We recognize that we live and work on the unceded, sacred homelands of the Spokane Tribe, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Kalispel Tribe, and Nez Perce Tribe. Since time immemorial, these tribes have lived and cared for these grounds. We pay our respects to their Elders – past, present, and emerging. We show gratitude to the land, river, and peoples who have been fishing, hunting, harvesting, and gathering here for generations. We give thanks to the legacy of the original people and their descendants and pledge to honor their stewardship and values.

WHO WE ARE

Our Mission as Guardians and Advocates.

Spokane Riverkeeper is a vigilant guardian and advocate for the Spokane River and its watershed.  The mission of the Spokane Riverkeeper is to protect the river’s ecological health, vibrancy, and aesthetic integrity, as well as the healthy connections that communities have to the river now and into the future. We use the Clean Water Act as a primary legal tool for our work. The CWA gives communities legal protections for a fishable and swimmable Spokane River and foresees the ultimate end of water pollution. We also use education and collaboration as a primary way of communicating the values of and protecting the Spokane River.

The Spokane River is a cherished being to all citizens of the region’s many communities. This value is a matter of equity and justice for communities and the River itself.  As a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance movement, Riverkeeper’s first priority is to defend the river against pollution and hold all polluters accountable. 

In 2009 the Spokane Riverkeeper was formed as a project of the nonprofit organization, Center for Justice by a small group of lawyers fed up with polluters abusing the Spokane River.  They recognized the hands-on approach that values a presence on the river and uncompromising advocacy. Over the years, our work stopped numerous forms of pollution and set the initiative on getting the Spokane River cleaned up and protected.  

In March of 2020, the Center for Justice closed its doors and the Spokane Riverkeeper formed a Board of Directors and became its own, independent nonprofit organization. We are now free-standing with a 501 (c) 3 Number, a Board of seven leaders, and a staff of three making us the premier leader in Spokane River issues.


Our Fleet of Boats:

We actively patrol our River with a fleet of rafts and one canoe.

Our founding craft, the Aire Tributary, 13’ Rubber raft named the “Blue Heron”, has been retired for the moment (it will still see some use on the river) - It was donated by ROW Adventures and saw a decade of hard service the river. Also in the photo is an NRS inflatable Kayak that keeps our fleet nimble.

DSCN9195.JPG

Our Aire Super Puma, 13 foot raft is named the “Redband” after the iconic native trout who are the cornerstone of our river. It was donated to the program by the Redband Rally fund for the Spokane River.


IMG_20200728_193212.jpg

Our 16’ Star rubber raft has yet to be named and was recently donated to the program by Flow Adventures. It remains the “Beast” of the fleet, hauling thousands of pounds of garbage off of the Spokane River annually.

TBA Boat for website.jpg

AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS

WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE

Waterkeeper Alliance (WKA) is an environmental organization founded in 1999, responding to a growing movement of organizations with the name Riverkeeper, Baykeeper, Soundkeeper, and other related "keeper" names. The original Riverkeeper was organized in New York in 1983, as a response to the destructive industrial pollution that was destroying the Hudson River.

Today, WKA unites all Waterkeeper organizations; coordinating and covering issues affecting Waterkeepers that work to protect bodies of water around the world. It's the fastest growing grassroots environmental movement in the world, spanning six continents. Each Waterkeeper organization is devoted to the preservation of specific watersheds. Spokane Riverkeeper is an affiliate member of the WKA.


What started as a small group of lawyers in 2009 fed up with polluters abusing the Spokane river is now recognized as a valuable advocacy group made up of en...