River Voices: March 2019
Welcome to the March 2019 edition of River Voices. Read about how the Business for Water Stewardship Project Bank is helping businesses invest in regional water replenishment projects. Plus, meet Brenda Coley, Co-Executive Director of Milwaukee Water Commons, and check out the latest webinars and funding opportunities.
Businesses Investing in Rivers
Corporate commitment to conserving, protecting, and replenishing water in business operations and in the environment is growing. The challenge to investing in water outside the four walls of those businesses? Connecting to meaningful activities and projects in watersheds, at the local level. Projects like the environmental flow and restoration of Pine Tree Brook in Milton, Massachusetts, are now eligible for support through an innovative new platform designed to help bridge the gap between corporate funders and NGO projects. Located just two and a half miles from Boston, Pine Tree Brook’s trout population is one of only two self-sustained populations in the entire Neponset River Watershed. Read how the Pine Tree Brook Project and other projects have found funding through the Business for Water Stewardship Project Bank.
Upper Pine Tree Brook is a beautiful net of streams that wind their way through wooded swamps full of pepper bush, red maple, and ash. Early in the year it can be deafening as the spring peepers sing their song around the vernal pools and springs. The brook starts as a network of brooks bubbling up from springs in the hills. At this point, it’s impossible to say which one is Pine Tree Brook in any objective sense. The brook winds its way down through an alder swamp filled tussock sedge hummocks and root knots before it reaches the Unquity Road flood control dam.
– environmental scientist working on Pine Tree Brook with Neponset River Watershed Association
Meet Our Team
Meet Radha Marcum, River Network’s Director of Marketing and Communications. Making the case for healthy choices for people, communities, and the environment has driven Radha’s work as a journalist, editor, and marketer. At River Network, she cultivates the organization’s connectivity with water stakeholders. Read more about Radha’s work.
Apply by March 15th
River Network offers a limited number of scholarships to support registration fees for those who need financial assistance to attend River Rally 2019. The application is part of the registration process. Emerging Leader Award self-nomination is also part of the registration process. Applications are due March 15th! Register and apply today.
World Water Day
World Water Day 2019 is March 22nd. This year’s theme is ‘Leaving no one behind.’ This is an adaptation of the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: as sustainable development progresses, everyone must benefit. Here’s how to spread the word and get involved.
Meet Our Network: Brenda Coley
From urban water advocates to wild and scenic river champions, we are lucky to know and work with these local heroes who safeguard water for our families and communities.
We invite you to get to know outstanding water champions taking action for clean water and healthy rivers from coast to coast. Click here to meet Brenda Coley.
2019 Emerging Leader Award
River Network is excited to announce the new Emerging Leader River Hero Award. The award provides early-career recognition for an individual working at the intersection of water and justice.
The recipient will be honored at River Rally 2019 and will receive financial assistance for travel, lodging, and registration. The self-nomination process is open through March 15th. Apply today through River Rally registration.
Upcoming Webinars & Events
Collaborating to Replace Lead Service Lines
March 13, 3:00–4:00 pm EDT. Lead service line (LSL) replacement is not a simple task. The LSL Replacement Collaborative has developed an online toolkit to help communities across the United States develop and implement replacement programs and is hosting a series of webinars to address specific topics related to this work. Free. Register.
Using Earth Observations to Monitor Water Budgets for River Basin Management
March 13, 20, 27, and April 3, 9:00-10:30 am EDT. Managing river basin watersheds is critical for developing policies for sustainable water allocation and development. Over the course of four sessions, this introductory webinar series will address using satellite data and Earth system modeling data sources to estimate surface water budgets. Free. Register.
Ensuring Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Your Programs
March 14, 1:00–2:30 pm EST. River Network seeks to promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in our work and the work of organizations across our network. In this webinar will we will share River Network’s principles for EDI and our equity assessment tool and help you re-imagine your work through an equity lens. Premium webinar open to paid River Network members only. Register.
Vernal Poolooza Science Conference
April 4-6, Ashland, Ohio. Vernal Poolooza is a 3-day conference on vernal pools. The Ohio Vernal Pool Network, a committee of Ohio Wetlands Association, has participated in one-day vernal pool workshops for 15 years. Feedback from participants has encouraged us to provide more detail, depth and diversity of activities and topics. The 2019 Vernal Poolooza is our first full conference to address these needs. Learn more.
What We’re Reading
How Americans Relate to Water (American Public Media Report)
Conceptualizing Ecological Responses to Dam Removal: If You Remove It, What’s to Come? (Oxford Academic)
The Environmental Issue Republicans Can’t Ignore (The Atlantic)
Alliance for Water Efficiency Research Shows Programs Focused on Transforming Outdoor Landscaping Can Stretch Community Water Supplies (Alliance for Water Efficiency)
Member News & Tips
Careers & Professional Opportunities
Check out our network’s job board for the latest water-stewardship career opportunities. Have a job to post? Submit a job here.
Funding Opportunities
Paid River Network members enjoy this premium benefit! Submit projects to the Business for Water Stewardship Project Bank. Learn more.
Contact Us
Are you looking for training in water stewardship, organization leadership development, or water science and policy analysis? Contact us.
Are you planning, designing, or implementing on-the-ground restoration projects that will restore river flows and/or recharge ground water? Would you like the opportunity to share your projects with businesses who may be interested in providing support for your projects? If the answer is “Yes!” be sure to check out the Business for Water Stewardship Project Bank, an opportunity for paid members of River Network to use a national platform to attract funding.
As a network, we gather strength through our connections—through shared ideas, shared resources, and a supportive community that understands the challenges of our work. Now, you can help a new organization connect and grow (for not one but two years!) by sponsoring a full-benefits membership. Starting this month, sponsored full-benefits memberships will be DOUBLED by a generous donor. Sponsor today at the $200 level to support grassroots organizations.
