Session 1 of 4 of RMS' 2026 Hydropower Insights Webinar Series

Session Description

Join us for a tour of the updated Hydropower Licensing 101 Toolkit, now available on the River Management Society website, updated during the last year as a handy resource for hydropower practitioners by its content organization. Whether you are navigating the relicensing process or mentoring a colleague new to licenses and settlements, this toolkit will help you find information to become a confident hydropower practitioner, thanks to a collaboration between the River Management Society and partners.

Presenters will walk through resources organized in six categories:

• The Licensing Process
• Regulations & Regulatory Roles
• Facility Types: Operations & Economics
• Collaboration & Negotiation
• Natural, Cultural and Recreational Resources, and
• Community Engagement and Accessibility - This section features Enhancing Accessible Recreation at Hydropower Projects, a guide that offers expert guidance from reviewing design principles and legal requirements to incorporating accessibility consideration and design in the licensing process.

We will explore the updated Hydropower Reform Coalition website, where the same six-category "primer" is featured in its “Intro to Licensing” section. These pages are accompanied by a robust Resources Library that include books, articles, and videos for deeper learning.

Learning Objectives: As a participant, you will:

• Understand the introductory concepts of hydropower licensing through the Hydropower 101 Toolkit.
• Learn how to access and utilize reference materials for practitioners of all experience levels, including RMS’ River Training Channel (YouTube) and the comprehensive resource library managed by the Hydropower Reform Coalition.

Speakers

• Anna Calderón Cleland (National Park Service)
• Risa Shimoda (River Management Society)

Registration

This series is open to RMS members and non-members, and there is no charge to register. 

Register

About RMS' 2026 Hydropower Insights Webinar Series

This free four-part series is designed for hydropower practitioners seeking practical knowledge and tools to navigate today’s hydro challenges. Each session highlights a different aspect of the hydropower landscape, from licensing to operational challenges, emerging technologies, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.

Participants will explore the updated Hydropower Toolkit, gain strategies for managing aquatic invasive species at hydropower facilities, understand the evolving role of energy storage in modern electric grids, and learn about the increasing participation of first nations in hydropower decision-making. Whether new to the field or a seasoned professional, attendees will leave with actionable insights, resources, and strategies to approach hydropower projects with confidence, collaboration, and a forward-looking perspective. Recordings will be sent to registrants.

Sessions in this series include:

• April 8: Hydropower Toolkits for Practitioners – Take Two! (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET)
• April 29: Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management at Hydropower Facilities (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET)
• May 20: Energy Storage in Today’s Electric Grid (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET)
• June 10: Tribes: An Evolving Presence as Hydropower Practitioners (12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET)