2025 Partner of the Year: Office of the Columbia River
This year, we are honored to recognize Larry Mattson and the Office of the Columbia River (OCR) as our Partner of the Year.
OCR has been the steady hand and driving force behind so much of what makes the Yakima Basin a success story. From convening partners and securing critical funding, to keeping countless moving pieces aligned, OCR has ensured that big ideas become real projects on the ground. Simply put, without OCR’s leadership, the Yakima Basin would not stand today as a national model for tackling some of the most difficult water and habitat challenges in our state.
What sets OCR apart is not just its leadership, but its people. Time and again, OCR staff have shown grit and creativity to ask tough questions, work through thorny details, and push complex projects across the finish line. They’ve demonstrated what it takes to align politically possible with the technically feasible—and they’ve done it with professionalism, persistence, and vision.
Here in the Yakima Basin, the impact is unmistakable. Our Bull Trout program would not exist—let alone inspire the large-scale restoration projects now taking shape—without OCR’s support. And across the Basin, program after program can point to the same truth: OCR’s commitment has been the key to making progress possible.
For your leadership, your dedication, and your unwavering belief in the power of collaboration, we are proud to name the Office of the Columbia River as our 2025 Partner of the Year.
Congratulations—and thank you for everything you’ve made possible.
Learn more about the Office of the Columbia River by visiting the links below:
Office of Columbia River – Washington State Department of Ecology