Voters Across the Country Say Yes to Clean Water, Healthy Rivers and Conservation Initiatives

Contact: Hawk Hammer, Senior Strategist for American Rivers Action Fund, Hhammer@americanrivers.org

November 4, 2026

American Rivers Action Fund celebrates Election Day victories and the local coalitions that helped secure investments in water, rivers, and land conservation

Washington D.C. – On an Election Day that brought a lot of change, one thing remained consistent: Voters’ strong support for clean water and healthy rivers. State and local measures to protect drinking water, restore rivers and streams, reduce flooding, and conserve natural lands passed with significant margins.

This election cycle, American Rivers Action Fund supported five state and local ballot campaigns in Massachusetts, Colorado, Arkansas, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. Together, these measures deliver significant investment – nearly $1 billion – for clean water infrastructure, river restoration, flood protection, and conservation.

  • Arkansas Issue 4 ($500M bond measure) - passed with 56.4% statewide

  • Massachusetts Yes on 6 (~$100M/year) - passed with about 61% statewide

  • Dubuque County, Iowa ($18M bond) - passed with 69.5%

  • Delaware County, Pennsylvania ($120M bond) - passed with 75.6%

  • Colorado Proposition 137 ($175M/year measure) - at this time is too close to call, but currently ahead as votes continue to be counted

 The results add to a long history of voter support for conservation. In 2024, voters approved all 23 measures related to clean water and open space that were on the ballot, securing more than $16 billion for parks, clean water, conservation, and climate resilience.

“When water is on the ballot, voters consistently choose to protect it,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, Executive Director of the American Rivers Action Fund. “Clean water and healthy rivers unite us across communities and political divides. These victories reflect the hard work of local leaders and advocates who bring people together. We congratulate them, and the newly elected leaders across the country, and look forward to working together to turn these investments into healthier rivers and stronger communities for generations to come.”

In Arkansas, the Action Fund supported the Water Infrastructure Now campaign (Issue 4),partnering with dozens of state and local organizations such as the Arkansas Farm Bureau, Arkansas Council for Agriculture, Arkansas Rural Water Association, Arkansas Municipal League, and The Nature Conservancy, among others. The measure will authorize up to $500 million in bonds to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, prevent water pollution, strengthen flood protection, and support agricultural irrigation projects. These investments will help communities across Arkansas address longstanding infrastructure needs and address aging facilities across the state. 

In Massachusetts, the Action Fund supported the Yes on 6 – Nature for All campaign. Joining the Trust for Public Land and the Nature for Massachusetts coalition, which brought together more than 130+ conservation and community organizations, the Action Fund supported the campaign which sought to establish a dedicated Nature for All Fund that will provide up to $100 million per year to protect drinking water sources, restore rivers and conserve forests, wildlife habitat, and public green spaces.

In Dubuque County, Iowa, the Action Fund provided support for an $18 million Land and Water Legacy Bond. Working alongside local conservation advocates and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the campaign sought funding for stream and floodplain restoration, water quality improvements, land protection, parks and trails.

In Delaware County, Pennsylvania, the Action Fund supported local conservation advocates, including Natural Lands, Trust for Public Land, and many other local conservation organizations and land trusts, in advancing a $120 million conservation bond. The measure would provide funding to protect drinking water sources, restore rivers and creeks, and conserve wetlands that reduce flooding and protect natural areas from development, such as data centers.  

For American Rivers Action Fund, the election results underscore the electorate’s desire for local solutions and an opportunity to bring people together around practical investments that benefit communities. While the measures differ in how they fund conservation and water infrastructure, each reflects the work of local partners seeking solutions to challenges facing their communities.

With the elections concluded, American Rivers and American Rivers Action Fund look forward to working with newly elected and returning leaders, local partners, and communities to help translate these commitments into lasting improvements for rivers and clean water.

Quotes from local leaders:

Arkansas

“Arkansas residents across the state continue to face service disruptions, water quality concerns, and challenges to our agricultural economy due to aging and deteriorating infrastructure. The passage of Issue 4 allows Arkansas to build upon the progress already made by continuing critical investments in water infrastructure, helping communities across the state maintain and improve access to clean, safe, and reliable drinking water for generations to come.” – Chris Harris, CEO of the Arkansas Rural Water Association.

Massachusetts

“Massachusetts is home to some of our country's finest natural places, from Walden Pond and the Cape Cod National Seashore to the mountains and rivers of the Berkshires. We're also home to the nation's fastest-growing outdoor economy, and the people of Massachusetts deeply value our rivers, lakes, forests, farms, and wildlife habitats. With the passage of the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative, we will now have a transformative, dedicated source of funding for conserving our forests and open space, restoring our rivers and streams, and protecting our parks and wildlife habitat for years to come.” – Sam Anderson, Senior Director of Government Affairs at Mass Audubon and Chair of the Vote Yes for Water and Nature ballot committee

Delaware County, PA

“Delaware County has faced decades of sprawl, with about 80 percent of its land already developed. With a secure source of funding, organizations like Natural Lands and others active in the county will be able to help preserve Delco’s remaining natural areas and wildlife habitat; protect and restore rivers, streams, and wetlands; and improve parks and trails. We are thrilled so many voters recognized the importance of investing in our environment through the Delaware County water quality, natural areas, and wildlife habitat protection referendum.” - Oliver Bass, president of Natural Lands

Dubuque County, IA

“Dubuque County has experienced both flooding and drought, and stresses to our natural lands and riverside parks, trails, and open space. With the passage of the Dubuque County Land & Water measure, we now have the funding for long overdue water quality and land protections, and for our cherished parks and open spaces.” - Anna Gray,  Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. 

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About American Rivers Action Fund

American Rivers Action Fund is the advocacy and political affiliate of American Rivers. The Action Fund works to build political support for healthy rivers and clean water through advocacy, elections and ballot measures, helping advance policies and investments that protect and restore rivers nationwide. Visit /www.americanriversactionfund.or