Do you have an old printer that's collecting dust? How about those barely-worn waders sitting in the garage?  Put your old office and river recreation equipment to good use by fulfilling the needs of our Partner organizations.  Over 25 of our groups have filled out "Wish Lists" of items that would help them better protect and restore our waterways in the New Year.  Browse the list to find out if you've got what they need.  If so, give them a call and make arrangements for how to get it to them.  It'll make their holiday (and yours) that much brighter!

And to continue your support of national river and watershed groups, consider making a donation to River Network today.  Your contribution allows us to continue to provide organizational capacity building and issue-based expertise to hundreds of groups across the country.

Ever wonder how your state's water quality protections compare to other states?  Now you can find out…at least for one key policy program.  River Network's online antidegradation database lets you search by state or key policy questions for information about how states implement the Clean Water Act's main policy program for keeping clean water clean – the antidegradation policy.  Today's database launch includes comparative information from 10 states.  We'll be adding data monthly, so check back soon!  Search the database.

River Network is pleased to partner with Tide-Mark Press to offer you a beautiful 2009 wall calendar. Each month you will enjoy a stunning river scene by acclaimed photographer Tim Palmer. Each month also offers a brief overview of a water issue and/or success story, as well as ways you can get involved to protect our rivers. These wonderful calendars make great gifts for the holidays or any occasion! Get yours today at RN Marketplace.

River Network is pleased to announce the launch of our new password-protected website www.rivernetwork.org/rn/partners, redesigned to give River Network Partners exclusive access to templates, toolkits, back issues of River Voices and the River Fundraising Alert, an interactive log of questions and responses to commonly faced challenges, product and service reviews and more.

If you are an existing River Network Partner and you did not recently receive an e-mail with your username and password, please contact Waverly de Bruijn at (503) 542-8397.

If you are interested in becoming a River Network Partner, we welcome you to join online or contact Katherine Luscher at (503) 542-8384.

River Network's board and staff welcome Ezra Paul Milchman as our new President/CEO! Ezra brings 14 years of accomplished experience in conservation, public policy, lobbying, communications, fundraising and nonprofit management.

For the past three years, Ezra has worked with a community of 1,700 land trusts across the country as National Director for the Land Trust Alliance, and was their Northeast Director for five years prior to that. He's a graduate of Tufts University with degrees in biology and environmental science. He is also an enthusiastic outdoors person, including canoeing, fishing, hiking and skiing.

Ezra is only the fourth President/CEO in River Network's 20-year history and will carry forward and build the grassroots river and watershed conservation movement that Phil Wallin, Ken Margolis and Don Elder created. Ezra will officially start work on November 3; watch future eStream newsletters for more.

The Winter Training, December 10th -12th Nashville, Tennessee is organized by River Network and many allied organizations. The purpose of the event is to help you develop the skills you need -- as a trainer, leader and organizer -- to help grassroots groups and communities.  The Winter Training will use a “cross-training” format so that individuals from a variety of backgrounds can come together, develop our skills and share experiences. Participants attend one of two tracks:

Track A: Training for Trainers in Organizational Development

Track B: Warming Watersheds: Training for Sustainable Water Supplies

Completed applications can be directed to Dawn DiFuria ddifuria@rivernetwork.org (503) 542-8393

River Network is very excited to launch a new online mapping resource designed to help you:

• Easily find River Network Partner groups working in your community
• Discover your watershed address and link directly to EPA's Surf Your Watershed site
• Get contact information for Congressional representatives
• Locate and contact River Network offices
• Visit National River Heroes
• View Past and Future National River Rallies
• See rivers and water bodies not shown on standard Google maps

www.imrivernetwork.org

As with any resource, this is a work in progress. In the coming months we will continue to add new, searchable layers and map points such as: who is working on what major water issues; who is hosting a river cleanup; is there a monitoring program in my watershed; finding health experts working on contaminant issues; and much more.

We're also very interested in hearing from you about information and resources that you would like to see. Partners should contact us about adding information/logos/photos/video to their group's listing. Please contact Matt Burke if you have comments/suggestions.

This site was developed in partnership with Vertcies LLC and Dr. Wansoo Im. A number of River Network Partners are using mapping sites to present monitoring and other activities in their watersheds. You can view these here.

The Rivers Stories Contest is still accepting video entries of people working to take care of rivers. Tom's of Maine will share these stories to inspire other people to take action, and the winning entrant will win a new Toyota Prius Hybrid!

How to Enter

Now through October 31, 2008, you can create and upload your own, original video that demonstrates how you are making a positive impact on the rivers in your community.

Here are the simple steps to enter:

• Document a local river story on video

• Log onto Video Contest and complete the entry form

• Visit YouTube to set up a free account and confirm login information

• Go to YouTube Groups and click to join River Stories Group to submit your entry.

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Deadline to submit River Rally Workshops - October 24, 2008!

The 2009 National River Rally will be held in the Chesapeake Region May 29 - June 1 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, downtown on the harbor. If you'd like to present a workshop,  click here for more information.

American Rivers is soliciting nominations for the 2009 America's Most Endangered Rivers  report. Nomination deadline is October 27, 2008.

Assessment survey. This Assessment enables nonprofit organizations and government officials to evaluate the strengths of and learn new ideas for further integrating their current watershed protection/restoration processes.

The most recent issue of River Voices also serves as a companion to this Assessment.

(Note: You do not have to Log In to take the survey)

After 13 years of dedicated service, River Network President Don Elder is leaving to pursue new opportunities.  River Network is now seeking an experienced, self-directed and motivated President who is passionate about protecting our environment and prepared to lead an established, national conservation organization to new levels of reach and impact.

Click here for more information.

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For the third consecutive year, River Network and Busch beer are partnering to protect rivers in Oregon and Washington. 

To celebrate outdoor recreation on our rivers, we will award 24 lucky winners with rafting adventure trips on the Skagit, Wenatchee and White Salmon rivers in Washington, and the Deschutes and Upper Klamath rivers in Oregon, plus offer a guided fishing trip in Oregon.  

From now through August 15, 2008, adults 21 and older may register online at www.buschwhitewater.com for a chance to win these premium Northwest adventures. No purchase necessary. Must be a resident of OR or WA.

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River Network is proud to announce the resurrection of our on-line course – Understanding the Clean Water Act!  You can now explore the course at your convenience at www.cleanwateract.org.

The course is a companion to our book, The Clean Water Act Owner's Manual. Course content is structured to help you:

·        isolate specific water quality problems

·        identify possible solutions

·        develop and leverage existing programs

·        build effective outreach tools

The goal is to help you better understand: 1) laws established to protect our rivers, and 2) the power you have to exercise this knowledge to protect the rivers you love!

The course is appropriate for staff, interns, volunteers and board members interested in learning more about the force of the Clean Water Act and related tools. Even Clean Water Act old-timers will likely find something to ponder in the local stories, digging deeper and resources sections.  If you train staff or volunteers on the Act, you’ll also find some special training tools to help you get your points across.

Over the next year, we’ll regularly add new content and technology to the site – so keep checking back.  We’re considering adding more quizzes, slideshows and activist testimonials, and would welcome your feedback and ideas as well! 

To share your thoughts, contact Merritt Frey.

Would you also like to have these references at your fingertips?  Order the 2nd Edition of our Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual, available at River Network’s online Marketplace.

2008 National River Rally Final Report PDF

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Natural Earth tone 100% Organic cotton cap features embroidered River Network logo on front, "Connecting People, Saving Rivers" on back. Get yours today at Marketplace.

Post-Rally T-SHIRT SALE! Only $10! 2 for $20!!

Already spilled spaghetti sauce on your new shirt and wish you could get another one? Did your officemates say "Hey, you got to go to Rally and you didn't even bring back some souvenir shirts for the rest of us?"

Well, now you can fully complete your wardrobe and make your staff happy. Don't delay- go to Marketplace today!

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2008 River Heroes honored at National River Rally.  Every movement has its own heroes—those who set the standard for the rest of us in achievement, selflessness, and inspiration. Too often, individuals and groups involved with natural resource conservation fail to celebrate their hard-won successes.

The National River Heroes, a peer-nominated award inaugurated in 2002, annually celebrates rivers and recognizes individuals in the watershed movement who: Provide leadership; Inspire the work of others; Utilize innovative strategies and techniques to achieve significant results; Foster the growth and sustainability of a watershed community.

To date, thirty-three outstanding individuals have been honored as National River Heroes.

The 2008 National River Heroes are:

Dr. David Baker, Director Emeritus, National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio

Bernie Dahl, Immediate Past President, Banks of the Wabash, Inc; and Professor at Purdue University, West LaFayette, Indiana

John Tippett, Executive Director, Friends of the Rappahannock, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Robert Ruffner, Executive Director, Kenai Watershed Forum, Soldotna, Alaska

Rob Hutsel, Executive Director, The San Diego River Park Foundation, San Diego, California

In addition to the River Heroes, River Network selects one individual each year to receive the James R. Compton Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating a life-long commitment to river conservation.

The 2008 honoree is JoAnn Burkholder, Professor of Applied Aquatic Ecology at NC State University, North Carolina.

Click here to read more about this year’s River Heroes.

Tom's of Maine generously supports the River Heroes Awards and Banquet. Thank you!

River Network's newest website - Water, Energy and Climate Change -- has just launched.  Click here for information on how to save energy by saving water, and for links to valuable reports and presentations.  Our site is still rapidly growing, so be sure to visit often.

For the past year, River Network has provided assistance to Wansoo IM and Vertices, LLC to develop an easy to use, interactive internet mapping application using Google Maps API and federal and state Internet GIS services. Dozens of groups have tested this system in their watersheds.

Now, it is ready for you to use in yours!

What can you do with IMRivers? Imagine this: You are out on the river and see a violation. You take a photo or video, capture waypoint coordinates using any GPS unit and upload the digital file with your notes directly to your IMRivers mapsite -either directly on the river via a wireless connection or when you get back to the office. Within minutes, agency officials, stakeholders, the media and the public can see what is going on. The violation's time and place are precisely documented and recorded. Just like that!

How much does it cost? Click here for more information, including case studies from Hurricane Creekkeeper (AL), Muddy Water Watch Citizen Patrols (NC) and Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition (CT).