August Update: Drought response - Celebrate Waters Tickets - Snake River Flotilla - Data Centers
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your ongoing support. It means so much to our ability to keep fighting for clean, abundant and flowing waters aswe work to build climate resilience in our region. Here are a few important updates for you.
Hope to connect with you soon!
Chris Wilke, Executive Director
STATEWIDE DROUGHT RESPONSE
Washington's Water Future Process
Thanks to everyone who attended the Department of Ecology Public Information Sessions on July 8 and August 4. Together we delivered a clear message of STRONG public support for nature-based drought-resilience solutions, including wetland protection and restoration, stream habitat, beaver ponds, legacy forest protection and aquifer recharge.
CELP also made the point that Ecology would do well to add a drought resilience lens to their existing regulatory processes like water quality and wetlands-alteration permitting. Much can be gained by aligning priorities in existing programs without creating brand-new processes that might be difficult to sustain.
There is a final remaining public opportunity to provide input in the current process, and it's easy to participate! Please fill out the online public survey to let Department of Ecology know what you value most (and perhaps what unsustainable practices we should be moving past).
Spokane River, Low Flow (Pre-fires)
Background:
Governor Ferguson and Department of Ecology declared a fourth-straight year of drought with an expanded statewide scope in April 2026, and on May 6 they announced the new initiative Washington's Water Future, which is expected to lead to new proposals and potential legislation affecting our waterways. We all have a stake in this.
CELP is engaging in this process and has criticized the current fragmented and top-down approach which divides different stakeholders while giving inside access to certain interest groups. Contact Chris at cwilke@celp.org if you'd like to get involved!
Celebrate Waters - Advance Tickets Available!
CELP's Celebrate Waters and Ralph Johnson Water Hero Award Ceremony
October 16, 2026 - Ivar's Salmon House in Seattle, WA. 5:30pm - 8pm
2026 is our 30th year as a registered charity and 501(c)(3) non-profit - though our roots go back further! Come help us celebrate, connect and honor our Water Heroes! 2026 Award recipient announcement coming soon!
Tickets: $75 (Online registration coming September 1)
Advance Tickets and Early Bird Pricing for parties of four or more: $65 per person.
Sponsorships available. Contact Chris at cwilke@celp.org for details.
ON-WATER EVENT
Join us on the river for the Snake River Flotilla!
September 11-12 Lewiston, ID
On behalf of Nimíipuu Protecting the Environment, we’re excited to invite you to the 2026 Free the Snake Flotilla, on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12 at Hells Gate State Park (Lewiston, ID)! Join us as we rally on the water for a free-flowing lower Snake River and take meaningful action towards Columbia Basin salmon recovery.
This year's event will begin Friday evening with dinner, live music, and an outdoor film screening along the banks of the Snake River. The flotilla will launch Saturday morning from the Asotin Boat Ramp to Hells Gate State Park, where we will gather for a salmon lunch, partner tabling, a powerful program of speakers, and activities to help get out the vote this election for our lands, waters, and salmon this election season.
Flotilla paddlers landing in Lewiston, 2025 (CELP photo)
Click here for more information and to RSVP!
All are welcome to this free community gathering! Together, we can inspire the change that’s needed to heal the Snake River. We hope to see you there.
Contact us if you'd like to help organize a paddle team or volunteer at the CELP table: cwilke@celp.org
PACIFIC NW FIRE SEASON
Our hearts go out to all communities, human and wildlife, dealing with this severe PNW fire season. It's a complex issue, but the overlap with climate change is undeniable. It's a stark reminder of the very real human and natural-word costs of the climate crisis. While we worry about long-term trends, we hope that conditions moderate in the short term, and that relief finds a way to those that need it most.
Take care out there, and please let us know what we can do to support you in policy, communications, education and/or organizing.
DATA CENTERS IN THE NEWS:
As the water, climate, air quality and community impacts of the current large data center building frenzy are exposed, citizens and municipalities around the PNW are taking action.
Quincy area data center, with "backup" generators, and chicken (CELP photo, June, 2026)
In the last few months construction moratoriums or other regulation have passed in a number of our cities and counties. Cascade PBS published this story this week (note the ominous smokey video in the video coverage as wildfires rage nearby).
They listed the following cities or counties:
Seattle
Spokane
Burien
Federal Way
Marysville
Moses Lake
Pasco
Renton
Cle Elum
Skagit County
Snohomish County
And by our count, in the past two weeks, resolutions have also passed in Spokane County and Yakima County.
CELP is working with coalitions opposing the rapid data center build-out to better protect our waterways and climate, and we expect data center legislation to return next year. Watch this space!
WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION:
Please note that we are doing a major update to the CELP website this month. We will have limited content available for a few weeks, but look forward to sharing our new site with you soon!
Feel free to contact us at (206) 829-8299 or development@celp.org
Your support is essential!
Our Donations Page is always live at Washington Gives - Thank You!