The top 10 most endangered rivers in the U.S. have been revealed in a new report.
The annual report, conducted by American Rivers, classed the rivers of New Mexico as the most endangered in the whole country. The environmental non-profit classed “loss of federal stream and wetland protections” as the main threat against these rivers. The threat follows a recent decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court that saw many clean water protections stripped for small streams, according to American Rivers, and this has affected New Mexico the most.
This is of great concern as the rivers are the lifeblood of the state, the nonprofit reports.
“Without this river, we would not be able to survive,” Vicente Fernandez, community leader in New Mexico, said in a statement following the report.
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Coming in second as the most endangered river is the Big Sunflower and Yazoo Rivers in Mississippi. The main threat here is what is known as the Yazoo Pumps project, which the nonprofit reports is threatening wetlands.
The project involves the use of backwater pumps to prevent flooding. However, these rivers, in the middle of the Mississippi Flyway, are home to a thriving ecosystem where 450 species live. The pumps are threatening to damage these wetlands and the species that live within.
An excessive amount of water use is the main threat of the Duck River in Tennessee, which comes in third on the endangered rivers list.
As this river is used for local drinking water, periods of drought which are exacerbated by climate change cause an overconsumption of water. Yet, this water is needed to sustain its own ecosystem, as many important species of fish live there.
The Santa Cruz River in Arizona is listed at fourth on the list due to water scarcity and climate change. This is a threat facing many bodies of water in the southwest region, as it has been plagued with drought for many years.
The other rivers listed are: the Little Pee Dee River in North Carolina and South Carolina, the Farmington River in Connecticut and Massachusetts, the Trinity River in California, the Kobuk River in Alaska, the Tijuana River in California, and the Blackwater River in West Virginia.
Human activities appear to be the main causes threatening these endangered rivers.
A main concern in this annual report is also pollution and threats to clean water. The Tijuana River, for example, is so polluted that its waters are causing illness and beach closures, the report states. Toxic algae outbreaks are also emerging in the Farmington River due a hydropower dam. This is threatening the clean water of close to 400,000 people.
American Rivers is calling for more policies to protect these rivers as many communities and ecosystems are at risk if threats continue.
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