Spokane Riverkeeper

TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE HEALTH AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE SPOKANE RIVER WATERSHED AND TO DEFEND THE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CITIZENS TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF A CLEAN AND HEALTHY SPOKANE RIVER WATERSHED.

ADVOCACY, OUTREACH AND EDUCATION- AT THE CORE OF OUR MISSION, ADVOCACY, OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ARE AN ESSENTIAL PROGRAM SERVICE. IN 2021 WE ADVOCATED FOR CLEAN, COLD WATER AND HEALTHY RIVER FLOWS FOR CHINOOK SALMON RECOVERY IN THE SUPPORT OF THE UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN TRIBAL EFFORTS. PARTICIPATING IN THE WATER CONSERVATION COLLABORATIVE WORK GROUP ORGANIZED BY THE CITY OF SPOKANE, WE HELPED DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A DROUGHT RESPONSE PLAN THAT USES RIVER FLOW TO TRIGGER WATER CONSERVATION ACTIONS. WE CONTINUED TO CHAMPION PCB DISCHARGE REDUCTION AND ADVOCATED FOR THE REVISION TO POLLUTION PERMITS STANDARDS THAT AFFECT THE FIVE BIGGEST POLLUTION DISCHARGERS TO THE SPOKANE RIVER. WE ENSURED WORK AND PROGRESS WERE MADE TOWARD THE GOALS ESTABLISHED IN THE HANGMAN CREEK SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT HELPING UPHOLD THE WASHINGTON WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT AND RIPARIAN HABITAT RESTORATION AND NEGOTIATED FOR NEW AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES THAT REDUCE POLLUTION WITH STAKEHOLDERS AT THE DEPT. OF ECOLOGY. IN RESPONSE TO A WATER RIGHTS APPLICATION FROM THE CITY OF AIRWAY HEIGHTS WE COMMENTED ON AND NEGOTIATED FOR THE SPOKANE RIVER SO THAT WE DO NOT COMPROMISE FUTURE WATER FOR SALMON AND A HEALTHY RIVER ECOSYSTEM. SRK STAFF TOOK WEEKLY FIELD TRIPS WITH STUDENTS FROM THE SALISH SCHOOL OF SPOKANE FROM FEBRUARY TO JULY. THESE FIELD EXPERIENCES FOCUSED ON WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT IN THE LAB AND FIELD FOR TWO MONTHS. WE DEVELOPED AND TAUGHT LESSONS IN THE FIELD ON OTHER RIVER ISSUES, INCLUDING NATIVE SALMON AND TROUT HABITAT, MACROINVERTEBRATE AND FISH ASSEMBLAGES AS WELL AS CRAYFISH MERCURY CONTAMINATION IN THE AQUATIC FOOD CHAIN. IN ADDITION, SRK STAFF HOSTED ONE SUMMER RIVER RAFTING FIELD TRIP IN ORDER TO PROMOTE ACCESS AND RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR SALISH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE SPOKANE RIVER. WE TEAMED UP WITH WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY, SPOKANE RIVERKEEPER, THE SPOKANE TRIBE, THE COEUR D'ALENE TRIBE, SPOKANE FALLS TROUT UNLIMITED AND REDBAND RALLY (WITH FACILITATION FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE CENTENNIAL TRAIL), TO INSTALL AN INTERPRETIVE SIGN IN KENDALL YARDS EXPLAINING THE ANNUAL SEDIMENT POLLUTION THAT IS ALL TOO COMMON IN OUR RIVER. WE ARE OUT ON THE RIVER EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR. ON ALMOST EVERY REACH OF THE 111-MILE SPOKANE RIVER, WE PATROLLED TO WATCH FOR POLLUTION AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND REPORTING OUT WHAT WE SEE.

RIVER CLEANUP - IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS, AND WITH THE HELP OF OVER 1000 VOLUNTEERS, WE CLEANED 115 MILES OF THE RIVER REMOVING 12.9 TONS OF TRASH. THIS GROWING PROGRAM NOT ONLY ENGAGES AND EDUCATES COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IT CONTRIBUTES OUTREACH AND SERVICES TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ALONG THE RIVER.

RIVER SCIENCE - IN A COOPERATIVE SEDIMENT STUDY WITH SPOKANE FALLS TROUT UNLIMITED AND OVER 30 COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS, WE PERFORMED 121 SAMPLING EVENTS, COLLECTING 411 WATER SAMPLES FROM THE SPOKANE RIVER AND HANGMAN CREEK TO DOCUMENT AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF SEDIMENT POLLUTION ON OUR RIVER ECOLOGY. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND MONITOR MERCURY LEVELS IN SPOKANE RIVER CRAYFISH. OUR SUMMER TEMPERATURE STUDY DOCUMENTED WATER QUALITY VIOLATIONS INFORMING FUTURE POLICIES TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY TEMPERATURES IN A WARMING CLIMATE.