Endangered Rivers List Includes Some Well-Loved by CCA Paddlers

Rivers well-loved by many CCA paddlers are in the Top 10 most endangered rivers in the country, as identified in American Rivers' annual listing released April 15.

The 2025 list puts the Rappahannock River at #6, "Threatened by declining groundwater levels and a lack of water supply strategy amidst rapid population growth and expanding industries like data centers"; and the Gauley River at #10, "Threatened by toxic pollution from strip mining for coal in the headwaters."

A whole group of rivers in Southern Appalachia are listed at #3, "Threatened by extreme weather impacts to unsafe dams and federal capacity to help recovery after recent hurricanes." The group includes the Nolichucky and Pigeon rivers.

In its announcement of the list, American Rivers said, "This year's listing highlights how interconnected communities are with healthy rivers, as a supply of clean drinking water, as a pillar of economic stability and growth, and as a vital line of defense in the face of floods and extreme weather."

Number 1 on the most-endangered list is the Mississippi, "Threatened by FEMA’s uncertain future and role in guiding floodplain protections and maintaining infrastructure that protects river health."

For more information

American Rivers announcement April 15

American Rivers Endangered Rivers 2025 video