyinvolvedineveryphaseofthedevelopmentoftheplan,andmanyofourrecommendations
wereincluded.Holisticinscope,thePlanrecognizestheimportanceofhealthyriversforColorado's
economyandqualityoflife,andemphasizesflexiblewatermanagementandwatersharing.
SpecificsofthePlanincludefundingStreamManagementPlanstobenefitwildandnativefish,and
settingamunicipalconservationgoalof400,000acre/feetofwatersavedby2050.ThePlanalso
makestheprospectofanewtrans‐mountaindiversionfromtheColoradoRiverlesslikely.
WeextendwarmgreetingstoournewestRiverGuardians.Welcomeandwelcome
back!Yoursupportmakesallofthisgoodworkpossible.
DavidAndrews,PortCharlotte,FL MollyHolt,WashingtonDC
DorothyCanter,Bethesda,MD
JamesKibler,HamptonFalls,NH
DamonCopeland,Orlando,FL
RickandSueNeff,Missoula,MT
KarlandSarahDelong,MorroBay,CA
MichaelSzurek,Woodstock,IL
DavidEisner,Dacula,GA
BryceWhitmore,Talent,OR
Didwemissyou?Wemaynothaveyourcurrentphonenumberoremailonfile.Contactusandwe’ll
besuretoincludeyouinthenextRiverGuardianConservationUpdate!
CleanWaterforAll!ThreeQuestionsfortheNextPresident:Asthedramaofelectionseason
heatsup,AmericanRiversstaysfocusedonourprioritiesforhealthyriversandcleandrinking
wateracrossthecountry.Wehavethefollowingquestionsforallpresidentialcandidates:
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RiversarethesourceofdrinkingwaterfortwooutofthreeAmericans.Whatisyourplanto
harnessAmericanresourcesandingenuitytoensurehealthyriversandsafedrinkingwaterforall?
TheCleanWaterActof1972wassupposedtoguaranteethatallofournation’sriversare
swimmableandfishable.Yetdecadeslater,44percentofassessedwaterwaysaretoopolluted
forfishingorswimming,andmanycommunitieslackaccesstosafedrinkingwater.Ifelected,
whatwillyoudotoensurethattheCleanWaterAct’spromiseisfulfilledduringyourPresidency?
TheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineersgivesournation’swaterinfrastructureaDgradeinits
“ReportCardontheNation’sInfrastructure.”Willyoucommittheresourcesnecessaryto
significantlyimprovethatgradebytheendofyourfirstterminoffice?
EmpoweringCitizensforHydroAdvocacy:Toencourage
effectivecitizenparticipationinriverrenewal,AmericanRivers
recentlyrevisedtheHydropowerToolkitwithhelpfromthe
HydropowerReformCoalition’s(HRC)generalcounsel.Our
Toolkithelpslocalresidentsunderstandandnavigatethere‐
licensingprocessfornon‐federalhydropowerprojectssothat
theyarebetterabletochallengeharmfuldamsandadvocatefor
improveddamoperations.TherevisedToolkitincorporates
EPActhearingproceduresandrelatedlegalchallenges,andwill
soonbeavailableontheHRC’swebsite.
Citizens helped advocate removal of the Condit Dam on the White Salmon River. Thomas O’Keefe SoManyDams–WheretoStart?InanewrestorationpartnershipwiththeU.S.ForestService,
AmericanRiversisworkingintheForestService’ssoutheastregiontodevelopaninventoryand
modeltouseforprioritizingdamsforpotentialremoval.ARhelpedtocreatetheGISBarrier
Prioritizationtool,aclearinghousesitewhichhelpsusersassesshowmuchecologicalbenefitwould
begainedbyremovingadam.Conservationprofessionalsandlocalgrassrootsgroupscanadd
metricsandconditionstothesiteanduseittoanalyzewhichdamsarethebestcandidatesfor
removalbasedonvariablessuchastheirimportancetowildlifehabitat,theirdangertopublic
safety,ortheopportunitytoopennewrecreationopportunities.TheUSFSprioritizationtoolisa
demonstrationprojectthatweenvisionadaptingtoregionsacrossthecountry.
 For information on specific dam removal work, see page 6
AnImportant“First”forFish:TheLittleTennesseeRiverhasbeen
designatedasthenation’sfirstNativeFishConservationArea(NFCA).
Servinginaleadershiprole,AmericanRiversworkedwithfederaland
stateagencies,conservationgroups,andnativetribes.NFCAsareriver
basinsdesignatedformanagementwithafocusonconservationand
restorationofnativefishandotheraquaticlife,pairedwith
compatiblerecreationalandcommercialuses,withtheendgoalof
ensuringthelong‐termsurvivalofnativeaquaticspecies.
Little Tennessee NFCA Meeting ‐ 2 ‐ Timetorenew?
YoucanrenewyouRiverGuardianmembershipeasilyandconvenientlyonlineat:
www.americanrivers.org/riverguardian
GreenStormwaterInfrastructureinToledo:Green
StormwaterInfrastructure(GSI)isanapproachtowater
storageandsecuritythatprotects,restores,ormimicsthe
naturalwatercycle.IntheGreatLakesbasin,American
Riverscontinuestoworkataverylocalscaleinstalling
demonstrationprojectsandleadingplanningefforts.We
justcompletedatreebedinfiltrationprojectatthenewly
developedHensvillePark,hometotheMudhensminor
leaguebaseballteam.Thetreeboxeswillcaptureandtreat
8,700gallonsofrainwatercomingoffneighboring
rooftopsbeforebeingdistributedbackintotheMaumeeRivereachyear.AmericanRiverswill
continuetoleadtheplanningeffortsoftheGreenStormwaterInfrastructureTaskForce,whose
nextstepsincludeselectingsitesforpotentialprojectsintheSwanCreekwatershed.
FloodplainandMeadowRestorationintheWest:
Nationwide,thecostofflooddamageexceeds$6billionper
year.Damsandleveesisolatefloodplainsandwetlandsthat
canprovidenatural,freefloodprotectionforcommunities.
Floodcontrolcanoftenbeaccomplishedmoreeffectivelyand
forlessmoneybyrestoringdegradedareasandby
maintainingbufferzonesalongrivers.Wehavebeenworking
todemonstrate,validate,andquantifyrestorationpracticesto
improvewaterquality,wildlifehabitat,andwaterstorage
capacity.Lastyear,wecompletedmeadowrestoration
projectswithourpartnersinfivewatersheds,includingthe
StanislausheadwatersinCalifornia,theCarsonRiverin
Nevada,andtheMercedRiverinYosemiteValley.By
demonstratingsuccesses,thesepilotprojectshelpbuild
momentumforincreasedrestorationwork.
The Glines Canyon Dam on the Elwha River is the tallest dam ever removed in the U.S. Photo from 2011. LeadershipinRemovingtheBiggestDams:Removinglarge
dams,asinthesuccessful,high‐visibilityremovaloftheElwhadam,
isacomplexeffortrequiringgreatcareandskill.Ourstaffconvened
aday‐longsymposiumfocusedontheuniquechallengesof
removinglargedamprojects.Participantsattheeventsharedcase
studies,gavefeedback,andsharedideasabouthowtobestmove
largeprojectsforward.HeldinWashingtonstate,theeventwasan
importantsteptowardmorefree‐flowingriversinthePacific
northwest.
‐ 3 ‐ This gully in the Carson watershed has been blocked with rock to retain water and sediment and to begin rebuilding the streambed. Joanne Lowden, USFS EngagingDiverseCommunitiesinConservation:AmericanRivers
FellowJanaeDavisrecentlycompletedanassessmentforoutreachto
AfricanAmericanandHispaniccommunitiesinSouthernAppalachiaand
theCarolinas(SAC).Minorityparticipationisincreasinglyimportantfor
environmentalorganizations.Under‐representedgroupsoftensufferthe
effectsofenvironmentaldegradationdisproportionately;inthelongrun,
engagingwithdiversecommunitiesisessentialtomaintainingabaseof
environmentalsupportasU.S.demographicsshift.OurSACBasinstaff
participatedintheRacialEquityLab,whichfocusedoneffective
communication.OurSACActionPlanworkstowardimproved
collaborationwithdiversecommunitiestoachieveourconservationgoals.
AR Fellow Janae Davis
BlueTrailsBoostLocalEconomiesandHometownPride:OurBlueTrailsprogramconnects
peopletotheirhometownriversthroughlow‐impactrecreationsuchasfishing,paddling,and
hiking,andinspiresthemtoseetheirriversasvaluableresourcesworthyofprotection.The
programassistscommunitieswithdevelopingandimplementingplansforimprovingrecreation
whilealsoboostinglocaleconomiesthroughrecreationaltourism.AmericanRiversrecently
launchedtheAshleyRiverBlueTrailinSouthCarolina.Workingwithlocalpartners,wedeveloped
anAshleyRiverconservationplanthatprioritizesriversideconservationthroughvoluntary
easements,directpurchase,improvedmanagementofpubliclands,andthedevelopmentoflocal
codesandordinances.InDecember,ourBlueTrailsteamhostedawebinarontheeconomic
benefitsofriver‐basedrecreation.
FundingforWildandScenicRivers:Our"WildRivers"license
platesofficiallywentonsalethispastsummerinMontana.Each
platesoldorrenewedgenerates$25forAmericanRivers’
NorthernRockiesoffice.We'reontracktomakeabout$25,000
intheproject’sfirstfiscalyear.Nowthatthelicenseplateis
appearingoncars(andthusadvertisingitself)weanticipateit
bringinginabout$35,000inrevenuein2017.
HealthierRiverLevelsinAtlanta:Indevelopedareas,impermeablesurfacespreventthenatural
processofgroundwaterrechargefromrainandsnow.Harnessingthesciencebehindmethodssuch
asfloodplainrestoration,raingardens,andpermeablepavement,weworktoallowgroundwaterto
moveintoriversataslower,moreconstantrate–somorewaterstaysinrivers.Oneexampleisin
ourworkintheFlintRiverbasininGeorgia,whereweareworkingwiththeHartfield‐Jackson
InternationalAirport–oneofthelargestairportsintheworld–toimplementgreeninfrastructure
instrategicareasinordertoprovidehealthierriverlevels.OurUpperFlintRiverResiliencyAction
PlanisalsoguidingourworkwithwaterutilitiessuchasFayetteCountyWaterSystem.
Savenaturalresourcesbysharingyouremailaddress!Byprovidingyouremailcontact,
youallowustosendnewsupdates,giftacknowledgments,specialinvitations,andmoreelectronically.
YouwillreceiveonlyafewemailsperyearfromtheRiverGuardianprogram,andwewillnotshare
yourinformation.EmailRobinneatrgray@americanrivers.organdtokeepyouremailaddressonfile.
‐ 4 ‐ PromotingWaterEfficiencyinCities:Inurbanareas,AmericanRiversisworkingtoadvancea
collaborative,integratedapproachtomanagingstormwater,wastewater,anddrinkingwater.We
bringmunicipalauthorities,utilitycompanies,engineers,andenvironmentaladvocatestogetherto
learnbestpracticesandcoordinatetheirefforts.Inthepastyear,AmericanRiversconveneda
meetingwithmayorsandwatermanagersfromanumberofcitiesaroundthecountry,including,
Atlanta,Tucson,Milwaukee,PhiladelphiaandWashingtonD.C.tounderstandhowwatermanagers
cancommunicatebetteramongtheirowncityagenciesandwithothercities.
ProtectingRiversbyWorkingwithCongress:Congresspassed,andthePresidentsigned,the
FederalFY16OmnibusAppropriationsBill.Overall,thebillrepresentedaseriesofsignificant
policyandfundingwinsforAmericanRivers.River‐relatedhighlightsofthebillinclude:
 SecuringtheGreenProjectReservewithintheEPA’sCleanWaterStateRevolvingFund
 SubstantialincreasestoNOAA’sRestorationProgramanditsCoastalResiliencyGrants
 SignificantincreasestotheDepartmentoftheInterior’sWaterSMARTprogram
 FundingoftheYakimaBasin’srequestundercurrentauthorizationlevels
 Droppingallpolicyridersweopposed(includingtheSkiBillandWatersoftheU.S.riders)
fromthefinalpackage
NationalRiverCleanup:Nowinits25thyear,ourNationalRiver
Cleanup®programofferspromotionalandtechnicalsupportto
individualsandorganizationswhohelpremovetrashfromtheir
localrivers.Overthecourseof2015,wemobilizedover46,000
volunteerstoremove2millionpoundsoftrashat1,370sites
nationwide.Ourcorporatepartnersalsohostcleanupsacrossthe
country,encouragingemployeestogivebacktotheirlocal
communities.
2015 National River Cleanup Photo Contest winner: Rob Hanson’s photo from the Montreal River Cleanup in Ironwood, MI. Aboutthe
RIVERGUARDIANS
RiverGuardiansareleadersinfundingourworktoprotect,conserve,andrestoreournation’srivers.
Withanannualgiftof$1,000ormore,youarepartofacommunityofourmoststeadfastsupporters‐‐
friendswho,likeyou,understandthecriticalroleofriversincleandrinkingwater,robustecosystems,and
activerecreation,andwhoknowthevalueofsafeguardingthehealthofrivers.Madeupofadiversegroupof
riverenthusiasts,frompaddlerstohikers,birderstoanglers,andnatureloversofallsorts,RiverGuardians
understandthatourriversareundergreaterpressuresthaneverbeforeandchoosetoprotectthem.
PleasejoinusinmakingadifferenceforourriversbyjoiningthecommunityofRiverGuardiansat
www.AmericanRivers.org/RiverGuardian,orbycontactingRobinneGrayat202‐243‐7041or
[email protected].
‐ 5 ‐ SPECIALSECTION
62DamsRemovedin2015,BenefitingRiversandCommunitiesNationwide
“Longexperiencehasshownusthatdamremovalisanexcellenttoolforrestoringriverhealth,
revitalizingfishandwildlife,improvingpublicsafety,andreconnectingcommunitieswiththeir
rivers.Now,thebenefitsofdamremovalarebecomingevenmorepronouncedasitishelping
strengthentheresiliencyofcommunitiesandwildlifeinthefaceofachangingclimate.”
‐
BobIrvin,PresidentofAmericanRivers
Communitiesin21states,workinginpartnershipwithnon‐profitorganizationsandstateandfederal
agencies,removed62damsin2015,restoringmorethan570milesofstreamsforthebenefitoffish,
wildlifeandpeople.
Statesrepresentedonthelistare:California,Connecticut,Hawaii,Illinois,Maine,Maryland,Massachusetts,
Michigan,Minnesota,Montana,NewHampshire,NewJersey,NewYork,NorthCarolina,Ohio,Oregon,
Pennsylvania,RhodeIsland,Tennessee,Vermont,andVirginia.AmericanRiversplayedarolein15ofdam
removalsin2015,andplanningisunderwayformanymore.Herearejustafewofourstories:
CiticoCreekDamremovalopensmilesoffishhabitat:American
Rivers,inpartnershipwiththeU.S.ForestServiceSouthernRegionand
theU.S.FishandWildlifeService,removedtheCiticoCreekdaminthe
CherokeeNationalForestinTennessee.Thisprojectleveragedthein‐
houseresourcesoftwofederalagenciestoachievehighecological
benefitsatanextremelylowcost. Citico Creek Jenni Frankenburg Veal DamremovalsintheNortheast:Wekickedoff2016withtheremovalof
theTimberDamonAmethystBrookinPelham,MA.InConnecticut,we’ve
wrappeduptheEdBillsPondDamremovalontheEightmileRiver,andthis
springwewillwrapupthechannelrestorationwithsitere‐vegetation.Also
removedwasthePondLilyDamontheWestRiver,whichflowsintothe
LongIslandSound.Thisprojectopenedapproximately2.6milesofthe
WestRiverand76acresofpondhabitat.
Eightmile River, flowing free. Amy Singler ExpandingdamremovalworkinGAandTN:AmericanRivers,inpartnershipwiththeTennessee
ChapterofTNC,hascompletedadamremovalcapacitybuildingplanforTennessee,asawaytoexpandthe
damremovalpotentialforthisstate.Also,alongwithourpartners,wepresentedthefirst‐everDam
RemovalTrainingWorkshopinGeorgia.AmericanRiversandourpartnersseegoodmomentumcomingout
ofthemeetingfordamremovalandrestorationprojectstogetunderwayinGeorgiaandTN.
AmericanRiversmaintainsthenationalrecordofdamremovalsacrosstheUnitedStates,whichincludes
informationon1,300damsthathavebeenremovedacrossthecountrysince1912.Mostofthosedams(1,061)
wereremovedinthepast25years.
‐ 6 ‐