I was handed a well-used copy of the Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual on my first day at River Network. My supervisor, Katherine Baer, told me to keep it close by as I would use it often. She was right. Today, that copy is riddled with my own notes and sits beside my copy of River Network’s 3rd edition of the Manual, published in 2022.
For 25 years, our Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual has been a steadfast source of guidance, illuminating the way through political turbulence and setbacks, as well as leaps in progress, toward the water protections we need and deserve. The knowledge and connections gained through River Network trainings – whether in person, virtual, or through the well-worn pages of the Manual – elevate its impact by helping advocates become stronger champions for their waters. Today, as the team at River Network grapples with , I’ reminded why upholding and strengthening the Clean Water Act is so important.
Since the release of this most recent edition of the Manual, nearly 800 advocates have been trained on the Act, its uses, and how community action can drive better protections for rivers and streams. That’s 12,800 informed clean water advocates over the Manual’s lifetime!
“This training was eye-opening,” shared one participant. “There’s so much we can do to advocate for our waterways. I feel more confident in my job as an advocate because I have a better understanding of the Clean Water Act.”
This sentiment echoes the experiences of hundreds of advocates who participated in Clean Water Act trainings over the last few years. We hit the road, from Alabama to Wisconsin, to meet with and train advocates on the challenges of our time and strategies for action through the Act.
