River Voices: October 2024
Welcome to the October 2024 edition of River Voices. In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating floods, we’re highlighting new floodplain management resources in the State Policy Hub. Plus, in recognition of Source Water Protection Week, learn how holistic river management safeguards our drinking water.
As we were preparing to release new resources on floodplain restoration and advocacy, Hurricane Helene made landfall in several southeastern states. This latest climate disaster has left a devastating trail of destruction, leaving many communities without power, cell service, and running water. Our hearts go out to all those affected, including our River Network staff in Asheville, North Carolina, and in Florida, who are thankfully safe amidst the widespread flooding.
These events serve as a stark reminder of the critical importance of proactive floodplain management and the urgent need to build resilient communities. Now, more than ever, we must take a holistic view of our watersheds to ensure community safety and flood resilience.
To power your advocacy efforts, we invite you to explore our newly expanded State Policy Hub, particularly State Policy Approaches to Floodplain Restoration and Protection, and learn from successful floodplain advocacy initiatives across the country. Together, let’s create a future where people and rivers thrive and communities are prepared for the challenges ahead.
“The floodplain began to take on a much broader meaning to us than a feature that we were regulating… That really kickstarted our look at floodplains and all the work around protection and restoration that we began in Vermont, which then ultimately led to the Functioning Floodplain Initiative.”
– Mike Kline, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
We are now accepting applications for the Rooting Resilience Program, with funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program. Rooting Resilience will fund projects that build equitable climate resilience and access to nature.
Applications are now open, and all are due by October 23, 2024.
Please visit the Rooting Resilience homepage to learn more, join our upcoming informational webinars, and apply for funding.
At the Water Table: Conversations with River Network is a new podcast showcasing inspiring stories and experiences from water advocates across the US.
We explore diverse perspectives on building a just water future, featuring educators, scientists, and community leaders. We’ll also be sharing stories from the Urban Waters Learning Network, a partnership between River Network and Groundwork USA.
“Decisions we make today about managing river corridors will largely determine how resilient they are to the growing threats of warming temperatures, more frequent droughts, earlier runoff, and catastrophic fire and flooding.”
Brian Murphy (he/him) provides technical assistance and leads River Network’s integrated river management program that supports local leaders in the Colorado River Basin.
Amy Boal, our Communications Director, has this view of Lefthand Water District’s Spurgeon Treatment Plant from her back porch, a daily reminder of her source waters and how they get to her tap.
This week, River Network recognizes and highlights Source Water Protection Week (September 29 -October 5) alongside other water-focused nonprofits, water utilities and associations, and government.
“When I sat down to write this blog, I was reflecting on national polling about water challenges in our country, which showed that voters are most concerned about pollution of lakes and rivers (89%), flooding (88%), and drinking water contamination (86%). Then I dug up an old issue of River Voices from 1996 – the same year amendments were made to the Safe Drinking Water Act. I was struck by the national polling results that we cited 28 years ago, stating that “almost all Americans are very concerned about the quality of their drinking water.” Nearly three decades later, protecting the water we drink remains a critically important issue. What does that look like in practice?”
Read “Water is Fundamental” from Erin Kanzig, Drinking Water Program Director at River Network.
Fish Passage Funding
October 31, 10a PT/1p ET
In this webinar, we’ll dive into the specifics of both the NOAA and FWS Fish Passage funding opportunities and hear from two groups who have successfully applied for and received funding from the two sources. We hope you’ll join us to explore these great opportunities, and come prepared with your questions and curiosities!
Federal Tools for Environmental Justice: Understanding and Addressing Health Disparities and Community Impacts
November 14, 10a PT/1p ET
In this webinar, speakers will share more about tools that map and understand the vulnerabilities impacting our communities’ land and waterways, and connect ecosystem health with the health disparities shown by local socioeconomic data.
Download our NEW Get Out the Vote Fact Sheet
Every four years, nonprofit organizations have a unique opportunity to engage their communities beyond their mission, by encouraging people to register to vote. According to a report by Nonprofit Vote, “voters engaged by nonprofits saw a 10 percentage point boost in voter turnout compared to their counterparts in the same communities.”
Our fact sheet provides trainings and resources nonprofits can use to “Get Out the Vote.”
Download the Toolkit: Community-Centered Solutions for Green Gentrification and Displacement
In partnership with the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, River Network is excited to announce the release of the new equitable development toolkit. The toolkit provides important definitions, case studies, and numerous strategies groups can apply in their greening projects.
- 📖 What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures – The new book from Ayana Elizabeth Johnson maps an inspiring landscape of possible climate futures. Plus, a very fun first episode of her new podcast, “Climate Variety Show,” feat. Jason Sudeikis.
- 📖 Toxic Water, Toxic System: Environmental Racism and Michigan’s Water War – This book exposes the consequences of a seemingly anonymous authoritarian state willing to maintain white supremacy at any cost—including poisoning an entire city and shutting off water to thousands of people.
- 📖 A Psalm for the Wild-Built – A River Network staff favorite! This novella in the emerging solarpunk genre asks and answers the question “What do people need?”
