“There’s an element of calculated risk with both,” Scott says. “There are different levels of risks you can take with different types of cases, or different types of boats. How big of a splash do you want to make?”

Today, Scott is the water protector at Spokane Riverkeeper, an organization tasked with protecting and advocating for the Spokane River, which winds more than 110 miles through northern Idaho and eastern Washington. With her legal background, Scott oversees law and policy matters at the nonprofit, from enforcing the Clean Water Act to representing the river at local ecology meetings. As the first person in this new role, Scott makes sure the health and safety of the Spokane River is always part of the conversation.

“I feel like the Lorax, but for the river instead of the trees,” she says.

Scott grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation, where her mom taught public school. Although Scott is not a tribal member, she says she grew up influenced by tribal culture. She was also shaped by her proximity to the Spokane River itself, where she learned to swim, boat, and even conduct high school science experiments on its banks.

In law school, Scott split her time between working at a law firm and leading kayak tours on the Chicago River. During her second year, she secured an externship at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chicago office. There, she worked on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, researched underwater oil pipelines, and began considering a law career outside of the courtroom.

“That externship is what solidified my desire to work in environmental law,” she says. “That was really my first look at an alternative career other than practicing litigation.”

In her role as water protector, Scott performs a wide variety of duties. She joins meetings with local ecology committees, writes letters to local businesses to enforce the Clean Water Act, and works alongside the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene tribes on efforts to reintroduce native fish to the river. One afternoon, when thousands of fish mysteriously died in a local lake, Scott rushed to the shore with a fishing net to collect potential evidence. (A dead fish is still in her freezer.) She hopes all these efforts will continue to strengthen environmental policies.

“My intention is to get to a point where we can push ecology to reach a higher level, and be a leader across the country with what we can do with our water,” she says.

Although Scott appreciates the more peaceful stretches of the Spokane River, her favorite place is Riverfront Park, a lively spot where people gather at the Spokane Falls. There, with water flowing over the falls, the river is undeniably the center of attention. Scott even keeps a painting of the park at her desk—a reminder that the river flows through all the work she does.

“It’s important that we give the river the respect it deserves,” she says. “I wish everyone could know to love it like me.” –Megan Kirby (July 2024)