The French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers have been damaged by scour and debris caused by Hurricane Helene. If left untreated, eroding areas will continue to break off, releasing additional sediment that harms water quality and leads to further property losses in future storms.
Renee Fortner, Director of Programs, RiverLink
Most endangered rivers
Threat: Extreme weather, flooding, unsafe dams, lack of Federal Capacity
The Rivers of Southern Appalachia weave a rich tapestry, vital to the region’s culture and economy, providing clean drinking water to over 2 million people throughout more than a dozen communities from Newport, Tennessee to Charlotte, North Carolina. But Hurricane Helene devastated these rivers and communities with record flooding and landslides. Federal, state, and local partners have already allocated resources to the region, but there is a long road to recovery and preparation for the next storm in the years to come. Together, we must continue to restore the rivers, invest in communities, and remove unsafe dams to strengthen the region so people and businesses can thrive despite increasingly extreme weather.
American Rivers appreciates the collaboration and efforts of our partners:
- MountainTrue
- RiverLink
- Catawba Riverkeeper
Some places are simply too special and should be off-limits to pollution and harmful development. The Okefenokee Swamp is one of those places. The state of Georgia must do the right thing and stop the mine that would devastate the clean water and wildlife habitat of this national treasure.
Ben Emanuel, Southeast Conservation Director, American Rivers
Most endangered rivers
Threat: Mining
The Okefenokee Swamp — a unique wetland nearly half a million acres in size — is threatened by a proposed titanium mine, which government agencies predict would result in permanent and unacceptable damage to this special placeA federal Clean Water Act permit was required for the proposed mine, however, the supreme court’s decision in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency rolled back federal wetlands protections. Now the only way protections can be strengthened in Georgia will be through the Georgia legislature and state-level rule making. Urge Georgia Environmental Protection Division to deny the permit application, and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to oppose Twin Pines Minerals’ mining permit application.
American Rivers appreciates the collaboration and efforts of our partners:
- Georgia River Network