What We Do
We identify problems affecting our waterways and ecosystems and work collaboratively to initiate sustainable solutions.
More specifically, RiverStewards achieves its goals by convening the institutional, scientific, economic, and local community resources necessary to solve specific problems that affect the health of our waterways and ecosystem. Our operating process is to identify a problem then bring together those who can be a part of the solution. At the core of the RiverStewards framework is that no one sector can, on its own, solve the myriad challenges facing our waterways and ecosystems. We do this by focusing our efforts on education, science-driven solutions, and community connections.
Education – we aim to create and improve educational opportunities to learn about, appreciate, and enhance our ecosystems.
- We do this by working with local schools, universities, and colleges through collaborative research and hands-on learning experiences;
- by striving to make opportunities for learning open and accessible to everyone, and especially underserved communities; and
- by emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and observation, especially as we adapt to our changing environments.
Science-driven solutions – guided by science, we identify key problems impacting the health of our ecosystems and initiate science-based solutions.
- We do this by working with subject matter experts;
- by using a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to help understand the root causes of issues; and
- by identifying solutions that will have a meaningful and long-lasting impact.
Community connections – we utilize our relationships with agencies, researchers, experts and local resources to collectively work towards meeting our goals.
- We do this by working with local stakeholder groups;
- by collaborating with other organizations rather than competing against them;
- and by helping to facilitate connections across ‘silos’.
Photo credit: Alyssa Hannigan