Sustainable Rivers Project History

In 2002, the Corps and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ecosystem preservation, began collaboration on the Sustainable Rivers Project. This nationwide partnership aims to improve riverine ecosystems across the United States by modifying operations of Corps dams. At the same time, project benefits are maintained or enhanced. IWR scientists have acted as facilitators for this project as it has grown.

The Sustainable Rivers Project focuses on protecting or restoring freshwater and coastal habitats. It encourages the use of non-structural measures to address flood protection and water management issues. The project implements demonstrations, staff exchanges, training and software development. By 2008, it involved work on eight river systems: the Willamette in Oregon; the Bill Williams in Arizona; the Green in Kentucky; the Savannah in Georgia and South Carolina; the Roanoke in North Carolina and Virginia; the White, Black and Little Red in Arkansas and Missouri; the Connecticut in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut; and Big Cypress Creek in Texas and Louisiana. Also in 2008, USACE received TNC’s Outstanding Partner Award because of their successful collaborations.

The Sustainable Rivers Project continues to expand. In 2009 TNC identified more than 600 of the organization’s sites that could become potential sites for Sustainable Rivers activities. Staff from TNC and IWR collaborated to discuss future steps to continue their fruitful partnership and ensure its environmental benefits for the Nation.

Learn More:

• USACE/The Nature Conservancy Partnership
• Sustainable Rivers Project articles
• The Nature Conservancy