Submit Workshop Proposals for Rivers, Energy and Climate Track at River Rally 2011 - Proposals Due Oct. 8!

River Network’s Water and Energy program is organizing a track on water, energy and climate change for our upcoming 2011 National River Rally being held in Charleston, SC June 3-6. Although Rally is months away, the deadline for workshop proposals is this Friday, October 8 – just four days away! Accepted workshop proposals will receive scholarships to cover some or all of Rally registration costs and presenters will gain access to hundreds of watershed protection leaders from across the country.

Workshop are typically 90 minutes in length and highly competitive. The National River Rally is a great opportunity to share your work and network with peers in the river and watershed protection community. For more information, see our 2011 Call for River Rally Workshops.

We are looking to fill our Rivers, Energy and Climate Change track with a range of topics covering the following issues:

• Energy for Water: Research or information on the energy and carbon emissions embedded in current water or future water supplies and the potential to reduce energy consumption through water-oriented approaches including water conservation, efficiency, reuse or low impact development. Case studies on integrated water and energy policies or conservation programs preferred.

• Water for Energy: Information or analysis on the water implications of energy development and strategies for reducing the impacts of current and future energy production on freshwater resources. Presentations focusing on the role watershed protection groups can play to influence energy decisions preferred.

• Climate Change and Water Information on climate change impacts on water resources and strategies that community groups can employ to mitigate and adapt to the challenges of global warming.

• Water-Energy Partnerships: Examples of partnerships between water and energy utilities, nonprofit groups, government agencies, private businesses, etc. that promote water/energy conservation programs and improved water quality.

• Water Efficiency: Information on innovative, successful and replicable water conservation and efficiency programs or policies at the local, state, regional or federal level.

• Low Impact Development: Information on LID or green infrastructure as it relates to increasing and protecting water supply, reducing energy demand and/or adapting to climate change.

• Water Reuse: Information on programs, ways to overcome barriers to broader implementation of reusing wastewater/greywater and how to make sure that reusing water results in environmental benefits.

These are only some suggested topics for our Rivers, Energy and Climate Track. Feel free to submit relevant proposals that don’t necessarily fall under one of the above topics.

The National River Rally attracts a great diversity of conservation leaders, bringing new ideas for the best water resource protection strategies to participants, and revitalizing the commitment of those who attend to continue protecting the rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and estuaries they cherish.

Attendees with many years of community-based watershed protection experience cross paths with folks that are brand new to the movement. The structure emphasizes peer learning as well as engaging natural resource professionals to enrich discussions and to teach advanced topics.

This year’s Rally will again focus on two critical “bridge building” strategies: 1) creating stronger connections to various federal agencies (USGS, NOAA, FWS, NPS, USDA, USFS, EPA) that can offer a host of new technical resources, funding and policy/management changes to local groups, and 2) building closer relationships with different constituencies like land groups, environmental justice organizations and others who have a similar stake in clean, abundant water.

With more than 500 participants, River Rally provides an excellent opportunity to share your experience with a broad audience. Please review the guidelines and instructions below before submitting an application.

This will be the third year in a row that River Network has devoted a large chunk of our National River Rally to water, energy and climate change issues. Check out what we did at the last two Rallies:

Warming Watersheds Workshop Materials from River Rally 2010

River Network and Pacific Institute Share Water-Energy Tools at River Rally (2009)

Links for more information on submitting a proposal for 2011 National River Rally:

River Rally Home
2011 Call for Workshops
2011 River Rally Workshop Submission Form