Spokane River Forum
The Spokane River Forum is a non-profit organization that creates materials, events, and activities designed to promote the health and sustainability of the beautiful Spokane River that flows through Idaho and Washington. The Spokane River is the signature natural feature of the city of Spokane, but has been subjected to pollution and toxicity throughout its recent history. SRF has sponsored a number of conferences discussing river issues, as well as rafting and kayaking events along the Spokane River to raise awareness about the need for a clean, healthy river system. SRF aims to serve as a “clearinghouse and information exchange for all things Spokane River.”
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Información de contacto
Title
First name
Andy
Last name
Dunau
Your job title
Name of your organization
Spokane River Forum
Organization type
non-profit
Annual budget/currency
n/a
Mailing address
2206 S Sherman, Spokane, WA
Telephone number
509-535-7084
Postal/Zip Code
99203
Country
Estados Unidos
Website
Email address
Alternative email address
Alternative email address
tu idea
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Street Address
2206 S. Sherman
City
Spokane
State/Province
Washington
Postal/Zip Code
99203
Country
Estados Unidos
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality of tourist experience and educational benefit to tourists , Quality of benefit to residents for the destination , Quality of tourism management by destination leadership , Quality of stewardship of the destination.
Organization size
Small (1 to 100 employees)
Indicate sector in which you principally work
Conservation/Preservation organization
Year innovation began
2008
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Indicate sector in which you principally work
Nature.
Name Your Project
Spokane River Forum
Describe Your Idea
The Spokane River Forum is a non-profit organization that creates materials, events, and activities designed to promote the health and sustainability of the beautiful Spokane River that flows through Idaho and Washington. The Spokane River is the signature natural feature of the city of Spokane, but has been subjected to pollution and toxicity throughout its recent history. SRF has sponsored a number of conferences discussing river issues, as well as rafting and kayaking events along the Spokane River to raise awareness about the need for a clean, healthy river system. SRF aims to serve as a “clearinghouse and information exchange for all things Spokane River.”
Innovación
What is the goal of your innovation? Please describe in one sentence the kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
The Spokane River Forum aims to raise awareness to bring about change for a cleaner, healthier Spokane River.
Please write an overview of your project. Include how your approach supports or embodies geotourism or destination stewardship. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the map located on the competition homepage.
The Spokane River Forum is a non-profit organization that creates materials, events, and activities designed to promote the health and sustainability of the beautiful Spokane River that flows through Idaho and Washington. The Spokane River is the signature natural feature of the city of Spokane, but has been subjected to pollution and toxicity throughout its recent history. SRF has sponsored a number of conferences discussing river issues, as well as rafting and kayaking events along the Spokane River to raise awareness about the need for a clean, healthy river system. SRF aims to serve as a “clearinghouse and information exchange for all things Spokane River.”
Explain in detail why your approach is innovative
SRF has a number of different approaches to achieve its goal of protecting the Spokane River. The organization sponsors everything from multi-state conferences on river issues to kayak races along the water. It uses an online forum for the spread of information, ideas, and opinions to all who take an interest in the sustainability of the river.
Impacto
Describe the degree of success you have had to date. How do you measure, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the impact on sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How has it transformed or contributed to the power of place or demonstrated the sustainability of tourism? How does your approach minimize negative impacts?
SRF has had a handful of successes to date. The organization has launched a number of successful events in the last year to raise awareness about the condition of the river. It will take time to see real results in improvements in the levels of cleanliness of the river. However, success can be measured by participator turnout and media coverage of SRF’s events. For example, this past January, SRF sponsored a conference of nearly 200 participants over two days discussing the many complex river issues. The kayaking and rafting event of last summer had close to 100 participants and received front-page newspaper coverage. Events like this draw more people to the Spokane River, and in turn generate more supporters for its cause. There are no real negative impacts; attendees enjoy themselves at the events, and information and ideas are spread rapidly.
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your work, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
Local residents take part in the events that SRF sponsors. This upcoming summer’s “Meet Me at the River” raft and kayak eco tours will potentially include 500 members of the community. The community has responded with increasing numbers of attendees to SRF events, as well as increased signups for the member page of the SRF website. The website serves as a forum for members of the community to further open the lines of communication and exchange important information about the state of the Spokane River.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
SRF allows visitors to experience everything the Spokane River has to offer. Whether it’s kayaking, rafting, or simply strolling along the riverbank, SRF aims to help visitors take in the natural beauty of the river. The sustainability of such natural beauty is contingent upon the health of the river system in the years to come.
Describe how your work helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area's cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues.
Through SRF programs, travelers and local residents learn the history of the Spokane River and the various functions it performs for the region. People learn through these events and materials the extreme importance of keeping the river healthy and thriving.
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Sustenibilidad
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
SRF finances its programs through entrance fees to its events (i.e. kayaking expeditions for $20 per participant). SRF also has a paid membership club, in which members pay $20 per year to receive constant news updates, event notices, and discounts on raft and kayak expeditions.
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? Is there a potential demand for your innovation?
The organization thus far has been financially sustainable. Attendance figures for SRF events have been more than satisfactory. Potential demand exists among people who enjoy outdoor physical activity, like rafting, as well as those who have a genuine interest in the preservation of beautiful natural landmarks.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
Throughout the decade, ongoing struggles have existed with state and federal governments in funding cleanups of the Spokane River. It is not easy to get separate entities from all sectors of society onto the same page with regard to cleaning up the river. Publicity can be a struggle as well; it is difficult to raise awareness of SRF to areas outside of the immediate region.
What is your plan to expand or further develop your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
SRF will look to expand its program to incorporate more events and accommodate more attendees. The organization wants to shift the image of the Spokane River from a polluted, unsanitary stream to a vibrant picture of health and cleanliness.
La historia
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
Andy Dunau is the executive director of the Spokane River Forum. He has lived in Spokane for close to 20 years and has extensive experience working on natural resource issues. He remembers the old sentiment of "don't go down the river" from parents who didn't want their children playing on the Spokane River's polluted banks. Dunau wants the river to become a place people want to travel to, as well as a landmark that inspires feelings of pride and wonder among local residents.
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell the Changemakers and media communities what prompted you to start this initiative.
The Spokane River is one of the most picturesque, recognizable natural features of the Spokane, Washington region. The river is used heavily for irrigation and drinking water throughout the region. Much of the river’s water comes from the Spokane-Rathdrum Aquifer; this aquifer is what provides much of the region’s drinking water. Over-pumping of the aquifer, along with increased diverting of the river’s water to hydroelectric power plants have lowered the river’s water level significantly. In the summer, Spokane Falls, a beautiful, well-known landmark of Spokane, often runs dry. Additionally, a number of studies have detected rising pollution problems in the Spokane River throughout this decade. Lowered water levels have raised the river’s toxicity. The River was named the country’s 6th most endangered river of 2004.
The Spokane River Forum was thus created as a way to raise awareness about the need to clean up and purify the waters of the Spokane River. The organization sponsors events that aim to spread the word in support of preserving the river, and it serves as a medium for communication among supporters and the exchanging of new information and ideas.
The region needs this river to be clean, and SRF is the primary organization aiming to achieve that goal.
Describe some unique tourist experiences that your approach provides. Be specific; give illustrative examples.
SRF sponsors events along the Spokane River that are designed to raise awareness about the river’s issues, while at the same time allowing participants to have a lot of fun. For example, in the summer of 2008, SRF launched the “I Love the Spokane River Raft and Kayak Event”. Held in July over seven days, 93 individuals rafted and kayaked some or all of the 111 miles from the Spokane River headwaters to its confluence with the Columbia River. Along the way, information sessions at put-ins, rest stops and take-outs were provided by agency, tribal, business, health and recreation experts. This upcoming summer, from June 6th thru October 3rd, SRF will expand the program offering 21 “Meet Me at the River Raft and Kayak Eco Tours” that will potentially include 500 community members. Participants will experience the Spokane River and tour facilities that exist along the river such as some of the 6 Hydroelectric dams, the Spokane Water Department, Inland Empire Paper Company, the Riverside State Park Water Reclamation facility, along with the opportunities to explore the habitat, history, local restaurants, wineries, fly fishing and much, much more.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
Partnerships with recognizable local organizations, particularly ones with a history of supporting environmental activism would be beneficial for the Spokane River Forum. Additionally, it would be beneficial to partner with tourism management organizations in the region to better develop strategies for attracting more tourists to the Spokane River.
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