Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC)

08/02/2022

This summer, NEDC submitted a petition asking Oregon to protect the Metolius River by designating it an Outstanding Resource Water. Now, you can help us preserve this iconic central Oregon river!

Home Page | News July 22, 2022 by NEDC Admin Wizard Falls, August 2021 The Metolius River is a true Oregon treasure. Originating from springs that flow north from the base of Black Butte in central Oregon, the Metolius is famous for its beauty, its crystal clear, cold water, and the incredible aquat...

07/28/2022

We're thrilled to once again be hosting NEDC's annual fall retreat at Camp Westwind on the Oregon Coast, on October 7-9. Click below for more information, and to register today!

Home Page | News July 28, 2022 by NEDC Admin Westwind 2022 Registration is now Open! We’re thrilled to once again be hosting NEDC’s annual fall retreat at Camp Westwind on the Oregon coast, so mark your calendars for October 7-9. The weekend will be an opportunity for students, volunteers, membe...

04/06/2022

NEDC is hiring a Staff Attorney! Join our team and help us protect the environment and natural resources of the Pacific Northwest.

STAFF ATTORNEY / ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY POSITION The Northwest Environmental Defense Center ( NEDC ) is seeking either a senior attorney, a staff attorney, or an associate attorney to help carry out the organization s mission to protect water, air, and other natural resources in the Pacific Northwest fr...

03/04/2022

Meet NEDC's new Executive Director!

News March 4, 2022 by NEDC Admin Meet NEDC’s New Executive Director! We’re pleased to announce that NEDC has hired a new Executive Director. Jonah Sandford will be taking over the position from Mark Riskedahl, who is transitioning out this spring after two decades in the E.D. role. Jonah has ser...

09/08/2021

A victory for cool, clean water and bull trout in Mt. Hood National Forest!

News September 7, 2021 by NEDC Admin For Immediate Release, September 7, 2021   Contact: Jonah Sandford, Northwest Environmental Defense Center, (971) 219-4677, [email protected] Lauren Goldberg, Columbia Riverkeeper, (541) 965-0985, [email protected] Ryan Shannon, Center for Biological D...

09/03/2021

Big legal victory this week! Thanks to Advocates for the West and our partners at Native Fish Society and WildEarth Guardians.

“This order comes at a critical moment for wild Willamette River steelhead and salmon,” said NEDC staff attorney Jonah Sandford.

PORTLAND, OREGON Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez issued a final opinion and order directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and

04/13/2021

Last month, the EQC adopted a new "1200-Z" industrial stormwater general permit, which governs stormwater discharges from industrial facilities across the state. This new permit is the result of a lawsuit from NEDC and Columbia Riverkeeper, and contains important new protections for Oregon's waters. Thanks to Earthrise Law Center and our partners at Columbia Riverkeeper for incredible advocacy throughout this process!

Lawsuit Spurs Stricter Toxic Limits, New Water Pollution Permit Affecting Hundreds of Industrial Sites

01/28/2021

This week, Oregon EQC approved rules to protect Waldo Lake and Crater Lake as Outstanding Resource Waters! This decision was in response to a formal rule-making petition submitted last year by NEDC students. This decision ensures that these spectacular places will remain unspoiled!

12/17/2020

Excellent background on today's historic decision by President-elect Biden to nominate Rep. Deb Haaland as Secretary of Interior

Representation is important, and so are policy decisions impacting tribes on the ground.

12/15/2020

We have finalized our Clean Water Act lawsuit against Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals!

In addition to requiring major on-site retrofits that will, for the first time, treat all stormwater that flows off the company's North Portland site into Portland Harbor, we were also able to secure a $125,000 donation to Columbia Riverkeeper to support that organization's impressive work protecting the Columbia River.

Our industrial stormwater enforcement work gets results.

Please consider including NEDC in your end-of-year donation plans. We appreciate your support!

https://www.nedc.org/support-nedc/

08/18/2020

This afternoon Anna Tadio provided testimony to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in support of the formal rulemaking petition she and other Lewis & Clark Law School students drafted and submitted on behalf of NEDC and a coalition of other conservation organizations seeking formal Outstanding Resource Water protection for Waldo Lake.

Inspired by our petition, the state is also moving forward with designating Crater Lake as an Outstanding Resource Water as well.

Do you think Waldo Lake and Crater Lake deserve the highest level of water quality protection available under the law? If so, please take a moment to send an e-mail message to [email protected] stating your support for these designations.

For further info, visit:
https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Regulations/rulemaking/Pages/rwaldoorw2020.aspx

08/18/2020

Legal victory for Willamette River salmon and steelhead!

Thanks to our partners in this effort at Advocates for the West, WildEarth Guardians, and Native Fish Society.

Dams in the Willamette Valley are killing the majority of the young salmon and steelhead that try to pass on their way out to sea, and the Army Corps of Engineers violated the Endangered Species Act by refusing to take steps to reduce those deaths, a federal judge ruled Monday.