Rivers were the original highways. Native Americans relied on waterways for travel and trade. Explorers mapped river routes. Settlers established villages and cities on the banks of rivers. Today, rivers are still pathways to adventure, and remain vital for transportation and commerce.

But healthy rivers are also so much more. They are avenues for reflection in the midst of our busy lives. They let us discover new places, and ourselves. They connect us with friends and the beauty of nature. Traveling down a river can be a metaphor for life. And often, as we fish or float its currents, a river is a channel to pure joy.