American Rivers’ most endangered rivers are not the nation’s “worst” or highly polluted.
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers report of 2021 is a list of rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates.
#1: Snake River (ID, WA, OR)
Threat: Four federal dams on the lower Snake River
#2: Lower Missouri River (MO, IA, NE, KS)
Threat: Outdated river management
#3: Boundary Waters (MN)
Threat: Sulfide-ore copper mining
#4: South River (GA)
Threat: Pollution due to lax enforcement
#5: Pecos River (NM)
Threat: Pollution from proposed hard rock mining
#6: Tar Creek (OK)
Threat: Pollution from Tar Creek Superfund Site
#7: McCloud River (CA)
Threat: Raising of Shasta Dam
#8: Ipswich River (MA)
Threat: Excessive water withdrawals
#9: Raccoon River (IA)
Threat: Pollution from industrial agriculture and factory farming
#10: Turkey Creek (MS)
Threat: Two major developments