Fwd: River Voices - February 2026

[Sylvia Orduño]

Hello, all.

River Network has developed a new set of best practices for water providers and water advocates to use for avoiding water shutoffs. You'll find a link below. It includes several other useful resources and tools. In the state policy examples, you'll see a summary of the "Details on a Bipartisan Consensus legislative package for statewide water affordability" that we've been working on. The other example is a competing package by another group.

Let's plan to review and discuss the tool soon. 

 

Thanks,

Sylvia

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Diana Toledo <dto...@rivernetwork.org>
Date: Wed, Feb 4, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Subject: River Voices - February 2026
To: Sylvia Orduño <smor...@gmail.com>

Best Practices for Avoiding Water Shutoffs ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ No images? Click here River Network’s monthly digital newsletter. Success stories from network leaders, fresh thinking on water issues, and upcoming events and learning opportunities.     Keep the Water Flowing: Best Practices for Avoiding Water Shutoffs   River Network envisions a future where everyone can afford to pay for the clean, safe, and reliable water coming out of their taps, where no one’s water is shutoff because of their inability to pay, where communities have adequate resources for water infrastructure maintenance, and where drinking water contaminants do not threaten public health.  Our new resource, Keep the Water Flowing: Best Practices for Avoiding Water Shutoffs, includes background information on the problem of water affordability concerns and how the practice of water shutoffs harms households and communities. It also highlights concrete examples of how advocates have addressed these harms:  Three case studies of water utilities and community groups tackling affordability issues with empathetic and innovative programs and policies Ten tangible ways we can reduce the use of water shutoffs at the local level State and federal policy examples and recommendations to tackle water shutoffs and affordability crises You can take in this information in two ways: The StoryMap version is more interactive, relies on visuals, and aims to break the information down into digestible sections The standard PDF version is great for sharing with fellow practitioners and decisionmakers We created this resource so that community groups and utility leaders can feel equipped with the knowledge, capacity, and confidence to advocate and implement best practices to reduce or eliminate the use of water shutoffs. Stay tuned for details on upcoming learning sessions building upon these best practices for avoiding water shutoffs.   Read the February 2026 Issue Support the Network   Establishing a Watersheds Bill of Rights In Lane County, Oregon, grassroots organizers have worked tirelessly to get a measure on the ballot to establish a Watersheds Bill of Rights, which will be voted on in May 2026. Rob Dickinson, a member of the Protect Lane County Watersheds Steering Committee and Campaign, and Michelle Holman, one of the chief petitioners of the Lane County Watersheds Bill of Rights Initiative, share their insights on how to organize for future generations and for flourishing waterways. Read or listen to the interview. River Rally Scholarships and Award Nominations The scholarship application and award nomination form for River Rally are open. You can apply for a scholarship or nominate someone (including yourself) for an award until February 25, 2026. General registration will open next week. As we allocate scholarship funds, River Network team members will notify recipients of their award amount and confirm their ability to attend. Apply for a scholarship. Nominate an Emerging Leader or River Hero.   Events & Learning Opportunities   Advancing Nature-Based Solutions Through Economic Valuation (February 25 and March 18) Managing Stormwater in Small Communities (March 5) Funding Opportunity: Local Data for Equitable Communities (due March 3)   Read the Full February 2026 Issue         Share    Share    Forward  River Network PO Box 21387 Boulder, CO 80308 You are receiving this email because your email address is on the  River Network email list. Click the buttons below to make changes. Preferences  |  Unsubscribe

[LaSharon Laster]

I I’ll look them over

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