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Alabama Water Rally
March 24, 2023 - March 26, 2023
Varies
Alabama Water Rally 2023
Alabama’s annual gathering of clean water advocates
March 24 – 26 | Camp Beckwith in Fairhope, AL
There is an incredible opportunity before us – as River Defenders – as we pass the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Together, we must be ready for the Next Era of Clean Water Protection and capitalize on this moment.
With unprecedented federal investment in water and wastewater infrastructure and significant incentives for moving toward clean energy and transportation, the time is now to come together, get informed and plan for how we will act collectively to ensure Alabama’s communities and ecosystems are not left out of the conversation. How we embrace this opportunity and respond to the challenges in the next few years could mean the difference between making the enormous shift we need to address climate change or leaving the fate of impacted communities and ecosystems vulnerable to the continued status quo. Join ARA and our partners at Alabama Water Rally 2023 as we empower our movement with the tools and the allies to mobilize for this moment!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
If you still want to register, please email us at [email protected] for options!
WHAT TO EXPECT AT WATER RALLY 2023
Speakers & Workshops | Trainings Sessions | Admin & Tech Help | Art | Networking & Celebrations
CLEAN WATER ACT MANUAL WORKSHOP WITH RIVER NETWORK + ‘KEEPERS
Join us for this interactive workshop to learn more about how you can use the Clean Water Act to protect your communities and local waters.
During the workshop, you’ll hear case studies of how the Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Cahaba Riverkeeper, Coosa Riverkeeper, and Mobile Baykeeper are using the Clean Water Act to protect their waters. You’ll also learn how you can use the recently updated Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual to help guide your efforts to protect and restore the waters in your community via presentations and interactive exercises where you can practice using the Manual.
A COSMIC WALK
Friday evening will be a true delight as we take a Cosmic Walk with Dr. Bill Deutsch and friends.
The story begins 14.6-billion-years ago with the big bang that kicked everything off!. Through the mesmerizing voice of Dr. Deutsch, we’ll visit the origin of the solar system, life, and advanced life all the way through the age of dinosaurs and humans. This interactive exploration through time will beautifully illustrate how we got to this moment and what’s at stake.
SESSION TOPICS & PLENARIES INCLUDE:
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Clean Water Act Manual Training: The Next 50 Years
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Fish Passage on the Alabama River
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Legislative Session: The SHOR Act (formerly A Fisher’s Right to Know)
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Litter Gitter in your Community
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Dam Removal in Alabama
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Inflation Reduction Act: What it Means for Alabama
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Community Organizing and Trust Building
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Flooding and Green Infrastructure Funding
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Fundraising: Memberships, Events, Grants
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Connecting with College Students for Research and Advocacy
OTHER THINGS HAPPENING AT ALABAMA WATER RALLY:
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Shrimp Boil Supper with our friends at Litter Gitter!
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River Celebration Awards!
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Tech Help!
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Art Breaks!
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Networking aplenty!
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Music and possibly dancing!
SPEAKERS AND MENTORS INCLUDE:
Sherry Bradley (recently retired from Alabama Department of Public Heath and now leading Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program), Dr. Bill Deutsch (author), April Ingle (River Network), Justinn Overton (Coosa Riverkeeper and Waterkeepers Alabama), David Butler (Cahaba Riverkeeper), Don Bates (Litter Gitter), Sheree Martin (Energy Alabama), Jason Throneberry (The Nature Conservancy in Alabama), Bradley Davidson (Conservation Alabama), Ben Wegleitner (Cahaba River Society), Eric Reidy (ADEM), Jean Cox (Friends of Pinchgut Creek), Karen Jones (To Whom It May Concern). More coming soon!
THE CREEK SQUAD TECH HELP!
Do you have a burning question about Google Drive, email marketing, public relations, Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/Twitter or any of the other bazillion different ways to communicate with your community or organize your work? Head over to the The Creek Squad Tech Help station and we will do our best to help make your life easier. We may not know everything, but we sure know a lot of tiny things – stump us!
ABOUT ALABAMA WATER RALLY
Alabama Water Rally is the annual gathering of Alabama’s network of water advocates and allies hosted by the Alabama Rivers Alliance. Water Rally is the premiere educational, networking and celebratory event for community and watershed-based organizations as well as individual Alabamians interested in #CleanWater and the protection of all our waterways. The conference moves to different regions of the state each year so that it is accessible to communities and groups from all parts of Alabama. In 2023, we gather down South at Camp Beckwith in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.
HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
