Harvard Road North Heavy Metals Site Cleaned Up in 2008

North bank of Spokane River at Harvard Road gravel boat launch and cleaned-up shoreline area

Boat launch and eastern portion of cleaned-up shoreline area

Western portion of cleaned-up shoreline area

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.

Harvard Road North was one of the nine beaches identified for cleanup. The Harvard Road North site covers less than one acre and lies along the northern bank of the Spokane River in Spokane County, Washington. It is nearly 3 miles west of the Idaho state line and immediately west of the Harvard Road Bridge.

Cleanup was necessary because:

Contamination levels exceeded the Washington State standards established for protection of human health and the environment.
It improves fish habitat at this location.
It improves protection for children and adults recreating in this area.

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