Rivers now have rights in your backyard!

River Management Roundtable
Feb. 12| 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. ET

Rivers now have rights in Colorado communities!

As a river manager, legal expert, scientist, or general fan of river stewardship, you are probably aware of the 'Rights of Rivers' or 'Rights of Nature' movement that has dramatically changed approaches, responsibilities, and the health of rivers worldwide. Examples of rights being assigned to rivers are accumulating around the world through legislation, administrative designation, regulation, acquisition of enforceable rights, and judicial action pursuant to actions brought by parties with standing or collective management.

We will hear an update about successes and current projects through which rights are being sought for rivers in Central and South America. We will THEN learn about the rights of rivers that have been assigned to rivers in Colorado and, further, the appointment of Boulder Creek "Guardians" in Nederland, Colorado.

Learn about the breadth of the 'Rights' initiatives in our neighboring nations and how Save the Colorado River has approached and succeeded as you consider, "How could that work for my river?"

Panelists

Gary Wockner, Executive Director, Save the Colorado River Gary Wockner, PhD, is a writer and activist specializing in river and water protection. He is the founder of three organizations -- Save The Poudre, Save The Colorado, and Save The World's Rivers -- which fight against dams and support Rights of Nature to protect rivers in his local watershed in Colorado, in the Southwest U.S., and across the planet. Gary has been named a "River Hero," an "Eco-Rockstar Impacting the Planet," a “River Guardian,” and a "Renowned Environmental Leader" by environmental organizations and publications. His latest Dec. 2023 column in High Country News is titled, “Remove Dams to Fight the Climate Crisis.” Gary writes, travels, and over the past 20 years, has spearheaded the protection and restoration of his local watershed in Fort Collins, CO, as well as the Colorado River across the Southwest U.S. Gary is an award-winning environmental activist and writer — he has been named a “River Hero,” an “Eco-Rockstar Impacting the Planet,” and a “Renowned Environmental Leader” by environmental publications. Gary writes, travels, and advocates internationally for the protection of rivers, fighting climate change, and stabilizing human population. Learn more at garywockner.com.

Monti Aguirre, Latin America Program Manager, International Rivers Ms. Aguirre works as part of International Rivers’ Latin America program to support local movements for the protection of rivers; to identify new dam projects in Latin America and to examine their economic, social, and environmental impacts; and to design strategies to counteract their effects. She has worked for more than a decade in support of Amazon indigenous peoples’ rights and is co-producer of Amazonia: Voices From the Rainforest, a film on the fight of grassroots groups in the Amazon to defend their lives and their land. She has also been a tireless supporter of the people affected by Chixoy Dam in Guatemala. Prior to joining International Rivers in 1998, Ms. Aguirre worked with the Environmental Action Coalition and El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice in New York City. Ms. Aguirre has a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree from New York University in Environmental Education and Conservation.

Registration

On the second Tuesday of the month, the River Management Society hosts River Management Roundtables (virtual discussions) with professional river, greenway, and water trails leaders, planners, and managers whose river will benefit from the experiences of peer-to-peer sharing. Our goal is to facilitate an open forum in which you can ask questions, share solutions and build comradery. There's no fee or membership requirement to attend, but registration is required to help us set expectations and improve our outreach.

Watch the recording

About RMS River Management Roundtables

Each month, the River Management Society hosts virtual conversations with professional river, greenway, and water trails leaders, planners, and managers whose community, region, state and federal river will benefit from the experiences of peer-to-peer sharing. Our goal is to facilitate an open forum to support your work managing rivers. We work together to tackle common issues by asking questions, sharing solutions and building comradery.