Waterkeeper Alliance

The first Riverkeeper patrol boat was launched by military veterans and fishermen who mobilized in 1966 to challenge polluters on the Hudson River. That Riverkeeper’s contribution to the Hudson’s amazing recovery has inspired the growth of over 190 autonomous “Waterkeeper” organizations across the world. Waterkeepers (including Alabama’s Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Cahaba Riverkeeper, Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper, Hurricane Creekkeeper & Mobile Baykeeper) patrol waterways, respond to citizen complaints, and enforce environmental laws.

Waterkeeper Alliance was founded in 1999 to connect and support local Waterkeeper organizations, each of which is an independent organization protecting its waterway and community. Waterkeeper Alliance offers legal, scientific, and capacity-building advice, provides networking opportunities, and often advocates for issues common to multiple local Waterkeepers (such as mercury pollution, a major issue in the Black Warrior River watershed). To view the entire list of the Waterkeeper programs worldwide click here: http://www.waterkeeper.org/ht/d/OrgDir/pid/1189

To read the History of Waterkeeper Alliance by Charles Scribner (Executive Director, Black Warrior Riverkeeper) click here: http://www.blackwarriorriver.org/library/History_Waterkeeper_Alliance.pdf

To view a "History of the Waterkeeper Movement" video, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GgMyatqNkc.

Waterkeeper Alliance’s U.S. Blueprint for Clean Water offers remedies to past policy decisions and proposes a new way for the federal government to strengthen environmental protection in all areas relating to water. To read the blueprint, click here: http://switchstudio.com/waterkeeper/issues/blueprint.html