River Network Blogs

Our collection of blog posts from various River Network Staff and Programs.

Where to Next: Protection from Storm and Sea
Merritt Frey
Nov 2 2012 - 8:03am

Yesterday's New York Times presented an interesting array of opinions about how to better protect New York from future storms like Sandy, or worse. The collection of opinion pieces includes five writers from various think-tanks, private sector, and government perspectives. I hope this thoughtful exchange is the beginning of a longer, meaningful discussion about how to better protect people and our communities, while avoiding unintended consequences for people and property, environmental degradation, and crazy price tags...you know, the things our previous approaches have tended to generate. In spades.

Watershed Wednesday: Dan River Basin Association
Todd Ambs
Oct 31 2012 - 10:58am

The Cult of the Bivalve
Merritt Frey
Oct 30 2012 - 9:33am

I'm a relatively new convert to the cult of the bivalve, so this New York Times opinion piece stuck out to me as one of the most unique takes so far on Sandy and her wrath.

Watershed Wednesday: Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation
Todd Ambs
Oct 24 2012 - 3:37pm

The Neuse RIVERKEEPER® Foundation RiverKids program is working hard to make the business and science of water understandable and interesting to children.

EPA's New My Waterway App: A Fun & Useful Tool
Merritt Frey
Oct 23 2012 - 8:32am

U.S. EPA has released a new app called My Waterways. The app provides an easy and fun way for members of the public to get a snapshot of the quality of water in their local creeks, rivers, and lakes and what is being done to improve that quality. River Network Partner groups may want to promote this tool with their members, as it is a truly public-friendly way to connect people with simple but useful data.

October River Talk (part 2!): Chris Clayton on Implementing Wisconsin's New Phosphorus Controls
Merritt Frey
Oct 22 2012 - 9:13am

October brings us a two-for-one River Talk, with both episodes focused on exciting developments in Wisconsin for reducing phosphorus pollution. What is River Talk? Each month (or so) River Network staff interviews a leader in world of river habitat protection and restoration. The idea behind this video series is to allow River Network Partners and others to share their lessons learned with their peers.

In October's second episode we interview Chris Clayton of the Rivers Alliance of Wisconsin. We cover two topics with Chris: 1.) the on the ground work he is doing in Ulao Creek to implement Wisconsin's new approach to controlling phosphorus pollution through numeric water quality criteria and 2.) Chris' reflections on the watery places that keep him engaged in this work.

Last Call for River Rally Workshop Proposals!
Merritt Frey
Oct 18 2012 - 1:56pm

Today's the day. The last day. To submit a workshop proposal to share your wisdom at River Rally.

Watershed Wednesday: Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)
Todd Ambs
Oct 17 2012 - 12:18pm

This week, we highlight a new way to answer this central question.

Lost Rivers: Do You Know One?
Merritt Frey
Oct 12 2012 - 1:29pm

I do. In fact, I know dozens of lost and buried rivers. Here in Salt Lake City, most of our creeks -- loud and clear and full of fish just a few miles upstream in the mountains, are run underground and lost to us. They pop up in odd spots; I can sometimes hear them through drains as I bike quieter streets. And the cities I visit these days are full of these lost creeks as well.

October River Talk: Melissa Malott from Clean Wisconsin
Merritt Frey
Oct 11 2012 - 1:20pm

October brings us a two-for-one River Talk, with both episodes focused on exciting developments in Wisconsin for reducing phosphorus pollution. What is River Talk? Each month (or so) River Network staff interviews a leader in world of river habitat protection and restoration. The idea behind this video series is to allow River Network Partners and others to share their lessons learned with their peers.

October's first episode is an interview with Melissa Malott of Clean Wisconsin. Melissa addresses two areas in her River Talk: 1.) the groundbreaking new approach to controlling phosphorus pollution in Wisconsin through numeric water quality and 2.) thoughts for other river activists from her experience with the phosphorus effort, the Great Lakes Compact, and more.

Can the Energy Sector Adapt to Drought?
Wendy Wilson
Oct 6 2012 - 8:38am

This summer has been a call-to-action for those of us following water and energy issues Starting in July, power plant shutdowns in Illi

Green Slime: Not as Much Fun as it Sounds
Merritt Frey
Oct 4 2012 - 1:16pm

Green slime. Do those two words create a visual in your mind?

Watershed Wednesday: Farmington River Watershed Association
Todd Ambs
Sep 26 2012 - 3:14pm

On this Watershed Wednesday we salute the Farmington River Watershed Association.

Watershed Wednesday: Saluting WaterWatch of Oregon!
Todd Ambs
Sep 19 2012 - 7:39am

Welcome to another installment of Watershed Wednesdays.

A New "Vision" for the Clean Water Act's Restoration Program
Merritt Frey
Sep 12 2012 - 4:59pm

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released an interesting new "vision" document outlining some fairly fundamental shifts in how the U.S. EPA and the states will use the Act's main watershed restoration program (the Total Maximum Daily Load or 303(d) program) in the future.