Northwest Environmental Defense Center

TO WORK TOWARD A FUTURE IN WHICH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LEADS THE NATION IN DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING & ENFORCING STRONG LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT & HUMAN HEALTH, AND WHERE OUR GOVERNMENTS & COMMUNITIES VALUE FOSTERING AND MAINTAINING HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE ECOSYSTEMS.

CLEAN WATER & AIR CAMPAIGN: CONTINUED OUR WORK DEVELOPING AND PROSECUTING CLEAN WATER ACT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. NEDC'S CLEAN WATER ACT ENFORCEMENT WORK IN 2021 INCLUDED CONTINUING TO MONITOR OREGON INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES; ENGAGING WITH STATE AGENCIES IN THE REVISION OF NUMEROUS ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING AND AUTHORIZATION DECISIONS, INCLUDING PERMITS FOR DREDGE AND FILL OPERATIONS IN OREGON WATERS AND INDUSTRIAL STORMWATER DISCHARGE; AND LITIGATING AN IMPORTANT LAND USE CASE SEEKING TO ENSURE THAT OREGON COMMUNITIES CONSIDER IMPACTS TO WATER QUALITY THROUGHOUT THEIR LAND USE PLANNING PROCESSES. IN 2021 NEDC SECURED A CRITICAL VICOTRY FOR BULL TROUT IN THE HOOD RIVER BASIN. AS A RESULT OF NEDC'S ADVOCACY, OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DENIED A NECESSARY WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION FOR AN IRRIGATION DAM THAT HAS FRAGMENTED BULL TROUT HABITAT AND RESULTED IN INCREASED WATER TEMPERATURES BELOW THE DAM. IN EARLY 2021, NEDC SUCCESSFULLY SECURED THE DESIGNATION OF WALDO LAKE AND CRATER LAKES AS OUTSTANDING RESOURCE WATERS - A DESIGNATION WHICH WEILL ENSURE THESE EXTRAORDINARY WATERS WILL BE PROTECTED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF OREGONIANS. NEDC'S CLEAN AIR WORK IN 2021 INCLUDED MONITORING FACILITIES CALLED IN TO THE CLEANER AIR OREGON PROGRAM; PARTNERSHIP IN THE BREATHE OREGON COLLABORATIVE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HARM TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT POSED BY DIESEL EMISSIONS; AND PARTICIPATION IN A STATEWIDE RULES ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR NEW REGULATIONS STRENGTHENING OREGON'S AIR PERMITTING PROGRAM. THIS WORK BENEFITS ANYONE USING AFFECTED WATERWAYS AND BREATHING AIR IN THE PORTLAND METROPOLITAN AREA AND THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, INCLUDING NEDC MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

ENDANGERED SPECIES: WORKING WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, NEDC SOUGHT TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR ENDANGERED SALMON AND STEELHEAD IN THE WILLAMETTE RIVER BASIN. THIS WORK INCLUDED LITIGATION AGAINST THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, TO COMPEL THE CORPS TO OPERATE SEVERAL WILLAMETTE BASIN DAMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO SALMON AND STEELHEAD. IN SEPTEMBER AN OREGON FEDERAL JUDGE DIRECTED THE CORPS TO IMMEDIATELY UNDERTAKE SEVERAL OPERATIONAL MEASURES AT WILLAMETTE RIVER DAMS TO IMPROVE FISH MIGRATION AND WATER QUALITY IN THE RIVER SYSTEM. THESE STEPS WILL ULITMATELY PROVIDE A NEEDED LIFELINE FOR THE BASIN'S ICONIC SALMON AND STEELHEAD. THIS WORK BENEFITS THE GENERAL PUBLIC, LOCAL ACTIVISTS, AND NEDC MEMBERS.

EDUCATION & DIVERSITY PROGRAMS: CONTINUED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS WITH EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS RELATING TO LAWS THAT CAN BE USED TO PROTECT THE REGION'S ENVIRONMENT. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED GIVING LAW STUDENTS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WORKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, PUBLISHING A SEMI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER & MAINTAINING AN EDUCATIONAL WEBSITE. NEDC ALSO ADVANCED ITS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION OBJECTIVES THROUGH EQUITY-FOCUSED WORKSHOPS; STRATEGIC PLAN REVISIONS TO INFURSE EQUITY INTO OUR VALUES, GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND GOALS; AND PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES IN THE PORTLAND AREA. THIS WORK BENEFITS THE GENERAL PUBLIC, LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND LAW STUDENTS IN THE NORTHWEST.