Thanks to those of you who came out to our February Nature Night, Restoring the Dignity of Rivers! It was an educational and engaging presentation from Dr. Colin Thorne.
Enjoy some interesting takeaways and additional resources from his talk below, or watch a recording of his presentation here.
If you have trouble viewing the slides from Colin's presentation below, click here.
Restoring the Dignity of Rivers Takeaways and Resources:
Colin's presentation focused around the idea that rivers have dignity. For Colin, this idea of dignity is demonstrated in a quote by philosopher Immanuel Kant, "everything has either a price or a dignity. Anything that has a price can be replaced by something else as its equivalent, but anything that is above all price, and therefore admits of no equivalent, has a dignity." In this way, Colin challenged us all to think of each and every river as irreplaceable.
Using examples from around the world and at home, Colin shared how rivers hold value far beyond their economic functions. These values include ecological, recreational, spiritual, and more. As we begin to value our rivers for these additional functions, we begin to see how irreplaceable rivers really are. Some communities have even given rivers the same rights that people have. As we think more about the rivers in Central Oregon, the Deschutes, the Metolius, and the Crooked River, we wonder, whether our rivers are treated with dignity?
The fundamental rights held by all rivers stated in the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers:
- The right to flow.
- The right to be free from pollution.
- The right to feed and be fed by sustainable aquifers.
- The right to perform essential functions within its ecosystem.
- The right to native biodiversity.
- The right to restoration.
Additional resources:
- Learn more about what it means to be a fluvial geomorphologist.
- Learn more about all the benefits rivers bring to our communities.
- Visit Whychus Canyon Preserve or the Metolius River Preserve to visit some of Central Oregon's incredible waterways.
- Learn about the Whanganui River, which was granted rights in 2019 by the Maori tribes in New Zealand.
- Dive into the complexities of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India.
- Learn about research done by Colin's University of Nottingham students here in Central Oregon.
About Dr. Colin Thorne
Dr. Colin Thorne has studied rivers for nearly 50 years and has worked on every continent except Antarctica. While employed primarily as an academic and tasked with performing original research, he has always considered the applicability and utility of his findings. He has acted as an advisor to river agencies and governments, globally. His books and journal papers are widely cited and his research has been recognized through awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the British Royal Geographical Society.
Learn more about:
- The Land Trust's restoration efforts on Whychus Creek.
- How you can volunteer with the Land Trust to support local rivers.
- Why the Land Trust thinks rivers are important in the face of climate change.
- Starting in April, join the Land Trust for one our Walks and Hikes to visit restored areas throughout Central Oregon!