Earlier this month at the Waterkeeper Alliance Global Conference, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Brent Walls led a drone training sessions for interested Waterkeeper groups to learn the basics of drone piloting. For Waterkeepers and other environmental defenders like Brent, drones are a key tool for monitoring watersheds and identifying sources of pollution. In fact, Brent was able to use evidence obtained via drone to sue manufacturer Specialty Granules LLC for violating the Clean Water Act!
Associated Press reporters Michael Phillis and Julio Cortez were able to join us for the training session, and have published an article covering the use of drones by Waterkeepers and other environmental defenders in numerous publications including The Washington Post. Thank you to Michael and Julio for joining us and for their wonderful reporting!