The Washington Waters That Need Protection Now
Washington’s rivers and streams are some of the cleanest, most biodiverse waters left in the Pacific Northwest. Four of them are now nominated for Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) designation, the strongest water quality protection available under the Clean Water Act.
Each of these waters supports something worth protecting: drinking water for entire communities, salmon runs that define the Pacific Northwest, or landscapes that Tribes have stewarded since time immemorial. Each also faces a real, current threat, from federal rule repeals to active mining claims.
Washington Waters Nominated for Outstanding Resource Water Designations
Upper Sultan River
This cold-water mountain river in the North Cascades supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of Snohomish County residents. A proposed repeal of national forest roadless area protections could open its headwaters to activities that put that water quality at risk.
Methow Headwaters
The Methow Headwaters are critical ground for Pacific Northwest salmon recovery, especially spring Chinook, summer steelhead, and bull trout. More than 130,000 acres of roadless area here are now at risk following a 2025 USDA notice to repeal long-standing forest protections.
Upper Lewis River
Recommended for Wild & Scenic River status back in the 1990s, the Upper Lewis River still needs permanent protection. It’s a vital thermal refuge for the Columbia River and home to coho, steelhead, and bull trout, and its main stem supplies drinking water to Cowlitz County.
Ruby, Granite, and Canyon Creeks
These high-elevation tributaries of the Skagit River feed the most salmon-productive river system in Puget Sound. Legacy and active mining claims near Ruby Creek threaten the exceptional water quality that makes these creeks worth protecting.
Add Your Voice
Washington’s waters are worth protecting, and right now, four of them need your support. Join the many Washingtonians already working to secure lasting protection for these rivers and creeks.