By Rebecca Wodder, River Network Board Chair In the spring of 1970, I was asked to organize the first Earth Day for my suburban Omaha community. I was a high school senior, interested in biology and involved in civil rights. Earth Day was my epiphany – I saw that I could combine biology and social… Read More ›
Blog
2020 Urban Waters Learning Network Awards
by Amy BoalOur congratulations to the 2020 Urban Waters Learning Network awardees! These four leaders have been chosen for recognition by the Urban Waters Learning Network (UWLN), a partnership of the national nonprofits River Network and Groundwork USA. The Urban Waters Learning Network Awards, sponsored by the US EPA, celebrate significant achievements of individuals who have improved… Read More ›
Hope in Times of Uncertainty
by Nicole Silk
On March 12, River Network made a choice: to move River Rally, after 20 years of inspiring in-person national gatherings, to a virtual format in the wake of the COVID-19 global health crisis. These were the early days of response, before travel restrictions, social distancing, and stay at home orders had become the new normal.... Read More ›
Back to Basics on Earth Day 2020 – Healthy Watersheds and Climate Security
by Diana ToledoThis post was co-written by Katy Lackey, Senior Program Manager, US Water Alliance and Diana Toledo, Leadership Development Director, River Network, and originally appeared on the US Water Alliance blog. Fifty years ago, the world celebrated Earth Day for the first time. Over 20 million people hit the streets demanding action for environmental protection and... Read More ›
New River Network and WaterNow Alliance Program Aims to Grow Collaborative, Durable Relationships Between Local Community Groups and Water Systems
by Katherine BaerLike many of you, I have seen too many examples in the last few years where trust between a local community and their water system has eroded because, for example, key information was withheld. Unfortunately those limited cases can erode trust beyond the impacted community and make others question and lose trust in their local… Read More ›
Helping Nonprofits Operate as Successful Organizations
by Brenna Goggin
Is it just me, or does anyone else cringe when you have to introduce yourself and state your job title? I cringe, not because I regret my career choice (I love my job, in fact!), but because I don’t have one of those titles that is self-explanatory – sales manager, science director, wildlife biologist. If... Read More ›
Congress must act to ensure safe, clean, affordable water for all
by River NetworkAmerican Rivers and River Network call for ban on water shut-offs and restoration of water services for the duration of the coronavirus public health emergency, investment in critical water infrastructure March 27, 2020 Contact: Destinee Henton, American Rivers, 216-400-8572 Sheyda Esnaashari, River Network, 612-512-4591 Read the policy statement As the coronavirus pandemic threatens communities nationwide, American… Read More ›
Equitable Water Infrastructure in the COVID-19 Crisis
by Katherine Baer
With the COVID-19 pandemic front of mind, protecting public health is the priority. This includes our newest lingo, social distancing, as well as lots of really good handwashing. But – what if you don’t have running water in your house? How do you wash your hands and stay healthy? (Note that COVID-19 has NOT been… Read More ›
Working to Be the Change We Seek: Our Ongoing EDI Journey
by Nicole SilkBe the change you wish to see in the world." The phrase above intermingles with the images, smells, and sounds in my memories of growing up in the Bay Area of the 1970s – the Black power fist, the peace sign, rainbows and tie-dye, tear gas, and every kind of music. Pride of identity was... Read More ›
USFS and River Network Launch Inaugural Wild & Scenic Rivers Stewardship Partnership Program
by Katherine Baer
This post originally appeared in the winter 2019 issue of River Management Society's RMS Journal. “These programs are building resilience and critical thinking skills and confidence for kids in the community,” says Oak Rankin, Executive Director of the Glacier Peak Institute (GPI) in Darrington, Washington, referring to their outdoor and environmental education programming on the... Read More ›
What the New Dirty Water Rule Means for Your Watershed
by April Ingle
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 ›
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 ›
