Photo credit: Paloma Ayala
Your Impact in 2024
Originally published in Columbia Riverkeeper “Currents” Issue 2, 2024
Columbia Riverkeeper teams with river communities and works in solidarity with Tribal Nations to fight for environmental and climate justice. We combine legal advocacy, grassroots community organizing, education, and creative communications strategies to engage and center people who rely on the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest. Together, we advocate for what we love—and celebrate critical victories for clean water, salmon, and our climate.
Cleaning Up Hanford
- 100+ people who joined us at the Hanford Journey, an event planned and led by Yakama
- Nation’s Hanford cleanup agency and Columbia Riverkeeper to draw attention to the critical importance of Hanford Nuclear Site cleanup
- 450+ Columbia Riverkeeper members and supporters who advocated for improvements to the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s proposed Hanford Nuclear Site cleanup plans
- 4 student representatives of the Yakama Nation who participated in the State & Tribal Government Working Group meeting in New Mexico, thanks to scholarships from Columbia Riverkeeper
Stopping Pollution
- 5 Clean Water Act legal actions brought or settled in 2024, all with the goal of reducing harmful pollution in the Columbia and its tributaries
- 2,100+ people who called on the federal government to kickstart cleanup at the Columbia’s newest Superfund site, Bradford Island and surrounding waters
- $2.5 million awarded to Tribes and nonprofit organizations as a result of our Clean Water Act enforcement actions
Fighting Fossil Fuels
- 3 long-term greenhouse gas emission- reduction plans for Oregon’s largest gas utilities rejected by the state’s Public Utility Commission, in favor of more aggressive plans to move away from fossil fuels
- 4,900+ people who spoke up for climate action using Columbia Riverkeeper’s petitions
- 3 lawsuits brought by Columbia Riverkeeper to stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest
Saving Salmon
- Decades of litigation, community organizing, and policy advocacy, which culminated in the signing of the Columbia River Basin Restoration Agreement, a historic agreement that opens the door for Lower Snake River dam removal
- 4 Water Quality Attainment Plans for Lower
- Snake River dams rejected by Washington state regulators, a critical step ensuring the federal government takes action to reduce heat pollution caused by the dams
- 2 Tribes and 6 fish advocacy groups partnering with Columbia Riverkeeper to sue the state of Oregon for weakening protections for migratory fish like salmon, steelhead, and lamprey
Engaging Communities
- 230 water quality samples collected at Columbia River beaches
- 1,000+ kids and young adults who experienced bilingual (English and Spanish) environmental education through Columbia Riverkeeper’s outreach program
- 45+ events Columbia Riverkeeper hosted or partnered in to inspire people in Columbia River communities to speak up for clean water, salmon, and our climate
- 1,400+ pounds of garbage volunteers collected at community cleanup events along the Columbia
Our Mission
To protect and restore the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean.
Our Vision
A Columbia River that unites people to fight for clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and our climate.
Our Commitment
Embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of our work.
