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American Heritage Rivers Initiative

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. BACKGROUND.

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American Heritage Rivers Initiative

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  1. American Heritage Rivers Initiative

  2. 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

  3. 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

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

  5. Some are mainly urban... Detroit River

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

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

  8. BENEFITS TO RIVERS • National Recognition • River Navigator • Federal Teams • In Washington • Along the river • Focused attention to their needs

  9. 3 MAJOR OBJECTIVES Environmental • Cultural • Economic

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

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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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 of state, tribal, and local governments and private sector interests 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

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