Who Is Waterkeeper
Who Is Waterkeeper is a monthly blog series that spotlights and celebrates the collective voices of our global water movement. Each profile features an interview with a different Waterkeeper, amplifying their impact, mission, and work to protect clean water in communities around the world.
Who Is Waterkeeper: Cheikh Fadel Wade, Bargny Coast Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Waterkeeper Movement
Cheikh Fadel Wade was born and raised in Bargny, Senegal, an idyllic and peaceful coastal community that traditionally relied on the once abundant fishing...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Tofazzal Sohel, Khowai River Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Waterkeeper Movement
Ever since childhood, Tofazzal Sohel has been involved in his community, advocating for both his fellow members of the community, as well as their shared...
Who Is Waterkeeper, Godfrey Kitimbo, Kyoga Nile Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Waterkeeper Movement
Godfrey Kitimbo is the Kyoga Nile Waterkeeper in Uganda. He was born and raised along the NIle River in Jinja, Uganda. His parents were raised nearby alongside...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Benjamin Ford, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Waterkeeper Movement
Ben Ford has only been the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper in Maryland since 2023, but has spent most of his life exploring and enjoying the watershed. Ben grew...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Dr Venkatesh Dutta, Gomti River Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Waterkeeper Movement
Dr Venkatesh Dutta is the Gomti River Waterkeeper in India. He grew up surrounded by water, specifically the many ponds that dotted his hometown. Some...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Dr. Catie Alves, South County Coastkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | Waterkeeper Movement
Dr. Catie Alves is the South County Coastkeeper in Rhode Island. Some of Rhode Island’s most ecologically important and vital habitats exist on Rhode...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Nedup Tshering, WangChu Waterkeeper
- By: Colin Campbell
- Blog | News | Press Releases | Waterkeeper Movement
At sixteen thousand feet, in the thin air of the high Himalayas, a stream forms from pristine glacial meltwater. As several streams converge into a river,...
Who Is Waterkeeper: RJ Turcotte, Nantucket Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Press Releases | Waterkeeper Movement
RJ Turcotte grew up obsessed with the water. He loved the ocean and pretty much anything that swam. He fostered that curiosity at the University of Rhode...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Riley Lewis, White Oak Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Waterkeeper Movement
In 2022, Riley Lewis accepted her dream job as the White Oak Waterkeeper in North Carolina, a position that allowed her to apply her education and experience...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Justinn Overton, Coosa Riverkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Waterkeeper Movement
Justinn Overton is the Coosa Riverkeeper in Alabama. The Coosa River is many things to her: an important part of her childhood memories, a driving force...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Megh Ale, Karnali River Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Megh Ale first saw the Karnali River in 1991. He hiked a full two days to get there, and it was well worth the effort. The waters were turquoise blue and...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Xiaojing Wei, Upper Yellow River Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- Blog | News | Waterkeeper Movement
Xiaojing Wei is the Upper Yellow River Waterkeeper in China. From a very young age, growing up in Henan Province, she was always interested in nature....
Who Is Waterkeeper: Nabil Musa, Waterkeepers Iraq-Kurdistan
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News | Waterkeeper Movement
Nabil Musa grew up in Iraq, but was forced to leave the country in 1996 due to the country’s ongoing military conflict. His childhood was also marred...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Patricio Chambers, Guayllabamba Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Patricio Chambers has been the Guayllabamba Waterkeeper in Ecuador since 2018. He learned the value of caring for nature from his father, Rafael Chambers,...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Theo Thomas, London Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
The city of London was founded nearly 2,000 years ago by the Romans, who initially called it Londinium. Since that time, London has established itself...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Liliana Guerrero, Bocas de Ceniza Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Liliana Guerrero has been the Bocas de Ceniza Waterkeeper since 2010. She had been living in Cartagena, Colombia, working as a law professor. A colleague...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Jim Moir, Indian Riverkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Jim Moir has been Indian Riverkeeper in Florida since 2022, though the organization has been around since 2000. Jim is technically the fifth Indian Riverkeeper,...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Amanda Reichelt-Brushett, Richmond Riverkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Richmond Riverkeeper is one of the newest Waterkeeper groups in the movement. Their official membership only went live in December of 2023. But the impetus...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Nelson Brooke, Black Warrior Riverkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News | Waterkeeper Movement
Nelson Brooke joined Black Warrior Riverkeeper in Alabama when a friend from elementary school asked if he could help run the nascent organization for...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Bruce Reznik, Los Angeles Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News | Waterkeeper Movement
Los Angeles Waterkeeper Bruce Reznik grew up in a quiet, residential area of Los Angeles County. As a kid, he can remember seeing signs pointing out the...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Bunleap Leang, Lower Sesan River Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Bunleap Leang is the Lower Sesan River Waterkeeper in Cambodia. The Lower Sesan River runs for roughly 225 kilometers, or about 140 miles, and is a sanctuary...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Alice Volpitta, Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Alice Volpitta can trace her love for water back to when she grew up in Maryland crabbing and fishing with her dad on the tributaries of the Chesapeake...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Angie Rosser, West Virginia Headwaters Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Angie Rosser is the West Virginia Headwaters Waterkeeper and also the Executive Director of the West Virginia Rivers Coalition. She grew up in Ohio and...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Jerry White Jr, Spokane Riverkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Spokane Riverkeeper, Jerry White Jr, says his love of the water goes way back. He describes his mother and grandfather. specifically, as ‘river people’...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Julie Silverman, Lake Champlain Lakekeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Throughout the world, large bodies of water contain within them a bit of mythology. Humans can’t breathe under water. We can’t see or ever truly...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Cheryl Nenn, Milwaukee Riverkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
The city of Milwaukee is home to the confluence of three rivers: the Menomonee River, the Kinnickinnic River, and the aptly named Milwaukee River. The...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Anna D’Apolito, Lake Atitlán Waterkeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Lake Atitlán is a historically significant body of water that is also known for its beauty and volcanic activity. It enjoys UNESCO designation and is...
Who Is Waterkeeper: Heather Smith, Grand Traverse Baykeeper
- By: Thomas Hynes
- News
Grand Traverse Bay sits at the northern end of Michigan’s lower peninsula. The embayment is known for its pristine blue waters that look almost turquoise...