Watershed Leadership

Lead Program Staff:
Liz Salter – Watershed Leadership Coordinator

The Watershed Leadership Program works to grow the capacity of Alabama citizens to protect and restore rivers.  In doing so, the Alliance helps build, support, and unite a strong network of local watershed guardian organizations. 

What are Local Watershed Guardian Organizations?
It is the dream of the Alliance for every river in Alabama to have a local organization dedicated to its long-term protection and preservation. The movement has grown rapidly since the Alliance began its work over 10 years ago. Today there are more than 70 citizen-based watershed groups around Alabama that vary widely in their mission, membership and level of organization. Some have staff, others are all-volunteer. Some educate communities about their local rivers or lakes, some watchdog polluters for compliance, while others advocate for policies that will lead to a better quality of life in their communities.

How We Help
The Watershed Leadership Program helps Alabama ’s watershed guardian organizations organize in their communities, and provides them the tools and training to be effective. We offer organizational development workshops and one-on-one consultation across Alabama.

Tools We Offer to Assist Your Group

• Annual Watershed Leadership Conference – The three-day conference is packed with workshops on watershed science, watershed policy, and organizational capacity building, all led by local, state, and national experts.
• Watershed Advocate Toolkit (this online toolkit is being developed)
• Alabama Watershed Groups Email list – Members of this list can receive action alerts, alerts on funding and workshop opportunities, and relevant news articles.
• Online directory of citizen-based river and watershed organizations, as well as other environmental organizations.
• Technical assistance in understanding and addressing watershed protection issues, state agency regulations, and public comments.
• Sample documents (e.g. bylaws, grant proposals, and strategic plans)
• One-on-one consultation and workshops for start-up groups and member organizations

Why are Local Watershed Guardian Organizations Important?
The Alliance’s motto is “Water Is Life.”   We understand that water is a resource essential to a community’s long-term health and sustainability.  Protecting this vital resource is carried out most effectively by the citizens who depend on the riches and resources of their local watersheds in order to survive and thrive. 

The Alliance is committed to building the effectiveness of Alabama ’s citizens to better protect and restore the state’s abundant supply of rivers and streams.  Here are just a few examples of why citizens are essential to resource protection:

• Citizens apply the lessons of their community’s past and provide a vision for its future.
• Citizens are the voice for local waterways.
• Citizens bring together different interests for a common purpose.
• An organized group makes a larger impact than individuals acting alone.

Through the Watershed Leadership Program, the Alliance partners with one of Alabama’s greatest resources – its citizens – to protect and restore the state’s greatest natural resource – our rivers and streams. Get involved today to make a positive, lasting difference for Alabama’s waters. The Alabama Rivers Alliance is here to help you get started on your journey to save Alabama’s rivers.