Blog

Help Ensure Lead Free, Safe Drinking Water for All!

by Shelby Cline
Almost 50 years ago, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) giving a mandate to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to keep our drinking water safe. Congress banned the installation of lead pipes to deliver drinking water in 1986 because it recognized the dangers of lead exposure. However, millions across the country still have... Read More ›

Network Success Born from Online Learning

by Erin Kanzig
Shelby Cline and Colleen Walters contributed to this piece. We've found the SRF Advocacy Training Series and Toolkit to be extremely useful and have even directed more of our staff members to complete the training to learn more about our current SRF advocacy priorities. I actually keep the SRF Advocacy Toolkit up on my computer... Read More ›

Resilience and Connection in the Hudson River Valley

by Hannah Mico
In our just-released 2023 Impact Report, you’ll meet the Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network (FRN), a network of municipalities that addresses flooding, co-facilitated by longtime River Network member Hudson River Watershed Alliance (HRWA). FRN and HRWA's work intersects with each of River Network's focus areas in unique ways. This relationship though, has its headwaters in... Read More ›

Unpacking the Barriers to Accessing Federal Dollars

by Campbell Simmons
Five white sandbags rest on a makeshift dam, holding back floodwater along a city street lined with trees. Some people are floating in a raft in the background.

In the wake of new legislation, communities and groups working on climate infrastructure are scrambling to take advantage of massive, newly available funding opportunities. The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act made more money than ever before available to fund climate resilient infrastructure. Billions of dollars in federal grants are… Read More ›

Collaboration Is Essential for Effective Water Advocacy

by River Network
This post was co-written by members of River Network’s Policy Team, including Shelby Cline, April Ingle, Erin Kanzig, Campebell Simmons, and Colleen Walters. Successful advocacy for safe and affordable drinking water, healthy rivers, and climate-resilient communities requires equitably working within diverse coalitions of organizations and individuals to build the necessary power and influence to effect... Read More ›

River Network Launches New Tools to Support Network Advocacy

by River Network
April Ingle leading a Clean Water Act Training at Alabama Water Rally. Photo courtesy Alabama Rivers Alliance.
This post was co-written by members of River Network's Policy Team, including Shelby Cline, April Ingle, Erin Kanzig, Campbell Simmons, and Colleen Walters. At River Network, we have a long history of developing tools and resources and offering training to help our network tackle the water issues they care about at the local, state, and... Read More ›

Inclusive Communications for the Water Movement

by Ayana Harscoet
With the generous support of the Fresh Sound Foundation, we’re excited to announce our first ever Inclusive Communications guide. We’ve created this resource to provide both communications and accessibility guidance to the network. As more and more outreach and education moves online, it’s critical to ensure that our communications practices are accessible, ethical, and welcoming... Read More ›

Demanding Drainage Justice in Houston Through Evidence-Based Advocacy

by Diana Toledo
Five advocates stand in a city plaza holding a yellow sign that reads "When our streets flood we flood the streets."
Advocates in Houston. Photo courtesy WSR/NAC.

Survivors As Experts Formed during Hurricane Harvey by community members looking to help their neighbors survive and then recover from the historic floods of 2017, West Street Recovery (WSR) and its long-time partner, the Northeast Action Collective (NAC), are now focusing on changing the very systems that contribute to climate injustice in the majority Black… Read More ›

Supreme Court Deals a Blow to Clean Water

by April Ingle

What the Supreme Court Clean Water Act Ruling Means for Your Community and Waters   On May 25, 2023, the US Supreme Court issued their ruling in the Sackett vs. EPA case. With this ruling, the Court has delivered a catastrophic blow to our ability to protect our waters from pollution and climate disasters, undoing protections… Read More ›

River Network Welcomes Raj Shukla as Next President and CEO

by Amy Boal
May 17, 2023 [Boulder, Colorado] – River Network is honored and pleased to announce that, after a meticulous national search, Raj Shukla will be joining the organization as its next President and CEO. His first day will be Tuesday, June 20, and he will be working primarily from his home office in Madison, Wisconsin.  Shukla... Read More ›

Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program: Annual Report Look Back

by Shelby Cline
This is the fourth blog post we’ve written about the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) since it was first funded through COVID-19 legislation in 2020 and 2021. For background on the establishment of the program and what it’s achieved so far, take a look at the previous blogs:  Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Check-In,... Read More ›

Equipping the Network for the Federal Funding Long-Game

by River Network
Learn about our federal funding support. River Network has a long history of supporting local organizations in accessing the funding they need for their communities. The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL, Nov. 2021) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA, Aug. 2022) carry unprecedented prioritization of water via federal funding programs—and a historic opportunity... Read More ›

Centering Water Quality, Public Health, and Climate Resiliency in the 2023 Farm Bill

by Erin Kanzig
When you hear the words “Farm Bill” you might imagine that this legislation impacts farmers and ranchers – which is true – through the Farm Bill farmers can access crop insurance, receive technical assistance from US Department of Agriculture, benefit from research, receive disaster assistance, and more, all because of the Farm Bill.  However, it’s important... Read More ›