The Water’s Edge

Each year Stroud Water Research Center hosts The Water’s Edge gala in celebration of our most precious resource — water. This special evening allows us to bring together our friends and neighbors whose support is critical to our endeavors. Proceeds from the evening support our freshwater research, restoration, and education programs.

Stroud Award for Freshwater Excellence

Presented at The Water’s Edge gala each year since 2011, the Stroud Award for Freshwater Excellence, also known as the SAFE Water Award, is a prestigious award for outstanding achievement in freshwater-related activities. Honorees represent regions and watersheds from around the world and a broad range of freshwater-related activities, professions, and scientific disciplines. The award honors individuals, institutions, or organizations whose work contributes broadly to:

• Conserving and protecting freshwater resources and ecosystems,
• Improving the quantity and quality of fresh water on the planet, or
• Developing policies and practices which help perpetuate clean fresh water for future generations of humans and wildlife.

SAFE Water Award Recipients

Click on an image to learn more.

Paul Greenberg (2024)

Laura Turner Seydel (2023)

Michael E. Mann, Ph.D. (2022)

Melissa D. Ho, Ph.D. (2021)

The Redford Center (2020)

Chad Pregracke (2019)

American Rivers and Its President, Bob Irvin (2018)

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco (2017)

The National Park Service and Its Director, Jonathan Jarvis (2016)

Alexandra Cousteau (2015)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (2014)

Jane Lubchenco (2013)

Kathryn Sullivan (2013)

John Briscoe (2012)

Olivia Newton-John and John Easterling (2011)

The Water’s Edge Speakers

Peter Gleick (2010)

Ian Hutton (2009)

Flip Nicklin (2008)

Kristine McDivitt Tompkins (2007)

Wangari Maathai (2006)

William McDonough (2005)

Sylvia Earle (2004)

Jane Goodall (2003)