For Women’s History Month, Katie Schmidt, Associate Director of the National Dam Removal Program at American Rivers, reflected on what motivates her to continue advocating for healthy, free-flowing rivers nationwide.
I want my grandchildren’s grandchildren to be able to enjoy clean, free-flowing rivers. I want a world where they hear the birds sing, see fish swimming in the rivers, and enjoy the blooms of spring and the vibrant colors of fall. I want clean air for them to breathe and clean water for them to drink.
As a whitewater paddler, I have developed a deep connection to rivers and a desire to protect them. Rivers are my happy place, where I feel most alive, most joyous, and I want that experience to be available in the world our children inherit.
I was seven months pregnant when I first was on Capitol Hill. When I discussed the need for protecting rivers and access to clean water, I had a built-in “talking point” that this work was important not only for people today, but for the future. Last month my family joined me on a trip to Washington, D.C. for our annual lobby days. In between my meetings and their museum visits I took them to the Capitol Building. Even though they don’t understand what all I do yet, they know I go to Capitol Hill to “talk to people about rivers.”
In my role at American Rivers, I get to work with partners across the country who are restoring rivers by removing dams. For the past several months, I have been leading webinars for our community of practice and they each start with, “Welcome, I am excited that you are here,” and I am. We cannot do this work alone; we must work together to restore rivers and protect them from future harm.
My mother and my grandmothers instilled in me a sense of wonder and respect for the natural world. I still carry forward one of the lessons from my grandmother who would always tell me, “Don’t pick the wildflowers. If everyone picked them, there wouldn’t be any flowers left to enjoy.”
When I became a mother, working to protect the environment was no longer a choice – it became a necessity. My two boys are my north star, my source of hope and direction even as we experience the impacts of climate change. For them, and for the children of generations to come, I am working to restore rivers.
What motivates you? Tell us in the comments!
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