Dead Carp washing up on Long Lake
At Long Lake, hundreds of dead carp are washing up on beaches, collecting under docks and creating a stink for residents living along the 24-mile reservoir.
Water Quality
Post Falls, Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board sue feds over Spokane River dissolved oxygen cleanup plan (TMDL)
The Post Falls City Council approved a resolution to file a lawsuit against the federal government over the Spokane River DO TMDL. The Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board is expected to join the suit.
Idaho dischargers consider wastewater lawsuit over permit regulations
The Post Falls City Council on Tuesday, July 6th will consider a resolution that affirms filing a lawsuit over phosphorus discharge permit regulations. The lawsuit stems from EPA’s acceptance of a DO TMDL that regulates phosphorus discharge in Washington. EPA, using modeling developed with Washington looking at wastewater treatment discharge impacts from Post Falls to Long Lake dam, expects to issue permits to Idaho dischargers within months.
Conservation groups call to tighten proposed Ecology regulations for stormwater in Eastern Washington
Area conservation groups sent a letter to Ecology asking proposed that eastern Washington regulations for stormwater permits be tightened. These regulations can affect the Spokane River and other waterbodies throughout the region.
County sewage plant working toward permits to discharge effluent into the Spokane River
Spokane County’s 167 million dollar sewage treatment plant could become operational by early 2012. This assumes the Department of Ecology will issue a permit to discharge treated effluent into the Spokane River. The Spokesman Review reports.
EPA approves Ecology DO TMDL for Spokane River
12 years of study and numerous collaborative efforts has culminated in EPA approving Washington’s DO TMDL (also called a Water Quality Improvement Plan) for the Spokane River.
Ecology upholds Spokane River DO TMDL water quality improvement plan
Ted Sturdevant, director of the Washington Department of Ecology, said Wednesday that he stands behind his agency’s ambitious plan to reduce phosphorus flowing in the Spokane River. The Spokesman Review reports.
Spokane Riverkeeper, full-time employee sought
The Spokane Riverkeeper is responsible for the development and implementation of an advocacy program to prevent pollution and habitat degradation in the Spokane River and its watershed. See attached for employment details.
Idaho cities say river plan poses risk to their growth
The cities of Post Falls, Hayden Lake and Coeur d’Alene say a plan to reduce the amount of phosphorus flowing into the Spokane River would strangle growth in Kootenai County. The Spokesman Review reports.
DO TMDL dispute resolution oral presentations April 5th
Oral presentations for the DO TMDL dispute resolutions will be April 5, 2010 from 12:00 pm — 5:00 pm at the Spokane Fire Department training complex. This post provides access to letters from elected officials, Inland Empire Paper, Spokane County and others regarding the dispute resolution.