Assess damage done to endangered rivers

Overview: The environmental group, American Rivers, has released its annual list of the "Nation's Most Endangered Rivers." Identify the reasons for the endangerment of each river. Have students research the environmental, historical and cultural significance of U.S. rivers and determine implementation strategies for preservation of national and local rivers.

Curriculum Connections: Geography, Current Issues, Environment

Have students read the story, "Study: Missouri River most endangered waterway," and answer the following questions:

1. What is "American Rivers"? What annual report did it recently publish? What information was contained in that report that would be of concern to environmental groups? What major factors are considered "culprits" by American Rivers for endangering U.S. national rivers? Of the 11 rivers cited by American Rivers as endangered, which one has been selected as the most critically threatened? Why?

2. Who is Rebecca Wodder? What is an environmental group? Who is Robert Flowers? What is the Army Corps of Engineers? What conflicting points of view do Wodder and Flowers hold concerning the ways in which rivers should be utilized? According to the story, what specific arguments does each spokesperson offer concerning the treatment of the Missouri River?

3. Inform students that American Rivers, a group of river conservationists based in Washington, D.C. and in regional and field offices across the country, selects the annual list of endangered rivers based on nominations from nationwide conservation groups and based on its own evaluations by applying the following criteria:

Refer students to America Rivers' list of endangered rivers at American Rivers Divide the class into 11 groups and assign each group one of the 11 rivers listed. Direct each group to prepare an audio-visual presentation about the river, identifying its geographical features as well as its environmental, historical and cultural significance. Have students (1) apply America Rivers' criteria listed above to determine why the river is endangered, and (2) what, if anything, is being done to preserve the river.

Following each presentation, assess the degree of each river's endangerment and the effectiveness of the measures be taken to preserve the river.

Extension:

Almost every community has a river or stream flowing through it. Have students find out where their local river begins and ends by visiting Enature.com to search by zip code. Then have pairs of students conduct research on that river by consulting the Internet, their school's media center and other resources to discover the "health" of their local river and determine the many ways in which students can make a difference in preserving and protecting that river. Have students report their research findings to the class by presenting a "toolkit" of river conservation strategies. (Refer students to America Rivers' Web site at America Rivers for suggestions on how to construct a conservationist toolkit.)

Materials on this site are reproducible for classroom use.