Harvard Road site clean-up complete
September 16th
Washington Department of Ecology
News Release
A popular recreation site on the Spokane River at Harvard Road re-opened late yesterday, minus 1,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil that the Department of Ecology (Ecology) cleaned up over the last month.
To replace the contaminated materials, Ecology brought in 1,500 tons of specialized sand and gravel mixture, and spread 500 tons of crushed rock to improve a parking lot at the site. The project also improved trout spawning habitat and the boat launch. Contractors installed post and rail fencing around the parking area to finish off the project.
Ecology worked closely with state partners Department of Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Recreation to develop effective plans for site cleanup and restoration.
“The cleanup and restoration work has turned this small recreation area into a more park-like setting,” said Rene Wiley who manages Riverside State Park and small parks along the river. “It’s going to attract more people who want to enjoy the river.”
The cleanup project was needed because the levels of metal contamination at the beach were higher than standards set to protect human health and the environment. The contamination was caused by lead, arsenic, zinc, and cadmium that had washed downstream from the Coeur d’Alene basin mining district over many years and settled along the banks of the Spokane River.
“I’m really pleased with how this project turned out,” said Mike Hibbler, who supervises Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program in Eastern Washington. “Removing contaminated materials from the Spokane River is a good thing for everyone—improving this corner of Riverside State Park gives people more options for a good place to access and enjoy the river. And now that the project is complete, endangered red band trout finally have uncontaminated material where they can spawn.”
This is the fourth project so far to clean up metals at contaminated sites along the river in Washington. Ecology completed cleanup at the Island Complex and Murray Road recreation areas in 2007. In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ecology completed cleanup work at Starr Road on the Spokane River (a small recreational area between Island Complex and Murray Road).
The EPA originally conducted a study of mining contaminants in the Coeur d’Alene basin. As a result of that study and additional testing by Ecology, nine Washington shoreline areas, including the Harvard Road North site, were selected to be cleaned up.
The Spokane River cleanup projects are part of Governor Gregoire’s priority to reduce toxic chemicals in the environment.
Media Contacts: Cathy Cochrane, communications, 509-329-3433; or by cell at 509-290-0685 (ccoc461@ecy.wa.gov)
Jani Gilbert, communications, 509-329-3495; or by cell at 509-990-9177 (jagi461@ecy.wa.gov)