Why is Lehigh River endangered?

Washington — American Rivers today named Pennsylvania's Lehigh River among America's Most Endangered Rivers®, citing the threat that poorly planned proliferation of warehouse and distribution centers poses to river health.



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However, continued development threatens the 109-mile tributary of the Delaware River in eastern Pennsylvania, according to an annual report of the health of rivers in the U.S. American Rivers ranked the Lehigh River 7th out of 10 in its “America's Most Endangered Rivers” report.

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An endangered river is one which has the potential to partly or fully dry up, or one that is thought to have ecological issues now or in the near future. Some such issues are natural while others are the direct result of human development.

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The Lehigh River is the second largest tributary of the Delaware River, and roughly 20% of the stream miles in its watershed are polluted. The primary source of degradation is stormwater runoff.

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The Mississippi River This once pristine waterway is perhaps the most polluted in the United States. Part of the problem stems from agriculture. The Mississippi River traverses much of America's heartland, drawing no end of runoff from factory farms. Animal waste isn't the only problem.

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The 5 Most Polluted Rivers in the US
  • The Ohio River. Manufacturers design steel-hulled boats to last for 20 years or more. ...
  • New River. The trouble at the U.S. southern border involves more than immigration. ...
  • The Mississippi River. ...
  • The Cuyahoga River. ...
  • The Delaware River.


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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that the Colorado River holds its place as the number one Most Endangered River for the second year in a row, as outdated water management, over-use, and climate change all pose great risks to this national treasure.

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The Lehigh River is home to many species of fish: trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pickerel, panfish, carp, catfish and the notorious muskellunge (muskie). Rainbow and brown trout average between 13? – 17? in length and anglers frequently catch trout over 20?.

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