The environmental group American Rivers has included two Wyoming waterways in its list of the top 10 endangered rivers in the U.S. The group chooses rivers that it believes would be significantly harmed by proposed development or other activities.
The two waterways in the state are the Green River in southeastern Wyoming and the Hoback River near Jackson.
The Green River is listed because of the proposed Flaming Gorge pipeline, which would divert billions of gallons of water each year to the Colorado front range. Critics say that would threaten fish and devastate the area’s recreational opportunities.
The Hoback River is listed as threatened because of proposed gas drilling in the area. Dan Smitherman is with Citizens for the Wyoming Range.
“Everything slopes toward the river,” said Dan Smitherman with Citizens for the Wyoming Range. “So any type of surface spill, any type of runoff, sedimentation, etc., has the potential to impact that river.”
Smitherman says his group would like to derail the drilling plans.