Thiess International Riverprize
The Thiess International Riverprize was first awarded in 1999, and has grown to become the world's most prestigious environmental award. There are now 12 international winners and more than 30 finalists who have demonstrated their outstanding achievement and commitment to restoring the world's rivers.
The Thiess International Riverprize was initially funded by Thiess Pty Ltd, and since 2003 has been funded by the International RiverFoundation.
2012 Winner Announced
2012 THIESS INTERNATIONAL RIVERPRIZE WINNER ANNOUNCED | Read Media Release
The Thiess International Riverprize winner for 2012 was announced on Tuesday 9 October, 2012, at the Riverprize Gala Dinner in Melbourne.
The 2012 Thiess International Riverprize winner is the Willamette River of Oregon, USA, Congratulations to the Meyer Memorial Trust on this fantastic achievement.
Due to the high calibre of this years applications, the judges also decided to present a Highly Commended award. This was given to the Nushagak River of Alaska, USA. Congratulations to the Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust.
The other finalists in 2012 were Prespa Lakes of Greece, and the Okavango River of Angola, Namibia and Botswana.
The International RiverFoundation would like to thank all finalists and entrants in the 2012 Thiess International Riverprize.
Please click here to find out how to enter the Thiess International Riverprize for 2013.
Riverprize Achievements
Our Riverprize winners have invested their prize award into many diverse projects to further support their river and the communities that rely on them. Some examples are:
• Small, innovative projects at the local community scale in the Mersey Basin, UK.
• Endowment funds for annual community projects, research and on ground works in the Grand River, Canada and Blackwood Basin Group, Australia.
• A regional art competition across Mekong River (South East Asia) member states encouraged school children to think about the river and environment. Winning artwork was used to produce the Mekong River Commission’s annual calendar.
• A unique school program for 600 fourth grade students in the region on the Alexander River Restoration Project, Israel.
• On ground projects in the Siuslaw Basin and St Johns River, USA.
• Twinning projects:
-Drome River, France, funds Tiangol Mangol Basin in Senegal
-Danube River, Europe funds Orange-Senqu River Commission in Southern Africa
-Thames River, England funds Ganges River, India
Thiess International Riverprize Alumni
Through our extensive network and partnerships with Riverprize winners and finalists, and other river practitioners, we are able to bring together a range of practical, informative and inspiring knowledge.
We aim exchange of knowledge or world's best practice, and establish partnerships, projects to ensure the world's rivers are healthy and sustainably managed. To inform and empower is a key component to achieve our goal.
IRF’s future aspiration is to develop an integrated and dynamic online communication tool which enables best practice river system knowledge to the world.
Thiess International Riverprize Winners
Thiess International Riverprize Winners
Willamette River Initiative
Charles River Watershed Association
The 308-square mile Charles River Watershed is home to over 1 million people, thousands of businesses, and numerous colleges and universities. The river flows 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston Harbor and is now one of the busiest recreational watersheets in the world.
In 1965, when the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) was founded, the river commonly ran in colors, depending on the paint being manufactured nearby. Swimming had been banned since the early 1950s, and should have been banned decades earlier. Sewage overflows were common and outfalls discharged industrial waste. Rowers who fell into the river routinely received tetanus shots and a course of antibiotics, and as recently as 1996, though the river was no longer a palette of colors, water quality had scarcely improved.
Today, the Charles is heralded as the cleanest urban river in the United States by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The story of the transformation of the river, which is the heart of Boston and the pulse of the 23 cities and towns through which it flows, is the story of a small science and engineering-oriented, grassroots nonprofit watershed association and the concerted efforts of many others. CRWA is led by an executive director, and its dedicated staff includes an attorney, hydrologist, engineer-modeler, urban restoration specialist, two environmental scientists, and an invaluable support staff.
Environment Agency, England
2010 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
The Environment Agency, England has been reviving the iconic River Thames. From being declared biologically dead in the 1950s the River Thames has made a remarkable recovery, with salmon and otters returning to the river. The Agency is working on a number of projects and initiatives with a range of partners to help the River Thames reach its ecological potential.
The Environment Agency is also planning for the future. The Thames Estuary 2100 vision is a 100 year adaptable plan directing the future sustainable management of tidal flood risk in the Thames estuary. It is this type of innovative, forward-thinking behaviour that demonstrates the Environment Agency’s commitment to protect and improve the environment, and promote sustainable development in England and Wales.
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
St Johns River Water Management District
2008 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
www.sjrwmd.com
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
2007 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
Awarded to International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) for its collaborative effort to improve water quality in the second largest river basin in Europe. The project demonstrated excellence in water management through establishing a network of water monitoring and sampling stations, research ships testing pollution and a transboundary warning system for accidents. “The ultimate goal of ICPDR is to see the rational use of water within the Danube Basin and to minimise negative consequences of the 2,780 km Danube on the Black Sea.”
Chengdu Sha River Restoration Project Incorporation
2006 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
Awarded to the ‘Chengdu Sha River Restoration Project Incorporation’, under the Chengdu Municipal Foreign Affairs Office in South-West China, for its significant large-scale restoration work on the Sha river. The river plays a major role in the flood management control for the city of Chengdu. By the late 1990s it was virtually dead and had become a severe health hazard. Rapid population and industrial growth saw the river suffer from city waste, raw sewage, deforestation, coal silt and rural garbage. In 2001, a comprehensive large-scale restoration project was established, bringing together over a dozen government organisations, commercial enterprises and investment agencies, including Turf Design (Australia) and the Bank of China.
The US $411 million integrated restoration project has so far improved water quality, controlled flood flows, cleaned up pollution, landscaped parks and implemented drainage systems. A focus of the work was also to enhance public use and improve understanding of sustainable use of the catchment in accordance with nature.
Communaute de Communes du Val de Drome
2005 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
Twenty years ago Jean Serret, President of the Communauté de Communes du Val de Drôme (CCVD), would not allow his children to swim in the Drôme River because of the pollution and sewage. ‘Today’, says Jean, ‘its entire length is bathing quality, attracting tourists from across Europe’. Located in southern France, and once polluted and sucked dry by agricultural irrigation, the Drôme River has seen a significant improvement in its water quality, biodiversity and flood control.
Over a twenty year period, the CCVD has monitored the river’s flows and upgraded sewage treatment facilities to ensure sustainable development of the Drôme River Valley. The restoration of the Drôme River Valley is an example of a successful collaborative partnership of local governments working through the CCVD with local community groups to produce a model for European river management. Similar river plans are being made obligatory across Europe under the European Union’s Water Framework Directive.
http://www.riviere-drome.com/
The Siuslaw Institute
2004 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
The Siuslaw River Basin Restoration Partnership consisting of the Siuslaw Institute, the Siuslaw Watershed Council, Siuslaw Soil & Water Conservation District and Siuslaw National Forest was awarded the 2004 Thiess International Riverprize for river restoration efforts leading to salmon returning to spawn.
Once one of the most productive river basins in the USA, commercial fishing, logging and agricultural practices reduced resources in the river basin close to unsustainable levels and led to the endangered listing of several species.
The Siuslaw River Basin Restoration Partnership has been working cooperatively for more than 16 years with private landowners, local organisations and state and federal agencies to restore the basin's natural functions, wildlife populations and economic activities to sustainable levels. Involved in the restoration project are confederated tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw ‘First Nations’.
Restoration work includes replicating natural habitat, decommissioning roads to control erosion and run-off and planting native vegetation to stabilise river banks and floodplains
www.siuslawinstitute.org
The Alexander River Restoration Project
2003 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
The 2003 Thiess International Riverprize was awarded to the Alexander River Restoration Administration (ARRA) in Israel for their successful model of cooperation and river restoration in a highly volatile setting.
Founded in 1995 to restore and manage the river catchment, ARRA brought together Israeli and Palestinian people to work collaboratively to clean up the Alexander River and its main tributary, the Nablus Stream. Despite raging violence between the sides for years, two ground-breaking agreements were signed by local Palestinian and Israeli leaders and the cooperation continues since 1996.
A comprehensive master plan, approved by all 20 ARRA partners in 1995, has led to the construction of the innovative Nablus Stream sewage treatment plant. The plan included the set up of a demonstration site along a stretch of river that involves scenic, ecological and drainage restoration and seven other river parks. Projects to protect the rare Nile soft-shelled turtle were carried out. The plan overall led to significant improvements in drainage, water quality, riparian vegetation, new parklands and sewage treatment. Public participation and a unique school program are important components of this comprehensive river restoration project. More than US $13 million have been invested in the Alexander River Restoration Project so far.
Mekong River Commission
2002 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was formed in 1995 by an agreement between the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, the four countries agreed on joint management of their shared water resources and development of the economic potential of the river.
The MRC drives the Mekong Programme, a Regional Cooperation Programme for the Sustainable Development of Water and Related Resources in the Mekong Basin, owned by its member countries.
The Mekong Programme aims to achieve more effective use of water and related resources to alleviate poverty while protecting the environment. Using the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), the MRC believes a well-balanced, peaceful, equitable and sustainable development process can be facilitated for the mutual benefit of all Mekong riparian countries.
www.mrcmekong.org
Blackwood Basin Group
2001 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
The 2001 Thiess International Riverprize was awarded to the Blackwood Basin Group (BBG), Australia, which was first formed in 1992 by the community concerned with the declining condition of the Blackwood River in Western Australia. Cattle had damaged the riverbank, fresh water had turned salty, fish had disappeared and parts of the river were clogged with sediment.
BBG developed an integrated catchment management plan with targets for ground and surface water management, saving and restoring native vegetation and improved river water quality.
Since winning the prize, BBG has developed an environmental management system called ‘BestFarms’ to help landholders manage their properties for the benefit of the environment, and to demonstrate this through a certification process. The Blackwood River Foundation has been established using the Riverprize money as seed funding. The Foundation promotes excellence in natural resource management and funds scholarships and research.
Grand River Conservation Authority
2000 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
Canada’s Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) was recognised in 2000 for its long-term successful restoration work on the Grand River, Ontario. Thanks to a combination of programs undertaken over the last fifty years by GRCA and its partners, the Grand River recovered after years of degradation and industrialization.
The ‘Grand Strategy’, standing for this collaborative effort of GRCA, partners and local communities, includes replanting, controlling erosion, regulating development in floodplains and wetlands, creating outreach programs to landholders, and developing outdoor recreation areas.
Solid guidelines are now in place to manage fisheries, prevent pollution and improve river water quality. The fish have returned and recreational use of the river increased significantly. It also led to reduced flood damage by 80% through reservoirs.
Mersey Basin Campaign
1999 Thiess International Riverprize Winner
The industrial revolution began along the banks of the Mersey River in the UK. It changed the world,
it changed the river through industrial pollution and urban runoff, and it changed how people used and interacted with the river. Severe contamination left the Mersey River so lifeless, it needed its own campaign to help resurrect it.
The Mersey Basin Campaign began two decades ago and has improved water quality to the best it has been in 100 years, leading to an environmental and economic revival. Much of the region’s trend-setting building and regeneration work is on the waterside, where once abandoned warehouses and industrial sites added visual pollution. The Mersey estuary is now a nature conservation resource of international importance, with new opportunities for maritime trade and cultural rebirth. The Campaign has demonstrated a remarkable turnaround in water quality and established a benchmark in community engagement.
www.merseybasin.org.uk
Thiess International Riverprize Finalists
Australian Riverprize Finalists
Charles River Watershed Association
Melbourne Water
Mattole River and Range Partnership
Sakhalin Environment Watch
Mallee Catchment Management Authority
Environment Agency, England and Thames Rivers Restoration Trust
The Environment Agency, Thames Rivers Restoration Trust and numerous partner organisations, have been reviving the iconic River Thames. From being declared biologically dead in the 1950s the River Thames has made a remarkable recovery, with salmon and otters returning to the river. The collaboration of organisations have been working on a number of projects and initiatives with a range of partners to help the River Thames reach its ecological potential.
Along side the activities to revie the Thames, the Environment Agency is also planning for the future. The Thames Estuary 2100 vision is a 100 year adaptable plan directing the future sustainable management of tidal flood risk in the Thames estuary. It is this type of innovative, forward-thinking behaviour that demonstrates the Environment Agency’s commitment to protect and improve the environment, and promote sustainable development.
Yellow River Conservancy Commission
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Natural England
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
WWF Central America
Yellow River Conservancy Commission
St. Johns River Water Management District
coming soon
St John’s River Water Management District in partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers, USA directed the prize money to on ground project outcomes to restore St John’s River.
The Lake Macquarie Project Management Committee
Healthy River Program / Swan River Trust
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
Awarded to International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) for its collaborative effort to improve water quality in the second largest river basin in Europe. The project demonstrated excellence in water management through establishing a network of water monitoring and sampling stations, research ships testing pollution and a transboundary warning system for accidents. “The ultimate goal of ICPDR is to see the rational use of water within the Danube Basin and to minimise negative consequences of the 2,780 km Danube on the Black Sea.”
The Commission uses the prize money to fund their twinning project with Orange-Senqu River Commission in Southern Africa with their prize money.
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Waitakere City Council
Yellow River Conservancy Commission
Foreign Affairs Office of Chengdu Municipal Government
The 2006 Thiess International Riverprize was awarded to the ‘Chengdu Sha River Restoration Project Incorporation’ under the Chengdu Municipal Foreign Affairs Office in south-west China for its significant restoration work on the Sha river.
The river plays a major role in the flood management control for the city of Chengdu. By the late 1990s it was virtually dead and had become a severe health hazard. Rapid population and industrial growth saw the river suffer from city waste, raw sewage, deforestation, coal silt and rural garbage.
In 2001 a comprehensive large-scale restoration project was established bringing together over a dozen government organisations, commercial enterprises and investment agencies, including Turf Design (Australia) and the Bank of China.
The US $411 million integrated restoration project has so far improved water quality, controlled flood flows, cleaned up pollution, landscaped parks and implemented drainage systems.
Meewasin Valley Authority
South Florida Water Management District
The Office of the Lake Macquarie & Catchment Coordinator
Communaute de Communes du Val de Drome
The 2005 Thiess International Riverprize was awarded to the Communauté de Communes du Val de Drôme (CCVD) in the South-East of France. Once polluted and sucked dry by agricultural irrigation, the Drôme River has seen a significant improvement in its water quality, biodiversity and flood control.
Over twenty years, the CCVD has monitored the river’s flows and upgraded sewage treatment facilities to ensure sustainable restoration of the Drôme River Valley. Water quality is a major issue for tourism and for recreational activities such as bathing, fishing and canoeing in the Valley.
The work on the Drôme River Valley is a successful example of river restoration and similar river plans are being made obligatory across Europe under the European Union’s Water Framework Directive.
Communate des Communes du Val de Drome utilised their prize money to support their twining project with the Tiangol Mangol Basin in Senegal.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
St. Croix International Waterway Commission
The Sha River Restoration Project
South Florida Water Management District
The Siuslaw Institute
The Siuslaw River Basin Restoration Partnership consisting of the Siuslaw Institute, the Siuslaw Watershed Council, Siuslaw Soil & Water Conservation District and Siuslaw National Forest was awarded the 2004 Thiess International Riverprize for river restoration efforts leading to salmon returning to spawn.
Once one of the most productive river basins in the USA, commercial fishing, logging and agricultural practices reduced resources in the river basin close to unsustainable levels and led to the endangered listing of several species.
The Siuslaw River Basin Restoration Partnership has been working cooperatively for more than 16 years with private landowners, local organisations and state and federal agencies to restore the basin's natural functions, wildlife populations and economic activities to sustainable levels. Involved in the restoration project are confederated tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw ‘First Nations’. Restoration work includes replicating natural habitat, decommissioning roads to control erosion and run-off and planting native vegetation to stabilise river banks and floodplains
The Siuslaw Institute used half their prize money for on ground projects in within the Basin, and the remainder was invested and is being held for use as matched funding for larger scale projects.
Meewasin Valley Authority
Tarun Bharat Sangh
Communaute de Communes du Val de Drome
The Alexander River Restoration Project
The 2003 Thiess International Riverprize was awarded to the Alexander River Restoration Administration (ARRA) in Israel for their successful model of cooperation and river restoration in a highly volatile setting.
Founded in 1995 to restore and manage the river catchment, ARRA brought together Israeli and Palestinian people to work collaboratively to clean up the Alexander River and its main tributary, the Nablus Stream. Despite raging violence between the sides for years, two ground-breaking agreements were signed by local Palestinian and Israeli leaders and the cooperation continues since 1996.
A comprehensive master plan, approved by all 20 ARRA partners in 1995, has led to the construction of the innovative Nablus Stream sewage treatment plant. The plan included the set up of a demonstration site along a stretch of river that involves scenic, ecological and drainage restoration and seven other river parks. Projects to protect the rare Nile soft-shelled turtle were carried out. The plan overall led to significant improvements in drainage, water quality, riparian vegetation, new parklands and sewage treatment. Public participation and a unique school program are important components of this comprehensive river restoration project. More than US $13 million have been invested in the Alexander River Restoration Project so far.
The Alexander River Restoration Administration's prize money was invested in a unique school program for 600 fourth grade students in the region on the Alexander River Restoration Project.
Tarun Bharat Sangh
Siuslaw National Forest
WWF International Danube-Carpathian Programme
Chengdu Fu & Nan Rivers Revitalisation Project
Mekong River Commission
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was formed in 1995 by an agreement between the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, the four countries agreed on joint management of their shared water resources and development of the economic potential of the river.
The MRC drives the Mekong Programme, a Regional Cooperation Programme for the Sustainable Development of Water and Related Resources in the Mekong Basin, owned by its member countries.
The Mekong Programme aims to achieve more effective use of water and related resources to alleviate poverty while protecting the environment. Using the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), the MRC believes a well-balanced, peaceful, equitable and sustainable development process can be facilitated for the mutual benefit of all Mekong riparian countries.
The Mekong River Commission used their prize money to conduct a regional art competition across member states to encourage children to think about the river, their environment, and the need to plan for the future. Award ceremonies raised awareness in local media and winning artwork was used to produce the Mekong River Commission’s annual calendar
Chengdu Fu & Nan Rivers Revitalisation Project
South Florida Water Management District
Toronto & Region Conservation Authority
WWF International Danube-Carpathian Programme
Blackwood Basin Group
The 2001 Thiess International Riverprize was awarded to the Blackwood Basin Group (BBG), Australia, which was first formed in 1992 by the community concerned with the declining condition of the Blackwood River in Western Australia. Cattle had damaged the riverbank, fresh water had turned salty, fish had disappeared and parts of the river were clogged with sediment.
BBG developed an integrated catchment management plan with targets for ground and surface water management, saving and restoring native vegetation and improved river water quality.
Since winning the prize, BBG has developed an environmental management system called ‘BestFarms’ to help landholders manage their properties for the benefit of the environment, and to demonstrate this through a certification process. The Blackwood River Foundation has been established using the Riverprize money as seed funding. The Foundation promotes excellence in natural resource management and funds scholarships and research.
Blackwood Basin Group created a trust with the prize money and established the Blackwood River Foundation. Funds will be directed to research and on-ground projects to restore the Blackwood Basin. The Fund was launched at the 13th International Riversymposium, Perth in 2010.
Christchurch City Council
Alexander River Restoration Administration
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Keep Wales Tidy Campaign
Grand River Conservation Authority
Canada’s Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) was recognised in 2000 for its long-term successful restoration work on the Grand River, Ontario. Thanks to a combination of programs undertaken over the last fifty years by GRCA and its partners, the Grand River recovered after years of degradation and industrialization.
The ‘Grand Strategy’, standing for this collaborative effort of GRCA, partners and local communities, includes replanting, controlling erosion, regulating development in floodplains and wetlands, creating outreach programs to landholders, and developing outdoor recreation areas.
Solid guidelines are now in place to manage fisheries, prevent pollution and improve river water quality. The fish have returned and recreational use of the river increased significantly. It also led to reduced flood damage by 80% through reservoirs.
GRCA created a legacy with their prize money and established an endowment fund, so each year the proceeds from the investment income are used to fund up to a dozen projects run by community groups and schools
Ministry of Construction
Wanganui District Council
Mersey Basin Campaign
River Mersey, the river that changed the world, was the inaugural Thiess International Riverprize winner. The efforts of the Mersey Basin Campaign demonstrated significant improvement in river health. Established in 1985, the Campaign faced a big challenge to clean up the Mersey River which with its estuary was widely regarded as the most polluted in Europe.
A combination of massive investment in the water infrastructure by a privatized water company, tough environmental legislation, major sewage treatment upgrades made the difference. The remarkable transformation was made possible by the work of many organisations and individuals working together. The Mersey Basin Campaign was a pioneer in partnership. Today, the Mersey and its tributaries are cleaner than at any time since the end of the industrial revolution. Water quality has improved and fish have returned to formerly polluted stretches of the river. For the first time in living memory, juvenile salmon have been found in the upper reaches of the river near Stockport.
The Mersey Basin Campaign used their prize money to support a range of small, innovative projects at the local community scale.
Judging Panel
The International RiverFoundation sincerely thanks our past and present judges for contributing their time and expertise!
Prof Paul Greenfield - Judging Panel Chair
Prof Paul Greenfield - Judging Panel Chair
Professor Greenfield has recently retired from the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland. Previously he was Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2002-07), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2001), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (1997-00) and Executive Dean of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture. Professor Greenfield currently chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee overseeing the $5.2 million Moreton Bay and Brisbane River Wastewater Management Study (since 1994); the Waste Technical Working Group, Basel Convention (since 1995); and the Advisory Board of I.P. Australia (since 1999). He is a Director of several University companies and has consulted for national and international companies and government agencies in the fields of biotechnology, wastewater management, environmental management and project evaluation.
In the 2006 Australia Day Honours, Professor Greenfield was appointed as an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to science and engineering, particularly through research in the areas of chemical engineering, biotechnology, wastewater and environmental management, and to the tertiary education sector. Professor Greenfield's research is recognised internationally for capacity to attract funding and significance of published output. He still supervises PhD students and he is credited with more than 180 journal publications, 120 conference publications, three patents and more than 20 invited international (keynote/plenary) addresses.
A/Prof Eva Abal
A/Prof Eva Abal
Associate Professor Eva Abal’s major scientific expertise and research interests include scientific management and coordination of multidisciplinary projects, ecophysiology of marine communities, with emphasis on their use as biological indicators of various impacts on ecosystems, effective science communication, strategic research planning and facilitating linkages between scientists and managers/stakeholders.
Eva is Chief Scientist at the International Water Centre and oversees the management of scientific activities of the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership (SEQHWP), including quality assurance of scientific activities and information, research plan/design development, and dissemination of information to stakeholders. Eva coordinates the SEQHWP’s Scientific Expert Panel, a consortium of experts, which oversees the strategic research direction to achieve the Healthy Waterways vision. Eva is also the Chief Scientific Officer at the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Eva’s passion is in the synthesis and effective communication of scientific information, making science relevant and useful to stakeholders and managers.
Prof Stuart Bunn
Prof Stuart Bunn
Professor Stuart Bunn is the Director of the Australian Rivers Institute at Griffith University, Brisbane Australia. His major research interests are in the ecology of river and wetland systems with a particular focus on ecosystem processes, which he has published widely on this topic.
Stuart has extensive experience working with international and Australian government agencies on water resource management issues. He is a member of the Scientific Steering Committee for the Global Water System Project, the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Panel for the Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Council and the Deputy Chair of the Scientific Expert Panel for the Southeast Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership. He also leads the Australian Climate Adaptation Research Network for Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity. In 2008, he was appointed as a National Water Commissioner.
In 2007, Stuart was awarded the Australian Society for Limnology Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to research and management of Australia’s inland waters.
Ms Leith Boully
Ms Leith Boully
Leith holds qualifications in rural science and business studies and has 20 years experience at local, state and national levels in natural resource management (particularly water). She is Director of the Boully Pastoral Company, is Chairperson of the Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation, Deputy Chair of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and is an Adjunct Professor with the School of Natural and Rural Systems Management at the University of Queensland. She was member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists from 2002 – 2009 and served for two terms as Chairperson of the Community Advisory Committee to the Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council.
Mr Bart Fokkens
Mr Bart Fokkens
Bart Fokkens is the Chairman of the European Centre for River Restoration, a Pan – European network of national river restoration centres and other members bound by their common mission to promote and enhance ecological river restoration throughout the greater European region. The ECRR was established in the mid nineties with Bart Fokkens being one of the founders. In 2005 he became the chairman of the ECRR.
Bart worked for 40 years with the Ministry for Water Management in The Netherlands in different positions in the field of Land, Water and Wetland Management. Now he is an technical advisor/ambassador for Wetland International, an independent not-for-profit, global organisation working to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity.
Between 2008 and 2010, Bart was also president of the Dutch National Union of Provincial Nature Conservation Organisations, with about 500 conservation sites covering a total of ca. 100.000 ha, mainly wetlands, managed by 12 member organisations, each of them from one of the Dutch provinces.
In 2007, Bart was awarded with the Russian Medal “From Understanding to Unity” for having excelled in promoting ideals contributing to the environmental safety of the planet and health of its inhabitants, preventing international conflicts, strengthening international connections and drawing together diverse national cultures.
In 1999 he was awarded to Knight of the 5th degree in the Order of Oranje Nassau in the Netherlands. And since 2005 he is a Chamberlain of her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands.
Dr David Garman
Dr David Garman
David’s career has covered the full range of environmental management from water resources and pollution control through to new environmental technologies, covering all aspects of measurement, management policy and strategic analysis. He is presently appointed as the Founding Dean of the School of Freshwater Studies at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, USA. He took up this position in September 2011. His area of research and development focuses on applications of advanced technology to all aspects of environmental management but with a key emphasis on water and wastewater. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has strong international linkages within the Americas and with Europe, and Asia.
Formerly as Chief Executive of Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre he had responsibility for research and development with a budget of about AUS$10M/year focused on applications of advanced biotechnology to all aspects of environmental management but with an emphasis on water and wastewater. Dr Garman has served as both an executive and non-executive director for private and listed companies. He is well experienced in the innovation and commercialisation of new technologies.
Dr Garman is immediate past-President and former Chairman of the International Water Association. He has served 2 terms being elected in 2005 to serve to September 2010. He has served on the IWA board for over 10 years including 2 terms as senior vice president. He continues as a director and Past President of IWA.
Mr Alan Vicory P.E, BCEE
Mr Alan Vicory P.E, BCEE
Mr Alan Vicory, Jr. received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Military Institute in 1974. That same year he joined the consulting firm of Greeley & Hansen Engineers in Richmond, Virginia where he was involved in water and wastewater studies and designs. Interspersed with his employment at Greeley & Hansen was duty as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Officer.
From 1979 through 2011, Alan served on the staff of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), where he was Executive Director and Chief Engineer for 24 years. ORSANCO is an interstate agency established in 1948, by state compact, to control and abate water pollution in the Ohio Basin. Members of the Commission represent Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the United States and are appointed by the respective state Governors and the President. The Commission is a watershed-based regulatory agency and sets standards for discharges to the Ohio River, operates water monitoring systems, responds to spills, conducts surveys and serves to coordinate water pollution control on a river management basis.
In January 2012, Alan joined Stantec Consulting as a Principal in the firm where he is assisting with market development and on project teams as well as continuing his leadership roles in professional associations.
Alan is a licensed professional engineer in Ohio and Virginia and is board certified in the area of water and wastewater by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. He is a past president of the Academy.
He is active in the Water Environment Federation and international affairs through the International Water Association (IWA - Former Chairman of the Watershed and River Basin Management Specialist Group). Also, he is a Past President of the Association of Clean Water Administrators and Past Chairman of the Water Environment Research Foundation. He is a member of the American Water Works Association and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). He is the recipient of awards sponsored by AAEE and NSPE and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.
Ms Gayle Wood
Ms Gayle Wood
Gayle Wood is currently the Chief Administrative Officer of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority in Ontario, Canada - one of Ontario’s 36 watershed based environmental protection agencies. Gayle has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor, and a Certificate in Strategic Management from the Schulich School of Business, York University in Ontario.
Gayle has worked for over 30 years in environmental protection with several conservation authorities, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of the Environment, and the private sector.
She has worked internationally regarding integrated watershed management with China, Thailand, Suriname, Russia and Vietnam, winning an award from the State Council of China in 2000. She was proud to see the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority win the 2009 Thiess International Riverprize.
Copyright © 2008-2011 International RiverFoundation. Terms of Use | Privacy
Privacy Statement
Introduction
International Riverfoundation is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect personal information in our care.
How do we collect personal information?
We may request information about you when you purchase or make enquires about our products and services; when you enter competitions or register for promotions or when you request brochures or other information. We may also collect information when we invite you to complete surveys or provide us with feedback.
What personal information do we collect?
We collect information that is required for use in the business activities of International Riverfoundation This may include: name; mailing address; e-mail; telephone number(s); financial details necessary in order to process various transactions and any other information you may elect to provide to us.
How do we use personal information?
We may use personal information to provide information and services. International Riverfoundation may use the information for related purposes such as:
Identification of fraud or error
Regulatory reporting and compliance
Internal accounting and administration
Servicing our relationship with our customers by, amongst other things, providing updates on promotions and services we think may interest you or to involve you in market research.
Is the information disclosed to third parties?
We may disclose information about individuals as permitted by law. We may share information with regulatory bodies and law enforcement officials, provide information to protect against fraud and share information with your consent.
Security of information
International Riverfoundation has implemented appropriate physical, electronic and managerial security procedures in order to protect personal information from loss, misuse, alteration or destruction. International Riverfoundation regularly reviews security and encryption technologies and will strive to protect information to the fullest extent possible.
Access and correction of personal information
We invite you to access and correct any personal information we may hold on you. To do this, you need to contact us by email at info@riverfoundation.org.au to make the necessary enquiries.
Opt-Out
Should you no longer wish to receive information on services we think may be of interest to you , kindly email us at info@riverfoundation.org.au.
Linked Sites
Our website may contain links to other sites. International Riverfoundation is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites. We encourage you to read the privacy statements of any linked sites as their Privacy Policy may differ from ours.
Feedback & complaints
We welcome your inquiries or comments about our Privacy Policy. Should you have any comments or complaints please contact us at info@riverfoundation.org.au.
Changes to our privacy policy
From time to time it may be necessary for us to review and revise our privacy policy. We reserve the right to change our privacy policy at any time.
Terms of Use
This website is owned and operated by International RiverFoundation.
Use of this website is subject to the terms of use.
International RiverFoundation is not liable to you or any other for any loss in connection with the use of this website or a linked website. This general disclaimer is not restricted or modified by any of the following specific warnings and disclaimers. Please read the full terms of use.
Please note: International RiverFoundation reserves the right to amend the terms of use at any time. However, since you are bound by these terms of use, you should periodically refer to them.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
General Disclaimer
International RiverFoundation is not liable to you or anyone else for any loss in connection with use of this website or a linked website. This general disclaimer is not restricted or modified by any of the following specific warnings or disclaimers.
Specific Warnings and Disclaimers
The Trade Practices Act and similar State and Territory legislation in Australia may confer rights and remedies on you in relation to the provision by us of goods or services on the Website, which cannot be excluded, restricted or modified. We do not exclude these rights but do exclude all other conditions and warranties implied by custom, law or statute.
We are not liable to you or anyone else if interference with or damage to your computer systems occurs in connection with use of this website or a linked website. You must take your own precautions to ensure that whatever you select for your use from this website is free of viruses or anything else (such as worms or trojan horses) that may interfere with or damage the operations of your computer systems. We do not warrant that your access to the website will be uninterrupted or error free or that any defects will be corrected.
We may, from time to time, change or add to this website (including these terms of use) or the information, products and services without notice. However, we do not undertake to keep this website updated. We are not liable to you or anyone else if errors occur in the information on this website or if that information is not up-to-date.
Under no circumstances (including but not limited to any act or omission on the part of International RiverFoundation) will International RiverFoundation be liable for any indirect, incidental, special and/or consequential damages or loss of profits whatsoever which result from any use or access of, or any inability to use or access, the website.
In these terms of use, certain words (particularly capitalised ones) may have special meanings. If they do these special meanings are set out in the "General" section.
The terms of use are effective until terminated by International RiverFoundation and International RiverFoundation may terminate this agreement and your access to the website at any time without notice. In the event of termination you are no longer authorised to access the website, but all restrictions imposed on you and all disclaimers and limitations of liability set out in the terms of use will survive.
COPYRIGHT
This website is our copyright property. You are provided with access to it only for your personal and non-commercial use. Other than for the purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the Copyright Act 1968 or any other applicable legislation throughout the world, you may not, in any form or by any means:
• Adapt, reproduce, store, distribute, transmit, print, display, perform, publish or create derivative works from any part of this website; or
• Commercialise any information, products or services obtained from any part of this Website without our written permission.
TRADE MARKS
International RiverFoundation products and services referred to in this website are trade marks of International RiverFoundation. Other product and company names mentioned in this website may be the trade marks of other people or entities. Nothing contained in the website should be construed as granting any licence or right of use of any trade mark or part of any trade mark displayed on the website without the written permission of International RiverFoundation or third party owner.
LINKED WEBSITES
This website may contain links to linked websites. Those links are provided for convenience only and may not remain current or be maintained. Links to those websites should not be construed as any endorsement, approval, recommendation or preference by us of the owners or operators of the sites, or of any information, products or services referred to on those other sites unless specifically stated. Unless otherwise stated the linked websites are not under the control of International RiverFoundation and International RiverFoundation is not responsible for the contents of any linked website. You link to any such website at your own risk.
GENERAL
In this website:
"IRF" means International RiverFoundation unless otherwise specified.
"linked websites" means websites of persons or entities other than International RiverFoundation which are hyperlinked from this website.
"Personal Information" means any information from which your identity is apparent or can be reasonably be ascertained.
"website" means the whole or any part of the web pages located at www.RiverFoundation.org.au (including the lay-out of this website, individual elements of the website design, underlying code elements of this website, or text, sounds, graphics, animated elements or any other content of this website.)
"We" and "us" refer to International RiverFoundation, and "our" has the same meaning.
These terms of use are governed by the laws in force in Queensland, Australia and you irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland, Australia and any courts which may hear appeals from those courts.
Nothing contained in these terms of use derogates from International RiverFoundation right to comply with law enforcement requests or requirements relating to your use of this website or information provided to or gathered by International RiverFoundation with respect to that use.
© 2007-2010 International RiverFoundation
All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without consent.
Online Contact Form
To send us a message, please fill in the required field (*), then press the submit button. The subject and/or message fields may be prepopulated with information pertaining to your enquiry.
(Title Dynamically Inserted)
(Dynamically Inserted)
IRF eNewsletter Subscription
Thank you for your interest in subscribing to our eNewsletter. Please take the time to fill in a couple more bits of information so we know a little bit more about you. All your information remains secure and private for our records only.
Apply Online for Riverprize
In order to begin the online application process, please fill out some simple details for us and select which application you'd like to complete. Text fields with asterisks are mandatory. Thank you.