America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2014
Published on by Vishakha Rajput, Previous COO The Water Network at AquaSPE AG
American Rivers announced its annual list of America's Most Endangered Rivers®, naming California's San Joaquin River the Most Endangered River in the country. Outdated water management and excessive diversions, compounded by the current drought, have put the San Joaquin River at a breaking point.
America's Most Endangered Rivers® of 2014:
#1San Joaquin River
California
Threat:Outdated water management and excessive diversions
At Risk:River health and resilient communities
#2Upper Colorado River System
Colorado
Threat:New trans-mountain water diversions
At Risk:River health and recreation
#3Middle Mississippi River
Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky
Threat:Outdated flood management
At Risk:Wildlife habitat and public safety
#4Gila River
New Mexico
Threat:New water diversions
At Risk:River health, fish & wildlife, recreation, and tourism
#5San Francisquito Creek
California
Threat:Dam
At Risk:Fish and wildlife habitat and public safety
#6South Fork Edisto River
South Carolina
Threat:Excessive water withdrawals
At Risk:Fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and water quality
#7White River (CO)
Colorado
Threat:Oil and gas drilling
At Risk:Drinking water supplies and fish and wildlife habitat
#8White River (WA)
Washington
Threat:Outdated dam and fish passage facilities
At Risk:Salmon, steelhead, and bull trout populations
#9Haw River
North Carolina
Threat:Polluted runoff
At Risk:Clean water
#10Clearwater/Lochsa Rivers
Idaho
Threat:Industrialization of a Wild and Scenic River corridor
At Risk:Scenery, solitude, world-class recreational values