Keeping healthy waters healthy: antidegradation webinar

Learn more about the Clean Water Act policy designed to help keep healthy rivers healthy – the antidegradation policy. Reserve your place by October 21st!

Our first Clean Water West webinar -- Water Quality Standards 101 -- was such a success that we're going to keep things rolling. Join us on Tuesday, October 27 at 2 pm mountain time for the next installment in River Network's Clean Water West 101 webinar series.

This will be an introduction to antidegradation policy and implementation in the Intermountain West states. It will be a 101 and 201 level training, suitable for river and watershed organizations, land trusts, and wildlife or lands groups interested in protecting water quality and healthy riparian ecosystems.

What will you learn in Antidegradation 101/201?

• The basic federal requirements for antidegradation policies, how those base requirements have been translated into regulations in the Intermountain West, and how they can be used to protect your rivers.
• What exemptions in your state rules are limiting the use of antidegradation as a tool for protecting healthy rivers...and what can be done about those exemptions.
• Upcoming opportunities for improving antidegradation policies and/or strategies for strengthening implementation in your state and around the region.
• Participants will also receive links to their state policies, a policy paper analyzing antidegradation issues in the Intermountain West, and additional resources.

Still not sure if you need to know more about antidegradation? Check out the antidegradation pages in our online Clean Water Act course for ideas about the possible power of antidegradation.

What makes this webinar different?

• Small, cozy group. We'll limit participation to the first 25 individuals to reserve their place. This will allow for more questions and discussion.
• Regional focus. U.S. EPA runs a good webinar on standards (including antidegradation), but it is generalized for the whole nation – we'll look specifically at the Intermountain West.
• Connection to regional analysis. The webinar will be tied to the release of a region-wide policy analysis diving into standards issues and upcoming strategic opportunities in the region.
• Networking opportunity. The small size and regional nature of our group will allow you to get to know your river "neighbors" from around the region.

Please note: Priority placement in the webinar will be granted to nonprofit organization staff/volunteers and River Network Partners. However, if you represent a local, state, or federal agency, a business or other interest, please let us know if you are interested in attending. We'll place those folks on a waiting list and, if spots are open after the October 21 deadline, notify them for participation.

If you can't make the webinar, a recorded version will be available online within a week of the training. Notice of availability will be posted to the Clean Water West listserve and here on our Clean Water West blog.

Save your spot today! RSVP with your name, organization, email and telephone number to Merritt at mfrey@rivernetwork.org by October 21.