Happy Earth Day!

Columbia Riverkeeper is a proud partner of Earth Day Oregon, a statewide Earth Day campaign that seeks to amplify the work of nonprofits around our state who are creating a more just, livable, and sustainable world. This year Next Adventure, Island Sailing, FoodFight, and Oregon Kayak & Canoe Club have partnered with Columbia Riverkeeper in the fight for a clean Columbia. Can you join the movement to raise funds and awareness?

 

EPA Reverses Trump-era State Water Quality Rollbacks

In 2016 the Makah Tribe, Columbia Riverkeeper, and our partners sued the Trump administration when EPA weakened water quality laws that protect public health. Great news: This month EPA announced it will consider reversing the Trump-era state water quality rollbacks in Washington state. This is a victory for everyone that eats locally-caught fish and shellfish.

 

Oregon Fracked Gas Proposal Bites the Dust

The Port of Columbia County Commission voted unanimously to terminate its lease with the proposed fracked gas-to-methanol refinery. This marks a major victory for our climate, clean water, and the communities in the Columbia River Estuary and Tacoma who opposed NWIW’s plans to develop refineries to export fracked gas-based methanol.

 

We’re Holding Polluters Accountable

For years, timber giant Weyerhaeuser allowed dirty industrial stormwater to flow off its massive log yard in Longview, WA, in violation of the Clean Water Act. Columbia Riverkeeper is fighting for clean water and healthy salmon runs by taking the company to court.

 

New Hope for Lewis River Salmon

After several years of dodging its responsibilities to Tribes, and salmon and steelhead, electric power company PacifiCorp finally signaled its intent to build fish passage at Lewis River dams by the end of 2028. We will continue to hold the corporation accountable until the company does the right thing.

 

Member Spotlight:

Gorge-based artist Mary Brossman created the cover art for our latest newsletter “Spring Into Action.” Mary shared her artistic process: “As I wander the wilderness into enchanted forests, along rivers and to beautiful peaks for inspiration, I aim to create bright and shining representations of magical things and places to share with my community.”

 

Take Action:

  • Save Salmon and Orcas: It’s been twenty years in the making! This spring and summer is our chance to convince elected officials to remove the Snake River dams. Demand leadership now. Tell Northwest leaders and President Biden to remove Snake River dams, prevent salmon extinction, and honor Tribal rights.

  • Oregon Business Sign-on Letter: Know any Oregon businesses that want to stop extinction? This letter will show elected officials that un-damming the Snake River to save salmon is a critical Oregon issue.

  • Stand in Solidarity with Tribal Nations: Tell Gov. Inslee and Senators Cantwell and Murray to oppose Rye Development’s proposed Goldendale Pumped Storage Development.

  • Support Bradford Island Clean Up: Join Columbia Riverkeeper in sending a thank you note to EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan expressing your support and appreciation for cleaning up toxic pollution in the Columbia River.

 

Events & Engagement:

  • Attention Educators: Looking for an exciting and educational field trip for your students? Go on field trips with Columbia Riverkeeper to the Nichols Natural Area in Hood River, OR. With games and hands-on activities at our restoration site and living laboratory, we engage students outdoors to learn about riparian habitats and the Columbia River. To plan your school's trip today, contact Water Quality Director Lorri Epstein at lorri@columbiariverkeeper.org. 
  • Earth Day for Lower Snake Dam Removal: Today (April 22, 2022) from 12 - 3 p.m., in Vancouver, WA. Celebrate Earth Day in Vancouver, WA, at the Grant Street Pier. Earth Day marks 100 days in the countdown for Gov. Inslee and Sen. Murray's plan to remove the Lower Snake River dams and replace the services they provide! 
  • Columbia Riverkeeper Benefit Concert Waterways: May 25, 2022, at 7:30 p.m., (doors open at 6:30 p.m. for art exhibition viewing), at The Old Church in Portland, OR. Join us for a concert, art exhibit and CD release party. Presenting the world premiere of Waterways in music and painting, a collaboration by Columbia Riverkeeper Composer-in-Residence Deena T. Grossman and artist Collin Murphy. Featuring Oregon Symphony members Martha Long and Zach Galatis (flutes), Vali Phillips (viola) and Pansy Chang (cello), plus Rory Cowal (piano) and Mirabai Peart (voice and viola). The world premiere of Waterways comes at a moment when this touch from music and art are likely to evoke our deepest feelings of healing and rejuvenation. 
  • Totem Journey for Lower Snake Dam Removal: May 10, 2022, at 6 p.m., in Portland, OR. Attend a special evening in support of the Indigenous-led movement to remove the Snake River dams and restore to health the Snake River salmon runs and the Southern Resident Killer Whales (Skali’Chelh in the Lummi language) that depend on them. The 2022 totem pole journey aims to inspire, inform, and engage Pacific Northwest communities through intergenerational voices, ceremony, art and science, spirituality, ancestral knowledge, and cross-cultural collaboration.
  • ICYMI (In Case You Missed It): Love Your Columbia presents virtual book talk “The Intersectional Environmentalist” featuring author Leah Thomas, an intersectional environmentalist and eco-communicator as she reads from and discusses her first book.
 

In the News:

 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser
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 
Columbia Riverkeeper is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar.

Follow Us

Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences