Friends Of The River Foundation

FRIENDS OF THE RIVER PROTECTS AND RESTORES CALIFORNIA RIVERS BY INFLUENCING PUBLIC POLICY AND INSPIRING CITIZEN ACTION.

FRIENDS OF THE RIVER'S (FOR) PROGRAM WORK SEEKS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE CALIFORNIA RIVERS THROUGH HYDROPOWER REFORM, RESTORING FLOWS, ADVOCATING FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER STORAGE, FLOOD MANAGEMENT, LEGAL PROTECTION, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATIONAL PROGRAM WORK FOCUSED ON THE FOLLOWING AREAS: PROTECTING RIVERS FROM COSTLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY DESTRUCTIVE DAMS, RESERVOIRS AND DIVERSIONS. FRIENDS OF THE RIVER CONTINUED TO LEAD A COALITION OF CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION RESPONSE TO PROPOSED SURFACE WATER RESERVOIR PROJECTS. A CRITICAL PART OF THAT WORK INCLUDES MANAGING THE STORAGE RESPONSE GROUP (SRG), WHICH IS A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COALITION THAT WORKS ON RESERVOIR PROJECTS. SOME OF THE NOTABLE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE PROPOSED SITES RESERVOIR, DEL PUERTO CANYON DAM, AND THE SHASTA DAM RAISE. FRIENDS OF THE RIVER ORGANIZED ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS, ENGAGED IN CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTING AND FEEDBACK TO THE ACCOUNTABLE REGULATORY AGENCIES, AND GENERATED EARNED MEDIA TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. FOR ALSO RESPONDED TO THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED DELTA TUNNEL, WHICH WOULD ENABLE MORE WATER EXPORTS FROM THE CRASHING DELTA ECOSYSTEM. PROMOTING HYDROPOWER POLICY, SYSTEM, AND OPERATIONAL REFORM. DAMS WITH HYDROPOWER OPERATIONS CAN HAVE A TREMENDOUS NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON RIVERS. THESE HYDROPOWER OPERATIONS ARE RELICENSED ONCE A GENERATION, EVERY 30 TO 50 YEARS. FRIENDS OF THE RIVER WORKED ON A NUMBER OF RELEVANT HYDROPOWER AND PUMPED HYDROPOWER PROJECT RELICENSING PROCEEDINGS, LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL ISSUES TO PROTECT, ENHANCE, AND RESTORE CALIFORNIA'S RIVERS, WATERSHEDS, AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY HYDROPOWER OPERATIONS. MUCH OF THE WORK WAS DEDICATED TO THE TRACKING AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE RESPONSE TO THE INTENSIFYING CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 401 WAIVER ISSUE THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING CONTINUING LITIGATION CHALLENGING THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION'S WAIVER OF SECTION 401 ON HYDROPOWER PROJECTS IN THE YUBA AND MERCED RIVER WATERSHEDS. FRIENDS OF THE RIVER ALSO PROVIDED LEADERSHIP ON PRIORITY PROJECTS SUCH AS OROVILLE DAM OPERATIONS AND FLOOD SAFETY. PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE WATER SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE. HEALTHY RIVERS ARE CRITICAL FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE. CLIMATE CHANGE IS BRINGING INCREASED DROUGHT AND FLOOD TO CALIFORNIA. HEALTHY RIVERS, WITH NATURE-BASED MULTI-BENEFIT FLOOD PLAINS CAN PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR BOTH DROUGHT AND FLOOD, BY STORING FLOOD WATERS AND RECHARGING GROUNDWATER. NATURAL RIVER FLOWS SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS UP AND DOWN THE WATERSHED, PROVIDING RELIEF FROM DROUGHT, FLOOD, DISEASE, AND INVASIVE SPECIES, AS WELL AS PROMOTING A RIPARIAN ENVIRONMENT TO PROVIDE REFUGE FROM EXTREME HEAT AND COMBAT WILDFIRE RISK. FOR DEVOTES SIGNIFICANT TIME AND EFFORT TO POLICY ANALYSIS AND ENGAGING IN CONSTRUCTIVE PUBLIC COMMENTING TO RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS TO CALIFORNIA RIVERS. BUILDING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR RIVERS. FRIENDS OF THE RIVER CONNECTS PEOPLE TO RIVERS THROUGH OUR RAFTING AND CANOE PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS WERE DRASTICALLY REDUCED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IN 2022, FRIENDS OF THE RIVER PRODUCED ROBUST AND INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS CONSISTING OF EMAILS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WEBINARS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SAVING RIVERS. IN LATE 2022, FOR ALSO BEGAN TO REBUILD ITS RAFTING PROGRAM IN ANTICIPATION OF 2023 ACTIVITIES.