Columbia Riverkeeper advocates for clean water
We take polluters to court when the government turns its back on illegal pollution. We work in solidarity with Tribes and people who rely on clean water to advocate for stronger laws to reduce toxic pollution in fish and drinking water. And we push government agencies to take action for clean water.
Current Campaigns
Bradford Island Cleanup
Prevent Pollution
Factory Farms
Enforce the Law
Stop Oil Spills
The Problem
The Columbia River, and the communities that depend on it, face serious threats from toxic pollution.
Every day, thousands of pipes discharge toxic pollution from industry, cities, and dirty stormwater runoff. Pesticides and heavy metals enter the river from numerous and scattered sources, including agricultural runoff and through the air.
Why It Matters
Visit a popular fishing spot. On a sunny day, you’ll likely find dozens of people reeling in fish destined for the dinner table.
Unfortunately, industrial pollution dumped into the Columbia has a tragic impact on this food source: off-the-charts levels of toxic pollution including mercury and cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Studies of people who eat Columbia River fish have found that risks are particularly high for Indigenous people because they eat more locally-caught fish than non-Indigenous people.
