May & June 2021
Washington Water Watch
Legislative Success
All of our Clean & Abundant Water lobby week priority bills passed both chambers and were signed by the Governor.

Preventing Seabed Mining (SB5145)
Water Reuse (HB1184)
Reducing Plastic Pollution (SB5022)
The Nooksack River Adjudication funding in the operating budget (SB5092)

Replacing the Marcus Whitman statue in the national statuary hall collection with a statue of Billy Frank Jr.(HB 1372) has also been signed by the Governor.

Thank you again to our Clean & Abundant Water lobby week partners, all who participated, and everyone who reached out to their legislators. YOU are protecting our waters and making Washington a better place. Thank you!
Update on Watershed Restoration Plans
Image of a river. Rocky riverbed on the left. River flowing through the middle. Trees and hilled river bank on the right. Blue sky and clouds in the background.
The Department of Ecology, planning groups, and technical consultants have been working to update watershed plans in 15 WRIAs since January 2018. Ecology has led the Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Committees in developing Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Plans (watershed plans). Watershed plans must estimate the potential consumptive impacts of new permit-exempt domestic groundwater withdrawals on instream flows over 20 years (2018-2038), identify projects and actions to offset those impacts, and provide a net ecological benefit to the WRIA.

Under the Streamflow Restoration Act:

  • Watershed plans are prepared, approved, and submitted by watershed planning groups.
  • The Department of Ecology reviews the approved watershed plans and determines whether they meet the minimum requirements of the law.
  • Ecology then adopts submitted watershed plans by the deadlines set by legislation or moves into rulemaking. 

CELP’s Work
As part of our work to protect and restore Washington’s rivers and streams, CELP staff and board members have spent the last two and a half years as members of some of these planning groups. CELP staff represented the environmental community on the Snohomish, Cedar-Sammamish and Duwamish-Green watershed planning units, and our volunteers participated in several others. Our work centered on making sure that the estimate of water use by new permit exempt wells is an accurate assessment, and that the plans find water for water mitigation projects that will truly restore that water to the impacted streams in the WRIA.

Where are we now?
Many of these groups have now completed and approved their plans. Seven of the 15 watersheds have now completed watershed plans or a rule. Planning groups in the remaining watersheds are finalizing their plans. All of these groups have until June 30th to approve these plans, however some of the groups (to date, WRIAs 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15) have failed to approve their plans. In any WRIA where a plan is not approved by the deadline, Ecology will begin rulemaking to address the requirements of the law.

Where do we go from here?
CELP will continue to monitor the plans and provide comments. We will ensure that Ecology’s rulemaking meets the requirements of the Streamflow Restoration Act and adequately protects river and stream flows. We will also work to get water projects funded in each round of funding from Ecology.
Dan Von Seggern
"All things come to an end, and I wanted to let our readers know that I’m moving on from CELP. I will be beginning a new position next month with the Environmental Protection Division of the Washington Attorney General’s Office. It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since I came on board with CELP - time goes by fast when you are doing work you love! As I finish up here, I wanted to take the opportunity to say how much I have enjoyed working with all of you. This is a truly unique organization and I have been fortunate to be a part of it. I’ve learned so much here, and I feel like we really have made a difference. I’m especially grateful to Trish, Kayla, and to CELP’s fantastic board for their support and help over the years. I’d also like to thank the attorneys I’ve worked with for everything you’ve taught me and for being outstanding colleagues.

Environmental work is never easy, and there have of course been ups and downs, but I’m proud of the things we’ve been able to do. CELP has a great group of staff and supporters and the work to protect Washington’s rivers and waters would not happen without all of you. Thank you all for this opportunity. Finally, I hope you will get the chance to meet Maggie Franquemont, CELP’s new Staff Attorney, soon. I know that Maggie is going to hit the ground running and do great things for Washington’s waters." - Dan Von Seggern
We will miss you Dan!

"Thank you Dan for your dedication and excellent work for CELP. Your knowledge and passion for responsible water management will be missed as much as your sense of humor and collegiality. I wish you continued success in your next endeavor and remember to keep up the fight for protecting Washington's waters." - Patrick Williams, CELP Board President

"It has been awesome working with Dan. He is a very cordial, professional man whose dedication has served CELP issues and programs well. I wish him the absolute best in his new position."- Steve Robinson, CELP Board Vice President

"It has been a pleasure to work alongside Dan these last 6 years as he polished his skills as a water lawyer and became a great advocate for protecting Washington’s water resources. I will miss him and his dogs Leo and Petra, but I look forward to watching him do great things at the AG’s office. Good Luck Dan!"- Trish Rolfe, CELP Executive Director

"I have enjoyed learning from and working with Dan and appreciate all he does to protect our waters. Wishing you the best Dan!"- Kayla Magers, CELP Communications & Development Coordinator
Welcome New CELP Team Members
We are thrilled to welcome our new Water Policy & Outreach Coordinator Hillary Jasper Rose. Hillary joined our team on June 1st.

Hillary Jasper Rose is a graduate of Vermont Law's Masters of Environmental Law and Policy program. She has worked in community outreach and advocacy in recent years, including work with Seattle City Council, Seattle Public Utilities, local nonprofit organizations, and grassroots movements. She holds a passion for public trust and equitable access to resources. Joining the CELP will help her further this mission as she strives to educate and engage communities across the state, sharing information, legislation, and opportunities for individual involvement in environmental sustainability. Hillary has traveled and lived all over the world, but she is delighted to call this beautiful state her home. Contact her at HJRose@Celp.org
Woman wearing glasses and backpacking gear stands in front of a sign that reads "Pacific Crest Trail No 2000". She holds a leash with a medium brown dog.
Image of a woman with two braids wearing a hat and glasses outside in front of a tree.
We are also excited to welcome our 2021 Summer Legal Intern, Ling Zhuang.

Ling Zhuang is an LLM student at the University of Washington School of Law. Prior to that, she was a full-stack GIS (Geographic Information System) developer for two decades, working with governmental agencies from federal to municipal such as the Bureau of Land Management and Seattle Public Utilities. Ling also has led and participated in numerous community services. She currently serves as a commissioner for the City of Bellevue Environmental Services Commission.
Our new Staff Attorney, Margaret Franquemont, starts with CELP on June 21st and we will introduce her in our next letter. We are excited for her to join the team.
Water & Fish News
DROUGHT
Overall, the West has had a drier and warmer spring and is experiencing something more than drought. Megadrought and aridification explain the conditions across the west.
CLIMATE CHANGE
"Today's inaction mustn't harm our freedom & rights in the future,"- German climate activist Luisa Neubauer from the Fridays for Future movement.
Germany's climate change laws are insufficient and violate fundamental freedoms by putting the burden of curbing CO2 emissions on the young, its highest court has ruled.
A rainbow encircles splashing water as it is released from Diablo Dam on the Skagit River.
DAMS
Seattle City Light has expanded its study plans for relicensing the Skagit River dams, however, many government agencies, tribes, and nonprofits still find the plans inadequate.

The Puyallup Tribe is trying to stop the Electron Dam operators from opening a water intake to generate power that is guaranteed to kill fish.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
"America’s water systems, on the whole, are aging and underinvested in — the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2021 report card gave American water infrastructure a C grade."
Many Native American tribes lack access to clean, safe drinking water, and have aging water systems and inadequate water infrastructure.
GiveBIG Thank you!
We want to give a BIG thank you to everyone who supported CELP for Washington's GiveBIG, 48 hour online giving event for nonprofits.
We raised over $6,000, surpassing our goal and receiving a $5,000 match!

You make our work protecting Washington's waters possible! THANK YOU!
Image of a happy black lab dog and yellow lab dog wearing lifejackets on a boat. Overlaying text reads "Thank you". CELP logo in the corner. GiveBIG logo in the opposite corner.
Celebrate Waters Save the Date
Image of a white box with blue water paint brush strokes. Text reads "Celebrate Waters, September 16th, Ivar's Salmon House"
Every year we host Celebrate Waters to honor a local water hero, celebrate successes for our waters, and raise funds to continue our important work protecting, preserving, and restoring Washington’s rivers and streams.

We are excited to announce we are planning Celebrate Waters as an in person event for this September. We cannot wait to see you and celebrate together. Save the date for September 16th. More information to come.

85 S Washington St #301,
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 829-8299
Thanks for taking the time to read Washington Water Watch! With your help, CELP has accomplished many victories, yet more work remains to be done. You can support our work by making a donation online here, or mailing a check to: 85 S. Washington St #301 Seattle, WA 98104.