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| BrochureBackground*"Today we are going to rededicate our country to restoring ourriver heritage, and to reaffirm one of our oldest values, theimportance of safeguarding our national treasures for allgenerations to come."     -    President Clinton          Announcing the Implementation of the American          Heritage Rivers Initiative*
Throughout our nation, rivers and streams flow over more thanthree million miles: like threads, they tie communities togetherand play an integral part in our geography. But the picture hasnot always been perfect. Over the years, some of our greatestAmerican cities faced serious challenges--traditionalmanufacturing jobs moved elsewhere; local companies were sold orlaid off workers; polluted rivers wound through these cities, andabandoned factories lined their banks. In rural areas, valuablefarmland was converted to more intensive uses; young men andwomen left their hometowns behind in search of jobs; culturaltreasures suffered neglect; and river banks often served asdumping grounds. 

Yet, in several places, caring citizens came together anddesigned long term goals and innovative solutions to clean uptheir rivers, rejuvenate the areas that surrounded them, andstimulate economic growth. The partnerships they formed arehailed as models of how an active public, local businesses, andgovernment agencies can make dramatic improvements. The American Heritage Rivers Initiative is founded upon thebelief that people and nature can exist in productive harmony. Itembodies the vision of the National Environmental Policy Act of1969 to meet the social and economic needs of Americans, todayand in the future.

Consider your community. With resources from state, tribal,and local governments and the community, American Heritage Riverscould help you achieve goals like these:
A rural community's goal could be to support the localranching economy and attract family-oriented tourism by providingan overnight destination for people en route to nearby nationalparks. With help from American Heritage Rivers, the community canenhance drinking water for domestic and livestock use; constructa riverfront park with vehicle access, picnic area, campground,and playground facilites in a greenway between the river and ahighway paralleling the river; plant native species of trees toprovide riverfront shade and enhance fish habitats; rehabilitatean old livery and feedstore for use as a community museum; andassist with the conversion of an old hacienda into lodging,stables, and meeting rooms.

An urban community's goal could be to provide jobs,attract commercial enterprises, and enhance the local tax base.American Heritage Rivers facilitates the community's efforts todesign an urban riverfront plaza; renovate an abandoned warehouseinto a restaurant and microbrewery; improve flood protection forlow-lying commercial areas; construct a bicycle and pedestriantrail along a five-mile greenway that links the downtown with anoutlying county park, and adds bicycle commuter parking at thepark; install benches, new lighting, and other streetimprovements in the riverfront commercial enterprise area; andrehabilitate the commercial properties through tax credits andlow-interest loans.
American Heritage Rivers Initiative*"Our waterways connect our cities together ...rivers are not only the arteries of commerce, they carry thelifeblood of the American story."          Vice President Gore*
In his 1997 State of the Union Address, President Clintonannounced the American Heritage Rivers initiative to helpcommunities revitalize their rivers and the banks along them--thestreets, the historic buildings, the natural habitats, theparks--to help celebrate their history and their heritage. Inearly 1998, the President will select ten American HeritageRivers. According to the needs they identify, communities alongthese rivers will receive special assistance. American HeritageRivers is an umbrella initiative designed to more effectively usethe federal government's many resources. Environmental, economic,and social concerns will be addressed through a plan that isdesigned and driven by the local community. The initiativecreates no new regulatory requirements for private propertyowners, or for state, tribal, or local governments. Participationin the nomination process is voluntary; a community can decide towithdraw at any time.Focused Support for American Heritage Rivers

There are three objectives of American Heritage Rivers:
- economic revitalization, natural resource andenvironmental protection, and historic and cultural preservation. Once a community is chosen, a single contact, called a "RiverNavigator," will be available to help citizens facilitate federalassistance to complement existing project resources, helping themachieve the goals of their self-designed plan.
In addition to providing the River Navigator, federalagencies will make existing field staff available to eachAmerican Heritage River to help match community needs withavailable resources from current programs. For example, the RiverNavigator could work with the community to address pollutionproblems, attract local entrepreneurs and small businesses,improve flood protection, protect agricultural land, andwatersheds, rebuild historic docks and buildings, restore erodedstream banks, and seek out economic opportunities.

Communities along American Heritage Rivers will receiveimproved access to technical and financial assistance fromfederal agencies. These agencies will work with community membersand act as "good neighbors" by making the community aware offederal actions in the area and striving to complement theseactivities with community goals. This initiative, based on VicePresident Gore's efforts to reinvent government, directs federalagencies to do more with less, to serve the citizens and cut redtape. It is not an attempt to take on new authorities andresponsibilities, and River Navigators will not make thedecisions; communities will. Improved Services and Informationfor all Communities

Tracking down relevant information and expertise can becomplicated and time consuming. American Heritage Rivers Servicescoordinates and streamlines information on those programsrelevant to life on our country's rivers. Now, instead of makingscores of phone calls, you can visit American HeritageRivers Services, an easy-to-use World Wide Web site. Thosewho do not have Internet access can call 1-888-40RIVER to requestinformation. 

Visitors to American Heritage Rivers Services may choose fromcategories such as:
- Information Centers, Publications, Maps and Databases
- Calendars, Discussion Groups, and Contacts
-  Hands On Assistance and Talent Banks
- Laws and Regulations
-  Financial Assistance
-  Community Outreach Tools, Curricula, and ProfessionalTraining
-  Data Collection and Evaluation Techniques
- Planning and Management Tools
-  Research and Development

Each entry describes the services and provides contacts forfurther information, including Internet links (where possible). Using familiar prompts, such as a river or city name, users canlocate information on flood events, population change, roadnetworks, the condition of the water resources, and thepartnerships already at work in their area. They can makecustomized maps and download them, find information on relevanteducational programs, link their own information, or enter into adialogue with others.Special Benefits for Qualified Applicants

In recognition of the substantial effort undertaken by thosecommunities who complete and submit the American Heritage Riversnomination packet, qualified applicants will receive:
An invitation to a national or regional symposium on partneringand sharing information about the tools and resources availablefrom federal, state, and local agencies, non-governmental andother community organizations. These symposia will also providecommunity members an opportunity to give important feedback tofederal program managers.

 Relevant site-specific data and computer software,including environmental information, maps, community planningsoftware and economic modeling tools. The information packet willbe tailored to meet the community's needs as identified in itsapplication.
 Additional Considerations for Designating American HeritageRivers
 Applications will be judged by a diverse group of experts.After evaluating individual nominations, the followingconsiderations will be taken into account by panel members whenmaking their recommendations to the President:
 The ten rivers, individually and as a group, representthe natural, historic, cultural, social, and economic diversityof American waterways.

 The ten designated rivers showcase a variety of streamsizes and an assortment of urban, rural, and mixed settings fromaround the country. The panel may recommend both relativelypristine and degraded rivers.

 The rivers highlight a variety of innovative programssuch as historic preservation, arts development, wildlifemanagement, fisheries restoration, recreation, communityrevitalization, agricultural practices, public health anddrinking water source protection, and flood plain and watershedmanagement.

 The rivers include community partnerships in an earlystage of development as well as those that are more wellestablished.

 The rivers stand to benefit from requested federalassistance.

 For more information on American Heritage Rivers, see the website at http://www.epa.gov/rivers/ or call 1-888-40RIVER. A Federal RegisterNotice, published on September 17, 1997, provides moredetails on the nomination process.How Do Communities Nominate A River?The nomination process begins with the local community. Peoplerepresenting every interest who live and work in the area beingnominated should be part of the process. After meeting to shareinformation, identify common goals for their river, and devisestrategies to achieve those goals, they should ask one of theirmembers to submit a nomination on their behalf.
The nominationpacket must include a completed American HeritageRivers Cover Sheet and responses to items 1 to 4, listedbelow. Responses to items 3 and 4 constitute the primary basisfor evaluating nominations. For more specifics on format andmethods to submit a nomination, please refer to the cover sheetfound on the enclosed insert.
 Describe the proposed American Heritage Riverarea.
Define the proposed area and describe its natural qualities andcurrent uses--for example, economic activities, populationpatterns and topography. The size may vary from a short stretchto the whole length of the river. It can cover land immediatelyadjacent to the river, such as the waterfront and streamsideareas, or span the entire watershed. The scope of the area,however, should be sufficient to achieve the community's goals.

 Describe the notable resource qualities in thearea.
Explain how the natural, economic (including agricultural),scenic, historic, cultural, and/or recreational resources aredistinctive or unique.

 Describe the community's plan of action.
Demonstrate that the community has in hand, or is developing, aclearly defined plan of action to achieve its vision for theriver area. Applicants are expected to address all three AmericanHeritage Rivers objectives--economic revitalization, naturalresource and environmental protection, and historic and culturalpreservation--either through planned actions or pastaccomplishments. Any actions planned on the designated river areashould not adversely impact neighboring communities. Thecommunity may describe both long-term plans and short-termactions. It should also describe how private property rights willbe respected.

At a minimum, the plan of action should address:
- Community vision
- Products and projects, including project maintenance
- Resources, both committed and anticipated, including means ofgenerating additional support from both private and publicsources
- Expected federal role
- Schedule or timeline
- Citizen involvement
- Public education
- Logistical support, operating procedures and policies
- Prior accomplishments, if relevant, and relationship toexisting plans and projects in the area
- Challenges to community action
- Measures of performance

 Illustrate who supports the nomination and plan ofaction.
Demonstrate that a range of citizens and organizations supportthe nomination and plan of action. Provide evidence that allmembers of the community have had an opportunity to comment onand discuss the nomination and plan of action.Supporters should reflect the diversity of the community. Asappropriate, they should include farmers, ranchers, landowners,businesses and industries, educational and arts organizations,youth groups, community leaders, developers and communitydevelopment organizations, historical societies, environmentalgroups and other nonprofit organizations, elected officials, andstate, tribal, and local governments. Those who rely on theresources but live outside the area should also be included indiscussions about the plan of action, but may not submit anomination.
Describe the nature and scope of the supporters' roles.Demonstrate that they come from all affected jurisdictions. As appropriate, describe how past and continuing partnerships oragreements support the nomination proposal. If relevant, describepartnerships or agreements that were forged and commitments thatwere made specifically to support the American Heritage Riversnomination proposal.

Letters of endorsement and support are highly recommended,especially those from elected officials and appropriate state,tribal, and local governments. Letters from federal agencies willnot be accepted.

 
 
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