What is the Watershed Support Network?

The Alabama Rivers Alliance is excited to announce our participation in an enhanced partnership with the national river organization, River Network, as part of their Watershed Support Network project.  The Watershed Support Network is an initiative to provide intensive training to a subset of Alabama’s river guardian groups to help them build capacity for their organizations.  This program is spearheaded by River Network and is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private foundation money. 

The Alabama Rivers Alliance has been an active River Network partner organization since our inception and we are so pleased to be a part of this important national project to bring new resources and attention to the river protection movement in Alabama.

The sixteen watershed organizations chosen as this year’s Watershed Support Network partners are: Alabama Water Watch Association, Flint River Conservation Association, Shoals Environmental Alliance, Friends of the Preserve and Sanctuary, Friends of Chewacla and Uphapee Creek (CHEWUP), Save Our Saugahatchee, Lake Watch of Lake Martin, Wolf Bay Watershed Watch, Dog River Clearwater Revival, Conecuh/Sepulga Watershed Alliance, Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper, Friends of Shades Creek, Friends of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of the Locust Fork River, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Friends of Hurricane Creek. 

While there are many other groups waiting in the wings, this year’s first round of initiates will be the primary focus of our Watershed Leadership Program.  Our participation in this important partnership will help the Rivers Alliance develop better tools and workshops to enable us to assist all of our groups statewide.  And, if the money holds up, we’ll do it again with a whole new batch of groups!