Rachael Paschal Osborn: Water Advocate

Memories of the Santa Barbara, Calif., oil spill in 1969 stick with Rachael Paschal Osborn like the oil did on the many thousands of sea animals affected by the disaster. did Raised in southern California, Osborn was brought up with a strong sense of justice, and knew, even at a young age, that this disaster could have been prevented. Union Oil’s Platform had been ruptured as a result of being permitted by the U.S. Geological Survey to cut corners and operate below federal and California standards. The following spring, the nation’s first Earth Day was born, and Osborn’s awareness of the need to revere Mother Earth every day—and to hold accountable those who didn’t—was already growing. Now a tireless water advocate in Spokane, her ideals and beliefs remain firmly rooted in her family’s influence. “My grandmother instilled in me the sense that humans need to interact gently with the world,” said Rachael, co-founder and executive director of the Center for Environmental Law and Policy. “My mother gave me my strong sense of justice.” CELP serves as a voice for public interest water resource management and preservation in Washington state. CELP is the only “water watchdog” advocacy organization dedicated solely to protecting the state’s rivers and streams. “Working for a non-profit environmental organization is a blessing. I have no complaints and feel incredibly lucky that I get to do this work every day,” she said. Osborn credits the influence of the late Ralph W. Johnson, her CELP co-founder, and University of Washington professor who was a pioneer in the modern teachings of the U.S. Public Trust Doctrine—a document that outlines the public’s right to access water to navigate, fish and recreate. A professor herself, Osborn began teaching environmental law at UW in 1993 and has taught at Gonzaga University since moving here in 1999. She’s also provided representation to American Indian tribes, environmental organizations, labor unions, and small communities since 1992. She was co-founder and board member of Washington Water Trust (1997-2001), another organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of free-flowing waters in the state. Last May, Osborn represented the Sierra Club on the Spokane River Project and was able to reach a settlement with Avista to restore the “dry falls” in Riverfront Park, to ‘wet’ ones once again. The project is ongoing for the next several years with the next goal to restore the riverbed, damaged by construction of mills and sewers. The settlement was a landmark one, ultimately preserving the area’s value—aesthetically, historically and culturally. “The best part of my job is helping others who share my passion for protecting rivers and aquifers and, with just a little assistance, are able to become the best possible advocates for their local waterways,” Osborn said. Currently CELP is challenging the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s management of the Grand Coulee Dam and latest water grab from the Columbia River. The dam is a major supplier of energy and provides flood control, but has devastated salmon runs and Native American and First Nation cultures that depended on the salmon. Pumping water uphill to irrigate large corporate farms comes at a huge cost to taxpayers and takes water from struggling Columbia River salmon. She’s also working on the Spokane River dissolved oxygen cleanup plan and efforts to improve river flows, supporting several important water bills, including one that would ban phosphorus from fertilizers—a good step for the Spokane River, as well as writing a paper on “The Human Right to Water” to present in New York this spring. What is one of the most challenging obstacles you face in running a non-profit, environmental organization? These days, money. The recession hit non-profits as hard as everyone else. I am also very worried about the climate crisis and how it is changing hydrology (such as snowpack and river runoff) in this part of the world. What do you think is the biggest misconception about sustainable living? It is important that we all do our part as individuals. But frankly, we need some big-picture changes in laws and institutions if we hope to save our planet for future generations. What is something sustainable you do in your personal life that maybe not everyone thinks of but anyone can do? My husband and I installed a drip irrigation system and are converting our green lawn to a drought-tolerant garden. Less mowing, I recommend it. What would you like to see happen, sustainability-wise in the next year? Spokane County needs to re-think its proposed wastewater treatment plant and, instead of putting more pollution in the river, treat and recycle the effluent and re-use it as a substitute for potable water. How about the next decade? I’d like to see the City of Spokane change how it collects stormwater — more green swales and infiltration into the aquifer, less concrete and fewer pipes polluting the river. Added benefit: a more pedestrian and bike-friendly, and climate resilient cityscape. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Same as the last 10 years: leading local efforts to protect the Spokane River and aquifer, teaching the lessons of these waters to citizens and law students, and getting outdoors to enjoy the beautiful Inland Northwest.