ACA at River Rally

(Photo credits to John Wathen, Hurricane Creekkeeper)

"You are part of the largest gathering of clean water advocates ever assembled," opened Todd Ambs, President of River Network, as he addressed the attendees of the 2012 River Rally in Portland, Oregon, this past weekend. More than 750 "watershed warriors" came together at River Rally to celebrate clean water victories, discuss future approaches to combat the many issues that continue to plague our rivers and coasts, and to develop partnerships and grassroots river networks that will be essential to promote a future of cleaner, healthier waters. "In an era of tight budgets and scarce resources, it's more important now than ever to work together," said Ambs. 

A conference filled with notable speakers and passionate crusaders for our waters, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, National Geographic Explorer, Alexandra Cousteau, and President of the Waterkeeper Alliance, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., addressed all the attendees and applauded the causes for which we all fight for. 

As Alexandra Cousteau said in her speech, "water is our most important legacy... it seems that we have all these pressing issues, and water doesn't seem to make it to the top of national discussion. The solution comes from the ground up: from communities, from the people who love their water and want to take their water back." 

For Cate Huxtable, ACA Stewardship Coordinator, "it was truly an honor to attend this year's River Rally and be surrounded by so many heroes that champion causes on behalf of our rivers. The spirit of the River Network and the Waterkeeper Alliance exists as a result of the many people who dedicate their lives to protecting our waters; it's amazing to hear their stories and to represent the American Canoe Association and the millions of paddlers working to preserve the areas that they paddle."