Friends of the River

Organized in 1973 to stop the drowning of the Stanislaus River by the New Melones Dam, Friends of the River has been successfully fighting on behalf of California's rivers for 35 years.  Our vision is to create a California where rivers are treasured and not simply resources to be exploited. Our mission is to educate, organize, and advocate to protect and restore California's free flowing rivers, streams, and watersheds.  We accomplish this by educating the public, media, and government officials about river conservation issues; mobilizing grassroots activists and local groups to affect change; building coalitions with traditional and non-traditional allies; and effectively advocating public policies that protect rivers.

Friends of the River is a non-profit (IRS 501c3) organization with its central office located in Sacramento. Friends of the River's professional staff of sixteen include some of the most experienced and respected river conservation policy experts in the country.  In addition, our 5,000 members are especially committed to grassroots activism.  Friends of the River's guide training and rafting program educates and mobilizes approximately 1,000 people a year in support of key river conservation issues.  Our River Quest program annually introduces 200 at-risk urban youth to rivers and river conservation.  Our website, email alert system, and collaborative outreach to allied groups also play key roles in educating and mobilizing the public in support of our river conservation campaigns.

We believe that California's rivers belong to everyone, and everyone should enjoy their environmental, economic, and recreational benefits. Friends of the River advocates a long-term plan to preserve the rivers that remain relatively natural and unaffected by dams and development, restore those rivers and water quality that have been harmed by dams and development, and increase the sustainable use of water in California to meet human and ecosystem needs and reduce development threats to our remaining rivers. The key objectives of the seven point plan include:

Preserve

• Preserve 6,000 miles - or 3% - of California's most pristine rivers through Wild & Scenic designation.

California's wild rivers provide unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, important habitat for fish and wildlife, and a critical source of clean water. Protecting our most beautiful rivers as Wild & Scenic will preserve our natural heritage for future generations.

• Establish 1,700 miles of river parkways with easy public access.

River parkways offer recreational opportunities for biking, walking, school outings, and picnics. They bring nature into our urban areas, provide habitat for dozens of native species, and offer critical flood protection to our communities. Everyone has access to California's unique coast; they should also have access to our beautiful rivers.

Restore

• Ease the impact of existing dams and remove those that are obsolete.

Returning rivers to their natural flows allows native species and natural ecosystems to recover and creates opportunities for increased recreational tourism like fishing and rafting. While some of California's more than 1,400 dams provide important services for our modern society, many are obsolete or fail to meet modern environmental standards.

Sustain

• Utilize state-of-the-art techniques to improve agricultural water conservation by 20%.

California is the most important agricultural producer in the nation. Using existing technologies we can both preserve this critical part of our economy and significantly reduce water use - dramatically easing the pressure on our rivers.

• Increase investment in urban water conservation and reduce consumption by 5%.

Many California cities and their water districts are leaders in conservation, but more can be done. Delivering water more efficiently - and using water more wisely - in every city can reduce the impact on our rivers.

• Protect and restore water quality for people and wildlife.

Every living thing needs clean water - and for most of us that water comes from a river. Protecting and restoring the water quality in our rivers is a critical component of meeting the fresh water needs of all Californians.

• Improve flood management and preserve flood plains.

Floods occur naturally in California. Smarter management, expanded floodways, and fewer developments in flood plains will reduce the human cost and taxpayer expense of flooding. Working with the natural cycle of our rivers, and whatever changes may occur due to global warming, is our most cost effective and practical choice.

Just a few of our current campaigns to implement the seven point plan include active legislation in Congress to protect more than 100 miles of rivers in streams in the eastern Sierra, southern California, and northern California as Wild & Scenic Rivers, removing destructive hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River to restore the river's once magnificent salmon runs, supporting state legislation to increase water conservation in California by 20%, and opposing state legislation that would provide billions of dollars of public funds to build unneeded and destructive new dams, and support state and local programs that set back levees to reduce flood threats and increase river restoration opportunities.

For more information about our current campaigns and how you can get involved, visit www.friendsoftheriver.org.

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