America's 'Most Endangered Rivers' Face New Threats in 2017

"This is a critical year for rivers and clean water. Our America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2017 report sounds the alarm," writes Amy Souers Kober to introduce the latest release of the "Most Endangered Rivers" report, created by Washington, D.C.-based American Rivers.

Topping the list is the Lower Colorado River, which provides drinking water to 30 million Americans. But much of the focus of the post is on the threats posed to all of the country's rivers, as represented by the executive orders, budget blueprint, and campaign promises of the Trump Administration.

Souers Kober (who serves as the national communications director for American Rivers) writes:

President Trump has abandoned critical river protections including the Clean Water Rule, leaving small streams and wetlands – sources of drinking water for one in three Americans – vulnerable to harmful development and pollution.

He has also proposed significant budget cuts that would cripple river restoration and protection efforts nationwide, with severe impacts to drinking water supplies, fish and wildlife and recreation.

Alexandra E. Petri followed up on the news of the report's release with a post for National Geographic explaining the environmental concerns and policy changes that contributed to this year's report. Daniel Jack Chasan provides local coverage of the South Fork Skykomish River in Washington, which made the list five years ago and again this year. Planetizen most recently covered the 2015 list, when a different section of the Colorado River topped the list.