Winter Training 2010: Water & Energy Track Summary and Presentation Materials

Waynesboro, PA – Nestled beside Comet Lake in the rolling hills of southern Pennsylvania, River Network convened a select group of people from some of the nation’s leading environmental organizations working to protect rivers and communities from climate change. After two-and-a-half days of intensive cross-training and coordinating sessions, a national strategy for grassroots action on climate change and the water-energy nexus began to take shape. See below for presentation materials and more details from the Warming Watersheds; Water & Energy Track at Winter Training 2010.

Download materials from the Warming Watershed; Water & Energy track at Winter Training 2010

In addition to River Network, the following local and national environmental organizations sent staff to participate and share their expertise with other attendees:

• Alliance for Water Efficiency
• American Rivers
• Cahaba River Society
• Clark Fork Coalition
• Cumberland River Compact
• Freshwater Future
• Georgia River Network
• Huron River Watershed Council
• Idaho Rivers United
• Interfaith Environmental Initiative of Alabama
• Milwaukee Riverkeeper
• National Wildlife Federation
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• River Alliance of Wisconsin
• Trout Unlimited
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• Upper Etowah River Alliance
• Upper Watauga Riverkeeper
• Utah Rivers Council
• Wabash River Enhancement Corporation
• World Wildlife Fund
• Yadkin Riverkeeper

Experts from the University of Florida, Gainesville and Water Systems Optimization also attended the event to share their research on the carbon footprint of water and show river and watershed groups how they can work with their local water utilities to minimize the energy and greenhouse gas emissions embedded in water.

It is difficult to describe the excitement and sheer determination emanating from the participants who came to learn from each other and share practical solutions to our water, energy and climate challenges. In the words of Elizabeth Riggs, a Warming Watersheds participant from the Huron River Watershed Council who was describing the photo to the right:

What do you see when you look at this photo? Perhaps just a person delivering a talk to a room of people. When really, it’s an unprecedented gathering of the river and watershed community to strategize on a sustainable water and energy program for the U. S.

This week, River Network is bringing together two dozen of us to examine the interplay of water, energy and climate, and plan for the campaign to mitigate and reduce the impacts of climate change on the nation’s resources. I’m here (near the Susquehanna River in Southeast PA) to give the Michigan perspective and share HRWC’s work and interests. But I’m reaping the benefits, too, of hearing what our colleagues are doing and will bring back home a renewed commitment to this issue.

We have plenty to learn and adapt from River Network, national groups like Union of Concerned Scientists and National Wildlife Federation, and local groups working on the Cahaba River (AL), Yadkin/Pee Dee River (NC), Clark Fork (MT), and many others.

For another participant’s take on the training, check out Jill Alban’s blog post over at the Clark Fork Coalition.

Winter Training 2010 took place at Capital Camps and Retreat Center in Waynesboro, PA from December 6-8, and was made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Kresge Foundation.

Download materials from the Warming Watershed; Water & Energy track at Winter Training 2010