Environmental Justice in Urban River Restoration Efforts

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Planning
• Environmental Justice

Background:

• Globalization and improved public health have led to the redevelopment of industrial river sites into urban amenities.
• Urban transformations present opportunities to address or exacerbate environmental injustices.
• Existing scholarship on environmental justice in the US has not fully explored the justice implications of urban river restoration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the environmental justice implications of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) program.
• To assess how the UWFP program aims to restore urban rivers and reconnect disadvantaged communities with their waterways.

Main Methods:

• Document analysis of the UWFP program.
• Interviews with key stakeholders involved in the program.

Main Results:

• The UWFP program exhibits synergistic effects through collaborative efforts and the establishment of local partnerships.
• These partnerships effectively utilize the concept of "sense of place" to foster community stewardship.
• The program demonstrates a positive impact on environmental justice in urban river restoration.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative approaches and local partnerships are crucial for successful urban river restoration and environmental justice.
• The "sense of place" is a valuable tool for promoting stewardship in disadvantaged communities.
• Findings offer insights into the intersection of justice and river restoration in the US and globally.