Space

It seems logical, but I’m pretty sure you can find planets with rivers and no life. We just don’t have the data to support the theory.

Very true but I would say a better question would be "Is there a plant with no rivers and life". From my understanding water and rivers were a huge part of how life became on Earth. I don't know if I would go as far as saying it is required but I would say the odds of life is much higher with rivers then without rivers. At least from the data we have to go on.