Columbia Riverkeeper

Columbia Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean. We envision a Columbia River that unites people to fight for clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and our climate. Our team is made up of scientists, community organizers, lawyers, and communications specialists that work every day to protect clean water and our climate.

Columbia Riverkeeper utilizes strategic coalition-building, grassroots organizing, strong policy work, and volunteers to protect clean water and community health. Columbia Riverkeeper works with people in dozens of communities—from rural to urban—who have the same goal of protecting clean water, fish, wildlife, and the places they love. We partner with tribes, commercial and recreational fishers, farmers, and unions, as well as conservation and clean energy groups. We have forged strong relationships with our allies based on hard work and results. We have five primary program areas designed to protect Columbia River communities and habitat from highly-polluting threats, such as fossil fuel terminals and intensive industrial development; restore our right to clean water and healthy fish by reducing toxic pollution and restoring contaminated sites; and care for the river by providing hands-on opportunities for people to engage. Our programs directly serve over 6000 people per year and our work is powered by 16,000 members and regional foundations. Below, we list our five program areas and goals.

Stopping Pollution
We take polluters to court, advocate for stronger laws to reduce toxic pollution, and push government agencies to take action for clean water. Our goals include:
·Reduce toxic pollution so people can safely eat fish.
·Protect salmon and other fish and wildlife from pollution.
·Work with community members to advocate for clean drinking water (groundwater and surface water).

Fighting Fossil Fuels
We are fighting back against stunning new fossil fuel infrastructure projects threatening the Columbia River—and winning! Our goals include:
·Protect the Columbia River from fossil fuel infrastructure with a focus on opportunities to work in solidarity with Tribal Nations, BIPOC organizations, and impacted communities.
·Promote policies and legislation that restrict fossil fuel development in the Columbia Basin, including terminals, pipelines, and facilities that increase the region’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Saving Salmon
We fight to protect salmon from toxic pollution, hot water, habitat loss, and dangerous fossil fuel proposals. Our goals include:
·Promote policies and legislation that improve the health and recovery of salmon, steelhead, and orca populations.
·Support Tribal Nations' access to harvestable salmon runs and their meaningful input in regional decisions about salmon recovery and management.
·Improve public understanding of the leading causes of salmon declines.

Engaging Communities
From water quality monitoring to grassroots organizing, we motivate and organize amazing people who care about clean water, safe communities, and strong salmon runs. Our goals include:
·Educate and inspire people to care about the Columbia River, clean water, pollution, salmon, and people who rely on locally-caught fish.
·Engage in stewardship activities to improve habitat and water quality.
·Build and maintain relationships with Latine communities to improve outreach and engagement on river issues; and work in solidarity on select social justice issues.
·Encourage active fishing and swimming in the Columbia and tributaries by collecting and sharing results from water quality monitoring.

Cleaning Up Hanford
We partner with Tribal Nations to push for faster and better nuclear waste cleanup adjacent to the Columbia River. Our goals include:
·Support a Hanford Nuclear Site cleanup that protects the Columbia and upholds Treaty Rights.
·Work in solidarity with Yakama Nation, including supporting a part-time outreach position; increase solidarity work with other Tribes and tribal-member led entities engaged on Hanford cleanup; and increase outreach and engagement to Latine communities near Hanford.