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Spokane River Metals:
Flora Road Site

The Flora Road Site is on the southern bank of the Spokane River  (where path and boulders are located)

SITE DESCRIPTION

Several restoration projects are taking place along the Spokane River in Washington State. These projects are part of Governor Gregoire’s priority to Reduce Toxic Chemicals in the Environment. The work is being conducted through the Department of Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program in Spokane.  
 
Contaminants from historic mining practices in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Basin washed downstream and settled in soil and sediment along certain beaches of the Spokane River.  These contaminants, known as heavy metals, include lead, arsenic, zinc, and cadmium.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted studies of mining contaminants in the Coeur d’Alene Basin and began a wide-spread cleanup known as the Coeur d’Alene Basin Superfund cleanup. As part of the studies, and additional testing by Ecology, nine shoreline areas in Washington State also were identified for restoration.

Flora Road was one of the nine beaches identified for cleanup.  The Flora Road is located about 5 miles west of the Idaho border along the southern bank of the Spokane River at Flora Road.  The site is in the Spokane Valley, Spokane County, Washington. 
Cleanup is necessary because:

• Contamination levels exceeded the Washington State standards established for protection of human health and the environment.
• The protective gravel cap prevents contact with contaminated sediments along the river bank.

For details about the construction, and to see associated documents, please click on the links below.

Flora Road Project Completed

Ecology completed the work at the Flora Road site.  The site is located about 5 miles west of the Idaho border along the southern bank of the Spokane River at Flora Road in the Spokane Valley, Washington.  The site is accessed from the Centennial Trail by a narrow path that has trees and brush on both sides. 
 
A one foot cap of gravel material was placed over contaminated sediments along the river bank.  Boulders moved during the construction were replaced.  A portion of the access path from the Centennial Trail to the beach was enhanced with gravel material.  This will help reduce erosion and improve public access to the beach.
 
Questions about Flora Road may be directed to the site manager, Dave George at 509/329-3520 or e-mail at cgeo461@ecy.wa.gov.
 

SITE DOCUMENTS

• Fact Sheet
• Engineering Design Submittal 100%
• Specifications
• Flora Road SEPA Determination of Non-Significance and Environmental Checklist

Related Information

• Watershed Information for WRIA 57

Additional Resources

• Acronyms used by the Toxic Cleanup Program
• Cleanup Process: Major Steps & Definitions
• Data Submittal Requirements for All Cleanup Sites
• Facility/Site Atlas
• Toxics Cleanup publications