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2024 Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters Awards

2024 OSAW Nominations are Open! Applications Close May 15.

Do you have a project that you think is worthy of OSAW recognition?

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT

About OSAW

Hydropower’s proven track record of providing a domestic source of clean, renewable, and reliable electricity for more than 125 years is no accident. It has taken hard work, perseverance, creativity, innovation, and a collaborative spirit. Today, these same values are also driving a new generation of marine energy projects that harness the power of oceans, tides, man-made conduits and other waterways, in addition to rivers. 

As an industry, we recognize the organizations that examplify these values with the Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters (OSAW) Awards. Annually, we honor deserving organizations in the hydropower industry for projects that exhibit exemplary operational, educational, historical, recreational, or environmental enhancement and stewardship. The OSAW awards are presented at NHA's 2024 Clean Currents in Portland, Oregon (October 7-10).

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Timeline

  • OSAW Applications are due May 15, 2024.  
  • You can start your application now and save it to be completed later!
  • Winners will be notified in June 2024.
  • The award ceremony will take place during the 2024 Clean Currents in Portland, Oregon (October 7-10) .

Eligibility

  • Specific projects, programs, activities or events pertaining to hydropower in the United States or Canada that meet the three category criteria.
  •  An application for a specific accomplishment may be submitted in only one category; however, an applicant may submit applications for multiple different accomplishments.
  • An accomplishment, or the intended effect or result of an accomplishment, must have occurred or have been substantially realized in 2023.

Categories

Up to three awards will be presented for each of the three categories. For each application, the submitted accomplishment must be clearly identified and have tangible results for activities undertaken in the year 2023.  

  1. Operational Excellence
  2. Public Education
  3. Recreational, Historical, & Environmental Enhancement

Judging Criteria

  • Challenge (30%)
  • Innovation (30%)
  • Results (30%)
  • WOW Factor (10%)     

Application Guide

T​o learn more about the OSAW Awards, click here to download the 2024 OSAW Applicant Guide for detailed information on eligibility, categories, and helpful hints when applying

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION


2023 OSAW Winners

Operational Excellence

Public Education

Recreational, Environmental, or Historical Enhancement


2022  OSAW Winners

Operational Excellence

Recreational, Environmental, or Historical Enhancement


2021  OSAW Winners

Operational Excellence

Recreational, Environmental, or Historical Enhancement

 

2020  OSAW Winners

Recreational, Environmental, or Historical Enhancement

 

2019  OSAW Winners

OSAW Award for Recreational, Environmental & Historical Enhancement: Seattle City Light for Mill Pond Dam Removal and Sullivan Creek Habitat Restoration


OSAW Award for Recreational, Environmental & Historical Enhancement: Exelon for the Muddy Run Observatory 


OSAW Award for Operational excellence: Snohomish County PUD for Water Temperature Conditioning


OSAW Award for Recreational, Environmental & Historical Enhancement: Brookfield Renewable for Eel Weir and Heuvelton Nature-Like Fishways


OSAW Award for Public Education: Bonneville Power Administration for Hydropower Flows Here Campaign


OSAW Award for Public Education: Hydropower Foundation for Hydro Think Tank


OSAW Award for Public Education: Foundation for Water and Energy Education - Hydro Appreciation Day