New York Rivers United

NYRU is a statewide river conservation organization created in 1992 by a regional coalition of river groups, with start-up funding from American Rivers, River Network and American Whitewater Affiliation. It is a not-for-profit 501 (c)3 membership organization governed by a board of directors. NYRU was created in response to the pressing need for one organization to coordinate and promote an effective river management strategy statewide.

About NYRU

For ten years NYRU has been a crucial leader in numerous hydropower relicensing processes large and small. We have led the effort to find a balance between hydropower generation and river conservation and good management. These settlements have resulted in the rewatering of miles of rivers that were dry for decades providing habitat and recreation opportunities.

Future Policy - The Hydropower Reform Coalition

In addition to New York's hydropower projects NYRU has been very active in developing future policies in Washington D.C. as a member of the hydropower reform coalition. The coalition works at the regional and nation level to monitor policies and their effects on rivers. The coalition also creates model policies and provides a balanced point of view due to its diverse membership.

River Restoration Program

In addition to hydropower relicensing NYRU has a restoration program that currently focuses on developing and forwarding potential dam removal projects. NYRU has several active projects around the state involving many partners. NYRU is thought of as the "go to" organization for information and assistance with dam removal projects.

River Advocacy

NYRU is New York's only statewide environmental group dedicated to the protection, conservation and restoration of New York's rivers. We are actively involved in state policy development, Hudson River cleanup activities, and management planning process all over the state. Our members are often the eyes and ears as far as this is concerned alerting us to wrongdoings, or potential wrongdoings around the state. We are greatly in debt to Richard Roos-Collins of the Natural Heritage Institute for his expert legal advice in many of these matters.