Cities That Have Reclaimed Their Rivers
These cities didn’t just get their rivers back — they got their identities back. They discovered that a living, free-flowing river is one of the most powerful things a city can have. Lewiston and Clarkston could be next.
Bend, Oregon
Less than 20 years ago, residents of Bend, Oregon had little access to their river, the Deschutes. You could not swim in it. City ordinances prohibiting floating. After the local sawmill closed in 1983, Bend was left without a definition of itself. “Bend could have gone in multiple ways,” said Beau Eastes, Old Mill District marketing director. “We were at a turning point when the mills closed. Where does this town go?” As former mayor Jeff Eagers says, “Bend was in the same position a lot of towns were in the Pacific Northwest that were coming to grips with a huge economic change, away from wood products to something else or nothing else.”
In 2010, visionary city leaders came up with a plan to reimagine the city, embracing the river and capitalizing on Bend’s sunny climate. “The goal was to improve the quality of life,” Eastes said. Today, Bend is a vibrant city that combines its rich history with recreation, dining, shopping, arts and culture, all founded on the decision to make the Deschutes River the centerpiece of a new vision. A recent survey found that 80% of visitors to Bend come for the outdoor recreation opportunities
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia, was voted the nation’s most livable river town by Outside Magazine readers in 2012 due to its focus on recreation and environmental stewardship. Considered the defining feature of Richmond’s cityscape, the James River Park System draws over 2 million visitors each year. And it is surprisingly rugged–Richmond is the only urban city in the US to have Class III/IV whitewater rapids running right through the heart of the city. The 7-mile urban ribbon is enjoyed by kayakers, boaters, fishermen, paddlers, cyclists, walkers and runners, making the city a premier destination for urban adventure and outdoor recreation.
For over 100 years, Richmond was known for having one of America’s most polluted waterways due to its use as a dumping grounds for tobacco companies and chemical plants. The James was so toxic that fishing was shut down for 13 years. Boaters were known to wear nose clips to guard themselves from the stench.
Today, the James River is arguably the most improved river in the country. The water is clear enough that fisherman can sight-fish for carp. American shad and Atlantic sturgeon have returned, as have bald eagles, osprey and songbirds.
But the river restoration has done more than sustain wildlife—it has served as a vital economic engine. Today, Richmond is home to six Fortune 500 companies. It has a vibrant food scene. A local music festival draws over 65,000 to the river’s banks.
Augusta, Maine
Prior to 1999, the Kennebec River in Maine was blocked by a dam which created a 17-mile-long slack-water pool. The water was stagnant and not good for fishing. Brian Graber who grew up in Massachusetts but spent his summers vacationing at a family cabin near Augusta, Maine recalls that in those days, the Kennebec was uninviting–not a place you wanted to live or went for a good time. “I think what struck me the most as a kid was that all the buildings in downtown Augusta were facing away from the river and were either boarded up or just didn’t have windows at all along the river,” Graber said.
Momentum to remove the dam accelerated in the 1990’s. “People began to not only imagine what dam removal would do for the benefit of the fish, but also what it would do for the benefit of the town if they had a functioning, free-flowing river running through it,” says Andrew Fahlund, senior program officer at the Water Foundation.
When the dam removal was complete, Augusta had the chance to rethink its relationship with the river. The city established new trails and a park along the waterfront. “People are out on the water, mostly paddling a kayak or canoeists,” says Graber. “The downtown is starting to make use of the river more. The buildings that have been redeveloped are now using the river as an amenity. The river’s really just come back to life both for humans and the ecology.”
Restoring the river has contributed to development of downtown Augusta, which now attracts more visitors. Property values have increased. It has been a catalyst for urban renewal, reversing decades-long decay of the riverfront. Augusta established the Capital Riverfront Improvement District to manage economic development, promote tourism and ensure public access to the restored river. Every summer, the city hosts the Whatever Festival, celebrating the rebirth of their river.
Atlanta, Georgia
With its population growing at a brisk clip over recent decades, metro Atlanta had almost forgotten its river, the Chattahoochee. Clean-up of the polluted river began in 1973. In 1978, a 48-mile stretch of river was declared a National Recreation Area. Today there are plans underway for a100-mile pedestrian trail that will connect 40 new and existing riverside parks.
Restoration of the Chattahoochee has provided a big financial boost to the region: in 2023, the area had over 3 million visitors who together spent over $160 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 2,149 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the economy of $236,780,000, according to a report by the National Park Service. “Chattahoochee River NRA visitors are not just from the Atlanta region, but from across the United States,” said NPS Superintendent Ann Honious.
The article below shows how some smaller cities have maximized the economic benefits and quality of life that arises from having a free-flowing river running through their towns:
https://www.fodors.com/news/trip-ideas/americas-10-best-river-towns
White Salmon, Washington
The White Salmon River which flows through south-central Washington and joins the Columbia River across from Hood River came back to life after the Condit Dam was removed in 2012. Today the free-flowing White Salmon draws 40,000 rafters and kayakers every year.
Read more at AmericanWhiteWater.org
Photo: ODFW
Oregon/California
When the Klamath River was restored to its natural, free-flowing state in 2024, biologists were stunned with the immediate return of salmon to tributaries they had not accessed for more than 100 years. Chinook were everywhere. “The speed at which salmon are repopulating every nook and cranny of suitable habitat upstream of the dams in the Klamath Basin is both remarkable and thrilling,” said Michael Harris, environmental program manager of California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Read more at therevelator.org
These stories, every single one of them, demonstrate that river restoration is not only possible, but profitable on all fronts: economic, cultural, social, and ecological. There have been more than 2,000 projects restoring rivers to their natural, free-flowing condition in this country. All of them have been a success. Where else can you get odds like that?
photo credit: OARS/Dylan Silver