Letter opposing salmon extinction bill signed by 78 organizations

On March 3, a coalition of 78 organizations, including SRW, sent a letter to members of Congress in the northwest, voicing our strong opposition to the “Northwest Energy Security Act” (H.R. 626/S. 182). This piece of legislation threatens to undo years of progress made toward restoring salmon populations across the Columbia and Snake River Basins, […]

Letter supporting federal workers signed by 495 organizations

On February 28, the National Parks Conservation Association submitted a letter addressed to U.S. Senators and Representatives that was signed by 495 organizations, including SRW, expressing our deep concern and disapproval of the recent mass firing of federal employees. “Our nation’s public lands are treasures to be stewarded by our land management agencies according to […]

City of Driggs pays $400k penalty & agrees to update WWTP

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the state of Idaho and the City of Driggs, Idaho have agreed on a series of measures the city will undertake to address chronic violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA). This agreement comes on the heels of a notice letter issued by SRW in 2023, […]

2024 Annual Report

As we look to the work ahead in 2025 — a year that is sure to be fraught with environmental threats under a second Trump administration — Snake River Waterkeeper is prepared to fight like never before to protect the Snake River Basin and the fish and wildlife that call this massive, irreplaceable watershed home. […]

Columbia River Treaty NGO Letter

SRW and 56 other conservation, fishing, faith, clean energy, orca, and community groups signed on to a Columbia River Treaty NGO letter asking the U.S. Government to make improvements to the Treaty for the benefit of salmon, river ecosystems, and all who depend on them. The letter identifies five actions that the State Department and […]

Putting Polluters On Notice

Snake River Waterkeeper (SRW) recently submitted Notice of Intent to Sue letters to four Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) facilities in Idaho. These facilities are all in violation of their federally required National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which sets pollution limits in accordance with the Clean Water Act. Over the past 5 years, each […]

Comments Submitted: Washington Water Quality Standards

Snake River Waterkeeper joined a coalition of 14 conservation and water quality organizations in drafting and submitting comments to the Washington Department of Ecology. We are asking the agency to stop using its now-disapproved Natural Conditions Criteria (NCC) to develop its Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and adopt new, scientifically-based standards to better protect salmon […]

Judge: lawsuit alleging major ag company pollutes the Snake River can proceed

By Erin Banks Rusby – BoiseDev Reporter A case against one of Idaho’s highest-profile agricultural companies has been granted the green light to proceed. Snake River Waterkeeper, an environmental nonprofit, filed a lawsuit against Simplot, specifically, its largest feedlot, located in Grand View, Idaho, in May 2023 for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act. The […]

WA Rejects Army Corps’ Water Quality Attainment Plan

The state of Washington’s Department of Ecology rejected the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed Water Quality Attainment Plan for failing to adequately address hot water pollution on the Lower Snake River. The high water temperatures, which are caused by slow moving water behind the four Lower Snake dams, are lethal to migrating salmon and […]