American Rivers
{{Short description|US nonprofit organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = American Rivers
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| formation = {{start date and age|1973|03}}
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| founding_location = Denver, Colorado{{cite news |last1=Irvin |first1=Wm. Robert |title=American Rivers: Celebrating 40 Years |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/american-rivers-celebrati_b_3232426 |access-date=14 August 2023 |work=HuffPost |date=10 May 2013 |language=en}}
| type = Nonprofit
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| status = 501(c)(3)
| purpose = River protection and restoration
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| headquarters = Washington, D.C.{{cite web |title=Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax |url=https://www.americanrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/American-Rivers-FY22-Form-990-PUBLIC-INSPECTION-COPY.pdf |publisher=American Rivers |access-date=14 August 2023}}
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| website = {{URL|americanrivers.org}}
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American Rivers is a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization focused on protecting and promoting the health of rivers in the United States. Established in 1973, the group is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Activities
=River restoration=
American Rivers advocates for the restoration of rivers and streams that have been damaged by human activity. Primarily, this involves dam removal, culvert replacement, and floodplain restoration. The organization claims to have been directly involved in over 200 dam removals,{{cite web |title=Restoring Damaged Rivers |url=https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/restoring-damaged-rivers/ |website=www.americanrivers.org |publisher=American Rivers |access-date=21 August 2023}} providing funding in some cases.{{cite news |last1=Ehmke |first1=Jim |title=Oakland dam in Pennsylvania being removed |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oakland-dam-in-pennsylvania-being-removed/ar-AA1fmyRH |access-date=21 August 2023 |work=www.msn.com |publisher=WIVT Binghamton}} American Rivers also maintains a public database of all known dam removals in the United States since 1912,{{cite web |title=Map of U.S. Dams Removed Since 1912 |url=https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/restoring-damaged-rivers/dam-removal-map/ |website=www.americanrivers.org |publisher=American Rivers |access-date=21 August 2023}} and publishes reports on the state of dam removal in the country.{{cite news |last1=Durrant |first1=Spencer |title=2022 State of Dam Removal in U.S. |url=https://midcurrent.com/2022/02/25/2022-state-of-dam-removal-in-u-s/ |access-date=21 August 2023 |work=MidCurrent |date=25 February 2022}}
=America's Most Endangered Rivers=
{{main|America's Most Endangered Rivers}}
Each year since 1984, American Rivers has published a list of "America's Most Endangered Rivers". Three criteria are given for inclusion on the list:{{cite news |last1=Petri |first1=Alexandra E. |title=Top 10 Most Endangered Rivers in the U.S. |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/most-endangered-rivers-us-american-rivers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225231826/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/most-endangered-rivers-us-american-rivers |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |access-date=14 August 2023 |work=nationalgeographic.com |publisher=National Geographic |date=11 April 2017 |language=en}}
- The river is of regional or national significance to people and wildlife.
- The river and communities that depend on it are under significant threat.
- The river will face a major decision in the coming year that the public can help influence.
=River of the Year=
In 2019 American Rivers announced its first "River of the Year". The designation recognizes historically degraded rivers that have made significant progress toward recovery.
=National River Cleanup=
Started in 1991, the National River Cleanup program promotes volunteer litter cleanup events.{{cite news |author1=Charles River Conservancy |title=The 23rd Earth Day cleanup of the Charles River brings us closer to swimming its waters again |url=https://www.cambridgeday.com/2022/04/18/the-23rd-earth-day-cleanup-of-the-charles-river-brings-us-closer-to-swimming-its-waters-again/ |access-date=15 August 2023 |work=Cambridge Day |date=18 April 2022}}{{cite web |title=National River Cleanup Organizer's Handbook |url=https://www.americanrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/AR-Handbook_general-2014.pdf |publisher=American Rivers |access-date=15 August 2023 |date=2014}} {{As of|2023}}, American Rivers is a partner of National CleanUp Day.{{cite web |title=American Rivers |url=https://www.nationalcleanupday.org/partners/american-rivers |website=National CleanUp Day |access-date=15 August 2023}}