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The organization American Rivers issued its list for 2020 of America’s Most Endangered Rivers.
The Upper Mississippi River has been named number one on the list.
The primary threats the organization lists to the Upper Mississippi River are climate change and poor flood management.
American Rivers further stated in part that the:
. . . combination of land use change, artificial crop land drainage, climate change and flood plain management has fundamentally altered the flow of the river. As a result, the river is less stable and more prone to catastrophic flooding.
The organization believes that the Upper Mississippi River needs:
. . . a water management plan that coordinates river and watershed management actions; ensures vulnerable communities are involved in the decision-making process; accounts for climate change; gives rivers room to flood safely; and restores lost habitat.
The other nine rivers on the list included:
- Lower Missouri River
- Big Sunflower River
- Puyallup River
- South Fork Salmon River
- Menominee River
- Rapid Creek
- Okefenokee Swamp & St. Marys River, FL, GA.......
- Ocklawaha River
- Lower Youghiogheny River
A link to the list can be found here.