Environmental nonprofit appoints Jodie Gates and Judge Anita Jackson to its governing board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lauren Goldberg, Executive Director
(541) 399-3260, lauren@columbiariverkeeper.org
June 10, 2026 (Hood River, Ore.) — Columbia Riverkeeper’s board of directors announced the appointment of two new members: Jodie Gates, who is co-owner and president of Big Winds, a river recreation store in Hood River, and a former member of the City of Hood River Planning Commission, and Judge Anita Jackson, who serves on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Court and previously served as a Tribal Council member and as public safety manager.
Columbia Riverkeeper is a nonprofit organization powered by 25,000 members and supporters that works to protect and restore the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean. The volunteer board of directors oversees the organization’s goals and policies, finances, and public relations.
“We thank Jodie and Anita for joining our board of directors. They are both amazing advocates for the Columbia, and will bring tremendous skills and invaluable experience to the organization,” said Board President Emily Washines (Yakama).
“Our board reflects the many communities that rely on the river. From Tribal leaders working to protect reserved Treaty rights to people who raise their families along the river, we all share a vision of a Columbia River that unites people to fight for clean water, abundant fish and wildlife, and our climate,” said Lauren Goldberg, executive director for Columbia Riverkeeper.
Columbia Riverkeeper’s new board members shared their connections to the Columbia and what motivates them to volunteer to lead the organization through a polarized political moment in the U.S. environmental movement:
“Being a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, I care deeply about my People and our future generations being able to carry on our traditions and culture, both of which are intrinsically tied to the health of the Columbia River (Wimalx). Columbia Riverkeeper’s daily actions, including taking legal actions to protect the River and its resources, give me hope for the future of the River and my People’s way of life, especially since my People were placed on the Columbia River by the Creator since time immemorial, and my ancestors had the foresight to ensure that all future generations would be able to continue those ties to our ancestral lands,” said Jackson.
“I grew up windsurfing, swimming and paddle boarding on the Columbia. The river brings me joy, awe, and a sense of place. Living in Hood River offers a daily reminder of the environmental, economic, and political factors posing unique challenges up and down the watershed. Now with young kids of my own, I’m motivated to help protect the river and its ecosystem for generations to come. I’m honored to join Columbia Riverkeeper to support their essential work in achieving this goal,” said Gates
Gates and Jackson join board members Jessica Black, Ph.D (Yakima, Wash.), Elaine Harvey, Wanuxni’ (Goldendale, Wash.), Carlos Marroquin (Portland, Ore.), Ana Molina (Portland, Ore.), Vawter “Buck” Parker (Odell, Ore.), David Spurr (Portland, Ore.), Emily Washines (Toppenish, Wash.), Ted Wolf (Bellingham, Wash.), and Sue Vosburg (Gales Creek, Ore.) in overseeing the nonprofit.
About Columbia Riverkeeper’s New Board Members
Jodie Gates is a Hood River local who grew up roaming around her dad’s shop, Big Winds, teaching windsurfing at the Hook during the summers. After completing her B.A. in Environmental Studies-Sociology at Whitman College, Jodie served as Columbia Riverkeeper’s water quality monitoring program manager as an Americorp intern. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Sociology from the University of British Columbia and has since followed a career path from corporate recruiter to e-bike shop owner to her current role as co-owner of Big Winds. She lives in Hood River with her husband and 4 year-old twins and loves to play with them on the river.
Anita Jackson, JD, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, 1993, is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon. Her “Indian” blood is Wasco, from her father, and Choctaw, from her mother. From time immemorial, her Wasco ancestors lived along the Columbia River, and in 1855 were removed to their present-day Reservation in Central Oregon. Her Choctaw ancestors lived in what is now Mississippi, and were forcibly removed from their homelands during the Indian Removal Act in the 1830’s. Jackson’s law career began in 1979, and she currently serves as an Associate Judge for the Warm Springs Tribal Court. Her Native American heritage has always been of utmost importance and one of the biggest influences in her life.
About Columbia Riverkeeper: Columbia Riverkeeper is a nonprofit organization with over 25,000 members and supporters that works to protect the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean. Learn more.