The River Management Society

(RMS) is a national nonprofit professional organization whose mission is to support professionals who study, protect, and manage North America's rivers. Our roots are in the former Interagency Whitewater Committee (est. 1972) and the 1996 merger of the American River Management Society (est. 1988) and River Federation (est. 1985). Dedicated to holistic river management, our diverse membership includes federal, state, and local agency employees, educators, researchers, consultants, organizations and citizens.

How We Do It

RMS advances the profession of river management by providing a unique variety of forums for sharing information about the appropriate use and management of river resources. RMS continues to build its base of expertise in all aspects of river management and stewardship including an ecosystem approach to recreation, water quality, riparian health, and watershed management. Besides creating multiple opportunities each year for river professionals to learn, train and network, RMS is growing partnerships that will help river professionals serve both our river resources and the people who use and enjoy them.

There are seven regional chapters in the United States: Alaska, Pacific, Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast, as well as a Canadian chapter organized as the Canadian River Management Society (CRMS). Each chapter holds meetings and regional field trips to share and discuss river management issues on a local level, building lasting partnerships along the way. Online workshops and trainings connect members across geographical boundaries.  We are always looking for new ways to connect members to each other and each others' colleagues.

Our Mission and Goals

The mission of the River Management Society is to support professionals who study, protect, and manage North America's rivers.

Goal 1: Professional Development - Support career-long learning, quality in river management, and leadership in our field.

Goal 2: Information and Education - Expand our understanding of rivers through networking and the sharing of river science and management experiences.

Goal 3: Provide a Voice - Promote the use of science and research in policy development and decision-making at all levels, public and private.

Goal 4: Collaborate - Build capacity in our organization to achieve these goals.