American Heritage Rivers Initiative

BACKGROUND Objective: Recognize and support local efforts to restore and protect America’s rivers and their communities: Economic revitalization Environmental protection and restoration Cultural and historic preservation Objective: Recognize and support local efforts to restore and protect America’s rivers and their communities: Economic revitalization Environmental protection and restoration Cultural and historic preservation

BACKGROUND Established by Executive Order – 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 – 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 President designated 14 American Heritage Rivers:

Some are mainly urban... Some are mainly urban... Detroit River

Hudson River near West Point Most are also rural...

GUIDING PRINCIPLES n Collaborative u Agencies work together & with communities n Resourceful u Use existing programs n Community-driven u Federal agencies respond to community needs

BENEFITS TO RIVERS National Recognition n River Navigator n Federal Teams u In Washington u Along the river n Focused attention to their needs

3 MAJOR OBJECTIVES Environmental n Cultural n Economic

ENVIRONMENTAL n Improve water quality & fish/ wildlife habitats n Restore riparian areas & wetlands n Conserve natural resources n Enhance outdoor recreation Potomac River at Great Falls

n Identify community heritage & historical/archaeological resources n Restore and reuse historic structures Celebrate with local arts and folklife CULTURAL Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, Hudson R.

n Revitalize waterfronts n Find productive uses for abandoned buildings n Help existing businesses and encourage new ones ECONOMIC Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium Port 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 air Kauai, Hawaii

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

RIVER NAVIGATORS – Provide information services – 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 n AHR Web site : n American Heritage Rivers Task Force n 300 Seventh St., SWSuite 680 n Washington DC n Phone: n Fax: