On January 23, 2020, the Trump Administration finalized their “Dirty Water Rule” (officially known as the Navigable Waters Protection Rule). If allowed to go forward, this rule will significantly reduce the number of waterways protected by the Clean Water Act. Many consider it “the largest rollback of the Clean Water Act since the modern law… Read More ›
Blog
Empowering Environmental Water Transactions Across the Network
by Nicole Seltzer
In October 2019, River Network convened our fourth annual Environmental Water Transactions Network gathering in Flagstaff, Arizona. Though we are neither an expert on environmental water transactions (EWTs), nor do we implement them, this annual meeting is an opportunity to flex our expertise in bringing together practitioners to share learning and leveraging the “power of... Read More ›
Budding Seeds of Stewardship
by Kevin Jeffery
Reflections by Inaugural River Network Emerging Leader Award Recipient, Kevin Jeffery Winning the Emerging Leader award in 2019 was an amazing experience, and a positive reinforcement of all the hard work Blue Index took to administer. Being acknowledged by your peers, especially those in water advocacy, is very special and I, as the Blue Index... Read More ›
River Hero Spotlight: Amanda Pitzer Continues a Legacy
by Carly SchmidtMusic while you're reading: The Way Things Are from West Virginia Serenade by Keith & Joan Pitzer Listen here. Ten years ago, we lost a remarkable person and a powerhouse in the water protector community. Keith Pitzer, executive director of Friends of the Cheat, was awarded the River Hero award posthumously in 2010. Keith believed in River... Read More ›
Listening to the Echoes: Two Decades of Clean Water Act Training
by Gayle KillamIn 2018, I was sitting in a Clean Water Act workshop session at River Rally in Olympic Valley, CA, led by Judy Petersen, Executive Director of Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA). Judy and I have worked together for many years, and not very far into the session, I recognized the slides she was using: they were... Read More ›
2019 Water Policy Review: Looking Back and What Lies Ahead
by April Ingle
Many people, myself included, like to start the new year off by evaluating the previous year and setting goals for the next. When I was asked to write a 2019 year-in-review summary of water policy wins and losses, I’ll admit I thought it was going to be a grim undertaking. As I look closer, there’s… Read More ›
The Safe Drinking Water Act: 45 Years of Protection, But More Action Needed
by Katherine Baer
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the federal law that regulates drinking water provided by public water systems. Originally passed by Congress in 1974, and marking its 45th anniversary today, the law represented a major step forward in creating uniform drinking water standards across the country as well as providing a system of oversight... Read More ›
Centering Equity: River Network’s Drinking Water Guide
by Sheyda Esnaashari
Water Equity: What Does It Mean? The US Water Alliance defines water equity as the point at which “all communities have access to safe, clean, affordable drinking water and wastewater services; are resilient in the face of floods, drought, and other climate risks; have a role in decision-making processes related to water management in their... Read More ›
¡Guía de Agua Potable – En Español!
by Diana Toledo
Click here to read this story in English. Mi trabajo en el ámbito de la conservación siempre se ha inspirado en la intersección del agua y las personas: la conservación y la comunidad. Una experiencia clave que marcó mi carrera y que me llevó a unirme al movimiento de protección del agua fue la que... Read More ›
Drinking Water Guide – In Spanish!
by Diana ToledoPresione aqui para leer este articulo en Español. My work on water has always been inspired by the intersection of water and people – conservation and community. The catalyst for joining the water movement was my experience living in Moncion, Dominican Republic in the mid-1990s and witnessing the direct impact of a dam that caused… Read More ›
Water and Equity in Latinx Communities: Ixchel’s Approach
by Diana Toledo
The communities of Cicero (population 83,000) and Berwyn (population 56,000), two western Chicago suburbs, are majority Latinx – 90% and 63% respectively – and low-income. They are also both the focus of Ixchel, a grassroots organization whose mission is to, “cultivate grassroots leaders to dismantle structural racism for racial equity in education and environmental justice… Read More ›
State and Tribal Ability to Protect Clean Water Under Threat – Comment Now
by Katherine BaerRecently, the state of Minnesota denied a permit for a Canadian oil pipeline planned to cross the state. The state environmental agency, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), denied the permit because they needed more information to determine if the proposed 340-mile pipeline would meet state water quality standards. Specifically, MPCA was seeking information on... Read More ›
Impacts from Project Rain Barrel’s 2018-2019 Season
by Amy Boal
This summer River Network—thanks to support from the Coca-Cola Foundation—wrapped up our 2018-2019 Project Rain Barrel season. Through programs like this, business partners and sponsors support community-based solutions for cleaner water and healthier rivers, empowering local groups to protect and conserve water in their communities. The 54 Project Rain Barrel workshops that took place between... Read More ›
River Rally Idea Exchanges Identify Next Steps for Network Connection and Action
by April IngleAt River Rally 2019, we tried something new: Idea Exchanges. We wanted to offer attendees the opportunity to connect with each other, and to build their knowledge and network on the specific issues they are facing in their communities. Idea Exchanges were held on four key issue areas: Safe, Clean, and Affordable Drinking Water; Water... Read More ›
River Network Staff Reflections to Mark World Rivers Day 2019
by Amy BoalOn September 22, 2019, the world marks the 15th annual World Rivers Day. This year, the theme is "waterways in our communities." The River Network staff is spread across the nation, much like the over 6,000 groups, Indigenous communities, and government agencies working at local, state, and regional levels to protect and restore rivers and... Read More ›
