Water Rally Schedule 2025
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
noon – 6 pm REGISTRATION at the Camp Store
FRIDAY DEEP DIVES from 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Presenters: Alabama Water Watch
Get certified at Alabama Water Rally! First, click here to register for the free training by March 11. Then, you will complete approximately three hours of self-paced online course work that will include content related to water pollution, water quality standards, how to conduct bacteriological testing with the R-CARD ECC-A method, and how to enter and interpret water data. Instructions for enrolling in the online courses are provided following registration.
You must complete each of the steps outlined here to receive your monitoring certification.
*Please note, you must register for this training separately from Alabama Water Rally.
Contact AWW with any questions regarding the training: [email protected] or 334-844-4785.
Presenters: Erin Kanzig (River Network), Charles Miller (Alabama Rivers Alliance), Bradley Davidson (Conservation Alabama), Casi Callaway (Southeast Sustainability Directors Network)
This in depth session will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss effective strategies for collective action at all levels of government – federal, state and local. First, we will get up to speed on the latest national policy shifts and why they make state and local advocacy more important than ever before. Next, we will strategize for the future as we continue building the movement towards the 2026 state elections just around the bend. Finally, local Local government is where big changes begin. Learn how to get involved, influence decisions, and advocate for real change in your community.
6 – 6:55 pm – DINNER
7 – 8:30 pm – WELCOME + YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PLENARY
Welcome to Weeks Bay in beautiful Fairhope! We’ll kick off this special weekend by hearing from Cindy Lowry (ARA), Cade Kistler (Mobile Baykeeper), and Jane Herndon (South Alabama Land Trust). They’ll share their stories about this incredible place and the special people protecting it, and what makes this gathering so meaningful. Get ready for an awesome weekend!
THE RIGHTS OF NATURE: RETHINKING HOW WE PROTECT THE PLANET
Presenters: ARA’s Young Professional River Defenders
Is nature a resource to be managed, or does it have rights of its own? The Rights of Nature movement challenges traditional environmental laws by recognizing that ecosystems are not just property, but legal entities with the right to exist, thrive and be restored. Rather than treating nature as a commodity, this movement seeks to elevate its legal status, shifting the burden from reactive conservation to proactive protection. Join ARA’s Young Professional River Defenders for a thought-provoking discussion on how the Rights of Nature movement is shaping environmental law and policy worldwide. The YPRD Plenary is always a highly anticipated discussion!
8:30 pm – GETTIN’ TO KNOW YOU, GETTIN’ TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUUUUUUU
Following our welcome and opening plenary, please visit our partner tables around the room to connect with the many amazing organizations working all across the state to #DefendRivers.
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
7 – 8 am – Morning Birding with Alabama Audubon!
8 – 8:55 am – BREAKFAST
9 am – 5 pm – REGISTRATION continues
9 – 10:30 am – PLENARY: THE ALABAMA STATE HOUSE: WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?
Presenters: John Dodd (Energy Alabama), Luke Kiszler (Mobile Baykeeper), Charles Miller (Alabama Rivers Alliance)
The 2024 Alabama Legislative session is in full swing, and big decisions are being made that will impact our rivers, environment and communities. Join a powerhouse panel of government affairs experts from Alabama Rivers Alliance, Energy Alabama, and Mobile Baykeeper as they break down the latest from Montgomery. Find out which bills need our support — and which ones we need to rally against.
SESSION I
10:45 – 11:45 am
Presenters: Andrew Szymanski (Alabama Scenic River Trail)
Outdoor recreation isn’t just a weekend pastime – it’s a powerful economic engine and state leaders and finally paying attention. With Governor Kay Ivey recognizing the potential to drive tourism and attract top talent, this session is just in time! We will discuss how partners are working to improve and promote river recreation and access to rivers. Learn how your community or organization can tap into this momentum, leverage partnerships, and turn natural assets into real economic impact. Don’t miss your chance to ride this wave before it passes!
Presenters: David Butler (Cahaba Riverkeeper). Mike Mullen (Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper) and Ryan Anderson (Southern Environmental Law Center)
PFAS, or forever chemicals, are lurking in our rivers, our drinking water, and even our blood. This session will begin with a screening of The Cost of Forever, the 2024 Southern Exposure Film that follows Riverkeepers and water defenders as they battle against PFAS contamination. After the film, Cahaba Riverkeeper David Butler will lead a discussion on the latest intel on this invisible crisis — what’s happening now, what’s at stake, and what you can do about it — with Mike Mullen, Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper and Ryan Anderson, Associate Attorney at SELC.
Presenter: Shannon McGlynn (ADEM)
In 1987 the Clean Water Act (CWA) was amended to include Section 319(h) to address nonpoint source pollution. With this amendment, the establishment of annual CWA section 319(h) grant funding for designated state and tribal agencies to implement their approved nonpoint source management programs. This session will discuss ADEM’s Nonpoint Source program and funding opportunities for local communities to address this pollution.
11:45 – 12:45 pm – LUNCH
12:45 pm – 2 pm – PANEL: STACKIN’ PAPER: SECURING GRANTS, CORPORATE CASH & COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Presenters: Carlee Sanford (EBSCO Charitable Giving), Andrew Syzmanski (Montgomery City Council), Mark Berte (Alabama Coastal Foundation), Ryan Anderson (SELC), Heather Griffin (ADEM)
While we like to think our organizations run on our passion, they also need dollar bills! How do you secure the dollars you need to make an impact? This prolific panel of pros will break down the best strategies to get your organization the cash it needs — from grants to corporate sponsorships to federal funds and all points in between.
If you’re new to raising funds, or looking for fresh new ideas you might not have considered, this session will give you insights and inspiration to start stackin’ that paper for your mission!
2 – 2:15 pm – GROUP PHOTO!
Immediately following the panel, stick around in the Chapel for the much beloved group photo. If you missed out on the panel, join us here for the photo. We have a very special video we are making at this time too so please be sure to be there!
SESSION II
2:30 – 3:30 pm
Presenter: Scot Duncan (Alabama Audubon)
Join Alabama Audubon’s Executive Director, biologist and author of Southern Rivers, for a deep dive into the unique ecosystems, wildlife, and conservation efforts shaping the future of the region’s rivers and freshwater supply.
Presenter: Joy Myers (Railroad Park Foundation), Tony Diliberto (Indelible Marketing)
Let’s be real — planning events can be an exhilarating ride or a logistical nightmare — and many times both! Whether you’re organizing a small friend-raiser or a massive multi-day event, your success hinges on balancing goals, budgets, people, marketing, and logistics. Join two seasoned event planners with 50+ years of combined experience in navigating the highs and lows of event planning. They’ll share hard-earned insights, real-world lessons, and practical strategies to help you implement super cool and engaging events. Bring all your questions—this session is designed to be interactive, so we’ll tackle your biggest challenges head-on! Plus you’ll leave with sample sponsor packets, social media calendar templates and more!
Presenter: Treasure Adams (Mobile Baykeeper)
Dive into the hidden underwater world of Mobile Bay in this breakout session. Mobile Baykeeper’s Treasure Adams will first show the Southern Exposure Film, Saving Seagrass. This eye-opening film reveals the vital role of seagrass in sustaining the Bay’s ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal communities. After the screening, Treasure will lead a dynamic discussion on the challenges facing Mobile Bay’s water quality. From pollution to habitat loss, we’ll explore what’s threatening these submerged landscapes—and what we can do to protect them. Bring your curiosity and your questions as we uncover the connections between clean water, thriving habitats, and resilient coastal communities!
SESSION III
3:45 – 4:45 pm
Presenter: Henry Hughes (Friends of Shades Creek), Vickey Wheeler (Friends of Big Canoe Creek)
The first indication of a compromise in ecological integrity is often aesthetic, a change to our intuitive visual standards of environmental quality. We will create a collaborative art piece that expresses this in a common language.
Presenter: Daniel West (Geological Survey of Alabama)
Several organizations, state agencies and academic institutions have come together in conversation in recent months to share mapping information and discuss strategies for communication and prioritizing work around instream barriers and lowhead dams in Alabama for safety and ecological benefits. This session will share existing data and tools for assessing stream barriers in your watershed and tell you how you can engage with the new InBold (Instream Barriers and Other Lowhead Dams) working group.
Presenter: Carletta Davis (We Matter Eight Mile Community Association)
This session will feature a screening of the 2024 Southern Exposure film, Forces of Nature, followed by a discussion about environmental justice work in Alabama, how it differs from traditional environmental work and how environmental groups can better collaborate with EJ communities to achieve our common goals.
5 – 6 pm – Happy Hour and River Cane Basketry Demonstration with Will Holley (Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama)
Join us for Happy Hour from Alabama Beer Company outside the dining hall! We’re excited to be joined by Will Holley as he demonstrates the process of breaking down river cane into basket splints. He will explain techniques for distinguishing true river cane from the most common impostors. You’ll be able to see some Cherokee river cane baskets up close! Will will also share physical examples of invasive bamboo that can be compared to the river cane he will be breaking down.
6 – 7 pm – Dinner!
7 – 8 pm – RIVER CELEBRATION AWARDS
The Alabama Rivers Alliance devotes one evening at each Alabama Water Rally to those special organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward river protection in our state.
The highest of the River Celebration Awards is the River Hero Award. This ultimate recognition is given to passionate individuals who have had a profound impact on Alabama’s river movement through their hard work, leadership, and years of service. They go above and beyond to protect our rivers and our communities.
8 pm until you drop DANCIN’ IN THE USA
Jordan Gillis, Tad Dixon and ARA’s very own Jack West will be rockin’ our faces off on Saturday night. This newly-formed band from the Tennessee and Little River watersheds is known for a combination of string slingin’ and soulful singin’. They will be covering some classic reggae, rock, and soul hits and sharing some of their originals!
SUNDAY, MARCH 30
7:30 – 8 am – Encouraging Devotional with Reverend Michael Malcom
8 – 9 am – BREAKFAST
Check out of your rooms!
9:30 – 11:30 am PLENARY: RESILIENCY IN A CHANGING CLIMATE AND WHAT’S AHEAD
Resilience is the new buzz word for ensuring our natural and built environment are prepared, protected and funded to withstand our changing climate and the myriad other challenges facing people, communities and ecosystems. This dynamic and diverse panel will discuss the many faces of resilience and how we as advocates can engage both in our own communities and in the broader movement to foster, support and build resilience across all aspects of our lives and our society. The panel will be moderated by ARA’s Cindy Lowry.
PANEL INCLUDES:
- Abigail Franks (Southeast Climate and Energy Network, will discuss the importance of networks (using Hurricane Helene as an example) and the importance of holding space for a diversity of knowledge on climate adaptation.
- Reverend Michael Malcolm (People’s Justice Council) will discuss resilience to restoration work across the southeast
- Erin Kanzig (River Network) will discuss the work of national networks around drinking water and wastewater state revolving funds advocacy and analysis
- Sheree Martin (Energy Alabama) will discuss the clean energy and energy efficiency policies, barriers, and incentives.
- Casi Callaway (Southeast Sustainability Director’s Network) will discuss what cities in Alabama and the Southeast are doing around resilience and how we can engage with those efforts
AFTER THE PLENARY
Field Trips! More info coming soon!
Special Thank You to Our Awesome Sponsors!
