The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are raising their voice for Columbia River protection in the wake of the deadly Longview paper mill disaster, which released a corrosive chemical — known as “white liquor” — into waterways near the mill earlier this month.
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, emergency response crews have finished flushing the drainage system around the Longview mill, but the Tribes say the broader threat to the Columbia River watershed cannot be ignored.
Why Warm Springs Has Standing
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, whose reservation straddles the Deschutes River drainage in Jefferson County, have treaty-protected rights to salmon and other fish in the Columbia River system. Those rights — established in the 1855 Treaty of Warm Springs — make the health of the Columbia and its tributaries a matter of tribal sovereignty, not just environmental concern.
Any chemical contamination event in the Columbia watershed carries the potential to affect salmon runs, lamprey, and other species the Tribes have depended on for thousands of years. The Longview incident, even if contained, raises alarm about the vulnerability of the river system to industrial accidents.
A History of Advocacy
The Warm Springs Tribes have been consistent advocates for Columbia River health over the decades, including fighting dam removal to restore salmon passage, monitoring water quality, and participating in regional watershed councils. Their call for greater protections in the Longview aftermath fits a long pattern of standing up for treaty fishing rights and river stewardship.
What Happened in Longview
The Longview, Washington paper mill disaster involved a release of white liquor — a caustic chemical used in the papermaking process — into nearby drainage systems. The release was connected to fatalities at the facility and prompted significant emergency response efforts. While cleanup crews have addressed the immediate drainage issue, environmental advocates are pressing for longer-term scrutiny of industrial facilities along the Columbia corridor.
The Madras Bulletin will continue following this story as the Tribes’ advocacy efforts develop and state and federal regulators respond.