American Heritage Rivers InitiativeAmerican Heritage Rivers Initiative

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Objective: Recognize and support local effortsto restore and protect America’s rivers andtheir communities:

• Economic revitalization• Environmental protection and restoration• Cultural and historic preservation

Objective: Recognize and support local effortsto restore and protect America’s rivers andtheir communities:

• Economic revitalization• Environmental protection and restoration• Cultural and historic preservation

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

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

14 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)Susquehanna and Lackawanna Rivers (PA) St. John’s River (FL)

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)Susquehanna and Lackawanna Rivers (PA) St. John’s River (FL)

30 July 1998 - President designated 14 American Heritage Rivers:

Some are mainly urban...Some are mainly urban...

Detroit RiverDetroit River

Hudson River near West Point

Most are also rural...

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

CollaborativeAgencies work together & with communities

ResourcefulUse existing programs

Community-drivenFederal agencies respond to community needs

BENEFITS TO RIVERS

• National Recognition

River Navigator

Federal TeamsIn Washington Along the river

Focused attention to their needs

3 MAJOR OBJECTIVES

Environmental

Cultural

Economic

ENVIRONMENTAL

Improve water quality & fish/ wildlife habitats

Restore riparian areas & wetlands

Conserve natural resources

Enhance outdoor recreation

Potomac River at Great Falls

Identify community heritage &

historical/archaeological

resources

Restore and reuse historic

structures

Celebrate with local arts

and folklife

CULTURAL

Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, Hudson R.

Revitalize waterfronts

Find productive uses for abandoned

buildings

Help existing businesses and encourage new

ones

ECONOMIC

Mississippi River Museum and AquariumPort of Dubuque, Iowa

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

AHR Interagency Working Group

Interagency Committee

Hanalei River from the airKauai, Hawaii

RIVER NAVIGATORS

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

– Assist communities to implement local action plans– Assist communities to implement local action plans

– Serve as a liaison between communities and federal agencies– Serve as a liaison between communities and federal agencies

– Each of the 14 designated rivers will have the assistanceof a River Navigator for five years (through Sept. 2004)

– Each of the 14 designated rivers will have the assistanceof a River Navigator for five years (through Sept. 2004)

– Assist communities, if requested, in engaging the assistance

– Assist communities, if requested, in engaging the assistance of state, tribal, and local governments and private sector

of state, tribal, and local governments and private sector interestsinterests

RIVER NAVIGATORS

– Provide information services– Provide information services

– Offer technical advice– Offer technical advice

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

– 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

INFORMATION

AHR Web site : www.epa.gov/rivers

American Heritage Rivers Task Force

300 Seventh St., SW Suite 680

Washington DC 20024

Phone: 202-401-0226

Fax: 202-401-9821