Programs

The Five Things Framework

During the strategic planning process, our goal was to simplify what we do at RiverSides. It became clear that the most cogent representation of what RiverSides does is our original program framework the Five Things You Can Do for Your River. What is it about Five Things that makes it stand as the representative not only of RiverSides but of all programs and projects? The answer is that almost everything we have developed over the first ten years derives from Five Things. That program forms the soul of our Vision and Mission.

To simplify what we do and to move the organization towards meeting our objectives we have built two program themes under the overarching umbrella of the Five Things program. Our goal is to build a profile for RiverSides that strengthens our offerings to a broader community of users.

Creating RiverSafe Communities

RiverSafe Communities are the representation of what we consider effective watershed development to be for all urban and urbanizing lands. It is an ideal achieved through application of the Five Things practices and products. Ultimately, RiverSides seeks to create whole “RiverSafe Communities” in which Five Things principles are uniformly applied to prevent all harmful runoff from urban properties.

Fostering Urban Watershed Leadership

Complementing RiverSafe Communities, we provide leadership on the issue of urban watershed protection through our communications based outreach to the public, organizations, municipalities and decision makers, the information media, and implementers.

Five Things You Can Do For Your River

Stop Runoff Catch the rain that lands on your property. Store the water for later use in a rain barrel or rain harvesting system, or simply allow it to soak into the ground using infiltration trenches, soakaway pits or vegetated swales.

Go Toxic-Free Stop using harmful and unnatural chemicals in and around your house. Choose natural and environmentally friendly options that are safe for your plants, local wildlife and the watershed.

Use Less Water Water efficiency saves money and reduces the demand on our waterways and treatment plants. Use less water and consider harvesting rainfall to use a natural and free resource!

Naturalize Use trees and gardens to restore the natural water cycle on your property. Replace hard surfaces with natural groundcovers and porous pavement to allow rainfall to soak into the ground.

Get Involved The path to clean water begins at home and we all need to do our part. Learn more, support RiverSides and other local campaigns to clean your rivers and local water supply.