| Sam Warnock, September 2025
The Enduring Impact of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - Part Two
In our previous post, we explored the history of the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and how it was a landmark piece of legislation born from a movement to save our nation’s threatened waterways. We saw how visionaries like the Craighead br...
| Christine Pickens, September 2025
River Mouths: Part Three on River Ecology & Conservation
This is the final part of our series on river ecology and conservation. This article follows part one about mid-reach river ecology and conservation and part two about headwaters ecology and conservation. If you haven’t read those yet, chec...
| Sam Warnock, September 2025
The Enduring Impact of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - Part One
When the summer temperatures start climbing, one of the best ways to escape the heat is spending time on or in the water. If you’re among the nearly 100 million Americans who enjoy recreational boating each year, you’ve likely felt that spe...
| Mandi Taylor, August 2025
The Untapped Power of Protecting Surface Water
Clean surface water is vital for human survival, as it is one of the primary contributors to our drinking water sources. We know that, but in the hustle and bustle of life it is easy to forget how important and interconnected everything is....
| Sam Warnock, April 2025
How Dam Removals Sustain & Enhance Natural Capital - Part Two
In the first part of our series, we explored the historical significance of dams and the myriad benefits they have provided over the centuries, from hydroelectric power to flood control. We also highlighted the serious environmental drawbac...
| Sam Warnock, April 2025
How Dam Removals Sustain & Enhance Natural Capital - Part One
While dams provide significant benefits, such as reliable water sources and energy with relatively low maintenance costs, these advantages often come at a cost to the environment. Dams can disrupt ecosystems, alter river flows, and generall...
| Christine Pickens, December 2024
The Mid-Reaches: Part Two on River Ecology & Conservation
Welcome back to our series on river ecology and conservation. This is a follow-up article to one published recently about headwater river ecology & conservation. If you haven’t read that yet, hop over there first! Otherwise, keep swimming d...
| Christine Pickens, November 2024
At The Headwaters: Part One on River Ecology & Conservation
This blog post is the first of a three part series on River Ecology & Conservation by Christine Pickens, PhD. At Unique Places to Save, we put a special emphasis on protecting aquatic resources. One of the most prominent aquatic resource fe...
| Christine Pickens, August 2024
Why Do Wetlands Smell Bad?
The wetland superpower behind the stink and why you’ll be saying, “Oh no, my feet smell cheesy!” Experiencing nature can become enlightening when we use our five senses. In the case of wetlands, using your sense of smell can also help you u...
| Christine Pickens, March 2024
The State of Wetlands in the US
Historically, wetlands were misunderstood and undervalued, often dismissed as mere wastelands. This misconception led to widespread practices of filling them in or using them as dumping sites. However, our contemporary understanding has evo...
| Christine Pickens, February 2024
Rivers Through the Seasons: A Majestic Journey of Flowing Water
Rivers are part of the fundamental support system for our environment and an essential part of the framework for economies and societies worldwide. Their importance cannot be overstated, yet their significance is often overlooked. In this b...
| Christine Pickens, February 2024
How Healthy Rivers Impact Us & Our Local Communities
Rivers are the lifeblood of our communities, providing invaluable benefits that extend far beyond their flowing waters. In the United States, a network of rivers crisscrosses the landscape, offering many advantages to both people, the econo...