American Rivers is today announcing the San Joaquin River as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2026 due to a 600-foot-deep blast mine proposed alongside it, threatening its flows, water quality, and the people and wildlife that rely on it.  The San Joaquin River is the water source for 30 million Californians, supports nearly half of the state’s $61 billion agricultural economy, and is the prime habitat for Chinook salmon and Steelhead trout. … The global gravel mining company CEMEX seeks a 100-year permit for the mine, which would divert water from the life-sustaining San Joaquin River to a quarry site, potentially exposing the water supply to hazardous mining pollution. 

Related articles:

• U.S. News & World Report: These are America’s most endangered rivers
• American Rivers: Blog: America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2026 highlights remedies for healthy rivers and a cleaner water supply