Non-profit organization American Rivers has released its ranking of the most endangered rivers in our country. This is the 33rd year the group has released a river ranking. From the Lower Rio Grande in Texas threatened by mining operations, to the Smith River in Montana, American Rivers ranks the biggest dangers according to the most pressing issues. Most of these issues surround mining operations, accelerated and made less and less safe by a toothless EPA and the 180-degree turn-around our government has made in environmental regulations.
On the #1 river on this year’s list, the Big Sunflower in Mississippi, members of Congress are pushing to undermine the Clean Water Act to resurrect the Yazoo Pumps, one of the most environmentally damaging projects ever proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If allowed to advance, it would be the first time ever that an EPA veto of a Corps project (the George W. Bush EPA stopped the project in 2008) was overturned by Congress, undermining the authority of the EPA to enforce the Clean Water Act.
The ranking from American Rivers:
Big Sunflower River, MS
- Threat – Army Corps pumping project
- At Risk – Critical wetlands and wildlife habitat
Rivers of Bristol Bay, AK
- Threat – Mining
- At risk – Clean water, salmon runs, indigenous culture
Boundary Waters, MN
- Threat – Mining
- At risk – Clean water, recreation economy
Lower Rio Grande, TX
- Threat – Border wall
- At risk – River access, public safety, wildlife habitat
South Fork Salmon River, ID
- Threat – Mining
- At risk – Clean water, salmon habitat
Mississippi River Gorge, MN
- Threat – Dams
- At risk – Habitat, recreation opportunities
Smith River, MT
- Threat – Mining
- At risk – Clean water, recreation
Colville River, AK
- Threat – Oil and gas development
- At risk – Clean water, wildlife
Middle Fork Vermilion River, IL
- Threat – Coal ash pollution
- At risk – Clean water, Wild and Scenic River values
Kinnickinnic River, WI
- Threat – Dams
- At risk – Blue-ribbon trout stream