Photo by Bruce Andre

>> Who are the Spokane River Stewardship Partners?

The Spokane River Stewardship Partners (SRSP) is a coalition of government and business organizations composed of experienced conservationists, engineers, scientists and operators, whose responsibility is to protect and improve water quality while serving communities in the region.

The SRSP includes Spokane County, the cities of Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board, Avista and Inland Empire Paper Company.

The SRSP members are committed to protecting one of our region’s most valuable environmental resources, the Spokane River. Members of the SRSP consider it essential to their jobs and the well-being of the communities in which they work and live. 

>> Why did the SRSP form?

The Spokane River Stewardship Partners formed to address mutual concerns about the health of the Spokane River and Lake Spokane. The SRSP works together to ensure the river’s long-term health and to address water quality concerns raised by state and federal regulatory agencies. The SRSP is committed to finding collaborative solutions that protect the environment, allow for continued regional economic growth, and make good use of taxpayer, ratepayer and customer dollars.

>> What water quality issues does the Spokane River face?
After a century or more of neglect and abuse, Inland Northwest communities recognized the need to change and improve the quality of our river in the latter half of the 20th century. As a result, today’s river is much cleaner and healthier. 

The Spokane River contains an excess of phosphorus and other nutrients that have helped cause a depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water, in particular within Lake Spokane. Scientific studies completed earlier in the decade found that levels of oxygen in the river and lake were below Washington's water quality standards.

The Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are proposing new limits for phosphorus and other nutrients associated with low dissolved oxygen to address this situation. These new limits will be incorporated into a water quality cleanup plan to reduce phosphorus from all sources. This cleanup plan is also called a “total maximum daily load” or TMDL process.

There are also concerns about water temperature, PCBs, and heavy metals from historic mining and industrial uses along our river. State and federal regulators have been addressing the metals problems in the river for a number of years now and will begin addressing PCBs in future water-quality processes.

>> Why are nutrients like phosphorus a problem?

Phosphorus is a fertilizer. When too much phosphorus is in the river, algae and other plants thrive, depleting the water body of oxygen and harming fish populations. Phosphorus levels in Lake Spokane are more problematic during dry summer months when river flows are low. 

>> Where does the phosphorus come from?

A certain amount of phosphorus occurs naturally in our environment.  Phosphorus also comes from both “point” and “non-point” sources. Point sources of phosphorus include discharges of treated wastewater from public and industrial wastewater treatment plants. Non-point sources include phosphorus that enters the river from septic tanks, spring run-off, fertilizers, animal waste, stormwater, and other sources.

Currently, a regional study is being conducted to identify and characterize the types of non-point sources that contribute phosphorus to Lake Spokane, and to identify best management practices for reduction of the loads.

>> How can phosphorus be reduced?

The SRSP looks for ways to work together to reduce phosphorus from point and non-point sources. Phosphorus reduction activities could include advanced filtration and other new technology at all point sources, along with comprehensive measures to conserve water, reduce “non-point” phosphorus sources, and re-use treated water for irrigation. Other potential solutions have yet to be assessed, but will be as the process moves forward.

In recent years, some members of the SRSP advocated banning dishwasher detergent containing phosphorus within Spokane County. The City of Spokane reports a 12 to 14 percent drop in phosphorus coming to its wastewater treatment plant since the ban was instituted. 

>> What would a plan like this cost?

The SRSP estimates that improvements worth hundreds of millions of dollars will be needed to address phosphorus reduction and other water quality concerns. These improvements would be paid for by taxpayers, ratepayers and customers from both the public and private sectors. 

>> What is the timeline for this process?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington State Department of Ecology, and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality continue to work on setting discharge permits and an appropriate level of responsibility for Avista, the operator of Long Lake Dam, which forms Lake Spokane. The Washington State Department of Ecology released the Draft Dissolved Oxygen TMDL on Septebmer 14th for a 30 day public review and comment period.  

>> What is the SRSP's goal for this planning process?

The Spokane River Stewardship Partners seek an overall solution to water quality issues that is comprehensive, achievable and affordable for the citizens of our region. They continue to invest in new technologies and innovative thinking to reach our collective goal.

>> Where can I find more information?

Check out our links page at www.spokaneriverpartners.com/links to contact each partner or contact us by clicking here.