The Center for Justice reports on the Spokane River Forum conference, a two day gathering where close to 200 people explored the complexities and possibilities of protecting and restoring the Spokane River.
Professors from the University of Washington and San Diego State have applied for a National Science Foundation grant to work on Spokane River issues. The three-year grant would develop a model for public input and regional decision-making in the 2,400-square mile watershed. The model could become a prototype for resolving water disputes in other areas. The Spokesman Review reports.
If Spokane County can not get a permit to send effluent from the wastewater treatment plant they are in the initial phases of building, options for sending treated effluent to wetlands, public parks and Inland Empire Paper are being explored. The Inlander reports.
Millions of Washingtonians have a new tool kit to help them keep Puget Sound, the Spokane River, the Columbia River, and other Washington waters healthy and clean. Washington Waters – Ours to Protect” is a web site packed with downloadable posters, tips and advice. The site offers tangible actions that every Washington resident can take to protect the state’s waters.
The Environmental Protection Agency said in a report Thursday that toxins remain at levels harmful to people, fish and wildlife throughout the Northwest, despite decades-long cleanups. Hot spots include the Spokane River in Washington. The Associated Press reports.
The Spokane County Commission decided in a split vote Tuesday to sign one of its biggest-ever contracts, hiring CH2M Hill Constructors Inc. to design, build and operate a new sewage treatment facility. Whether the county will receive a permit to discharge effluent into the river is still uncertain. The Spokesman Review reports.
This briefing is for stakeholders directly engaged in development of the Spokane River DO TMDL for Washington State. Contact the Forum at info@spokaneriver.net for more information.
Idaho is beginning the process of adjudicating water rights in the Coeur d’Alene-Spokane River basin. The Spokesman Review reports.