Defending the Clean Water Act Through Citizen Action

 

      The Savage River Watershed Association (SRWA) will hold their regular meeting at the Route 40 Elementary School on Thursday, November 20th at 7 p.m.  Each meeting brings local citizens and SRWA members together to talk about issues within the watershed and to host an expert from an assortment of professions.  The guest speaker for this meeting will be Robin Broder from Potomac Riverkeeper (PRK), who as the Director of Operations oversees many of PRK's programs.  The Potomac Riverkeeper is an action oriented organization who fights to defend the Clean Water Act and works to ensure that illegal pollution inputs to the Potomac and its tributaries are stopped.

      Ms. Broder will explain how Potomac Riverkeeper is enhancing the waterways of the Potomac through community action and enforcement.  This organization emphasizes community involvement in efforts to ensure accountability of those who illegally pollute our waters.  Ms. Broder will teach the audience members about PRK's new program, "Get the DIRT Out!".  This program emphasizes community involvement in detecting and reporting pollution and trains citizens to become more effective at protecting our waterways.  Sediment pollution is a systemic problem within the Potomac River watershed and is attributed to many Clean Water Act violations.  Headwater streams containing brook trout are especially vulnerable to even small doses of sediment pollution.  Brook trout need cold clear water in order to survive and sediment can harm their spawning habitats, thus diminishing trout fisheries within the watershed.  While all the streams in the Savage River watershed currently meet Clean Water Act requirements for sediment loads, SRWA and PRK are working hard to ensure that it stays that way.

 

      Ms. Broder has over 18 years of experience working in nonprofits including  nine years with the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network as Board President and then as Director of Development during a time of rapid growth in programs and funding.  She was responsible for establishing internal financial controls as well as bringing in many new foundation grants and expanding donations from individuals, corporations and other groups.  Before settling in the DC area, Broder worked with public housing residents on a public-private partnership to redevelop their neighborhood on the south side of Chicago.  Ms. Broder has a MA in Public Policy from the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy Studies.

 

      The SRWA is a group of local landowners and other citizens dedicated to preserving and enhancing the rural nature and natural resources of the Savage River watershed.  Members assist interested landowners and public land managers with environmental stewardship efforts and educational outreach.  Anyone who is concerned about the Savage River watershed is invited to join.  SRWA meetings are held at Route 40 Elementary School on the third Thursday of odd numbered months, beginning at 7 p.m.  The school is located at 17764 National Pike, a few miles west of Frostburg.  For more information, persons may contact SRWA via email at SRWAcoordinator@gmail.com, or by telephone at 301-689-7156.  The SRWA is a non profit charitable organization.  Donations may be sent to: Savage River Watershed Association, PO Box 355, Frostburg, MD 21532.

 

Savage River Watershed Association

301-689-7156

P.O. Box 355

Frostburg, MD 21532

 

"The Savage River Watershed Association (SRWA) is a group of local landowners and other citizens dedicated to preserving and enhancing the rural nature and natural resources of the Savage River watershed by assisting landowners and public land managers with environmental stewardship efforts and educational outreach."