Photo Credit: Paloma Ayala
Originally published in Columbia Riverkeeper “Currents” Issue 2, 2025
For the River
This year marks 25 years of incredible victories powered by work in solidarity with Tribes and river communities. It is also a special milestone for me: I started volunteering at Columbia Riverkeeper 20 years ago.
At a law school conference on the Oregon Coast, I listened to a wonky, compelling presentation about the Clean Water Act and toxic pollution delivered by former Riverkeeper Executive Director Brent Foster. I had arrived at law school champing at the bit to make a difference pursuing public interest environmental law. I found my calling at Columbia Riverkeeper.
Time flies. Two kids, countless lawsuits, and many a victory party later, I am proud to work for an organization that punches above its weight, tackles complex challenges with optimism and hope, and makes a diff erence. I am humbled to work with colleagues and volunteers whose passion, drive, and dedication keep me motivated at a moment in history when I have never been more scared for the future of our country.
A painting by my grandmother, a gifted artist still at 93 years old, hung in my childhood home: her rendition of the famous “Never give up,” illustration with the frog grasping the neck of the bird attempting to make it a meal. I have a Post-it with that quote on my computer.
“Never give up,” could be Columbia Riverkeeper’s motto. Despite the political climate, we continue to advance:
- Lawsuits to stop federal environmental rollbacks and pollution from flowing into the Columbia and its tributaries.
- Creative policy and community organizing strategies to secure laws and policies that protect everyone who relies on the Columbia and locally caught fish.
- Work in solidarity with Tribes who are fighting for salmon recovery and to protect sacred places from permanent destruction.
- Strategic litigation and community organizing to protect our climate from refineries and dirty-energy infrastructure.
- Free, bilingual environmental education to inspire the next generation of river advocates.
- Advocacy to hold the government accountable for Hanford Nuclear Site cleanup and engage people whose future rests on effective cleanup.
Columbia Riverkeeper unites people to fi ght for clean water, salmon recovery, and our climate. And together we make an impact. Your support empowers all of us to keep up the momentum at this critical time.
Onward,
Lauren Goldberg
Executive Director
