American Rivers

American Rivers is a national conservation nonprofit working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. For more than 50 years, we've been the country's leading voice for river protection, combining evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 4.4 million miles of rivers and streams essential to our nation's clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and the strength of our communities.

We work both nationally and locally to find holistic, common-sense solutions to the many needs of rivers and the people who depend on them. Our core initiatives focus on protecting healthy rivers from new threats, restoring damaged rivers by removing outdated dams and reconnecting floodplains, and ensuring clean water reaches communities across the country. We champion a movement to protect 1 million miles of free-flowing rivers by 2030, and we're leading a national effort to remove 30,000 outdated dams while reconnecting 100,000 acres of floodplains.

Partnerships are central to everything we do. We bridge divides and build lasting, trust-based relationships with communities, supporters, Tribes, and decision-makers. Our annual America's Most Endangered Rivers report spotlights rivers facing urgent threats, mobilizing public action to protect waterways from pollution, dams, and climate impacts. The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities - and that's reflected in how we work together to ensure every river has champions fighting for its future.