American Heritage Rivers Initiative

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American Heritage Rivers Initiative
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BACKGROUND

• Objective Recognize and support local efforts
• to restore and protect Americas rivers and
• their communities
• Economic revitalization
• Environmental protection and restoration
• Cultural and historic preservation

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BACKGROUND
Established by Executive Order 13061
September, 1997 Supported by nearly 200 members
of Congress, more than 500 mayors, and 21
governors 126 nominations from 46 states and the
District of Columbia
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14 RIVERS
30 July 1998 - President designated 14 American
Heritage Rivers
Blackstone and Woonasquatucket (RI/MA) Cuyahoga
(OH) Connecticut (CT/MA/NH/VT)
Detroit (MI) Hanalei (HI)
Hudson (NY) Mississippi, Lower
(TN/LA) Willamette (OR) Mississippi, Upper
(MO/IL/IA/WI/MN) Rio Grande (TX) Potomac
(DC,MD,PA,VA,WV) New River (NC,VA,WV) Susquehann
a and Lackawanna Rivers (PA) St. Johns River (FL)
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Some are mainly urban...
Detroit River
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Most are also rural...
Hudson River near West Point
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Collaborative
• Agencies work together with communities
• Resourceful
• Use existing programs
• Community-driven
• Federal agencies respond to community needs

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BENEFITS TO RIVERS

• National Recognition
• River Navigator
• Federal Teams
• In Washington
• Along the river
• Focused attention to their needs

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3 MAJOR OBJECTIVES

• Environmental
• Cultural
• Economic

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ENVIRONMENTAL

• Improve water quality fish/ wildlife habitats
• Restore riparian areas wetlands
• Conserve natural resources
• Enhance outdoor recreation

Potomac River at Great Falls
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CULTURAL

• Identify community heritage historical/archaeol
  ogical resources
• Restore and reuse historic
• structures
• Celebrate with local arts and folklife

Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, Hudson R.
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ECONOMIC

• Revitalize waterfronts
• Find productive uses for abandoned buildings
• Help existing businesses and encourage new ones

Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium Port of
Dubuque, Iowa
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ORGANIZATION
Interagency Committee
Chair Chairman of CEQ plus Agency co-chair
Members Cabinet Secretaries or their designees
(Asst. Sec. or higher)
AHR Interagency Task Force
Interagency Committee
AHR Interagency Working Group



Hanalei River from the air Kauai, Hawaii
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RIVER NAVIGATORS

• 5-Year Commitment extended for some rivers, 1- 3
  years

• Assist communities to implement local action
  plans

• Serve as a liaison between communities and
  federal agencies

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RIVER NAVIGATORS

• Provide information services

• Offer technical advice

• River Navigator will have maximum latitude to
  work
• with communities

• Position will be fully federally funded unless
  the community
• volunteers non-federal funds
• Cut through Red Tape
• Navigate the federal system to find
  appropriate
• federal programs and resources for local
  communities

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INFORMATION

• AHR Web site www.epa.gov/rivers
• American Heritage Rivers Task Force
• 300 Seventh St., SW Suite 680
• Washington DC 20024
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]