Letter from the Executive Director |
Greetings!
We hope you've enjoyed the few sunny October days and are doing well. During the rainy season, don't be tricked into thinking we don't have water supply issues. We will hear forecasts of endless days of rain, but it is important to remember to keep conversations on water use efficiency and conservation going. We still need to protect our water resources. It is also important to be prepared for floods and have an emergency kit for storms and power outages.
The climate is warming and our weather patterns and natural disasters are going to be more extreme. Over time we will have even wetter winters, but more precipitation will fall as rain rather than snow. Less snowpack will exacerbate water issues in the summer. Summers will continue to get drier and drought and fire season, longer. The west is already facing a megadrought. Timing is everything.
We need to take this time of year to think about how we can affect water policy in the coming legislative session, what we can do on a local level to increase conservation efforts, and how we can bring people together to create more equitable water management.
With the end of the year approaching, we are excited to be hosting our Celebrate Water reception and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) workshop series. We are thrilled to be planning Celebrate Water as an in-person event and truly hope to see you soon.
In this issue you will find an update on the Golden Eagle/Darrington water permit application, an article on conservation in water management at different levels, information on a huge Clean Water Act victory, a survey on email communication, water and fish news, details on Celebrate Water and our CLE workshops, registration for the One River, Ethics Matter conference, and ways to support CELP's work protecting Washington's waters.
Sincerely,
Trish Rolfe
Executive Director
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Skagit River/Darrington
Water Conservation
Clean Water Act Victory
Email Survey
Water & Fish News
Celebrate Water & CLE
One River, Ethics Matter
Accepting Stock Donations
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Dec. 9th
Ivar's Salmon House
Dec. 14th & 15th
Virtual
Nov. 17th -18th
Virtual
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Help ensure clean and flowing waters in Washington State by making a gift to CELP! |
Check out Water Stories. These heartfelt, personal celebrations of water together, highlight the vital importance of healthy amounts of clean, flowing water in our communities.
"Water and the flow of a river slow the world down for me, allowing me to focus on what’s a hand and quiet the world around me."- Josh Mills
Check out our new form to submit your water story! |
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Darrington/Golden Eagle Water Right Application |
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In August, we summited comments for CELP & WELC on Ecology’s Draft decision on Darrington & US Golden Eagle’s application for a proposed new water use. We concurred with Ecology’s denial of the application based on the public interest and we offered legal analysis on other options Ecology has for denying the application. We coordinated with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, who also submitted comments supporting the denial of the application. We will continue protecting the Skagit River.
Now, Ecology has released the final draft of the water right application. The final report denies the Golden Eagle's application based on detriment to the public welfare and the fact that the mitigation plan was not approved. The report also says that Ecology did not change any of it's findings based on comments received, but that important questions were raised relating to Darrington's water right portfolio and the suitability of their water rights for mitigation.
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Conservation in Water Management |
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Check out this article written by our Water Policy & Outreach Coordinator, Hillary Jasper Rose, addressing conservation in water governance at the federal, state, municipal, and personal levels.
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Water Conservation Overview
The past summer has changed the way many Americans in the west think about water resources. Record-breaking heat accompanied by severe drought have highlighted the fragile balance that states and municipalities have been maintaining for decades.
Read more
celp.org
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Another victory has been achieved in undoing Trump-era rollbacks of water protections!
The Trump administration made a change to section 401 of the Clean Water Act that cut public participation and state and tribal authority and oversight. It allowed federal agencies to approve large projects, like pipelines, industrial plans, hydropower, and more, against state and Tribal wishes. “The Trump administration took an industry wish list and ran with it, trampling over state and Tribal authority and public rights to clean water in the process,” said Sangye Ince-Johannsen, attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center.
On October 21st, Judge William H. Alsup, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, reversed the Trump-era ruling and restored state and Tribal authority to protect rivers and lakes by ensuring federally permitted activities comply with state and tribal law. Read more from the Western Environmental Law Center here. Thank you, WELC, American Rivers, American Whitewater, Idaho Rivers United, and California Trout for your work to protect our waters and state and Tribal rights to defend clean waters.
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Survey on Email Communication |
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How often do you prefer to receive emails from us? What are your thoughts on our email content? We would appreciate your feedback. Let us know your preferences and thoughts by filling out this short survey. Thanks! |
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River Restoration
- Stillaguamish Tribe and U.S. Forest Service rerouting the Stillaguamish River for improved fish habitat. Read more
- Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe builds new levee for Dungeness River. Read more
- Nez Perce Tribe, federal officials near the end of a 6-year project to undo 70 years of mining damage on Crooked River. Read more
- Gov. Inslee, Sen. Murray pursue dam-breaching assessment on Lower Snake River. Read more
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Water Management
- New protections for California's aquifers are reshaping the state's Central Valley. Read more
- Oregon Tribes request creation of Water Vision Task Force. Read more
- A bitter dispute ends as California water agencies pledge cooperation on Colorado River. Read more
- Washington Department of Ecology issues $304,000 fine to Franklin County farm for illegal water use. Read more
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Salmon
- High temperatures, low flows, and heat-loving bacteria kill thousands of salmon in Whatcom County. Read more
- Salmon are returning to NE Washington, thanks to Native American tribes. Read more
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Advocacy
- Yakama Nation leaders share Columbia River concerns with White House official. Read more
- 'We are the land'. Washington Tribes celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, highlight climate crisis. Read more
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Celebrate Water and CLE Workshops |
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Presenting Sponsor The Tulalip Tribes
When: December 9th 4pm-7pm
Where: Ivar's Salmon House
Event: Every year we host Celebrate Water to honor a local water hero, reflect on victories for our waters, and raise funds to continue protecting waters in Washington.
This year we will be honoring retired tribal attorneys, Sharon Haensly and Kimberly Ordon, with the Ralph W. Johnson Water Hero Award for their careers protecting natural resources and tribal interests.
We are excited to be hosting Celebrate Water in person this year and cannot wait to see you. We will be requiring all attendees to show proof of vaccination and wear masks.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible and for supporting CELP's work protecting waterways in Washington!
The Tulalip Tribes, Squaxin Island Tribe, Quinault Nation, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, QFC, Law Office of M. Patrick Williams, Coho Water Resources, Maya Whole Health Studio, and Rachael & John Osborn
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Municipal Water Law: Where are we now?
When: Three 2-hour sessions December 14th 2pm-4pm
December 15th 9am-11am
December 15th 2pm-4pm
Where: Virtual Zoom
Event: We will be hosting three workshops on municipal water law. The three sessions include, Municipal Water Law Overview & Compromises, Municipalities and their Inchoate Rights, and Municipal Water Use Efficiency & Conservation. Speakers TBA. 6 CLE credits total (2credits each workshop) pending approval.
Tickets: Each Workshop Ticket Page has the option to buy a single ticket for that workshop or an all-inclusive ticket for all 3 workshop sessions at a discounted price.
Washington Attorneys looking for credit please send your WSBA # when you purchase your ticket
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One River, Ethics Matter Conference |
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8th Annual One River, Ethics Matter Conference
When: November 17-18, 2021
Where: Virtual on Zoom
Event: The 8th annual One River Ethics Matter conference will focus on the Indigenous-led work of kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ – restoring ntytyix (salmon) to the Okanagan and Upper Columbia rivers.
Hosted by the Okanagan Nation Alliance and The University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus.
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We are announcing a new way you can support CELP's work to protect our waterways. We can now accept stock donations.
Our members and supporters make our work protecting Washington's waters possible. Thank you!
There are many ways to support CELP's work. You can make a donation, share our emails and social media posts with your network, tell us why you support CELP's mission, sponsor an event, and/or participate in CELP's events and advocacy work. You can also make a contribution to CELP through Planned Gifts including bequests and retirement plans.
Read more about CELP membership and supporting our waters here. |
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85 S Washington St #301,
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 829-8299
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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.
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