As a new member of the over 330 member organizations of the Waterkeeper Alliance the, Edisto Riverkeeper serves as the full-time primary advocate for the Edisto River Basin, working to ensure fair access to clean water in the communities that it serves, because everybody needs water. Waterkeeper Alliance has been working to protect rivers since 1983 and has become the fastest-growing clean water movement in the world. Our unique brand of grassroots advocacy connects citizen involvement and dedicated, full-time organizational leadership with a strong network of water experts and activists from across the globe. Together, we acquire and share tactics that have proved successful in holding polluters accountable and challenging bad policies that harm our waterways and peoples ability to access and enjoy them. The Riverkeeper model has proven successful time and time again in South Carolina, as shown through the Savannah Riverkeeper, Congaree Riverkeeper, and Santee Riverkeeper. Drinkable, fishable, and swimmable waterways are a public right to Americans, a right that we fight to protect. It is time for the great Edisto to have a full-time advocacy organization. We are a member-supported, non-governmental entity that encourages sound policy decisions regarding the use of water resources in the entire Edisto River Basin so that all may enjoy fishable, swimmable, and drinkable water resources.