Katherine Baer
Senior Director, Clean Water and Water Supply Programs
Department: Conservation
Area of Focus: Katherine leads federal clean water policy work to reduce sewage spills and polluted stormwater runoff and to increase green infrastructure.
Background: Katherine joined American Rivers in 2005. Prior to that she worked as a policy analyst for the legal think tank the Center for Progressive Reform, and as Director of Headwaters Conservation for the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper in Georgia.
Education: B.A. in Environmental Studies from Stanford University, M.S. in Conservation Ecology from the University of Georgia, and J.D. from the University of Maryland
Favorite River: Chattahoochee River
Blog Posts By This Author
Clean Water Infrastructure Funding Cut Again
February 15, 2012 | Water Pollution, Water Supply
President Obama’s proposed federal budget cuts funding for clean water and drinking water infrastructure (pdf) by about $350 million from what we ended up with last fiscal year. This infrastructure funding is critical to protect public health, and part of the overall budget for the Environmental Protection Agency, which was cut by $105 million. Programs that received boosts include funding for the Chesapeake Bay and assistance to states to implement environmental programs.
Read more »Cities Should Go Green to Address Crumbling Infrastructure
January 25, 2012 | Water Pollution, Stormwater & Sewage, Water Supply
Sewer overflows, leaky pipes and flooded streets. Many of us have been snarled in traffic due to a water main break or had to stay out of the water due to sewer spills.
Read more »Testifying on Green Infrastructure
December 22, 2011 | Water Pollution, Water Supply, Stormwater & Sewage
Last week I had the opportunity to testify at a House hearing about a new EPA initiative called “integrated permitting.” The Agency’s idea is to look at ways to evaluate various Clean Water Act requirements together to see how they could be integrated. For example, if a city has pollution problems from urban stormwater runoff and sewer overflows, are there a set of solutions to address both of these together that might be more cost effective and sustainable?
Read more »Say No to Fracking for North Carolina
December 2, 2011 | Fracking, Water Pollution, Water Supply, Most Endangered Rivers
With a recent victory to postpone a vote to open up the Delaware River Basin to fracking (hydraulic fracturing for natural gas), it looks like there is some understanding of the potential adverse impacts of fracking on our clean water supplies. Our listing of the Susquehanna River as number one on the list of the Nation’s Most Endangered Rivers highlighted the threat of contamination to our rivers from fracking.
Read more »Giving Thanks – for Fresh Food and Clean Water
November 29, 2011 | Water Pollution, Floods & Floodplains, Stormwater & Sewage, Water Supply
The holidays are a good time to pause to consider all the things for which we’re thankful. For me, all of the people in my life who keep me laughing and inspired, for family, and for good food (my husband made three different pies this year!) and access to clean and safe water.
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