In time for Earth Day, American Rivers has released its annual list of the country's most threatened rivers. Topping this year's list is the Colorado River, a waterway so dammed, diverted and over-tapped that it ultimately "dries to a trickle."
"Each year American Rivers selects 10 rivers as our most endangered from a broad array of nominations from groups and individuals across the country," writes Jeff Wiedner. This year's list, which includes the Flint River in Georgia, Little Plover River in Wisconsin, and the San Saba River in Texas, were selected because they met three criteria: "1) A major decision in the coming year that the public can help influence; 2) The significance of the river to people and wildlife; 3) The magnitude of the threat to the river and its communities, especially in light of a changing climate".
Topping the list is the Colorado River, "the lifeblood of the American Southwest, providing drinking water for over 36 million people across seven states, irrigating 15 percent of our nation’s agriculture output, and supporting a $26 billion recreation economy."
"As Americans, we are lucky to have this river in our proverbial backyard," says Wiedner. "It is one of the most recognized and visited rivers in the United States, with millions of people flocking to its banks each year. But a century of water management policies and practices promoting wasteful water use have put the river at a critical crossroads."
FULL STORY: Rivers in Ruin: The 10 Most Endangered Waterways in America
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.