Fishing, swimming, boating, and clean drinking water
are a few of the reasons we love the Spokane River.

Ecology, together with governments, tribes, stakeholders, and the general public can find wise solutions to improve and preserve it for future generations.

We can be part of making the theme,
“Near Nature, Near Perfect” a reality.

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Some Spokane River facts:

• The Spokane River flows 112 miles from Post Falls Dam in Idaho to Lake Roosevelt (the Upper Columbia River) in Washington.
• The river basin encompasses over 6,000 square miles in Washington and Idaho.
• Hangman (Latah) Creek and the Little Spokane River are two of the major tributaries.
• Seven dams generate hydroelectricity.
• Seven municipal and industrial dischargers have permits to put wastewater into the Spokane River.

Projects for Improving Spokane River Water Quality

The challenge is complex, and success depends on involvement from citizens, Tribes, businesses, city, county, and state governments along with other community partners.

Several projects are taking place in an effort to improve the Spokane River. These projects are part of Governor Gregoire’s priority to reduce toxic chemicals in the environment.  Ecology has updated the Strategy for Reducing Toxics in the Spokane River Watershed.  You may review the new version by clicking on the link below:

Ecology’s Strategy for Reducing Toxics
in the Spokane River Watershed

The Urban Waters Initiative is now underway.  A team of Ecology scientists, technical staff, and specialists from the Spokane Regional Health District are sampling water and visiting businesses along the river to identify sources of toxic chemicals that affect the river.

• Spokane River Cleanup Projects
• Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force  - Organizations who discharge pollutants into the Spokane River are now participating in a region-wide task force as a requirement of their water quality permits.  The focus of the task force is to reduce toxics in the river and Lake Spokane. The Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force developed a framework for the organization and a memorandum of agreement to guide how they will operate.  Tasks include gathering needed data where gaps exist, making sure all data is fully analyzed to find the sources of toxic materials, and recommend actions to control and reduce those sources.

Get Involved in River Issues

• Ecology’s Public Events Calendar (Public hearings, workshops, meetings and open houses.)
• Spokane River Forum
• Avista FERC Relicensing (Avista Utilities)
• Other Spokane River Contacts/Advisory Groups - These groups may not represent Ecology's perspective.