Ohio River Named Second Most Endangered River in U.S.
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The Ohio River was named the second most endangered river in the United States in a new report by American Rivers, a conservation organization. It was listed second to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park.
Primary threats to the Ohio, which runs 981 miles through multiple states, are listed as industrialization and pollution. The latter, the report says, is exemplified by the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
“This ongoing chemical disaster underscores the vulnerability of the Ohio River and need for increased safeguards and durable funding for additional and continuous monitoring,” American Rivers wrote in the report.
The Ohio River watershed covers more than 200,000 square miles and provides drinking water for more than five million people, the report asserts. In addition, the watershed provides habitat for 150 species of fish and protects several endangered species such as the candy and diamond darter, numerous species of mussels, and crayfish. The rivers, streams and lakes in the river’s watershed also are a source of recreation for numerous communities.
“Although the Ohio River spans many miles, it unites everyone; from those that draw their drinking water to those that recreate along its many diverse landscapes,” Jess Friss, Director of Community Programs, Three Rivers Waterkeeper, said in the report. “We must protect the river so that we, and future generations, can have a fishable, swimmable, drinkable Ohio River.”
The report calls for “robust, sustained funding to prevent disasters and pollution through immediate testing, long term monitoring, and technical expertise. Sustained funding is required for technical upgrades to their monitoring system and increases to staff capacity.”
It adds, “To protect the Ohio River, Congress must designate the river as a federally protected water system and commit to significantly fund both the Ohio River Restoration Plan and Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission’s technical upgrades.”
Here are the Top 10 most endangered rivers, per American Rivers:
