Publications

RFA and its friends have had articles, essays, and opinions published in a variety of journals. From academic journals to your local paper, RFA affiliated authors provide insightful commentary on a variety of environmental topics.

RFA Publications

• Rethinking Green Philanthropy
  
  Pete Lavigne & David Orr, September, 2004
  Green philanthropy in the United States is in trouble. And not for just the obvious reasons of the downturn in the stock markets. Environmental giving from private foundations misses the boat when it comes to systematically addressing the major problems we face in providing a catalyst to significant environmental restoration, protection, and generation of an environmentally friendly and sustainable human impact upon the earth. Have we noticed that we have been losing most of the political and ecological battles over the last ten years while we continue to approach grantmaking in the mode of 10, 20 and 30 years ago? This article may also be found on the ONE/Northwest, Tidepool and Native Forest Council websites.
  Rethinking_Green_Philanthropy_--_AP_mag__5b_.pdf

Law Review Articles

• Cultural Myths, Concrete Results and Whoops Again
  
  Peter Lavigne, NATURAL RESOURCES JOURNAL, Volume 44, No. 3, © Summer 2004.
  The Summer 2004 issue of the Natural Resources Journal at the University of New Mexico's School of Law contains an interesting pairing of articles on western water and dam policy. RFA president Pete Lavigne's essay "Cultural Myths, Concrete Results and Whoops Again" with former High Country News publisher Ed Marston's plea for "Reclaiming the Spirit of Reclamation". Em Hall, Editor of the Natural Resources Journal, describes these paired essays as showcasing "two writers passionately and articulately involved in natural resource issues critical to the West." The Natural Resources Journal has generously allowed the Rivers Foundation to post Em's Introduction to the essays along with Pete's and Ed's here on our website. We hope you'll enjoy the articles. Please as well.
  Concrete Results.pdf
• Dam(n) How Times Have Changed
  
  Peter M. Lavigne, William and Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review © 2005
  Dam(n) How Times Have Changed provides a broad ranging overview of United States dam and water policy and history for the 20th century -- what Marc Reisner called "the Age of Dams". This essay analyzes the myths of huydropower, its use in the imperial development of North America and changes in public attitudes toward dams that began to sweep many areas in the 1990s. The essay ends with analysis of swiftly coming changes in energy generation, major conflicts over proposed dam removals on the Lower Snake River and the restoration of Glen Canyon though changes in the operation of Glen Canyon Dam, the elimination of the Glen Canyon reservoir (Lake Powell) and creation of a new Glen Canyon National Park and new designated wilderness areas.
  Dam(n)_How_Times_Have_Changed2.pdf
• Humpty Dumpty and Restoration Policy
  
  Peter M. Lavigne, Natural Resources Journal, University of New Mexico School of Law, Vol 45, No. 2 Spring 2005
  This essay analyzes the mish mash of policy and regulation that masks environmental restoration work in the United States and particularly in the Pacific Northwest and points the way forward with "Seven Points for Seven Generations". Particularly useful is the discussion of Pramod Parajuli's Partnership Model of Sustainability.
  Restoration_Policy_Essay.pdf
• Restorations, Quagmires, Watersheds, and Consensus: Where do we Go From Here?
  
  Peter Lavigne, © VERMONT JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW VOL. THREE (2001-2002).
  Lavigne discusses the threats posed by sprawl, non-point source water pollution, and the chemicalization of land to rivers in the United States. He details the institutional structures, including watershed councils and the "Lords of Yesterday," that affect watersheds, then provides a variety of crucial means to ensuring ecosystem health.
  Restoration, Quagmires, Watersheds.pdf
• The Movement for American Ecosystem Restoration and Interactive Environmental Decision Making
  
  Peter Lavigne, 17 TULANE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW JOURNAL 1 (© 2003)
  Lavigne examines cooperative decision making as a popular solution to the divisiveness that often accompanies the traditional command and control strategy that has predominated in environmental regulation. He explains the risks and rewards available through what is called Community-Based Collaborations.
  Tulane Evtl - Quagmire.pdf
• Watershed Councils East and West
  
  Peter Lavigne, UCLA JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY, Volume 22, No. 2, © Spring 2004.
  Peter Lavigne traces the historical development and practical differences between watershed councils throughout the United States. The analysis provides insights into shaping a consistent conceptual framework addressing current challenges in ecosystem law and policy. The traditional Eastern 'watershed councils' are most often independent "501(c)3" nonprofit environmental advocacy groups created to address specific river watershed concerns. Conversely, Western 'watershed councils' are generally multi-stakeholder organizations where decisions are made by varying consensus based processes, with strong agricultural agency participation and high dependence on government funding and/or certification. These differences are explored in light of the influences of the "Lords of Yesterday" in the West and much earlier establishment of watershed councils in the East. The benefits and pitfalls of both styles of watershed councils are compared and contrasted to further a reasoned discussion of the roles of such organizations in watershed based ecosystem protection.
  Watershed Councils East and West.pdf

Other Articles

• Book Review: Alaska’s Copper River Delta by Riki Ott
  
  Peter Lavigne, CASCADIA TIMES
  Peter Lavigne reviews Alaska's Copper River Delta by Riki Ott for Cascadia Times. This unedited version extols Ott's successful endeavor to document the breathtaking beauty of Alaska's Copper River.
  Book Review - Cascadia Times.pdf
• Book Review: Removing Dams - Rebuilding Rivers
  
  Peter Lavigne, HIGH COUNTRY NEWS, Vol. 35 No. 2, February 3, 2003.
  RFA provides Lavigne's full review of Watershed: The Undamming of America, a historical review of the rise of the dam removal movement, and Dam Removal: Science and Decision Making, which emphasizes the environmental, social, and economic benefits of dam removal.
  Removing Dams - Rebuilding Rivers.pdf
• Challenges in Watershed Activism: Citizen Action, Science, Politics, and Controversy
  
  Peter Lavigne, River Network, 1994.
  Lavigne argues for developing the population's ecological literacy, the role of individuals within their watershed ecosystems. From this reference point he shows the path between traditional ad hoc approaches to environmental protection and the presently unfolding paradigm of watershed protection.
  Challenges in Watershed Activism.pdf
• Community Forestry at the Urban-Rural Interface
  
  Peter Lavigne, Chapter in FOREST COMMUNITIES/COMMUNITY FORESTS. Edited by Jonathan Kusel, Ph.D. Forest Community Research, CA. Rowman and Littlefield, 2003.
  Lavigne tells the story of the Beaver Brook Association, a conservation organization established to purchase forest land and educate the community on the benefits of such purchases. This chapter provides guidance to activists on how to address the pressure created by sprawling communities on forest lands.
  Community Forestry.pdf
• Connecting the Dots: A Holistic Approach to Savings Rivers of the Americas
  
  Stacey Timlin,
  This essay explores river protection and its challenges through an interview with Pete Lavigne, the River Foundation of the Americas' president and founder. Lavigne offers insights into the interconnectedness of the river ecosystems across the region and how this presents even greater problems with protection. The essay also addresses important issues pertaining to indigenous peoples and their role in preservation, in addition to successful ways to create effective non-profit organizations.
  Connecting_the_Dots_Interview.pdf
• Emily Pollard’s Interview with Pete Lavigne
  
  Emily Pollard,
  In her interview with Pete Lavigne, president and founder of the Rivers Foundation of the Americas (RFA), Emily Pollard reveals how the non-profit operates through the backing and supporting of the many conservation and preservation organizations throughout the Americas. Copper River, the Native Conservancy, and the Glen Canyon Institute are among these organizations that RFA has sought out to offer their financial support. Pollard's interview also addresses larger important questions about RFA's future goals and projects, as well as visions for sustainability and how it might look in our society.
  Transcript_of_Emily_Pollard_interview_with_Pete.pdf
• Greening the Constitution
  
  Peter Lavigne, CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Volume 17, No. 6, pp. 1485-6, December 2003.
  Greening the Constutution is a companion piece to David Orr's, The Constitution of Nature. Lavigne argues for several means to facilitate a successful transition from piecemeal environmental mitigation law to a systemic ecosystem law that recognizes fundamental rights to the necessities of life.
  Greening the Constitution.pdf
• Guest Column: Roadless Areas Are Key to Love of Outdoors
  
  Jim Martin, The Daily Astorian
  What do a salmon fisherman off the Mouth of the Columbia River near Astoria, another angler fishing in Southeast Alaska, and a third fishing in Northern California all have in common? Roadless areas on national forests in Oregon and central Idaho.
  Jim Martin Column.pdf
• Revolutionizing County Forest Management in Minnesota: Aitkin County and SmartWood™ Certification
  
  Peter Lavigne , chapter in FOREST COMMUNITIES/COMMUNITY FORESTS. Edited by Jonathan Kusel, Ph.D. Forest Community Research, CA. Rowman and Littlefield, 2003.
  Lavigne details the development of a successful sustainable forest certification program in Aitkin County, Minnesota. The story provides guidance on how public land managers may satisfy the need for healthy communities, healthy ecosystems, and a healthy economy through sustainable forest certification programs.
  Revolutionizing_County_Forests.pdf
• RFA’s Strategic Plan
  
  Board of Directors,
  The Rivers Foundation Strategic Plan for 2003-2005
  
• The Constitution of Nature
  
  David Orr, CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Volume 17, No. 6, pp. 1478-84 December 2003.
  David Orr, in a companion piece to Lavigne's Greening the Constitution, grades the U.S. Constitution on its environmental record and seeks to answer whether deficiencies in environmental protection originate purely within the political arena, or through constitutional shortcomings.
  Constitution of Nature.pdf
• WHY RIVERS ? WHY WATERSHEDS ? Life-lines of the Ecosystem.
  
  Peter Lavigne & Stephen Gates, Chapter in VOICES FOR THE WATERSHED: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FOR THE GREAT LAKES-ST. LAWRENCE BASIN, edited by Gregor Gilpin Beck and Bruce Litteljohn. McGill University Press, 2000.
  The authors discuss ecological literacy as a prerequisite to successful preemptive ecosystem protection on the watershed level. They argue that, based on social, political and scientific evidence, watershed level ecosystem protection is the best course of action.
  Why rivers? Why watersheds?.pdf
• Willamette Water Quality Myths and Reality
  
  Pete Lavigne, Mike Houck and Bill Hutchison, RFA Commentary
  The authors discussed Oregon's environmental heritage and noted that governmental actions were falling short of traditional standards. They recommended that the Portland City Council take specific actions while enacting a "Clean Water Plan."
  Willamette Water Quality.pdf