What are the two most threatened rivers in the US?

Cultural health, sacred places, and traditional food sources are threatened along the Colorado River's Grand Canyon, Alaska's Chilkat River, and Washington's Snake River.



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It's no surprise that the Colorado River holds its place as the number one Most Endangered River for the second year in a row, as outdated water management, over-use, and climate change all pose great risks to this national treasure.

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Washington — American Rivers today named the Colorado River's Grand Canyon America's Most Endangered River of 2023, citing the harm that climate change and outdated river management have caused to the river's unique cultural and ecological values.

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Here is American Rivers' complete list of 2023 Most Endangered Rivers and the major threat each is facing:
  • Colorado River in the Grand Canyon: CLIMATE CHANGE & OUTDATED WATER MANAGEMENT.
  • Ohio River: POLLUTION & CLIMATE CHANGE.
  • Pearl River: DREDGING & DAM CONSTRUCTION.
  • Snake River: FOUR FEDERAL DAMS.


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What happens if Lake Mead dries up forever? If Lake Mead were to run out of water, the Hoover Dam would no longer be able to generate power or provide water to surrounding cities and farms. The Colorado River would essentially stop flowing, and the Southwest would be in a major water crisis.

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Washington, D.C. – Today the Mississippi River was listed as one of America's Most Endangered Rivers® due to worsening rates of pollution, habitat destruction, and the impacts of climate change.

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Eventually, between 1960 and 1980, as Lake Powell began to fill behind Glen Canyon Dam, the Colorado River stopped flowing regularly to the sea. In the popular imagination, the Colorado River was broken, and its delta was dead. But as it happens, the delta wasn't dead at all.

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The Ohio River Basin is one of the largest watersheds in the nation and drains from areas affected by environmental pollution from heavy industrialization, including mining and resource extraction for energy development, chemical production, and durable goods manufacturing.

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According to the National Park Service, The Yellowstone River is the last major undammed river in the lower 48 states, flowing 671 miles (1080 km) from its source southeast of Yellowstone into the Missouri River and then, eventually, into the Atlantic Ocean.

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The Colorado River might not dry up completely. But there's a good chance it won't provide enough water for the 40 million people who depend on it. No one knows when this could happen, but many experts think the drought will only worsen, which means we need to save water.

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Seven states and 30 Native American tribes lie in the Colorado River Basin. As we first reported in 2021, the river has been running dry due to the historically severe drought. The majestic, meandering Colorado River that cut through these red cliffs, carving the Grand Canyon, is a wonder of nature and human ingenuity.

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