All Rivers Flow Through the Capitol
Wild & Scenic Eel River. Credit Carl Costas CDWR
Washington D.C. is always a busy place. Given all the headlines about military adventures overseas and the latest attack on government regulations at home, it can be easy to forget how critical a role California’s elected federal representatives play in helping to protect and safeguard our state’s rivers and watersheds. At a time when the threats to California’s rivers are greater than ever, it is even more important for our elected officials to be informed, environmental champions.
Caption: CA’s Wild & Scenic Team in D.C.; From left to right: Bella Astin (American Rivers), Spencer Nicholas (Friends of the River), Scott Harding (American Whitewater), Representative Salud Carbajal (D–Santa Barbara), Jann Dorman (Friends of the River), Andre Sanchez (CalWild); Photo Credit: Bella Astin, American Rivers
Last month, staff from FOR and more than twenty other river organizations spent a week in Washington D.C. to advocate for expanding river protections. The effort was organized by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Coalition – a group of organizations from across the country dedicated to safeguarding their home rivers.
Coalition members met with elected representatives from their states to educate them on the status of current Wild and Scenic River legislation, as well as to lay the groundwork for future designation campaigns. Federal Wild and Scenic Designation is one of the best tools we have protecting threatened rivers. You can read more about federal and state wild and scenic river designations here.
FOR staff in Washington DC - Jann Dorman, Gary Bobker, and Spencer Nicholas
FOR staff met with legislative staff for members of California’s Congressional delegation from around the state, sometimes alongside staff from CalWild, American Whitewater, and American Rivers. Particularly important were visits with current sponsors of wild and scenic river legislation including Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff, and Representatives Jared Huffman and Salud Carbajal. Each of these elected officials has proven time and again to be champions in the effort to protect California’s rivers. Read more about their proposed legislation in last month’s River Advocate!
As informed constituents, it is critical that we voice our support for river protection. Our elected officials need to hear that the communities they represent care about having clean water, recreational access, and the myriad benefits of intact watershed ecosystems. Afterall, these officials represent YOU!
Ready to contribute your voice? You can find your representatives by using this handy tool:
Find your California representatives!
Ready to go a step further? Want to advocate alongside other passionate river-lovers? Join our River Activist Network where we learn about California water systems, public process, and how we can each make a real impact in the fight to protect our rivers.
