Columbia Riverkeeper

COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPERS 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.

FIGHTING FOSSIL FUELSCOLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER HAS WORKED WITH TRIBAL NATIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, STRONG COALITIONS, AND AMAZING PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RIVER COMMUNITIES TO DEFEAT NEARLY EVERY NEW FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT ON THE COLUMBIA. THIS INCLUDES THE WORLDS LARGEST FRACKED GAS TO METHANOL REFINERY, THE NATIONS LARGEST OIL-BY-RAIL SHIPPING TERMINAL, AND THE NATIONS LARGEST COAL EXPORT TERMINAL. OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. BOTTOMLINE: PREVENTING NEW FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE IS A CRITICAL TASK TO PROTECT OUR CLIMATE. IF FOSSIL FUEL CORPORATIONS BUILD NEW INFRASTRUCTURESHIPPING TERMINALS, PIPELINES, REFINERIESTHEY WILL LOCK US INTO DECADES OF FOSSIL FUEL USE AT A TIME WHEN WE MUST RAPIDLY MOVE TOWARD CLEAN ENERGY AND FEWER PETROCHEMICALS. IN THE WAKE OF OVER 15 YEARS OF SUCCESSES DEFEATING FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THE INDUSTRY HAS SHIFTED TACTICS. NOW, WERE SEEING MORE PROPOSALS TO EXPAND EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURELIKE PIPELINES, REFINERIES, AND WATERFRONT-INDUSTRIAL TERMINALSRATHER THAN BUILD NEW FACILITIES. WHY? EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TYPICALLY HAS SOME OF THE REQUIRED PERMITS, AND REGULATORS OFTEN APPROVE CAPACITY EXPANSIONS EVEN WHERE THEY MIGHT REJECT A NEW PROJECT. IN THIS CHANGING LANDSCAPE, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER HAS ADAPTED QUICKLY TO KEEP FOSSIL FUELS IN THE GROUND AND OUT OF COMMUNITIES. A PRIME EXAMPLE: THE GTN XPRESS PIPELINE, A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FRACKED GAS FLOWING THROUGH THE EXISTING 1,354-MILE INTERSTATE GAS TRANSMISSION NORTHWEST (GTN) PIPELINE. THE PROJECT WOULD PUSH MORE FRACKED GAS THROUGH THE GTN PIPELINE, RESULTING IN OVER 3.47 MILLION TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION EVERY YEAR. GTN XPRESS IS ALSO A DIRTY DEAL FOR RATEPAYERS AND COMMUNITIES NEAR THE PIPELINE.IN 2023, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN ELEVATING THE GTN XPRESS PIPELINE FIGHT REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY, INCLUDING FISCALLY-SPONSORING A GRASSROOTS COALITION. ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OVER 50 LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE COALITION, WE HELPED TURN AN UNDER-THE-RADAR PROPOSAL INTO A HIGH-PROFILE NATIONAL CLIMATE ISSUE. IN 2023, THE PROJECT WAS OPPOSED BY NINE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS; THE COLUMBIA RIVER INTER-TRIBAL FISH COMMISSION; THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL OF WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND CALIFORNIA; AND GOVERNORS INSLEE AND KOTEK. ON OCTOBER 20, 2023, FERC APPROVED TC ENERGYS PROPOSAL. WERE NOT GIVING UP. IN 2024, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THIS DANGEROUS PROPOSAL IN COURT AND BEYOND. THE TEAM AT COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ALSO DUG DEEP ON ALLEGED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. MANY FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY PLAYERS CLAIM THAT RENEWABLE FUELS ARE THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEMS. IT TURNS OUT THAT NOT ALL RENEWABLE FUELS ADVANCE CLIMATE ACTION. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER IS COMMITTED TO UNCOVERING GREENWASHING FROM CORPORATIONS THAT VALUE PROFITS OVER ACTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS AND FIGHTING PROJECTS THAT WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. TWO PROMINENT EXAMPLES: NEXT RENEWABLE FUELS PROPOSED NON-CONVENTIONAL DIESEL REFINERY IN COLUMBIA COUNTY, OR, AND THE ZENITH OIL-BY-RAIL TERMINAL IN PORTLAND, OR. NEXT RENEWABLE FUELS (COLUMBIA COUNTY, OR): THE COMPANYS PROPOSED GAS-FIRED REFINERY WOULD EMIT OVER 1 MILLION TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION EACH YEAR AND DISPLACE 140 ACRES OF WETLANDS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER ESTUARY. THE GOOD NEWS: NEXT HAS YET TO SECURE SEVERAL KEY PERMITS. IN 2024, WE WILL SUBMIT DETAILED COMMENTS ON NEXTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. ZENITH ENERGY (PORTLAND, OR): THE SAGA CONTINUES. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER AND INCREDIBLE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE ZENITH OIL-BY-RAIL FACILITY FOR YEARS. INITIALLY, WE WON: THE CITY OF PORTLAND DENIED A KEY LAND USE PERMIT. ZENITH APPEALED. LOWER COURTS RULED IN THE CITYS FAVORAND THEN THE CITY STRUCK A DEAL WITH ZENITH, APPROVING FIVE MORE YEARS OF DANGEROUS OIL OPERATIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR A PROMISE TO SWITCH TO RENEWABLE FUELS. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY: COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST ZENITHS PROPOSED EXPANSION UNDER THE GUISE OF RENEWABLES. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ALSO WORKED IN RIVER COMMUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR CLIMATE ACTION AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH PEOPLE ACROSS PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRESSIVE CLIMATE ORDINANCES.

COMUNIDADESCOLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER FISCALLY SPONSORS A GROUP CALLED COMUNIDADES. THE MISSION OF COMUNIDADES IS TO AMPLIFY LATINO VOICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE. IN LATE 2023, COMUNIDADES BEGAN THE PROCESS OF EXPLORING A FUTURE AS AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3).

SAVING SALMONCOLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER WORKS TO PROTECT SALMON AND SALMON CULTURES BY REDUCING POLLUTION, PROTECTING AND RESTORING HABITAT, AND ADVOCATING FOR DAM REMOVAL. SALMON ARE ICONIC, BUT THESE FISH ARE FAR MORE THAN A SYMBOL. THE COLUMBIA SUPPORTS IMPORTANT SUBSISTENCE, COMMERCIAL, AND RECREATIONAL SALMON FISHERIES. FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE COLUMBIAS SALMON PROVIDE PAYCHECKS, MEALS, A CONNECTION TO PLACE AND FAMILY, AND A WAY TO MARK THE CHANGING SEASONS. COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON ARE ALSO FOOD FOR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. PREVENTING EXTINCTION OF COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON IS NECESSARY BUT INSUFFICIENT. IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR SALMON TO PERSIST IN SMALL NUMBERS, IN ISOLATED PLACESLIVING MUSEUMS, SO TO SPEAK. OUR VISION IS A RETURN TO HEALTHY, ABUNDANT, HARVESTABLE RUNS OF SALMON THROUGHOUT THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND ITS MANY TRIBUTARIES. BASIN-WIDE ABUNDANCE WILL ENSURE THAT SALMON CONTINUE TO PLAY THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN NORTHWEST ECOSYSTEMS AND THAT SALMON CULTURES FLOURISH FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. GIVEN THE THREATS TO SALMON, ABUNDANCE MAY SEEM UNREALISTIC. BUT SALMON RECOVERY ON A LARGE SCALE IS POSSIBLE. CONSERVATION PRACTICES HAVE LED TO REMARKABLE INCREASES IN SALMON IN PARTS OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN LIKE THE HANFORD REACH AND THE OKANOGAN RIVER. WITH THIS IN MIND, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPERS SAVING SALMON PROGRAM CONTINUES TO TAKE AIM AT BIG GOALS. IN 2023, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER HELPED BUILD NATIONAL MOMENTUM TOWARD LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAM REMOVAL. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER CALLED ATTENTION TO ANOTHER MASSIVE FISH KILL CAUSED BY HOT WATER AND DAMS80 PERCENT OF ENDANGERED SNAKE RIVER SOCKEYE SALMON DIED IN 2023 AS THEY MIGRATED THROUGH EIGHT DAMS ON THE COLUMBIA AND LOWER SNAKE. FOLLOWING THIS TRAGEDY, WE SENT LEGAL NOTICE OF OUR INTENT TO FILE A NEW ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT CASE AGAINST THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO REQUIRE ACTION TO KEEP THE LOWER SNAKE RIVER COOL ENOUGH FOR SALMON. WE ALSO SUBMITTED THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ASKING FOR SNAKE RIVER DAM REMOVAL TO RESTORE ABUNDANT SALMON AND HONOR TRIBAL RIGHTS.THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS LISTENING! IN SEPTEMBER 2023, THE WHITE HOUSE CALLED FOR A SUSTAINED NATIONAL EFFORT TO RESTORE HEALTHY AND ABUNDANT NATIVE FISH POPULATIONS IN THE [COLUMBIA] BASIN, AND DIRECTED ALL FEDERAL AGENCIES TO USE THEIR AUTHORITIES TO SUPPORT THIS GOAL. WE STILL HAVE A LONG AND UNCERTAIN PATH AHEAD, BUT WE ARE GAINING MOMENTUM. ELSEWHERE IN THE BASIN, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER SUPPORTED EFFORTS BY THE COWLITZ TRIBE AND YAKAMA NATION TO RESTORE SALMON MIGRATION THROUGHOUT THE LEWIS RIVER. IN FALL 2023, PACIFICORP AGREED TO A NEW SCHEDULE TO INSTALL FISH PASSAGE AT TWO OF ITS DAMS ON THE LEWIS. PACIFICORP BROKE A PREVIOUS PROMISE TO RETROFIT ITS DAMS TO INCLUDE FISH PASSAGE, SO COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD PACIFICORP ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS PROMISES TO TRIBES AND THE PUBLIC. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ALSO WORKED WITH THE NEZ PERCE TRIBE, THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION, AND MANY CONSERVATION GROUPS TO OPPOSE WEAKENING OREGONS LAWS PROTECTING MIGRATORY FISH. NOW WE ARE CHALLENGING THE RULE CHANGES IN COURT IN ORDER TO RESTORE PROTECTIONS FOR SALMON AND STEELHEAD. FINALLY, WE CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH RIVER COMMUNITIES AND TRIBES TO PROTECT KEY SALMON HABITAT FROM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER THREATS, INCLUDING FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE (SEE BELOW), NEW SHIPPING TERMINALS, AND CHEMICAL PLANTS. THIS INCLUDED DEEPENING OUR LONG RUNNING WORK TO PROTECT THE COLUMBIA RIVER ESTUARY, AN ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE UNDER FEDERAL LAW AND HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SALMON HABITAT IN THE WORLD. DECISIONS TODAY WILL IMPACT THE ESTUARYS HEALTH FOR GENERATIONS. THROUGHOUT OUR SAVING SALMON EFFORTS, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ENDEAVORED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRIMARY CAUSES OF SALMON DECLINES, INCLUDING COMBATING THE RACIST NARRATIVE OF TRIBAL FISHING AS A LEADING CAUSE OF THE EXTINCTION CRISIS.