River Action Day

River Action Day provides a unique opportunity for river advocates from across the country to meet with their Members of Congress to discuss the value of healthy rivers to their communities. 

This year’s River Action Day is special because it coincides with River Network’s 10th annual River Rally in Baltimore, MD. By coordinating these two events, participants will save both money and time participating in two of the river community’s hallmark events in the same trip. Advocacy training for River Action Day will take place on the last day of River Rally (Monday, June 1). River Action Day participants will extend their stay through Tuesday, June 2, when they will head to Washington, DC to meet with their Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill and advocate for greater protections for our nation’s rivers.

Since 2003, American Rivers’ River Action Day has brought hundreds of concerned river advocates to Capitol Hill to press their elected officials to champion strong federal river conservation legislation. River Action Day is your chance to hold your representatives accountable for protecting the rivers you love. Make your voice heard in Congress! 

River Action Day Registration

River Action Day 2009 is being held in conjunction with River Network’s River Rally in Baltimore, MD. Advocacy training will take place in Baltimore at the Hyatt Regency on Monday, June 1. Trained advocates will head to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, June 2nd to deliver the important message of river conservation to Congress.

If you are attending River Rally, you can register for River Action Day through the River Network’s River Rally registration page.

If you are unable to attend River Rally, you may still participate in River Action Day as long as you can attend Monday’s required training in Baltimore. Please be advised that American Rivers will pay for a roundtrip train ticket between Baltimore and Washington, DC on June 2nd, but you are responsible for all additional transportation and lodging expenses. If you do not plan to attend River Rally you my click here to register for River Action Day.

Legislative Priorities

The 111th Congress is considering several pieces of legislation that impact river health and water quality. Congress is expected to consider a wide range of river legislation this year, including bills to address climate change, fund clean water infrastructure, restore the scope of the Clean Water Act, and designate more Wild and Scenic Rivers -- to name just a few.

The work of Congress is incredibly dynamic and as the political landscape evolves American Rivers will determine the legislative priority for River Action Day 2009 as June draws closer.

We urge all River Action Day participants to take full advantage of the opportunity River Action Day provides to raise your local river policy concerns with your Congressional delegation.

Recap: River Action 2008 a Success

On June 18, advocates from across the country came to Washington, DC to participate in the 5th Annual River Action Day. This year’s event set several new records including: the most participants (115), the most congressional meetings (280), and the most meetings with members of Congress (28). River Action Day culminated with a gala celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the 35th anniversary of American Rivers. More