Keep Nestle out of the Columbia River

This bit of news boggles the mind.

From The Oregonian: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has agreed to trade its water rights at Oxbow Springs to pave the way for a Nestle bottled water plant in Cascade Locks.

Cascade Locks City Administrator Gordon Zimmerman said the city and the state wildlife agency jointly submitted paperwork Friday morning to initiate a water rights cross transfer, with the state trading spring water for the city’s well water.

The Columbia River Gorge city will then pass the spring water on to Nestle, which will bottle and sell it.

What’s the problem with this plan? Other than trading your water rights off to a multi national corporation?

Well, the bottling plant could adversely affect migratory fish. Salmon and steelhead passing through the Lower Columbia to points and tributaries upriver often have to deal with high temperatures, and Herman Creek provides a cold water thermal refuge.

LINK (via The Caddis Fly)

You can TAKE ACTION here.

Read all about Nestle's predatory practices.

Steelhead Summit

Groups, anglers and citizens concerned about the restoration and protection of native, wild steelhead of the Skagit River in Washington are welcome to attend this event. You'll hear presentations by noted scientists who work on fisheries and habitat research, and discuss public policy initiatives with wild steelhead advocates.

8:30 AM – 4:00 PM - Social 4:00 - 5:00 PM

Center for Urban Horticulture

3501 Northeast 41st Street

Seattle, WA 98105

LINK

Take Action: Stop a massive petrochemical storage area

In violation of their own rules, a popular and ecologically sensitive recreation area has been leased to a private entity by the General Land Office of Texas and permitted by the US Army Corps of Engineers without public comment, environmental study or disaster planning. We need to tell them that we do not want a massive chemical storage area in the middle of Lydia Ann Channel and that this has to stop.

Please take action by signing this petition.

Worn Wear Spring 2015 Tour

Clebrate the stories we wear.

This spring Patagonia's biodiesel repair truck will travel coast-to-coast doing free clothing repairs, teaching you how to fix your own gear and selling used Patagonia clothing. Bring them your tired, well-loved clothing for repair. If you don’t have any, they’ll supply it. Fix it and you can keep it.

Hit the link for more details and the full tour schedule.

LINK (via: The Cleanest Line)

Wild Steelhead Meets NASCAR

Trout Unlimited announced today a special one race Sprint Cup sponsorship deal with the Penske Racing team. The one race primary sponsor agreement will see Cal Naughton Jr's number 22 Dodge sporting a special paint job featuring the "Be Steelheaded" graphic from TU's Wild Steelheaders United campaign.

When asked about this unique approach to raising awareness Dwayne Meadows, TU's Pacific Northwest Outreach Director said, "We couldn't be happier than to be partnering with Team Penske on this unique opportunity." According to Meadows, "This new motor(steel)head strategy will elevate the plight of wild steelhead beyond the traditional confines of the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes and bring the message to main street U.S.A."

While Meadows concedes that others in the conservation community might be skeptical he says TU remains committed to the experiment. "Sure we recognize that others might question this strategy, but if there's a better way to raise steelhead awareness than having the #22 Penske steelhead edition lap Talladega 188 times I'd like to hear about it."

When informed of TU's new NASCAR partnership Jonathan Stumpf of the Wild Steelhead Coalition was very supportive. "Wow! Seems like a really bold move and CAL NAUGHTON JR TOO!!!! That guy is my favorite driver!"

Cal Jr. himself is also very supportive. "You know I did not know jack shit about steelhead until we entered into this deal with TU but now I really want to help their cause." Naughton immediately started to help get the word out by penning this Facebook post to his 1,766,842 fans immediately after the new sponsorship announcement.

"To all of my loyal fans out there who have never heard of a wild steelhead, and that would be all of you... except for that guy Stumpf in Seattle who keeps sending me creepy fan mail. A steelhead is like a bad ass bass... except it's all chrome colored, and way harder to catch. Believe it or not there are some folks out there who love fishing for steelhead more than you or me love NASCAR, Bud Light, fishing for bass, walleye or noodling for catfish... I know, hard to believe. So please consider taking pity on these poor bastards by taking the Wild Steelheaders United, Be Steelheaded pledge. Thanks! Yer pal Cal.

TU would neither confirm or deny that they are looking at other outside the box sponsorship opportunities.

First Nation defends herring against DFO's stealth fishery, bad science

On the central coast of British Columbia, a coastal community is fighting for the survival of a species so important to the ecology and culture of the north Pacific that it is considered a foundation of the coast.

Watch this short video on the battle that the Heiltsuk First Nation are courageously waging against the Canadian government’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the unsustainable corporate-owned kill-fishery. There is still hope that our coast will witness a return of the great herring runs, but it cannot happen while this indiscriminate industrial fishery is allowed to continue.

TAKE ACTION HERE