Consultation

How we Help

We provide professional, experienced assistance on water and political issues for 501c-3’s, communities, organizations and activists. On your behalf, we find new solutions, create groundbreaking coalitions, provide organizational strategic planning, establish the message and help frame the opportunity. We make the press pay attention. We create and manage compelling campaigns that change the conversation. We help you win the tough fights.

Our work has included:

Establishing a bipartisan coalition of environmental interests, farming irrigation districts, and city and county governments to protect their water rights from developers. We drafted ground-breaking legislation allowing donated water rights to be initially held in-stream for fish and wildlife, and then to recharge depleted community aquifers. SB 1136 is noted as the first major environmental bill to unanimously pass the Idaho legislature in state history and is the first major change to Idaho water law in 85 years (2005-2007).
Identifying and assisting with the acquisition of major ESA related wetland and water storage properties in Oregon’s Klamath Basin, funded through the federal farm bill. Concurrently, we developed from concept, secured the political support, $3m in funding, and directed for the largest delta, river restoration project in the Pacific Northwest (1998-2001). (Photo at the top of page)
Working with watershed councils and environmental organizations to develop organizational strategic plans and campaigns (1990-2009).
Restoring water flows in previously dewatered and/or diverted rivers and streams through legislative changes, water agreements and restoration (1980-2009).
Fighting international corporations like Nestle, who take away community water and rebottle it for a 1000% profit. Our collaborative work in McCloud, California and Washington State helped force Nestle to drop plans for two sites, including the largest proposed water bottling plant in the country (2008-2009).
Campaign management, state and national political communications and coalition development (1980-2009).
Fighting the privatization and corporate control of public water resources, from bottled water fights to water treatment plants (2001-2009).
Consulting on political campaigns, developing platforms with water as a key element (1986-2008).
Mediating disputes between water users, and establishing new common ground (2005-2007)

Initial consultations for 501c-3’s and community organizations are complementary. Each year, we choose one organization in the West to work with on a pro-bono basis. Letters of interest from organizations are accepted throughout the year. Three organizations will be selected to submit formal proposals in January for project work in that calendar year.