We hope you are doing well. We are wishing you joy and all the best!
Although we haven’t been able to gather in person, we know water unites us and connects us. If 2020 proved anything it is that we find peace in nature and we need to work together to protect our waters for everyone. Our community inspires us, you inspire us.
This year started out with a successful legislative session and Clean & Abundant Water lobby day. After advocating for bills that protected rivers from suction dredge mining, improved preparation for drought, enhanced water and energy conservation and more, four of our priority bills were signed into law. Working from home, we have continued our work protecting our waters.
Even through this crazy year, we have continued to act as Washington’s water watchdog. We worked in watershed restoration groups to find solutions to restore stream flows impaired by new permit exempt wells. We also worked with stakeholders to find solutions to water speculation and improve the water trust and banking systems.
We hosted a successful three part winter workshop covering Water Trading and Speculation, River Basin Adjudications and Tribal Rights, and Climate Change and Water Rights. Earlier this fall we also hosted a wonderful virtual Celebrate Water event for our 25th anniversary as a nonprofit and honored water hero Professor Bob Anderson.
Our work this year and our past victories were made possible by the support of our members, donors, partners, and friends. You make our work possible and we are incredibly grateful.
Still more work remains to be done. Our already over-allocated water resources face tremendous challenges from climate change, increasing development, water speculation, proposed dams, and more.
Your support helps us continue to protect, preserve, and restore waters in Washington.
Thank you for your dedication to our waters!
Take care,
CELP Team