Applying science and law to protect, restore and sustain waters of the Snake River Basin, and to support clean water access and advocacy in underserved communities worldwide.

SRW featured on France TV

A France TV crew made the trip to Idaho to interview SRW’s Executive Director, Buck Ryan, about the Simplot CAFO and how it is polluting the Snake River. 

Motion filed to reopen discovery in CAFO case

On April 29, 2026, Snake River Waterkeeper filed a motion with the Idaho federal court to reopen discovery in our case against the Simplot cattle factory farm in Grand View, Idaho.

Conservation Group Pressure Prompts Idaho DEQ to Sue Cities Polluting Snake and South Fork Teton Rivers

Last week, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) filed litigation against the cities of Burley and Rexburg over ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act at wastewater treatment plants they operate. This action comes after Snake River Waterkeeper (SRW) and the Idaho Conservation League (ICL), represented by attorneys at Advocates for the West, a nonprofit environmental law firm based in Boise, and Bricklin & Newman, LLP in Seattle, filed notices of intent to sue both cities for the same violations in a process known as a “citizen suit.”

Bringing clean water to Uganda.

In February, SRW’s executive director traveled to Uganda to participate in a project bringing clean water to rural communities that previously lacked access to safe drinking water. For this trip, SRW teamed up with Mountain True from North Carolina, along with the Waterkeepers that steward the Yoto River, Lake Kyogo and Lake Victoria. We worked […]

On Notice: Idaho Wastewater Treatment Plants

Snake River Waterkeeper teamed up with Idaho Conservation league to inform the cities of Burley and Rexburg of the organizations’ intent to sue over ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act at each city’s wastewater treatment plant. We are being represented by attorneys at Advocates for the West, a nonprofit environmental law firm based […]

Comments submitted on WOTUS rule change

SRW joined the Waterkeeper Alliance and a broad coalition of other clean water advocacy groups in submitting comments to the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers opposing the agencies’ ill-conceived proposed rule change that would redefine the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) in a way that obstructs achievement of the […]

Comments submitted in Idaho state case against Simplot

In August 2025, the State of Idaho filed its own claims against Simplot over its decades of unchecked pollution at its Grand View concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO). The state is seeking penalties (though they are far reduced from what we would have sought in our federal case) and is requiring Simplot to hold a […]

Letter opposing H.R. 2073 – “Defending Our Dams Act”

Snake River Waterkeeper joined a large coalition of salmon advocacy groups in voicing our strong opposition to H.R. 2073, or the “Defending Our Dams Act.” If passed, H.R. 2073 would permanently ban the use of federal funds to replace any of the services provided by the lower Snake River dams, regardless of the benefits those projects […]