Past River Heroes

This annual award celebrates rivers and those who protect them by recognizing some of our victories and honoring those who provide us with leadership and inspiration along the way. In addition to the River Heroes, River Network selects one individual each year to receive the James R. Compton River Achievement Award, celebrating a life-long commitment to river conservation.

2003 Winners

Don Sampson, Executive Director, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (OR)

Don, former Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, has been an inspiring force behind collaborative efforts to bring back salmon in the Columbia basin.

Albert Ettinger, Senior Attorney, the Environmental Law & Policy Center in Chicago (IL)

Albert's water policy work has led to vastly improved standards for water quality protection in Illinois and many other states.

Todd Ambs, Administrator, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Todd is the outgoing executive director of the River Alliance of Wisconsin one of the nation's strongest and most effective state river groups. Todd's often-quoted mantra, "no permanent enemies, no permanent friends" led the River Alliance into many effective and fruitful collaborative efforts.

Michele Tremblay, Chair Upper Merrimack river Local Advisory Committee (NH)

Michele is a wiz at recruiting volunteers to do the critical work of monitoring the health of waterways and communicating the data to decision-makers.

Brad McLane, Executive Director, Alabama Rivers Alliance

Brad never shrinks from powerful, entrenched interests or fails to stand up for the rights of the underrepresented or disenfranchised citizens of his state as he takes on water quality and quantity issues.