The mission of American Rivers is to protect wild rivers, restore damaged rivers and conserve clean water for people and nature.

Organization scope

National

Contact

Kelly Catlett
916-610-2038
kcatlett@americanrivers.org

Resources from American RiversAll resources

Court Cases   7/6/2018

American Rivers v. FERC (III)

Decommissioning and removal › Reports   1/1/2008

Dam Removal and Historic Preservation: Reconciling Dual Objectives

Case Studies › Collections › Decommissioning and removal › Reports   12/1/1999

Dam Removal Success Stories

Comments & Filings › Laws, court cases, and filings   7/2/2021

Felt Dam Draft License Application Comment

Case Studies › Decommissioning and removal › Reports   3/22/2022

Free Rivers: The State of Dam Removal in the U.S.

Tribal Resources › Videos   12/17/2020

Guardians of the River

Videos   1/1/2013

Hydropower Reform Can Save Rivers

Decommissioning and removal › Videos   1/1/2007

Marmot Dam Removal

Comments & Filings › Reservoir Emissions › Sample pleadings   8/16/2021

Motion to Intervene & Comments on Draft Supplemental EIS on the Coosa Project

Comments & Filings › Laws, court cases, and filings   4/23/2021

Office of Public Participation Comment

Case Studies › Decommissioning and removal › Hydro Guides   10/10/2023

Practitioner’s Guide to Hydropower Dam Removal

Decommissioning and removal › Presentations and trainings   12/14/2023

Removing FERC-regulated hydropower dams: data and decision-making

Case Studies › Hydro Guides › Tools and Guides   5/1/1996

River Renewal: Restoring Rivers Through Hydropower Dam Relicensing

 

News and updates from American RiversAll news

9/9/2024

The Klamath Dam Removals: A Story of People and Possibility

As I stood on a bridge and looked upstream along the Klamath River, I felt confused. For over 15 years, I had stood in the same stop and gazed on the earthen face of Iron Gate Dam. But on this day, I saw…space. Framing the edges of that space, I saw canyon walls, river bed, […]

3/6/2024

On the Klamath, Dam Removal Alone is Not Enough

Though a century of damming has had one of the largest impacts on the health of the Klamath River, its ecosystems, and the fish and wildlife that depend on them, they are not the only obstacles the river faces on the road to recovery. It is difficult to understate the ecological significance of the four […]

2/9/2024

Progress Report: two years in to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Giddy smiles and stomping feet. We stood next to the Klamath River and watched muddy water rush out from the tunnel under the Iron Gate Dam. The twenty-degree weather couldn’t freeze out the excitement of our group; even as we tried to kick feeling back into our toes, an energy pulsed through us as we […]

1/11/2024

Dam Removal on the Klamath: Reflections on How We Got here

By Ann Willis When I first set foot in the Klamath watershed as a scientist back in 2008, dam removal seemed little more than a dream. An official decision had not yet been made by the Department of the Interior about whether dam removal was in the best interest of the Klamath basin, including its […]

11/10/2023

Cleaning up after yourself

We all make a mess sometimes.  Maybe it’s filling up the sink with dishes and leaving cups and glasses scattered around the apartment after that party.  Or the school project where your kid scrambled to make that baking soda and vinegar volcano for a science class the morning it was due. Or left a deadbeat […]

11/5/2023

The biggest river stories of 2023

Our successes this year are thanks to you — our supporters, partners, allies, and volunteers. As we reflect on the past 12 months of opportunities and incredible wins, we feel pride in what we achieved for your local rivers. We also feel resolve: We must protect nature in order to save ourselves and the beauty […]

10/18/2023

Eels downrunning in the fall

The change of seasons means many things for people, plants, and animals. In the Northeast, as autumn daylight shortens the deciduous forest’s spectacular colors emerge. Cooler, wetter autumn weather creates important signals for animals including the American eel, one of 12 migratory species that live in our coastal rivers. We are just beginning to understand […]

10/13/2023

Our Power is Rivers

By Kyle Smith There is an ongoing debate in the Pacific Northwest around whether hydropower as a whole is “good” or “bad”. But this conversation misses important detail and nuance. There are thousands of dams blocking rivers across the Northwest. Many dams provide energy, transportation, flood control, and irrigation. But many are causing more harm […]

10/5/2023

Vamos Outdoors Project x American Rivers Float the Mighty Skagit River: A Photo Essay

In June 2023, American Rivers teamed up once again with the Vamos Outdoors Project to float the Wild and Scenic Skagit River. Students from Latine, Migrant, Multilingual, and Newcomer families enjoyed a vibrant afternoon on an ecological gem of a river right in their backyards. We gave the students a few waterproof disposable cameras, and this […]

8/28/2023

Sedimentation and Dam Removal: Bringing a River Back to Life

One of the primary concerns when planning for dam removal is the impact of sediment transport on water quality, river health, and the communities that depend on healthy rivers.