2018's Most Endangered Rivers

The American Rivers advocacy organization this week released their annual list of most endangered rivers in the United States.

2 minute read

April 11, 2018, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Big Bend National Park

The Rio Grande River running through Santa Elena Canyon at Big Bend National Park in Texas. | Bill Kennedy / Shutterstock

American Rivers announced the Most Endangered Rivers of 2018 list on April 10, raising the alarm about the potential for catastrophic developments affecting rivers in eight states. Several rivers are cited specifically for the potential of the Trump Administration and Congress to decide the future of the river.

Included on the list are the following rivers and the state where the primary threat is located:

  • Big Sunflower River, Mississippi
  • Rivers of Bristol Bay, Alaska
  • Boundary Waters, Minnesota
  • Lower Rio Grande, Texas
  • South Fork Salmon River, Idaho
  • Mississippi River Gorge, Minnesota
  • Smith River, Montana
  • Colville River, Alaska
  • Middle Fork Vermilion River, Illinois
  • Kinnickinnic River, Wisconsin

The first river on the list is threatened by the Yazoo Pumps Project, according to American Rivers, which would "damage more than 200,000 acres of wetlands in the Big Sunflower River watershed in the heart of the Mississippi River Flyway. More than 450 species of fish and wildlife, including the Louisiana black bear, rely on the wetlands habitat that would be drained by the project."

American Rivers also lists President Trump's proposed border wall as the threat facing the Lower Rio Grande. In addition to the announcement of the 2018 list, see also a page set up with portals to more information on each of the endangered rivers. The full report [pdf] is also available online.

Several media outlets and advocates have also picked up the new online.

See also Planetizen coverage of previous lists.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 in American Rivers

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight