Spokane, WA – February 23, 2004
High levels of phosphorus and other pollutants in the Spokane River will have to be reduced substantially if fish are going to be able to survive in the Spokane River and Lake Spokane. The findings and recommendations are detailed in a new report released today by the Department of Ecology (Ecology).

The report, entitled “Spokane River and Lake Spokane Pollutant Loading Assessment for Protecting Dissolved Oxygen,” used monitoring data and computer modeling to evaluate how changing pollution discharges into the river might affect the concentrations of dissolved oxygen.

Ecology officials said the results will be used to develop a long-term cleanup plan for the Spokane River to protect the amount of dissolved oxygen that is available for fish in the river.

“We know that some pollutants in the water deplete oxygen, and this report gives us solid information with which to move ahead and make changes that will turn this around over time,” said Jim Bellatty, who manages Ecology’s water-quality program in Spokane.

Within the next year, the cleanup plan, also known as a total maximum daily load (TMDL), will set limits for how much phosphorus and other organic matter each of the major cities and industries along the river may discharge. The cleanup plan also will recommend ways to reduce “non-point” sources, such as fertilizers, animal waste and failing septic systems.

“Although some pollutants in the river have decreased over the years because of better wastewater treatment practices, water quality standards for dissolved oxygen are still being violated, especially in Lake Spokane, which is very sensitive to pollution,” said Ecology’s Bob Cusimano, who wrote the report.

The report says a cleanup plan done in 1992 for phosphorus allows pollutant discharges that are too high to protect water quality. To solve the problem, pollution discharges that deplete oxygen need to be reduced.

“The river didn’t get into this condition overnight, and we won’t make it better overnight, either,” Bellatty said. “We need to work together as a community to identify and implement some short-term and long-term solutions that will make the Spokane River healthy again.”

Media contact: Jani Gilbert
Public Information Manager
509-329-3495
pager, 509-622-3073

Ecology’s Web site: Washington State Department of Ecology

Link to Spokane River and Lake Spokane Pollutant Loading Assessment for Protecting Dissolved Oxygen: Spokane River and Lake Spokane (Long Lake) Pollutant Loading Assessment for Protecting Dissolved Oxygen.

Broadcast version

A new report from the Department of Ecology concludes that pollutants in the Spokane River and Lake Spokane are depleting oxygen that fish need in order to breathe, and that the pollutants need to be reduced significantly over time.

The report will be used to develop a long-term plan to clean up the river. That plan will set limits for how much of the pollutants each of the major cities and industries along the river will be allowed to discharge.

The limits will be set to bring the river back into compliance with the Clean Water Act. Currently, the study shows water quality standards are being violated.