Over the last two years, River Network has served on the Steering Committee of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition. This ambitious and extraordinary coalition brings together land, freshwater, and ocean advocates to conserve 30% of lands, waters, and oceans by 2030 centered on equity with twin goals to: Conserve, connect and restore at… Read More ›
Blog
Changing Narratives in Milwaukee with Water Infrastructure Dollars
by Amy Boal
We often talk about: what is the wraparound community benefit of these programs? And how is it changing that narrative of segregation in Milwaukee?” -Joe Fitzgerald, Policy and Advocacy Manager with Milwaukee Water Commons Learn about our federal funding support. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has global recognition as a water-centric city, however depending on where you live,... Read More ›
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 KanzigShelby 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 ›
2023: Busier Than Ever Supporting Organizations & Leaders
by Brenna Goggin
For many of us, 2023 represented the first year where work, travel, and schools returned to a semblance of normalcy post the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there is more of a rhythm and consistency to our daily lives, we know that can change quickly and unexpectedly. That lingering feeling of “when will the next shoe drop”... Read More ›
Resilience and Connection in the Hudson River Valley
by Hannah MicoIn 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 ›
Quite a Year for the Clean Water Act
by Colleen McGuire
Every year, around the time of the Clean Water Act’s anniversary, we like to reflect on our nation’s most fundamental clean water law and showcase a few of the many ways water advocates have used the Act to improve the health of their waterways. Coming off of the major 50th anniversary milestone, this 51st year… Read More ›
Unpacking the Barriers to Accessing Federal Dollars
by Campbell Simmons
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
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 HarscoetWith 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
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 IngleWhat 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 BoalMay 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 ClineThis 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 ›
