Freshwater Future Weekly: October 14, 2022

Freshwater Future Weekly: October 14, 2022

This Week: Sign up For Our 2022 All About Water Fall Convening: Federal (SRF) Infrastructure Funding Challenges & Opportunities; Clean Water Act Turns 50 On October 18th, 2022; Meet 11 Indigenous Women Standing Up for Water, Land & Climate; Meet One of Our 2021 Freshwater Future Grantees


Sign up For Our 2022 All About Water Fall Convening: Federal (SRF) Infrastructure Funding Challenges & Opportunities 

Want to learn more about State Revolving Funds (SRF) and how your organization can obtain funding? On November 2nd, we will host our Fall All About Water Convening from 9:30 AM – 12 PM ET. Save the date for our session about SRF Infrastructure, featuring national experts, community leaders, federal, state and local officials and a Q&A session. The session will include a number of topics from discussing scoring processes and definitions to how residents can ensure that their voice is heard. Sign up for All About Water here and help us spread the word!


Clean Water Act Turns 50 On October 18th, 2022! 

October 18th, 2022 marks 50 years of the Clean Water Act (CWA), one of the most important laws in our nation’s history. Environmental disasters including the fire in the Cuyahoga River triggered immense outrage in the U.S., demanding stronger protections for our waters. Though massive policy changes and improvements in infrastructure have been made, there is still much work to be done. In this week’s blog post, we reflect on the landmark law and how we got here. 


Meet 11 Indigenous Women Standing Up for Water, Land & Climate 

Ms. Magazine recently published an article featuring 11 incredible Indigenous Women who are fighting the Line 5 Pipeline. The oil and gas pipeline runs through Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario and under the Straits of Mackinac that connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The 69-year-old pipeline has outlived its anticipated lifespan of 50 years and poses a risk to the lakes that are the source of drinking water for 40 million people in the region. Despite the oil company pushing ahead with their plans to build a tunnel under the Straits to house the pipeline, Indigenous women remain undeterred and continue to raise awareness about the issue. Read more in the article here! Freshwater Future stands in solidarity with these women. 


Meet One of Our 2021 Freshwater Future Grantees 

The Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition was awarded a 2021 Freshwater Future grant for “Grassroots Citizens Advocacy at Michigan Hydropower Projects” to address project licensing, dispute resolution, and dam safety issues. For example, they reviewed draft license amendments and provided recommendations for the protection of lake sturgeon for the Alverno Project (Black River, northern Michigan). To learn more about the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition visit their website.