@ecyspokane

Official Washington state Department of Ecology (@EcologyWA) account. Sharing environmental news from Eastern Region

 Spokane, WA
ecology.wa.gov/mediacontacts
Joined May 2013
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  • Following919
  • Followers1.3K
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Stay in touch with Ecology! Find Ecology news and updates on our website at ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Who-…, get email alerts at public.govdelivery.com/accou…, and at @ecologywa on social media.
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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
WA Department of Ecology@EcologyWA7 Jan 2025
#Throwback to our original @BillNye collab 💅 Before he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and before he launched his show Bill Nye the Science Guy, Bill Nye got his feet wet (literally and figuratively) by partnering with us to help teach the state about wetlands!
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Curious about why burn bans can be called in the winter? Check out our blog to learn more. ecology.wa.gov/blog/december…

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Check for a burn ban first!

Burn bans are called in the winter when smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces increase fine particle pollution. Always check for a burn ban before lighting a fire.

ecology.wa.gov
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We are responding to a spill in Spokane near S Parkridge Blvd and W Basalt Ridge Dr. A garbage truck spilled ~10 gallons of hydraulic fluid into a retention pond. Cleanup estimated to be done by tomorrow. If you see oiled wildlife nearby, call 800-22-BIRDS. @SpokaneCity @WDFW
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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
U.S. EPA Northwest Region
@EPARegion1013 Dec 2024
Today, @EPA added the Upper Columbia River Site in NE Washington to the #Superfund National Priorities List to comprehensively address public health and environmental risks from over 100 years of mining-related lead and arsenic pollution. News release: spgv.io/6016BXG
A person uses a hand-held sampling tool to collect readings for lead and arsenic at the bottom of an excavated residential garden area. A crew member watches as soil moving equipment operates in the background. (U.S. EPA Photo)

ALT A person uses a hand-held sampling tool to collect readings for lead and arsenic at the bottom of an excavated residential garden area. A crew member watches as soil moving equipment operates in the background. (U.S. EPA Photo)

Field crew workers use motorized equipment to install new sod at a residential property where lead-contaminated soil was removed. (U.S. EPA Photo)

ALT Field crew workers use motorized equipment to install new sod at a residential property where lead-contaminated soil was removed. (U.S. EPA Photo)

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We updated cleanup requirements at the Pasco Landfill to address recent groundwater contamination on site. Local drinking water supplies are not at risk. Learn more and comment on these changes: ecology.wa.gov/blog/november…

Cleanup crews working quickly to address recent groundwater contamination from Pasco Landfill

Through Jan. 20, we invite your input on a legal order to address groundwater contamination from the Pasco Landfill that happened when chemicals being removed from soil weren’t fully captured.

ecology.wa.gov
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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
WA Department of Ecology@EcologyWA14 Nov 2024
A Youth Corps program manager’s job might seem straightforward, but Rod Hankinson’s years of service have done more for Washington than removing over one million pounds of litter from 4,000 miles of roadways every year. Learn more: ecology.wa.gov/blog/november…

Rod Hankinson: Washington’s environmental hero and youth mentor for over 30 years

Learn more about Rod Hankinson's praiseworthy career managing our Youth Corps Litter Crew.

ecology.wa.gov
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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
Spokane Clean Air@SpokaneCleanAir7 Nov 2024
Due to impaired air quality, we are issuing restrictions on wood heating and outdoor burning, effective at 4 p.m. today until further notice. The restriction applies to some wood heating devices in the Smoke Control Zone and all outdoor burning countywide. spokanecleanair.org/burn-res…
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We're responding to a Union Pacific train derailment near Wallula, along the Columbia River. An estimated 660 gallons of diesel spilled onto the riverbank and to the Columbia River. 🧵
Map of where the train derailment occurred - along the Columbia River near Wallula

ALT Map of where the train derailment occurred - along the Columbia River near Wallula

Train derailment near Wallula

ALT Train derailment near Wallula

Boom deployed in the Columbia River to contain diesel spill from train derailment near Wallula

ALT Boom deployed in the Columbia River to contain diesel spill from train derailment near Wallula

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A clean-up contractor is on site, setting up boom where the fuel was released and tracking the spread of the spill down the river.
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11/7/24 update: Cleanup contractors have placed two layers of containment boom round the spill, trapping the oil in place against the riverbank. We are not observing sheening outside of the boomed area. Estimates of the spill have increased to 1,400 gallons of red dye diesel.
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Congratulations on such a well-deserved award. Stormwater tanks are a huge undertaking and we're grateful for the City’s partnership and collaboration with our team to plan and complete this tank.
City of Spokane
@SpokaneCity5 Nov 2024
.@WAStateCommerce presented the City with the Governor’s Award for SMART Projects for the Cochran Basin Stormwater Improvement Projects. These projects reduce contaminants that reach the Spokane River while improving access for outdoor enthusiasts. my.spokanecity.org/news/rele…
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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
WA Department of Ecology@EcologyWA4 Nov 2024
Applying for a water right just got more stream-lined. (see what we did there? 😉) In addition to the paper applications, you can complete the water right application process online. Dive into more information about the process here: youtube.com/watch?v=GeqGi_GH…
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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
WA Department of Ecology@EcologyWA24 Oct 2024
I think we’re all ready for some good news! The Hangman Creek watershed is changing. After five years and $9 million in state funding, trees and shrubs planted along the streambanks are growing-- critical signs of the watershed getting healthier. youtu.be/POQpPqJUZAA

Riparian restoration for cleaner water in Hangman Creek

This video tells the story of our partnerships in the Hangman Creek...

youtube.com
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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
WA Department of Ecology@EcologyWA24 Oct 2024
None of this restoration work would be possible without successful partnerships with local landowners and @SpokaneConserve🙌 Learn more about the project here: ecology.wa.gov/blog/october-…

Pilot project takes root with landowners along Hangman Creek

Ecology's innovative pilot program with Spokane Conservation District is transforming hundreds of acres along Hangman Creek. 

ecology.wa.gov
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The Hangman Creek watershed is changing. Over the past 5 years, trees and shrubs planted along the streambanks are growing and many signs point to a healthier watershed. ecology.wa.gov/blog/october-…

Pilot project takes root with landowners along Hangman Creek

Ecology's innovative pilot program with Spokane Conservation District is transforming hundreds of acres along Hangman Creek. 

ecology.wa.gov
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If you're in #WallaWalla tonight, join us to learn more about how we're supporting healthy rivers, fish, farms and people.
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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
NWS Spokane
@NWSSpokane25 Sep 2024
A dust storm warning is in effect until 4:45 PM PDT for US-195 near Colfax, WA and US-12 near Lewiston, ID--WA and US-95 near Moscow, ID. – at Washington, USA
This graphic displays a dust storm warning plotted on a map. The warning is in effect until 4:45 PM PDT. The warning includes US-195 near Colfax, WA and US-12 near Lewiston, ID--WA and US-95 near Moscow, ID. This warning is for Western Latah County in the Panhandle of Idaho, Northwestern Nez Perce County in north central Idaho, Southwestern Benewah County in the Panhandle of Idaho, Garfield County in southeastern Washington, Eastern Whitman County in eastern Washington and Northwestern Asotin County in southeastern Washington. Near zero visibility in blowing dust expected. These conditions are resulting in Dangerous life threatening travel. There are 81,597 people in this warning along with highways US-12, US-195, US-95.

ALT This graphic displays a dust storm warning plotted on a map. The warning is in effect until 4:45 PM PDT. The warning includes US-195 near Colfax, WA and US-12 near Lewiston, ID--WA and US-95 near Moscow, ID. This warning is for Western Latah County in the Panhandle of Idaho, Northwestern Nez Perce County in north central Idaho, Southwestern Benewah County in the Panhandle of Idaho, Garfield County in southeastern Washington, Eastern Whitman County in eastern Washington and Northwestern Asotin County in southeastern Washington. Near zero visibility in blowing dust expected. These conditions are resulting in Dangerous life threatening travel. There are 81,597 people in this warning along with highways US-12, US-195, US-95.

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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
NWS Spokane
@NWSSpokane24 Sep 2024
A blowing dust advisory has been issued across the Columbia Basin, Palouse and into the Spokane area. Hazardous driving conditions due to reduced visibility in dust is expected Wednesday. #wawx #idwx
Picture of blowing dust across a roadway with reduced visibility. Advisory is out from 11 am to 11 pm Wednesday. Areas of visibility between a quarter and 1 mile. Areas of greatest concern is along I 90 from Vantage to Spokane and along Highway 395 from Ritzville to the Tri-Cities.

ALT Picture of blowing dust across a roadway with reduced visibility. Advisory is out from 11 am to 11 pm Wednesday. Areas of visibility between a quarter and 1 mile. Areas of greatest concern is along I 90 from Vantage to Spokane and along Highway 395 from Ritzville to the Tri-Cities.

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Ecology - Eastern Region retweeted
WA Department of Ecology@EcologyWA4 Sep 2024
Summer ends in 2 weeks, but wildfires haven’t let up just yet. Take a look back at summer air quality data and an updated smoke forecast in a new post on the WA Smoke Blog – the state’s one-stop shop for wildfire smoke information: wasmoke.blogspot.com
A forest engulfed in flames glows in the dark of night at the Retreat Fire near Yakima. A firefighter stands facing the fire.

ALT A forest engulfed in flames glows in the dark of night at the Retreat Fire near Yakima. A firefighter stands facing the fire.

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