WE WORK TO PROTECT & RESTORE THE SPOKANE RIVER WITH COMMUNITY CONNECTION
WE WORK TO PROTECT & RESTORE THE SPOKANE RIVER WITH COMMUNITY CONNECTION
The recent oil spill in the Spokane River, attributed to the Inland Empire Paper Co., has sparked great concern with the Spokane Riverkeeper. This incident, which occurred on Dec. 26, has not only raised questions about the effectiveness of spill response measures but also highlights the need for transparency and accountability in environmental protection efforts. (Inland Empire Paper is owned by the Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.)
Environmental legislation at its heart leans on the idea that polluters should be held accountable for any pollution they release into the environment. The Clean Water Act and similar state statutes are no different, utilizing civil penalties (fines) to punish bad actors and discourage improper discharging to the state’s waters. Read more about Spokane Riverkeeper’s role in holding polluters and regulators accountable.
Our Community Science Project continues to produce high quality data with a strong group of volunteers. Although we haven't seen the sediment pollution in the Spokane River this year, that's because of our warm winter, not our lack of science. In fact we've had stronger participation in the study than any year in the past, with data collected almost every day! You've taken about 240 samples, which is 60 out of the 68 days our study has been running. Check out the data below.