The most endangered rivers list, as seen on the American Rivers nonprofit organization website, is a list that they publish each year that helps give both the public and national agencies awareness as to where they need to be putting in more conservation efforts. In both 2013 and this year, 2015, the Colorado River has been welcomed into that list. It’s not a happy event for those who care about the conservation of this amazing natural landmark.
Most Endangered Rivers List 2015
Here is the top most endangered rivers list that American Rivers has put out for 2015, in order of severity: Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Columbia River, Holston River, Smith River, Edisto River, Chuitna River, Rogue-Smith Rivers, St Louis River, Harpeth River, and the Pearl River.
All of these amazing rivers are now endangered due to many factors, which include overfishing, mining in the area, outdated dam operations, road construction, toxic chemicals, and issues with other forms of pollution and contamination. The conservation efforts led by groups all over the United States are working around the clock to ensure that these rivers make it off of this list soon. However, it is not easy as they are trying to undo what took years and years to achieve in a very short period of time.
Why The Colorado River Made Most Endangered Rivers List
The Colorado River is the number 1 river on the most endangered rivers list for this year, which is devastating to everyone who is working so hard to keep it alive and clean. There are many reasons why the Colorado River is in its current position.
The Grand Canyon has long been a fantastic place for visitors and tourists to see and enjoy. The difficulty that the conservationists are having with this is between all of the tourism and the mining industries that have been working on uranium mines for years, there seems to be no rest for the Colorado River. It is constantly under siege by new tourism industry ideas and pollution by its visitors as well as the seepage from the mines. All of this makes for a very deadly combination that, if not handled properly, could spell doom for this amazing natural landmark.
Colorado River Conservation
The most endangered rivers list, as seen at the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, helps boost conservation efforts that are, many times, already in place. The Endangered Fish Recovery Program, along with other organizations in the area, such as the Colorado Water Congress, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, are working unceasingly to help save this natural wonder. From protecting the fish that live there to minimizing pollution and doing cleanings to help get rid of the existing chemicals, there is no rest when it comes to protecting the future of this amazing river.
The biggest threat that the Colorado River is currently facing is an industrial construction project which would be in place at the very heart of the river. This along with the radioactive seepage that we mentioned earlier from the uranium mines can be extremely dangerous not just for the river and its wildlife but for the visitors as well.
The current actions that are proposed to help end this crisis of both the Colorado River and all of the rivers on the top endangered rivers list, are to call off this new construction project, ban the uranium mining so no more seepage gets into the river, and call upon the Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewel to stand up and take action. American Rivers currently has a petition that can be signed by supporters on its website.
Watch this for more Colorado beauty (in case you needed more reason to want to make Colorado your happy place and save its natural landscapes):
https://youtu.be/_THhkCR7S0c
