Columbia River Vision
Columbia Riverkeeper believes that everyone has the right to drink clean water, swim in the river, and eat locally caught fish without fear of toxic contamination. Read more
The People Who Give
The people who give are everywhere and they give in so many vitally important, tangible and impactful ways–not always financially, but most critically with a heartfelt desire to make a difference or simply to express their innate compassion. Read more
Salmon Reintroduction
The Columbia River and its people upstream of Chief Joseph Dam in north-central Washington have been without salmon for nearly 100 years. But that’s slowly beginning to change, thanks to tireless work by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians. Read more
2024 Clean Water Act Roundup
The end of the year is often a time of reflection—looking back at the months behind us while anticipating the possibilities a new year holds. In the eight months since joining Columbia Riverkeeper’s staff, I’ve seen firsthand how Columbia Riverkeeper fights tirelessly to protect this beautiful corner of the world. Joining a staff that is passionate and skilled at protecting clean water, community health, and vulnerable species has helped make me a better advocate and excites me for the work ahead. Read more
Impact Report
Columbia Riverkeeper teams with river communities and works in solidarity with Tribal Nations to fight for environmental and climate justice. Read more
Director’s Message: For the River
As a local nonprofit with a strong track record of making a difference no matter what political party is in power, our team will continue to fight the good fight. Read more
No New Nuclear
Big tech made a big splash recently. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft all announced plans to fuel their voracious appetite for energy, needed for AI and data centers, using new or resurrected nuclear power plants. In our region, Amazon now says it wants in on a scheme to build new nuclear plants on the Columbia River at Hanford. Read more
Turbulent Waters Ahead
I don’t have to tell you that the recent federal election results are not good for the Columbia River and those who depend on it.
Columbia Riverkeeper’s range of talents—including legal acumen, on-the-ground organizing, savvy communications, and a large, active membership—give us the tools to curtail some of the worst effects of the election in our region. Read more
Zenith Energy’s Legacy of Violations and Lies
We know Zenith Energy has a history of violations and misleading regulators. So we decided to answer the question: just how many violations has Zenith committed?
The answer is outrageous. Turns out, violations appear to be part of Zenith’s business model. Since arriving in Portland, Zenith has racked up roughly 20 violations from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)! Together, these violations tell the story of a fossil fuel company that has been out of compliance nearly the entire time it has been operating in Portland, a company that has misled regulators to obtain permits to expand operations, a company that cannot be trusted. Read more
NEXT: Water Quality Disaster
Last week marked the end of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ’s) comment period on the NEXT refinery’s water quality permit. DEQ is proposing to issue a permit that will not protect the Columbia River and surrounding waterways from NEXT’s pollution. We know that siting a major refinery on wetlands near the Columbia River Estuary is a horrible idea. That’s why we gave DEQ a laundry list of reasons to deny the permit. Read more
What’s the Deal with New Nuclear Power Webinar Evaluation
Webinar on the problems with Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMNRs)
By Kelly Campbell, Policy Director
Columbia Riverkeeper explores the problems with “new” nuclear power, why it is not part of a just transition to a clean energy future, and why siting more nuclear power plants on the Columbia River should be a non-starter in the Read more
What’s the Deal with New Nuclear Power?
Webinar on the problems with Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMNRs)
By Kelly Campbell, Policy Director
Columbia Riverkeeper explores the problems with “new” nuclear power, why it is not part of a just transition to a clean energy future, and why siting more nuclear power plants on the Columbia River should be a non-starter in the Read more