Adriana Maestas is the daughter of Roberto Maestas, the founder and longtime Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza. Born into a local activist family with strong ties to communities of color and tribal communities in Washington State, Adriana has a long history of social justice activism and advocacy work. She is deeply committed to combatting the climate crisis and environmental and ecological matters, including resource preservation and wildlife protection. Adriana has undertaken pro bono legal work on immigration, child advocacy and voter protection cases.

Steve Hirschey has been a manager and policy analyst working on many aspects of water resource management across the state over a 33-year career. With the Washington State Department of Ecology, Steve developed and promulgated instream flow rules, and water right administration policies and rules. He spent time managing 22 staff implementing the Water Code and well drilling programs in Ecology’s Bellevue office, and also served as a senior analyst for water resources. With the King County’s Department of Natural Resource and Parks, Steve worked with local land use and water issues including water and land use planning, reclaimed water, asset management, utility wastewater management, and public water service issues. Steve also chaired the King County Utilities Technical Review Committee, tasked with reviewing local utility plans and making recommendations to the King County Council for plan approval. Steve received a B.S. in Natural Sciences from St. John’s University, and his M.S. in Environmental Studies from the Evergreen State College. Steve is married and the father of two children and enjoys snow skiing, hiking, and gardening.

Willie Frank III, a Nisqually tribal member, serves as the 7th council member on the Nisqually Tribal Council.

He says, "I believe we need to work toward moving our tribe forward while continuing to protect our treaty rights and tribal sovereignty. I believe that our salmon and natural resources are still the foundation for who we are today".

Check out this great resource on understanding the legislative session, how you can watch and participate virtually, how to contact your representatives, how to voice your support for bills, how to track legislation, and how to schedule a virtual visit with your legislators.

HB 1117- Promoting salmon recovery through revisions to the state's comprehensive planning framework.

CELP position: Neutral

HB 1132-Concerning the protection of water supply for farming and rural economic development.

CELP position: Against

HB 1184/ SB 5087- Concerning risk-based water quality standards for on-site nonpotable water systems.

CELP position: Support

HB 1372- Replacing the Marcus Whitman statue in the national statuary hall collection with a statue of Billy Frank Jr.

CELP Position: Support

SB 5060- Concerning the preservation of water rights for farmland and economic development.

CELP position: Against

SB 5092 / HB 1094- Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations. Nooksack River adjudication funding.

CELP position: Support

SB 5306- Concerning local salmon habitat recovery planning in critical areas.

CELP position: Support

Find and contact your legislators here.

Check out the State of Salmon in Watersheds 2020 Report by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. This Web site documents how Washingtonians have responded to the challenges of protecting and restoring salmon and steelhead and their habitats. It summarizes both the achievements and the issues statewide and by salmon recovery region.

You can read about the report and the northwest's salmon populations in this NY Times article, Northwest’s Salmon Population May Be Running Out of Time.

Is the public engaged enough in the effort to protect our waters and salmon? Check out this article on Lake Washington Sockeye in trouble.

Check out “From Loon Lake to Chuckanut Creek: The Rise and Fall of Environmental Values in Washington’s Water Resources Act” by Rachael Paschal Osborn here.

Abstract: The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the Water Resources Act of 1971, Washington’s program to protect instream flows in state rivers. Implementation has been controversial and, even a half century later, incomplete.

Part 1 introduces the Act.

Part 2 examines its legislative history, and administrative development by the Department of Ecology. The Act innovated water allocation, putting instream flows and public uses of rivers on par with out-of-stream water rights. But river protection labors under serious limitations, chief among them the subordination of instream flows to pre-existing water rights. And, although only half of Washington’s watersheds are protected under the Act, the program has ground to a halt.

Part 3 examines twelve lawsuits that interpreted or relied on the Act, and the role of the courts in both endorsing and eroding the Act’s provisions.

Part 4 concludes with recommendations for new water resources policy legislation. Absent affirmative steps by the state Legislature, Washington’s rivers are unprepared for the adverse impacts of the climate crisis.

We seek a legal intern with a demonstrated interest in environmental issues to work on projects aimed at establishing protected instream flows. Qualified candidates will have completed their 2L year by Spring 2020 and taken an environmental law course. Coursework or clinical experience in administrative law is preferred. Exact internship dates are flexible depending on academic schedules, but generally run from June – August and last 10 weeks. Please email a CV, a writing sample, and references to Dan Von Seggern, Staff Attorney at dvonseggern@celp.org

Thanks for taking the time to read Washington Water Watch! With your help, CELP has accomplished many victories, yet more work remains to be done. You can support our work by making a donation online here, or mailing a check to: 85 S. Washington St #301 Seattle, WA 98104.