Meet the new Spokane Riverkeeper
Big news out of the Center for Justice as they have announced the hiring of the new Spokane Riverkeeper: Jerry White.
White will be replacing our dear friend Bart Mihailovich, who recently accepted a position with the International Waterkeeper Alliance.
Born in Corvallis, Oregon, near the Willamette River his family moved to Cheney, Washington where he grew up exploring the lakes, rivers and forests of the area. With a love for the outdoors, his passion for advocacy was born.
According to the Center, he has a long history of working to protect rivers in the Inland Northwest. He was a former staff member of Save our Wild Salmon and advocated for the restoration and protection of native Snake River salmon and steelhead. He also has worked for native trout as conservation chair and continues to volunteer for Spokane Falls Chapter of Trout Unlimited and is a boardmemeber Inland Northwest Nature Connection.
“It is an honor to take the helm of the Spokane Riverkeeper and I look forward to working with our members, partners and community to build on Bart’s efforts to protect the Spokane River,” White said in a statement issued yesterday. “As a lifelong river lover, it is a great pleasure for me to expand my environmental efforts to the protection of the Spokane River and its native redband trout, its habitat, and everyone’s basic fundamental need of clean water within Spokane’s iconic river.”
Center for Justice Executive Director Rick Eichstaedt added: “With Jerry’s strong leadership and experience, we will continue our ability to protect our Spokane River."
One of the first moves he sees as the Riverkeeper is addressing pollution problems in Latah Creek, one of the largest tributaries of the Spokane River.
A little background: The Spokane Riverkeeper is a program of the Center for Justice. It was founded in 2009. Its mission is to preserve and protect the Spokane River. The Riverkeeper uses legal tools and credible science to advance its mission. While the Riverkeeper strives to collaborate with local organizations, such as its role in founding the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force, legal enforcement of the Clean Water Act is a tool that the Riverkeeper uses to protect our watershed.
Congratulations Jerry and good luck!
