CLAYTON, N.Y. -- In April, the non-profit group American Rivers named the St. Lawrence River one of the North America's 10 most endangered.

A Clayton-based environmental group, Save the River, says the signs are there. Black Tern bird numbers and Northern Pike fish numbers have dropped significantly.

"Those are simple species based, environment reasons, but we're also losing the birders and the anglers and the people who come to enjoy the river because of what's here," Executive Director Lee Willbanks said.

It's something Willbanks says can be fixed with one act of government. The water levels plan, Plan 2014, would bring back releases to a way nature would. It's a change that has been talked about for decades.

"We're almost 20 years into this process. We're two years plus after the joint commission that was charged with coming up with a new plan referred it to the two federal governments," Willbanks said.

"It really is time. Two years is too long. Twenty years is way too long."

But understanding the inside-baseball of it all isn't easy, even for those on the river. That's why Save the River has been asking people to create these videos. Much like the Ice Bucket Challenge, you're supposed to say why you support the plan and then jump in.

"A lot of what the river is is not just being on a boat or on a pier like this. It's actually being in the river and swimming," Thousand Island Park resident Grace Schultz said. "We thought this was a really representative way to kind of interact with the river."

"You're in there swimming, living next to it, you see all the wildlife," Cape Vincent's Heidi Pearson said. "You want to be able to go fishing so we really work to try and keep it in a healthy state."

"Having a plan like this in place will ensure our species will thrive in this area and that future generations will be able to enjoy the river the way we do today," Clayton's Kate Breheny said.

Even if you don't live near the river, the group says a pool, a puddle, just getting wet, it doesn't matter -- it's the support that matters.

Of course, not everyone supports Plan 2014. People on the southern end of Lake Ontario, in the Sodus area, say it would cause millions of dollars in shoreline damage to their communities.

And, keep in mind, make sure you stay safe if you decide to take part in this challenge.