Bearing the Burden of Factory Farms
In this episode of Equity In Every Drop, host Thomas Hynes sits down with Buck Ryan, the Snake River Waterkeeper from Boise, Idaho, to discuss the extensive impact of concentrated animal feeding operations, or factory farms, on local waterways and ecosystems. Buck details his journey from a river guide to an environmental lawyer dedicated to protecting fisheries and water quality.
The conversation covers Snake River Waterkeeper's critical efforts in litigation against major polluters like J.R. Simplot's Grandview feedlot, the challenges in achieving regulatory oversight, and the severe ecological effects of unchecked agricultural pollutants. Buck emphasizes the broader implications of pollution on regional economies, recreation, and public health, while highlighting hopes for future improvements, including dam removal and sustainable agricultural practices. This episode sheds light on the urgent need for accountability and transparency in agriculture to protect vital water resources.
The conversation covers Snake River Waterkeeper's critical efforts in litigation against major polluters like J.R. Simplot's Grandview feedlot, the challenges in achieving regulatory oversight, and the severe ecological effects of unchecked agricultural pollutants. Buck emphasizes the broader implications of pollution on regional economies, recreation, and public health, while highlighting hopes for future improvements, including dam removal and sustainable agricultural practices. This episode sheds light on the urgent need for accountability and transparency in agriculture to protect vital water resources.
Creators and Guests
Host
Thomas Hynes
Thomas Hynes is the Communications and Marketing Manager for Waterkeeper Alliance. In addition to podcast hosting and production duties, he manages and writes all sorts of editorial content for the organization, including blogs, feature articles, advocacy alerts, email campaigns, social media content, and more. Thomas grew up on the Long Island Sound in Connecticut and now makes his home two blocks from the East River in Brooklyn, New York. He primarily commutes across the river to the Waterkeeper Alliance office via ferry boat. Thomas was drawn to environmental work in order to take an active role in the fight against climate change and help bring justice to the rotten polluters who seek to ruin our shared resources. Before working at Waterkeeper Alliance, Thomas wrote a nonfiction book about the history of wildlife in New York City. "Wild City" also highlights the power and success of the Clean Water Act, and other environmental regulations, in leading an unlikely ecological turnaround. In his spare time, Thomas photographs the many tugboats traversing the city’s various waterways. Thomas lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their son. They can be found most weekends walking or biking along the East River.
Guest
Buck Ryan
Buck Ryan is the Executive Director of Snake River Waterkeeper, with a lifelong passion for conservation shaped by his childhood experiences trout fishing in the Blue Ridge Mountains and spending summers in Idaho and Montana. He has guided rivers in Wyoming and Alaska, researched wildlife in Costa Rica and Ecuador, and pursued a career in environmental law to protect and restore fisheries for future generations.
Producer
Lori Harrison
Lori Harrison is the Communications and Marketing Director for Waterkeeper Alliance. She oversees multi-faceted communications and marketing activities to advance the organization’s mission of protecting our right to clean water in communities around the world. With 25 years of experience in strategic water communications and mission-based work, Lori is an award-winning writer and content creator. Her expertise lies in translating complex concepts into relatable ideas, fostering engagement, and promoting sustainable practices and solutions. Her work not only aims to protect clean water, public health, and the environment but also focuses on "connecting the disconnect" between people and this essential resource. Before joining Waterkeeper Alliance, Lori had a background in corporate marketing for professional sports and held various communications and creative positions with a non-profit educational organization for global water professionals. Notable achievements include creating the WATER'S WORTH IT® grassroots awareness campaign and writing the award-winning children's book, “Why Water's Worth It,” designed to educate and inspire the next generation of water protectors. Lori lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children.
