Blog

Celebrating 50 Years of Wild & Scenic Rivers

October 2nd marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, which protects over 12,000 miles of 200+ rivers. Federal agencies rely on engaged and knowledgeable citizen groups to manage these spectacular rivers, and River Network supports local water champions and groups from around the country doing vital work on… Read More

Kern River Conservancy: Building the Next Generation of Wild & Scenic River Protectors

“I tell people that River Rally changed my life,” laughs Gary Ananian, Executive Director and Founder of Kern River Conservancy. A first-time attendee of River Network’s River Rally (held near Truckee, California in April/May 2018), Ananian came to environmental work from a background in the food and beverage industry. The environmental community was all new... Read More

The Future of Water Quality Data

World Water Monitoring Day (now known as EarthEcho Water Challenge) is coming up on September 18th and droves of citizen scientists across the globe will head out to local waters to gain a snapshot of their water quality. If you are reading this blog, you may be one of the thousands of staff, volunteers, students,… Read More

See Our Network’s Future in Four Key Issues

For 30 years, River Network has served as a backbone for groups working at the local level across the United States, connecting them to each other and to the resources and knowledge they need to succeed. Thirty years ago, that network included a few hundred groups. Today, the network includes nearly six thousand community and… Read More

River Network and Patagonia Award Wild and Scenic River Grants to Four Grassroots Organizations

A person stands on the bank of the Gulkana Wild & Scenic River in Alaska. It's a clear sunny day and mist lifts off the surface of the water. The banks are lined with grasses and evergreen trees.

  This October marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. In the past half century, over 12,000 miles of 200+ rivers have been designated wild and scenic, affording extra protection to some of the country’s most spectacular and valued river stretches. Federal agencies are tasked with managing these… Read More

Building Resilient Communities: Insights from Puerto Rico

The Caño Martin Peña connects San Juan neighborhoods with the San Juan Bay National Estuary. Photo provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico, wiping out nearly all public access to power, water, health facilities, and supermarkets. Before Hurricane Maria made landfall in 2017, Puerto Rico was already struggling with environmental issues, and it was clear that the problems were tied to social and economic issues…. Read More

River Network Launches Searchable Map for Water Protectors

April 27, 2018 [Boulder, Colorado] – River Network, the foremost national nonprofit connecting water-focused groups, will launch Who Is Protecting Your Water?, an interactive, searchable map of thousands of organizations, agencies, and Indigenous communities protecting water across the U.S. The map will launch in beta at River Rally (Olympic Valley, California, April 29–May 2, 2018), the… Read More

River Network Announces 2018 River Heroes Award Winners

April 20, 2018 [Boulder, Colo.] – Six leaders have been recognized by national nonprofit organization River Network for exceptional achievements in river and water protection and restoration. Since 2001, River Network has recognized over 80 individuals with River Hero Awards, which honor transformative work on a particular river or geography. Letters of support from community… Read More