Center for Environmental Law & Policy

Mission

The mission of the Center for Environmental Law & Policy (CELP) is to protect, preserve, and restore Washington’s waters through education, policy reform, agency advocacy, and public interest litigation. Our vision is that Washington state will have clean and abundant water to support healthy communities, thriving ecosystems, and climate resilience.

About us

CELP was founded in 1993 to ensure the equitable and sustainable management of our most precious resource: water. For over thirty years, we have served as a key defender of Washington’s water rights and resources. We are the only statewide organization working full time to change water policy. 

With deep respect for the interconnected nature of the world and our natural resources, we incorporate diverse perspectives and ideas in addressing the significant challenge of water resource management. We believe that water belongs to all of us. 

In Washington state, climate change is disrupting precipitation, shifting the timing and volume of streamflow, and reducing snowpack. These changes cause lower water flow during the summer, making it increasingly challenging to maintain an adequate water supply for communities, agriculture, and fish and wildlife. Lower summer flows and higher stream temperatures will continue to degrade our water quality and place further stress on salmon. 

The reality of climate change and its effects are intensified by political challenges. Despite this, we are remaining courageous and inspired. Efforts at the local and state levels, like those of CELP, offer our community much-needed hope.

Donations support:

• work with state agencies to improve decisions about water usage, 
• collaboration with Tribal Leadership in support of treaty water rights, 
• public interest litigation to enforce existing water laws, 
• advocacy to key legislators to craft more protective laws and policies, and
• education for Washington public officials and residents to promote a sense of stewardship in our community. 

The need for this work is urgent and critical as we fight for a sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient future for all.