- Slug: Threatened Rivers
- Runtime: 1:21
- Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)
BY: Emma VandenEinde / Cronkite News
AMERICAN RIVERS’ NEW LIST OF THE MOST ENDANGERED RIVERS IN AMERICA HAS TWO RIVERS IN ARIZONA ON IT.
CRONKITE NEWS’ EMMA VANDENEINDE [VAN-din-ine-dee] EXPLAINS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF WATER IN ARIZONA.
——————
THE COLORADO RIVER, ONE OF ARIZONA’S MOST IMPORTANT RIVERS IS AT THE VERY TOP OF THE ENDANGERED RIVER LIST. MATT RICE, THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR AMERICAN RIVERS, SAYS IT WAS AN OBVIOUS CHOICE.
“It would have been, from my perspective, tone-deaf, right, if we did not list the Colorado River as the number-one.” (13:12, 6 SECONDS)
THE RIVER WAS PUT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST BACK IN 20-13. IT RESURFACED WHEN LAKE MEAD DROPPED TO BEING 35 PERCENT FULL LAST AUGUST, ACCORDING TO THE U-S BUREAU OF RECLAMATION.
KEVIN MORAN WORKS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND. HE SAYS CHANGE STARTS WITH RECOGNITION OF WHAT HAS BEEN LOST.
“We’re dealing with a smaller river. We’re dealing with less water supply overall, which requires new thinking, new investments and higher levels of collaboration.” (7:05, 7 SECONDS)
THE COLORADO RIVER IS USED BY OVER 40 MILLION PEOPLE FOR AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC REASONS. BUT JULIÁN GONZÁLEZ, A WATER POLICY LOBBYIST FOR EARTHJUSTICE, SAYS THE LOSS OF THESE RIVERS IMPACT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
“These rivers and waterways are really beloved by lots of different people for a whole lots of different reasons, whether it’s cultural, whether it’s birdwatching, whether it’s boating, whether it’s they like to go there with their kids.” (17:08, 12 SECONDS)
WHILE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TALK ABOUT EMERGENCY RIVER PLANS, MATT RICE SAYS THAT’S NOT ENOUGH, CALLING ON A DEEPER INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
EMMA VANDENEINDE, CRONKITE NEWS.