Spokane Riverkeeper 2013 Highlights

Major highlights Riverkeeper assumed a leadership role and diligently organized against big coal and proposals to ship coal through Spokane and along the Spokane River. In addition, Riverkeeper, in conjunction with other NGOs, filed a Clean Water Act lawsuit against BNSF for ongoing discharges of coal pollution in the Spokane River Riverkeeper continued to further the conditions of our PCB consent decree with the City of Spokane to ensure increased and effective stormwater management and clean water initiatives throughout the Spokane River basin, which is currently being manifested in a wide range of regulatory, policy and on-the-ground activity in and around stormwater as a pollution source to the River. Riverkeeper, along with colleagues in Waterkeepers Washington (made up of the four Waterkeeper Alliance programs in Washington), methodically tracked, participated in and challenged when necessary the state of Washingtons efforts to update rulemaking around the states fish consumption rate which sets the human health criteria portion of water quality and toxic clean-up standards, essentially determining how strict (or not) our pollution standards are. When we felt too much delay was occurring, we used our authority under the Clean Water Act to take EPA to federal district court to stand up for clean water, healthy fish and environmental justice in the state of Washington, and for the Spokane River. Riverkeeper launched a new logo and doubled down on our marketing, branding, outreach and communication efforts, as well as building on existing and brokering new and exciting business partnerships to increase Riverkeepers presence and funding streams.

Successes In January, we launched a re-design of our monthly newsletter that now features a short and snappy editorial from Riverkeeper Bart, more news and updates from the month that was, a featured photograph from a supporter or Instagram hashtag #spokaneriver and links to events, social media channels and more. The email went out consistently on the 25th of every month for 12 months, and over the course of the year our email list grew from 430 to nearly 1,200, far surpassing our goal of 700 subscribers total in 2013. One thing that's been a constant since Riverkeeper launched in 2009 is that we're always evolving the program. We do this in hopes that we continue to do the best we can to clean up the Spokane River, but also so we continue to be the best resource for you, the community Also in January, we submitted comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point near Bellingham. This is one of the current three proposed coal export facilities in the NW, facilities that would increase coal train traffic through Spokane and ultimately the exporting of dirty coal from the NW. As mentioned above, fighting coal was a year-long endeavor (still on-going), and this success exemplifies our

diligence in engaging in regulatory processes on behalf of those who share our belief of a clean River and healthy community. In February, we helped organize a big Forward on Climate rally in Riverfront Park, which was part of a big nation-wide demonstration, which turned out to be the largest ever collective demonstration on climate change in US history. It was a great opportunity to discuss a major global issue, all while being able to point to coal exporting and coal trains as a very local issue and how they interface. February also brought a small surprise that turned out to be a big deal. It came in the way of a "tip" of some possible pollution running in to Hangman Creek. We investigated and responded and were able to get the authorities to address what turned out to be a nasty sewage leak from a Brownes Addition apartment complex leaking down the hill right in to Hangman Creek. March is always one of our busiest outreach months. This March was no exception. We used World Water Day (March 22nd) to kick off Aveda Earth Month (April), which is a month-long fundraising campaign developed by Aveda to help raise funds for environmental initiatives. They have been raising money for local partners since 1999, totaling more than $26 million. Here locally, Aveda and local Aveda salons have helped us raise more than $50,000 for Riverkeeper. On March 22nd we hosted our first-ever art open house in the Community Building lobby featuring clean-water themed art pieces and poetry created by Jefferson Montessori students (grades 4-6). A quick minute to brag about our good friends. On March 15th, DOMA Coffee and artist Chris Dreyer / Dreyer Press took home a Gold award at the 2013 Inland Northwest ADDY awards for their design of our amazing Spokane Riverkeeper blend of DOMA Coffee called "GOOD COFFEE". The Inland Northwest ADDY Awards Competition is the first level of a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF). As for the aforementioned Aveda Earth Month, with another successful April in the books, we surpassed the previous years total and received over $2,000 from local Aveda salons from their participation in Aveda Earth Month. April also saw us have our most successful Spring River Clean up to date. It was the third year we partnered with Gonzaga Journal of International Law (GJIL) and Gonzaga University Alliance for Social Justice to clean up the River around TJ Meenach bridge. Despite the rain, we had our most volunteers and biggest clean up yet. Finally in April, we were thrilled when Robert McClure of Investigate West released a very thorough and favorable look at an issue we've been working on for over a year, an issue we tipped off to McClure. The issue is the fish consumption rate rule making process (mentioned above) and specifically attempts by industry to put profits ahead of the environment and people's health. The series by McClure and InvestigateWest went on to win awards for journalism and reporting but also made tsunami-like waves in the state of Washington as it uncovered threats that Boeing made to then Governor Gregoire about the state changing pollution standards. The reporting day lighted the importance of the issue and our work in it, an issue that even went on to be a major determining factor in the state legislative session and budget process.

May saw Riverkeeper Bart accepting an appointment to the Riverfront Park Master Plan Advisory Committee that is being chaired by Inlander publisher Ted McGregor. The committee was created by the Spokane Park Board in concert with Mayor David Condon and will work for 12 months to provide overall guidance to City staff and the Park Board as plans are developed for a major re-investment in Riverfront Park via the Master Plan. In May we celebrated a victory over coal with news that Kinder Morgan had dropped its plan to build a $200-million coal exporting facility on the Columbia River at the Port of St. Helens. When 2013 began, there were six proposals in the NW to export coal, with the St. Helens plan meeting the chopping floor, there were, and still are only three. Meaning thats three coal exporting facilities stopped in the Pacific Northwest in 2013! Thanks to everyone who joined us in June for our annual Spokane Riverkeeper / ROW Adventures Spokane River Float. We had just enough sunshine and plenty of water to make it a great float on the Spokane River, and thanks to ROW Adventures we raised some money to continue our work to clean up the Spokane River! In June we finally had enough of finding coal pollution in the Spokane River from passing coal trains. Along with our Waterkeepers Washington allies and other allies, we filed a legal challenge in federal district court against BNSF under the Clean Water Act for the illegal discharge of coal pollution in to the Spokane River. The filing followed from a 60 day notice filed in April after we gathered evidence which demonstrates the companies responsibility for emitting coal into waterways in several locations on the Spokane River and Hangman Creek. As of this report, the case is still pending. Finally, in an effort to always strike a balance between light and heavy, in June we leaked word that we were in the process of creating a Riverkeeper beer in conjunction with River City Brewing. The news lit up social media and kept all of our supporters in thirsty anticipation. In July, Riverkeeper Bart carried the Swimmable and Fishable Spokane River message west where he presented on a panel at the 2013 Montana Folk Festival in Butte, Montana. The theme of this year's festival was "Gathering at the Headwaters: The Influence of the Confluence of Rivers and Riparian Lifeways in Montana and the Mountain West." Back in Spokane, July was the month where Waterkeepers Washington filed a 60-day notice letter to EPA stating that EPA could be sued under the federal Clean Water Act for failing to protect Washingtonians from toxic pollution entering the Spokane River and other waterbodies in the state of Washington. The notice was the result of persistent delays by the state of Washington to update the fish consumption rate. In August, Riverkeeper Bart was quoted in a story that ran in The New York Times about coal and oil rail shipments and their impacts on Spokane. Also in August, the Washington Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ecologys authority to regulate nonpoint source pollution. The ruling cited an amicus brief filed by Waterkeepers Washington. More in August, we re-launched our amazing GOOD COFFEE blend of DOMA Coffee with tasting events around the region and a re-focus from both us and DOMA on the project. You can now find GOOD COFFEE at over ten locations through eastern Washington and north Idaho.

Finally in August, we kicked off year three of our St Georges Stewards of the Little Spokane River program at St Georges Elementary. This program consists of Riverkeeper Bart attending St. Georges 4th grade class once a month to facilitate water quality monitoring of the Little Spokane River. For this year, year three, the program has expanded to include cooperation with the St. Georges High School biology class. This year, 4th grade groups are paired up with high school students and monitoring is done using the 4th grade equipment, while the high school students use more advanced equipment. Data is compared and logged and high schools students and elementary students will do presentations on findings at the end of the school year. September you all celebrated with us at the Seventh Annual Dirty Martinis for Clean Water. It was by far the best one yet. THANK YOU all so much for helping us sell out in advance (2nd year in a row), for showing up with your energy, your generosity and your party pants on and for helping us throw one heck of a party! The Terrible Buttons rocked it, and Steve Faust gave an incredible speech in accepting the 2013 Mike Chappell Spokane River Hero Award. Oh and we made nearly $12,000 which was our biggest DMCW to date. To top it off, we launched our beer, RIVERKEEPER RED, at DMCW and to date its all over Spokane and Cheney and its delicious. Its a limited release (dont worry, were doing it with River City Brewing again in 2014), and every keg and pint sold is raising money for Riverkeeper. We dont have final numbers yet, but this partnership should end up raising over $5,000 for Riverkeeper. Last but not least, on September 12th at a reception held at the Chateau Rive, Riverkeeper Bart was recognized by the Inland Business CATALYST as one of the Inland Northwest's 20 under 40 for business, innovation and leadership. On October 11th, we took our fight to tighten water pollution rules related to fish consumption in the state of Washington to federal district court. Along with our allies in Waterkeepers Washington (Puget Soundkeeper, Columbia Riverkeeper and North Sound Baykeeper and state commercial fishing groups, we filed a federal lawsuit to try to force the State of Washington to better protect people from toxins in fish caught in states waters

2013 By the Numbers: Attended in person or sat in on conference call line for 16,764 minutes worth of meetings. Thats 279.4 hours or 11.64 full days worth of meetings in 2013 Submitted 37 official comments on issues ranging from coal exporting to Hanford clean up to federal toxic rulemaking reform. Accepted invitations to publicly speak at over 20 functions including climate change rally in Riverfront Park, coal export hearing press rally, community events and service organizations like Rotary and Lions. Met goal of speaking in 20 schools in 2013 by visiting and presenting in classrooms from elementary schools to high schools to university classes and Gonzaga law school. Tabled at over 20 community events from concerts at the Knitting Factory to other organizations fundraisers to Earth Day Spokane and more. As stated as a major highlight for 2013, we doubled down on our marketing, branding, outreach and communication efforts. In terms of social media, to date, we o Increased our Facebook likes from 923 to 1,292, falling just short of our ambitious goal of 1,400. o Increased our Twitter followers from 766 to 1,109, barely missing our equally ambitious goal of 1,200 o Increased our brand new Pinterest page followers from 41 to 88, well short of our probably too ambitious goal of 150 o Increased our brand new Instagram followers from 45 to 173, surpassing our lofty goal of 150 o And as mentioned already, grew our email list from 430 to nearly 1,200, far surpassing our goal of 700 subscribers