No. 1: Susquehanna River

American Rivers recently chose Pennsyltucky’s Susquehanna River (also coursing through parts of NY and Maryland) as its “America’s Most Endangered Rivers Of 2011” poster child. The river, once renowned for its prime smallmouth fishing flowing through Bob Clouser’s backyard has, over the last ten years, been reduced by ag runoff and other environmental cancers. Natural gas development (read: fracking) teeters at the top of the Susquehanna’s current contamination woes, according to AR.

“While Pennsylvania and New York have been working to improve clean water safeguards for natural gas development, they fall short of adequately protecting the water supply for millions of Americans. It is the responsibility of these states, along with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), to analyze all of the potential cumulative impacts that could result from natural gas extraction, and ensure proper regulations are in place and capable of being enforced before development is allowed to continue.”

 

Rounding out the top ten most endangered rivers in America are:

 

2. Bristol Bay; Threat (AK): Copper and gold mining (Read Tim Sohn’s feature Gold Fish for more)

3. Roanoke River (VA); Threat: Uranium mining

4. Chicago River (IL); Threat: Sewage

5. Yuba River (CA); Threat: Dams

6. Green River (WA); Threat: Mining

7. Hoback River (WY); Threat: Natural Gas extraction

8. Black Warrior River (AL); Threat: Coal mining

9. St. Croix River (MN); Threat: Loss of protections

10. Ozark National Scenic Riverways (MO); Threat: Overuse and under management

 

 

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