Rivers

Swimming Hole

Friday Eye Candy: A Love Song for Swimming Holes

There's still technically some time left in the summer of 2019 to enjoy a dip, or a frolic, in a swimming hole.

September 13, 2019 - The New York Times

Kennebec River

20 Years of Dam Removal Projects

Dam removal has its benefits, according to the example set by a particularly historic dam removal in the United States, which took place on July 1, 1999.

July 2, 2019 - American Rivers

Western Wisconsin

Dam Removal Movement Gains Ground in Wisconsin

More cities are reclaiming a natural, free flowing river as a resource for quality of life and economic development.

May 4, 2019 - Pioneer Press

Gila National Forest

The Most Endangered Rivers in the United States

American Rivers has announced their annual list of the most endangered rivers in the country.

April 17, 2019 - American Rivers

Riverfront Trail Takes Shape in Atlanta

Open space and mixed-use developments could make the Chattahoochee River, where it runs along the border of Atlanta, more accessible. A proposed trail along the river took a tangible step forward recently.

September 4, 2018 - SaportaReport

Fence

New Mexico Made Streams and Rivers Private Property

And now those property owners are putting barbed wire over the river to keep out "trespassers."

March 17, 2018 - The Guardian

Big Flat, California

Songs About Places: Water, Rain, and Rivers

A playlist for those who seek inspiration from water—whether it's falling from the sky or running downhill.

March 7, 2018 - James Brasuell

Mountain Waterfall

Friday Eye Candy: Mapping a World of Water Words

Cultures and geography have created a dictionary's worth of words for water. A new video from Vox maps (most of) them out.

October 20, 2017 - Vox

Hoover Dam Downstream

Lawsuit Would Recognize the Human Rights of the Colorado River

Corporations have rights in the United States, and an organization called Deep Green Resistance is going to federal court in Colorado to argue that rivers should too.

October 2, 2017 - The New York Times

Cheonggyecheon Daylighting

Bringing Urban Rivers Back Into the Daylight

"Daylighting" rivers in urban areas is the process of uncovering waterways to beautify cities, support habitats, and aid drainage.

September 15, 2017 - The Guardian

Rio Atrato

Colombia the Latest to Recognize the Legal Rights of a Cherished River

Colombia joins New Zealand and India as countries that have recognized the legal status of rivers in recent months.

May 19, 2017 - International Rivers

Lower Colorado River

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

The American Rivers advocacy group has released its annual report on the country's most endangered rivers, paying special attention to the threats posed to the country's waterways in new federal policies and budget plans.

April 12, 2017 - American Rivers

Feather River Dam

The Case for Dam Removal

Where aging infrastructure is concerned, most of us don't immediately think of old dams. But there are a lot of them. Environmental advocates want to see them go, and in recent years de-damming has picked up speed.

April 7, 2017 - Next City

New Zealand

River Given Human Status

A New Zealand river revered by the Maori people is granted the status of a living being by the country's parliament.

March 17, 2017 - BBC

Arch Rock Beach

Oregon Residents Could Soon Pay a Fee to Hit the Water

The state of Oregon will consider legislation that would raise $2.17 million a year by implementing a fee on non-motorized users of public waterways.

January 29, 2017 - Mail Tribune

Chicago Riverwalk

Embracing Rivers as a Vehicle for Urban Revitalization

A new study includes urban rivers as a potential powerful amenity for economic development and revitalization. The city of Chicago has already taken note.

December 19, 2016 - Chicago Magazine

Chattahoochee River

'Vision 53' Plan Would Connect Atlanta to the Chattahoochee River

A river flows through Atlanta, but few of the city's residents have any access to it. A new vision plan produced by the advocacy group Chattahoochee Now aims to change that.

October 12, 2016 - WABE

Mexico City from the air

Mexico City Coalition Dreams of Restoring Rivers

A proposal to restore Mexico City's 45 rivers envisions a whole new model for the city.

July 1, 2016 - CityLab

Nu River China

China's Last Wild River Could Remain Free of Dams

Plans to dam China's last wild river have been circulating since 2003, but now it seems that conservationists could emerge victorious

May 14, 2016 - National Geographic

Economic Development in Eagle, CO: A Riverfront Park and Whitewater Play Area

A sure way to turn out the vote in Eagle, Colorado: hold an election asking for a new sales tax to fund a whitewater play park on the local river. Voters overwhelmingly supported the project.

April 9, 2016 - The Denver Post

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.