The Columbia Basin Bulletin

A program of the Earthwise Knowledge Initiative

The Columbia Basin Bulletin is an independent reporting project of the Earthwise Knowledge Initiative focused on the Columbia River Basin and its watershed.

Since 1997, the Bulletin has covered environmental, energy, land use, and public policy issues that affect communities and the environment across seven U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, at every level of government. Its purpose is to provide accurate, accessible reporting that supports informed public understanding of complex regional decisions with long-term ecological and social consequences.

Public Context

The Columbia River Basin is shaped by public decisions about hydropower, fish and wildlife management, water quality, land use, and climate resilience. These decisions often rely on technical documents and processes spread across multiple agencies and jurisdictions. The Columbia Basin Bulletin supports public understanding by translating complex information into clear reporting, preserving a long-running public record of regional policy, and making that information accessible to the communities that live with the outcomes.

Hydropower and energy policy
Fish and wildlife management
Water quality and watershed governance
Land use and climate impacts
Regional public decision-making

Editorial Approach

The Columbia Basin Bulletin’s reporting is grounded in primary documents, public records, and direct engagement with agencies, researchers, and community stakeholders. Coverage emphasizes accuracy, historical continuity, and clarity over opinion or advocacy.

The Bulletin focuses on explaining how decisions are made, who is involved, and what the documented outcomes are, maintaining a long-term record of regional environmental and policy developments.

Institutional Readership

The Columbia Basin Bulletin is read by people who work for a wide range of public agencies, Tribal governments, research institutions, utilities, conservation organizations, and policy professionals involved in environmental and resource decision-making in the Columbia River Basin.

While the Bulletin is publicly accessible, its reporting is regularly used by organizations that rely on accurate, long-term coverage of regional environmental and policy issues.

Representative Organizations

The following organizations regularly read or reference the CBB. This list is not exhaustive.

Tribal Governments and Inter-Tribal Organizations

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Nez Perce Tribe
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation
Yakama Nation Fisheries
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

Federal and State Agencies

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington State Department of Ecology

Public Utilities and Energy Organizations

Bonneville Power Administration
Northwest Power and Conservation Council
Portland General Electric
Pacificorp
Chelan County Public Utility District
Snohomish County Public Utility District

Research Institutions and Universities

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
University of Washington
University of Idaho
Oregon Health & Science University

Conservation, Legal, and Policy Organizations

Publication and Distribution

The Columbia Basin Bulletin has maintained a continuous reporting record since 1997.

The Columbia Basin Bulletin archive includes more than 12,000 articles documenting environmental, energy, land use, and public policy decisions affecting the Columbia River Basin. Current reporting is published on the Bulletin’s primary site and reflects ongoing coverage of regional decision-making processes.

The Bulletin’s newsletter is distributed to more than 5,400 subscribers, including staff at public agencies, Tribal governments, utilities, research institutions, and conservation organizations, providing a regular channel for the circulation of new reporting and analysis.

Visit the Columbia Basin Bulletin

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to exploring, sharing, and deepening understanding of the connections between people, nature, and knowledge.

Memberships, donations, sponsorships, and grants sustain our work.

All contributions are tax-deductible.