River Network selects 2017 Urban Waters Learning Network Award recipients during their afternoon portion of the Urban Waters Learning Forum. This is the first year the Urban Waters Learning Network have presented these awards, which seek to honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to this network of urban waters practitioners and to the field of urban waters protection and restoration.

The Blue River Watershed Association (BRWA) is the inaugural recipient of the Urban Waters Learning Network Expert Award in the category of Environmental Education. BRWA Executive Director, Lynn Youngblood will officially accept the award on behalf of the organization on May 8th in a ceremony at the Urban Waters Forum held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The award comes with a full scholarship to attend the River Rally Ceremony (i.e. registration fees, which includes all sessions and included meals), 4-nights of lodging, travel expenses to Grand Rapids, and up to $6500 in professional services to continue to support BRWA’s mission to restore and protect watersheds through environmental education, community outreach, partnerships, and collaboration.

“The selection of the 2017 Urban Waters Learning Network Award recipients was nationally competitive. BRWA’s ongoing efforts to restore our nation’s urban rivers are truly worthy of this recognition”.

The Urban Waters Learning Network is a peer-to-peer network of people and organizations that share practical on-the-ground experiences in order to improve urban waterways and revitalize the neighborhoods around them. Groundwork USA and River Network are partners in coordinating the Learning Network, providing support and opportunities for members to share successes, challenges, and technical resources. To learn more about the Urban Waters Learning Network visit www.urbanwaterslearningnetwork.org.

For more information about the 2017 Urban Waters Learning Network Award Winners visit https://www.rivernetwork.org/congratulations-2017-urban-waters-learning-network-award-winners/. To learn more about the Blue River Watershed Association visit www.brwa.net