The Washington Department of Ecology released a new draft plan to assure dissolved oxygen standards in the Spokane River are met. The attached Ecology news release provides a link to the draft plan and announces a public meeting to discuss the plan on September 24th.
Ecology has released a strategy for reducing toxics in the Spokane River. Ecology refers to the strategy as “… a ‘living’ document, i.e., we will build on this road map,…
A year ago Spokane County banned dishwasher detergent with more than 0.5 percent phosphorus as a means to reduce dissolved oxygen concerns in the Spokane River. Evidence now shows its working. The Spokesman Review reports.
The Washington Department of Ecology plans to place a cap of clean gravel over contaminated sediments at the Flora Road site, which is located in Spokane Valley about five miles west of the Idaho border. Current expectations are for construction activities to be completed by the end of September.
On May 15th, the Center for Justice CFJ sent the Washington Department of Ecology a letter regarding PCBs and reduction of toxics in the Spokane River. The letter also requests that “… the PCB TMDL should be completed as soon as possible and along a parallel track with the DO TMDL.” Attached is the response provided by Director Manning to CFJ.
The city of Airway Heights will receive $22 million in federal economic stimulus funding for a new wastewater treatment plant that will help recharge the West Plains aquifer. The project will also benefit Spokane River water quality. The Spokesman Review reports.
A planned expansion of the Marina Yacht Club on Blackwell Island has been given the green light by the Idaho Department of Lands. The Spokesman Review reports.
The health of the Spokane River has improved significantly over the past 30 years. This guest editorial in the Spokesman Review provides perspective from the Spokane River Stewarship Partners group.
The city of Coeur d’Alene is embarking on a nine-year plan to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility, at a cost of about $72 million. These upgrades will allow the city to comply with anticipated stringent new water-quality standards for the Spokane River. The Journal of Business reports.
A ban on high-phosphorus automatic-dishwasher detergents imposed last July 1 in Spokane County triggered a consumer backlash that lingers today, but appears in early data to be having the desired effect of reducing the amount of the nettlesome nutrient likely being released into the Spokane River. The Spokane Business Journal reports.