Clean Water Is Bipartisan
How do you build bipartisan alliances in a deeply divided political landscape? You meet people where they are—even if that means sitting on a truck tailgate drinking beer out of a cooler. In this episode of Equity in Every Drop, host Thomas Hynes sat down with Tonya Bonitatibus, the multi-talented Executive Director and Riverkeeper for Savannah Riverkeeper. With a 400-mile-long river system to protect spanning Georgia and South Carolina, Tonya discusses how her unique background—from marketing to biology labs and even competitive horseback riding—has equipped her to translate highly complex, nerdy science into a language that local communities can rally behind. From fighting industrial mercury contamination to taking on broken lock and dam infrastructure, Tonya sheds light on the reality of grassroots environmentalism in rural America.
Memorable Quotes:
"The thing that makes riverkeepers unique is that we actually truly work in rural communities... For those folks, it is just as much the land they stand on as it is the blood that runs through their veins. You've just gotta focus on what you're working on." — Tonya Bonitatibus
"If you don't actually like people, this job is gonna eat you up. You can love the river to death, you can love the fish and the birds to death, but if you don't actually like people... you'll go mad." — Tonya Bonitatibus
Key Takeaways:
- The "ING" Secret: Why shifting from static language ("the river") to active language ("fishing") instantly triggers human connection and shared nostalgia.
- The Timber Alliance: Why working with local, conservative timber landowners is a vital, practical strategy for maintaining critical southern forests.
Human Health vs. "Tree Hugging": The historic PR pivot from the 1970s where environmentalism was decoupled from public wellness, and why water advocates need to focus back on the dinner table issue of clean drinking water.
Creators and Guests
Host
Thomas Hynes
Thomas Hynes is the Communications and Marketing Manager for Waterkeeper Alliance. In addition to podcast hosting and production duties, he manages and writes all sorts of editorial content for the organization, including blogs, feature articles, advocacy alerts, email campaigns, social media content, and more. Thomas grew up on the Long Island Sound in Connecticut and now makes his home two blocks from the East River in Brooklyn, New York. He primarily commutes across the river to the Waterkeeper Alliance office via ferry boat. Thomas was drawn to environmental work in order to take an active role in the fight against climate change and help bring justice to the rotten polluters who seek to ruin our shared resources. Before working at Waterkeeper Alliance, Thomas wrote a nonfiction book about the history of wildlife in New York City. "Wild City" also highlights the power and success of the Clean Water Act, and other environmental regulations, in leading an unlikely ecological turnaround. In his spare time, Thomas photographs the many tugboats traversing the city’s various waterways. Thomas lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their son. They can be found most weekends walking or biking along the East River.
Producer
Lori Harrison
Lori Harrison is the Communications and Marketing Director for Waterkeeper Alliance. She oversees multi-faceted communications and marketing activities to advance the organization’s mission of protecting our right to clean water in communities around the world. With 25 years of experience in strategic water communications and mission-based work, Lori is an award-winning writer and content creator. Her expertise lies in translating complex concepts into relatable ideas, fostering engagement, and promoting sustainable practices and solutions. Her work not only aims to protect clean water, public health, and the environment but also focuses on "connecting the disconnect" between people and this essential resource. Before joining Waterkeeper Alliance, Lori had a background in corporate marketing for professional sports and held various communications and creative positions with a non-profit educational organization for global water professionals. Notable achievements include creating the WATER'S WORTH IT® grassroots awareness campaign and writing the award-winning children's book, “Why Water's Worth It,” designed to educate and inspire the next generation of water protectors. Lori lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children.
Guest
Tonya Bonitatibus
Tonya Bonitatibus is the Riverkeeper and Executive Director of Savannah Riverkeeper, a role she has held for over 20 years. A tireless and decisive advocate, she is dedicated to protecting, restoring, and improving the Savannah River basin and resolving water crisis issues globally. As a respected leader in the global movement, Tonya serves as the Member Representative for Waterkeeper Alliance, and on the Executive Committee for the Waterkeeper Alliance’s Board of Directors and as Chairman of the International Waterkeeper Council. Her She has a strong interest in helping Riverkeepers in developing countries achieve financial growth through sustainable development practices and frequently advocates for water advocates to understand the financial realm to enact significant changes in their watersheds. Beyond her organizational leadership, Tonya holds a BA in Business Marketing from Augusta University and has received notable recognition, including the Citizen Health Advocate of the Year from AARP, the JAG Young Leaders Alumni Award, and the Woman of Distinction award from the Girl Scouts of America.
