Honoring Elizabeth Furse

“Activism is an amazing life,” Elizabeth noted in a 2018 Columbia Riverkeeper profile. No one lived those words more fully. We mourn the passing of our friend, board member, and a Columbia Riverkeeper founder. On this Earth Day, 21 years ago, Elizabeth and colleagues launched Columbia Riverkeeper.

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Victory Over Fracked Gas Power Plant

We did it! In the face of sustained public pressure and multiple legal challenges led by Columbia Riverkeeper, Perennial has abandoned its plan to build a new fracked gas power plant in Umatilla County, OR. This is a huge win for our climate.

 

Earth Day + Our 21st Birthday!

Celebrate with us and our amazing partners by raising a glass to clean water at the SlopeSwell tasting room and Ferment Brewing. Or show your support with a limited edition Columbia Riverkeeper shirt, only available until the end of the month! 

 

Legal Victory for Clean Water

Exciting news: Oregon now has one of the nation’s most protective stormwater pollution permits for industrial sites! This means less toxic pollution and cleaner water for salmon. A lawsuit by Columbia Riverkeeper and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center compelled the State of Oregon to adopt the new permit, which regulates over 800 industrial sites.

 

What Happened at Hanford?

Did you know the federal government deposited hundreds of millions of gallons of radioactive waste directly into the ground and in buried tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Site before nuclear operations ended? Get up to speed on what happened at Hanford—and why the former nuclear site, nestled along the Columbia’s banks, is a place worth fighting for.

 

Mega Dairy on the Ropes

Thanks to public pressure from you and thousands of Oregonians fighting to protect public health and water from mega dairies, the State of Oregon suspended work on Easterday Dairy, a proposal to build one of the nation’s largest mega-dairies. Cody Easterday has pleaded guilty to felony fraud charges, agreed to pay over $244 million in restitution, and faces up to 20 years in prison for charging Tyson Fresh Meats for cattle that did not exist. 

 

Partner Spotlight: Samantha Redheart

The virtual Washington-Marshall Islands Nuclear Remembrance Week gathered groups affected by nuclear development across the world. Samantha Redheart, Yakama Nation’s ERWM Stem Coordinator, spoke about the challenges of working on a multi-generational cleanup at Hanford, and how she engages her community.

 

Take Action:

  • Lower Snake Dam Removal: Tell your leaders to work with Rep. Simpson to remove the four Lower Snake dams, recover Northwest salmon, honor Tribal rights and interests, and modernize our region’s energy and infrastructure systems.
  • Act Now for Hanford: Call on the Biden administration to rescind a dangerous nuclear-waste rule that threatens people’s health and the Columbia River.
  • Oregon Clean Energy: Support the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity 2021 legislative campaign.
 

Events & Engagement

  • T-Shirts for Clean Water: Now - April 30, 2021. Show your support by buying one of our limited edition shirts.
  • Drink Beer for a Good Cause April - June: Celebrate our 21st birthday by grabbing a pint of Freshet Helles Lager from Working Hands Beer at the Slopeswell Taproom in Hood River. They will donate a portion of the Freshet proceeds to Columbia Riverkeeper.  
  • Ferment Celebrates Earth Day: April 22, 2021: Ferment Brewing will donate a portion of sales on Earth Day to fight for a clean Columbia.  
  • Webinar: Forgotten Toxic Waste Dump, The Bradford Island Story: May 3, 2021, 12 p.m. Learn how the Biden administration could end decades of cleanup delay at one of the most toxic sites on the Columbia River: Bradford Island and surrounding waters. Yakama Nation science and cultural experts join Columbia Riverkeeper Legal and Program Director, Lauren Goldberg, for a deep dive into the U.S. government’s forgotten toxic waste dump near Bonneville Dam. RSVP required.
  • Webinar: Environmental Advocacy, Perspectives from the Comunidad Latina: Missed last month’s “Love Your Columbia” webinar? We’ve got you covered. Columbia Riverkeeper hosted a panel discussion with Lisa Muñoz of Comunidades, Ana Molina from Beyond Toxics, and Dominica Navarro of Northwest Alternatives to Pesticides. Hear panelists’ perspectives on the environmental advocacy movement and learn how their organizations are working to prevent pollution and protect people’s health.​​​​​​​
  • Webinar: Saving Salmon, What Will it Take to Save Salmon from Extinction: Check out the recording of our April 1 “Love Your Columbia” webinar featuring Brett VandenHeuvel, Columbia Riverkeeper Executive Director; Dr. Sammy Matsaw, member of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes, Research Biologist, and Co-founder of River Newe; Giulia Good Stefani, Natural Resources Defense Council Senior Attorney; and Robb Krehbiel, Defenders of Wildlife Northwest Representative.
 

In the News:

Columbia Riverkeeper | info@columbiariverkeeper.org 
Hood River Office: 541-387-3030 | 407 Portway Avenue Suite 301 Hood River, OR 97031
Portland Office: 503-432-8927 | 1125 SE Madison Street Suite 103A Portland, OR 97214 

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