Department of Ecology News Release - Feb. 21, 2023 UNION GAP – With the sun out and spring around the corner, there’s litter that needs to be cleaned up on our roadways in Central Washington. And this summer, local teens have an opportunity to help get …
The Walla Walla watershed is unique because it crosses the border between Oregon and Washington. This basin's rivers and streams flow through both states. The watershed is chronically short on water. It is bordered by the Columbia and Snake rivers and …
Department of Ecology News Release - Feb. 16, 2023 OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology is seeking input on proposed amendments to the state’s environmental cleanup regulations. These regulations guide cleanup of sites where toxic substances have …
Lead is a highly toxic substance that can harm people, wildlife, and plants. It’s found in many products, settings, and industries. One example is Whatcom County Parks and Recreation’s Plantation Rifle Range, about eight miles south of downtown Bellingham. …
During Black History Month, we are sharing stories of some of our team members and highlighting environmental heroes who fought for environmental justice and a clean and healthy environment. One of our newest colleagues, Alexiauna Beleford of Staff …
And we have liftoff! Those who follow this blog series know that the cap-and-invest program, established by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), officially launched on Jan. 1. While this is a significant milestone for our department and for the State of …
Department of Ecology News Release - Feb. 10, 2023 SPOKANE – The Washington Department of Ecology has fined Wade and Teresa King, owners of King Ranch, $267,540 for illegally damaging at least 23 alkali wetlands located near Park Lake in Grant County. In …
We are thrilled to announce we've helped secure close to $6 million out of nearly $19 million — about 30% — in National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants to protect about 855 acres of coastal wetland habitat in Jefferson, Island, Pacific, Skagit, …
You're invited to review and comment on our draft cleanup guidance for contamination and cleanup of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, called PFAS, through Friday, March 3. PFAS are a large group of manufactured chemicals, most of which never …
Duwamish Waterway Park, summer 2022. The Duwamish Waterway Park is a quiet spot along the banks of the Duwamish River, located at 7900 10th Ave S. in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. Operated by the City of Seattle’s Department of Parks and Recreation …
Department of Ecology News Release - Jan. 31, 2023 Updated: Jan. 31, 2023 OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology is inviting public feedback about the possibility of connecting the state's new cap-and-invest program to similar carbon reduction …
Department of Ecology News Release - Feb. 1, 2023 YAKIMA – The U.S. Army’s Yakima Training Center contains dozens of sites contaminated by chemical spills and toxic waste, including some that have threatened drinking water supplies in nearby wells. In …
Today is World Wetlands Day, and we are celebrating the work our agency has done to support the conservation and restoration of Washington state’s wetlands. Wetlands — land areas that are saturated or flooded with water, either permanently or seasonally — …
Department of Ecology News Release - Feb. 2, 2023 TUKWILA – A Tukwila property owner has been served a $28,000 penalty after allowing oil to leak into the Duwamish River. John Roach leased space on his riverfront property to several businesses and …
Since 2013, the Office of Chehalis Basin (OCB) has invested $98.8 million for 39 projects to reduce flood-related damage and 68 projects to restore aquatic species habitat in the Chehalis River basin. There are eight other basin projects that have dual …
Six sites in downtown Bothell have received grants for contamination cleanup. In the early 2000s, the City of Bothell began work on its downtown revitalization plan. A key part of the plan is the cleanup and redevelopment of parcels where historical uses …
For over 20 years, scientists faced a toxic mystery: coho salmon returning to urban streams and rivers in the Puget Sound region were dying before they could lay their eggs. The culprit was unknown, but it seemed linked to toxic chemicals running off our …
“Creating the Bear Ridge Community Forest will have a substantial impact on the health and economy of Ilwaco. Preservation of this watershed is a crucial step in achieving our water quality goals, ensuring our citizens and our neighboring communities have …
Department of Ecology News Release - Jan. 26, 2023 OLYMPIA – Water users in the Nooksack Watershed will have the opportunity to learn more about planned water rights adjudication in the Nooksack Basin during a Jan. 30 webinar. The webinar is slated to …
Washington’s 56 cities and counties with marine shorelines are experiencing this winter’s final cycle of king tides. “King tide” is a colloquial term used to describe an extremely high tide. Ordinary tides are caused by the gravitational pull between the …
