Rogue River named fifth most endangered river in the United States

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April 14, 2026 at 6:11 pm

OREGON – Environmental nonprofit American Rivers recently named the Rogue River as the 5th most endangered river in the United States on their annual list cataloging the country’s most endangered rivers.

According to American Rivers, threats to the Rogue River include logging, mining, and road building. The 2001 Roadless Rule currently limits road construction and timber harvesting in national forest lands. However, the USDA began the process of rescinding the rule last year, which could have serious effects on Oregon’s forests and rivers.

Logging, mining, and road building could potentially pollute tributary streams, destroy wildlife habitats, and increase wildfire risk.

The Rogue River supports one of the largest salmon runs in the United States, with roughly to 100,000 salmon returning each year. It is also the primary drinking water source for Grants Pass and and assortment of other local areas throughout the Rogue Valley.

“The important thing is for people to be engaged in their watershed… So, understanding how each of us use, benefit from water in this space, whether it’s recreation, fishing, our businesses, or just our domestic use, that’s really important as a first start.” said Francis Oyoung, Rogue Riverkeeper with the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center.

American Rivers and its partners are calling on the federal government to preserve the Roadless Rule and advocating for existing protections to stay in place.

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