(The Hill) — A conservation group on Wednesday named the Mississippi River the “most endangered river of 2025,” citing threats to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which plays a key role in federal flood management.
American Rivers, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, said the Mississippi River in recent years has faced “increasingly frequent and severe floods” that have damaged homes and businesses and worsened the health of the river, which provides drinking water for 20 million people.
The organization said the federal government plays a key role in protecting the river and helping homeowners prepare for, and rebuild after, major flooding.
‘Insane law calls for insane protest’: Anglers licensing floaties to fish massive bluefin
Amid concerns about further layoffs at FEMA and as government officials — including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA — threaten to abolish the agency, the conservation group said the risk to the Mississippi River is exceptionally high.
“Communities along the river need significant support for disaster prevention and response, as well as river restoration – but the fate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency hangs in the balance,” the report read.
The group called on the Trump administration to “modernize FEMA to improve river health and maximize the safety, security, and prosperity of Mississippi River communities.”
“The Mississippi River is vital to our nation’s health, wealth and security. We drink from it, we grow our food with it, we travel on it, we live alongside it, and simply, we admire its beauty,” said Mike Sertle, American Rivers’ central region director, in a statement.
Fishermen told to suffocate or behead this ‘perfect invasive species’
“We cannot turn our back on Mississippi River communities or the health of the river millions depend on at this critical time when they need unified direction instead of uncertainty at the national level,” Sertle added.
A press release from American Rivers stressed FEMA’s role in preparing for potential flood damage, not just responding to it, saying the agency develops minimum standards for construction in floodplains and helps relocate flood-prone homes to higher ground.
“The most cost-effective way to reduce disaster response costs is to invest in mitigating the impacts of disasters before they happen. Every $1 spent on flood mitigation yields $7 in benefits,” the press release read.
Other rivers listed among the most endangered in 2025 include the Tijuana River, the Rivers of Southern Appalachia, the Passaic River, the Lower Rio Grande, the Rappahannock River, the Clearwater River Basin, the Susitna River, the Calcasieu River, and the Gauley River.
