River Voices: June 2026
Welcome to the June 2026 edition of River Voices. This month we’re reflecting on the 26th River Rally in San Antonio, Texas. Inspired by many conversations at Rally, we want to know how your organization is approaching AI. Plus, you can watch all State Policy Showcase calls on our website.
The 2026 River Rally took place this past month in San Antonio, TX with almost 400 River Network members in attendance. It was a week full of learning, inspiration, and renewal as we considered the water challenges heading our way and how we might address them as a connected and empowered movement.
“I’m very proud of the fact that we have literally changed the water outcome for our state. We still have more work to do and and I know we’re gonna do it, but we were headed down one path and we are now headed down a different path that has more reasonable and rational solutions.”
Jennifer Walker, Director of the Texas Coast and Water Program at the National Wildlife Federation & 2026 Legacy Awardee
“It is a tremendous privilege to tell stories about good water work and I hope that, by sharing knowledge and experience, we can hold more collective power as we build a sustainable future.”
Carly is the Communications & Marketing Director at River Network. She shares stories of water and environmental justice through written reporting, audio podcasting, and video storytelling.
Conversations about AI and data centers are ramping up at water advocacy organizations. Some organizations are intentional about creating a shared approach to internal AI use, while others are taking a more passive approach as this technology continues to evolve. Either way, we want to know: Does your organization have an internal AI policy?
Find recordings of all past State Policy Showcases. These deep dive peer calls focus on a recent state policy success, as well as Q&A and discussion. The last state policy showcase, State Funding Programs for Water, focused on Proposition 4 in Texas and the Clean Water Initiative for Underserved Communities in Delaware.
Mitigating Displacement Pressures: Building Community Resilience and Recovery That Doesn’t Leave Communities
June 25, 3p ET/12p PT
In this session from River Network and Groundwork USA, we will focus on a range of disaster response and recovery solutions that build community power and improve residents’ accessibility to housing.
Data Centers: Resources from River Network
Data centers came up a lot at River Rally 2026, so we’ve begun compiling some resources specifically for water advocates. Bookmark this page and, if you have any resources to add, send them our way.
River Days of Action
June 1–15
Organized by One Mississippi, River Days of Action is a collective action event that connects the organizations, community groups, and people from all over the Mississippi Watershed for opportunities of learning, connection, and impact.
Start a FREE Training Series
River Network offers a variety of self-paced trainings designed to grow your expertise and make you a more effective water advocate. Explore our latest trainings including Community-Centered Solutions for Green Gentrification and Displacement, Building Blocks of Trust, Clean Water Act, Drinking Water, and SRF Advocacy.
The Flow Fund is a community of people and organizations working with flow funds distributed by River Network, inspired by Flow Funding philanthropy principles. Dive deeper with the digital story map, The Ripples of Flow Funding.
What We’re Reading
🎧 In Times Like These (Anthropocene Alliance)
🗂️ Data Transparency is Key to California Achieving Groundwater Sustainability (California Department of Water Resources)
💧 2026 Value of Water Index (The Value of Water Campaign)
🏛️ Protecting Clean Water at the State Level After Sackett (Center For Water Security and Cooperation and Waterkeeper Alliance)
💡 Nearly 90 Percent of Nonprofit Leaders Worry About Burnout (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
