More cities are reclaiming a natural, free flowing river as a resource for quality of life and economic development.

"In Wisconsin, the city of River Falls is planning to remove two dams in the Kinnickinnic River, similar to a proposal to remove Mississippi River dams in Minneapolis," reports Bob Shaw.
Dams are being removed all over the country, according to Shaw. "In 2018, a record of 88 dams were removed nationwide, according to the river-advocacy group American Rivers."
River Falls has plans to develop a seven-mile stretch of the liberated Kinnickinnic River, approved in January by the City Council. "The target date for removing the lower dam on Lake Louise is 2026, and the upper dam on Lake George will be removed between 2035 and 2040," adds Shaw.
FULL STORY: River Falls plans to remove dams and restore its rapids. Will Minneapolis and St. Paul be next?

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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