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Island Complex Heavy Metals Site Cleaned Up 2007

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.

Island Complex was one of the nine shoreline areas identified for cleanup.  The Island Complex area is used for recreation and provides trails and access to the river from a parking lot near Exit 299 on I-90. The site covers approximately 9.5 acres and is located near river mile 95 about 1 mile west of the Idaho border. The northwest boundary is in the river, and the southeast boundary runs along the Centennial Trail and I-90.

Work was completed on the south and west banks of the island to:

• Reduce erosion and isolate contaminants in order to limit human, wildlife, and fish exposure to lead, arsenic, zinc and cadmium.
• Stabilize sections of the river bank to minimize re-distribution of contaminants.
• Place a protective cap of soil and gravel on certain trail areas and banks to prevent contact with contaminants.
• Install trail signs or boulders as path guides.
• Install a temporary irrigation system along the bank of the channel for new trees and shrubs.
• Plant trees and shrubs along the bank of the back channel.
• Enhance existing footpaths.

Cleanup was necessary because:

• The level of contamination exceeded site-specific cleanup standards.
• Cleanup improves protection for wildlife and rainbow trout that spawn nearby.
• Cleanup improves protection for children and adults recreating in these areas.

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

SITE DOCUMENTS

• Fact Sheet
• Remedial Design Work Plan
• Table of Contents and Abbreviations
• 1.0  Introductions
• 2.0  Project Organization
• 3.0  Remedial Objectives
• 4.0  Design Process and Deliverables
• 5.0  Schedule
• 6.0  Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements
• 7.0  References
• Figures
• Figure 1
• Figure 2
• Figure 3
• Figure 4
• Figure 5
• Figure 6
• Memorandum: Hydraulic Evaluation for Island Complex Site, Revision 1
• Tables
• Figure 1
• Figure 2
• Figure 3
• Tables
• Table 1
• Table
• Table
• Table
• Draft Construction Specifications
• Pages 1-8
• Pages 9-20
• Pages 21-31
• Pages 32-34
• Pages 35-40
• Pages 41-45
• Page 46
• Drilling Scope of Work
• Figure 1
• Irrigation Scope of Work
• Figure 1
• Figure 2
• Washington Conservation Corp Scope of Work
• Figure 1
• Figure 2
• Figure 3
• Figure 4
• Figure 5
• SEPA Checklist and DNS
• Substantive Permit Requirements

Related Information

• Watershed Information for WRIA 13

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