Columbia ranks No. 2 on endangered rivers list

The Columbia River ranked No. 2 on the American Rivers’ list of the nation’s 10 most endangered rivers. “Once home to the largest salmon runs in the world, the mighty Columbia River is now blocked by a series of dams,” according to American Rivers, which released the rankings today. “However, the damage to the river’s ecosystem can begin to be reversed if the federal government demands flow and fish passage commitments in a renegotiated Columbia River Treaty with Canada.” The advocacy group uses the annual rankings to call attention to critical issues facing U.S. rivers. The Columbia River’s inclusion in the list focuses on the renegotiation of the 1964 Columbia River Treaty, which governs power generation and flood control on the 1,200-mile long river and its tributaries. Adding “ecosystem function” to the treaty is part of a regional recommendation from the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The recommendation was developed through consultation with 15 tribes in the Columbia Basin, four states and electric utilities and other stakeholders. The Colorado River ranked No. 1 as on the list as a result of development, mining and water withdrawals. To see the complete list, visit http://act.americanrivers.org/page/content/mer-2015/#sthash.R9ZEGpyA.dpbs