River Voices: March 2022

Welcome to the March 2022 edition of River Voices. This month we’re launching the State of the Network Survey – and you’re invited to participate! Plus, hear from President Nicole Silk on our upcoming Strategic Refresh and why our commitment to our key issues is stronger than ever. River Rally scholarship applications and Emerging Leader self-nominations are due March 15!

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River Network is launching our State of the Network Survey, an every five-year survey for all of us working on water issues in our communities nationwide. Survey questions cover the basics of your organization’s capacity, achievements, challenges, and needs. The survey results will help us show the amazing impact of all we do and better understand how we can be most responsive to support all water leaders in the climb to a future of clean and accessible water and rivers for all.

Read more and take the survey.

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“We have conversations around culturally-specific ways different individuals in Oregon interact with water, including drinking water and bodies of water quality of water and cost, and how they use resiliency in the face of challenges of accessing water resources.”

Meet Cheyenne, Water Justice Coordinator at Verde.

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We’ve launched a new group in our Online Community with a focus on litter management and reduction! We’d love anyone working on reducing litter to join this group, which aims to be a peer-to-peer network for learning, discussion and resource sharing around this work.

Learn more and join the group.

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Have you registered for River Rally 2022 yet? There’s still time to apply for a scholarship or self-nominate for the Emerging Leader Award. Plus, the first 100 registrants will be entered in a giveaway for a FREE River Rally 2023 registration! Apply today, as only a few more spots remain.

Register by March 15.

Our Key Issues and the Next Five Years

Resilience. Policy. Agriculture. Drinking water. What do these terms mean to you? For River Network, they’re the four key issues that are central to addressing the current water crisis in the United States and they shaped our 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. Now, as our Strategic Plan wraps up at the end of this year—and we look to the future—this still holds true. Hear from River Network President Nicole Silk on what we’re doing, where we’re heading, and what’s in store with our Strategic “Refresh,” coming this fall.

Read more.

The River Network Climate Justice Flow Fund Circle is a community of people and organizations that are working with flow funds distributed by River Network, inspired by Flow Funding philanthropy principles.

Meet the Flow Funders and learn more.

Watch: How We’re Equitably Addressing US Water Issues

Behind countless successful water organizations is River Network.

Learn how we center equity and align the national network of water protectors to address the key issues that define a new path forward and seek climate solutions.

Science Corner: Environmental Protection Network’s Pro Bono Capacity-Building Technical Assistance Program

The latest from our science team.

The Environmental Protection Network is now offering pro-bono technical assistance via their 500+ membership of former EPA employees through their Capacity Building Technical Assistance Program. Technical assistance is defined broadly and spans many area of work such as providing assistance understanding permitting, planning data collection and analysis and translating technical language for accessibility.

To learn more, click here or contact EPN at info@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org.

Events & Learning Opportunities

The Fundamentals of SRF Administration & Influencing Equitable Infrastructure in Your Community – A Three Part Series

Mar. 2, Mar. 29, Apr. 21; 10a PT/1p ET
Join River Network for a 3-part training series focused on unpacking the fundamentals of State Revolving Fund (SRF) administration – how they work, how to influence the process and how to understand the intersection of water affordability and water infrastructure funding. This series will feature guest facilitation by experts in the SRF process and each training will be highly interactive with opportunities to put their learnings in to practice. There will also be an opportunity for follow on “office hours” for those interested in engaging further in a small group or 1-1 setting with SRF experts. Registration is required.

Learn more and register.

Trash to Action: Using Trash Data to Take Informed Action for Your Waterways

Mar. 3, 1p ET/10a PT
Join River Network to hear from local groups putting their trash monitoring data to action by highlighting hotspots, categorizing types of trash, identifying patterns, and advocating for change. Join us and learn how you too can use trash data and the Clean Water Act to take action!

Learn more and register.

River Management Society’s Six-Part Wild & Scenic Webinar Series

Jan. 19 – Jun. 15
Join River Management Society for a six-part webinar series for river managers and advocates. Participants will learn how federal WSR designation protects specific river values and river managers’ responsibilities as caretakers and stewards of the rivers, once their designation takes place.

Learn more and register.

WaterNow Alliance’s 2022 Tap Into Resilience Summit – Philadelphia, PA

Apr. 13-14
The two day Summit will bring together local water leaders and decision makers from across the country, covering a variety of sustainable water management topics and empowering attendees to explore distributed water solutions and opportunities for their communities.

Learn more and register.

World Fish Migration Day

May 21
Join World Fish Migration Day to globally celebrate opening up rivers and recovering migratory fish populations. Together the World Fish Migration Foundation has created an enormous movement, connecting hundreds of thousands of people around the world with the same interest: protecting rivers and fish. Join them by taking action locally!

Learn more.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2022 CWP National Conference in St. Pete, Florida – April 26-29

The 2022 National Watershed and Stormwater Conference will provide a forum for watershed and stormwater professionals throughout the nation to learn how to increase the resiliency of our communities in response to emerging and persistent threats to our water resources — from headwaters to coasts. Network with water resource managers, practitioners, researchers, and regulators from all over the United States. The conference will include technical presentations, case studies, panel discussions, and workshops.

2022 Conference Registration – Center for Watershed Protection (cwp.org)

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