As a water protector, 2026 continues to be a busy and critical year for defending the Spokane River and clean waters. From legislative advocacy and federal rulemaking to local shoreline decisions and industrial cleanup plans, the work spans every level of governance. Here’s a look at what I’ve been working on recently and what’s ahead.

The Spokane River is more than water moving through our city. It’s where people float in the summer, cast a line at dusk, pause on the Centennial Trail, or sit quietly to breathe. It’s a place where generations have connected with the river, with each other, and with the land around it. But, what does it mean to create access? And who is that access created for?

Kicking off 2026, Water Protector Katelyn Scott is diving into a busy year of advocacy to protect the Spokane River—from federal rulemaking and local water policy to salmon restoration and industrial pollution oversight. Here’s a look at the work so far to defend clean water and healthy river flows.