2024-10-15T10:40:41-07:00 2023-12-31 931157146 Kern & Thompson LLC 1800 SW First Avenue Suite 410 Portland OR 97201 990 2023-01-01 911583492 Columbia Riverkeeper COLU 5413873030 PO Box 950 Hood River OR 97031 LAUREN GOLDBERG Executive Dir. 2024-10-15 true true Kristin L Brooks CPA P02397432 5032223338 X 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z LAUREN GOLDBERG PO Box 950 Hood River OR 97031 5571934 false X columbiariverkeeper.org X 1989 WA COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPERS MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE WATER QUALITY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND ALL LIFE CONNECTED TO IT, FROM THE HEADWATERS TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 9 9 26 300 0 2317939 5408804 0 23314 127554 209871 35576 2551124 5571934 249001 64000 0 1540683 1860464 0 211561 687809 719425 2477493 2643889 73631 2928045 5468055 8662206 273736 356550 5194319 8305656 X TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE WATER QUALITY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND ALL LIFE CONNECTED TO IT, FROM THE HEADWATERS TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. OUR STRATEGY FOR PROTECTING THE COLUMBIA INCLUDES WORKING IN RIVER COMMUNITIES AND PROTECTING THE PEOPLE, FISH AND WILDLIFE THAT DEPEND ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER. false false 699332 FIGHTING FOSSIL FUELSCOLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER HAS WORKED WITH TRIBAL NATIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, STRONG COALITIONS, AND AMAZING PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RIVER COMMUNITIES TO DEFEAT NEARLY EVERY NEW FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT ON THE COLUMBIA. THIS INCLUDES THE WORLDS LARGEST FRACKED GAS TO METHANOL REFINERY, THE NATIONS LARGEST OIL-BY-RAIL SHIPPING TERMINAL, AND THE NATIONS LARGEST COAL EXPORT TERMINAL. OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. BOTTOMLINE: PREVENTING NEW FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE IS A CRITICAL TASK TO PROTECT OUR CLIMATE. IF FOSSIL FUEL CORPORATIONS BUILD NEW INFRASTRUCTURESHIPPING TERMINALS, PIPELINES, REFINERIESTHEY WILL LOCK US INTO DECADES OF FOSSIL FUEL USE AT A TIME WHEN WE MUST RAPIDLY MOVE TOWARD CLEAN ENERGY AND FEWER PETROCHEMICALS. IN THE WAKE OF OVER 15 YEARS OF SUCCESSES DEFEATING FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THE INDUSTRY HAS SHIFTED TACTICS. NOW, WERE SEEING MORE PROPOSALS TO EXPAND EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURELIKE PIPELINES, REFINERIES, AND WATERFRONT-INDUSTRIAL TERMINALSRATHER THAN BUILD NEW FACILITIES. WHY? EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TYPICALLY HAS SOME OF THE REQUIRED PERMITS, AND REGULATORS OFTEN APPROVE CAPACITY EXPANSIONS EVEN WHERE THEY MIGHT REJECT A NEW PROJECT. IN THIS CHANGING LANDSCAPE, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER HAS ADAPTED QUICKLY TO KEEP FOSSIL FUELS IN THE GROUND AND OUT OF COMMUNITIES. A PRIME EXAMPLE: THE GTN XPRESS PIPELINE, A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FRACKED GAS FLOWING THROUGH THE EXISTING 1,354-MILE INTERSTATE GAS TRANSMISSION NORTHWEST (GTN) PIPELINE. THE PROJECT WOULD PUSH MORE FRACKED GAS THROUGH THE GTN PIPELINE, RESULTING IN OVER 3.47 MILLION TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION EVERY YEAR. GTN XPRESS IS ALSO A DIRTY DEAL FOR RATEPAYERS AND COMMUNITIES NEAR THE PIPELINE.IN 2023, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN ELEVATING THE GTN XPRESS PIPELINE FIGHT REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY, INCLUDING FISCALLY-SPONSORING A GRASSROOTS COALITION. ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OVER 50 LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE COALITION, WE HELPED TURN AN UNDER-THE-RADAR PROPOSAL INTO A HIGH-PROFILE NATIONAL CLIMATE ISSUE. IN 2023, THE PROJECT WAS OPPOSED BY NINE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS; THE COLUMBIA RIVER INTER-TRIBAL FISH COMMISSION; THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL OF WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND CALIFORNIA; AND GOVERNORS INSLEE AND KOTEK. ON OCTOBER 20, 2023, FERC APPROVED TC ENERGYS PROPOSAL. WERE NOT GIVING UP. IN 2024, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THIS DANGEROUS PROPOSAL IN COURT AND BEYOND. THE TEAM AT COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ALSO DUG DEEP ON ALLEGED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. MANY FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY PLAYERS CLAIM THAT RENEWABLE FUELS ARE THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEMS. IT TURNS OUT THAT NOT ALL RENEWABLE FUELS ADVANCE CLIMATE ACTION. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER IS COMMITTED TO UNCOVERING GREENWASHING FROM CORPORATIONS THAT VALUE PROFITS OVER ACTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS AND FIGHTING PROJECTS THAT WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. TWO PROMINENT EXAMPLES: NEXT RENEWABLE FUELS PROPOSED NON-CONVENTIONAL DIESEL REFINERY IN COLUMBIA COUNTY, OR, AND THE ZENITH OIL-BY-RAIL TERMINAL IN PORTLAND, OR. NEXT RENEWABLE FUELS (COLUMBIA COUNTY, OR): THE COMPANYS PROPOSED GAS-FIRED REFINERY WOULD EMIT OVER 1 MILLION TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION EACH YEAR AND DISPLACE 140 ACRES OF WETLANDS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER ESTUARY. THE GOOD NEWS: NEXT HAS YET TO SECURE SEVERAL KEY PERMITS. IN 2024, WE WILL SUBMIT DETAILED COMMENTS ON NEXTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. ZENITH ENERGY (PORTLAND, OR): THE SAGA CONTINUES. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER AND INCREDIBLE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE ZENITH OIL-BY-RAIL FACILITY FOR YEARS. INITIALLY, WE WON: THE CITY OF PORTLAND DENIED A KEY LAND USE PERMIT. ZENITH APPEALED. LOWER COURTS RULED IN THE CITYS FAVORAND THEN THE CITY STRUCK A DEAL WITH ZENITH, APPROVING FIVE MORE YEARS OF DANGEROUS OIL OPERATIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR A PROMISE TO SWITCH TO RENEWABLE FUELS. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY: COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST ZENITHS PROPOSED EXPANSION UNDER THE GUISE OF RENEWABLES. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ALSO WORKED IN RIVER COMMUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR CLIMATE ACTION AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH PEOPLE ACROSS PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRESSIVE CLIMATE ORDINANCES. 372311 COMUNIDADESCOLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER FISCALLY SPONSORS A GROUP CALLED COMUNIDADES. THE MISSION OF COMUNIDADES IS TO AMPLIFY LATINO VOICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE. IN LATE 2023, COMUNIDADES BEGAN THE PROCESS OF EXPLORING A FUTURE AS AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3). 354055 SAVING SALMONCOLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER WORKS TO PROTECT SALMON AND SALMON CULTURES BY REDUCING POLLUTION, PROTECTING AND RESTORING HABITAT, AND ADVOCATING FOR DAM REMOVAL. SALMON ARE ICONIC, BUT THESE FISH ARE FAR MORE THAN A SYMBOL. THE COLUMBIA SUPPORTS IMPORTANT SUBSISTENCE, COMMERCIAL, AND RECREATIONAL SALMON FISHERIES. FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE COLUMBIAS SALMON PROVIDE PAYCHECKS, MEALS, A CONNECTION TO PLACE AND FAMILY, AND A WAY TO MARK THE CHANGING SEASONS. COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON ARE ALSO FOOD FOR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. PREVENTING EXTINCTION OF COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON IS NECESSARY BUT INSUFFICIENT. IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR SALMON TO PERSIST IN SMALL NUMBERS, IN ISOLATED PLACESLIVING MUSEUMS, SO TO SPEAK. OUR VISION IS A RETURN TO HEALTHY, ABUNDANT, HARVESTABLE RUNS OF SALMON THROUGHOUT THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND ITS MANY TRIBUTARIES. BASIN-WIDE ABUNDANCE WILL ENSURE THAT SALMON CONTINUE TO PLAY THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN NORTHWEST ECOSYSTEMS AND THAT SALMON CULTURES FLOURISH FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. GIVEN THE THREATS TO SALMON, ABUNDANCE MAY SEEM UNREALISTIC. BUT SALMON RECOVERY ON A LARGE SCALE IS POSSIBLE. CONSERVATION PRACTICES HAVE LED TO REMARKABLE INCREASES IN SALMON IN PARTS OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN LIKE THE HANFORD REACH AND THE OKANOGAN RIVER. WITH THIS IN MIND, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPERS SAVING SALMON PROGRAM CONTINUES TO TAKE AIM AT BIG GOALS. IN 2023, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER HELPED BUILD NATIONAL MOMENTUM TOWARD LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAM REMOVAL. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER CALLED ATTENTION TO ANOTHER MASSIVE FISH KILL CAUSED BY HOT WATER AND DAMS80 PERCENT OF ENDANGERED SNAKE RIVER SOCKEYE SALMON DIED IN 2023 AS THEY MIGRATED THROUGH EIGHT DAMS ON THE COLUMBIA AND LOWER SNAKE. FOLLOWING THIS TRAGEDY, WE SENT LEGAL NOTICE OF OUR INTENT TO FILE A NEW ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT CASE AGAINST THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO REQUIRE ACTION TO KEEP THE LOWER SNAKE RIVER COOL ENOUGH FOR SALMON. WE ALSO SUBMITTED THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ASKING FOR SNAKE RIVER DAM REMOVAL TO RESTORE ABUNDANT SALMON AND HONOR TRIBAL RIGHTS.THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS LISTENING! IN SEPTEMBER 2023, THE WHITE HOUSE CALLED FOR A SUSTAINED NATIONAL EFFORT TO RESTORE HEALTHY AND ABUNDANT NATIVE FISH POPULATIONS IN THE [COLUMBIA] BASIN, AND DIRECTED ALL FEDERAL AGENCIES TO USE THEIR AUTHORITIES TO SUPPORT THIS GOAL. WE STILL HAVE A LONG AND UNCERTAIN PATH AHEAD, BUT WE ARE GAINING MOMENTUM. ELSEWHERE IN THE BASIN, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER SUPPORTED EFFORTS BY THE COWLITZ TRIBE AND YAKAMA NATION TO RESTORE SALMON MIGRATION THROUGHOUT THE LEWIS RIVER. IN FALL 2023, PACIFICORP AGREED TO A NEW SCHEDULE TO INSTALL FISH PASSAGE AT TWO OF ITS DAMS ON THE LEWIS. PACIFICORP BROKE A PREVIOUS PROMISE TO RETROFIT ITS DAMS TO INCLUDE FISH PASSAGE, SO COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD PACIFICORP ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS PROMISES TO TRIBES AND THE PUBLIC. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ALSO WORKED WITH THE NEZ PERCE TRIBE, THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION, AND MANY CONSERVATION GROUPS TO OPPOSE WEAKENING OREGONS LAWS PROTECTING MIGRATORY FISH. NOW WE ARE CHALLENGING THE RULE CHANGES IN COURT IN ORDER TO RESTORE PROTECTIONS FOR SALMON AND STEELHEAD. FINALLY, WE CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH RIVER COMMUNITIES AND TRIBES TO PROTECT KEY SALMON HABITAT FROM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER THREATS, INCLUDING FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE (SEE BELOW), NEW SHIPPING TERMINALS, AND CHEMICAL PLANTS. THIS INCLUDED DEEPENING OUR LONG RUNNING WORK TO PROTECT THE COLUMBIA RIVER ESTUARY, AN ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE UNDER FEDERAL LAW AND HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SALMON HABITAT IN THE WORLD. DECISIONS TODAY WILL IMPACT THE ESTUARYS HEALTH FOR GENERATIONS. THROUGHOUT OUR SAVING SALMON EFFORTS, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ENDEAVORED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRIMARY CAUSES OF SALMON DECLINES, INCLUDING COMBATING THE RACIST NARRATIVE OF TRIBAL FISHING AS A LEADING CAUSE OF THE EXTINCTION CRISIS. 872137 2297835 true true false true false false false false false true true true false false true false true false false true false false false false false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 38 0 true 26 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 9 9 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true false true false false OR X X SIOBHAN O'HALLORAN 5413873030 2621 WASCO ST STE A HOOD RIVER OR 97031 LAUREN GOLDBERG Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X 161113 0 14531 ACASIA BERRY FINANCE DIR. 40.00 0.00 X 113300 0 12618 MILES JOHNSON LEGAL DIR. 40.00 0.00 111157 0 4350 EMILY WASHINES President 5.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 RUDY SALAKORY Vice President 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 BRETT VANDENHEUVEL Secretary 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 SUE VOSBURG Treasurer 3.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 LINDA MCLAIN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 ALANNA NANEGOS BOARD MEMBER 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID SPURR BOARD MEMBER 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 TED WOLF BOARD MEMBER 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 CARLOS MARROQUIN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 385570 31499 3 false true false 0 5408804 5408804 0 127554 127554 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LEGAL SETTLEMENTS REIMB 900099 32516 32516 OTHER INCOME 900099 3060 3060 35576 5571934 35576 127554 64000 64000 0 0 0 301562 230881 54949 15732 0 1231964 1121369 6153 104442 29266 25807 1166 2293 173329 152840 6906 13583 124343 109645 4954 9744 0 0 0 0 0 0 205173 165560 32487 7126 40710 37923 1205 1582 69850 63201 1465 5184 0 0 105887 96920 2823 6144 20771 20233 80 458 0 145873 135974 8941 958 0 0 6804 6152 182 470 6671 3937 2536 198 POSTAGE AND PRINTING 75774 33111 266 42397 DUES, LICENSES AND MEMBERSHIPS 41912 30282 10380 1250 0 2643889 2297835 134493 211561 1541769 1100381 2488131 501636 261035 1314214 0 0 0 0 0 20579 28637 71995 40754 17074 31241 915352 1135174 75680 4357462 0 0 148435 193461 5468055 8662206 158874 200502 114862 156048 273736 356550 X 4165510 5168323 1028809 3137333 5194319 8305656 5468055 8662206 2928045 174472 8820 X false true X true false X 2220013 2834610 3401683 2317939 5408804 16183049 0 0 2220013 2834610 3401683 2317939 5408804 16183049 2260352 13922697 4565 4269 27848 23314 127554 187550 0 0 16370599 653800 0.85050 0.85360 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false 1492 4376 5868 2638021 2643889 282194 70549 false 235108 252849 273875 282194 1044026 1566039 1851 7595 5868 15314 58777 63212 68469 70549 261007 391511 416 974 866 1492 3748 33573 5402 1562 37413 43436 -8346 1517 33573 39428 5434 1426 43436 35141 5713 1426 39428 30340 6263 1462 35141 0.87390 0.12610 true false false 71995 40754 31241 31241 4357462 RIGHT OF USE LIABILITY 156048 156048 5920469 174472 174063 348535 5571934 5571934 2817952 174063 174063 2643889 2643889 true 350 DESCHUTES 2257 NW HIGH LAKES LOOP BEND OR 97701 475198905 501(C)(3) 12500 0 FOSSIL FUEL PROJECT 350 PDX 3625 N MISSISSIPI AVE PORTLAND OR 97227 464120269 501(C)(3) 25000 0 FOSSIL FUEL PROJECT CA INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT 685 14TH ST OAKLAND CA 94612 932531977 501(C)(3) 8000 0 FOSSIL FUEL PROJECT WA PHYSICIANS 2524 16TH AVE S 300 SEATTLE WA 98144 911123316 501(C)(3) 8500 0 FOSSIL FUEL PROJECT 4 0 Grantmaker's Description of How Grants are Used THE PROCESS FOR MONITORING IS ESTABLISHING THE WORK TO BE FUNDED AND HAVING THE GRANTEE SIGN TO CONFIRM. AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD THEY REPORT ON PROGRESS MADE. X false false false false false false false false false LAUREN GOLDBERG Executive Dir. 161113 6445 8086 175644 Form 990, Part III, Line 4d OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: CLEANING UP HANFORDTHE COLUMBIA RIVER RUNS ALONG THE HANFORD NUCLEAR SITE, HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS POLLUTION ON EARTH. A LEGACY OF WORLD WAR II AND THE COLD WAR, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SELECTED HANFORD AS A TOP-SECRET SITE FOR THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, WHICH CALLED FOR ENRICHING PLUTONIUM FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THE 586-SQUARE-MILE HANFORD SITE RESTS ON THE CEDED LANDS OF MULTIPLE TRIBAL NATIONS. IN 2023, RIVERKEEPER WORKED IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE TRIBES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO ARE LEADING THE EFFORT TO HOLD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR CLEANUP. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPERS CLEANING UP HANFORD PROGRAM IS ONE OF ETERNAL HOPE. WORKING ON A CLEANUP WITH NO END IN A SINGLE LIFETIME PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT OUR TEAM GRAPPLES WITH EVERY DAY. RADIOACTIVE AND TOXIC POLLUTION FROM HANFORD THREATENS WATER QUALITY, SALMON AND PEOPLES HEALTH. CONTAMINATION FROM HANFORD STILL REACHES THE COLUMBIA RIVER. WITHOUT EFFECTIVE CLEANUP, MORE POLLUTION THREATENS TO ESCAPE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE COMING DECADES. IN 2023, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER USED PUBLIC PRESSURE, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, AND TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF CLEANUP PLANS TO ADVOCATE FOR THOROUGH, TIMELY CLEANUP.TOGETHER WITH YAKAMA NATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION/WASTE MANAGEMENT (ERWM) PROGRAM, WE BROUGHT NEARLY 70 STUDENTS FROM THE YAKAMA NATION TRIBAL SCHOOL TO HANFORD FOR A BUS TOUR OF THEIR HOMELAND. GUIDED BY THEIR TRIBAL LEADERS AND ELDERS, STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO VISIT THE PLACE THAT THEIR ANCESTORS HAVE VISITED AND OCCUPIED SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL TO LEARN ABOUT THE POLLUTION AND TOXIC LEGACY THAT THEY ARE INHERITING. THIS UNCANNY FIELD TRIP BUILT ON YEARS OF COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS BY ERWM AND COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER TO THE TRIBAL SCHOOL AND OTHER LOCAL SCHOOLS AROUND THE YAKAMA INDIAN RESERVATION, AN EFFORT TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION FOR THE DIFFICULTIES OF HANFORD. WE SECURED REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NPR COVERAGE OF THE FIELD TRIP, SO THAT EVEN MORE INDIVIDUALS COULD HEAR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROPER CLEANUP FROM THOSE MOST IMPACTED. AS CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO ALTER THE LANDSCAPEAFFECTING GROUNDWATER LEVELS, THE POSITION OF THE COLUMBIA, THE STABILITY OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE FEDERAL BUDGETHANFORD REMAINS A THREAT TO US ALL. THROUGHOUT 2023, OUR TEAM ENGAGED AT A TECHNICAL LEVEL ON COMPLEX CLEANUP DECISIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER SERVED ON THE HANFORD ADVISORY BOARD, A NON-PARTISAN GOVERNMENT BOARD THAT PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS ON HANFORD CLEANUP TO THE D.O.E., U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY. OUR TEAM ALSO ACTIVATED OVER 750 PEOPLE TO WEIGH-IN FOR EFFECTIVE CLEANUP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR STRONG SUPPORT OF LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS IN HANFORD CLEANUP. HOLDING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR EFFECTIVELY CLEANING UP THE MOST TOXIC AND RADIOACTIVE PLACE IN AMERICA DEMANDS ENVIRONMENTALISTS, SCIENTISTS, CULTURAL RESOURCES EXPERTS, GEOLOGISTS, FISHER PEOPLETHE LIST GOES ON. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CLEANUP NEEDS ALL OF US. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: ENGAGING COMMUNITIESTHROUGH THE ENGAGING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER AIMS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIVER AND CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE, VIBRANT CULTURES WITHIN RIVER COMMUNITIES. THIS INCLUDES COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AT THE NICHOLS NATURAL AREA, AS WELL AS IN-PERSON AND ONLINE EDUCATION. OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING EFFORTS TO LATINA/O/X COMMUNITIES WITH CULTURALLY SPECIFIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, PRODUCING BILINGUAL RADIO SHOWS AND THE PODCAST CONOCE TU COLUMBIA (KNOW YOUR COLUMBIA) ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL MATERIALS IN SPANISH. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ALSO MONITORED THE RIVER TO GIVE PEOPLE THE CONFIDENCE TO SWIM. THIS YEAR MARKED THE 17TH SEASON OF BACTERIA TESTING TO HELP KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DONT ROUTINELY MONITOR WATER QUALITY IN THE COLUMBIALET ALONE MAKE DATA EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER PROVIDED ACCESS TO WATER QUALITY DATA AND CULTURALLY INFORMED MESSAGING, SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE CHOICES TO USE THE RIVERAND GET INSPIRED TO FIGHT FOR CLEAN WATER. IN 2023, COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPERS PAID SUMMER INTERNS COLLECTED 240 SAMPLES AND A REMARKABLE 98 PERCENT WERE WITHIN THE SAFE LIMITS FOR E. COLI BACTERIA. THESE EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS ARE WELCOME NEWS FOR EVERYONE WHO LIKES TO SWIM, SPLASH, PLAY, AND RELAX ON THE RIVER. BUT ITS NOT ONLY ABOUT BACTERIA LEVELS REGARDING RECREATION. OUR TEAM TESTS WATER QUALITY, INVESTIGATES POLLUTION, MONITORS FOR TOXIC ALGAE, AND ARMS THE PUBLIC WITH THE DATA AND INFORMATION TO STAY SAFE AND HOLD POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: COMUNIDADESCOLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER FISCALLY SPONSORS A GROUP CALLED COMUNIDADES. THE MISSION OF COMUNIDADES IS TO AMPLIFY LATINO VOICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE. IN LATE 2023, COMUNIDADES BEGAN THE PROCESS OF EXPLORING A FUTURE AS AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3). Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b BEFORE THE 990 IS SUBMITTED THE FINANCIAL STAFF REVIEWS THE DRAFT 990 AND THEN PROVIDES A FINALIZED DRAFT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD, CONFIRMING THAT THE 990 HAS BEEN CAREFULLY REVIEWED AND FOUND TO BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS PROVIDED TO BOARD MEMBERS AND REVIEWED ANNUALLY. COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER ALSO MAINTAINS A BOARD COMMITTEE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DETERMINES THE COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THROUGH THE ANNUAL BUDGETING PROCESS AFTER REVIEWING COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS IN SIMILAR FIELDS. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND GOVERNING DOCUMENTS CAN BE VIEWED AT THE OFFICE OF COLUMBIA RIVERKEEPER, MAILED OR EMAILED.