Currently, there are more than 37,000 river restoration projects ongoing across the United States. Over $1 billion is spent annually to help combat the years of abuse that our country's rivers have endured. Water pollution, overconsumption, development and deforestation are just a few of the things that have led to a serious need to nurse our river systems back to health.
An integral part of almost all river restoration projects is the planting of native trees, bushes and grasses to protect river banks, provide food and shelter for wildlife, slow runoff waters to reduce flooding risks and purify runoff waters before they reach an open channel condition and are carried downstream. EMIP hopes to become a leader in providing hearty trees and plants and generating innovative planting and protection techniques for these fragile, life-giving systems.
During the 1800s, gold was the most sought after commodity in the Western United States. Today, water is probably more precious than gold. The term "Water Wars" is not unfamiliar to the inhabitants of the West. During years of drought, the same battles have been fought in the Southeastern United States. In 2007, Lake Lanier in northern Georgia reached record lows after 50 years of operation and many rivers and streams ran low or dry throughout the year.
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