When local leaders thrives, clean water thrives.
River Network remains steadfast in our commitment to what we do best: supporting and connecting local leaders and communities who are making change happen on the ground. This is never more important than when the national landscape is uncertain and challenging.
Of great significance locally, the Colorado River Basin is in critical condition with reduced river levels threatening the supply of water to seven Western states for drinking water, agriculture, and energy production. A century of mismanagement and environmental factors are driving a decline in watershed and river health across the basin, leaving many rivers and streams on the brink of collapse. We urgently need to do more to ensure our communities and watersheds within the Basin are resilient, now and into the future.
River Network is focused on responding to this water crisis by providing local leaders with the tools, strategies, and resources necessary to make this resilience a reality. We do this by:
"I found the Environmental Flows Cohort training incredibly helpful. I am applying what I learned through the training and the capstone project to lead a collaborative stakeholder group to develop environmental flow recommendations, guide a group of graduate students to collect needed river flow data, and process the survey data to develop scientifically based minimum flow targets. This training provided both a technical and policy foundation to advance the development of environmental flow recommendations for our watershed." Environmental Flow Cohort Member
"I see the health of the river as is in everyone's interest and as something that can be addressed through education, innovation, and collaboration. By bringing good science to the dialogue, engaging all stakeholders in identifying challenges, and being creative and innovative with solutions, I believe we can maintain the agricultural heritage of the Yampa River valley and protect and restore the health of the river ecosystem." Peter Skidmore, Walton Family Foundation
"I am happy to have been a Sustaining Donor of River Network for a number of years now. 'Connecting people, saving rivers' says it all: the organization fully embraces their critical role supporting thousands of local groups that are the ultimate protectors of our precious flowing waters." Todd Ambs, Emeritus Board Member
River Network grows and strengthens a transformational national network of water, justice, and river advocates. We envision a powerful and inclusive movement that ensures abundant clean water for all people and nature to thrive. We believe that joy and hope for our planet flows through our rivers.
Since 1988, River Network has been at the forefront of expanding national interest in protecting the waters of our country, encouraging diversity in the environmental movement, and helping engaged community members and local organizations take a stand for their waters. Our national network includes representatives of over 1,010 local and regional nonprofits, tribes, government agencies, and businesses working to safeguard clean water. River Network is the only national organization whose sole purpose is to grow and strengthen this network.
Headquartered in Boulder, River Network is the only national nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to grow and strengthen the nationwide network of water, justice, and river advocates, ensuring they are well-equipped to improve and protect their waterways, create climate-resilient communities, and ensure equitable access to safe, affordable drinking water.
We accomplish this locally and nationally by responding to the capacity and training needs of organizations and communities, and by synthesizing, elevating, and activating proven and promising practices from the field.
In Colorado, River Network is at the forefront of working in rural communities to advance initiatives to protect and improve rivers, including community-led projects to develop and fund projects that benefit both agricultural producers and rivers.
Farms, ranches, and rangelands occupy 44% of US land, consume 80% of available water supply, and contribute to pollution of our waterways. Members of our network want skills to engage farmers and ranchers to build trust and foster innovation to improve the health of rivers within agricultural landscapes. River Network forges partnerships between local groups and farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural stakeholders, accelerating learning at the intersection of water and agriculture, leveraging financial resources and technical aid, and promoting policy solutions that protect clean and healthy rivers. Through these efforts, we strengthen the capacity of place-based coalitions and local groups to ensure that productive agriculture and healthy rivers co-exist side by side.
Organization name
River Network
1988
Category
Environment
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
5398 Manhattan CircleMailing
PO Box 21387Boulder County, CO, US
CO, US
US
Routt County, CO, US
Gunnison County, CO, US