Our proposal to the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission for an Office of the Watershed Advocate was our main focus in early 2026, to carry the voter intent in Everett into Snohomish County governance in a lasting way. As we engaged in the once every 10 year process for the County, it became increasingly clear that something wasn’t right. The same organized opposition that fought the watershed rights initiative in Everett has strong influence in both the formation and operation of the Commission. The level of dysfunction was appalling and we felt an obligation to inform the broader public about what we were observing. The legitmacy of the resulting charter amendments are compromised before they even reach the ballot.

Had our Snohonmish River’s Rights law passed by citizen’s initiative survived a legal challenge by the well-funded Master Builder’s Association it could have ensured BP paid full remediation for their Olympic Pipeline spill.

In the lawsuit filed by the Master Builders against the Snohomish River Rights law, the judge didn’t rule on the merits of the ordinance, the Snohomish County Superior Court held that the initiative exceeds the scope of local initiative power.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Langbehn announced at a Oct. 24 hearing that she will issue a written decision possibly next month concerning a lawsuit opposing a voter-approved initiative that would grant the Snohomish Watershed rights within the City of Everett, allowing residents to advocate for the watershed’s rights in court.

A group of developers, including Robinett Brothers, Greencity Development and Washington Aggregates & Concrete Assocation, along with the Master Builder’s Assocation of King and Snohomish Counties, will present its case that the law giving rights to the Snohomnish River Watershed should be repealed.

The City Attorney’s role is to protect the City from legal risk and liability, so it wasn’t entirely surprising—but still disappointing—that Everett’s City Attorney’s Office chose to side with the plaintiffs challenging the rights-of-the-river law rather than defend the will of Everett voters who passed it. That said, the approach has also felt overly cautious to a fault, prioritizing legal risk avoidance over standing behind the intent of the voters.

Builders are suing to stop an ordinance passed by voters giving the Snohomish River rights similar to those of children.

Standing for Washington was interviewed by Soundside, a podcast on NPR Seattle affiliate KUOW, for a story on the passage of Everett Initiative 24-03.

Beveridge & Diamond is an environmental and regulatory firm that often represents industry groups, developers and trade associations – clients whose projects depend on predictable permitting systems and existing environmnental law frameworks, and this article expresses those interests.

Voters in the city of Everett chose to grant the Snohomish River watershed rights to exist, regenerate and flourish as part of a November ballot initiative.

In a historic vote that could reshape environmental protection, Everett, Washington became the first city in the state to grant legally enforceable rights to a natural ecosystem.

Everett’s Initiative 24-03, which passed with 56% of the vote, grants the Snohomish River legal rights to protect its watershed. The measure allows residents of Everett to sue those harming the river’s health, requiring those found liable to fund restoration projects.

Everett voters will decide next Tuesday if the Snohomish River should have legal rights. If Initiative 24-03 passes, any city resident could take anyone negatively impacting the watershed’s health to court.

A response to an opposition letter written by David Toyer, a key figure behind the developer-funded PAC opposing the Snohomish River Watershed Rights initiative.

Passing the initiative would allow the Everett community to go to court on behalf of the watershed to sue anyone who is polluting or causing damage to the watershed — maintaining the watershed’s water quality, biodiversity, and contributing to the Everett economy according to the campaign’s website.

The Snohomish River Watershed initiative (Everett 24-03) is now on the November ballot after successfully gathering enough signatures This vital measure aims to protect the Snohomish River and its watershed by giving the community the legal ability to take action against harm, without adding new regulations

A new initiative in Everett aims to grant the Snohomish River watershed legal rights, allowing the community to hold polluters accountable. The campaign, driven by local environmental advocates, has gained significant momentum and seeks to protect the river’s health and ecosystem.

The “Standing for the Snoho” initiative in Everett aims to give the Snohomish River Watershed legal standing to enforce its inherent rights to exist, flourish and regenerate, enabling community members to advocate for its protection in court.

The political action committee Standing for Washington has begun collecting signatures for a local rights of nature initiative for an ordinance protecting the Snohomish River watershed by giving the watershed legal standing that can be defended in court if harmed or damaged.

Nonprofit Standing for Washington has launched a campaign in Olympia and Tumwater to advocate for the rights of the Deschutes Watershed.

Campaign kickstarts with petition drives for local initiatives in Olympia, Everett and Tumwater, proposing city ordinances that recognize watersheds’ rights to exist, flourish, and maintain clean water.

The idea has picked up support around the state where local governments including Jefferson County, San Juan County and the cities of Burien, Port Townsend and Gig Harbor have issued proclamations recognizing the Southern Resident killer whale population’s right to exist, thrive and flourish.