In a groundbreaking move, the political action committee Standing for Washington has launched a citizen-led initiative to recognize legal rights to the Deschutes Watershed. This initiative, which began gathering signatures in April 2024, aims to establish a set of rights for the watershed within the jurisdictions of Olympia and Tumwater.
A group of environmentalists is working to enact “Rights of Nature” laws for Washington rivers across the state. Olympia-based Rights of Nature Initiative (RONI) Coalition is pushing for an ordinance that recognizes the rights of the Deschutes River. RONI is in its early stages and started its outreach last week when it pitched its vision to the Local Good Governance Coalition. They also held a webinar this week and talked to interested residents about the concept of the rights of nature.