River Network has worked in the Great Lakes region since 2000, providing valuable capacity building services and exposure to 200 watershed groups. Since 2010, we have used our Organizational Assessment Tool to assess the capacity of individual river and watershed conservation groups in the region. In 2015, thanks to support from the C.S. Mott Foundation,… Read More ›
Blog
Water Neutral Growth? Check out Net Blue
by Katherine BaerHere in North Carolina, water levels in streams and rivers are declining. Rapid growth, increased consumptive water use and climate change are all contributing factors that place drinking water supplies at-risk. This mirrors what we found across the Southeast in our report on Protecting and Restoring Flows in this region. Water scarcity now threatens many… Read More ›
Fight the Attempt to Kill the Clean Water Rule
by Katherine BaerThis is a guest post by River Network Board Vice-Chair Rebecca Wodder. In his February address to Congress, President Donald Trump promised clean water for all Americans. Why, then, is his administration intent on dismantling protections that cover a third of the nation’s drinking water? Trump has directed the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S…. Read More ›
Congratulations, 2017 Urban Waters Learning Network Award Winners!
by Diana ToledoThe Urban Waters Learning Network Awards celebrate Learning Network members making significant achievements toward improving their urban waterways and revitalizing the neighborhoods around them. These members embody the spirit and value of the Learning Network and exemplify the Urban Waters Learning Network’s goal of providing peer-to-peer support, solving challenges through collaboration, and sharing. Award… Read More ›
River Network and Coca-Cola Expand National Rain Barrel Program to Save Water
by Travis FryBOULDER, COLORADO -- April 5, 2017 -- The rainwater that falls on your roof could play an important role in protecting our nation’s rivers and streams. In celebration of Earth Month (April), River Network, a non-profit organization that supports the protection and restoration of rivers and watersheds throughout the United States, has teamed up with... Read More ›
Cutting Water Loss and Protecting Rivers is Smart Business for Asheville
by April IngleWhen we were developing the “Protecting and Restoring Flows in Our Southeastern Rivers: A Synthesis of State Policies for Water Security and Sustainability” report, we went looking for examples of southeast cities that are doing a great job reducing their demand for water. We developed the report to support efforts to protect and restore flows… Read More ›
Infrastructure Investment? Time for some Integrated Thinking
by Katherine BaerEight years ago, Congress invested big-time in infrastructure, including water infrastructure through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Investing in our crumbling water infrastructure creates jobs and generates money throughout the economy. Already, there are the beginnings of infrastructure proposals on the table from both Democrats and the Trump Administration. Undoubtedly lots of fighting… Read More ›
Will the New Year bring sustainable water management to the Southeast?
by April IngleIn 2003, I moved from Indiana to Georgia to begin a new job as Executive Director of Georgia River Network. When I arrived in the Peach State, the Tri-State Water War between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida had already been going on for over 13 years. Now, over 13 years later, this war over water still… Read More ›
Democracy and Water in a New Presidential Era
by Nicole SilkThis year’s Presidential election results were unexpected and outrageous in so many ways. The election disclosed how truly divided our country is – by age, gender, education, income, and race – and how isolated we have become from one another. We experienced a surprising abundance of hate speech, a tolerance for bad behavior, and a… Read More ›
Southeastern Drought Highlights the Need for Flow Protection Policy
by April IngleAcross the southeast, river protection groups and clean water advocates are raising the alarm as extreme drought conditions continue to spread following several months of below normal rainfall and hotter than normal temperatures. Photographs show waterfalls with no falling water, shoals with no tumbling water, only dry riverbed and rock, and stranded and dying rare… Read More ›
Cincinnati’s Unique Approach to Addressing Sewage Pollution: Creating Multiple Community Benefits
by Katherine BaerWritten by Erin Wall, River Network At scales ranging from the neighborhood and city to the watershed and basin, communities around the country are finding ways to break down silos in water management to become more sustainable and to more equitably maximize benefits across their community and watershed. River Network is hosting a series of… Read More ›
Go with the Flow: Environmental Flows and Water Budget Learning Module Now Available
by Katherine BaerThe intermittent stream out past our backyard flows following a rain but sometimes it really rages for such a small creek – the result of parking lots, roads and rooftops that prevent rain from soaking into the ground and instead send it quickly to local streams. As a result, my creek like other urban waterways… Read More ›
Protecting and Restoring Flows in Our Southeastern Rivers – Report Release
by Katherine BaerA clear memory of growing up in Atlanta is the summer thunderstorms that broke the humidity and made for fun playing and splashing around in the warm air and our backyard creek. The southeast has long been a place of abundant rainfall with some mountain areas receiving over 80 inches a year. Approximately two-thirds of… Read More ›
Resilience at the Water’s Edge
by Katherine Baer
It’s sticky hot and humid here in North Carolina right now – the kind of days that don’t really cool down all that much at night. And even though those of us who grew up or have lived here for a long time are well used to it, it’s going to keep getting hotter. Already… Read More ›
River Network Announces 2016 James R. Compton River Achievement Award Winner
by Becca MarcottBoulder, CO (May 24, 2016) – River Network has named Wilma Subra of New Iberia, La., the 2016 James R. Compton River Achievement Award winner. The award was given in recognition of Subra’s long-term dedication to addressing environmental and human health impacts, including her extraordinary attention to issues concerning water resources. Subra’s background includes more… Read More ›
