Where water flows. Life follows.

RIVERS

The Lifeblood of Our Planet

Rivers carry fresh water across landscapes, sustain wildlife, shape cultures, and nourish communities. Nearly 90% of the world’s population lives within walking distance of a river system. Yet today, many of those rivers face unprecedented threats from pollution, overuse, and climate change.

When rivers suffer, everything connected to them suffers too.

WHY RIVERS

At Rivers are Life, we see rivers as part of a living system. Clean water, clean air, thriving wildlife, and sound science are all tied together by the rivers that connect them.

Rivers deliver drinking water, irrigate crops, power communities, and support recreation and culture.
Air and water are inseparable. What falls from the sky flows into our rivers, and what flows through rivers shapes the air we breathe.
Wildlife depends on rivers as a food source and habitat. This includes everything from fish and mussels to birds and mammals that thrive along river corridors.
Science provides the knowledge we need to protect rivers, measure their health, and create lasting solutions.

Protecting rivers means protecting the entire system of life.

THE CHALLENGE

Despite their importance, rivers are under pressure worldwide:

More than 50% of known fish species rely on freshwater ecosystems now at risk.
Pollution and plastic waste threaten water quality for people and wildlife alike.
Overuse and poor management have left many rivers degraded, fragmented, or running dry.

When rivers collapse, so do the ecosystems and communities that depend on them.

Our Solution

Rivers are Life exists to turn awareness into action. We fund and lead hands-on projects that restore river health, support communities, and protect wildlife, while being guided by science and fueled by partnerships.

Whether it’s removing thousands of pounds of marine debris in Alaska, safeguarding endangered sturgeon in the Great Lakes, or leading global river health surveys, our work proves that action for rivers creates ripple effects across the planet.